The history of Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto — a Bay Area retail landmark in the 1950s–1970s
The origins of Stanford Shopping Center (1955–1956)
When Stanford Shopping Center first opened in 1955 with Roos Brothers, it was unlike anything the Bay Area had seen. By 1956, The Emporium completed the vision, solidifying the shopping center as a modern retail destination. Designed by Welton Becket & Associates, with landscaping by Lawrence Halprin, the open-air design embraced mid-century modernism with tropical plantings, shaded walkways, and decorative concrete details.
Vintage views of a mid-century mall
These postcards highlight how Stanford Shopping Center blended luxury and accessibility—where you could buy fine fashion next to aspirin and greeting cards.
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| Stanford Shopping Center in its mid-century prime, just after opening in the late 1950s—tropical landscaping, decorative concrete, and modernist flair. |
The back of the postcard reads: "One of the San Francisco Peninsula's newest and most modern shopping centers adjacent to the Stanford University Campus."
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| A surprising mid-century mashup: Woolworth’s five-and-dime at the stylish Stanford Shopping Center, where it remained into the late '80s. |
The back of the card reads "The Mall of Stanford Shopping Center. Leisurely shopping in ultra modern department stores and a large variety of the best specialty shops. Located on west side of El Camino Real, Calif." Macy's, ultimately sitting between and behind those two buildings, didn't arrive until 1961.
The El Camino entrance mystery
If you remember trying to access the mall from El Camino Real in the early days, you’ll recall the bizarre detour. Heading north? You couldn’t just turn left into the mall—you had to turn right, loop around, and hope you landed at the correct entrance. Eventually, city planners corrected it, but for years, it was a frustrating footnote in an otherwise seamless shopping experience.
A radical remodel: The 1970s redesign
By the early 1970s, Stanford Shopping Center was due for a facelift. Though Saks Fifth Avenue had opened in 1963 and Bullock’s soon followed, the rest of the center was showing its age. Enter Field Paoli Architects, who led a bold renovation that landed in the pages of Architectural Record in June 1977.
What made this remodel groundbreaking? While most shopping centers were enclosing themselves to create climate-controlled interiors, Stanford did the opposite—it stayed open-air. The decision was both architectural and cultural, reinforcing the region’s temperate climate and the center’s distinctive character.
Photos from the 1977 article captured a mall in transition—still elegant, still modern, and increasingly upscale. Stores like The Company (a precursor to Spencer Gifts) added quirky charm, while local and mid-range retailers made it feel like a true neighborhood destination.
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| A 1977 cover story in Architectural Record titled “A Theatrical Approach to Shopping Center Remodeling” showcased Stanford Shopping Center’s bold redesign, featuring rounded glass overhangs and The Company store—proof that even malls could be dramatic. |
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| The second page of the 1977 Architectural Record spread detailed the redesigned landscaping and layout of Stanford Shopping Center—including a walkway plan and three new pavilion-style buildings that embraced light, air, and flow. |
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| The third page of the 1977 Architectural Record article highlights Stanford Shopping Center’s signature design elements—sunlit walkways, rounded glass overhangs, and lush landscaping that preserved the open-air charm while modernizing the experience. |
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| The final page of the 1977 Architectural Record feature showcases custom lighting grouped in sculptural clusters—mounted to structural supports, they brought warmth and theatrical flair to the mall’s open-air design. |
From community hub to luxury destination
Though the tenant mix has changed—Stanford is now home to luxury flagships and high-fashion brands—the bones of the mall remain. Its open-air layout, attention to detail, and California elegance still set it apart from any other retail space in the Bay Area.
Comments
Interestingly, the Fremont Hub did a remodel similar to what was done at Stanford and it actually turned out very nice. The unfortunate side of it is that they cut corners so the results were a bit on the cheap-looking side. They used a lot of 4x4 square tubes for the columns and it came off looking insubstantial. There is much to be said for having appropriately scaled architectural elements in urban environment...a lesson straight out of A Pattern Language.
As I've said before, Stanford better be worried about what's going on at Valley Fair. If Westfield plans to start matching Stanford's upscale offerings, it may be hard to overcome. Ironically, Valley Fair's biggest weapon against Stanford may be Santana Row; which isn't even a PART of it.
Santana Row has proven that upscale shoppers don't mind being outside and on the street if the selection and design is compelling enough. And frankly, Stanford may want to consider demolishing half its strucutres and emulating that model. And while they're at it, tying Nordstrom into the project better.
Problem is, it's easy to talk about how to revive a dying mall. But Stanford has more life than it knows what to do with.
As long as Stanford can continue to attract the wealthy locals, they've got it in the bag.
Scott
And somewhere along that strip, you could build a new Nordstrom. The former Saks which is now Crate & Barrell/Andronicos could easily be relocated as well. Then that entire space across Arboretum Drive could be devoted soley to parking with bridges leading to the main center.
That way, Stanford would get its extra square footage, the old mall wouldn't be touched, you don't need to reconfigure streets(much) and there'd be one less reason to go to Santana Row.
However, anything more ambitious really requires the wrecking ball big time. But whatever they do, they need to build UP, not out. And isn't it about time they tried to incorporate more "College Town" elements into the center? After all it's Stanford, not Berkeley; and there shouldn't be a risk of scaring Mr. and Mrs. Thurston Howell away from their weekly trip to Neiman Marcus.
Do you think people shop at Santana Row for the atmosphere?
Scott
Personally, I'd love to walk into the fanciest store and ask where Wal-Mart is.
From what I've read, one guy who's not crazy at all about Santana Row is Lew Wolff, the Oakland A's managing partner and owner of a lot of property in San Jose including the Fairmont Hotel. Needless to say he's furious at the SJ city council for supporting the Valley Fair expansion as it essentially kills any chance of bringing retail downtown.
Looks like Santana Row made number 1. You may have seen the earlier post.
Scott