Stonestown Galleria
Encyclopedia
Stonestown Galleria is a 862000 square feet (80,082.4 m²) shopping mall
in San Francisco, California
, anchored by Nordstrom
, Macy's
, and Ode Books, formerly Borders Books & Music. The original Stonestown Mall was developed by Stoneson Development Corporation, but the complex is now owned and managed by General Growth Properties
, and is located immediately north of San Francisco State University
.
, Butler Brothers, Gallenkamp Shoes, the Red Chimney restaurant and Woolworth's
. There were stores for local residents, including a grocery store, a bakery, and movie theaters.
The Stoneson brothers' development firm was also responsible for the later Stoneridge Shopping Center
(located in east suburban Pleasanton
) and Lakeside Village.
in 1996 when Macy's bought The Emporium.
In December 2003, Heitman Financial, the manager, abandoned efforts to construct nearly 300 new residential units and a grocery store on a parcel next to the mall's 42 acres (169,968.1 m²) site. Neighborhood groups complained that the project would worsen traffic congestion in the area and create safety and environmental problems. In 2004, General Growth Properties
bought the mall from Pacific Acquisition Corp. for $312 million. Today, Stonestown's 160 in-line shops are fully occupied and generate sales of about $460 per square foot.
made a scheduled appearance to sign autographs and attend a brief Q&A session at the Hot Topic
store. After an alarmingly high number of fans flooded the mall (an estimated 3,000 instead of the expected 500, some who had flown from as far as Hawaii and Arizona), around four o'clock in the morning, causing many injuries and a confirmed broken nose as well as stolen belongings. The S.F. Police cancelled the event, due to the general unsafety of the event's setup, and they notified the fans the actor was not going to come. Robert Pattison decided to show despite warnings and signed autographs for the first 500 customers as promised, electing not to engage in a Q&A session.
on the west side, and Nordstrom
, Trader Joe's
and Ode Books, formerly Borders Books and Music, on the east side. There are four wings, two on level one and two on level two. A food court is on the second story. There are some skylights in the mall. Marble columns adorn the center court. As mentioned earlier, a demolition/rebuilding project in the late 1980s added many of the architectural features seen today.
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, anchored by Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
, Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, and Ode Books, formerly Borders Books & Music. The original Stonestown Mall was developed by Stoneson Development Corporation, but the complex is now owned and managed by General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties, Inc. is a publicly traded real estate investment trust in the United States. It is based in Chicago, Illinois at 110 North Wacker Drive, a historic building designed by architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White...
, and is located immediately north of San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
.
Early years
Stonestown Galleria, originally Stonestown Shopping Center, was built in 1952 by the Stoneson brothers. It was built in the Lakeside neighborhood, bordering Lake Merced, along with apartments that could house 3,000–3,500 people. The major tenant, the Emporium department store, opened on July 16, 1952. Other early businesses included WalgreensWalgreens
Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
, Butler Brothers, Gallenkamp Shoes, the Red Chimney restaurant and Woolworth's
F. W. Woolworth Company
The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first successful Woolworth store was opened on July 18, 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"...
. There were stores for local residents, including a grocery store, a bakery, and movie theaters.
The Stoneson brothers' development firm was also responsible for the later Stoneridge Shopping Center
Stoneridge Shopping Center
Stoneridge Shopping Center is an upscale regional shopping mall located in Pleasanton, California. The mall is managed and co-owned by Simon Property Group, and is adjacent to Interstate 680.The mall is anchored by Nordstrom, Macy's, JCPenney, and Sears....
(located in east suburban Pleasanton
Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton is a city in Alameda County, California, incorporated in 1894. It is a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area located about east of Oakland, and west of Livermore. The population was 70,285 at the 2010 census. In 2005 and 2007, Pleasanton was ranked the wealthiest middle-sized city in...
) and Lakeside Village.
Redevelopment and recent changes
The Stoneston brothers aged and the mall was sold to a pension fund. Stonestown went through a renovation and major redevelopment in 1987, spearheaded by architect John Field. Field's plan added one story of stores, including a food court, a glass ceiling and marble floors, plus 350 new underground parking spaces. These changes led to the Stonestown Shopping Center being renamed Stonestown Galleria. The Emporium anchor store was converted to Macy'sMacy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
in 1996 when Macy's bought The Emporium.
In December 2003, Heitman Financial, the manager, abandoned efforts to construct nearly 300 new residential units and a grocery store on a parcel next to the mall's 42 acres (169,968.1 m²) site. Neighborhood groups complained that the project would worsen traffic congestion in the area and create safety and environmental problems. In 2004, General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties, Inc. is a publicly traded real estate investment trust in the United States. It is based in Chicago, Illinois at 110 North Wacker Drive, a historic building designed by architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White...
bought the mall from Pacific Acquisition Corp. for $312 million. Today, Stonestown's 160 in-line shops are fully occupied and generate sales of about $460 per square foot.
Celebrity appearance
On November 10, 2008, the Twilight star Robert PattinsonRobert Pattinson
Robert Douglas Thomas Pattinson is an English actor, model, musician, and producer. Born and raised in London, Pattinson started out his career by playing the role of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire...
made a scheduled appearance to sign autographs and attend a brief Q&A session at the Hot Topic
Hot Topic
Hot Topic is an American retail chain specializing in music and pop culture-related clothing and accessories, as well as licensed music on CD. The majority of the stores are located in regional shopping malls. The first Hot Topic store was opened in 1988 by Orv Madden, who retired as CEO in 2000...
store. After an alarmingly high number of fans flooded the mall (an estimated 3,000 instead of the expected 500, some who had flown from as far as Hawaii and Arizona), around four o'clock in the morning, causing many injuries and a confirmed broken nose as well as stolen belongings. The S.F. Police cancelled the event, due to the general unsafety of the event's setup, and they notified the fans the actor was not going to come. Robert Pattison decided to show despite warnings and signed autographs for the first 500 customers as promised, electing not to engage in a Q&A session.
Layout and design
Stonestown has two stories and 160 stores. The anchors are two stories, but most in-line stores are one story. The hallways form a plus shape, with Macy'sMacy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
on the west side, and Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
, Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's is a privately held chain of specialty grocery stores headquartered in Monrovia, California. , Trader Joe's had a total of 365 stores. Approximately half of its stores are in California, with the heaviest concentration in Southern California, but the company also has locations in 30...
and Ode Books, formerly Borders Books and Music, on the east side. There are four wings, two on level one and two on level two. A food court is on the second story. There are some skylights in the mall. Marble columns adorn the center court. As mentioned earlier, a demolition/rebuilding project in the late 1980s added many of the architectural features seen today.
See also
- General Growth PropertiesGeneral Growth PropertiesGeneral Growth Properties, Inc. is a publicly traded real estate investment trust in the United States. It is based in Chicago, Illinois at 110 North Wacker Drive, a historic building designed by architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White...
- Lakeside Neighborhood
- Stoneridge Shopping CenterStoneridge Shopping CenterStoneridge Shopping Center is an upscale regional shopping mall located in Pleasanton, California. The mall is managed and co-owned by Simon Property Group, and is adjacent to Interstate 680.The mall is anchored by Nordstrom, Macy's, JCPenney, and Sears....