Coddingtown is the oldest major shopping center in Santa Rosa and one of the earliest suburban retail developments in Sonoma County. Since opening in 1962, it has evolved from an open-air commercial center into a fully enclosed mall and, more recently, a mixed-format retail property anchored by national chains and daily-needs retail.
Its history reflects broader shifts in Northern California retail—from mid-century suburban expansion to the rise of enclosed malls, and later to hybrid centers shaped by changing consumer patterns and anchor tenant turnover.
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| The landmark rotating sign outside Coddingtown is one of Santa Rosa’s most iconic sights. |
Origins and early development
Coddingtown celebrated its grand opening on November 29, 1962, It was a bold new shopping destination developed by Hugh Codding, whose name the mall still bears. It began as an open-air shopping center with just thirteen businesses — among them, Lucky supermarket, Thrifty Drugstore, and a few local staples like a bank, travel agency, and barber.
At the time, it reflected a growing suburban retail model: car-oriented, low-density, and designed around convenience and parking access. The rotating Coddingtown sign quickly became one of the most recognizable landmarks in Santa Rosa — a mid-century beacon that still stands today.
One of the biggest events was the opening of The Emporium on July 14, 1966. With it came the first escalators in Sonoma county.
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| The Emporium department store at Coddingtown, later rebranded as Macy’s in 1996. The Bay Area-based retailer was a long-standing regional anchor. |
Just a year later, JCPenney opened a new store at the other end of the center, with a grand opening on November 1, 1967. Now with two large anchors, Coddingtown became a regional destination.
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| JCPenney at Coddingtown has been a fixture since 1967 — one of the mall’s longest-standing anchors, still operating today. |
Expansion and enclosure
As the mall grew in popularity, it underwent a major transformation. In 1979, Liberty House joined Coddingtown in a new wing with additional shops. The mall was enclosed, converting the open-air walkways into an indoor promenade. The change brought air conditioning, skylights, and new life to the center — turning it into a year-round destination. By the end of the decade, the mall had over 70 stores and was generating hundreds of millions in annual sales.
During this period, Coddingtown also functioned as a community gathering space, hosting seasonal events and family-oriented programming common to regional malls of the era.
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| A 1979 newspaper ad celebrates two major milestones for Coddingtown: the grand opening of Liberty House department store and the mall’s transformation into a fully enclosed shopping center. |
Competition and anchor realignment
The opening of Santa Rosa Plaza in 1982 introduced a new downtown retail center that directly competed for regional shopping traffic, reshaping the competitive landscape in Santa Rosa.
Within this shifting environment, Coddingtown underwent a series of anchor transitions. Liberty House closed in 1984 and was replaced by a Macy’s Clearance Center. In 1996, Emporium-Capwell was rebranded as a full-line Macy’s, while the former clearance format space later became home to Gottschalks.
Despite these changes, JCPenney remained a continuous anchor presence, providing long-term structural stability within the center. These transitions reflected broader consolidation trends in department store retail, even as Coddingtown maintained its role as a local, convenience-oriented shopping destination.
Ownership change and repositioning
In 2005, Simon Property Group acquired a 50% stake in Coddingtown as part of a broader effort to reposition the center within a changing retail environment. During this time, Gottschalks began to fade. After its closure in 2009, that space was eventually cleared to make way for Target, which opened in 2014 and remains one of the mall’s primary draws.
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| A 2004 mall map of Coddingtown offers a snapshot of the center’s layout and tenant mix — just before major renovations and anchor changes reshaped the property. |
Redevelopment and tenant diversification
This decade brought several key upgrades. Whole Foods Market opened in the former Ralphs space, signaling a pivot toward daily-needs retail. Nordstrom Rack joined the lineup in 2016, expanding fashion options. Dining also got a boost, with BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse joining Sweet River Grill & Bar and Max Café as sit-down options.
In 2017, Hugh Codding’s original company, Codding Enterprises, repurchased Simon’s 50% stake — returning the mall to full local ownership. This allowed for more community-focused decision-making and a re-centering on what made Coddingtown special to begin with.
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| A 2012 promotional photo provided by Coddingtown during a time when interior photography wasn’t permitted. It captures the mall’s atmosphere after major renovations and tenant updates. |
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| A 2012 promotional photo of the children’s play court in front of JCPenney at Coddingtown — part of the mall’s family-friendly features at the time, just after major renovations, |
Hybrid retail structure
Today, Coddingtown operates as a hybrid retail center anchored by Target, Macy’s, JCPenney, Whole Foods, and Nordstrom Rack. Its tenant mix reflects a shift toward daily-needs retail, services, and smaller specialty tenants.
Architectural elements from earlier phases remain visible, including wood-toned interior finishes and design cues influenced by the surrounding redwood landscape. The center continues to function as a local retail hub rather than a regional shopping destination.
Legacy of Coddingtown
Coddingtown is more than a shopping center — it’s part of Santa Rosa’s DNA. It has evolved through six decades of economic shifts, ownership changes, and retail trends without losing its sense of place. Whether you're stopping by Whole Foods, meeting friends at BJ’s, or just admiring the architecture, Coddingtown still feels like a local institution— one that reflects the soul of the community it serves.
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