The south facade of Emporium Santa Clara, which was the third branch of the San Francisco-based chain. 
Photo from http://www.flickr.com / Arnold Del Carlo 

San Francisco-based I. Magnin opened its STEVENS CREEK PLAZA location in April 1964.
Photo from http://www.flickr.com / Arnold Del Carlo


STEVENS CREEK PLAZA
Stevens Creek and Winchester Boulevards
Santa Clara, California

This tiny shopping complex evolved from the 3-level (231,000 square foot) Emporium Santa Clara department store, which opened for business on March 8, 1957. A branch of the Bay Area-based Emporium chain, the freestanding store sat on a 24-acre plot, situated west of VALLEY FAIR CENTER. 

 

STEVENS CREEK PLAZA was an open-air mall of thirteen stores and services and four outparcels. It was added to the existing Emporium Santa Clara. Tenants opened for business in April 1964 and included Roos-Atkins, Mark Fenwick ladies' wear, Werner Shoes, Granat Brothers Jewelers and a 2-level (32,000 square foot) I. Magnin.

 

A (22,300 square foot) Safeway supermarket, built on a pad west of  The Emporium, had opened for business in January 1957. A (19,100 square foot) Super S Drug, added to the west side of Safeway, was completed in October 1963. This store was rebranded as a Safeway Drug Center in June 1966 and Seattle-based Pay 'n Save Drug in September 1971.

Several competing shopping malls were completed during the 1970s. These included EASTRIDGE CENTER (1971) {6.9 miles east, in San Jose}, OAKRIDGE MALL (1973) {6.4 miles southeast, also in San Jose}, VALLCO FASHION PARK (1976) {3.3 miles west, in Cupertino}, and SUNNYVALE TOWN CENTER (1979-2007) {5.5 miles northwest, in Sunnyvale}.