Del Monte Center opened in September 1967, developed by the Dillingham Corporation with design by John Carl Warneke & Associates. The landscape was designed by Lawrence Halprin & Associates, incorporating the preservation of mature oak trees and the use of adobe brick and timber elements that reflected regional architectural references.
The center is defined by its 17-foot exposed-beam overhangs and open-air courtyard configuration, which established a retail environment closely integrated with Monterey’s coastal and historic character.
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| The distinctive 17-foot exposed-beam overhangs at Del Monte Center—built from adobe brick and redwood timbers, blending modern retail with regional heritage. |
A mid-century open-air retail center in Monterey
The original design emphasizes shaded walkways, courtyard spaces, and landscape integration. A central fountain continues to serve as a spatial anchor within the retail layout.
Since its opening, the center has undergone limited expansion, including the addition of a Mervyn’s anchor and adjacent inline retail in 1987, and a cinema introduced in 2005 as part of a dining and entertainment extension.
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| The original fountain still anchors Del Monte Center—one of the few unchanged elements that continues to define its laid-back charm. |
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| Macy’s at Del Monte Center in Monterey, seen from the mall courtyard—opened in 1967 and still serving as a key anchor of the open-air shopping center. |
Contemporary configuration
The center retains its open-air layout and continues to function as a regional retail node serving Monterey and surrounding communities. Anchor tenants, including Macy’s, remain in operation within the original development framework.
The site includes surface parking distributed around the perimeter of the retail complex.
Comments
I had the (mis)fortune to pitch-in on the theater project. Century hadn't decided exactly what they wanted to do at the time, and there was the huge issue of fitting in enough parking, (I hate doing parking plans). Traffic circulation is another huge issue at this center.
BTW, there's a pic of the Magnavox store in the article. This is the first place I remember seeing the Odyssey game console. Crazy to think they expected people to tape transparencies to the front of their TV. :)
I've said this before, but Del Monte is truly a step back in time. Imagine if Bay Fair, Valley Fair, and all the other old outdoor centers had remained in their original formats and were still going strong today with conventional "mall" tenants. That's what Del Monte is.
Sorry, but Stanford's in a different league now. As are places like Fremont Hub and Alameda that, while very nice; are geared toward service and discount retailers. But Del Monte has most of your mainstream tenants that range from mid level to upscale without being too extreme either way.
It's a model that today's "lifestyle" centers might well wish to emulate. The question is would it really work anywhere else but a place like Monterey? In my opinion, had there been a straight freeway connection to Santa Cruz, Salinas, or even San Jose back in '67, Del Monte might not have been even built.
I've only seen one other center like Del Monte and it's in Lihue, HI on the island of Kauai. But like Monterey, it's also a unique situation.
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