The ESCONDIDO VILLAGE SuperCenter held its grand opening in September 2013.
Photo from "Nordrike Field"
ESCONDIDO VILLAGE
East Valley Parkway and North Ash Street
Escondido, California
Greater San Diego's first fully-enclosed shopping center was built on a 40-acre site, located 27 miles northeast of the Centre City, in suburban Escondido. The site had once contained Ed Bulen's dairy farm. ESCONDIDO VILLAGE was developed by Escondido Village, Incorporated; a joint venture of Charles H. Richer, Bill Bettles and Ken Glazebrook. The complex was designed by the Brand-Worth & Associates firm of Los Angeles and Weber & Edwards firm, of San Diego.
The 10 million dollar facility encompassed approximately 230,000 leasable square feet and was anchored by a 2-level (60,000 square foot), San Diego-based Walker Scott. This store, which was the fourth branch in the chain, was decorated in the grandest style. Floors were covered with custom carpeting. There were "unusual" wall treatments, such as acid-etched brass trees and sculptured metal trees. A series of Roman-themed murals were created by San Diego artisan Rick Chase.
Photo from "Nordrike Field"
ESCONDIDO VILLAGE
East Valley Parkway and North Ash Street
Escondido, California
Greater San Diego's first fully-enclosed shopping center was built on a 40-acre site, located 27 miles northeast of the Centre City, in suburban Escondido. The site had once contained Ed Bulen's dairy farm. ESCONDIDO VILLAGE was developed by Escondido Village, Incorporated; a joint venture of Charles H. Richer, Bill Bettles and Ken Glazebrook. The complex was designed by the Brand-Worth & Associates firm of Los Angeles and Weber & Edwards firm, of San Diego.
The 10 million dollar facility encompassed approximately 230,000 leasable square feet and was anchored by a 2-level (60,000 square foot), San Diego-based Walker Scott. This store, which was the fourth branch in the chain, was decorated in the grandest style. Floors were covered with custom carpeting. There were "unusual" wall treatments, such as acid-etched brass trees and sculptured metal trees. A series of Roman-themed murals were created by San Diego artisan Rick Chase.
Walker Scott opened for business on April 6, 1964. A mall-wide dedication was held on August 6th, with twenty-six stores and services in operation. These included Hafter's Haggarty ladies' wear, Continental Coiffures, Benbough's Furniture, a (12,500 square foot) Ting's Drug, (20,000 square foot) Mayfair Market grocery and (11,500 square foot) TG&Y 5 & 10.
The complex was sold to Los Angeles-based Beneficial Standard Properties in 1968. It was renamed ESCONDIDO VILLAGE MALL. Ground was broken for a Southeast Wing expansion and new anchor store on May 13, 1970. This project would add thirty inline stores and a 2-level (120,000 square foot) Sears. Although this "New Mall" extension and Sears were adjacent to one another, they were not physically connected.
Sears welcomed first shoppers on May 5, 1971. New Mall stores opened between April 1971 and March 1972. As part of the expansion, the existing TG&Y store was enlarged into a (36,000 square foot) TG&Y Family Center. Other stores new to the mall included Golden State Fabrics, Orange Julius and The Land of Oz.
The complex was sold to Los Angeles-based Beneficial Standard Properties in 1968. It was renamed ESCONDIDO VILLAGE MALL. Ground was broken for a Southeast Wing expansion and new anchor store on May 13, 1970. This project would add thirty inline stores and a 2-level (120,000 square foot) Sears. Although this "New Mall" extension and Sears were adjacent to one another, they were not physically connected.
Sears welcomed first shoppers on May 5, 1971. New Mall stores opened between April 1971 and March 1972. As part of the expansion, the existing TG&Y store was enlarged into a (36,000 square foot) TG&Y Family Center. Other stores new to the mall included Golden State Fabrics, Orange Julius and The Land of Oz.
When all construction dust settled, ESCONDIDO VILLAGE MALL contained eighty stores and services. A commercial competitor opened in 1974. VINEYARD MALL was located one block east of "EV".
ESCONDIDO VILLAGE was acquired by the Los Angeles-based El Caze Escondido Partnership in February 1984. The company was headed by Dan Selleck, with his brother -actor Tom Selleck- being an investor. A 12 million dollar mall renovation got underway in September 1984.
The West Mall concourse was demolished, with stores opened to the parking area. This newly-created strip center housed tenants such as Big 5 Sporting Goods, The Wherehouse records, Animal Emporium, Radio Shack and a Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour. The East Mall was shifted southward, with stores along its north side given greater width. Tenants in this new concourse included Miller's Outpost, Moskatel's arts & crafts, The Affordables and Hickory Farms of Ohio.
Walker Scott expanded into adjacent court area, with the enlarged store encompassing 76,600 square feet. Two new mall entrances were built, with new lighting, signage and wood parquet flooring installed in all common areas. The mall's exterior was also given a face lift.
A revitalized ESCONDIDO VILLAGE MALL was officially dedicated on October 31, 1985. The final segment of the renovation created a 10-vendor Food Court in the breezeway linking the New Mall with Sears. This food facility, covered with a silicon fabric tent, was completed in November 1985.
The renovation was done as a formidable competitor was being built. NORTH COUNTY FAIR {4 miles south, in Escondido} snatched the 15-year-old Sears from ESCONDIDO VILLAGE. The store closed February 18, 1986 and re-opened, at NORTH COUNTY FAIR, the following day.
Los Angeles-based Fedco was signed to retenant the vacant Sears. They renovated and expanded the store to 204,000 square feet and opened for business on October 15, 1986. By this time, competition from NORTH COUNTY FAIR had sent the "Village Mall" into a downward spiral. By April 1991, only eight stores were in operation.
In an effort to reposition their struggling shopping facility, El Caze Escondido embarked on another major renovation. Walker Scott had been shuttered on February 12, 1989. The vacant store was razed along with the center section of the mall. The enclosed concourse on the east end of the complex was gutted and reconfigured as an open-air strip center.
The center mall space was filled by a 1-level (45,600 square foot) Ralph's supermarket and 1-level (27,400 square foot) PayLess Drug. Ralph's opened for business in December 1992, with PayLess Drug making its debut on March 17, 1993.
ESCONDIDO VILLAGE was acquired by the Los Angeles-based El Caze Escondido Partnership in February 1984. The company was headed by Dan Selleck, with his brother -actor Tom Selleck- being an investor. A 12 million dollar mall renovation got underway in September 1984.
The West Mall concourse was demolished, with stores opened to the parking area. This newly-created strip center housed tenants such as Big 5 Sporting Goods, The Wherehouse records, Animal Emporium, Radio Shack and a Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour. The East Mall was shifted southward, with stores along its north side given greater width. Tenants in this new concourse included Miller's Outpost, Moskatel's arts & crafts, The Affordables and Hickory Farms of Ohio.
Walker Scott expanded into adjacent court area, with the enlarged store encompassing 76,600 square feet. Two new mall entrances were built, with new lighting, signage and wood parquet flooring installed in all common areas. The mall's exterior was also given a face lift.
A revitalized ESCONDIDO VILLAGE MALL was officially dedicated on October 31, 1985. The final segment of the renovation created a 10-vendor Food Court in the breezeway linking the New Mall with Sears. This food facility, covered with a silicon fabric tent, was completed in November 1985.
The renovation was done as a formidable competitor was being built. NORTH COUNTY FAIR {4 miles south, in Escondido} snatched the 15-year-old Sears from ESCONDIDO VILLAGE. The store closed February 18, 1986 and re-opened, at NORTH COUNTY FAIR, the following day.
Los Angeles-based Fedco was signed to retenant the vacant Sears. They renovated and expanded the store to 204,000 square feet and opened for business on October 15, 1986. By this time, competition from NORTH COUNTY FAIR had sent the "Village Mall" into a downward spiral. By April 1991, only eight stores were in operation.
In an effort to reposition their struggling shopping facility, El Caze Escondido embarked on another major renovation. Walker Scott had been shuttered on February 12, 1989. The vacant store was razed along with the center section of the mall. The enclosed concourse on the east end of the complex was gutted and reconfigured as an open-air strip center.
The center mall space was filled by a 1-level (45,600 square foot) Ralph's supermarket and 1-level (27,400 square foot) PayLess Drug. Ralph's opened for business in December 1992, with PayLess Drug making its debut on March 17, 1993.
The newly-demalled shopping hub was now promoted by its original name; ESCONDIDO VILLAGE. Soon after the completion of the demalling, a second major rival joined the fold. ESCONDIDO PROMENADE {2.2 miles southwest, also in Escondido} was dedicated in 1994.
Fedco at ESCONDIDO VILLAGE was in operation until the fall of 1999. The vacant store was razed and replaced by a 1-level (110,000 square foot) Home Depot, which welcomed first shoppers in January 2002. A proposal to extend Harding Street through the ESCONDIDO VILLAGE site had been proposed as far back as 1999. By 2003, the street extension proposal was being given serious consideration. The thoroughfare was needed to give access to a prospective Wal-Mart, that would be built on 11 acres lying behind the shopping center.
This proposal was stymied by Ralph's, who cited a "non-compete" clause in their lease (they did not want rivalry from the grocery side of a new Wal-Mart SuperCenter). Hence, the Wal-Mart deal fell through in 2006. With the shuttering of Ralph's, in December 2007, the opportunity to court a discount retailer presented itself again.
This proposal was stymied by Ralph's, who cited a "non-compete" clause in their lease (they did not want rivalry from the grocery side of a new Wal-Mart SuperCenter). Hence, the Wal-Mart deal fell through in 2006. With the shuttering of Ralph's, in December 2007, the opportunity to court a discount retailer presented itself again.
Target announced plans for a store, to be built on the site originally slated for Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, The Great Recession caused Target to pull out of the deal in February 2008. In October 2012, ground was broken for an ESCONDIDO VILLAGE WalMart. The 1-level (158,000 square foot) store held its grand opening on September 12, 2013.
In the 2020s, the 279,100 square foot ESCONDIDO VILLAGE strip center was managed by San Diego-based James Crone & Associates. Stores included Planet Fitness, Big 5 Sporting Goods and a Vallarta Supermarket, which opened in the Ralph's space in April 2008.
Sources:
The San Diego Union-Tribune
The Los Angeles Times
In the 2020s, the 279,100 square foot ESCONDIDO VILLAGE strip center was managed by San Diego-based James Crone & Associates. Stores included Planet Fitness, Big 5 Sporting Goods and a Vallarta Supermarket, which opened in the Ralph's space in April 2008.
Sources:
The San Diego Union-Tribune
The Los Angeles Times
The Daily Times-Advocate (Escondido, California)
http://www.nctimes.com
http://www.ci.escondido.us
http://www.ci.escondido.us
https://assr.parcelquest.com
https://www.sdarcc.gov / San Diego County assessor
http://www.dshistory.com
http://www.dshistory.com
https://www.globest.com / "Escondido Village Owner Secures $16.7 Million Loan"
https://www.jamescrone.com / James Crone & Associates, Incorporated
https://www.jamescrone.com / James Crone & Associates, Incorporated
"Escondido Village Mall" article on Wikipedia
FAIR USE OF ESCONDIDO VILLAGE IMAGE:
The photograph from the Escondido Public Library illustrates a key moment in the mall's history that is described in the article. The image is not replaceable with free-use or public-domain image. The use of the image does not limit the copyright owners' rights to distribute the images in any way. The image is being used for non-profit, informational purposes only and its use is not believed to detract from the original image in any way.
