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

Looking to explore the biggest shopping destinations in Northern California? Here's a ranked list of the 10 largest malls in the region, based on Gross Leasable Area (GLA)—which usually includes in-line tenants, common area, and anchors. GLA figures are sourced from mall operators and industry data, though slight variations may exist due to rounding or differing definitions. Whether you're a retail enthusiast, real estate researcher, or mall nostalgia buff, these are the heavyweights of Northern California shopping: Top 10 largest malls in Northern California 1.  Westfield Valley Fair  - San Jose 1,960,000~ sq. ft. Valley Fair Mall, the largest mall in Northern California, is a luxury retail destination—just minutes from Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino. Visit Westfield Valley Fair 2. San Francisco Centre - San Francisco 1,500,000~ sq. ft. A flagship urban mall combining historic architecture with luxury retailers. Now facing a wave of tenant closures and vacancy. Vis...

Step back in time to April 19, 1972, when Sunrise Mall opened its doors in Citrus Heights, just outside of Sacramento, California. Developed by Ernest W. Hahn and Cordano Associates, the mall quickly became a cornerstone of suburban life—a place to shop, socialize, and make memories. At its height, Sunrise Mall was the premier shopping destination in the Sacramento area, anchored by beloved department stores: Weinstock’s to the north, JCPenney and Liberty House to the east, and Sears to the south. These four anchors shaped the mall experience for decades of shoppers. A look back: postcards and Krypton ceilings A 1970s postcard captured the interior of Sunrise Mall in its earliest years, showing a sleek, modern design. The caption proudly boasts: “Ultra modern, enclosed air conditioned complex affords shopping in comfort. Citrus Heights, California.” Postmarked 1987, the image likely shows the Macy’s court, looking north toward Weinstock’s. The mall’s geometric ceiling patterns and...

From mid-century marvel to modern marketplace El Cerrito Plaza in El Cerrito, California, opened its doors on July 9, 1958, marking a major moment in East Bay retail history. Set on a portion of the historic Rancho San Pablo, this open-air shopping center was a joint development between the Albert-Lovett Company and the Emporium-Capwell Company, designed to serve a growing suburban community. At the heart of it all stood Capwell’s, a bold two-story department store that instantly became a Contra Costa landmark. A store built to impress The new 232,000-square-foot Capwell’s cost $6 million to build—a modern marvel at the time. Designed with clean lines and eye-catching blue and brown tile, the building reflected the optimism and flair of 1950s retail architecture. Inside, wide aisles, bright lighting, and futuristic fixtures created an environment tailored for leisurely shopping. At the time, this was Capwell’s fourth location, joining the flagship store in downtown Oakland, Broadw...

From urban revival to arena dreams In the early 1990s, Sacramento set out to reinvent its downtown core—and at the center of that vision was Downtown Plaza, a massive open-air shopping mall designed to bring energy back to the K Street corridor. Opening in 1993, this ambitious project was developed by Ernest Hahn, the same mind behind San Diego’s successful Horton Plaza. With 1.2 million square feet of retail space, Downtown Plaza was a bold fusion of urban retail, modern architecture, and destination design. The peak of Downtown Plaza View of the Downtown Plaza sign when it was owned by Westfield. At its height, Downtown Plaza was home to major national retailers and the largest Macy’s in the Sacramento region—with separate buildings for Men’s and Furniture departments. Its central architectural showpiece was a futuristic steel-framed rotunda, which hosted laser light shows that lit up the skyline and added a theatrical flair to downtown nights. Downtown Plaza’s central open-air...

Tucked in West San Jose, Westgate Center is a shopping mall that continues to quietly defy the odds. With a Thrifty Drug store opening on May 11, 1961, it was on its way to become the second-largest mall in San Jose, a distinction many may not realize as they stroll its now-relaxed, low-key corridors. In a retail landscape where similar-sized malls have vanished or struggled to stay relevant, Westgate Center is not only open—it’s thriving. A modest giant in San Jose’s retail history Developed by Morris Stulsaft during the postwar suburban boom, Westgate Shopping Center opened as an open-air center—one of the first major postwar shopping complexes in the South Bay. In its early years, it competed with other major malls like Stevens Creek Plaza and Valley Fair, and hosted anchors like JCPenney (opened October 12, 1961), W. T. Grant, Thrifty, Purity Stores, and eventually Montgomery Ward. Vintage advertisement celebrating the grand opening of JCPenney at Westgate Shopping Center in San ...

Tucked along Story Road in San Jose’s Little Saigon, Grand Century Shopping Mall is more than just another micromall—it’s a reflection of the community it serves. Originally opened in 2000, Grand Century was founded by Lap Tang, a Vietnamese-American entrepreneur and television station owner. Built in a repurposed Costco, the mall was conceived as a hub for Vietnamese-owned businesses, offering everything from bridal gowns to bánh mì. By 2009, when these photos were taken, Grand Century was thriving. With 74 shops, it felt like a self-contained city: get your hair cut, your teeth cleaned, pick out a diamond ring, and then enjoy a big bowl of phở with friends. Exterior entrance of Grand Century Shopping Mall in 2009—modest signage, but a gateway to a thriving Vietnamese-American retail community. A look inside (2009) The food court—stretching along the west side of the building—was packed during lunch hour. The smell of grilled meats and herbs filled the air, and nearly every tray c...

I've always had a fascination with small, enclosed malls—and a few years ago, I stumbled across a particularly interesting one: Lawrence Plaza, located in the Koreatown district of Santa Clara, California. Tucked away at 3561 El Camino Real, this little gem caught my attention thanks to a big sign outside that simply read: “Food Court.” Food sounded good—so we gave it a try. The modest strip mall exterior of Lawrence Plaza in Santa Clara, marked by a prominent “Food Court” sign. First impressions: a mall within a strip mall From the outside, Lawrence Plaza looked like a typical suburban strip mall. But once inside, it revealed something more intriguing: a small, enclosed shopping center that looped around a central food court. It turns out the space was formerly anchored by large-format retailers like CompUSA or possibly a grocery store, later remodeled into a food-focused mini-mall. The indoor food court officially opened in August 2008, and it was a unique reuse of a big-box s...