The food court at Windward Mall will close Thursday for an expansion and renovation project that will more than double its size.

The project represents a deferred piece of a $23 million renovation completed in 2007 to Windward O'ahu's only regional shopping mall.

The food court wasn't renovated at that time because of tenant lease commitments, according to Jonathan Kim, general manager of the Kane'ohe shopping center.

Windward Mall owner Kamehameha Schools said it is working to sign a mix of national and local food court operators to fill 10 tenant spaces.

The expanded food court is expected to open before next year's holiday season, and will more than double in size from 7,983 square feet to 18,590 square feet. Most of the expansion is to enlarge dining space from 202 seats to 408 seats. One new tenant space also is being added.

Other elements in the redesign include video screens that can display advertising, sporting events and other information.

While the food court project is under way, Windward Mall will still have more than a dozen restaurant tenants throughout the center, including Arby's, IHOP, Ninja Sushi, Panda Express, Ruby Tuesday, Subway and Taco Del Mar.

The initial mall renovation phase was the first makeover since the 530,000-square foot center opened in 1982. It included redesigned entrances, enhanced landscaping, new flooring, lighting, seating, an indoor children's play area and an additional escalator between the mall's two levels.

The renovation also created about 40,000 square feet of tenant space under Regal Cinemas that at one time was home to a J.C. Penney Co. store. It now houses a full-size Borders store and other retailers.