Montclair Place

The inspiration

Montclair Place opened as Montclair Plaza in November 1968, built on a 120-acre lot to give the fast-growing Inland Empire a destination for suburban shopping, with easy parking and central walkways in the mid-century mold^1,2 . When CIM Group bought the property in 2014, it rebranded the mall in 2015 with the aim of shifting toward entertainment and dining rather than pure retail² .

Who's behind it

The original mall was developed by contractor Ernest W Hahn, whose company handled the financing and construction of the 1968 project^1,2 . Ownership sits with CIM Group, which describes itself as a community-focused real estate owner and operator and runs the property today^3,4,2 .

What to order

• Pier 88 Boiling Seafood & Bar: the mall's seafood boil spot for a heartier dinner outing⁵
• Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar: wings, beer and sports under one roof inside the mall⁵
• Charleys Cheesesteaks: a quick counter option for a fast bite⁵
• Auntie Anne's Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels: the classic walk-and-shop snack⁵

What people are saying

The City of Montclair highlights the food hall, the AMC theater, Main Event and Kids Empire as the mall's standout features for families . Press coverage describes the center's ongoing shift from a traditional mall into a mixed-use entertainment destination^2,6 .