In the following write-up, we'll explore five American malls; each built as single entity, each later combined with a neighboring shopping center to form one mega mall. Written out as as equations, it all went something like this...

1. King of Prussia Plaza + Court At King of Prussia = King of Prussia
2. Valley Fair Center + Stevens Creek Plaza = Westfield Valley Fair
3. Del Amo Center + Del Amo Fashion Square = Del Amo Fashion Center
4. Scottsdale Fashion Square + Camelview Plaza = a much larger Scottsdale Fashion Square
5. Greece Towne Mall + Long Ridge Mall = Mall At Greece Ridge (Center)

After reading through the section, some readers may wonder why Southern California's SOUTH COAST PLAZA is not featured. This shopping hub -and the former CRYSTAL COURT mall next door- were connected by the outdoor "Bridge Of Gardens" walkway in the year 2000. 

However, the two malls are not presently linked via an enclosed concourse. Hence, they are, in essence, two individual shopping complexes operated as one. The key words here are "connected via a fully-enclosed concourse."

Our first MERGED MALL is located in Pennsylvania's Delaware Valley...

Philadelphia's King of Prussia Plaza

Our first MERGED MALL was developed at a site located 16 miles northeast of the Center City. In this vintage view, we see a children's play area along the north KOPP concourse. A Marianne Shops storefront is seen in the center of the photo, with the famous Clock Tower rising in the distance.
Photo from Malls of America Blogspot 

Graphic from the M.A. Kravitz Company

KING OF PRUSSIA PLAZA
West Delkalb Pike / US 202 and North Gulph Road
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Now part of one of the largest and most upscale shopping complexes in the nation, KING OF PRUSSIA PLAZA had quite humble beginnings in the early 1960s. A single-level, open-air center was built on a 120-acre parcel. Once comprising the William C. Wilson Maple Croft Farm, the plot was located 15.5 miles northwest of Center City Philadelphia, in a section of Montgomery County known as Town of Upper Merion.

The site was sandwiched between the Pennsylvania Turnpike Delaware River Extension and Schuylkill ["skool-kul"] Expressway. The Turnpike section, which passed north of the mall, opened to traffic in August 1954. The Schuylkill Expressway, traveling southwest of the site, was officially dedicated in September of the same year.

KING OF PRUSSIA PLAZA was developed by the Philadelphia-based M.A. Kravitz Company (later known as the Kravco Company). The first two operational stores were dedicated September 18, 1962. These were a 2-level (200,000 square foot), New York City-based E.J. Korvette discount mart and (27,000 square foot) Acme Markets grocery store. The Korvettes operation included a Carpet & Furniture Center and freestanding Tire Center.

A 3-level (152,000 square foot) J.C. Penney, was dedicated on August 15, 1963. It was the first full-line, suburban shopping center store in the chain, then based in New York City. Unlike the standard Penney's, the KOPP store featured a greatly-expanded line of merchandise. There were thirty-two major departments, including home furnishings, sporting goods, paints and hardware, "Penncrest" -brand home appliances and electronics and ladies' sportswear designed by London's Mary Quant. A freestanding Penneys Auto Center would be added at a later date. 

Fourteen inline stores opened for business along with J.C. Penney. A 3-day grand opening celebration included performances by a costumed Prussian band, celebrity appearances and puppet shows. Six additional KING OF PRUSSIA PLAZA stores began business on August 23, 1963, as part of second grand opening. This soiree was hosted by Mrs. Mary Ann Boylan, "Queen of King of Prussia Plaza."

When fully leased, the mall encompassed approximately 700,000 leasable square feet and housed over fifty stores and services. These included Baker's Shoes, Country Flair Limited, Dial Shoes, Jackman's men's wear, Thrift Drugs, Marianne Shops ladies' wear, National Bank, Ritchey Gift Shop and a Horn & Hardart Retail Store.

A (46,600 square foot) F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10 featured an adjacent Snack Shop, as well as a Harvest House Restaurant, which was located in another section of the mall. Stores in KING OF PRUSSIA PLAZA were situated along its four attractively-landscaped concourses. There were children's play areas, gazebos, fountains, an octagonal amphitheater and clock tower.

The first expansion of the mall was done in the mid-1960s. A 3-level (194,000 square foot), Philadelphia-based John Wanamaker department store was dedicated August 2, 1965. This was connected into a fully enclosed, bi-level mall, added to the north side of the existing Penney's. The addition was also anchored by a 3-level (229,000 square foot) Gimbels-Philadelphia, which held its grand opening on May 2, 1966.

The first theatrical venue at -or around- KING OF PRUSSIA PLAZA opened in August 1956. The Budco Valley Forge Drive-In, located on a pad northeast of the mall, was in operation until 1975. The Stanley Warner Plaza Theatre was built in the mall's west parking area. Originally a single-screen venue, its first feature was shown on May 19, 1965. The theater was twinned in November 1978 and shuttered in 1999. 

Meanwhile, in the late 1970s, the Kravco Company began making plans for an upscale counterpart of KING OF PRUSSIA PLAZA. COURT AT KING OF PRUSSIA was built on a 30 acre tract, located across Goddard (now Mall) Boulevard from the original PLAZA mall. The new shopping complex, which housed 902,000 leasable square feet, opened in August 1981.

As part of the dedication, KING OF PRUSSIA PLAZA had been renamed PLAZA AT KING OF PRUSSIA. A major renovation of the northwest end of the structure soon got underway. Korvettes, which has been shuttered in 1980, was razed. It was replaced by a fifty-store addition.

This included the 14-bay Garden Food Court and a 2-level (212,000 square foot) Sears "Store of the Future." This was dedicated on July 25, 1983. PLAZA AT KING OF PRUSSIA now encompassed approximately 1,300,000 leasable square feet and contained 133 stores and services.

In 1963, KING OF PRUSSIA PLAZA housed tenants such as a Korvettes discount mart, F.W. Woolworth and prototype, full-line J.C. Penney. The complex spanned around 700,000 leasable square feet, with an eventual fifty stores and services. Free parking was provided for 9,000 autos. One might notice that the designations of two adjacent Interstate highways are different than they are today. These roadways would be renumbered in February 1964.

An octagonal John Wanamaker (a.k.a. Wanamaker's) department store opened for business in August 1965. It featured two restaurants, The Rose Garden and Coffee Shop, a beauty salon and the Audobon Community Room.

In the mid-1960s, an enclosed concourse, known as the Piccadilly Arcade, was added to the PLAZA. It featured 2 shopping levels and was anchored by a new Gimbels-Philadephia. By the time of this circa-1973 layout, the original, open-air section (in black) is known as the Outdoor Mall. The newer air-conditioned concourse is referred to as the Enclosed Mall.

A physical layout of the shopping hub, circa-1986. The circa-1963 open-air mall area had re-opened, as a fully-enclosed structure, in December 1980. With the completion of the adjacent COURT AT KING OF PRUSSIA mall, in August 1981, the original shopping hub was renamed PLAZA AT KING OF PRUSSIA.

Court at King of Prussia

Bloomingdale's was one of three high-end anchors at the COURT AT KING OF PRUSSIA mall. The complex was built as an upscale counterpart of the middle market KING OF PRUSSIA PLAZA next door.

Photo from http://ww.flickriver.com / Joe Architect


COURT AT KING OF PRUSSIA
West Delkalb Pike / US 202 and Goddard (Mall) Boulevard
Montgomery County (Town of Upper Merion), Pennsylvania

By the late 1970s, a second mall was being planned to serve as an upscale auxiliary to KING OF PRUSSIA PLAZA. A 39-acre tract, located adjacent to- and northeast of- the complex, was prepared for construction, which got underway in November 1979.

COURT AT KING OF PRUSSIA was also developed by the Philadelphia-based M.A. Kravitz / Kravco Company. The 2-level, fully-enclosed complex was dedicated with a lavish celebration held on August 2, 1981. Singer-actress-comedienne Carol Channing officiated at the grand opening and cut the ceremonial, rhinestone-studded, ribbon. Fashion luminaries Bill Blass, Calvin Klein and Oscar de la Renta were also on hand, with music provided by the Bainbridge Brass Quintet. 

The new mall enveloped 902,000 leasable square feet and 125 stores and services. It was anchored by a 3-level (248,000 square foot), New York City-based Bloomingdale's, 3-level (210,000 square foot), New York City-based  Abraham & Straus, and a 3-level (256,000 square foot), Newark, New Jersey-based Bamberger's. Inline stores and services included Brookstone, American Vision, Spectrum Showcase and Henry Birks & Sons Jewelers. 

Shopping options in the vicinity of the KING OF PRUSSIA MALLS included PLYMOUTH MEETING MALL (1966) {5.7 miles northeast, in Montgomery County}, EXTON SQUARE MALL (1971) {12.8 miles southwest, in Chester County}, MONTGOMERY MALL (1977) {11.9 miles northeast, in Montgomery County} and WILLOW GROVE PARK MALL (1982) {14.5 miles northeast, also in Montgomery County}.

The first anchor rebranding at the COURT mall transpired on October 5, 1986, when Bamberger's was rebranded as a Macy's. By the early 1990s, the COURT mall had become hemmed in, with no room for expansion. The economy was booming, with a greater demand for luxury goods. Kravco decided to change the marketing focus at the older mall next door, which was now officially known as PLAZA AT KING OF PRUSSIA. It would be remade into an even more upscale shopping venue than the COURT property.

A 185 million dollar renovation of PLAZA AT KING OF PRUSSIA was announced in March 1993. This would add 414,000 leasable square feet in a new South Wing. As a facet of the coming renovation, J.C. Penney had relocated into the old Gimbels-Stern's store in November 1992. With this move completed, the south section of the circa-1963 mall was demolished.

The new South Wing housed 120 stores and services. Three top-tier anchors were built; a 3-level (225,000 square foot) Nordstrom, 2-level (120,000 square foot) Lord & Taylor and 3-level (138,000 square foot) Neiman Marcus. A newly-refurbished PLAZA opened on November 2, 1995. It now sported six anchors, two large parking structures, stretched for 1,680,000 leasable square feet and featured over 240 stores and services.

In September 1995, John Wanamaker's PLAZA store was rebranded as an Arlington, Virginia-based Hecht's, an operative of St. Louis-based May Department Stores. Abraham & Strauss, in the COURT mall, had been rebranded by Philadephia-based Strawbridge & Clothier on March 7, 1988.

As a result of a July 1996 rebranding of the PLAZA Hecht's, by Strawbridge's, there were two "Strawbridge's" operating in the KING OF PRUSSIA COMPLEX. The COURT mall Strawbridge's was shuttered on January 27, 1999.

By 1997, the PLAZA complex was being promoted as KING OF PRUSSIA MALL. A new theatrical venue was built in its northwestern periphery. The first features at the United Artists King of Prussia 16 were shown on April 21, 2000. The cinema was eventually expanded with an IMAX auditorium. It became a Regal property in 2002.

The shiny new COURT AT KING OF PRUSSIA mall, in 1981. It encompassed over 900,000 leasable square feet of "luxury retail." The PLAZA AT KING OF PRUSSIA next door still had middle market stores such as J.C. Penney and F.W. Woolworth.

In 1996, the PLAZA mall has just emerged from a massive renovation. The south section of the early 1960s complex was knocked down. An uber upscale wing of stores (in light gray) has been added; this anchored by Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.

A turn of the 21st century physical layout of the COURT mall. Two of its original anchors have been either rebranded or repurposed. Bamberger's morphed into Macy's and the A & S store (in medium gray) was divided into smaller inline spaces. This mall within a mall is known as The Pavilion.

In this view, we see the interior of the PLAZA AT KING OF PRUSSIA mall.
Photo from Wikipedia / "Dough4872"

This snapshot was taken inside of the adjacent COURT AT KING OF PRUSSIA.
Photo from Wikipedia / "Dough4872"

King of Prussia 

A project to physically join the PLAZA and COURT malls got underway in January 2013. A 140,000 square foot connecting structure (in dark gray) would house inline stores and include a third mall food court. The project was completed in August 2016. 

KING OF PRUSSIA
West Delkalb Pike / US 202 and Goddard (Mall) Boulevard
Montgomery County (Town of Upper Merion), Pennsylvania

Indianapolis' Simon Property Group established an eighty percent share in Kravco Investments in November 2003, with the name of the entity being changed to Kravco Simon Investments. This company owned the PLAZA and COURT malls.

Remodeling projects at the PLAZA property involved a renovation of The Garden Food Court (carried out between January and June of 2011) and an interior face lift of J.C. Penney. In September 2006, the octagonal anchor store in the PLAZA was rebranded as a second Macy's location, known as Macy's Plaza.

This store was shuttered in July 2007. It was demolished in July 2011, with a 2-level (100,000 square foot) section of stores being built in the space. The ten-tenant addition featured a remodeled mall entrance, expanded parking garage and new locations for Forever 21 and H & M.

In August 2011, the Simon Property Group established a 96 percent ownership share in the two KING OF PRUSSIA MALLS...removing most involvement of the Kravco entity. In November, they announced an expansion of the malls which got underway in January 2013. 

 The two retail hubs were physically connected via a forty-eight-store structure. This encompassed 140,000 leasable square feet and include the upscale Savor Food Court. The merged mall was officially dedicated on August 18, 2016. It now encompassed approximately 2,651,600 leasable square feet, with a retail roster of over 400 stores and services. A new name had been also been bequeathed; KING OF PRUSSIA.

As the expansion was being built, a major anchor store change took place. Sears Holdings announced, in January 2014, that they would be leasing 75,000 square feet of the upper level of the KING OF PRUSSIA Sears to Dick's Sporting Goods. This store held its grand opening November 7, 2014. Sears, by then downsized into its lower level, closed for good in January 2015. 

Irish fashion retailer Primark renovated a 2-level (80,700 square foot) section and opened for business on November 25, 2015. This was the first United States location for Primark, which operated over 250 stores in eleven Western European nations. By 2018, the chain expected to have seven stores in operation in the United States.  

Another anchor alteration played out in 2017. Plano, Texas' J.C. Penney chain announced the closing of 120 mall-based stores in March. The KING OF PRUSSIA store, a tenant since August 1963, was among these. A liquidation sale commenced April 17, with the store going dark in June. 

 

Lord & Taylor shuttered their KING OF PRUSSIA store on February 27, 2021. The building is being renovated by the Netflix streaming service. They are creating Netflix House, an experiential entertainment venue. The 120,000 square foot facility will include show-themed set replicas and restaurants, escape rooms, mixed reality games, a playground, theater and gift shop. Netflix House will open two locations during 2025; one at the KOP mall and another at GALLERIA DALLAS.

Sources:                                               

The Philadelphia Inquirer

J.C. Penney Company Annual Report 1963

http://www.philadex.com

"Paradox Unbound, My Pilgrimage To King Of Prussia Plaza" / Mitch Glaser http://www.mitchglaser.com

https://tehistory.org / Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society

History Quarterly Digital Archives / April 1991

http://www.mainlinemedianews.com

http://www.bizjournals.com / Peter Van Allen

Comment posts by David Meehan , "Go Nordrike!" and Matthew Terry

http://www.primark.com

http://www.cinematreasures.org

"King Of Prussia Plaza" and "Court At King Of Prussia" articles on Wikipedia

San Jose's Valley Fair Center

VALLEY FAIR CENTER was one of the first major post-war shopping hubs in -or around- the Silicon Valley. The complex was located 6 miles west of center city San Jose.

Photo from http://www.flickr.com / "HmDavid"

Graphic from R.H. Macy & Company

The mall was developed in conjunction with BAY FAIR CENTER in San Leandro, California. A single logo was used to promote both shopping hubs, which included either a "V" (for VALLEY FAIR) or "B" (for BAY FAIR).

Graphic from R.H. Macy & Company

VALLEY FAIR CENTER

Stevens Creek Boulevard and California Route 17 (Interstate 880)

San Jose, California

One of the earliest shopping mall projects of Austrian architect Victor Gruen, VALLEY FAIR CENTER was built on a 41-acre tract, located 6 miles west of San Jose's Central Business District. Ground was broken for the first mall phase on July 20, 1955. The mall site was adjacent to an 8.8 mile stretch of the California Route 17 (San Jose-Los Gatos) Freeway. This thoroughfare would open to traffic on May 1, 1959. 

 

The open-air VALLEY FAIR was developed by a joint venture of Macy's California and San Francisco's Capital Company. While the inline store section was designed by Victor Gruen, its anchor department store was designed by San Francisco's John Savage Bolles.

A 3-level (157,300 square foot) Macy's became the first operational VALLEY FAIR store on August 10, 1956. The grand opening was attended by Ernest L. Malloy (Macy's California president) and Harry McClelland (Capitol Company president). A ceremonial ribbon was cut by Joseph C. Kresse (Macy's Valley Fair manager) and Joan Beckett, "Miss California 1956."

Sommer & Kaufmann Shoes opened on March 22, 1957. Eight inline stores began business on April 5th; C.H. Baker Shoes, Leeds Qualicraft Shoes, Thom McAn Shoes, Webster's Shoes, Grodins, See's Candies, Kathy Don children's wear and 2-level F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10. Joseph Magnin welcomed first shoppers on August 8th. When fully-realized, the 488,000 square foot shopping hub featured fifty-five stores and services. 

VALLEY FAIR CENTER was known for the carnival rides that had been installed on the roof of Macy's. Included were a 40-foot ferris wheel, merry-go-round and mini-train. These attractions were removed in late 1957. 

In December 1965, Macy's California established full ownership of the shopping center. A 78,600 square foot fourth level had been added to the Macy's, taking space previously used for the "rooftop fair." The store now encompassed 235,900 square feet. By 1970, the shopping hub was officially promoted as VALLEY FAIR MALL. 

Competing shopping centers were springing up in -and around- San Jose. These included EASTRIDGE MALL (1971) {6.9 miles east, in southeast San Jose}, OAKRIDGE MALL (1973) {6.4 miles southeast, 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}.

 

 

VALLEY FAIR CENTER evolved from a fifty-five-store, open-air mall. Anchored by Macy's California, the original complex housed stores such as Joseph Magnin, Grodins, Thom McAn Shoes, See's Candies, a Dollar Saver supermarket and F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10.

The original South Bay shopping hub is promoted in this vintage yuletide advertisement.
Drawing from www.cestcop.com/macys.htm

A nighttime snapshot of the VALLEY FAIR CENTER Macy's, showing its high-end Mid-Mod design. The store was the fifth unit in the San Francisco-based Macy's California division.
Photo from http://www.flickr.com / "HmDavid"

Rooftop carnival rides were a feature of the original VALLEY FAIR CENTER Macy's. These were removed in 1957, with the space becoming a fourth retail level in 1964.
Drawing from http://www.cestcop.com/macy

North Court in the original VALLEY FAIR CENTER. The mosaic-tiled tower on the left was part of an exhaust system for a subterranean shipping and receiving area.
Photo from the Milligan News Agency

Stevens Creek Plaza

The western section of the mall site, which was located in the City of Santa Clara, was developed between 1956 and 1964. Open-air in format, STEVENS CREEK PLAZA was added to an Emporium store that had opened in 1957.

The STEVENS CREEK PLAZA mini mall was completed in 1964. Open-air in format, it encompassed approximately 275,700 leasable square feet. "The Centers" depicted in this drawing were accessed by the California Route 17 (San Jose-Los Gatos) Freeway, which had been completed in 1959.

STEVENS CREEK PLAZA TENANTS 1965:

THE EMPORIUM (with Stickney's Hick'ry House Restaurant and freestanding Tire Center) / I. MAGNIN / Bloom's Florsheim Shoes / Burk's Luggage / Ferguson Music House / Granat Brothers Jewelers / Marcus Furs / Mark Fenwick ladies' wear / Roos-Atkins / Safeway supermarket (outparcel) / Super S Drug (outparcel) / Wells Fargo Bank (outparcel) 

A circa-1965 aerial view of the twin shopping venues. VALLEY FAIR CENTER is seen in the center, with STEVENS CREEK PLAZA occupying the upper left corner.
Photo from the Milligan News Agency

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}.

Valley Fair-Westfield Valley Fair

The two adjacent shopping malls were joined into one in the mid-1980s. VALLEY FAIR CENTER was demolished, leaving only Macy's standing. STEVENS CREEK PLAZA was retained, renovated and incorporated into the new VALLEY FAIR mega mall. 

A site plan depicting the merged malls. The connecting concourse is shown in light gray. When construction dust settled in late 1986, VALLEY FAIR covered 1,127,000 leasable square feet . It would eventually house 158 stores and services, with free parking for 5,900 autos. Note: the expressway running along the east side of the complex has just been re-designated as Interstate 880.

Between 1998 and 2002, the existing mall (in black and dark gray) was expanded. A second shopping concourse (medium gray) linked a new Nordstrom with the original Macy's. Three parking garages were also been built. With these improvements, WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN VALLEY FAIR encompasses 1,367,000 leasable square feet and contains 232 stores. Free parking is provided for 7,600 autos.

WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN VALLEY FAIR STORES, 2002:

MACY'S WOMEN'S (with Styling Salon and Boudin Sourdough Bakery) / MACY'S MEN'S / NORDSTROM (With Nordstrom Cafe) / SAFEWAY supermarket (ouptrarcel) / 800 Pillows.com / Abe / abercrombie children's wear / Abercrombie & Fitch apparel / Aeropostale apparel / Aerosoles shoes / Aldo shoes / American Eagle Outfitters / Anchor Blue apparel / Ancient Creations jewelry / Ann Taylor ladies' wear / April Cornell ladies' wear / Apple Store / A|X Armani Exchange apparel / Arden B. ladies' wear/ Aveda cosmetics / Bailey, Banks & Biddle Jewelers / Bakers shoes / Barcelinoa / Bare Escentuals / Banana Republic Flagship apparel / Bang & Olufsen home electronics / Bank of America (outparcel) / Bath & Body Works cosmetics / Bebe ladies' wear / Ben Bridge Jeweler / Benetton / Body Options / Bose home electronics / Boss Hugo Boss apparel / Brentanos Books / Brighton Collectibles / Brookstone electronics / Build-A-Bear Workshop / Cache ladies' wear / California Cafe / California Pizza Kitchen / Canyon Beachwear / Casa de Fruta / Cathy Jean shoes / Charles David shoes /  Charlotte's Room / Claire's accessories / Clarks shoes / Clinique (kiosk) / Club Monaco ladies' wear / Coldwater Creek ladies' wear / Coach accessories / Copeland's Sports / Crabtree & Evelyn cosmetics / Creative Jewelers / Creative Jewelry / Crescent Jewelers/ Crocodile Cafe / Davante / Davidson & Licht Jewelers / Discovery Channel Store / Doctor Holbert, Optometrist / Easy Spirit shoes / EBX / Eddie Bauer apparel / Electronics Boutique / Enzo Angiolini shoes / Express ladies' wear / Fantasy Beauty Spa / Fashionize / Florsheim Shoes / Foot Locker / Forever 21 young ladies' wear / Franklin Covey-Quest / Fred Meyer Jewelers / Fresh Choice / Gap Kids children's wear / Gary's Tux Shop / Godiva Chocolatier / Goodyear Tire & Auto (outparcel) / Grain D'Or Restaurant / Great Earth Vitamins / Guess? apparel / Gymboree children's wear / Hat World / Helzberg Diamonds / Hot Topic apparel  / Icing by Claire's / Illuminations / Impostors / J. Crew apparel  / Jayne's Hallmark / J. Jill ladies' wear / Jessica McClintock ladies' wear / Johnston & Murphy shoes / Journeys Kidz / Journeys shoes / Jurlique the Spa Store/ Kay-Bee Toys / Kenneth Cole men's wear / Kids Footlocker / King of Knives / L'Uomo men's wear / Lady Foot Locker / Lane Bryant ladies' wear / Le Parfum / Leonidas Chocolates /  Lens Crafters 2000 / Lens Crafters Optique / Limited Too ladies wear / Liz Claiborne Petites / Longs Drugs (outparcel) / Louis Vuitton / Lucky Brand Dungarees / Lucy ladies' wear / LuNa Hoku jewelry / Lundstrom Jewelers / Malm Luggage / Martin Lawrence Galleries / M.A.C. cosmetics / MasterCuts / Max Mara ladies' wear / Max Studio / Mimi Maternite / Mishmash / Mr. Rags men's wear / Mont Blanc / Morgan of Paris / Naartjie / Nextel Cellular Origins / Nine West shoes / Organized Living / Pacific Sunwear / Papyrus stationers / Petite Sophisticate ladies wear / Pottery Barn housewares / Pottery Barn Kids children's wear / Prints Plus / Rampage ladies' wear / Regis Hairstylists / Ritz Camera One Hour Photo /Restoration Hardware / Rockport shoes / St. Croix Shop men's wear / Stride Rite shoes / Structure / Sam Goody Music / Samuel's Jewelers / Sanrio / See's Candies / Sharper Image / Silver & Gold Connection / Sephora cosmetics / Solstice / Speedo / Spencer Gifts / Starbucks Coffee / Stern's Luggage / Steve Madden shoes / Structure / Suncoast Motion Picture Company / Sunglass Hut / Sunglass Hut Sport / Sun Shade Optique I / Sun Shade Optique 2 / Sushi Boat / Swarovski / Swatch / Sweet Factory / Talbots / The Body Shop cosmetics / The Bombay Company home furnishings / The Children's Place children's wear / The Disney Store / The Gap apparel / The Jewelry Box / The Museum Company / The Picture People portait studio / The Right Start / The Sak / The Sleep Number Store by Select Comfort / The Walking Company shoes / Tie Rack / Things Remembered / Thomas Kinkade Gallery / Tie Rack / Tiffany & Company / Timberland / Tommy Hilfiger men's wear / Trade Secret / Trend By L' Uomo men's wear / Victoria's Secret cosmetics / Yankee Candle Company / Washington Mutual Bank (outparcel) / Watch Station / Watch World International / Wells- Fargo Bank (outparcel) / Wet Seal ladies' wear / Wetzel's Pretzels / Whitehall Company Jewellers / Wig 'N Out / Williams-Sonoma housewares / Wilson's The Leather Experts / Winners / Zales Jewelers / Zumiez apparel / Zutopia apparel 

FOOD COURT:

Auntie Anne's Pretzels / Boudin Sourdough Bakery / California Crisp / Cinnabon / Great Khan's Mongolian Festival / Ivar's Seafood Bar / Jamba Juice / McDonald's hamburgers / Mrs Fields Cookies / Muscle Beach Lemonade / Panda Express / Rubio's Baja Grill / Sarku Japan / Sbarro the Italian Eatery / Steak Escape

In the 2010s, WESTFIELD VALLEY FAIR was re-renovated. An uber upscale Luxury Collection wing was populated with fashion forward and first-to-market stores. These included Cartier, TAG Heuer and Wolford.
Drawing from www.westfield.com / The Westfield Corporation

As part of the renovation, the existing Food Court morphed into the Dining Terrace. This food facility featured Pizza Vino Bar, Super Duper, Chicken Wow, Old Port Lobster and Panda Express...to name a few.
Drawing from www.westfield.com / The Westfield Corporation

If the mall wasn't already big enough, it surely was when a 1.1 billion dollar expansion was completed. A long-delayed remodeling got underway in 2016. By 2020, a 2,200,000 square foot buying behemoth featured a fourth anchor; Bloomingdale's. There were also a third major shopping concourse, two high-tech "digital garages" and a movie theater (the first in the mall's 60-year history). In 2022, for-pay parking -for 8,500 autos- was established.

The new VALLEY FAIR Bloomingdale's was dedicated, along with the mall expansion, in March 2020. 

Photo from https://westfieldus.app.box.com / Christina Mendez

VALLEY FAIR 

Stevens Creek Boulevard and California Route 17 (Interstate 880)

San Jose, California

VALLEY FAIR MALL was sold to El Segundo, California-based Ernest W. Hahn, Incorporated. In November 1980, the company's assets were acquired by Calgary's Trizec Corporation, Limited. In the fall of 1996, a new entity, known as Trizec-Hahn, was created. 

Meanwhile, in 1985, Trizec had acquired STEVENS CREEK PLAZA. They embarked on a large-scale renovation. The bulk of VALLEY FAIR MALL was razed, leaving only Macy's and its parking garage standing. The department store, expanded by 160,000 square feet, would now comprise 396,000 square feet.

A 100 million dollar, 2-level mall concourse was built. This linked Macy's with the Emporium and I. Magnin at the former STEVENS CREEK PLAZA. At the center of the center was a 2-level (168,000 square foot) Nordstrom. Renamed simply VALLEY FAIR, the amalgamated mall encompassed 1,127,000 leasable square feet. 112 stores -out of an eventual 158- were dedicated on October 15, 1986.

Major retail complexes in the VALLEY FAIR trade area now included WESTGATE MALL (1960) {2.9 miles southwest, in Campbell} and GREAT MALL OF THE BAY AREA (1994) {6.4 miles northeast, Milpitas}.

Various VALLEY FAIR stores changed nameplates during the 1990s and early 2000s. I. Magnin closed in May 1992. Its building was leased as a Computer City and then Copeland's Sports. This morphed into a Sports Authority in November 2006. The Emporium was expanded with an additional (85,000 square foot) third level, for a grand total of 316,000 square feet. This store was rebranded as a Macy's Men's & Home Store in 1996. Old Navy set up shop in store space adjacent to Sports Authority in 2006.

Meanwhile, in 1998, TrizecHahn sold VALLEY FAIR to a joint venture of Australia-based Westfield and the Maryland-based Rouse Company. Westfield bought out the Rouse Company and set up a second joint venture with an "institutional investor." This joint venture established full ownership of the shopping venue. It was renamed WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN VALLEY FAIR. This was truncated to WESTFIELD VALLEY FAIR in June 2005.

A major expansion began in late 1998. Encompassing three phases of construction, the project added two parking garages, a new 3-level (225,000 square foot) Nordstrom and fifty-store concourse; this built on the north side of the existing mall. The new concourse connected the original Macy's and second Nordstrom and was dedicated in 2001. The circa-1986 Nordstrom was then sectioned into thirty store spaces. The renovated retail hub was dedicated on May 22, 2002. It encompassed approximately 1,367,000 leasable square feet and housed 232 stores under its roof.

2006 brought news of a third expansion of WESTFIELD VALLEY FAIR. The project was to add a third shopping concourse of seventy-two stores. This addition, built on the south side of the existing structure, would replace an existing parking garage and connect the mall's two Macy's.

Two anchor stores, a 2-level (120,000 square foot) Neiman Marcus and 3-level (150,000 square foot) Bloomingdale's, would be included in the new concourse. Moreover, a freestanding Safeway supermarket and CVS Drug would be relocated to new structures and a parking garage built to replace the parking structure being demolished.

The project was approved by the local government in November 2007. However, The Great Recession derailed the prospective renovation. It was put on indefinite hold in May 2009. In the meantime, a refurbishment of two sections of the mall was carried out. Work started in September 2012. The Food Court on Level 2 was gutted and rebuilt as a more upscale "Dining Terrace." It encompassed 23,000 square feet and eighteen eateries.

On Level 1, east of Nordstrom, tenants were relocated to other spaces in the mall. The area became a "Luxury Collection" of high-end retailers, with names such as Cartier, Burberry, TAG Heuer, Wolford, Prada and Zara. The Dining Terrace and Luxury Connection were officially dedicated on November 1, 2013.

In 2015, the long-awaited VALLEY FAIR expansion was revived. The original plan for two new anchor stores was amended to include only a 3-level (150,000 square foot) Bloomingdale's. Construction commenced in early 2015 on a high-tech digital garage; this replacing an existing structure at the northeast corner of the mall site. The new garage was dedicated in late 2015. The parking structure at the front of the mall was demolished; providing space for the new Bloomingdale's, second digital garage and outdoor Restaurant Collection. 

 

By late 2015, Old Navy had relocated to another area of the mall. The adjacent Sports Authority closed for good. Their buildings were demolished, with a new 3-level structure built. The Showplace Kerasotes Showplace Icon Theatre, installed on Level 2, showed first features on January 18, 2019. The mall addition and new Bloomingdales were officially dedicated on March 5, 2020. WESTFIELD VALLEY FAIR now spanned around 2,200,000 leasable square feet and housed 272 stores, restaurants and entertainment venues. 

Westfield's American and European property portfolio had been merged into the holdings of Paris-based Unibail-Rodamco in June 2018. A new company, known as Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, was created. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield began selling various American mall properties in 2022.  

Sources:

The Peninsula Times-Tribune (Palo Alto, California)

The San Francisco Business Chronicle 

The Oakland Tribune

The San Bernardino County Sun 

The Santa Maria Times (Santa Maria, California)

http://www.renewvalleyfair.com

http://www.cestcop.com / Mike Carrol Productions

https://www.groceteria.com

http://www.bigmallrat.com

http://www.westfield.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)

https://www.sccassessor.org  / Santa Clara County, California 

http://www.cahighways.org                                                           

http://www.reuters.com

https://www.sanjoseca.gov / Environmental Site Assessment / Westfield Valley Fair Expansion / January 2023

https://www.cinematreasures.org 

https://www.mercurynews.com

https://www.westfield.com/en/united-states/valleyfair

"Westfield Valley Fair" article on Wikipedia

Los Angeles' Del Amo Center

The DEL AMO mall was built on a 78-acre section of the 200-acre Del Amo Center development. In addition to a major retail complex, this edge city would eventually include residential, financial, office and medical facilities.

Photo from Cal State University Dominguez Hills Archives

Graphic from The Del Amo Estate Company

Sears Torrance covered 284,000 square feet and featured a freestanding Garden & Patio Shop, freestanding Auto Center and two Peggy Kellogg Snackettes.

Graphic from Sears, Roebuck & Company

A newspaper article from October 1959 extols the many features of the new Sears.

Advert from The Del Amo Estate Company

The Penney's at DEL AMO CENTER covered two floors and around 70,000 square feet. 

Drawing from the J.C. Penney Company