The Downtown Disney District will see some new improvements after construction permits of $5.4 million were filed earlier this month with the Anaheim Planning and Building Department, according to Anaheim, Calif., spokesperson Mike Lyster.
Plans for an 8,300-square-foot retail building with room for five shops will repurpose its west-end outdoor shopping area according to officials. The construction will take place near the former AMC, which has been closed since 2018 in preparation for the renovations.
The new retail building will be a mid-century modern design that plays off the architecture of the Disneyland Hotel, officials said.
“We had been without the movie theater and some of the retail there for some time. So, this is great to see these plans moving forward,” Lyster said. “The Disneyland Hotel is the oldest hotel next to the theme park and is part of the long-term legacy of Walt Disney’s original vision here.”
Plans for new restaurants—including the popular Porto’s bakery—are also in the works for the renovation project.
An event space with a 1,250-square-foot stage is also planned.
According to Lyster, the theme park provides the city valuable revenue, as seen in recent years during the pandemic when Downtown Disney as well as Disneyland and California Adventure were shuttered, adding to losses for the city of $350 million over two years.
“It really shows the importance of our visitor economy and what it does for our city,” Lyster said.
