Before it became Solano Town Center, it was simply Solano Mall, and it opened its doors on March 19, 1981, bringing a fresh wave of suburban retail to Fairfield, California. Anchored initially by JCPenney, Mervyn’s, the mall soon grew to include Sears, Emporium-Capwell (March 1983) and Macy's (August 1985). Solano mall was the region’s go-to shopping hub and, for many, a weekend tradition. This postcard from around the time of opening proudly displays the mall’s unique architectural features—particularly its triangular ceiling lights, styled in warm orange and burnt sienna hues. According to the postcard, Solano Mall was built to serve "an approximate population of 90,000," Those bright triangles in the ceiling weren’t skylights—just artificial lighting mimicking the effect, but they were flanked by real skylights. 1980s postcard of Solano Mall in Fairfield, California, featuring the distinctive triangular orange lighting, the iconic Mervyn’s storefront, and a whimsica...
Discover the malls, department stores, and shopping centers that shaped postwar Northern California and the communities that grew around them.