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Valley Plaza Mall

Coordinates: 35°20′17″N 119°02′02″W / 35.338°N 119.034°W / 35.338; -119.034
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Valley Plaza Mall
Map
LocationBakersfield, California
Coordinates35°20′17″N 119°02′02″W / 35.338°N 119.034°W / 35.338; -119.034
Address2701 Ming Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93304
Opening dateFebruary 21, 1967; 57 years ago (February 21, 1967)
DeveloperThe Hahn Company
ManagementBrookfield Properties
OwnerBrookfield Properties
No. of stores and services143
No. of anchor tenants5 (4 open, 1 vacant)
Total retail floor area1,174,947 square feet (109,156.1 m2)
No. of floors1 (2 in JCPenney, Parking Garage, and former Sears, 3 in Macy's)
Parking5,504
Websitevalleyplazamall.com
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Valley Plaza Mall is a shopping mall in Bakersfield, California. It is the largest mall in the San Joaquin Valley.[2] The mall is situated near California State Route 99, the city's main north–south freeway.[3] Anchor stores are Forever 21, JCPenney, Macy's, and Target.

History

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Valley Plaza Mall opened in 1967. The mall was originally developed by The Hahn Company of San Diego in partnership with John Brock Sr. of Brock's Department Stores. The mall originally had 900,000 square feet (84,000 m2) of retail space and three anchor stores: Sears, The Broadway, and Brock's. The original interior was described as "reflects the Spanish influence on Southern California in a contemporary manner".[4]

In 1986, the mall began expanding, adding "wings" (which increased the mall to its current size) on the east end in 1986, and the west in 1988. Two new anchor stores were added: JCPenney (1986) and May Company (1988). The Oasis Food Court was also constructed. In 1997, Pacific Theaters opened a 15-screen theater on the property, but detached from the mall.[5] It contained a mural in the lobby which featured the newly remodeled Bakersfield Sign. It was one of the first large public displays of the sign since the remodel.[citation needed]

The anchor stores saw many changes. Only JCPenney has remained since they originally opened. Broadway was acquired by Macy's. Brock's was purchased by Gottschalks, which later closed and became occupied by Forever 21. May Company became Robinsons-May, and it closed and eventually was demolished and replaced by Target.[citation needed]

The mall also has a 16-screen movie theater, with IMAX. It is detached from the mall and is owned by Reading Cinemas.[citation needed]

Valley Plaza Mall is the site of the Southwest Transit Center, which has a stop for the following Golden Empire Transit (GET) routes: 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, and 15.[citation needed]

On October 15, 2018, it was announced that Sears would be closing as part of a plan to close 142 stores nationwide. The store closed on January 6, 2019.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Valley Plaza Mall". Brookfield Properties.
  2. ^ "Valley Plaza Mall: About".
  3. ^ "Valley Plaza Mall: Home Page".
  4. ^ "Valley Plaza Shopping Center".
  5. ^ "Valley Plaza Cinema 16".
  6. ^ "Sears store closing list: 142 more Sears, Kmart locations closing in Chapter 11 bankruptcy".
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