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

Before Valley Fair became the massive, multi-level mega-mall we know today, it started as something much simpler—and, in its own way, more charming. The original Valley Fair was a small, open-air shopping center that began with a Macy’s store, which opened its doors on August 10, 1956. The surrounding outdoor mall followed soon after, officially opening on April 4, 1957. A 1960 aerial view of the original Valley Fair, with Macy’s at the center—long before parking structures and luxury wings took over. Open-air promenades and 60+ specialty stores Back then, Valley Fair wasn’t about luxury labels or valet parking. It was about strolling steel-beamed promenades, visiting one of over 60 specialty stores, and catching a breeze between shops. There’s a grainy photo from 1961 that shows the promenade—wide walkways, low-slung storefronts, and a sense of openness that malls just don’t have anymore. A grainy glimpse of Valley Fair’s steel-beamed promenade in 1961—wide walkways, mid-century stor...

Funny how Blackhawk Plaza always slips my mind—despite being one of the most stunning shopping centers in the East Bay. With its koi ponds, waterfalls, and polished stone walkways, it looks like something plucked from a luxury resort. But looks can be deceiving. Built in 1989 on a literal hill in Danville, Blackhawk Plaza has always faced a foundational problem: it’s beautiful, but it’s out of the way. Developers ignored the conventional wisdom— don’t build on a hill —and chose a site that’s not visible from major roads and far from the freeway. The result? A retail experience that’s been picturesque and peaceful… and eerily empty. A sweeping view of Blackhawk Plaza's signature waterfall from the upper level — beauty on a hill, but not without its challenges. A history of grand visions and quieter realities The mall launched with ambitious plans: gold-plated shopping carts equipped with mobile phones at the original FJ’s Blackhawk Market, luxury stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, a...