BIGMallrat

Early promotional literature for Hilltop Mall in Richomnd, California. A Tauban center, this mall was built after Eastridge in San Jose and before Stoneridge in Pleasanton. Many Taubman-esque features are evident. Keeping with the style of the time, you'll find eye-catching red carpet and a groovy circular walkway. Clearly this literature was printed just after the mall opened in 1976. The state-of-the-art mall ramp was topped by a sculpture that looks to be from artist Charles O. Perry (similar to Stoneridge Mall). Fast forward to 2007! Interject your skills and spot the differences that twenty years brings. Besides, the carpet color changing, store changes, and the addition of Sears, of course. In a contrast to moody browns of the early Seventies, Hilltop mall featured futuristic trends in color choices. As was popular in the late seventies, you'll find the basics: black, white, and any primary color. Anyone remember the cover art for the B-52's album, "The B-52...

Eastmont Mall in Oakland opened between 1966 and 1970. Developed by Irvin J. Kahn, and designed by Burke, Kober, Nicholais, and Archuleta of Los Angeles, the mall was built on the site of the former Chevrolet assembly plant at 73rd and Foothill. The first phase of Eastmont, a convenience center, opened on May 18, 1966. It was your standard strip of stores, included Safeway, but not a "mall" per se. An actual mall opened in 1968 and ran perpendicular from the Safeway strip. Finally, a 2-story enclosed mall opened on November 18, 1970. The mall was about 650,000 sq. ft. total on two levels. JC Penney joined the mall in 1970 with a 3-level store at 191,000 sq. ft. By 1970, 40 stores were open, and it was anticipated to host about 45 more. Contrary to popular belief, Eastmont was never intended to become a regional mall. It was a redevelopment project that just so happened to be built during the mall era. That's how we solved problems then, with a mall (today, we solve proble...