Blogs available for mass circulation have been around for about four years and have really proliferated in the past year, including yours truly. You can find blogs about any subject or hobby, no matter how arcane. But even I wasn’t expecting to find today’s subject: Shopping Malls.
I have no idea what I was looking for or where I found it, probably a link on someone’s sidebar, but there it was. The title Malls of America seemed odd enough and, because I always have a nose for the quirky and the bizarre, I clicked on it.
“Vintage photos of lost Shopping Malls of the '50s, '60s & '70s” were the self-described words on the main page. The picture in the accompanying post sure looked like the interior of an older mall. I thought it would be a send-up of the ridiculousness of earlier times but that wasn’t the case. From that very first post it was obvious the author had a real affection for older malls. It is partly the nostalgia of an earlier time but it is also admiration for the architectural styling of these malls. Think about the malls you have visited recently. Doesn’t it seem that most malls being built are slight variations of one or two basic styles? Tuscan – stucco with tile roofs - or Cape Cod – wood siding with almost nautical details – are the choices I find. These early malls have elements that make them stand apart from each other. The motto of those times was “do your own thing” and these were the building equivalents of it. Exterior shots usually include vintage cars (who knew then!), distinctive light fixtures, and well-remembered signage.
Well, that was intriguing enough for me so I continued reading. As I scrolled down the main page I almost had a coronary. There, in all its early glory, was Bayfair. Yes, my little Bayfair in San Leandro was starring in a blog written by a guy in Michigan. I always think of Bayfair as being below the minor leagues when it comes to Bay Area malls, and yet there it was. The description of it was spot on and the comments made by other viewers added detail. Well blow me over; I’m still not quite believing it. Click on the picture for the large version and you can see what the neighboring hills used to look like. The Bayfair post can be found here.
Bayfair was the closest real mall to where I grew up. It was close enough that when I was in the upper grades at Lewelling Elementary, friends and I would ride our bikes to it. We never bought anything, even food or drinks, but enjoyed being out and the novelty of visiting without parental units.
I also found an entry for Southland in Hayward when I used the handy search box in the upper left corner. From the large fountain and sculpture outside Sears, the bird aviary near Woolworths, and the fish fountain by J.C. Penney, it’s all there. I started visiting Southland as a young child and grew up without being aware of the distinctive style inside the mall. The Southland post can be found here.
Even as a little kid, I always thought it was odd that Woolworth and Walgreens were right next to each other. I always preferred Woolworth because it had a pet department on the lower level. Leeds shoes was opposite and always had a perceived air of cool and trendiness when compared to the Tom McAnns store further on. I almost forgot that Smiths mens clothiers was next to Leeds.
One of the commentators was also used as a resource guide, BIGMallrat. His specialty is malls in Northern California and Nevada. He reviews current malls and his posts are often about the early days of the malls. And yes, of course, he has posts for Bayfair and Southland. Check out the comments for added flavor. BigMallrat’s website is here. Posts for Bayfair are here and Southland’s are here and here.
And if you’re still interested, how about:
South Shore in Alameda:
hereStoneridge in Pleasanton:
here, current info hereHillsdale in San Mateo:
here, here, here, here, here, video
BIGMallrat's guide to Real Malls in N. California and Nevada is here.
His reviews are up-to-date, include official websites & expansion plans, and are based on the following criteria:
Size, Architectural Appearance, Cleanliness, Occupancy, Stores, Store Quality, Parking, Location, Services, and Uniqueness
ROBIN'S smash debut album released on Canadian Pop Records May 1993 (= Canada sometime in the 1980's)
