GO: The Promenade Shops
This past weekend saw the latest addition to Inland Southern California’s retail landscape as the first phase of The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos officially opened. Located just off I-15 in southern Corona, the new $110 million, outdoor lifestyle center comprises 360,000 square feet of retail, dining and entertainment offerings.
Developed by Memphis-based Poag & McEwen, the “Craftsman-styled” center is almost fully leased, including the likes of Talbots, Banana Republic, Coach, Coldwater Creek, Z Gallerie, Trader Joe’s, Ann Taylor Loft, Anthropologie, Victoria’s Secret, Eddie Bauer, White House Black Market, some of which are still to open. As of yet, there are no major anchor tenants, though this may change with future phases as the center expands to an expected 575,000 sq. ft.
Although we foresee the center blossoming into a small, but vibrant retail plaza, we admit our first impressions of the center were that of underwhelming and unfinished. Roughly one-third of the stores were not yet open, the landscaping seemed quite minimal and the overall look of the place was a bit bland.
However, our biggest surprise came with the realization the central “promenade” was not so much of a promenade as it was a parking lot. For such a small mall, the need for close-in parking within the central plaza is simply not necessary. We feel this is the center’s biggest design flaw. It is our hope that future plans and/or expansions rectify this aspect by removing the parking and re-making the area into the grand pedestrian plaza it should have been.
With that said, a nice surprise came with the subtle, local historic references and the unique walkway/bridge, built mostly from bamboo. The 750-foot-long walkway spans the area between the center’s two lakes. Benches are scattered along the way, providing the opportunity for a nice respite from shopping.
Overall, we have high hopes for The Promenade Shops. As part of the 543-acre, master-planned Dos Lagos development, which includes residential, retail, offices, an 18-hole championship golf course, and 135 acres of open space, the center is bound to only get better. And over time, as the landscape matures and the center expands, no doubt, it will become one of Corona’s primary focal points and gathering spots. For now, we’re satisfied with seeing the center’s relatively high-end shops, which provide the latest example of such retailers finally recognizing Inland Southern California’s rising demographics.
Photo Gallery: Dos Lagos
Related
- Riverside Press-Enterprise – Dos Lagos celebrates area history on second day it’s open (Oct. 8) | Shoppers line up for festive opening of Dos Lagos (Oct. 7) | Corona retail writing a new chapter (Oct. 1)
- The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos
- Poag & McEwen (Promendade developer)
- Dos Lagos (SE Corporation)
Previous
- RaincrossSquare.com – Inland SoCal mall happenings (July 2006)
Sources: Riverside Press-Enterprise (PE-20061001, PE-20061007, PE-20061008); RaincrossSquare.com
2024 PAGE UPDATE: Added additional photos; updated outdated links to third-party web sites; removed outdated links to newspaper articles and photo gallery.
