Welcome to a rare glimpse at early promotional literature from Hilltop Mall in Richmond, California—a Taubman-developed shopping center that captured the futuristic spirit of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Built after Eastridge Mall in San Jose (1971) and just before Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton (1980), Hilltop opened in September 1976, becoming one of the Bay Area’s most visually distinct malls. Designed by the Taubman Company, its signature architectural flourishes echoed trends seen across the company’s national portfolio: bold color choices, sculptural elements, and walkable, multi-level interiors.
Signature style: circular walkways & red carpet drama
One of Hilltop’s most iconic features was its dramatic circular ramp connecting the mall’s two main levels—shown prominently in this 1980s promotional photograph:
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| Promotional image of Hilltop Mall in Richmond from the mid-1980s, featuring its signature circular ramp and striking red carpet—an era when shopping centers doubled as style statements and community landmarks. |
This state-of-the-art interior featured bright red carpeting, sleek black-and-white tile contrasts, and a suspended ceiling design popular in other Taubman malls of the era. If the aesthetic reminds you of the cover art for the B-52’s 1979 debut album—you’re not alone. The look was pure postmodern pop: clean, bright, energetic.
Atop the spiral ramp was a geometric metal sculpture, likely the work of Charles O. Perry, a modernist artist whose work also appeared at Stoneridge Mall and several other high-profile shopping centers of the time.
Stores & tenants of the 1980s
Original retailers seen in early photos include:
Naturalizer
Crescent Jewelers
Kushins Shoes
Though modest in signage, these stores helped anchor a retail lineup meant to serve Richmond, El Sobrante, and North Bay suburbs with a mix of fashion, gifts, and family essentials. Department store anchors over time included JC Penney, Capwell's, Macy’s, and later, Sears (added in the 1990s).
Hilltop Mall in 2007: what changed?
Fast forward to 2007, and we see some clear differences—but the soul of Hilltop Mall remained recognizable.
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| Hilltop Mall in Richmond, 2007 — the same iconic circular ramp remains, now updated with neutral flooring replacing the bold red carpet of earlier decades, reflecting a shift toward a more modern, understated mall design. |
Key changes included:
Replacement of red carpeting with neutral, tan flooring
More energy-efficient lighting
Updated signage and storefront remodels
Addition of Sears and eventual closure of Capwell’s
Despite these changes, Hilltop’s design held up well. Even in 2007, it could pass as a stylish, minimalist shopping space with the right tweaks.
Color theory: from earth tones to primaries
Whereas earlier malls of the 1970s leaned into moody earth tones—brown, olive, mustard—Hilltop embraced clean contrast: red, white, black, and blue. These colors conveyed energy, clarity, and futurism—perfect for an era just beginning to imagine the shopping center as a place not just to spend, but to see and be seen.
The closure of Hilltop Mall
After decades as a retail and cultural landmark in Richmond, Hilltop Mall officially closed in March 2021, marking the end of an era. Years of declining foot traffic, anchor store closures, and shifting consumer habits slowly took their toll.
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| Hilltop Mall in Richmond, late 2018—shuttered storefronts and empty walkways reflect its slow transition into a dead mall. |
By the time of its shuttering, the once-bustling shopping center stood mostly vacant, a far cry from its vibrant Taubman-era heyday. The property was acquired by Prologis, which has announced plans to redevelop the site into a mixed-use logistics and residential hub. While the spiral ramp and signature sculpture may be gone, Hilltop remains a vivid memory for generations of Bay Area shoppers who grew up under its skylights.
Photo credit & gratitude
Special thanks to Dean Lundstrom, legendary mall documentarian and keeper of vintage ephemera, for sharing both of the promotional photographs used here.
Related posts
- Lost department stores of the Bay Area: Emporium-Capwell (1896—1996)
- The history of Macy's
- Lost malls of the Bay Area: El Cerrito Plaza in El Cerrito (1958—2002)
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