BIGMallrat

Union Square Mall in Union City, California—now there’s a name you don’t hear much anymore. Probably because hardly anyone remembers it. And how could they? It barely had time to make a mark. It opened in 1973. I visited it once, maybe in the mid-’80s, and even then, it felt like a ghost of itself. I remember dark lighting, concrete aggregate floors, and what may have been the only store in the mall left—a barber shop. The whole thing had this strange, empty energy, like a mall that was waiting for people who never came. Union Square Mall didn’t last much more than a decade. By the late 1987, the mall was torn down. In its place today is a standard strip center that seems to be doing just fine. The original Safeway at 1790 Decoto Road is still there, oddly enough, like a lone survivor. Back in its day, the mall was anchored by Safeway and a Kelly-Moore Home Improvement Center (Kelly Moore owned the mall). Not exactly destination retail. And while it looked like a full-blown enclosed ...

I didn’t just go to Tanforan Park mall—I raced there, willingly and excitedly, under the ever-enthusiastic guidance of my grandmother, the original shopping adventurer. Tanforan was part of our legendary “three malls in three hours” marathon. First, we’d hit Stonestown for The Emporium, then Westlake for JC Penney, and finally, Tanforan for Sears and, of course, the promise of treats. And when I say “3 malls in 3 hours,” I mean it. My grandmother wasn’t some leisurely driver, sipping tea behind the wheel. Oh no, she was a bona fide speed demon, behind the wheel of a 1970 Mustang, roaring down the road with a sense of purpose. In the stores, she was a blur—a whirlwind of linens, lace, and determination. The unmistakable sound of metal hangers flying across the racks was like a battle cry—there’s a sale going on, and we weren’t about to miss it! This postcard brings back many memories. I'd say it was around 1975, at least based on the grill of the Ford Pinto in the parking lot. Bac...

This postcard shows Solano Mall (Solano Town Center), probably about the year of opening in 1981. The mall originally was anchored by JC Penney, Mervyn's, and Sears. Later, Macy's and Emporium-Capwell joined the mall.  The back of the postcard reads "Solano Mall - Fairfield, California. Showing unique style and skylights, to serve an approximate population of 90,000." Reads like a cut/paste job from the marketing literature. Incidentally, the triangular lighting in the ceiling (what is that, orange and burnt sienna?), isn't a skylight at all, just a bank of artificial lighting. However, it is flanked by a strip of real skylights. Makes it harder to tell when the sun sets. 1985 directory Here is a vintage mall directory, probably 1985, of Solano Mall in Fairfield. The directory shows Sears in its original location and before Edwards Cinema joined the mall. How I miss Chess King! When Macy's bought in Emporium-Capwell in 1996, they simply shuttered the store. La...