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.
Back in its prime—think late ’80s to mid-’90s—Tanforan had all the makings of a mallrat’s paradise: a two-story sprawl, department store giants like Sears and The Emporium, and more glowing signage than a Saturday night on El Camino. But truth be told, I couldn’t tell you much about the individual stores—we were always moving at warp speed. With grandma behind the wheel (and later, behind the shopping cart), there was no time to browse. It was less “window shopping” and more “mission accomplished.”
Seabiscuit was here
Most people forget—or maybe never knew—that before the mall opened its doors in 1971, it was a horse racing track. Tanforan Racetrack hosted thoroughbreds and fancy hats long before teenagers loitered outside Hot Topic. My grandparents used to bet the ponies there.
A postcard from the early 70s showing the statue of Seabiscuit.
The back side of the postcard reads: "This life size statue of Seabiscuit is located in one of the many Malls of Tanforan Park to commemorate the historic race track site the Center now occupies. Where former champions once raced, shoppers now enjoy the San Francisco Peninsula's most beautiful enclosed Mall."
I had to double-check that the lone woman staring wasn't my grandmother, but I was reminded she was more Joseph Magnin than Sears.
In 2005, the old mall got a shiny new makeover. The escalators gleamed, the food court was modern, and everything smelled of fresh paint and ambition. All the quirky charm I remembered had vanished—no more dark corners or clunky railings—but I had to admit, it looked good. My grandmother, no longer a speed demon, but still ever the expert on malls, took one approving glance and said, “San Bruno has gone uptown.”
2007 directory
The word now is that Tanforan is making way for something new—an office campus or biotech hub or something like that. They’ll preserve a memorial to honor the Japanese Americans once held there, and that’s important. But I’ll always remember Tanforan not just for its architecture or anchors, but for it being the conclusion of our three malls in three hours marathon.
Scott Parsons
Comments
Tanforan opened with a great deal of fanfare and did well for the first decade or so. There was no Sears or Penney's in San Francisco proper, so you had to drive to Tanforan if you wanted to shop at one of those stores. The Emporium had large stores nearby in Stonestown and Hillsdale, and the Tanforan store was smaller and not very attractively merchandised, so I'm not sure if that store was much of a draw.
The closest mall was Serramonte, in Daly City, which featured Macy's and Ward's. Serramonte is a one-level mall where the north-south anchors are a very long walk from each other. Tanforan was 2-level and much easier to walk back and forth from end to end. Tanforan also had a decent food court, which Serramonte did not.
One oddity was that, while most shopping area centers were open weeknights from 9:30 until 9:30, in those days, Sears closed their stores at 9:15. When the mall itself opened, followed by Penney's and even the Emporium, they all kept to the 9:15 closing.
Penney's closed their Market Street store in in downtown San Francisco in 1971. They had a small store on Grand Avenue in South San Francisco which closed just prior to Tanforan's opening. Their Westlake store in Daly City, although smaller than Tanforan, stayed open into the 90's, IIRC.
It's nice to see the mall the way it is today. It's much improved . They just need some more high end stores like the Gap or Express. And maybe some childrens stores like Gymboree and the Disney store. Once the theaters open on April 18th. This mall will really take off. It's definately one of the most beautiful malls around and it's just been waiting for these theaters to open. They took a little longer that anticipated to be completed.
Why, yes, I do remember when that part of the mall's wing smelled of popcorn! There was a traditional sign out front which posted the movies playing (the letters were of the slide-in-the-marquee variety) and was blue, oval shaped. Much so in keeping to the racetrack motif.
The cinemas were one level down, accessible via escalator. There were distinct numbered signed (1, 2, 3, 4) in primary color above each of the theatres. I remember the stores that were at the cinema area of the mall; a Round Table pizza, Gingiss tuxedo rentals, and a Big 5 sporting goods store.
The lower level of the cinemas are probably repurposed as the lower level of Barnes and Nobles, from what I'm guessing on a recent reconnaissance mission of Tanforan. I can probably smell a faint hint of popcorn popping on that former Cinemas IV wing...
With a Century 20 theater opened up there in the mall, and the near by Century 7 theater closed up I wonder what will be opening up in it place next to Staple, Could it be a Frys, Walmart or a big chain retail that is new to the West coast for the first time, and is mostly in the mid west and east coast. Any news on that and what will take up CompUsa spot from the shooping center across the mall.