The incident happened around 11 p.m. in the rear parking lot of the shopping center on Ventura Boulevard near Willis Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The alleged attacker followed the victim down an elevator while he was taking out the garbage.
The suspect stabbed the worker in the lower back before taking off in an unknown car.
The employee is expected to recover.
In a statement, a Pavilions spokesperson said: "The safety of our associates and customers is our top priority. We are aware of the incident that occurred outside our store and are focused on supporting our associate. Because this is an active investigation, we cannot provide additional details at this time."
Further details about the incident, including a possible motive, were not available.