BIGMallrat | lost malls, department stores, and Bay Area retail history

San Mateo Fashion Island mall opened its doors in 1981 with promises of modern retail, high fashion, and California cool. From its ambitious beginnings to its eventual demolition, Fashion Island’s story reflects the rise and fall of suburban malls across the U.S.—but especially in the Bay Area. For locals like me, it defined a certain moment in time: the rush of cold air as you stepped inside, the smell of popcorn from the food court, and yes—even the confusion of figuring out which way to go in its oddly laid-out halls. 1970s origins: from Bay Meadows to high fashion The concept for what would become Fashion Island mall in San Mateo started all the way back in 1972. At the time, Bay Meadows Jockey Club was preparing to sell off 40 acres of land near the racetrack. The development was pitched as “Bay Meadows High Fashion Mall” (seriously)—an upscale shopping center with Nordstrom already signed on as an anchor. The original plan fizzled out by 1974, but by the late 1970s, developer...

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...

Explore the rich history of Eastridge Center in San Jose through vintage postcards, iconic 1970s architecture, and major renovations. Discover the mall’s heyday, unique features, and evolving design. Opened in 1971, Eastridge Center (commonly known as Eastridge Mall) in San Jose was celebrated as the largest and most beautiful mall in California — even billed as “the largest in the West.” Promising over 160 shops, four major department stores, and three climate-controlled levels, it marked a bold new era in Bay Area shopping. Its grand opening on May 17, 1971, drew crowds from near and far.  Newspaper ad announcing the grand opening of Eastridge Center on May 17, 1971. Billed as “the largest in the West,” the mall promised fine stores, four major department stores, three climate-controlled levels—and a bold new era in Bay Area shopping. The shopping center was developed by Bayshore Properties and Homart Development Company, with The Taubman Company acting as General Contractor....

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...

Town Center Corte Madera, originally known as Corte Madera Center, officially opened its doors on July 17, 1958, bringing the suburban shopping boom to Marin County. Just a few months later, JCPenney joined the growing lineup, followed by Montgomery Ward, which opened on March 16, 1960. Like many mid-century shopping centers across the Bay Area, Corte Madera Center arrived with ambition and architectural flair. Designed for easy access just off U.S. Route 101, it featured large department stores alongside specialty retailers, a format that would become a standard in American retail. Today, Town Center Corte Madera stands as a revitalized open-air shopping hub, blending its historic roots with modern lifestyle and community-focused retail. A vintage postcard glimpse of Town Center Corte Madera One of the best glimpses we have of the center’s early years is a 1960s postcard, most likely taken not long after Montgomery Ward arrived. The scene is carefully staged—photographer Mike Robe...

A modest beginning in 1955 Country Club Plaza, located in Sacramento, California, opened on June 23, 1955. Initially, it was a simple strip of shops fronting Watt Avenue, directly across from the earlier Country Club Centre, which had debuted in August 1952 with a JCPenney anchor. At the time, the Watt Avenue corridor was rapidly transforming into Sacramento’s premier retail zone, competing closely with the newly built Arden Fair, where Hale’s had just opened weeks earlier. 1952 grand opening advertisement for Country Club Plaza, featuring a bird's-eye rendering of the original layout—including an auto parts store and early storefronts along Watt Avenue. Expansion and a boost from Weinstock’s In 1961, Country Club Plaza expanded significantly with the opening of a Weinstock-Lubin department store (later renamed Weinstock’s). The addition helped transform the plaza from a neighborhood shopping center into a major regional retail destination. Early newspaper rendering of Sacram...

Macy’s placed roots in the Bay Area long before suburban malls existed. Its San Francisco presence began in 1945 when it acquired O’Connor, Moffatt & Co., later expanding by absorbing I. Magnin and the original Liberty House, making it a foundational retail icon in downtown San Francisco. In the postwar suburban boom, Macy's didn’t just lease space—it often helped build shopping centers. That’s why malls with “Fair” in their names—Bay Fair, Valley Fair—bore Macy's branding pride, each opening alongside or shortly after their Macy’s anchor store. Department stores are a tough breed. By the mid-90s, industry experts reported we had nearly 50% more retail than we needed. We already had lost Bullock's and Liberty House by then, so it felt like the end in 1995 when Federated Department Stores (owner of Macy's) acquired Emporium-Capwell. A year later, they merged it with Macy's, and the Emporium-Capwell name would disappear forever. Yet, almost 22 of the former Empo...