Princeton Plaza Mall, located at the intersection of Blossom Hill Road, Meridian Avenue, and Kooser Road in San Jose's Blossom Hill area, opened in 1963 as an open-air community shopping center. Developed by Anthony Perrucci and A. C. Morici, the mall was built on a 15-acre site and featured its first anchor, Safeway, which opened on March 13, 1963. Shortly after, Thrifty Drug Store joined the mix, and a series of smaller shops were added between the anchor stores.
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| 1963 newspaper rendering of Princeton Plaza Shopping Center in San Jose, showcasing the full layout as originally planned. The design highlights an open-air shopping strip anchored by Safeway and Thrifty, with landscaped walkways and surface parking—typical of early suburban retail developments. |
With just the front portion of the center opened first, it acted as a local hub for the nearby residential community. The center’s open-air design was ideal for San Jose’s mild climate. However, Princeton Plaza was about to transform into something more significant by the late 1960s.
The arrival of Mervyn’s & transformation into a mall (1969)
On August 14, 1969, Princeton Plaza transitioned from a local shopping center into a true regional mall with the arrival of an 82,500-square-foot Mervyn’s department store in August. It was the fifth store in the growing chain, and the largest to date. This major addition elevated the center’s profile, attracting shoppers from across San Jose and the greater South Bay. Just a few months later, on November 6, 1969, a new wing of interior-facing shops opened between Mervyn’s and Thrifty, officially giving Princeton Plaza its mall status. While the layout featured a roof with generous skylights overhead, it wasn’t a fully enclosed mall—there were no entry doors, and the design preserved an open-air atmosphere with lush landscaping and natural light throughout.
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| November 1969 advertisement announcing the grand opening of Princeton Plaza’s final expansion phase, marking its transformation into a full-fledged shopping mall. With the new wing of shops completed between Mervyn’s and Thrifty, the ad invited shoppers to celebrate the milestone—with free Cokes for everyone. |
Community events & cultural moments (1970s)
In 1970, Princeton Plaza hosted a memorable fundraising event when two local teens, Ed Smith and Larry Bezark, set a new record for teeter-totter endurance by staying on the teeter-totter for 246 consecutive hours, breaking the previous record. This event raised $1,246 for the San Jose Symphony Association, showcasing how the plaza was deeply integrated into the local culture.
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| 1970 advertisement for Princeton Plaza Shopping Center in San Jose, inviting locals to witness teens Ed and Larry attempt to break the world teeter-totter endurance record. The quirky event became a memorable community moment and fundraiser for the San Jose Symphony. |
Rebranding to "Princeton Plaza Mall" (1980s)
As the mall culture exploded in the 1980s, Princeton Plaza rebranded to Princeton Plaza Mall in late 1980, capitalizing on the growing trend of the word “mall” to attract more shoppers. During this time, the plaza became a pop-culture hotspot with the rise of Garfield—the lasagna-loving cat—and his iconic stickers found everywhere. Garfield's popularity made an appearance at the center, capturing the zeitgeist of the era.
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| 1984 “Purrfect Savings” ad from Princeton Plaza Mall in San Jose, tapping into the peak of Garfield mania. The mall embraced the pop culture icon with themed promotions and special deals, reflecting the playful marketing trends of the mid-1980s. |
Other trendy stores during the 1980s included Radio Shack, Plaster Crafts, Video Magic, Winchell’s Donut House, and Friedman’s Microwave Ovens, giving the plaza a mix of entertainment and practical retail offerings.
Evolution of tenants and transformation (1990s–2000s)
As consumer preferences shifted over the decades, the tenant mix at Princeton Plaza Mall adapted accordingly:
Safeway closed in the 1980s, eventually replaced by Leeward's Crafts, which transitioned into Michaels Arts & Crafts—still a mainstay tenant today.
Thrifty Drug Store became Walgreens in the mid-1990s, reflecting the national trend of pharmacies becoming more central to shopping center layouts.
Mervyn’s, a popular anchor for years, closed its doors in 2008 following the retailer’s bankruptcy and closure of locations nationwide.
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| 2004 mall map of Princeton Plaza Mall in San Jose, showing the layout of anchor stores including Mervyn’s California, Michaels, and Walgreens. This snapshot captures the center in its early 2000s configuration, just before the retail landscape began to shift dramatically. |
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| Mervyn’s entrance at Princeton Plaza Mall in 2005, just a few years before the department store chain closed. The familiar signage and simple façade reflect the mall’s practical, suburban retail style of the early 2000s. |
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| Princeton Plaza’s open-air walkway in 2005, lined with retail storefronts and shaded by skylights overhead. The center’s roofed, yet unenclosed design was a hallmark of its mid-century suburban mall layout. |
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| Center court of Princeton Plaza Mall in 2005, featuring wide pedestrian paths, benches, and landscaping. This central hub served as a casual gathering space within the mall’s open-air layout. |
Modern Princeton Plaza Mall configuration
Today, Princeton Plaza Mall remains a thriving neighborhood retail hub in San Jose. The shopping center, now managed by PanCal, spans over 180,000 sq. ft. and offers over 900 parking spaces. The plaza houses around 30+ tenants, which include national and local favorites such as:
Walgreens
Michaels
Planet Fitness
Outdoor Supply Hardware
Starbucks
McDonald's
Local eateries and other services
The mall retains its reputation as a community-focused, open-air shopping destination, catering to the needs of surrounding neighborhoods.
Princeton Plaza Mall: a legacy of community and retail evolution
Though it may not have the fame of larger regional malls, Princeton Plaza Mall continues to hold a special place in the hearts of San Jose residents. From its mid-century origins with Safeway and Mervyn’s, to its present-day offerings of fitness centers and modern retailers, the mall’s evolution mirrors broader retail trends while staying rooted in its local community. Today, it stands as a testament to the growth of San Jose's retail landscape, maintaining its nostalgic charm while adapting to the needs of modern shoppers.
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