Moreno Valley Mall Closed Over Fire Safety Violations

Owners Facing Multitude of Issues Related to Fire Protection Systems

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Moreno Valley Mall in Riverside County, California has been closed by city officials due to numerous fire safety violations. The sprawling indoor mall, a centerpiece of the local community, was red-tagged on February 19th for the owners' failure to resolve a variety of unresolved issues with the mall's fire protection systems. While anchor stores like Macy's and JCPenney can remain open, most of the two-level, 1.1 million square foot mall has been deemed unsafe by county and state fire inspectors.

Why it matters

The closure of the Moreno Valley Mall highlights ongoing challenges facing aging retail centers, especially related to maintaining proper fire safety standards. As malls across the country struggle with declining foot traffic and rising vacancies, ensuring adequate fire protection systems is critical for public safety. The situation also raises questions about oversight and accountability for mall owners in addressing such issues proactively.

The details

City officials cited the mall's owners, IGP Business Group, for a 'multitude of unresolved issues' with the fire protection systems, including a lack of a backup generator that would keep the mall lit during a power failure. Other violations included severely cracked pavement, dead landscaping, insufficient exterior lighting, and graffiti from deferred maintenance. While anchor stores like Macy's and JCPenney can remain open due to their independent fire systems, the majority of the mall has been ordered closed until all safety measures are addressed.

  • On February 19, 2026, city officials 'red-tagged' the Moreno Valley Mall, ordering it to close due to fire safety violations.
  • In January 2026, the city sent a letter to the mall's owners outlining various fire code and property maintenance violations.

The players

Moreno Valley Mall

A large indoor regional mall in Riverside County, California that serves customers from Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The mall was built in 1992 on the former site of the Riverside International Raceway.

IGP Business Group

The owners of the Moreno Valley Mall who are facing fire safety violations that led to the mall's closure.

Macy's

A department store located within the Moreno Valley Mall that is able to remain open due to having its own independently maintained fire protection systems.

JCPenney

A department store located within the Moreno Valley Mall that is able to remain open due to having its own independently maintained fire protection systems.

Harkins Theatres

A 16-screen movie theater located within the Moreno Valley Mall that is also able to remain open.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“For example, there's no backup generator. If there was a power failure, the whole place will go dark, and that's a safety violation.”

— Elena Baca-Santa Cruz, City Councilwoman (Riverside Press-Enterprise)

“We are working hard to end this interruption.”

— Matt Ilbak, Owner, IGP Business Group (Instagram)

What’s next

The owners of the Moreno Valley Mall, IGP Business Group, have stated they have installed a new backup generator and are working to resolve all of the city's fire safety issues in order to reopen the mall.

The takeaway

The closure of the Moreno Valley Mall underscores the challenges facing aging retail centers in maintaining proper fire safety standards, which is critical for public safety. As malls across the country struggle with declining foot traffic and rising vacancies, this incident highlights the need for increased oversight and accountability to ensure mall owners proactively address such issues.