South 2700 West / Constitution Boulevard and West 3500 South
Salt Lake County (West Valley City), Utah
Greater Salt Lake City's second shopping mall was built on a 71-acre site, located 7 miles southwest of Temple Square. The plot was in an unincorporated section of Salt Lake County known as Granger. Valley Center, Incorporated (of Phoenix) was the project's original developer. They broke ground in July 1965.
During the next 3 years, the VALLEY FAIR MALL project was plagued by funding difficulties, court injunctions and zoning problems. Construction finally commenced in October 1968. The fully-enclosed, single-level facility was designed by the Copeland, Novak & Isreal firm (of New York City), Arthur K. Olsen (of Salt Lake City) and Frank L. Hope & Associates (of San Diego).
Valley Center, Incorporated sold all interest in the partially-finished complex in March 1970. The new owner was BUR, Incorporated (of Dallas). Development was assumed by a joint venture of Reininga & Holmes, Incorporated (of San Francisco) and the Hawaii Shopping Center Corporation (of Honolulu).
The 20 million dollar "dumbell plan" mall encompassed approximately 590,000 leasable square feet, with a total of seventy-five tenant spaces. Along its shopping concourse were sequencing fountains, reflective pools, cross-over bridges, tropical plantings, sculptures and a bird aviary. Floors were covered in brick and indoor-outdoor carpeting.
Anchoring the north end of VALLEY FAIR MALL was a 2-level (150,000 square foot) J.C. Penney. It opened for business on July 15, 1970. A 1-level (105,600 square foot), Salt Lake City-based Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution, or ZCMI, presided over the mall's south end. This store made its debut on July 27, 1970. A mall-wide dedication was held on the same day, with sixty-one stores and services in operation. A ceremonial ribbon was cut by Clyde L. Miller, Utah Secretary of State, and Debbie Dunn "Miss Utah 1970."
Charter tenants included Walgreen Drug, Zinik's Sporting Goods, Karmelkorn, Docktor Pet Center, Baker's Shoes, Anita Shops, Pehrson's Hardware & Appliance, a (36,300 square foot) S.H. Kress 5 & 10 and (20,000 square foot), Salt Lake City-based Castletons. The Lippert Theatres Valley Fair 4 Cinemas showed its first features on August 14, 1970. This venue was accessed via an exterior entrance and did not connect with the mall's shopping concourse.
The original rival of VALLEY FAIR was COTTONWOOD MALL (1962) {7.9 miles southeast, in Salt Lake County / Holladay}. The second commercial competitor, FASHION PLACE MALL (1972) {5 miles southeast, in Murray}, was dedicated in 1972.
VALLEY FAIR MALL became a "freeway friendly" facility with the completion of the western segment of the Interstate 215 Belt Route. This thoroughfare opened to traffic in November 1976. 4 years later, the Salt Lake County communities of Granger, Hunter, Redwood and Chesterfield were incorporated as West Valley City. The municipality, which came into being July 1, 1980, was the Beehive State's third-largest city.
Meanwhile, a mall expansion had been undertaken in 1979. A 2-level (90,000 square foot), Hayward, California-based Mervyn's was built on the east side of the complex. The store opened, in unison with three other Utah Mervyn's locations, on July 26, 1980.
A subsequent renovation of VALLEY FAIR MALL began in March 1986 and was completed the following November. Center Court was remodeled and new landscaping, flooring and skylights were installed. In the South Wing, existing space was gutted and rebuilt into the 14-bay Cafe Fair Food Court. The 4-plex cinema was also expanded into the Cinemark Valley Fair Movies 9, which had a direct connection with the interior mallway.
The shopping facility's only rebranded anchor store was its ZCMI. It was converted to a Portland-based Meier & Frank on April 18, 2001 and "Macy-ated" on September 9, 2006.
Anchoring the north end of VALLEY FAIR MALL was a 2-level (150,000 square foot) J.C. Penney. It opened for business on July 15, 1970. A 1-level (105,600 square foot), Salt Lake City-based Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution, or ZCMI, presided over the mall's south end. This store made its debut on July 27, 1970. A mall-wide dedication was held on the same day, with sixty-one stores and services in operation. A ceremonial ribbon was cut by Clyde L. Miller, Utah Secretary of State, and Debbie Dunn "Miss Utah 1970."
Charter tenants included Walgreen Drug, Zinik's Sporting Goods, Karmelkorn, Docktor Pet Center, Baker's Shoes, Anita Shops, Pehrson's Hardware & Appliance, a (36,300 square foot) S.H. Kress 5 & 10 and (20,000 square foot), Salt Lake City-based Castletons. The Lippert Theatres Valley Fair 4 Cinemas showed its first features on August 14, 1970. This venue was accessed via an exterior entrance and did not connect with the mall's shopping concourse.
The original rival of VALLEY FAIR was COTTONWOOD MALL (1962) {7.9 miles southeast, in Salt Lake County / Holladay}. The second commercial competitor, FASHION PLACE MALL (1972) {5 miles southeast, in Murray}, was dedicated in 1972.
VALLEY FAIR MALL became a "freeway friendly" facility with the completion of the western segment of the Interstate 215 Belt Route. This thoroughfare opened to traffic in November 1976. 4 years later, the Salt Lake County communities of Granger, Hunter, Redwood and Chesterfield were incorporated as West Valley City. The municipality, which came into being July 1, 1980, was the Beehive State's third-largest city.
Meanwhile, a mall expansion had been undertaken in 1979. A 2-level (90,000 square foot), Hayward, California-based Mervyn's was built on the east side of the complex. The store opened, in unison with three other Utah Mervyn's locations, on July 26, 1980.
A subsequent renovation of VALLEY FAIR MALL began in March 1986 and was completed the following November. Center Court was remodeled and new landscaping, flooring and skylights were installed. In the South Wing, existing space was gutted and rebuilt into the 14-bay Cafe Fair Food Court. The 4-plex cinema was also expanded into the Cinemark Valley Fair Movies 9, which had a direct connection with the interior mallway.
The shopping facility's only rebranded anchor store was its ZCMI. It was converted to a Portland-based Meier & Frank on April 18, 2001 and "Macy-ated" on September 9, 2006.
By the early 2000s, the Granger Elementary School, at the southeast corner of the mall site, had been demolished. It was replaced by a 1-level (152,000 square foot) Costco, which opened August 3, 2007. This store's dedication may now be seen as the beginning of a major renovation and expansion of the shopping complex. A joint venture of Sandy, Utah's Satterfield Helm Management and New York City-based Coventry Real Estate Investors had acquired VALLEY FAIR MALL in 2005. In April 2008, ground was broken for the first phase of its reinvention as a hybrid enclosed and open-air retail venue.
During this construction phase, the old Penney's Auto Center was razed. Six freestanding structures were built along the north and west boundaries of the parking lot. These housed restaurants such as Smashburger, Olive Garden, TGI Friday, and Winger's Diner. Grand openings were held in late 2009.
Phase two of the reinvention consisted of renovation and expansion of the mall proper. The west facade was rebuilt with a south Streetscape. A (30,000 square foot) Ross Dress for Less and (7,900 square foot) Famous Footwear opened in October 2010 and March 2011, respectively. The new mall facade was joined by a five-building Village Shops section, which surrounded an outdoor plaza. One of eight Village Shops stores was a (13,500 square foot) Petco. This stage of the mall metamorphosis was completed in October 2010.
A third construction phase replaced a vacant -and demolished- Mervyn's, which had closed in early 2009. Adjacent mall space was also gutted. The Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres Valley Fair, West Valley City was built, which showed first features on November 30, 2012.
Sources:
The Salt Lake Tribune
During this construction phase, the old Penney's Auto Center was razed. Six freestanding structures were built along the north and west boundaries of the parking lot. These housed restaurants such as Smashburger, Olive Garden, TGI Friday, and Winger's Diner. Grand openings were held in late 2009.
Phase two of the reinvention consisted of renovation and expansion of the mall proper. The west facade was rebuilt with a south Streetscape. A (30,000 square foot) Ross Dress for Less and (7,900 square foot) Famous Footwear opened in October 2010 and March 2011, respectively. The new mall facade was joined by a five-building Village Shops section, which surrounded an outdoor plaza. One of eight Village Shops stores was a (13,500 square foot) Petco. This stage of the mall metamorphosis was completed in October 2010.
A third construction phase replaced a vacant -and demolished- Mervyn's, which had closed in early 2009. Adjacent mall space was also gutted. The Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres Valley Fair, West Valley City was built, which showed first features on November 30, 2012.
VALLEY FAIR MALL had become rail transit-accessible with an extension of the Utah Transit Authority's TRAX system. Revenue service began on the 5.1 route mile Central Pointe-to-West Valley Central extension on August 1, 2011.
A fourth stage of the mall's reconstruction completed the north end of the west side Streetscape. A (23,000 square foot) Bed, Bath & Beyond and (10,400 square foot) Ulta Beauty made their debut in the fall of 2014. A fifth redevelopment stage kicked into gear after Macy's went dark, in mid-2016.
A fourth stage of the mall's reconstruction completed the north end of the west side Streetscape. A (23,000 square foot) Bed, Bath & Beyond and (10,400 square foot) Ulta Beauty made their debut in the fall of 2014. A fifth redevelopment stage kicked into gear after Macy's went dark, in mid-2016.
This vacant store was divided into two sections. The larger was leased as a (74,100 square foot) Hobby Lobby. It welcomed first shoppers on September 21, 2019. The old 9-screen multiplex, and part of the Food Court, were reconfigured as a (70,000 square foot) All Star Bowling & Entertainment. This facility held its grand opening on November 9, 2019.
The mall proper of VALLEY FAIR now encompassed approximately 831,600 leasable square feet and housed seventy store spaces. Outparcel structures housed twenty-six stores and services; this figure not including the 133-room Spring Hill Suites Hotel. It opened, on the southeastern periphery of the mall, in November 2020.
Sources:
The Salt Lake Tribune
The Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah)
http://www.shopvalleyfairmall.com
http://www.coldwellbanker.com
http://www.uen.org
http://www.movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
http://www.coldwellbanker.com
http://www.uen.org
http://www.movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
"Valley Fair Mall (West Valley City, Utah)" article on Wikipedia
