BIGMallrat

Opened on September 1, 1976, Vallco Fashion Park was no ordinary shopping mall. Set high atop a parking level, the entire retail experience floated above the ground—complete with six themed “parks” honoring Cupertino’s history: De Anza Park, Orchard Park, and the futuristic Electronics Park, each planted with trees to bring a slice of nature indoors. The centerpiece? A 130-foot-wide pedestrian bridge over Wolfe Road, linking both halves of the mall like a skywalk into another world. Anchored by Sears, Bullock’s, and I. Magnin (with JC Penney and an ice rink joining in 1977), the mall was a design-forward marvel created by Wurster, Bernardi & Emmons with landscape architect Michael Painter. And while the layout resembled puzzle pieces, what most kids remember was one perfect fit: King Norman Toys. Even Barbie had her own fashion plaza. By 1983, Vallco was the third highest-grossing mall in Santa Clara County, behind only Stanford and Eastridge. Bullock’s bowed out in 1983, but E...