"We've taken a site that was once a hangout for transients and turned it into a place where people are standing in line to get into the stores," said Michael A. Pollack, the Mesa developer who transformed the dated 39,260-sf plaza at 5340 W. Glendale Ave. into one of the city's hottest shopping outlets. "As a result of this redevelopment, an aging structure on Glendale's main thoroughfare now has new life, the city has a building of which it can be proud of and the residents have a clean, safe place to shop."

Pollack, president of Michael A. Pollack Real Estate Investments who is known as the "Plastic Surgeon of Real Estate" for his work in revitalizing old retail centers, purchased Glendale Central Center in 2000 and began revamping the building, adding new exterior and interior surfaces, glass front panels, landscaping, lighting and other improvements.His efforts won him an award of appreciation from the city of Glendale, presented by councilman David Goulet.