Sunvalley Mall

Sunvalley Mall, formally known as Sunvalley Shopping Center, is a regional shopping center in Concord, California, in the eastern part of Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area. The property is located near Interstate 680 and serves the surrounding East Bay communities. Spinoso Real Estate Group owns and operates the center. Its principal department-store anchors are two Macy's locations, JCPenney, and Sears. The Sears store is particularly notable because it has been described as one of the last five remaining Sears stores in the United States and the only remaining Sears location in California. The center opened on August 5, 1967, after being developed by A. Alfred Taubman. At its opening, it was promoted as the world's largest air-conditioned regional shopping center. The original complex contained approximately 1.333 million square feet across two floors, roughly 9,000 parking spaces, and about 40 vendors. Its initial anchor lineup consisted of Macy's, Sears, and JCPenney. The center was designed as a large-scale suburban destination rather than simply a collection of neighborhood stores, with department stores, specialty retail, restaurants, entertainment, and civic-style amenities. Early features included an international-themed World's Fare food court, a cinema with approximately 1,500 seats, an art gallery, a pet shop, a post office, piano and organ retailers, an ice-skating rink, rare-bird displays, and numerous fountains. These features reflected the mall's role in the 1960s and 1970s as an all-day leisure destination, combining shopping with dining and family entertainment. A fourth anchor was added in 1981 when Emporium Capwell opened in a three-level, approximately 180,000-square-foot building. The store operated under the Emporium name from 1990 until 1995, after which the property ultimately became a Macy's men's, home, cellar, and Backstage location. Sunvalley underwent a major two-year renovation completed in 1991. The approximately $40 million project introduced 198 skylights, Italian marble walkways, and chrome-and-glass railings, updating the large interior while retaining its regional-shopping-center format. A later multimillion-dollar renovation completed in 2012 modernized the entrances, signage, landscaping, parking areas, and central grand court. Improvements included illuminated entrance signs, additional seating, energy-efficient LED lighting on the upper east parking deck, new directional signage, Wi-Fi, device-charging facilities, a full-service customer-service desk, and expanded interior seating. In 2016, the center added a new food court with operators including Chicken Connection, Charleys Philly Steaks, and Lotus Express. ROUND1, an entertainment venue combining arcade and recreational attractions, opened in space formerly occupied by Sports Authority. These changes broadened the center's offer beyond traditional department-store shopping and reflected the industry's shift toward food, entertainment, and experiential uses. The property has also experienced serious incidents. On December 23, 1985, a Beechcraft 95-A55 twin-engine aircraft crashed into the mall after missing an initial landing attempt at nearby Buchanan Field. Seven people died, including three people aboard the aircraft, and 77 were injured. The crash caused an estimated $3.5 million in damage to the shopping center. In 2021, separate shootings inside or associated with the center resulted in temporary lockdowns and injuries. Despite these incidents and reported financial pressures in later coverage, the mall has remained an active regional retail and entertainment property.

Sunvalley Shopping Center opened in Concord, California, on August 5, 1967. It was developed by A. Alfred Taubman and was presented at the time as the world's largest air-conditioned regional shopping center. The original complex covered approximately 1.333 million square feet over two floors and offered roughly 9,000 parking spaces. Macy's, Sears, and JCPenney served as the initial department-store anchors, while about 40 other vendors occupied the center. The original property was conceived as a regional destination with a broad mix of retail, food, entertainment, and novelty attractions. Its facilities included a World's Fare food court, a 1,500-seat cinema, an art gallery, a pet shop, a post office, piano and organ stores, an ice-skating rink, rare-bird cages, and multiple fountains. These amenities made Sunvalley representative of the major suburban shopping-center model that emerged in the United States during the postwar period. A fourth anchor was added in 1981 when Emporium Capwell opened a three-level, approximately 180,000-square-foot store. The location later operated as The Emporium from 1990 to 1995 and subsequently became a Macy's men's, home, cellar, and Backstage facility. This change reduced the number of distinct department-store anchor brands while preserving the building's role in the center's tenant mix. The mall's history also includes a major aviation accident. On December 23, 1985, a twin-engine Beechcraft 95-A55 crashed into the property after missing its first landing attempt at Buchanan Field. The accident killed seven people, including three aircraft occupants, injured 77 others, and caused approximately $3.5 million in mall damage. Sunvalley completed a major two-year renovation in 1991. The project, reported at approximately $40 million, installed 198 skylights and added Italian marble walkways and chrome-and-glass railings. In 2012, another multimillion-dollar program modernized the center's entrances, illuminated signage, seating, landscaping, parking guidance, and central grand court. The later work also introduced Wi-Fi, device charging, a full-service customer-service desk, energy-efficient LED lighting on the upper east parking deck, and substantially more seating. In 2016, the property expanded its dining and entertainment offer. A new food court opened with restaurants including Chicken Connection, Charleys Philly Steaks, and Lotus Express. ROUND1 opened in the former Sports Authority space, providing an entertainment-oriented use alongside the department stores and specialty retailers. In 2021, two separate shootings were reported at the shopping center. The May incident led to a police response and temporary lockdown after one person was injured. A second shooting on December 31 also injured one person and resulted in an overnight closure. The center reopened the next morning. Sunvalley is owned and operated by Spinoso Real Estate Group and continues to function as a regional shopping, dining, and entertainment center in the East Bay.

• 2016

  Food court and ROUND1 launch

  [1]Sunvalley Shopping Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Sunvalley adds a new food court and opens ROUND1 in the former Sports Authority location.

• 2012

  Modernization project completed

  [1]Sunvalley Shopping Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The center upgrades its entrances, grand court, parking facilities, landscaping, seating, Wi-Fi, charging facilities, and customer-service amenities.

• 1991

  Large-scale renovation completed

  [1]Sunvalley Shopping Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A two-year renovation adds skylights, marble walkways, and updated interior finishes.

• 1985

  Aircraft crash damages the mall

  [1]Sunvalley Shopping Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A Beechcraft aircraft crashes into the center on December 23, killing seven people, injuring 77, and causing major property damage.

• 1981

  Fourth department-store anchor added

  [1]Sunvalley Shopping Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Emporium Capwell opens a three-level store of approximately 180,000 square feet.

• 1967

  Sunvalley Shopping Center opens

  [1]Sunvalley Shopping Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The regional shopping center opens in Concord on August 5 with Macy's, Sears, JCPenney, specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment facilities, and approximately 1.333 million square feet of space.

A large East Bay regional shopping and entertainment destination combining department stores, specialty retailers, dining, and family-oriented experiences.

• Department stores · 1967

  Department-store retail

  Sunvalley's core retail offer is built around department-store anchors. Macy's operates two locations, while JCPenney and Sears provide additional broad merchandise coverage. Together, these stores offer apparel, accessories, home goods, beauty products, seasonal merchandise, and other general retail categories typical of a regional shopping center.

• Dining · 2016

  Food court

  The center's food-service offer has evolved from the original World's Fare food court into a later food court featuring fast-casual and quick-service operators. The 2016 lineup included Chicken Connection, Charleys Philly Steaks, and Lotus Express, giving visitors an accessible dining option within the mall.

• Entertainment · 2016

  ROUND1

  ROUND1 is an entertainment center occupying space formerly used by Sports Authority. Its addition broadened Sunvalley's tenant mix toward recreational and experiential uses, complementing the center's retail stores and restaurants.

• Specialty retail · 1967

  Specialty retail and services

  Across its history, Sunvalley has housed specialty retailers and services alongside its anchors. Historical examples include an art gallery, pet shop, post office, piano and organ retailers, and restaurants. The specific tenant roster has changed over time.

• 2016

  Increase dining and experiential usesStrategy

  Background

  The mall adapted its tenant mix by adding food-service and entertainment concepts in addition to traditional retail.

  Action taken

  A new food court opened, and ROUND1 took over the former Sports Authority space.

  Aftermath

  The center expanded its dining and leisure offer and reduced reliance on conventional merchandise retail alone.

  Source

• 2012

  Modernize customer and parking amenitiesStrategy

  Background

  The center pursued a contemporary renovation focused on visitor comfort, wayfinding, connectivity, and the appearance of its entrances and common areas.

  Action taken

  Sunvalley renovated entrances and the grand court, added Wi-Fi and charging facilities, improved lighting and landscaping, and doubled seating.

  Aftermath

  The project refreshed the public areas and added service-oriented amenities to the regional mall format.

  Source

• 1991

  Undertake a major interior renovationStrategy

  Background

  After more than two decades of operation, the center required a substantial physical refresh to maintain its regional-destination positioning.

  Action taken

  Sunvalley completed a two-year renovation featuring 198 skylights, Italian marble walkways, and chrome-and-glass railings.

  Aftermath

  The renovation modernized the mall's appearance and visitor environment.

  Renovation cost. $40 million (1991)

  Source

• 1981

  Add a fourth department-store anchorStrategy

  Background

  The established regional center expanded its department-store offer by adding a new three-level Emporium Capwell location.

  Action taken

  Sunvalley added an approximately 180,000-square-foot Emporium Capwell anchor.

  Aftermath

  The store later operated as The Emporium and ultimately became a Macy's specialty-format location.

  Source

1. 1Sunvalley Shopping Centeren.wikipedia.org