The city of Moreno Valley will unveil a new museum and entertainment destination next month when the Moreno Valley Museum & ArtSpace opens Friday, Sept. 25, in the vacant Sears building at the Moreno Valley Mall.
What the new space will offer
The facility occupies the former department-store footprint on the mall’s eastern edge and spans nearly 40,000 square feet. City officials and the chosen operator say the site will combine museum exhibitions with entertainment and community-oriented amenities.
- Immersive exhibition galleries using large-scale projections, sound and interactive elements
- An event space available for performances and gatherings
- A café and a retail area selling merchandise and artwork
- Programs aimed at local families, students and artists
The venue will be owned by the city and managed by Lighthouse Immersive, a Toronto-based production company hired to run the center’s operations and programming. Its first scheduled production is "New Immersive Van Gogh: The Next Chapter", a show that surrounds visitors with floor-to-ceiling projections of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings.
“Moreno Valley’s families deserve access to world-class cultural and educational experiences right here at home,” Mayor Ulises Cabrera said in a statement.
Location, layout and local aims
The center’s address is 22550 Town Circle, positioned at the mall area nearest Frederick Street. Organizers describe the project as a hybrid: part museum, part entertainment hub and part cultural destination designed to draw residents and visitors alike. The interior will include designated exhibit galleries plus ancillary spaces for events, food service and retail sales.
City officials have framed the project as both an educational resource and an economic asset. By placing interactive and technologically driven exhibitions in leased mall space, Moreno Valley aims to expand cultural offerings without building a standalone museum from scratch. The model follows a trend of repurposing large, vacant retail sites into community facilities.
Practical information at a glance
Key details released by the city and the museum operator are summarized below.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Opening date | Sept. 25 |
| Address | 22550 Town Circle |
| Square footage | Nearly 40,000 sq ft |
| First production | New Immersive Van Gogh: The Next Chapter |
Officials say programming will emphasize local history, art and storytelling while using immersive technologies to engage visitors. The combination of rotating productions and community events aims to attract repeat audiences and provide opportunities for local artists to display work.
For Moreno Valley residents, the museum could offer new after-school activities, field-trip options for schools and additional foot traffic to the mall area. City leaders have positioned the project as a way to expand cultural access without sending families to neighboring cities for similar experiences.
Further operational details — including hours, ticketing, membership options and a calendar of community events — are expected to be released by the museum in the coming weeks. Lighthouse Immersive will handle day-to-day programming and exhibit presentation under the city’s ownership.
The opening marks a notable reuse of a large retail vacancy at Moreno Valley Mall and reflects a broader effort by the city to breathe new life into commercial corridors while offering cultural services locally. Residents interested in updates should watch municipal announcements and the museum’s website for specifics on advance ticket sales and opening-week events.
