FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hawthorne City Manager
4455 W. 126th Street
Hawthorne, CA 90250
(310) 349-2900

HAWTHORNE, Calif., September 9, 2025 – The City of Hawthorne has obtained a permanent court injunction requiring the owners of the long-vacant Hawthorne Mall to move forward with redevelopment or demolition no later than Aug. 31, 2026.

The order follows a nuisance abatement action brought by the City after years of inaction by the property’s owners, The Charles Company, and its affiliate M&A Gabaee. The injunction mandates that the owners secure the property, conduct structural and asbestos testing, install fencing to prevent trespassing, provide daily cleanup and maintain on-site security.

If the owners fail to meet the August 2026 deadline, the City will request the appointment of a receiver who would assume control of the property on behalf of the court and determine its disposition. The mall, which has sat vacant for more than two decades, has been a source of ongoing community concern due to trespassing, graffiti, trash and safety issues. Redevelopment of the site is considered critical to the economic recovery of the City’s downtown and will also provide relief to surrounding neighborhoods.

“The City appreciates the numerous community members who stepped forward to voice their concerns over the years,” said City Attorney Robert Kim. “We were able to present those complaints to the court to show just how negative of impacts the mall has had to ensure we could get relief.”

For future updates, please refer to the City of Hawthorne website and social media

Hawthorne Mall Update 2025