Stoneridge Shopping Center

Stoneridge Shopping Center is an upscale regional shopping mall in Pleasanton, California, adjacent to Interstate 680 and serving the Tri-Valley area of the San Francisco Bay Area. The center opened on September 4, 1980, as part of the wider Stoneridge master-planned neighborhood. Its development was connected to Stoneson Development Corporation, whose principals had previously been involved in major Bay Area projects, while the mall itself was developed by A. Alfred Taubman, a prominent American shopping-center developer. The property opened with three principal department-store anchors: Macy's, Emporium-Capwell, and JCPenney. Its anchor configuration changed over time as department-store companies consolidated and repositioned their real-estate portfolios. Nordstrom joined the center in 1990, the same year Emporium-Capwell simplified its name to Emporium. After Emporium was acquired by the parent company of Macy's in 1996, the two locations were retained, with the original Macy's location focused on women's merchandise and the former Emporium building accommodating men's and home-furnishings departments. A Sears store was also added in 1996. Stoneridge's ownership and management structure evolved through several real-estate transactions. Taubman shopping-center interests became part of a publicly traded real-estate investment trust in 1992 and were reorganized in 1998, after which the GM Pension Trust assumed full ownership while Taubman Centers continued managing the property. In 2004, the GM Pension Trust sold a half interest in a portfolio that included Stoneridge to The Mills Corporation, which also assumed management. Simon Property Group subsequently acquired The Mills Corporation through a joint venture in 2007, bringing Stoneridge into the Simon portfolio. The mall has historically combined department stores with specialty retail, dining, and service businesses. A 2005 renovation and expansion proposal envisioned a smaller Nordstrom format, additional shops and restaurants, and a cinema using part of the existing Nordstrom footprint. The broader project did not fully materialize, but The Cheesecake Factory and P. F. Chang's China Bistro opened in 2006 in exterior restaurant locations, expanding the center's dining offer. Like many enclosed malls, Stoneridge faced pressure from e-commerce, changing department-store economics, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Sears announced in 2018 that its Stoneridge location would close; the store shut in January 2019, leaving a potential redevelopment site. Nordstrom announced in May 2020 that it would close the Stoneridge location as part of a broader network reduction during the pandemic period. Simon has considered enhanced development involving the former Sears and Nordstrom spaces. By 2023, the center had announced additions including Aldo, Lovisa, Miniso, and GNC, reflecting an effort to refresh the specialty-retail mix. A later announcement stated that JCPenney planned to close on February 22, 2026, subject to the reported lease outcome, while Hollister announced plans for a future store opening. The center's continuing identity is therefore tied to anchor repositioning, tenant diversification, dining, and potential redevelopment rather than to a single retail chain.

Stoneridge Shopping Center opened on September 4, 1980, in Pleasanton, California. It was built within the larger Stoneridge master-planned neighborhood, a development associated with Stoneson Development Corporation. The company's founders had participated in other significant Bay Area developments, including Lakeside Village and Stonestown Galleria. The shopping center itself was developed by A. Alfred Taubman, whose portfolio also included Eastridge Mall in San Jose, Hilltop Mall in Richmond, and Sunvalley Mall in Concord. The original anchor lineup consisted of Macy's, Emporium-Capwell, and JCPenney. Nordstrom opened at the center in 1990, when Emporium-Capwell also adopted the shorter Emporium name. In 1996, Emporium was acquired by the parent company of Macy's. Rather than eliminate the nearby Macy's and former Emporium locations, the company retained both and reorganized their merchandising roles. The original Macy's building served women's departments, while men's and home-furnishings departments moved into the former Emporium building. Sears was added as another department-store anchor in 1996. The mall's ownership history reflects broader changes in American shopping-center finance. Taubman-related shopping-center interests became a publicly traded real-estate investment trust in 1992. Following a 1998 reorganization, the GM Pension Trust assumed full ownership of Stoneridge while Taubman Centers remained its manager. In 2004, the GM Pension Trust sold a half interest in a portfolio of shopping centers, including Stoneridge, to The Mills Corporation. The Mills Corporation also assumed management responsibilities. In 2007, a joint venture led by Simon Property Group acquired The Mills Corporation, and Stoneridge subsequently operated under the Simon portfolio. In 2005, plans were announced for a renovation and expansion that would have included a smaller Nordstrom store, new specialty shops, restaurants, and a cinema in or near the existing Nordstrom footprint. The full proposal was not completed. Two exterior dining additions, The Cheesecake Factory and P. F. Chang's China Bistro, opened in 2006 and became the most visible realized elements of that plan. The property later encountered the structural pressures affecting traditional enclosed malls. Sears announced in October 2018 that its Stoneridge location would close as part of a national store-reduction program, and the store closed in January 2019. Nordstrom announced in May 2020 that it would also close the Stoneridge store while reducing its physical network during the COVID-19 pandemic. Simon began considering enhanced development involving the former Sears and Nordstrom spaces, although the supplied reference does not establish a completed redevelopment timetable. The tenant mix subsequently developed toward a broader combination of specialty retail, beauty, accessories, health, and value-oriented international concepts. Announced additions by 2023 included Aldo, Lovisa, Miniso, and GNC. A later reported announcement said JCPenney would close on February 22, 2026 because it could not continue its lease terms and had not found a suitable alternative location in the market. The same reference indicates that Hollister announced a planned opening in 2026. These changes suggest a continuing transition from a department-store-centered mall toward a more diversified retail, dining, and experience-oriented property, while Macy's locations remained the reported surviving anchor presence.

1. 2025JCPenney closure announced

   A reported announcement scheduled the JCPenney closure for February 22, 2026.

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2. 2023Specialty-retail tenant refresh

   Reported additions included Aldo, Lovisa, Miniso, and GNC.

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3. 2020Nordstrom closes

   Nordstrom announced and carried out the closure of its Stoneridge location during its broader pandemic-era store-network reduction.

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4. 2019Sears closes

   The Sears store closed in January after being included in a nationwide closure announcement in 2018.

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5. 2007Simon Property Group acquires The Mills

   A Simon-led joint venture purchased The Mills Corporation, bringing Stoneridge into the Simon Property Group portfolio.

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6. 2006New restaurant destinations open

   The Cheesecake Factory and P. F. Chang's China Bistro opened in exterior locations, representing the principal completed elements of the announced renovation concept.

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7. 2004The Mills Corporation acquires a half interest

   The GM Pension Trust sold a half interest in a portfolio including Stoneridge to The Mills Corporation, which assumed management.

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8. 1998GM Pension Trust assumes ownership

   Following a reorganization of Taubman shopping-center interests, the GM Pension Trust assumed full ownership while Taubman Centers continued managing the property.

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9. 1996Sears opens and Emporium is acquired by Macy's parent

   Sears opened at Stoneridge, and the acquisition of Emporium by Macy's parent led to a dual-location Macy's merchandising arrangement.

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10. 1990Nordstrom joins the anchor lineup

    Nordstrom opened a store at the center, while Emporium-Capwell shortened its trading name to Emporium.

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11. 1980Stoneridge Shopping Center opens

    The mall opened on September 4 in Pleasanton, California, with Macy's, Emporium-Capwell, and JCPenney as its original department-store anchors.

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An upscale regional enclosed shopping center combining department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, and services for consumers in Pleasanton and the surrounding East Bay and Tri-Valley market.

• Department-store retailAnchor retail1980

  Stoneridge has historically been organized around large department-store anchors. Macy's has operated two locations at the center, with the former Emporium space used for men's and home-furnishings departments after Emporium was acquired by Macy's parent. JCPenney, Sears, and Nordstrom were also major historical anchors.

• Specialty retailFashion and general merchandise1980

  The center offers specialty stores across apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, gifts, health, and general merchandise. Reported newer additions include Aldo, Lovisa, Miniso, and GNC, indicating a tenant mix broader than traditional department stores.

• DiningRestaurants2006

  Dining is an important complementary component of the property. The Cheesecake Factory and P. F. Chang's China Bistro opened in 2006 in exterior locations after a broader renovation proposal was scaled back.

• Shopping-center servicesProperty and visitor services1980

  As a regional mall, Stoneridge provides the shared facilities and visitor infrastructure associated with enclosed shopping centers, including common areas, parking, wayfinding, access to retailers, and dining-oriented amenities.

• 2025Planned JCPenney closureOther

  A reported announcement said JCPenney could not continue its lease terms at the mall and could not identify a suitable alternative location in the market.

  What changed. JCPenney announced a planned closure date of February 22, 2026.

  Aftermath. The reported closure would leave the two Macy's locations as the remaining department-store anchors.

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• 2020Response to Nordstrom closure and pandemic-era retail changeStrategy

  Nordstrom announced that it would close the Stoneridge store while reducing its physical-store network during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  What changed. Simon continued considering an enhanced development involving the former Nordstrom and Sears locations and pursued a refreshed specialty-retail mix.

  Aftermath. Later reported tenant additions included Aldo, Lovisa, Miniso, and GNC.

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• 2018Response to the Sears anchor closureStrategy

  Sears announced a nationwide program of store closures that included its Stoneridge location.

  What changed. The Sears store closed in January 2019, and Simon considered redevelopment options for the resulting vacant anchor space.

  Aftermath. The former Sears property became part of a wider enhanced-development concept involving other vacated anchor space.

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• 2007Transfer into the Simon Property Group portfolioM&A

  The Mills Corporation owned or managed Stoneridge after acquiring a half interest in the property portfolio from the GM Pension Trust in 2004.

  What changed. A joint venture led by Simon Property Group purchased The Mills Corporation.

  Aftermath. Stoneridge came under the Simon banner and is managed and co-owned by Simon Property Group.

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• 2005Renovation and expansion proposalStrategy

  Stoneridge announced plans to modernize the property and respond to changing tenant and shopper requirements. The proposal included a smaller Nordstrom store, additional shops and restaurants, and a cinema using the existing Nordstrom building footprint.

  What changed. The broader redevelopment concept was not fully executed. The Cheesecake Factory and P. F. Chang's China Bistro opened outside the mall in 2006 as the principal realized elements.

  Aftermath. The property later pursued additional changes through tenant replacement and consideration of enhanced development around the former Sears and Nordstrom spaces.

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• 2026Hollister announces planned Stoneridge store

  Hollister announced plans to open a store at Stoneridge Shopping Center.

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• 2025JCPenney announces planned Stoneridge closure

  A reported December 5, 2025 announcement stated that JCPenney would close its Stoneridge location on February 22, 2026, citing an inability to continue the lease terms and the lack of a suitable alternative location in the market.

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• 2023New specialty retailers announced at Stoneridge

  The center announced additions including Aldo, Lovisa, Miniso, and GNC as part of its post-pandemic tenant refresh.

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• 2020Nordstrom announces closure of Stoneridge location

  Nordstrom announced that it would close its Stoneridge store amid a broader reduction in its physical-store network during the COVID-19 period. The closure added another large former-anchor space to the property's redevelopment agenda.

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• 2018Sears to close its Stoneridge Shopping Center location

  Sears announced that the Stoneridge store would close as part of a nationwide round of store closures. The location subsequently shut in January 2019, creating a major vacant anchor space.

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1. Stoneridge Shopping Center
2. Stoneridge Shopping Center official site