the cerritos redevelopment agency initially invested $30 million for the development of the los cerritos center area. the shopping area built at gridley road and south street was developed by ernest m. hahn, inc. in september 1971 with the phase i opening of the corridor from the broadway department store (currently macy's) to ohrbach's (first became a mervyn's, currently a forever 21) and j.w. robinson's (became robinsons-may in 1993) in addition to having an initial 150 specialty stores. phase ii followed in 1971 with the opening of the wing from ohrbach's to sears. in 1981, phase iii saw the opening of nordstrom and its first wing. in november 1993, phase iv was completed when the palm court cafes debuted in the center with 14 eateries.