Tanforan Shopping Mall

Tanforan Shopping Mall
Name	Tanforan Shopping Mall
Location	San Bruno, California, United States
Opening date	1971
Developer	The Hahn Company
Manager	Westfield Corporation
Owner	Simon Property Group
Number of stores	120+
Floor area	800000sqft

Tanforan Shopping Mall Tanforan Shopping Mall is a regional shopping center in San Bruno, California, originally opened in 1971 and situated near San Francisco International Airport, Interstate 280, and Bayshore Highway. The mall has been associated with multiple developers and managers including The Hahn Company, Westfield Corporation, and Simon Property Group, and occupies land with layered historical ties to the Tanforan Assembly Center and World War II internment events. It serves shoppers from the San Francisco Peninsula, South San Francisco, Daly City, and adjacent San Mateo County communities.

History

The site of the mall lies on territory formerly known for the Tanforan Race Track, which hosted events linked to the California Horse Racing Board era and featured ties to personalities from the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression. After closure of the racetrack era, the property was repurposed during World War II as the Tanforan Assembly Center where Japanese American internees from the Executive Order 9066 period were held, a chapter connected to national figures such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and institutions like the War Relocation Authority. Postwar redevelopment reflected suburbanization trends influenced by policies like the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 and demographic shifts that also affected areas around San Francisco International Airport and Silicon Valley.

In 1970s redevelopment, developers including The Hahn Company and project financiers from firms linked to Beverly Hills real estate moved forward with mall construction concurrent with retail expansion seen at complexes like Westfield Valley Fair and Stanford Shopping Center. The retail landscape around the mall echoed national patterns exemplified by corporations such as Macy's, JCPenney, Sears, and later consolidation moves involving Federated Department Stores and The May Department Stores Company. Over decades the site has encountered economic cycles tied to events such as the Dot-com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis which affected anchor tenancy decisions and ownership transfers involving entities like Simon Property Group and Taubman Centers.

Architecture and Facilities

The mall's architecture reflects late-20th-century enclosed mall design traditions tracing lineage to projects by firms influenced by architects who worked on complexes like Southdale Center and commercial design trends from Victor Gruen's era. Its two-level layout, parking structures, and pedestrian concourses echo planning precedents seen at Mall of America and retrofit strategies later used at properties by Westfield Corporation and G GP. Structural elements incorporate seismic design influences aligned with California Building Standards Code reforms prompted by events such as the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and later seismic events like the Loma Prieta earthquake.

Facilities include a food court, multiplex cinema comparable to venues operated by AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas, indoor common areas hosting seasonal events akin to programming by Simon Property Group's events teams, and service corridors for logistics that parallel operations at retail centers like Southland Mall and Great Mall (Milpitas). Landscaping and public art commissions have at times involved local cultural institutions such as San Mateo County Historical Association and collaborations similar to those between malls and municipal arts councils in San Francisco suburbs.

Tenants and Anchors

Anchor history has included department stores in the lineage of Macy's, former anchors from the JCPenney and Sears portfolios, and big-box retailers akin to Target and Best Buy. Specialty retail corridors have hosted national chains like Foot Locker, Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, and fashion brands paralleling H&M, Forever 21, Gap Inc., and Old Navy. Dining offerings have included franchise operators such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, Chili's, Panda Express, and local eateries reflective of the Bay Area's culinary scene with parallels to establishments in San Francisco and Oakland.

Service-oriented tenants have mirrored trends seen across US malls, with bank branches (similar to Wells Fargo and Bank of America outlets), telecom providers like AT&T and T-Mobile USA, and fitness centers comparable to 24 Hour Fitness and LA Fitness occupying space over time. Pop-up vendors and seasonal markets have brought in artisans and vendors tied to organizations such as the San Mateo County Fair or regional craft collectives modeled after Renegade Craft Fair events.

Incidents and Controversies

The property's history encompasses controversies over its wartime use as an assembly center, invoked in dialogues involving civil liberties groups like the Japanese American Citizens League and scholars publishing with institutions such as Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley. Labor disputes and tenant negotiations have mirrored broader retail labor discussions associated with unions including the United Food and Commercial Workers and advocacy groups similar to Fight for $15.

Security incidents and litigation over premises liability have occurred, paralleling cases brought in jurisdictions influenced by California precedent from courts in San Francisco County and San Mateo County Superior Court. Environmental and zoning disputes have involved local governance bodies such as the San Bruno City Council and planning commissions, with appeals processes sometimes referencing California Environmental Quality Act procedures and consultations with agencies like the San Mateo County Planning and Building Department.

Redevelopment and Future Plans

Redevelopment proposals for the mall have drawn from models used in large-scale repurposing projects like The Palisades, mixed-use transformations exemplified by King of Prussia Mall's expansions, and transit-oriented development initiatives near Caltrain stations and BART extensions. Planning concepts have included integration with regional transportation nodes such as San Francisco International Airport, potential residential components similar to those at redeveloped sites like The Crossroads (Mountain View), and public-private partnerships akin to collaborations involving Del Monte Shopping Center and municipal authorities.

Future plans discussed in public forums have considered sustainability measures in line with LEED standards and climate resilience practices promoted by agencies like the California Air Resources Board and Bay Conservation and Development Commission. Community engagement processes have involved stakeholders including San Bruno Historical Society, neighborhood associations, and economic development offices comparable to those in San Mateo County municipalities. Ongoing proposals reflect broader retail sector responses to e-commerce players such as Amazon (company) and shifts toward experiential retail seen at projects by developers like Howard Hughes Corporation and Prologis.

Category:Shopping malls in San Mateo County, California