Laguna Hills Mall will close on Dec. 31 as a developer continues to shape plans for the Five Lagunas shopping center that will replace it.

In announcing the shuttering of the mall’s interior, Merlone Geier Partners stated, “The closure of the three former department stores offers a unique opportunity to re-imagine the entire property, which will offer a comprehensive array of shopping, dining, entertainment and living options.”

Tenants facing outside the mall and surrounding it will remain open, including Nordstrom Rack, King’s Fish House, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, California Pizza Kitchen, In-N-Out Burger, Ruby’s Diner, Subway and Firestone Complete Auto Care.

But Total Woman Gym + Spa will also close on Dec. 31. The Irvine branch will remain open. (The mall’s developer has corrected its initial statement that the Laguna Hills location would stay open). To make up for any inconvenience, the gym told members in a notice posted outside the building, “Your January 2019 monthly membership dues are on us.”

Plans for the redevelopment of the new Five Lagunas will be shared in early 2019, the developer said.

Merlone Geier bought the mall in 2013 for $110 million from longtime owner Simon Property Group. At the time, taxable sales revenue for the property had reached a seven-year low of $1.4 million, down from $1.8 million in 2005, according to city records.

In 2014, the developer, which also owns several supermarket-anchored shopping centers throughout Southern California, took over the Sears lease. The retailer closed that same year.

Macy’s closed in early 2018, followed by J.C. Penney this October.

With technological advances and thousands of stores going under, many shopping centers across the U.S. are being forced to make dramatic changes. Retail experts have said it’s likely some will simply be known as “centers,” morphing into mixed-use environments that include health care and educational and recreational components, in addition to stores.

But any plans for Five Lagunas are still under wraps.

The closure means the last day of shopping is Dec. 31.

On Tuesday, Dec. 18, a few stores and kiosks inside the mall remained open. At one end, Santa Claus sat by himself in a spot staged to look festive for the holidays. The big guy sat alone, checking his cell phone.

But Santa, aka Randy Welsh, said business hasn’t been bad. Now that school is closed, he said, the moms clubs have been bringing their kids in.

“We’re the best kept secret,” he said.

See also:

J.C. Penney to close at Laguna Hills mall, developer says

Here’s a look at how you’ll shop in the year 2030 – or sooner

10 ways you’ll shop differently in about a decade (Cue the robots!)