Macerich, one of the nation’s leading owners, operators and developers of retail properties in top markets, and Candytopia, the immersive new candy-themed art exhibit and retail experience, are finding a sweet spot at Santa Monica Place.
Candytopia’s limited, four-month engagement – opened in early March and running through July 4th – is drawing thousands of visitors every week with strong ticket sales building on powerful media attention. The imaginative experience is designed to appeal to audiences of all ages.
The two-level, 16,000 square-foot interactive attraction features more than a dozen unique environments with larger-than-life installations ranging from flying unicorn pigs to a marshmallow tsunami, plus photo opportunities at every turn, a candy lounge and candy sampling throughout. Guests exit through Candytopia’s 2,000 square-foot retail shop offering exclusive Candytopia merchandise and more.
Candytopia is the creation of celebrity candy stylist Jackie Sorkin in partnership with event and production design guru Zac Hertog, CEO of ZH Productions, and retail veteran John Goodman.
“Our exciting, candy-fueled art and retail experience appeals to all the senses, and to people of all ages,” said Goodman, Candytopia’s co-founder and CEO. “Macerich’s Santa Monica Place has proved to be the ideal setting for us to successfully launch our traveling exhibit because it is a top visitor destination in and of itself in downtown Santa Monica with built-in amenities that support our brand.”
The fact that Candytopia visitors arrive early or stay after to shop, eat and stroll through Santa Monica Place is no surprise to Goodman, who shaped his significant retail expertise as a past CEO of Wet Seal, Sears Holding Corporation and Charlotte Russe.
“Candytopia is a smart concept blending art and retail into a truly original experience that is driving great traffic at Santa Monica Place,” said Macerich Chairman and CEO Art Coppola. “As we continue to bring unique experiences to shoppers across the country, Candytopia would certainly be a fit for other top Macerich properties in top markets.”
Tickets for Candytopia are $30 each for adults, $23 for children ages 4-12, and free for children age 3 and under, and are available online at https://www.showclix.com/event
Exhibit hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. (last ticket sold at 8:30 p.m.) and Sunday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. (last ticket sold at 8:30 p.m.).
Located steps away from the Pacific Ocean, the unique, all-outdoor Santa Monica Place is home to Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Tory Burch, DVF, Hugo Boss, BARNEYS NEW YORK, Nike, dozens more shops and an inspired collection of restaurants and entertainment experiences including True Food Kitchen, The Cheesecake Factory, Sonoma Wine Garden, ArcLight Cinemas and more. Santa Monica Place also is home to a growing set of engaging, digitally native brands, such as b8ta, Ministry of Supply, Monica + Andy, Peloton and others. Later this year, L.A.’s popular Zimmer Children’s Museum by ShareWell is set to open its new, larger location at Santa Monica Place.
