BIGMallrat | Retail history of Northern California

Few places on the Peninsula have been reinvented as often as Tanforan. Over more than a century, the San Bruno property has served as a racetrack, wartime detention center, regional shopping mall, transit-oriented retail center, and now a candidate for life sciences redevelopment. Each transformation reflected the changing priorities of the Bay Area itself. Artist’s rendering of Tanforan Mall, released in August 1971, depicting the planned design of the shopping center in San Bruno, California. Annotated Apple Maps view of San Bruno showing the location of Tanforan, positioned off I-380 at El Camino Real. From racetrack to retail center (1899–1970) Before it was a shopping mall, the site was home to Tanforan Park racetrack, which opened in 1899 and gained national fame as a venue for thoroughbred racing. The racetrack is historically significant not only for hosting famous horses such as Seabiscuit, but also for serving as a temporary detention center for Japanese Americans during...

In September 2006, Tanforan Mall in San Bruno, California, proudly presented itself as “ The New Shape of Shopping .” Just one year after a massive redevelopment project transformed the aging mid-century mall into a sleek, two-level shopping destination called "The Shops at Tanforan," the mall was riding a wave of optimism—anchored by Target, JCPenney, and Sears, and bolstered by an upgraded food court and an influx of national brands. Today, we’re revisiting that era through a rare 2006 directory and kiosk guide that captured Tanforan at the peak of its early-2000s reinvention. Front cover Front of the September 2006 directory, promoting gift cards, shopping club, and services—popular mall staples of the 2000s. The front of the September 2006 directory touts the mall’s stylish credentials. Hollister Co., the beach-themed Abercrombie offshoot, was set to debut in Spring 2007, while Justice (the preteen girls’ fashion brand) had a grand opening planned for November 2006. Thes...

Postcards from Tanforan Mall in San Bruno captures the center during its early years as a regional shopping destination. During this period, the property was officially known as Tanforan Park Shopping Center. These images reflect its original design, early tenants, and the architectural style that defined its opening era. Postcard 1 —exterior view of Sears Tanforan Mall in the 1970s, showcasing the mall’s exterior with the iconic Sears anchor store. The back of the postcard reads: "Tanforan Shopping Center, the San Francisco Peninsula's most beautiful enclosed Mall." Postcard 2 —Seabiscuit Mid-1970s postcard from Tanforan Mall, depicting the life-sized statue of Seabiscuit—the legendary racehorse who ran at the old Tanforan Racetrack. The back of the card reads: "This life size statue of Seabiscuit is located in one of the many Malls of Tanforan Park to commemorate the historic race track site the Center now occupies. Where former champions once raced, shoppers ...