Northgate Mall began as an open-air shopping center during Marin County's postwar growth boom. Developed by the Draper Companies and anchored by The Emporium, the center quickly became one of the county's leading retail destinations. Over the following decades, Northgate evolved from a traditional shopping center into Marin County's only enclosed mall, adapting to new competition, changing shopping habits, and shifting retail trends. Its history reflects both the rise of suburban shopping centers and the ongoing challenge of keeping them relevant in a changing marketplace.
Building Marin's regional shopping center
Northgate Mall, originally known as Northgate Shopping Center, began development in 1961 with the first outer parcel stores opening in San Rafael, California. The Emporium followed in 1964, anchoring a formally opened center that debuted on March 10, 1965 with roughly 28 tenants.
What began as an open-air neighborhood development quickly expanded into one of Marin County’s primary retail destinations. By the mid-1960s, Northgate had already begun shifting beyond its original scale—drawing from a wider trade area and consolidating itself as a regional shopping center rather than a local convenience node.
This early expansion set the foundation for a pattern that would define its next two decades: incremental growth toward “mall” status long before the label ever formally changed.
Becoming Marin's only enclosed mall
During the 1970s, Northgate Shopping Center evolved into a more fully developed regional retail hub. In 1972, the mall gained a significant boost with the opening of a Sears department store, adding to its growing lineup of anchor tenants. As the decade progressed, the open-air center continued to expand and modernize. By the mid-1970s, the center adopted a new name—The Mall at Northgate—reflecting its shift toward a more cohesive shopping experience, even before its full enclosure in the 1980s. This rebranding marked a turning point, solidifying Northgate’s role as Marin County’s premier retail destination.
In 1985, the retail scene in Marin changed dramatically with the opening of The Village at Corte Madera, the remodeling of Town Center Corte Madera, and Mervyn's opening at Northgate on September 19, 1985, just as the mall was celebrating its 20th birthday. Seeking to maintain its position as the premier shopping center, in 1987, the mall was enclosed and fully renovated, making it Marin County’s only indoor shopping mall. Shoppers could now browse the latest in retail and fashion beneath skylights and sheltered walkways—a welcome escape from the rainy Bay Area winters.
Reinventing Northgate
By the early 2000s, retail trends were shifting. JCPenney had exited the mall by the late 1990s, with its former space later occupied by The Container Store. The Emporium had long since become Macy’s, and Mervyn’s, after serving North Bay shoppers for years, would shutter as part of its chain-wide bankruptcy in 2008. Northgate was entering a new phase—and it needed a fresh start.
In 2008, the Macerich Company, which had acquired the property, announced a long-awaited renovation for Northgate Mall. Early plans to convert it into a fully open-air "lifestyle center" were dropped. The mall would remain enclosed, preserving its identity as Marin's only indoor mall.
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| Front cover of the 2008 Northgate Mall renovation brochure, showing an artist’s rendering of the updated mall with new landscaping, signage, and a more modern exterior. |
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| Back page of the renovation brochure showing renderings of the new mall interior and revitalized public spaces. |
By November 12, 2009, Northgate Mall officially unveiled its grand reopening. Kohl’s—which replaced Mervyn’s—opened in September, and the mall boasted a fresh clerestory atrium, revamped food court, and new Oak Tree Plaza, an outdoor promenade with shops and restaurants.
Macerich took an environmentally conscious approach to the rebuild, pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification—a rare step for a shopping center at the time. Northgate was positioning itself as a “green” mall, aiming for sustainability amid suburban retail.
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| Interior view of Northgate Mall in San Rafael, showcasing the stunning skylight ceiling added during its recent renovation—bringing natural light and a fresh, open-air feel to the center. |
Legacy of Northgate Mall
For nearly five decades, Northgate served as one of Marin County's primary shopping destinations. From its beginnings as an open-air regional shopping center to its transformation into the county's only enclosed mall, the center continually reinvented itself to meet changing retail expectations.
The 2008–2009 renovation represented Northgate's most ambitious attempt to remain relevant in the twenty-first century, blending traditional mall retail with outdoor gathering spaces, restaurants, and community-focused amenities. Yet like many suburban malls across California, Northgate eventually faced new challenges as shopping habits shifted and redevelopment opportunities emerged.
Today, Northgate's legacy lies not only in the stores it housed, but in its role as a gathering place for generations of Marin County residents. For decades, it reflected the changing nature of suburban retail while remaining one of the region's most recognizable commercial landmarks.
Comments
Except for the food court, The problem has always been empty spaces. The end where the movies theatres are have never been vibrant. All I remember down there was a pet store that always had dead pets. Nice.
So now they are trying to make it look like a mall with stores and cafes that would normally follow Nordstrom coming.
I hope it works but how can it ?
I buy $2.00 shirts at Mervyn's and $6.00 pants at Sears.
They don't mix with upscale.
Even Target mixes better, oddly enough. Maybe because of the foot traffic.
I opened Sears in 1972 and it was very vibrant with a restaurant and ever department you could think of.
If you look close, there are less are about one third of the entrances still useable.
But wait, how you could tell it was a pimp, a whore or two, a retard, and a drunk? Well, the drunk could be pretty easy, but the others?
Macy's is OK and full line which is a bonus, but one out three anchors won't work.
Sounds like a "lifestyle" center, but what happens to the other two anchors ?