Abandoned LA mall that spans 10 square blocks where ‘Fast and Furious’ was filmed is finally being demolished

Another one bites the dust.

A once-bustling mall in Los Angeles will quickly be turned into rubble after lying vacant for about three decades.

Hawthorne Plaza — a 35-acre shopping center in Hawthorne — shut down back in the 1990s where it housed almost 135 stores including popular retailers like JCPenney, The Broadway and an AMC Movie Theatre.

The massive property was also in blockbuster hits like “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” and “Gone Girl.”

Since its closing, members of the community have reported vandalism, trespassing and other safety issues. City officials are set to revive the area by making room for other businesses in an effort to revamp the community.

“This court decision provides a clear, enforceable schedule for the remediation of the Hawthorne Mall property,” city manager Vontray Norris said in a press release. “The City remains committed to utilizing all available legal avenues to pave the way for future development that will benefit residents and local businesses alike.”

Machinery and crews were seen demolishing the building as the City of Hawthorne scored a court order requiring the Hawthorne Mall owners to start tear down no later than August 14, 2026. 

The site is owned by The Charles Co. and affiliate M&A Gabaee and covers over 10 square blocks in Hawthorne.

For years, the now-dilapidated site saw developers scheming to create a space both profitable and useful to the community. Back in 2016, renderings revealed a mixed-used development that would be something of an outdoor mini-mall with an entire office complex, retail strips and upper-level homes.

The Daily Breeze said the drawings showed courtyards and parklets — a place for seating and bike racks — would have been peppered throughout. A rooftop was even included.

It would also have 600 housing units, 500,000 square feet of commercial space and a grocery store. The community would also see a food hall, movie theater and a gym.

However, the plans never came to fruition and the behemoth of a building continued to sit empty.

Hawthorne Plaza opened back in early 1977 where it faced many years of struggle as it competed for foot traffic with other South Bay malls like South Bay Galleria and Del Amo Fashion Center.

It closed a short 20 years later in 1999 when Gabaee bought the property, according to the Daily Breeze.

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