Step back in time to April 19, 1972, when Sunrise Mall opened its doors in Citrus Heights, just outside of Sacramento, California. Developed by Ernest W. Hahn and Cordano Associates, the mall quickly became a cornerstone of suburban life—a place to shop, socialize, and make memories.
At its height, Sunrise Mall was the premier shopping destination in the Sacramento area, anchored by beloved department stores: Weinstock’s to the north, JCPenney and Liberty House to the east, and Sears to the south. These four anchors shaped the mall experience for decades of shoppers.
A look back: postcards and Krypton ceilings
A 1970s postcard captured the interior of Sunrise Mall in its earliest years, showing a sleek, modern design. The caption proudly boasts:
“Ultra modern, enclosed air conditioned complex affords shopping in comfort. Citrus Heights, California.”
Postmarked 1987, the image likely shows the Macy’s court, looking north toward Weinstock’s. The mall’s geometric ceiling patterns and dramatic lighting gave it a space-age feel—so much so that some say it resembled Krypton from the original Superman movie.
 |
| 1970s postcard of Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights, California, showcasing the sleek interior design and modern architecture of the era. |
Although the ceiling was heavily remodeled in 1999, a hint of the mall’s original design remains in the tiled floor, which was mostly untouched during renovations.
 |
| Interior of Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights in 2009, showcasing the center court’s modernist ceiling design—less stylized than the earlier “Krypton ceiling” of the 1970s, but still echoing the era’s geometric flair. |
Changing times: Macy’s moves in, then out
In 1984, Macy’s took over the Liberty House location after Liberty House closed its doors. The Macy’s building, which originally opened as a Liberty House on October 18, 1972, shared the same design as the Macy’s at Southland Mall in Hayward, another former Liberty House store.
 |
| Exterior of Macy’s South at Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights. Originally opened as Liberty House in 1972, the building features a distinctive 1970s architectural style shared with its twin at Southland Mall in Hayward. |
The building remained vacant for a time after Liberty House’s closure, until Macy’s relocated several departments from its nearby Birdcage Walk location to the Sunrise Mall store.
Later, in 1996, Macy’s also acquired the Weinstock’s store, solidifying its presence at Sunrise Mall.
 |
| Originally opened as Weinstock’s in 1972, this anchor store at Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights was rebranded as Macy’s North after Weinstock’s closed in 1996. |
Both Macy's locations at Sunrise Mall would close in March 2025. The future of the mall looks uncertain, but plans are in the works for something new.
Related posts
- Lost department stores of the West: Liberty House (1971—1987)
- Lost department stores of the West: Weinstock’s (1874—1996)
- The history of Macy's in Sacramento and the Central Valley
- The history of Country Club Plaza – Sacramento’s enduring enclosed mall
- Lost malls of Sacramento: Florin Mall (1968‑2006)
- Lost malls of Sacramento: Downtown Plaza (1993—2014)
Comments
After convincing my mom to leave me there while she shopped(unattended I know crazy huh ppl actually let their kids off the leash once in a while back in the 80s), I would stand there &stare at both(&if memory serves some type of modern, 80s, massive &shimmery metallic-shard hanging mobile in that same area, contemplating how I was going to sneak down there &slip and slide my way to acquiring the tossed-in coin fortune, that I imagined went into 6-figures(basically a million by 80s standards lol).
If I'm not mistaken, I think there was a Parklane Hoisery, across from that Jarman Shoe store during my time there. Plenty of sexy 80s HS girls, dance class attendees & probably nite club dancers going in there to buy their 'wares'. Oh man. Such great times.
Thanks so much for finding/posting this pic!!