Originally published in 2011; expanded and updated in 2026.
Bayfair Mall (originally, Bay Fair Shopping Center) opened in 1957 at a pivotal moment in East Bay history. As thousands of families left Oakland for new suburban communities in San Leandro, Castro Valley, and Hayward, retailers followed. Developed as a joint venture between Macy's and the Capital Company, Bayfair became one of the East Bay's first major suburban shopping centers and helped redefine where—and how—people shopped.
Over the next seven decades, Bayfair would repeatedly reinvent itself. It began as a pioneering open-air center, became an enclosed mall during the 1970s, expanded during the mall boom of the 1980s, and struggled through the retail upheavals of the twenty-first century. Few shopping centers so clearly reflected the rise, evolution, and decline of suburban retail in the East Bay.
Building Bayfair (1957–1959)
Bayfair Mall opened in carefully planned phases. Macy's debuted first in 1957, followed by the center's main retail concourse later that year.
Designed by Victor Gruen & Associates, Bayfair featured a distinctive two-level layout. Shoppers could enter from either the Mall Level or Terrace Level depending on where they parked, creating a seamless connection between the parking fields and the stores.
By 1959, two additional retail buildings were added in front of Macy's, completing the center's original vision. The expansion helped establish Bayfair as the first dual-level shopping center in the western United States and one of the East Bay's most modern retail destinations.
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| A bold new era in suburban shopping—Bayfair and Macy’s debut in this 1957 grand opening ad, promising modern convenience and architectural flair to San Leandro shoppers. |
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| Phase Two begins: A 1957 article heralds the opening of Bayfair’s sleek new two-story addition, adding 22 stores and elevating the center into a full-scale retail destination. |
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| 1957 map of Bayfair Mall in San Leandro, highlighting early tenants like Amerio's Drugs, Bay Fair Market, Hellwig's Toys, House of Fabrics, and Slenderella—capturing the charm of mid-century retail in the East Bay. |
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| A 1959 architectural illustration shows the completed Bayfair Mall—modernist in design, with dual-level access and clean concrete lines. |
Growth and enclosure (1970–1979)
The 1970s brought several major changes to Bayfair. Montgomery Ward opened in 1971, BART arrived next door in 1972, and in 1979 the open-air center was enclosed and carpeted, reflecting a nationwide shift toward climate-controlled shopping malls.
The carpet's bold geometric pattern became one of the mall's most memorable features. Some shoppers loved it. Others found the dizzying pattern a little overwhelming. Either way, it became inseparable from the Bayfair experience for an entire generation.
Westfield's expansion (1980s–1990s)
By the mid-1980s, Bayfair was facing increasing competition from newer regional malls. Westfield responded with a major modernization effort that culminated in a 40,000-square-foot expansion in 1989.
The new wing reflected late-1980s mall design at its peak, with skylights, neon accents, polished tile, and dramatic entrances that projected optimism about Bayfair's future.
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| Bayfair's 1989 expansion introduced skylights, neon accents, and a distinctly late-1980s design aesthetic. |
Reinvention in a changing retail world (2000–2013)
The 2000s brought another round of reinvention. Ownership changes, remodels, and shifting retail trends forced Bayfair to continually adapt as department stores across the country struggled to remain relevant. Montgomery Ward, an anchor operating since 1971, closed down in 2001. It was later replaced by a Target Greatland the following year.
In 2005, Kohl's joined the mall in an ambitious extension on the north side. In 2009, Bayfair unveiled a new food court as part of an effort to modernize the aging property and attract new visitors. The renovation also improved circulation through the mall and updated several common areas.
The closure of the entrance to Macy's on the upper level in 2013 became a visible reminder of the challenges facing traditional malls. Much of the second floor was later repurposed for non-retail uses, while vacant storefronts became increasingly common throughout the center.
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| The 2009 food court represented Bayfair's latest attempt to reinvent itself for a changing retail landscape. |
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| Bayfair Mall’s center court in 2013, already a shadow of its former self—echoing with emptiness beneath aging skylights. |
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| By 2013, Macy’s second floor had been sealed off—its closed entrance symbolizing the slow retreat of foot traffic at Bayfair. |
The final years (2013–2024)
By 2024, the last major player—Macy’s—packed up and left. COVID had accelerated the inevitable, but consumer habits had already changed. Bayfair was no longer the regional destination it had once been. Like many traditional malls, it struggled to adapt to changing shopping habits, online retail, and the lingering effects of the COVID era.
While the mall was closed, Target and Kohl’s still remain, and plans are afoot for the site’s next chapter.
Legacy of Bayfair Mall
For nearly seven decades, Bayfair Mall reflected the evolution of suburban retail in the East Bay. It opened during the postwar shopping-center boom, reinvented itself during the enclosed-mall era, expanded during the optimistic 1980s, and struggled alongside countless other malls as consumer habits shifted in the 21st century.
Although much of the mall has now closed, Bayfair's influence on San Leandro remains significant. Generations of East Bay residents worked there, shopped there, met friends there, and made memories beneath its skylights and neon lights.
Like many malls of its era, Bayfair became more than a collection of stores. It served as a gathering place for generations of East Bay residents and reflected the changing patterns of suburban life in the second half of the twentieth century. Even as the property enters its next chapter, Bayfair remains one of San Leandro's most recognizable retail landmarks.
Comments
The awkwardness of the layout may have been due to the fact that the original outdoor mall was built around a single anchor(Macys). It's sister center(Valley Fair) chose instead to demolish everything except Macys when it came time to enclose it.