A brief history of Northgate Mall
Northgate Mall, originally known as Northgate Shopping Center, began development in 1961, when the first outer parcel stores opened in San Rafael, California. The main anchor, The Emporium, opened on June 26, 1964, followed by the center’s official grand opening celebration on March 10, 1965, featuring around 28 retail stores. Built by the Draper Companies, the open-air shopping center quickly expanded and, by the mid-1960s, had become a major retail destination for Marin County. Over the following decades, Northgate remained a local favorite, with JCPenney, The Emporium, Sears, and later Mervyn’s serving as its primary anchor tenants.
The 1970s — Sears arrives and a new name
During the 1970s, Northgate Shopping Center evolved into a more fully developed regional retail hub. In 1972, the mall gained a significant boost with the opening of a Sears department store, adding to its growing lineup of anchor tenants. As the decade progressed, the open-air center continued to expand and modernize. By the mid-1970s, the center adopted a new name—The Mall at Northgate—reflecting its shift toward a more cohesive shopping experience, even before its full enclosure in the 1980s. This rebranding marked a turning point, solidifying Northgate’s role as Marin County’s premier retail destination.
The 1980s — renovation and enclosure
In 1985, the retail scene in Marin changed dramatically with the opening of The Village at Corte Madera, the remodeling of Town Center Corte Madera, and Mervyn's opening at Northgate on September 19, 1985, just as the mall was celebrating its 20th birthday. Seeking to maintain its position as the premier shopping center, in 1987, the mall was enclosed and fully renovated, making it Marin County’s only indoor shopping mall. Shoppers could now browse the latest in retail and fashion beneath skylights and sheltered walkways—a welcome escape from the rainy Bay Area winters.
But by the early 2000s, retail trends were shifting. JCPenney had exited the mall by the late 1990s, with its former space later occupied by The Container Store. The Emporium had long since become Macy’s, and Mervyn’s, after serving North Bay shoppers for years, would shutter as part of its chain-wide bankruptcy in 2008. Northgate was entering a new phase—and it needed a fresh start.
2008: a promising renovation
In 2008, the Macerich Company, which had acquired the property, announced a long-awaited renovation for Northgate Mall. Thankfully for many locals, early plans to convert it into a fully open-air "lifestyle center" were dropped. The mall would remain enclosed, preserving its identity as Marin's only indoor mall.
The renovation brochure, distributed at the mall that year, promised exciting changes:
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| Front cover of the 2008 Northgate Mall renovation brochure, showing an artist’s rendering of the updated mall with new landscaping, signage, and a more modern exterior. |
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| Back page of the renovation brochure showing renderings of the new mall interior and revitalized public spaces. |
Planned upgrades included:
A full interior renovation and modernized exterior design
A new indoor/outdoor food court near Century Theatres
Upgraded Rite-Aid
A redesigned grand entrance off Del Presidio Boulevard
New restaurants and cafes along a landscaped pedestrian promenade
“Community gathering places” for local events, relaxing, and meeting friends
New retail and dining options tailored to San Rafael’s residents
A 2008 visit: between old and new
The interiors were tired. Most of the stores on the east side of the mall—between Macy’s and Sears—had already vacated to make way for construction. You could feel the transition everywhere: dated finishes, closed storefronts, and signs of change. And yet, even in its faded state, Northgate still held onto that unmistakable local mall vibe.
A new era begins: 2009 grand reopening
By November 12, 2009, Northgate Mall officially unveiled its grand reopening. Kohl’s—which replaced Mervyn’s—opened in September, and the mall boasted a fresh clerestory atrium, revamped food court, and new Oak Tree Plaza, an outdoor promenade with shops and restaurants.
Macerich took an environmentally conscious approach to the rebuild, pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification—a rare step for a shopping center at the time. Northgate was positioning itself as a “green” mall, aiming for sustainability amid suburban retail.
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| Interior view of Northgate Mall in San Rafael, showcasing the stunning skylight ceiling added during its recent renovation—bringing natural light and a fresh, open-air feel to the center. |
Will it be enough?
Northgate’s future has long depended on its ability to adapt to the changing needs of shoppers and the local community. The 2008–2009 renovation offered a new lease on life—but with ongoing retail challenges in the years ahead, the mall would have to work harder than ever to stay relevant.
Still, for longtime residents of Marin County, Northgate isn’t just a place to shop—it’s part of the local fabric. A mall with memories.
Related posts
- Lost department stores: Emporium-Capwell (1896—1996)
- Postcards from Corte Madera — a 1960s look at the original Town Center
Comments
Except for the food court, The problem has always been empty spaces. The end where the movies theatres are have never been vibrant. All I remember down there was a pet store that always had dead pets. Nice.
So now they are trying to make it look like a mall with stores and cafes that would normally follow Nordstrom coming.
I hope it works but how can it ?
I buy $2.00 shirts at Mervyn's and $6.00 pants at Sears.
They don't mix with upscale.
Even Target mixes better, oddly enough. Maybe because of the foot traffic.
I opened Sears in 1972 and it was very vibrant with a restaurant and ever department you could think of.
If you look close, there are less are about one third of the entrances still useable.
But wait, how you could tell it was a pimp, a whore or two, a retard, and a drunk? Well, the drunk could be pretty easy, but the others?
Macy's is OK and full line which is a bonus, but one out three anchors won't work.
Sounds like a "lifestyle" center, but what happens to the other two anchors ?