DOWN COMES a facade of the defunct Westminster Mall.

It was over a half-century ago when the Westminster Mall opened as the largest enclosed shopping mall in all of Orange County.

WILLIAM SHOPOFF and Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen.

On Wednesday the last vestiges of what was once a retail metropolis came down to began clearing the land for what could again be a mecca for spending and strolling.

The Westminster City Council, city officials and representatives from Shopoff Realty Investments – including William Shopoff, CEO – were on hand for the demolition of the last remaining parts of the mall at Bolsa Avenue and Goldenwest Street.

On that 83.3 site a new project will rise with the name Bolsa Pacific, which is planned to include 2,250 housing units (for sale and market -rate and affordable housing), a hotel and 220,000 square feet of new retail. Over 15 acres will be devoted to open space.

The only remnant of the former mall to remain is the Target department store.

When developed, the Bolsa Pacific project could prove a major boost to the local economy and city coffers.