A snapshot of Bayfair Mall in San Leandro shortly after its two-story retail concourse opened in November 1957, documenting the stores, services, and layout of one of the East Bay's most ambitious new shopping centers.
Directory and mall map
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| Mall map and store directory from Bayfair Mall, published in November 1957 shortly after the opening of the shopping center's first two-story retail concourse. |
Fast facts
- Date: 1957
- Location: San Leandro, California
- Anchors: Macy's
- Stores and services: 22
- Layout: Two levels
- Source: Newspaper directory
Highlights
- Published shortly after Bayfair's two-story retail concourse opened in November 1957.
- Documents the mall's first 22 inline stores alongside Macy's.
- Shows Victor Gruen's original two-level shopping center layout.
- Captures Bayfair before its 1959 expansion completed the original design.
- One of the earliest surviving directories from an East Bay shopping mall.
About this directory
This newspaper directory captures Bayfair Mall shortly after its two-story retail concourse opened in November 1957. With Macy's already operating and 22 additional stores welcoming shoppers, it documents the center during the second of its three opening phases. Two years later, new storefronts constructed in front of Macy's completed Victor Gruen's original vision for the shopping center.
Stores you’ll remember
The directory includes many retailers that were once familiar sights in San Leandro:
- Amerio's Bay Fair Drugs
- Bay Fair Bakery
- Bay Fair Barber Shop
- Bay Fair Beauty Salon
- Bay Fair Bottle Shop
- Bay Fair Cleaners
- Bay Fair Market
- Bay Fair Shoe Repair
- Hellwig's Toys
- House of Fabrics
- Kiddieland
- Marlene's Feminine Fashions
- Nancy's Casual Apparel
- Keith Cole Studios
- Thom McAn
- Union Furniture
- Watkins Children's Bootery
- Slenderella
Food & dining
The one dining option listed in the directory is Richard's Restaurant.
What stands out
Unlike later mall directories that document mature shopping centers, this directory captures Bayfair at the very beginning of its history. Only 22 inline stores had opened alongside Macy's, creating an intimate mix of apparel, toys, services, and neighborhood businesses. Many storefronts carried the Bay Fair name—from the market and bakery to the barber shop and beauty salon—reflecting the shopping center's early identity as a community hub as much as a regional retail destination. The directory also preserves Victor Gruen's original two-level layout before Bayfair's final expansion in 1959 completed the center's initial design.
Collection
Historic shopping mall directories preserving the retail history of shopping centers through their stores, layouts, and services.
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