Santa Clarita Is Getting a Major Glow-Up — And It's Changing What Buyers Are Looking For

by Carie Gonzalez

When a city starts attracting this kind of investment, it's not just exciting for residents. It's a signal.

I've been selling homes in the Santa Clarita Valley for years. And I can tell you — the question I get most from buyers relocating here isn't about square footage or school ratings. It's: "What do you actually do here?"

They want to know what the lifestyle looks like. Where they'll grab dinner on a Friday night. What the weekend feels like. Whether this is a place their kids will actually want to be.

That answer just got a whole lot better.

The Reinvention of Valencia Town Center

Valencia Town Center is adding more than 175,000 square feet of new dining, entertainment, and lifestyle destinations — with 10 new tenants opening in phases through 2026 and 2027.

That's not a small upgrade. That's a reinvention. And when you pair it with what's already happening in Old Town Newhall and across the valley, Santa Clarita's lifestyle story is one of the most compelling it's ever been.

Centennial — the developer that purchased Valencia Town Center in 2023 — has been methodical about this transformation. In April 2026, they announced their full vision: a wave of new tenants that shifts the mall from a traditional shopping center into what they're calling a "modern, desirable mixed-use destination."

"We aren't just adding stores. We are curating experiences." — Michael de Leon, General Manager of Valencia Town Center

What's Coming to Valencia Town Center:

Round1 Bowling & Arcade: This is the anchor. A 125,000-square-foot entertainment complex taking over the former Sears space. It will feature bowling, professional billiards, karaoke, arcade games imported from Japan, Spo-cha (a sports challenge concept), and the YUU Japanese Food Hall — all under one roof. Anticipated to open early 2027.
KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot: All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ meets hot pot in one hands-on, social dining experience. A concept that's taken off across Southern California and fills a real gap in SCV's restaurant scene.
Bushfire Kitchen: Elevated, made-from-scratch American comfort food with a health-conscious focus. The kind of place you bring clients — or take your family on a Tuesday because it actually feels special.
Bacio di Latte: Authentic Italian-style gelato made with artisanal techniques. A dessert destination that feels more like something you'd find in Pasadena than a suburban mall.

What's Already Open — And What Else Is Coming

Across the valley, the growth doesn't stop at the town center:

CAVA: Already serving in Valencia — the Mediterranean fast-casual brand that's been one of the hottest concepts in Southern California. Early crowds proved the appetite is here.
Yard House: Opened its first Santa Clarita Valley location at River Oaks Shopping Center on Magic Mountain Parkway in Valencia. A full bar, 100+ draft taps, and a menu built for the kind of group night out SCV hasn't really had before.
Texas Roadhouse: In the works for the former Claim Jumper location on The Old Road in Stevenson Ranch — hand-cut steaks, those famous bread rolls, and the kind of crowd-pleaser that families with kids will use constantly.
Dutch Bros Coffee: One of the most beloved drive-through coffee concepts in California — is bringing its first SCV location to the area.
San Fernando Coffee Co. (Old Town Newhall): Quietly become one of the valley's favorite spots — adding to a district that already has Laemmle Theatre, over 60 local businesses, walkable streets, Metrolink access, and a cultural energy that no master-planned community can manufacture.

Market Impact: Why This Matters

For Buyers

I talk to buyers every week who love everything about Santa Clarita — the size, the neighborhoods, the feel — but hesitate because of the dining and entertainment scene. That hesitation is disappearing.

Lifestyle infrastructure drives demand. When a city becomes more livable — when people don't have to drive 45 minutes to have a great dinner or a fun Saturday with their family — more people want to be there. More people wanting to be there supports home values.

Note: This isn't a guarantee. Real estate is always specific to the home, the neighborhood, and the moment. But the trajectory here is clear. Santa Clarita is investing in itself. And buyers who are on the fence right now are watching that happen in real time.

For Sellers

If you own a home here, this is your neighborhood getting more desirable. I'm not here to tell you your home went up in value because a Yard House opened. That's not how this works. What I can tell you is that the story you tell when you list your home just got stronger.

Buyers respond to lifestyle. They respond to a community that feels alive and growing. When your listing description can point to walkable dining, a massive entertainment complex a few miles away, and a valley that's clearly investing in its own future — that's a different conversation than it was two years ago. Sellers who price thoughtfully and present their homes well in a market like this are positioned to do very well.

The Bigger Picture

Santa Clarita has always had the fundamentals — great neighborhoods, good schools, proximity to LA without the chaos of LA, and a community feel that people genuinely love once they're here.

What it's adding now is the layer that turns a great place to live into a place people specifically seek out: Experiences. Energy. Reasons to stay local on a Saturday instead of driving to Pasadena.

That shift is already happening. And if you're thinking about making a move — buying here, selling here, or just understanding what your equity looks like right now with Equity Union — I'd love to walk you through it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What new restaurants are coming to Santa Clarita in 2026? Several major additions are either already open or on their way. Yard House is open at River Oaks Shopping Center in Valencia. CAVA is already serving in Valencia. Texas Roadhouse is coming to the former Claim Jumper site in Stevenson Ranch, and Dutch Bros Coffee is bringing its first SCV location to the area. At Valencia Town Center, KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot, Bushfire Kitchen, and Bacio di Latte are among 10 new tenants opening through 2026 and 2027.

When does Round1 open at Valencia Town Center? Round1 Bowling & Arcade is currently under construction in the former Sears anchor space at Valencia Town Center and is anticipated to open in early 2027. The 125,000-square-foot complex will include bowling, billiards, karaoke, arcade games imported from Japan, Spo-cha sports challenges, and the YUU Japanese Food Hall.

Is Santa Clarita a good place to buy a home in 2026? That depends on your specific situation — budget, timeline, and what you're looking for in a home and community. What I can say is that Santa Clarita's lifestyle infrastructure is growing significantly, which supports long-term desirability. If you'd like to talk through whether it makes sense for you right now, I'm happy to have that conversation.

Does new development in an area raise home values? Lifestyle amenities and infrastructure growth can support buyer demand over time, which can be a factor in home values. However, home values are driven by many things — comparable sales, interest rates, inventory, and the specific home and neighborhood. I never make appreciation promises, but I'm always happy to share what the data shows for your specific area.

What areas of Santa Clarita are growing the most? Valencia is seeing significant retail and entertainment growth with the Valencia Town Center transformation and FivePoint Valencia's ongoing development. Old Town Newhall continues to grow as the valley's arts and entertainment district. Every part of SCV — from Canyon Country to Castaic to Stevenson Ranch — has its own character and its own momentum. The right area for you depends on your lifestyle, budget, and priorities.