Point Dume Plaza owner breaks silence, announces development plans

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Redesign plans for the newly called Point Dume Village will include walkways and common areas covered with granite flagstone, and Malibu tile reproductions will be featured everywhere as accents.

Mario Vitale, owner of the Dume Room, says the bar will be remodeled and then discussions will take place with the mall owner on a new lease.

By Jonathan Friedman / Assistant Editor

After months of little communication with tenants and no contact with the media about his plans for the Point Dume Plaza, owner Zan Marquis has finally given some insight into his plans for the shopping center that he purchased last year.

Marquis issued a press release this week confirming rumors that the mall’s name has been changed to Point Dume Village and announced plans for the new Pavilions, as well as some other changes for the facility. Also, at least one tenant said Marquis’ company is now talking to him about a possible new lease.

The press release states that Pavilions will open next summer. As previously announced by Pavilions officials, the grocery chain will move into the space currently occupied by Cooke’s Family market, which is closing at the end of the year. The Pavilions will include an in-store Starbucks.

Marquis is also quoted in the press release regarding plans to upgrade the entire shopping center.

“We want to give it the authentic early California ambience that it alludes to, and also make it more friendly and inviting,” Marquis states in the release. “Plans call for stone facades and wainscoting on all buildings. Walkways and common areas will be covered with granite flagstone. The wood columns will get ‘corbels’ in a nod to early California architecture. Malibu tile reproductions will be featured everywhere as accents. The central courtyard will also get two new fountains and an outdoor fire pit.”

The press release further stated that all the tenants have been asked to propose plans for upgrading their businesses, and proposals from new retailers are being considered.

Dume Room owner Mario Vitale said he is developing redesign plans for his bar that has been a Malibu hangout for 35 years.

“It’s still going to be a local bar,” Vitale said. “It’s just going to have better bathrooms, be a little more spacious.”

Vitale, whose bar is on a month-to-month lease, said he has not been pressured to develop his redesign plans quickly. He said he expects to have a proposal ready within the next couple months. With redesign discussions, Vitale said there would also be talks about a new lease.

“Things have been pretty good,” Vitale said. “There has been no pressure [from Marquis]. The ball is in my court at this point.”

In previous interviews, tenants have told The Malibu Times that Marquis and property manager Linda Kight did not return phone calls and were unwilling to talk about lease renewals beyond telling the tenants not to worry.

Abel Castro, co-owner of Lily’s Café, said this week that his business has a lease through August 2007, and he has heard nothing from Marquis about whether that lease would be renewed.

“They don’t say anything to us,” Castro said. “They only say ‘your lease expires next year, don’t worry.'”

Castro continued, “If they keep saying we’re going to stay, I’ll take their word for it.”

The Malibu Times was unable to get in touch with any other tenants for this story.