Valley Plaza Mall
| Location | Bakersfield, California |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°20′17″N 119°02′02″W / 35.338°N 119.034°W |
| Address | 2701 Ming Avenue |
| Opening date | 1967 |
| Developer | The Hahn Company |
| Owner | General Growth Properties |
| No. of stores and services | 140 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 5 |
| Total retail floor area | 1,100,000 square feet (100,000 m2) |
| No. of floors | 1 |
| Parking | 5,504 |
| Website | valleyplazamall.com |
| References: GGP | |
The Valley Plaza Mall is a major retail shopping mall in Bakersfield, California. It is the largest mall in the San Joaquin Valley. The mall is owned by General Growth Properties, a real estate development of over 120 regional shopping malls around the United States. Valley Plaza Mall has 5 anchor stores and over 140 specialty stores. The mall is situated near California State Route 99, the city's main north/south freeway.
Valley Plaza Mall was 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".
In 1986, the mall would begin expanding, adding "wings" (which would increase the mall to its current size) on the east end in 1986, and the west in 1988. Two new anchor stores would be added: J.C. Penney (1986) and May Co. (1988). Also the Oasis Food Court would be constructed. In 1997, Pacific Theaters would open a 15 screen theater on the property, but detached from the mall. It would contain a mural in the lobby which featured the newly remodeled Bakersfield Sign. It would be one of the first large public displays of the sign since the remodel.
The anchor stores would see many changes. Only Sears and J.C. Penney have remained since they originally opened. Broadway would be bought by Macys. Brock's would be purchased by Gottschalks. It would later close and become occupied by Forever 21. May Company became Robinsons-May, and it would also close and eventually be demolished and replaced by Target.
The mall also has a 16 screen movie theater, with IMAX. It is detached from the mall and is owned by Reading Cinemas.
Valley Plaza Mall is the site of the Southwest Transit Center. Golden Empire Transit (GET): 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15
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