When Sunvalley Mall opened on August 3, 1967, it was billed as the world's largest enclosed shopping center. Designed by Avner Naggar and developed by Bayshore Properties, the two-level complex combined major department stores, public art, entertainment, and dramatic architecture into a single destination for the rapidly growing suburbs of Contra Costa County.
Sunvalley was conceived as more than a place to shop. Visitors could browse three major department stores, watch a movie, attend a fashion show, admire commissioned artwork, and—beginning in 1969—even skate on an indoor ice rink. With parking for 9,000 cars and full air conditioning throughout, the mall reflected a new vision of suburban shopping: one where retail, entertainment, and community life came together under a single roof.
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| Annotated Apple Maps view of Concord showing the location of Sunvalley Mall, positioned off Contra Costa Boulevard and Willow Pass. |
Building the world's largest enclosed shopping center
The idea for a major regional shopping center in Concord emerged in the early 1960s, when developer Del Webb began planning a large retail complex on 72 acres along Contra Costa Boulevard. Webb had already found success with Chris-Town Center in Phoenix and envisioned bringing a similar concept to the rapidly growing suburbs of Contra Costa County.
Early plans, filed in 1963, called for a two-level shopping center anchored by Sears and a second department store, with approximately 650,000 square feet of retail space. Sears committed to the project and began construction of its store in 1964, but the development soon outgrew its original vision.
Later that year, a partnership of shopping-center developers led by Rubloff, Taubman, and Allen acquired a controlling interest in the project from Del Webb. The new owners were already developing Southland Mall in Hayward and saw an opportunity to create something even more ambitious in Concord. Macy's soon signed on as the second anchor, and Avner Naggar was enlisted to redesign the center.
The revised plans dramatically expanded the project's scope. Rather than an open-air shopping center, the developers envisioned a fully enclosed, climate-controlled mall with covered parking—features that were still novel in Northern California. Renamed Sun Valley, the project broke ground in early 1965 and quickly grew into one of the most ambitious retail developments in the state.
By the time construction was complete, Sunvalley had become the world's largest enclosed shopping center, a title that reflected both its immense size and the confidence developers had in Contra Costa County's suburban future.
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| July 1967 Oakland Tribune advertisement announcing the grand opening of Sunvalley Mall in Concord, featuring a rendering of the Great Hall across from Macy’s and inviting the public to a gala “champagne preview” party starring Tony Martin. The ad proclaims, “Shopping will be something special.” |
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| From an August 1967 Contra Costa Times—Sears served as the mall's first anchor, opening nearly ten months (October 19, 1966) before the shopping center itself. |
Bringing major department stores to Concord
Anchoring Sunvalley were three of the biggest names in American retail: Sears, Macy's, and JCPenney. Sears got a head start, opening on October 19, 1966—nearly ten months before the rest of the mall—and relocating from a smaller store in Walnut Creek. JCPenney also moved from Walnut Creek, replacing its older location with one of the largest Penney stores in the chain.
Macy's was the newcomer. Unlike Sears and JCPenney, it had no established presence in central Contra Costa County. Its massive new store brought a touch of San Francisco-style department store shopping to a rapidly growing suburb, giving local residents access to fashions and merchandise that previously required a trip outside the region.
One notable absence was Capwell's. The Oakland-based retailer had already opened a store in Walnut Creek in 1954 and saw little reason to duplicate its presence at the new mall. As a result, Sunvalley's department store lineup reflected both the area's suburban growth and the changing retail landscape of the 1960s.
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| From an August 1967 Contra Costa Times—Macy's at Sunvalley, at 204,000 square feet, was among the largest suburban department stores in Northern California. |
A mall built as a destination
Architect Avner Naggar designed Sunvalley as more than a place to shop. At a time when many Americans still thought of shopping centers as rows of stores surrounding a parking lot, Sunvalley was conceived as a destination where families could spend an entire day. The goal was to create an environment that felt spacious, comfortable, and entertaining, encouraging visitors to linger long after they had finished their purchases.
To achieve that vision, Naggar exercised an unusual level of control over the mall's appearance. Storefront designs, signage, construction materials, and even remodeling plans required approval to ensure a consistent look throughout the center. The result was a carefully coordinated environment in which architecture, landscaping, artwork, and retail space worked together as a single composition.
Sunvalley's attractions extended well beyond its stores. The mall featured public meeting rooms, carpeted seating areas, a unique fountain-stage used for fashion shows and special events, and free parking for 9,000 cars. Large-scale works of public art were placed throughout the mall, while the soaring Great Hall near Macy's became one of its defining architectural features. Together, these elements transformed Sunvalley from a shopping center into a destination—one designed to impress visitors as much as the merchandise on display.
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| From an August 1967 Contra Costa Times—JCPenney at Sunvalley was promoted as a modern "showplace" and featured an expanded merchandise selection compared to earlier locations. |
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| From a 1967 Contra Costa Times—dandelion-inspired chandeliers hung in the Great Hall opposite Macy's, with the massive Sun Mural visible in the background. |
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| From a 1967 Contra Costa Times—the soaring ceiling of the Great Hall created a dramatic sense of space, with escalators connecting the mall's two levels. |
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| From a 1967 Contra Costa Times—Joseph Anthony McDonnell's bronze sculpture "4 and 20 Blackbirds" stood in the Grand Court near Sears, one of several major artworks commissioned for the mall. |
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| From a 1967 Contra Costa Times—Bezalel Mann's metal sculpture "Rooster and Hens" welcomed shoppers in the Grand Court near JCPenney. |
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| From a 1967 Contra Costa Times—the whimsical "Dills and Dandelions" sculpture rose from the lower-level fountain near Macy's and extended through both floors of the mall. Mounted on 40-foot fiberglass stems, the giant flowers gently swayed in air currents generated by hidden fans. |
More than a place to shop
For the first time, Sunvalley Mall also brought a 1,500-seat cinema and 70-by-170 foot ice skating rink to Concord.
The 1,500-seat Sunvalley Cinema featured modern amenities intended to rival downtown movie palaces. Pushback seating and generous spacing reflected the growing expectation that shopping centers would provide entertainment as well as retail.
In 1969, the Sunvalley Ice Arena expanded that vision even further. The 12,000-square-foot rink featured league hockey facilities, a coffee shop, spectator seating, locker rooms, and a pro shop. Together, the cinema and ice rink transformed Sunvalley into a regional destination where visitors could spend an entire day without ever leaving the property.
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| From a 1969 Contra Costa Times—the newly opened Sunvalley Ice Arena added hockey, figure skating, and public skating sessions to the mall's growing list of attractions. |
The legacy of Sunvalley Mall
Although many of Sunvalley's most distinctive original features disappeared during the mall's 1991–92 modernization, the center remains one of the Bay Area's most enduring retail destinations. The fountains, public art, Great Hall, and Dills and Dandelions are gone, but they reveal what made Sunvalley remarkable when it opened.
In 1967, Sunvalley represented a new vision of suburban shopping. It wasn't simply a place to buy things—it was a place to spend an afternoon, watch a movie, skate on the ice, attend a fashion show, admire public art, and gather with friends and family. Long before the phrase "retail experience" entered the business vocabulary, Sunvalley was already putting the idea into practice.
More than half a century later, that original ambition remains Sunvalley's most important legacy: it helped transform shopping from an errand into an attraction.
Related posts
- Sunvalley Mall postcards — Concord (1960s and 1970s)
- Sunvalley Mall directory — Concord (1967)
- Sunvalley Mall directory — Concord (1988)
Comments
The food court was downstairs on the east side next to Penneys. There is a corridor leading to an outside door that contains restaurants today(or did ten years ago) That door used to lead directly into the food court.
There also used to be a Lyon's restaurant inside Macys. It would have been on the SW corner of the main level and you could enter it from the west parking lot off of Contra Costa Blvd.
In my opinion the plane crash had little effect on the remodeling of Sunvalley. By this time the mall was pushing 20 and was already due for an upgrade to keep up with Stoneridge and to a lesser extent, Hilltop.
And hey, did you happen to notice they mentioned Bayshore Properties as the co-developer? I was beginning to wonder if you thought I made that up.
SunValley didn't have as much room to work with as other malls did. They had parking on two levels from day one which actually turned out to be a smart thing, as you never had to walk a long distance from your car. The one downside though(as you've said) is that it's a LONG mall.
Some developers might have opted to go far to the edge of town and get as much cheap land as possible, but as you can see by the aerial photo plenty of growth had already occured despite the open spaces. Because of this, SunValley was already quite centrally located and didn't have to wait for everyone to move out there.
But I think the main thing that's kept SunValley so strong is that the demographics have stayed constant all these years. It's always been a solid mix of middle to upper middle class and affluent. This is largely due to the attractiveness of the Diablo Valley. The climate, location, and beauty make it an area that people want to go to despite the crowds.
SunValley's also had little REAL competition, in my opinion. Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek is really the only alternative and they were wise to differentiate themselves a long time ago by going upscale. Any other shopping centers are either too far or don't have the selection that SunValley has. And while the area has plenty of "big box" retailers, they're somewhat scattered and don't pose the threat they would if they were all in one location like Dublin's Hacienda Crossings.
The one thing that I might see changing this is Concord's evolving ethnic mix. But from what I've read, Concord officials are doing all they can to improve things in the lower income areas by working within the community and not just doing a massive redevelopment project.
Flat out, it's just a great area!
Lyon's, as in the coffee shop? I don't recall that at all. But then again, we never ate there.
For some reason, I pictured the Copper Penney next to Penney's. Maybe it was to first get money at Bank of America.
I do recall they knocked a building down for the new Willow Pass onramp. I guess I don't remember anything more than that! :)
Scott
The first question I have is was this just a custom, or did California have "blue laws", as other parts of the country did and still do when it comes to liquor?
(I visited Dallas, TX in 1983 and malls were still closed on Sunday there)
My second question is about when did this change in California? I seem to recall shopping centers being open on Sundays during the holiday season and closing again when it was over. But if there were laws in place, I would think that couldn't have happened.
And speaking of liquor, who remembers when you couldn't buy alcohol on election day? I distinctly remember being in the Lucky Store at the El Cerrito Plaza and seeing the whole liquor aisle roped off becuase it was election day.
Scott
I remember that plane crash well! I was 15. I was visiting here (where I live) and was listening to the radio, in the dark, unable to sleep. They mentioned something about it and I sat straight up in bed. All I could think about was them kids! It happened near the spot where Santa sat at. In fact a couple weeks earlier, my little brother had stood in line there and had his photo taken with Santa! When we got back to WC, and I went to the mall, they had big drapes made of plastic hung over the center of the mall, and you had to walk thru Macys to get to the other side of the mall. Macy's had their carpet all torn out and the place looked horrible. It was an eerie feeling when you walked thru.
I loved that mall! Someday I hope to visit the Bay Area again, to relive the happy memories and I will for sure visit that mall! Thanks for the pics. it brought back memories!
In SC we have that blue law. We used to have ALL stores closing on Sundays. Now they open at 1. Walmart 24 hours stores grocery side stays open on Sun morning, but the domestic side shuts down. They put a rope across where you can't get thru! If you are at W-mart shopping for clothes at 11 PM Sat. nite and you have a clothing item in your buggy after 12 am, I don't think you can't buy it. If I am not mistaken. I might be wrong. But one year we found out at the last min. that my son's Easter suit was too small, and I went to Walmart and they had already shut down that side, and the lady told me that even if I snuck thru and got an outfit, I couldn't buy it. Which sucks. That is why they have diapers in the baby side and the grocery side.
I think I remember that 5 and dime type store next to Sears. Was it on the left side, after passing the escalators? Um, they tried accusing me of shoplifting one day. They told me not to ever go in that store again! I was mad. I was not stealing. In fact I was counting my money when the lady was calling for help (some other kid was stealing). I told the lady (that came up to help) to search my bags if she wanted to. IDK why the lady who called for help didn't tell her that it was not me!
It scared the crud outta me b/c I was with a friend not too long ago, at Sears, when she was caught stealing, and naturally since I was with her, I had to go back too-and so it brought back nightmares!