Nearly 30% of Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade Sits Empty

A local designer's interactive map reveals the stark reality of the once-bustling outdoor mall's decline.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:54pm

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A minimalist studio still life featuring a collection of sleek, geometric objects in muted tones, conceptually representing the decline of the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.The once-bustling Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica now faces the stark reality of nearly 30% of its storefronts sitting empty, a testament to the broader challenges facing urban retail centers.Santa Monica Today

A Santa Monica product designer has created an interactive map tracking the occupancy of storefronts along the city's Third Street Promenade, revealing that nearly 30% of the spaces are currently vacant. The data highlights the decline of the once-thriving outdoor shopping district, which has been impacted by the rise of online shopping and homelessness in the area. Several major retailers have already fled the promenade, further eroding foot traffic.

Why it matters

The Third Street Promenade was long considered one of Los Angeles' most popular shopping destinations, but its struggles mirror a broader trend of declining foot traffic and retail closures in urban centers across the country. The high vacancy rate raises concerns about the economic health of Santa Monica and the ability of local officials to revitalize the area.

The details

The designer's interactive map shows that 28.5% of storefronts on the Third Street Promenade are currently vacant. This bleak snapshot comes as the Misfit Bar and Restaurant, a longtime fixture in the historic Clock Tower building, announced it will be closing this weekend after 15 years. Elsewhere in Santa Monica, the Britannia pub is also set to shutter to make way for a Taco Bell Cantina. Major retailers like Old Navy, Gap, H&M, and AMC have already departed the area, further eroding the foot traffic that once made the promenade a popular shopping destination.

  • The interactive map tracking Third Street Promenade occupancy was recently revealed by The Post.
  • The Misfit Bar and Restaurant will be closing this weekend after 15 years.
  • The Britannia pub is set to close in the future to make way for a Taco Bell Cantina.

The players

Third Street Promenade

An outdoor shopping mall in Santa Monica, California, located two blocks from the beach. It was once a bustling shopping destination but has seen a significant decline in recent years.

Santa Monica

A coastal city in Los Angeles County, California, known for its beaches, shopping, and entertainment.

The Misfit Bar and Restaurant

A softly-lit gastropub located inside the historic Clock Tower building on the Third Street Promenade, which is set to close this weekend after 15 years in business.

The Britannia pub

A pub in Santa Monica that is closing in the future to make way for a Taco Bell Cantina.

LGO Hospitality

The owner of The Britannia pub, who opted not to renew the lease, citing ongoing frustrations with the property and a decline in foot traffic.

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What’s next

Santa Monica officials have taken steps to try to revive the Third Street Promenade, including expanding an outdoor Entertainment Zone and allocating $3 million in economic development funds to support restaurant attraction incentives and business recruitment. A large music festival is also planned for September in an effort to draw more visitors to the area.

The takeaway

The high vacancy rate on the Third Street Promenade highlights the broader challenges facing urban retail centers as consumer habits shift and the impacts of the pandemic linger. While Santa Monica officials are working to revitalize the area, the struggles of the once-thriving shopping district serve as a cautionary tale for other cities seeking to maintain the vitality of their downtown commercial districts.