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

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...

Welcome to a rare glimpse at early promotional literature from Hilltop Mall in Richmond, California—a Taubman-developed shopping center that captured the futuristic spirit of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Built after Eastridge Mall in San Jose (1971) and just before Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton (1980), Hilltop opened in September 1976, becoming one of the Bay Area’s most visually distinct malls. Built by the Taubman Company and designed by Avner Naggar, its signature architectural flourishes echoed trends seen across the company’s national portfolio: bold color choices, sculptural elements, and walkable, multi-level interiors. Signature style: circular walkways & red carpet drama One of Hilltop’s most iconic features was its dramatic circular ramp connecting the mall’s two main levels—shown prominently in this 1980s promotional photograph: Promotional image of Hilltop Mall in Richmond from the mid-1980s, featuring its signature circular ramp and striking red carpet—an era whe...

Before it became Eastmont Town Center, it was known as Eastmont Mall—a major community hub in East Oakland. Developed on the site of a former Chevrolet assembly plant at 73rd Avenue and Foothill Boulevard, Eastmont evolved over the years from a simple neighborhood shopping center to a full-fledged, multi-level mall. From strip center to enclosed mall: 1966–1970 The development of Eastmont Mall occurred in three phases between 1966 and 1970, led by Irvin J. Kahn and designed by the Los Angeles-based architectural firm Burke, Kober, Nicholais, and Archuleta. May 18, 1966– The first phase opened as a convenience center, including stores like Safeway, in a typical strip mall layout. 1968 – A secondary wing was added, extending perpendicularly from the original strip, and began resembling more of a traditional mall. November 18, 1970– A two-story enclosed mall officially opened, bringing the total space to 650,000 sq. ft. across two levels. That mall was built to accommodate a s...

South Shore Center in Alameda, California has long stood as a unique presence in the East Bay retail landscape. Opening on August 21, 1958 with just 12 stores, it was one of the earliest open-air shopping malls in Northern California. Built by the Utah Construction Company on 65-acres in the overall 400-acre landfill addition to Alameda, architect Robert B. Liles designed the mall to complement Alameda’s mild, breezy climate and scenic shoreline. A 1958 aerial view of South Shore Center in Alameda, shortly before its grand opening. JCPenney, Lucky Stores, and Woolworth’s opened on August 21, followed by W. T. Grant and Safeway later that November. The shopping center brought modern retail to the shoreline during the postwar suburban boom. Early anchors and suburban expansion Dubbed "The Miracle of Alameda," the mall was originally anchored by Woolworth’s, JCPenney, W. T. Grant, Lucky Stores, and Safeway, South Shore served the area’s growing suburban population with a mix ...

When San Francisco Centre opened its doors on October 7, 1988, it transformed the urban retail landscape. Built next to the historic Emporium building on Market Street, this bold new vertical mall offered a uniquely compact, yet towering shopping experience: four levels of retail crowned by four more levels of Nordstrom—then the largest in the United States. The center introduced San Francisco to a type of retail previously unseen in the region: an enclosed, vertical shopping mall with modern flair. One of its most iconic features was the spiral escalators, the first in North America, connecting three levels in a dramatic, space-efficient design that became a hallmark of the mall’s futuristic interior. Spiral escalators add a dramatic modern touch to the interior design. The 1990s: A vertical retail success story During the 1990s, San Francisco Centre flourished. It became a premier downtown shopping destination, attracting both tourists and locals with high-end retail options, mul...

Tucked between the steel-and-glass giants of San Francisco’s Financial District, the Crocker Galleria feels like a quiet anomaly. Just two blocks from the bustle of Union Square, this petite, three-level shopping center offers a striking architectural contrast and, at least during our 2007 visit, an eerily tranquil atmosphere. A walk through in 2007 Stepping inside on a Saturday afternoon, we were struck by the silence. After navigating shoulder-to-shoulder crowds at the newly expanded Westfield San Francisco Centre, Crocker Galleria felt almost forgotten. We counted just three other people across the entire concourse. It was as if the entire downtown had gone home for the weekend—and in some ways, it had. Street view of Crocker Galleria in San Francisco—its glass arched roof and modern façade stand out amid the city’s Financial District. The glass-vaulted ceiling, inspired by the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, remains the showpiece of the mall. The light-filled interior fe...

Opened on September 1, 1976, Vallco Shopping Mall (originally called "Vallco Fashion Park") was no ordinary shopping center. Set high atop a parking level, the entire retail experience floated above the ground—complete with six themed “parks” honoring Cupertino’s history: De Anza Park, Orchard Park, and the futuristic Electronics Park, each planted with trees to bring a slice of nature indoors. Grand opening ad for Vallco Fashion Park, 1976. A 130-foot-wide pedestrian bridge over Wolfe Road connected both halves of the mall, acting as a skywalk between worlds. Below, cars zipped by; above, shoppers strolled through what felt like an indoor garden. View of Vallco Mall's pedestrian skybridge over Wolfe Road. Toys, fashion, and ice: Vallco in its heyday Anchored by Sears, which had opened in October 28, 1970, Bullock’s, and I. Magnin (with JCPenney and an ice rink joining in 1977), the mall was a design-forward marvel created by Wurster, Bernardi & Emmons with landsc...