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 mall 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 mall directory: signs of transition
Only four years later, the directory tells a different story.
Bullock's had already closed, and its space was labeled simply as "Future Department Store." The former Liberty House had been partially repurposed, with Whole Earth Access occupying part of the anchor location. 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.
One store on the directory has special significance for me: Kay Bee Toy & Hobby. I worked there during this era, and seeing it listed again brings back memories of lunch breaks spent wandering the mall's increasingly quiet corridors.
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| The front of a 1987 San Mateo Fashion Island mall directory. |
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| The back of a 1987 San Mateo Fashion Island mall 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.
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