Sunnyvale Town Center opens in 1979: a new chapter for downtown
When Sunnyvale Town Center opened on September 27, 1979, it felt like the start of something big. Built by Macy’s and renowned mall developer Ernest W. Hahn, the project aimed to breathe new life into a fading downtown.
Anchors and architecture: Macy’s, Montgomery Ward, and the Redwood courtyard
With Montgomery Ward and Macy’s as its anchors, and a tranquil courtyard that preserved towering redwoods and cedars from the 1920s, the mall promised modern retail wrapped in local charm.
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| Sunnyvale Town Center mall exterior in 2005, showing the once-bustling shopping hub anchored by Macy’s, Montgomery Ward, and JCPenney. |
Early success and growing pains: the mall’s struggle to thrive
For a while, it worked. Families strolled its cool, air-conditioned halls. Teens hung out in the courtyard. Shoppers took comfort in familiar names and small-town convenience. But behind the scenes, things weren’t so perfect. Montgomery Ward struggled from the start, and the mall never fully filled up. Some loved the enclosed space; others felt it cut off downtown rather than bringing it together.
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| Vintage January 1980 mall directory promoting Sunnyvale Town Center’s grand opening and early shopping experience. |
JCPenney joins the mix: changes in the 1990s
Still, Sunnyvale Town Center hung on. JCPenney joined in the early '90s, and the mall adapted through the decade. But times were changing. New shopping meccas like Valley Fair and Great Mall stole the spotlight. Tucked away from major roads and hidden behind a hulking parking garage, Sunnyvale’s mall quietly started to fade from memory.
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| Mid-1990s newspaper photo capturing Sunnyvale Town Center during its peak years. |
A 1990 mall directory for Sunnyvale Town Center before JCPenney joined the mall in 1992. The slogan from the time was "the mall just for you," which had a catchy tune if you heard it on the radio.
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| Front cover of the 1990 Sunnyvale Town Center mall directory, listing shops and services before JCPenney’s arrival. |
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| Back cover of the 1990 Sunnyvale Town Center directory, showcasing additional mall details and tenant information. |
The mall’s interior closure in 2005: a quiet end
After Montgomery Ward closed in 2001, the mall needed a fresh start. Then came the big idea: tear off the roof, reopen streets, and build a vibrant, walkable neighborhood in its place—Sunnyvale’s answer to Santana Row. The vision was bold and exciting. Stores closed. Leases ended. Both JCPenney and the mall interior shut down in 2005. Macy’s stayed, and Target opened in 2009, waiting for the rebirth to begin.
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| Inside Sunnyvale Town Center mall during its final years, showing empty halls and shuttered stores before redevelopment began. |
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| Exterior of Sunnyvale Town Center Mall before its demolition, featuring signature mission-style architecture with stucco walls, red-tile roofing, and arched details—once a distinctive presence in downtown Sunnyvale. |
And then… nothing.
Years passed. Financial issues derailed plans. The parking garage first came down, then the rest of the mall. For those who grew up there, it’s a place full of memories. For newcomers, it’s a mystery hiding in plain sight.
What came next was a mixed-use development; more akin to what you might expect in a downtown. Target is still in operation. But for now, Sunnyvale Town Center is reminder of what was.
Related posts
- Lost malls: the original Valley Fair in San Jose (1957—1985)
- Lost malls: Vallco Mall — Cupertino's floating mall (1976—2017)
- The history of Macy's
Comments
Scott
Thanks,
Scott
Who knows when new construction will take place, if ever, or how long it will take to complete, but at least something is finally happening with the site.
Once all this is done, the existing Target (former Montgomery Wards) building will be demolished to make way for a larger single-level Target store with parking underneath.
On the other hand, I do remember its last final gasps of breath before it closed. We had to get to Macy’s from Target and the doors to the interior of the mall were still open, however on the walk through the mall, there was only one vendor left open in the whole place. It was a small little Chinese food counter in the food court. The rest of the place was completely empty. I remember thinking to myself that day, I had to come back with my camera to get some interesting pictures, but I never did and still regret it today. It was very spooky but really fascinating.
Does anybody out there have pics from when it was open? Exterior and interior? Special events? How about towards its closure?
Anyway, the new construction on the former mall site is now far more immense than the mall ever was. Though still incomplete, even skeletal in parts, the new mixed use center is taking shape quickly and nicely.
i found a bunch of pictures online of the Town Center because I'm looking for pics, too...don't know if you're interested.
I have a few pics of the interior, some shots of it before demolition, some shots of it from a week ago and pics of the Town & Country Village
I remember how the arcade was positioned down a corridor next to what became a McDos. It was mostly wooden and had a great vintage feel to it.
Goodbye childhood memories. They don't mean a thing in this world.
Would it be possible for me to get a copy sent to my email of the original scan as well?
If not it's all good, I can provide more contact info if it is possible to get the higher res. copy
Thanks