When Grand Century Shopping Mall opened in 2000, it represented a new chapter in the development of San Jose's Little Saigon. Built by Vietnamese-American entrepreneur Lap Tang inside a former Costco warehouse, the project brought dozens of Vietnamese-owned businesses together under one roof, creating a regional shopping and dining destination that reflected the growing economic and cultural influence of the Vietnamese-American community. Exterior entrance of Grand Century Shopping Mall—gateway to a thriving Vietnamese-American retail community. A thriving community market place By 2009, Grand Century had become a bustling commercial center. The mall's directory listed dozens of businesses, including jewelers, bridal shops, restaurants, salons, professional services, and specialty retailers catering to the Vietnamese-American community. The variety of tenants reflected the mall's role as more than a shopping destination. Visitors could dine, shop, meet with service prov...
Explore the malls, department stores, and shopping centers that helped shape postwar Northern California and the suburban communities that grew around them.