BIGMallrat | lost malls, department stores, and Bay Area retail history

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...