BIGMallrat | lost malls, department stores, and Bay Area retail history

I didn’t just go to The Shops at Tanforan (it was called "Tanforan Park" back then)—I raced there, willingly and excitedly, under the ever-enthusiastic guidance of my grandmother, the original shopping adventurer. Tanforan was part of our legendary “three malls in three hours” marathon. First, we’d hit Stonestown for The Emporium, then Westlake for JCPenney, and finally, Tanforan for Sears and, of course, the promise of treats. And when I say “3 malls in 3 hours,” I mean it. My grandmother wasn’t some leisurely driver, sipping tea behind the wheel. Oh no, she was a bona fide speed demon, behind the wheel of a 1970 Mustang, roaring down the road with a sense of purpose. In the stores, she was a blur—a whirlwind of linens, lace, and determination. The unmistakable sound of metal hangers flying across the racks was like a battle cry—there’s a sale going on, and we weren’t about to miss it! A 1975 postcard from Tanforan Park mall This postcard brings back many memories. I'd...

Before it became Solano Town Center, it was simply Solano Mall, and it opened its doors on March 19, 1981, bringing a fresh wave of suburban retail to Fairfield, California. Anchored initially by JCPenney, Mervyn’s, the mall soon grew to include Sears, Emporium-Capwell (March 1983) and Macy's (August 1985). Solano mall was the region’s go-to shopping hub and, for many, a weekend tradition.  A mall with style (and skylights… sort of) Take a look at this early postcard from around the time of opening. It proudly displays the mall’s unique architectural features—particularly its triangular ceiling lights, styled in warm orange and burnt sienna hues. According to the postcard, Solano Mall was built to serve "an approximate population of 90,000," a detail that feels straight from a developer’s pitch deck. But don’t be fooled: those bright triangles in the ceiling weren’t skylights—just artificial lighting mimicking the effect. Thankfully, they were flanked by real skylights,...

This mid-century postcard offers a rare look inside Fresno Fashion Fair Mall, one of the Central Valley’s earliest enclosed shopping centers. The scene features a dramatic interior with distinctive lighting, a prominent central clock, and clean architectural lines typical of late 1960s and early 1970s mall design. Interior view of Fresno Fashion Fair Mall in the 1970s, showcasing moody lighting, modernist design, and the iconic central clock—a signature of early California mall architecture. A climate-controlled oasis in the Central Valley The caption on the back of the postcard proudly reads: “Center of the Valley. The beautiful Fresno Fashion Fair Mall, controlled temperature the year round. Over 60 shops open 7 days a week to serve shoppers.” In Fresno’s famously hot climate, the promise of a “controlled temperature” shopping experience was more than just a convenience—it was a major draw. Enclosed malls like Fashion Fair offered a comfortable, air-conditioned environment that se...

Explore the rich history of Eastridge Center in San Jose through vintage postcards, iconic 1970s architecture, and major renovations. Discover the mall’s heyday, unique features, and evolving design. Opened in 1971, Eastridge Center (commonly known as Eastridge Mall) in San Jose was celebrated as the largest and most beautiful mall in California — even billed as “the largest in the West.” Promising over 160 shops, four major department stores, and three climate-controlled levels, it marked a bold new era in Bay Area shopping. Its grand opening on May 17, 1971, drew crowds from near and far.  Newspaper ad announcing the grand opening of Eastridge Center on May 17, 1971. Billed as “the largest in the West,” the mall promised fine stores, four major department stores, three climate-controlled levels—and a bold new era in Bay Area shopping. The shopping center was developed by Bayshore Properties and Homart Development Company, with The Taubman Company acting as General Contractor....

Town Center Corte Madera, originally known as Corte Madera Center, officially opened its doors on July 17, 1958, bringing the suburban shopping boom to Marin County. Just a few months later, JCPenney joined the growing lineup, followed by Montgomery Ward, which opened on March 16, 1960. Like many mid-century shopping centers across the Bay Area, Corte Madera Center arrived with ambition and architectural flair. Designed for easy access just off U.S. Route 101, it featured large department stores alongside specialty retailers, a format that would become a standard in American retail. Today, Town Center Corte Madera stands as a revitalized open-air shopping hub, blending its historic roots with modern lifestyle and community-focused retail. A vintage postcard glimpse of Town Center Corte Madera One of the best glimpses we have of the center’s early years is a 1960s postcard, most likely taken not long after Montgomery Ward arrived. The scene is carefully staged—photographer Mike Robe...

Once the world’s largest enclosed shopping center, Concord’s Sunvalley Mall was a futuristic retail wonder—complete with fountains, fiber-optic flowers, and escalators to everywhere. These vintage postcards take you back to a cooler, tiled time. Let me tell you a secret. When I was a kid, Sunvalley Shopping Center wasn't just a mall—it was a planet. A self-contained, air-conditioned universe that stretched endlessly in all directions, wrapped in terrazzo and mystery, and echoing with the whispers of escalators and the chime of the JCPenney intercom. Sunvalley opens in 1967: a new era of shopping in Concord Sunvalley opened on August 3, 1967, and back then, they weren’t subtle about it. No, no. They called it the world's largest enclosed shopping center—two levels of pure retail bliss designed by Avner Naggar and developed by Bayshore Properties. The ribbon cutting featured none other than the famous singer Tony Martin. The mall had everything: a cinema, an ice rink below gro...

Broadway Plaza in the 1950s: a growing hub Broadway Plaza, originally called Broadway Shopping Center, opened on November 8, 1951 in Walnut Creek, California. Built by MacDonald Products Company, it featured iconic stores like JCPenney, Woolworths, Sears, Joseph Magnin, and Lucky's. The opening ceremonies included none other than the legendary Harpo Marx and Mary Fenn in two stage performances. Broadway Plaza originally referred to a short street that connected Main Street to South Broadway. Running perpendicular to it, South Broadway featured shops on its east side, like Lucky's and Capwell's, with parking lots occupying the west. As the area redeveloped over time, the street names and layout were reconfigured: a new South Broadway was established east of the shopping center, where it remains today. The original South Broadway was renamed Broadway Plaza, while the original Broadway Plaza street was permanently closed to vehicular traffic, transforming it into a more pede...