BIGMallrat | Retail history of Northern California

This field guide documents Nordstrom department store sites across the 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 Nordstrom stores, while others occupied earlier department store anchors such as Bullock's. Together, they form a layered record of retail development across postwar California malls. San Mateo Location:  Hillsdale Role:  Purpose-built Architect : Unknown Original anchor:  No Operational years:  1982–present Predecessor store:  None Current use:  Nordstrom Opened September 24, 1982. This was Nordstrom's debut in the region. Walnut Creek Location:  Broadway Plaza Role:  Converted anchor Architect : Welton Becket & Associates Ori...