Ovation Hollywood

The site was the location of the 1902 Hollywood Hotel, in which many celebrities stayed in the early days of Hollywood. The hotel was demolished in August 1956 and, despite initial plans for a high-rise hotel and a department store on the site,[6][7] it was replaced by the twelve-story First Federal Building of the First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Hollywood; a shopping center; and parking lots. These stood until 1998.[8]

Developed by TrizecHahn and with funds from the Community Redevelopment Agency, the complex opened as Hollywood & Highland after three years of construction[9] in November 2001 and is part of an overall effort to revitalize Hollywood Boulevard.

The three-story centerpiece courtyard of the Center

The project was an example of joint development, in which a public agency leases the right to develop a parcel in exchange for improvements to the property, in this case, an enhanced portal to the Hollywood/Highland Metro B Line station and a 3,000 space underground parking lot. TrizecHahn leased 1.35 acres (5,500 m²) of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority land for 55 years at a rate of $492,000 per year (with additional increases added every five years based on the Consumer Price Index) and four 11-year optional extensions.[10]

The corner of Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave. in 2006.

The intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave. in 1907

Leading up to the construction of the development the City of Los Angeles was persuaded, through its Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), to contribute at least $90 million in 1998 toward the site's initial construction. This was in addition to the costs of constructing the Red Line subway station below the mall.[11]

Trizec Properties sold its interest in the development for over $200 million in 2004 to CIM Group.[12] CIM rebranded Hollywood & Highland and repositioned the center with higher-end tenants. In 2005, the center underwent renovations to add additional features such as escalators leading visitors from Hollywood Boulevard directly to the third floor of the central courtyard, new signage, and new stores.[13]

Several stores in this shopping complex such as GAP, Chili Beans, Guess, Louis Vuitton, Fossil, Gateway Newsstands, KIKO Milano, Disney Store, Barnes & Noble, Tiffany & Co., LA Comics, Under Armour, Blockbuster, The Blue Company, Microsoft Store, Oakley, Sanuk, Movie-Tech, and American Eagle have closed their stores in late 2020s. Later, stores such as Foot Locker, Pandora, Nickelodeon, Apple Store, and Walgreens opended their stores.

In 2019, real estate investment firms DJM Capital Partners, Inc. and Gaw Capital partnered and purchase the mall for $325 Million. They announced plans for a major renovation to include rebranding and upgrading the retail levels and courtyard, adding office space in the upper floors, and removal of the Babylon themed decor. The renovations on this complex began work in 2020.[14][15] The renovated complex was then renamed[16] & rebranded to Ovation Hollywood in 2022 by Los Angeles branding agency Ludlow Kingsley.[17]

The complex opened in 2001 with a conditional use permit that enabled, among other things, for the center to have special exemptions of Los Angeles billboard ordinances. Despite objections of some residents and neighbors, in 2002 this agreement was amended and extended for an additional 20 years. L.A. City Councilman Eric Garcetti, who then represented the Hollywood-area district and was elected mayor in 2013, supported extending this special permit.[18]

The design of the center has been criticized. In 2007, Curbed L.A., an online magazine, named Hollywood & Highland the "winner" of their Ugliest Building in Los Angeles contest. In selecting Hollywood & Highland, they cited its aesthetics, pedestrian unfriendliness (including the lack of storefronts on the side facing Highland Ave.), confusing circulation, and "mish-mash of architectural styles".[19]

Costumed characters with tourists

The center played a significant role in attracting development to other parts of Hollywood Boulevard. The TV Guide Hollywood Center (formerly owned by CIM Group)[20] across the street reconstructed the ground floor and has attracted new tenants such as American Apparel, Baja Fresh, Hooters, and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Other notable retail stores that have a presence on the Boulevard include clothier H&M, which was later closed and the Spanish retail chain Zara.[21] In addition, several blocks further east on Vine Street, a W Hotel opened incorporating the existing Hollywood/Vine Metro Red Line station.

The sidewalk in front of Ovation Hollywood is considered a coveted location for recent additions to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. As such it is one of the few locations where the star memorials are "doubled up" rather than being placed linearly, in order for more stars to be accommodated in front of the center.

In February 2005, the Academy Awards statuettes were put on display for public viewing at Hollywood & Highland before the ceremony on March 5. Visitors could have a picture taken outside with a giant prop Oscar that was to be used on the red carpet and in the exhibit could learn about the history of the Academy Awards, see the statuettes that were to be presented, and even get their picture taken holding an actual Oscar statuette. It became extremely popular, so the Academy decided to continue it. The exhibit opened on February 9, 2006, and closed February 24, when the Oscars were removed and paraded down the red carpet into the Dolby Theatre.

• Official website
• Loews Hollywood Hotel
• El Capitan Theatre
• Grauman's Chinese Theatre
• CIM Group