Westwood’s Urban Outfitters closes after 22 years following UC Investments acquisition

Urban Outfitters’ Westwood location shuttered Thursday after over 22 years on Westwood Boulevard.

The lifestyle retailer, which sold clothing, dorm decorations and music products at 1028 and 1038 Westwood Boulevard, was among more than a dozen Westwood Village properties that UC Investments – the office of the UC Regents’ chief investment officer – bought in July for nearly $50 million, according to the Commercial Observer.

The property is across the street from Corner Bakery Cafe and neighbors the Terasaki Institute, a biomedical research nonprofit, and Wow & Flutter, a post-production studio.

“I just hope that they invest back into the students and make it into places where the students can benefit from,” said Amy Rios, a molecular biology doctoral student who lives in Westwood.

Urban Outfitters did not immediately respond in time to a request for comment on the closure.

UC Investments, which manages the UC’s $190 billion portfolio of investments, declined to comment on the acquisition and its plans for the site. The office has not announced its plans with the property as of Friday.

Rios said she was not surprised to hear Urban Outfitters closed because she rarely saw many people in the store. She added that she wants a more affordable department store or a late-night study space to replace Urban Outfitters.

UCLA alumnus Ellie Wiygul said she only shopped at Urban Outfitters when its items were on sale. She added that she hopes the space becomes a thrift store or a store where students can sell their own art and clothes.

“I feel like people come here enough that I didn’t think it would close,” Wiygul said. “It’s sad for the students here because they can’t shop here anymore.”

When Rios was a UCLA undergraduate student, she often needed to buy business attire but Westwood lacked affordable options, she said. Nonsale clothing at Urban Outfitters ranges from $20 to over $500, according to its website.

“It’s a little too expensive for day-to-day shopping,” said Lilia Rico, a UCLA Health human resources generalist.

Wiygul said she believes the UC should listen to student input when deciding what to do with the space.

Dirk Musgrave, a Westwood resident, said he wants UC Investments to be more transparent about its intentions when acquiring properties.

Michael Russell, executive director of the Westwood Village Improvement Association, said in an emailed statement that he is optimistic about the property’s potential.

“The Urban Outfitters closure creates a positive opportunity for the future of that space and for continued reinvestment and development in Westwood Village,” he said in the statement.

Seeing storefronts close after decades in the Village is frustrating, Musgrave said. Rico added that she would rather see more small businesses open in Westwood Village instead of chain stores.

Rios said that while she has seen high business turnover in Westwood, she is excited about new stores coming to Westwood. Boichik Bagels, Tmall Campus and Sana’a Cafe are among the several new businesses opening soon in Westwood.

“For the past three years, the selection has really gone down, but now I’m seeing an improvement,” Rios said. “In areas where it was empty, I’m seeing establishments open up, and now I’m finding myself going to Westwood Village more because there’s actually options.”