BIGMallrat | Retail history of Northern California

Originally published in 2006; expanded and updated in 2026. San Mateo Fashion Island opened in 1981 at the height of the American mall boom. Anchored by JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, Bullock's, and Liberty House, the project represented decades of retail thinking: build a bigger mall, add more department stores, and shoppers would come. But Fashion Island arrived at a turning point. Within just a few years of opening, two of its four anchors had abandoned the Northern California market entirely. Meanwhile, nearby Hillsdale Mall reinvented itself and captured much of the attention Fashion Island had hoped to command. The result was one of the Bay Area's earliest major mall failures—a shopping center that opened at the peak of department-store dominance only to discover that the retail landscape was already changing beneath its feet. 1970s origins: from Bay Meadows to high fashion The concept for what would become Fashion Island mall in San Mateo began in 1972, when Bay Meadows ...

Del Monte Center opened its doors in September of 1967, developed by the Dillingham Corporation with a thoughtful and distinctive design by John Carl Warneke & Associates. The landscape, envisioned by Lawrence Halprin & Associates, was equally striking—nearly 100 mature oak trees were preserved on-site, and authentic adobe bricks were used in the construction of the center’s signature 17-foot exposed-beam overhangs. The result was a shopping center that retained the historic charm of Monterey, Northern California’s oldest European settlement. The distinctive 17-foot exposed-beam overhangs at Del Monte Center—built from adobe brick and redwood timbers, blending modern retail with regional heritage. Architectural Record features Del Monte Center in 1968 So remarkable was the design that Architectural Record magazine highlighted Del Monte Center in April 1968, recognizing its blend of modern commerce with regional authenticity. An aerial view of Del Monte Center featured in Arch...

Vintage postcards from Eastridge Center capture the center during its early years as a regional shopping destination. These images reflect its original design, early tenants, and the architectural style that defined its opening era. Postcard 1 — Grand Court A 1971 postcard of Eastridge Mall’s Grand Court, centered on Jarman with the sleek plexiglass information booth gleaming below. The cascading red carpet, steel fountain sculpture, and triple-level design showcase the mall’s bold architectural ambition. The back of the postcard reads: "The 'Grand Court' area of the Eastridge regional shopping center in San Jose, California, features modern shaped plexiglass information booth and a spectacular sculpture in steel by the world famous sculptress, Stephanie Scuris. The center, which is constructed on three levels, boasts four major department stores and 146 other stores." Postcard 2 — second series view of Grand Court 1970s postcard of Eastridge Mall’s iconic red carpe...

Sunnyvale Town Center opens in 1979: a new chapter for downtown When Sunnyvale Town Center opened on September 27, 1979, it felt like the start of something big. Built by Macy’s and renowned mall developer Ernest W. Hahn, the project aimed to breathe new life into a fading downtown.  Anchors and architecture: Macy’s, Montgomery Ward, and the Redwood courtyard With Montgomery Ward and Macy’s as its anchors, and a tranquil courtyard that preserved towering redwoods and cedars from the 1920s, the mall promised modern retail wrapped in local charm. Sunnyvale Town Center mall exterior in 2005, showing the once-bustling shopping hub anchored by Macy’s, Montgomery Ward, and JCPenney. Early success and growing pains: the mall’s struggle to thrive For a while, it worked. Families strolled its cool, air-conditioned halls. Teens hung out in the courtyard. Shoppers took comfort in familiar names and small-town convenience. But behind the scenes, things weren’t so perfect. Montgomery Ward...