Liberty House sites — field guide

This field guide documents four surviving Liberty 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 Liberty House stores, while others occupied earlier department store anchors such as Rhodes. Together, they form a layered record of retail development across California malls.

Liberty House - Hayward

Location: Southland Mall

Role: Purpose-built

Architect: Avner Naggar

Original anchor: No

Operational years: 1972–1983

Predecessor store: None

Current use: Macy’s

Although not original to the mall, it was added when Southland expanded in 1972. When it closed, it was leased by Emporium-Capwell, Forty years after the store closed, it's still a retail historian hotspot. According to a Macy's salesperson, "people still stop and talk about Liberty House and the glass elevators when they come through here."

Exterior photo of Liberty House at Southland Mall in Hayward, California, showing the store before it transitioned to Emporium-Capwell and later Macy’s.

Liberty House at Southland Mall in Hayward opened in 1972 with flair.

Liberty House - Citrus Heights

Location: Sunrise Mall

Role: Purpose-built

Architect: Avner Naggar

Original anchor: Yes

Operational years: 1972–1984

Predecessor store: None

Current use: Macy’s

Liberty House arrived in Northern California with a branded look.

Photograph of Liberty House department store at Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights, showing the store’s exterior in the early 2000s.

The Citrus Heights branch of Liberty House, opened in 1972 at Sunrise Mall.

Liberty House - Fresno

Location: Manchester Center

Role: Converted anchor

Architect: Unknown

Original anchor: No

Operational years: 1974 or 1975–1984

Predecessor store: Rhodes

Current use: Caltrans

Liberty House's parent company decided to phase out their Rhodes department store line and rebranded the store as Liberty House.

Exterior of the former Liberty House department store at Manchester Center in Fresno, California. The mid-century modern building, once Rhodes and later Liberty House, now functions as a CalTrans office.

Originally a Rhodes department store, later rebranded as Liberty House, this building at Fresno’s Manchester Center now serves as offices for CalTrans.

Liberty House - Santa Rosa

Location: Coddingtown Mall

Role: Purpose-built

Architect: Unknown

Original anchor: No

Operational years: 1980–1984

Predecessor store: None

Current use: Demolished/replaced by Target

Although not original to the mall, it was added when Coddingtown remodeled and enclosed in 1980. Macy's acquired the site, turned it into a clearance center, then it became Gottschalk's. After it was demolished a new Target rose in its place.

Exterior photo of Liberty House at Coddingtown Mall in Santa Rosa, later rebranded as Gottschalks after Macy’s acquisition.

Liberty House opened at Coddingtown Mall in 1980. It later became Gottschalks after being sold to Macy’s.

Liberty House in Northern California (1971—1987)

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