Valley Plaza Mall

Valley Plaza Mall is a regional shopping center in Bakersfield, California, located near California State Route 99, the principal north–south freeway through the city. It is described as the largest mall in the San Joaquin Valley and functions as a major retail, dining, entertainment, and transit destination for Bakersfield and surrounding communities. The mall opened in 1967 with approximately 900,000 square feet of retail space. It was developed by The Hahn Company of San Diego in partnership with John Brock Sr., whose Brock's department store was one of the original anchor tenants. The original anchor lineup also included Sears and The Broadway. Its initial architectural character was described as a contemporary interpretation of Spanish influence in Southern California, reflecting a design language commonly used for major commercial developments in the region during the period. Valley Plaza underwent a substantial physical expansion during the 1980s. New east-side wings were added in 1986, followed by west-side expansion in 1988. These projects brought the mall to its present general scale and added JCPenney and May Company as anchor stores. The Oasis Food Court was also created as part of the mall's expansion and remained an important shared dining area. JCPenney is the only anchor from the later expansion era that has continuously remained in operation at the mall. The center's anchor history reflects the consolidation and restructuring of the American department-store industry. The Broadway was ultimately acquired by Macy's, while Brock's was purchased by Gottschalks. After Gottschalks later closed, its former space was occupied by Forever 21. May Company subsequently became Robinsons-May; after that store closed, the building was demolished and the site was redeveloped for Target. Sears operated at the mall for decades before announcing in 2018 that its location would close as part of a nationwide store-reduction program. The Sears store closed on January 6, 2019. Entertainment became another component of the property in 1999, when Pacific Theatres opened a detached 16-screen cinema. The theater later became a Reading Cinemas location. Two of its screens were adapted for premium formats, including IMAX in 2015 and a Titan LUXE auditorium in 2025. The cinema lobby also contains a mural featuring the poster for This Is Cinerama and the Bakersfield Sign, making the theater a visible link to local cultural and entertainment history. The mall also serves a transportation role through the Southwest Transit Center. The facility includes a Golden Empire Transit stop served by routes 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, and 15. This transit connection reinforces Valley Plaza's position as more than a collection of stores: it is a large public-facing destination integrated into Bakersfield's commercial and transportation network. As of the latest cited developments, the mall's remaining principal anchors are JCPenney, Macy's, and Target. Forever 21 announced in March 2025 that it would close its U.S. locations, including its Valley Plaza store, while Sears had already departed. The mall therefore illustrates the changing composition of traditional American regional shopping centers, with long-established department stores, redeveloped anchor sites, specialty retail, entertainment, food service, and public transit operating together within one property.

Valley Plaza Mall opened in 1967 in Bakersfield, California, near State Route 99. The project was developed by The Hahn Company of San Diego together with John Brock Sr., associated with Brock's Department Stores. At opening, the property contained about 900,000 square feet of retail space and was anchored by Sears, The Broadway, and Brock's. Its original interior used a contemporary design influenced by Spanish architectural themes associated with Southern California. The mall expanded in two principal phases during the 1980s. East-side wings were added in 1986, and west-side wings followed in 1988. The additions expanded the property to its present general scale and introduced two additional department-store anchors: JCPenney in 1986 and May Company in 1988. The Oasis Food Court was also built during this period. JCPenney is the only anchor associated with the expansion era that has remained continuously at the center. Valley Plaza's later history reflects a succession of department-store acquisitions, rebrandings, closures, and redevelopments. The Broadway was absorbed into Macy's, leaving Macy's as the successor occupant. Brock's was purchased by Gottschalks, whose eventual closure resulted in the former space being used by Forever 21. May Company was rebranded as Robinsons-May before closing; the former building was later demolished and replaced by Target. These changes altered the mall's tenant mix while preserving its role as a major regional retail destination. In 1999, Pacific Theatres opened a detached 16-screen cinema on the property. The theater was later operated by Reading Cinemas. In 2015, two screens were adapted for IMAX and, in 2025, one of the premium auditoriums was associated with Reading's Titan LUXE format. The lobby includes a mural incorporating a This Is Cinerama poster and the Bakersfield Sign, giving the entertainment component a distinctive local visual reference. The mall's anchor portfolio continued to contract in the late 2010s and 2020s. Sears announced in October 2018 that its Valley Plaza store would close as part of a national plan involving 142 locations; the store closed on January 6, 2019. Forever 21 was reported in March 2025 as part of a plan to close all U.S. stores. These departures left JCPenney, Macy's, and Target as the principal remaining anchors identified in the cited material. Valley Plaza also incorporates the Southwest Transit Center, which is served by Golden Empire Transit routes 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, and 15. This connection gives the mall a civic and transportation function in addition to its retail and entertainment uses. Across its history, the property has therefore evolved from a 1960s department-store-centered shopping mall into a mixed regional destination combining retail anchors, specialty stores, dining, cinema entertainment, and public transit access.

• 2025

  Forever 21 closure announced

  [1]Valley Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Forever 21 is included in a plan to close all U.S. locations, affecting its Valley Plaza presence.

• 2025

  Titan LUXE cinema conversion reported

  [1]Valley Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The associated Reading Cinemas complex adds a Titan LUXE premium auditorium.

• 2019

  Sears closes

  [1]Valley Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor closes on January 6 following a national store-closure announcement made in 2018.

• 2015

  Cinema receives IMAX conversion

  [1]Valley Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Two cinema screens are retrofitted for IMAX and another premium presentation.

• 1999

  Detached 16-screen cinema opens

  [1]Valley Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Pacific Theatres opens a 16-screen theater complex on the mall property.

• 1988

  West-side expansion and May Company opening

  [1]Valley Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall adds west-side wings and opens a May Company anchor; the Oasis Food Court is also associated with the expansion era.

• 1986

  East-side expansion and JCPenney opening

  [1]Valley Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  New east-side wings expand the mall, and JCPenney is added as an anchor.

• 1967

  Valley Plaza Mall opens

  [1]Valley Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall opens in Bakersfield with approximately 900,000 square feet of retail space and Sears, The Broadway, and Brock's as its original anchor stores.

A large regional shopping and entertainment destination serving Bakersfield and the southern San Joaquin Valley, with department-store anchors, general merchandise, dining, cinema entertainment, and a Golden Empire Transit connection.

• Shopping mall · 1967

  Regional shopping-center services

  Valley Plaza Mall provides a multi-tenant retail environment with department stores, specialty retailers, dining, customer amenities, and public access. Its principal role is to concentrate shopping and service activity for Bakersfield and nearby San Joaquin Valley communities.

• Anchor retail · 1967

  Department-store anchor portfolio

  The mall's anchor offering has included Sears, The Broadway, Brock's, JCPenney, May Company, Macy's, Robinsons-May, Gottschalks, Forever 21, and Target at different points in its history. The cited current anchor lineup consists principally of JCPenney, Macy's, and Target.

• Dining · 1988

  Oasis Food Court

  The Oasis Food Court was constructed during the mall's 1980s expansion and provides a shared dining area within the shopping center.

• Cinema entertainment · 1999

  Reading Cinemas

  The detached cinema component opened under Pacific Theatres in 1999 and was later operated by Reading Cinemas. The complex has included IMAX and Titan LUXE premium-format auditoriums, extending the property's role beyond retail.

• Transportation service

  Southwest Transit Center

  The Southwest Transit Center at Valley Plaza provides a Golden Empire Transit connection. Cited routes serving the stop include 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, and 15.

• 2025

  Forever 21 store closureOther

  Background

  Forever 21 announced a plan to close its U.S. locations.

  Action taken

  The Forever 21 store at Valley Plaza was scheduled to close.

  Aftermath

  The cited anchor lineup was reduced to JCPenney, Macy's, and Target.

  Source

• 2018

  Sears store closureOther

  Background

  Sears announced a national program to close 142 stores.

  Action taken

  The Valley Plaza Sears location was selected for closure and ceased operations on January 6, 2019.

  Aftermath

  The closure reduced the mall's traditional department-store anchor base.

  Source

• 1999

  Detached cinema launchProduct launch

  Background

  The mall added an entertainment component to complement its retail and dining uses.

  Action taken

  Pacific Theatres opened a 16-screen theater on the property but outside the main mall structure.

  Aftermath

  The complex later transitioned to Reading Cinemas and received premium-format upgrades.

  Source

• 1988

  West-side expansion and food-court developmentStrategy

  Background

  A second expansion phase followed the east-side additions and broadened the mall's tenant and dining capacity.

  Action taken

  West-side wings were built, May Company was added, and the Oasis Food Court was constructed.

  Aftermath

  The project completed the major 1980s enlargement of the mall.

  Source

• 1986

  East-side expansionStrategy

  Background

  The original mall was expanded to increase its retail footprint and strengthen its regional shopping-center role.

  Action taken

  New east-side wings were added and JCPenney was introduced as an anchor.

  Aftermath

  The expansion formed part of the larger redevelopment that brought Valley Plaza toward its current scale.

  Source

1. 1Valley Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Valley Plaza Mall official websitevalleyplazamall.com