Fashion Island opened in 1981 as San Mateo's newest enclosed mall, anchored by Bullock's, Liberty House, JCPenney, and Montgomery Ward. These two surviving directories offer a snapshot of the mall just a few years apart—one showing Fashion Island near its peak, and another revealing the first signs of change.
1983 Fashion Island directory: a mall in its prime
Just two years after opening, Fashion Island was packed with retailers. The 1983 directory shows a healthy mix of department stores, fashion chains, restaurants, and specialty shops that reflected the mall's upscale ambitions.
Among the tenants were The Limited, Miller's Outpost, Thom McAn, Waldenbooks, Walgreens, The Wherehouse, Oshman's Sporting Goods, Things Remembered, and See's Candies. The mall's four department store anchors—Bullock's, Liberty House, JCPenney, and Montgomery Ward—were all operating, while the Ice Capades Chalet ice rink and Red Robin Restaurant added to the center's appeal as more than just a shopping destination.
The food court was a time capsule of early-1980s mall dining, with names like Pups on a Pole, Great Hot Dog Experience, 1 Potato 2, and Greek Island Delights.
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| The front of a 1983 San Mateo Fashion Island mall directory. |
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| The back of a 1983 San Mateo Fashion Island mall directory. |
1987 Fashion Island directory: signs of transition
Only four years later, the directory tells a different story.
Liberty House had just closed, but still appeared on the directory. Whole Earth Access was set to replace it later. Bullock's closed the year before and its space was labeled simply as "Future Department Store." Vacancies had also begun appearing throughout the former Bullock's wing.
Even so, many familiar tenants remained. JCPenney and Montgomery Ward continued to anchor the mall, while stores such as See's Candies, House of Fabrics, Kay Bee Toy & Hobby, and the Ice Capades Chalet were still welcoming shoppers.
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| Front of the 1987 San Mateo Fashion Island directory. |
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| Back of the 1987 San Mateo Fashion Island directory. |
A tale of two directories
Viewed side by side, these directories capture a turning point in Fashion Island's short history. The 1983 directory reflects the optimism of a newly opened regional mall, while the 1987 edition reveals a center already searching for its footing after the loss of a major anchor.
Together, they offer a rare glimpse into one of the Bay Area's most fascinating retail experiments.
Collection
Historic shopping mall directories preserving the retail history of shopping centers through their stores, layouts, and services.
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