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.
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| 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.
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| A grainy glimpse of Valley Fair’s steel-beamed promenade in 1961—wide walkways, mid-century storefronts, and open skies above. |
The tiled smokestack: Valley Fair’s quirky landmark
One curious landmark stands out in the middle of the mall: a tiled smokestack. According to Mike Caroll Jr.’s History of Valley Fair Center site, that stack wasn’t decorative—it was actually part of the mall’s underground shipping and receiving system. Originally a plain, utilitarian concrete tube, it was later transformed into a striking example of 1960s pop art, thanks to its bright mosaic tile covering. It was quirky. It was bold. It was eventually demolished during redevelopment—but it left a lasting impression.
1985: demolition and a new era begins
The end of the original Valley Fair came in 1985, when everything but Macy’s was torn down. Just one year later, in October 1986, a completely new, enclosed Valley Fair mall opened on the same site—now expanded to include the neighboring Stevens Creek Plaza and the former Emporium-Capwell store. Technically, the new mall spanned two cities: San Jose and Santa Clara.
Today’s Valley Fair is a retail giant, but for some of us, it’s the earlier version we remember most—the tiled smokestack, the open sky between shops, and the feel of a center that belonged to its era.
Collection
Shopping centers that shaped retail history across Santa Clara County from the 1950s through today.
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