BIGMallrat | Retail history of Northern California

Before Valley Fair became the massive, multi-level mega-mall we know today, it started as something much simpler—and, in its own way, more charming. The original Valley Fair was a small, open-air shopping center that began with a Macy’s store, which opened its doors on August 10, 1956. The surrounding outdoor mall followed soon after, officially opening on April 4, 1957. A 1960 aerial view of the original Valley Fair, with Macy’s at the center—long before parking structures and luxury wings took over. Open-air promenades and 60+ specialty stores Back then, Valley Fair wasn’t about luxury labels or valet parking. It was about strolling steel-beamed promenades, visiting one of over 60 specialty stores, and catching a breeze between shops. There’s a grainy photo from 1961 that shows the promenade—wide walkways, low-slung storefronts, and a sense of openness that malls just don’t have anymore. A grainy glimpse of Valley Fair’s steel-beamed promenade in 1961—wide walkways, mid-century stor...

Originally published in 2006; expanded and updated in 2026. The East Bay's resort-style shopping center Blackhawk Plaza was one of the Bay Area's most ambitious upscale retail developments. Opened in 1989 as part of the master-planned Blackhawk community, the center combined luxury shopping, resort-style landscaping, and cultural attractions in a setting unlike any other East Bay shopping center. While retailers came and went over the decades, Blackhawk Plaza ultimately found its identity not as a traditional shopping mall, but as a destination centered on dining, entertainment, and cultural attractions. Luxury retail on a hill The center opened with ambitious plans. Early tenants included FJ's Blackhawk Market, known for its gold-plated shopping carts equipped with mobile phones, while developers pursued luxury retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Bonwit Teller. Yet many of the center's early retail ambitions proved difficult to sustain. Saks closed within a y...