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Field guide to Rhodes in Northern California

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

Concord

Location: Concord Shopping Center (Park N Shop) - 1675 Willow Pass Road
Role: Converted anchor
Architect: Unknown
Original anchor: No
Operational years: 1960–1975
Predecessor store: Kahn's
Current use: JoAnn's Fabrics and others

Opened on September 6, 1960 and was converted to Liberty House on May 9, 1975.

Dublin

Location: Golden Hills Shopping Center
Role: Purpose-built
Architect: Unknown
Original anchor: Yes
Operational years: 1972–1975
Predecessor store: RhodesWAY
Current use: Michael's, Ross, and others

Opened as RhodesWAY in 1971, converted to Rhodes in 1972, then converted again to Liberty House on March 14, 1975.

Fresno

Location: Manchester Center
Role: Purpose-built
Architect: Unknown
Original anchor: Yes
Operational years: 1959–1975
Predecessor store: Liberty House
Current use: Caltrans

Opened in 1959, and converted to Liberty House in 1975.

Exterior view of the former Rhodes department store at Manchester Center in Fresno, California. The building, now occupied by CalTrans, retains elements of its original mid-century modern architecture.
The former Rhodes department store at Fresno’s Manchester Center—once a bustling retail anchor in the 1960s—now houses CalTrans offices.

Mountain View

Location: San Antonio Center
Role: Purpose-built
Architect: Unknown
Original anchor: Yes
Operational years: 1963–1944
Predecessor store: None
Current use: Demolished

Opened as Rhodes Palo Alto on October 4, 1963 and converted to Liberty House on September 12, 1974.

Oakland

Location: 15th and Broadway
Role: Converted anchor
Architect: Unknown
Original anchor: No
Operational years: 1960–1975
Predecessor store: Kahn's
Current use: Repurposed

Opened on September 6, 1960 and was converted to Liberty House on March 14, 1975.

Sacramento (Country Club)

Location: Country Club Centre
Role: Purpose-built
Architect: Unknown
Original anchor: Yes
Operational years: 1954–1975
Predecessor store: None
Current use: Country Club Center Group Sports Club

Opened on November 12, 1954 and was converted to Liberty House on May 9, 1975.

Sacramento (Southgate)

Location: Southgate Shopping Center
Role: Purpose-built
Architect: Unknown
Original anchor: Yes
Operational years: 1960–1975
Predecessor store: None
Current use: DD's Discounts, Five Below, and others.

Opened on October 27, 1960 and was converted to Liberty House in 1975.

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