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Emporium-Capwell sites — field guide

This field guide documents ten surviving The Emporium, Capwell’s, and Emporium-Capwell department store sites across Northern California. Each entry records the building’s original anchor tenant, architectural context, and current use.

Unlike a corporate history, this guide focuses on the physical remains of the stores themselves—the structures that still shape mall corridors long after the signage has changed.

Many of these sites began as standalone Capwell’s or The Emporium stores, while others occupied earlier department store anchors such as Liberty House or Bullock’s. Together, they form a layered record of retail development across postwar California malls.

Capwell's - Walnut Creek

Location: Broadway Plaza
Role: Purpose-built
Architect: Welton A. Becket & Associates
Original anchor: No
Operational years: 1954–1996
Predecessor store: None
Current use: Macy’s

When it opened, it was Walnut Creek's largest building.

Modern photo of the 1954 Capwell’s department store building at Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek. The exterior features mid-century design elements including horizontal lines, stone detailing, and large display windows.

The former Capwell’s store at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek.

The Emporium - San Rafael

Location: Northgate Mall
Role: Purpose-built
Architect: Unknown
Original anchor: Yes
Operational years: 1964–1996
Predecessor store: None
Current use: Macy’s

One of The Emporium's more distinctive and colorful designs. 

Exterior of the 1964 Emporium department store at Northgate Mall, now repurposed. Features include a wide façade and an outdoor mezzanine deck with decorative railings, reflecting mid-century mall architecture.
The former Emporium at Northgate Mall still stands with its distinctive façade and an outdoor mezzanine deck.

The Emporium - Santa Rosa

Location: Coddingtown Mall
Role: Purpose-built
Architect: Unknown
Original anchor: Yes
Operational years: 1966–1996
Predecessor store: None
Current use: Macy’s

The store was notable as the first in Sonoma County to feature escalators.

Modern photo of the former 1966 Emporium store at Coddingtown Mall, showing a two-level facade with light brown exterior, squared balcony deck, and clean mid-century lines.
Former Emporium at Coddingtown Mall, showing its two-level façade and balcony deck.

The Emporium - Salinas

Location: Northridge Mall
Role: Purpose-built
Architect: Unknown
Original anchor: Yes
Operational years: 1972–1996
Predecessor store: None
Current use: Macy’s

Look closely and you can see the big E scar on the right side.

Exterior photo showing the large Emporium “E” signage at the Salinas Northridge Mall location.
Former Emporium at Northridge Mall in Salinas.

Capwell's - Richmond

Location: Hilltop Mall
Role: Purpose-built
Architect: Unknown
Original anchor: Yes
Operational years: 1976–1996
Predecessor store: None
Current use: Macy’s

This was the last store to open with the Capwell's name.

Image of Capwell’s at Richmond’s Hilltop Mall, showing a sprawling modernist structure with clean lines.
Former Capwell's at Hilltop Mall in Richmond. The beige tile used to be orangish-red.

Emporium-Capwell - Pleasanton

Location: Stoneridge Mall
Role: Purpose-built
Architect: Unknown
Original anchor: Yes
Operational years: 1980–1996
Predecessor store: None
Current use: Macy’s

This was their first store with the joint Emporium-Capwell name.

Exterior view of Emporium-Capwell at Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton, now a Macy’s location.
Former Emporium-Capwell at Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton.

Emporium-Capwell - Concord

Location: Sunvalley Mall
Role: Purpose-built
Architect: Unknown
Original anchor: Yes
Operational years: 1981–1996
Predecessor store: None
Current use: Macy’s

If you look closely, you can still see the scar of the original Emporium-Capwell signage.

Image showing the former Emporium-Capwell store at Sunvalley Mall, partially obscured by current Macy’s signage.
Former Emporium-Capwell at Sunvalley Mall in Concord.

Emporium-Capwell - Fairfield

Location: Solano Mall
Role: Purpose-built
Architect: Architects Pacifica Ltd.
Original anchor: Yes
Operational years: 1983–1996
Predecessor store: None
Current use: Vacant

It was replaced by Sears until the store closed.

Exterior view of the Sears store at Solano Mall in Fairfield, California, which replaced the original Emporium-Capwell location after it closed in 1996.
Sears at Solano Mall in Fairfield, CA, shown here occupying the space once home to Emporium-Capwell.

Emporium-Capwell - Hayward

Location: Southland Mall
Role: Converted anchor
Architect: Avner Naggar
Original anchor: No
Operational years: 1983–1996
Predecessor store: Liberty House
Current use: Macy's

This store was a relocation of the downtown Hayward store.

Image showing the former Emporium-Capwell store at Southland Mall, Hayward in Liberty House architecture.
Former Emporium-Capwell at Southland Mall in Hayward.

Emporium-Capwell - Cupertino

Location: Vallco Fashion Park
Role: Converted anchor
Architect: Welton Becket & Associates
Original anchor: No
Operational years: 1984–1996
Predecessor store: Bullock's
Current use: Demolished

It originally opened as Bullock's in 1975. After Emporium-Capwell, it was Macy's until demolition in the 2010s as part of the mall's redevelopment.

Exterior view of the former Emporium Capwell department store at Vallco Fashion Park in Cupertino, California, originally Bullock’s, later Macy’s, photographed before demolition.
Former Emporium-Capwell store at Vallco Mall in Cupertino, California.

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