Thursday, December 19, 2013

Macy's seals upper level access at Bayfair mall

I never consider it a good practice when a mall anchor seals up a mall entrance, but that's what the newly remodeled Macy's at San Leandro's Bayfair mall has done. 

The upper level access is now closed. My only guess is for loss prevention, but it looks like MadisonMarquette is giving up entirely on Bayfair's upper level. It currently houses a college and dialysis outlet, but the rest is empty. A single set of escalators provides access but no elevator. The floor hasn't been updated since the 80s. 

Those familiar with Bayfair may remember when the upper level was the only mall access to Montgomery Ward. However when Target demolished the building, it built a new one lower down. 

Change is inevitable.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Top 10 Shopping Malls in 2013 - San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento



According to the number of pageviews on www.bigmallrat.com, the most popular mall in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento goes to....

Westfield Valley Fair mall in San Jose.

In fact, the Westfield brand emerged as the clear winner among favorite malls, capturing 40% of the the top 10 malls. Westfield San Francisco Centre trailed at a respectable second place.

20% of the top 10 goes to outlet malls: the Great Mall in Milpitas and Livermore Valley Premium Outlets. With the opening of the Livermore outlets late 2012, this comes as no surprise as retail tourists continue to flock to the area's newest outlet shopping center.

The only surprise in the list goes is the fourth most popular mall, the Crocker Galleria in San Francisco. This small, but architecturally stunning mall draws a surprising number of pageviews.

The full list

According to number of pageviews on www.bigmallrat.com, the top 10 most popular malls in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento in first quarter 2013 are the following:

  1. Westfield Valley Fair mall - San Jose (4,491 pageviews)
  2. Westfield San Francisco Centre - San Francisco (3,040 pageviews)
  3. Livermore Valley Premium Outlets - Livermore (3,036 pageviews)
  4. Crocker Galleria - San Francisco - (2,595 pageviews)
  5. Arden Fair mall - Sacramento (2,575 pageviews)
  6. Stanford Shopping Center - Palo Alto (2,391 pageviews)
  7. Westfield Galleria at Roseville - Roseville (2,314 pageviews)
  8. Great Mall - Milpitas (2,198 pageviews)
  9. Eastridge Mall - San Jose (1,756 pageviews)
  10. Westfield Oakridge mall - San Jose (1,694 pageviews)

Enjoy!
Scott

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Bay Street Emeryville - A Success?

Paying to park at a mall seems, well, contradictory to attracting shoppers. But for Bay Street Emeryville, it hasn't affected the consumer base significantly.

In fact, the trend to pay-to-shop has spread, most recently to Santa Rosa Plaza mall in Santa Rosa.

Bay Street Emeryville has a 16 screen cinema, upscale shops, and chain dining. More than enough to bring people in. The alternative is driving into Walnut Creek, Pleasanton, or paying even more to go to San Francisco. Guess the $2-3 dollars for the first 3 hours is worth it after all.

Enjoy!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Stoneridge Mall Directory


A mall directory from Stoneridge Shopping Center in Pleasanton, California.

Considered one of the best malls in the East Bay, Stoneridge has five anchors: JC Penney, Macy's Women's, Macy's Men's, Home, & Children, Nordstrom, and Sears. H&M has a two story junior anchor near Penney's and Forever 21 is building a two-story junior anchor next to Macy's Women's.

Stoneridge mall, build by Taubman, opened in 1980 with JC Penney, Emporium-Capwell, and Macy's as anchors. Nordstrom and an expansion came in 1990 and finally Sears joined in 1996. The only minor remodel since opening occurred in 2007, bringing with it new flooring inlays and plush seating areas.

Stoneridge Mall, now owned (50%) and managed by Simon Property Group, has held its own for over 30 years. The mall's only serious competition is the new Livermore Outlets, also owned by Simon Property Group. While some would argue outlet shoppers are a different breed.

Enjoy!
Scott