The Westfield name is coming off Plaza Bonita, but the National City mall itself is staying put under a new ownership group. The first visible change is the signage, with a much bigger question now hanging over the South Bay’s only indoor shopping mall: What happens next?
KPBS reports that HP Bonita Investments LLC acquired Plaza Bonita from Westfield in late July and appointed Centennial Real Estate Management LLC to run the property. Centennial also manages Mission Valley, but neither the new owner nor the management company had detailed what shoppers and tenants should expect from the change.
The sale fits a broader retreat by Westfield’s parent company, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. In a 2022 strategy announcement, URW said it planned a “radical reduction” in its financial exposure to the United States, while keeping select properties such as Westfield UTC.
Plaza Bonita Is More Than A Shopping Center
For National City, Plaza Bonita is not just a collection of stores beneath one roof. Pedro Garcia, the city’s economic development manager, told KPBS that the individual businesses at the mall collectively employ hundreds of people and have been a “backbone” for the community.
That local role helps explain why the ownership change is drawing attention even though no immediate closures or major construction plans have been announced. Residents use the mall for shopping, dining, movies, family outings and, in some cases, long-running social routines that have little to do with buying anything.
Newer Food And Entertainment Tenants Raise The Stakes
Plaza Bonita has recently leaned into experiences that can keep people around longer than a quick retail stop. Tacos El Franc operates a National City location inside the mall, while the National City Chamber held a 2024 grand-opening event for Round1 Bowling & Arcade there.
Centennial’s official Plaza Bonita page describes the center as an 800,000-plus-square-foot retail and entertainment destination anchored by Macy’s, Target, JCPenney, Nordstrom Rack, AMC Theatres and Round1. That lineup gives the new operator plenty to protect—and plenty of open space to rethink if it wants to make a bigger mark.
The Mall’s Next Chapter Is Still Unwritten
For now, the most concrete change is branding: Westfield is out, while Plaza Bonita remains the name locals already use. Centennial’s property page now lists the mall in its portfolio and highlights leasing contacts, suggesting that tenant mix and future positioning will be central to the new ownership’s strategy.
Whether that means refreshed common areas, more restaurants, new entertainment or simply a quieter management transition is not yet clear. But with a major South Bay employer and gathering place changing hands, National City residents will be watching for more than a new sign above the entrance.
