Pleasant Hill, Calif.-Dying 1960s Mall
Posted: 26 Jun 2007 04:04
The former Contra Costa Center in Pleasant Hill, Calif. apparently is in its final months of life. The anchor tenant from 1962 to 2000 was Montgomery Ward. A Kohl's store now occupies that site. Today this center is also known for its domed movie theater, now known as "CineArts" -- it shows "arthouse" type films.
The center is located in the southeastern quadrant of the I-680/Monument Boulevard interchange in central Contra Costa County, approximately 30 miles east of San Francisco.
The "mall" appears as if it was open-air at one time, but later enclosed with glass walls. Most of the stores are now vacant. I was surprised that the "mall" interior was still open when I visited on June 9, 2007. An appliance store and a Dollar Tree discount store appear to be the last open businesses between the Kohl's and CineArts theater. A Chinese restaurant closed in early 2007. A Christian book store and Christian music store have closed. A bar/saloon and an exercise gym remain open but not in the main part of the "mall."
There is a distinction "Mall" sign, perhaps of 1960s vintage, in front of the CineArts theater. The connection between Kohl's and the mall presently is sealed.
When this center opened in the early 1960s, it was one of central Contra Costa County's retail hubs. Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek opened in the early 1950s; Sun Valley Mall along I-680 in Concord opened in the late 1960s. The Park and Shop Center in downtown Concord opened in the 1950s.
According to contemporary issues of the Concord Transcript, the Montgomery Ward in Pleasant Hill opened on October 4, 1962. It was the chain's 69th store since a major expansion program began in 1958. Ward's then had 531 stores nationwide -- its first retail store opened in 1926. At 180,000 square feet, the Pleasant Hill Montgomery Ward was touted as the largest single commercial addition in the history of central Contra Costa County. (The two levels together had 150,000 square feet -- the seasonal sales, garden shop, and auto service center encompassed 30,000 square feet.)
The center is located in the southeastern quadrant of the I-680/Monument Boulevard interchange in central Contra Costa County, approximately 30 miles east of San Francisco.
The "mall" appears as if it was open-air at one time, but later enclosed with glass walls. Most of the stores are now vacant. I was surprised that the "mall" interior was still open when I visited on June 9, 2007. An appliance store and a Dollar Tree discount store appear to be the last open businesses between the Kohl's and CineArts theater. A Chinese restaurant closed in early 2007. A Christian book store and Christian music store have closed. A bar/saloon and an exercise gym remain open but not in the main part of the "mall."
There is a distinction "Mall" sign, perhaps of 1960s vintage, in front of the CineArts theater. The connection between Kohl's and the mall presently is sealed.
When this center opened in the early 1960s, it was one of central Contra Costa County's retail hubs. Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek opened in the early 1950s; Sun Valley Mall along I-680 in Concord opened in the late 1960s. The Park and Shop Center in downtown Concord opened in the 1950s.
According to contemporary issues of the Concord Transcript, the Montgomery Ward in Pleasant Hill opened on October 4, 1962. It was the chain's 69th store since a major expansion program began in 1958. Ward's then had 531 stores nationwide -- its first retail store opened in 1926. At 180,000 square feet, the Pleasant Hill Montgomery Ward was touted as the largest single commercial addition in the history of central Contra Costa County. (The two levels together had 150,000 square feet -- the seasonal sales, garden shop, and auto service center encompassed 30,000 square feet.)