Construction walls have gone up throughout Universal CityWalk as the outdoor shopping mall next to Universal Studios Hollywood begins a sweeping transformation that will see nearly a dozen locations change operators.
Several CityWalk stores closed in January adding to the growing number of locations that have been shuttered in recent months.
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Mini Monster reluctantly announced the closure of the CityWalk coffee and boba shop in October.
“After more than 7 years, Universal has decided to take back the space,” Mini Monster wrote on Instagram. “We tried our best to stay, but this decision was beyond our control.”
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The small chain had hoped to continue operating the CityWalk location indefinitely after investing resources and energy into the shop.
“The reality of being a small business is that you’re often at the mercy of the landlord,” Mini Monster wrote on Instagram. “Even when you do well, rising rents can make it impossible to afford and sometimes a landlord may simply choose not to renew a lease.”
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The list of 11 recently closed Universal CityWalk stores and restaurants includes:
- Abercrombie & Fitch
- Chick Chick Chicken
- Crepe Cafe
- Dongpo Kitchen
- Fossil
- Francesca’s clothing
- iFly indoor skydiving
- Mini Monster
- Popcornopolis
- Samba
- Sparky’s
Four new locations have been announced or have already opened at Universal CityWalk:
- Escapology (replacing Samba)
- Insomnia Cookies (replacing Mini Monster)
- Line Friends Square (replacing Fossil)
- Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe (replaced Francesca’s and Chick Chick Chicken)
Additional new CityWalk locations and opening dates will be announced in the coming months.