When NewPark Mall opened its doors on August 6, 1980, it felt like the dawn of a new shopping era for the East Bay. Developed by Homart Development Company (a division of Sears) and Calmart (from Macy’s), the mall debuted with Macy’s and Sears as its original anchors. It wasn’t long before NewPark grew:
Mervyn’s and a brand-new wing arrived on October 18, 1985, relocating from Fremont.
Emporium-Capwell followed on February 7, 1987, also from Fremont.
And finally, JCPenney joined the lineup on November 6, 1991, rounding out NewPark’s status as a full-fledged regional shopping center.
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| A newspaper ad announcing the grand opening of NewPark Mall on August 6, 1980, featuring Macy’s and Sears. |
A tale of two malls
NewPark always reminded me of Stoneridge Mall’s fraternal twin—the two centers opened just a few weeks apart in 1980. While Stoneridge exuded a bright, sleek elegance with its white-on-white palette and blue accents, NewPark embraced 1980s earth tones: deep browns, muted taupes, and subtle bronze touches.
Where Stoneridge dazzled, NewPark grounded you—with rows of indoor trees, ferns, and a forest-like ambiance that set it apart. Rumor has it, the design was meant to echo the Eucalyptus grove the mall replaced, part of which still exists near the property and now serves as a Monarch butterfly habitat.
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| Ad for the grand opening of Emporium-Capwell at NewPark Mall in Newark on February 7, 1987, celebrating local input with the slogan “And we used your ideas to make it happen.” The campaign featured suggestions from three local residents, highlighting community-driven design choices in the new store layout and offerings. |
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| Artist's rendering of Emporium-Capwell NewPark Mall from 1986. |
Inside the mall: early days & design highlights
Here’s a look at the original NewPark Mall from a promotional brochure sent out in the mid-1980s. It’s pure vintage charm: brown-tiled floors, thick railings, greenery, and sunlight filtering through domed skylights.
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| A mid-1980s view of NewPark Mall’s lush, tree-filled interior from a promotional brochure. |
Later remodels brightened things up. The floor tiles were replaced with white ones, and the old railings were swapped for modern glass panels. But one feature from that era still captures attention: the "Miami Vice" glass elevator. Stylish, see-through, and a centerpiece of mall movement.
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| The iconic glass elevator at NewPark Mall in 2004—nicknamed the "Miami Vice" elevator for its sleek design. |
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| View inside NewPark Mall in Newark, 2004—looking toward Mervyn's from the upper level during a busy moment in the mall’s early 2000s era. |
NewPark’s expansion hopes
In 2005, General Growth Properties (GGP)—then the mall’s owner—announced plans to remodel and expand with a cinema complex. But those plans were quietly shelved. After Mervyn’s sold its building, there was renewed hope for expansion options. Though no major updates followed, there’s always been speculation about the site’s future.
Final thoughts
NewPark Mall may not have had the shine of its sister Stoneridge, but it offered a distinctively grounded, community-focused experience. It was a place where you could browse shoulder-padded suits under ferns, ride a glass elevator with your shopping bags, and buy a cassette tape at the music store—all in one trip.
Still around and still evolving, NewPark remains a living memory for those of us who came of age in its brown-tiled heyday.
Comments
An unfortunate casualty is the Fremont Hub not only 2 miles away. Fremont Hub was the cool place to be, but NewPark was newer and cooler. Fremont Hub then tried to look like Stanford but it didn't help. It has tried to look like a trendy new lifestyle center but the center of the mall is still barren. Fremont Hub is still a nice place to shop, and is improving, but does not have quite the vitality it had in the 70's.