A Retail Empire Begins—Valley Plaza Mall’s Grand Opening and Early Years
A row of glass doors swings open, and the first wave of shoppers steps inside. It’s 1967, and Bakersfield finally has a mall that rivals those in Los Angeles.
The air carries a crisp newness—freshly polished floors, the scent of leather handbags from Brock’s Department Store, and the faint trace of sawdust from last-minute construction touch-ups. Valley Plaza Mall is open for business.
Built by The Hahn Company, the shopping center introduces 900,000 sq ft of retail space to a city that has long relied on scattered storefronts and downtown shops.
The location—2701 Ming Avenue, right off California State Route 99—makes it a prime stop for travelers and locals alike.
The opening lineup includes Sears, The Broadway, and Brock’s, each anchoring a section of the massive indoor space.
Bakersfield residents, who used to drive to smaller strip malls, now have an enclosed shopping experience unlike anything else in the region.
Inside, the design reflects the moment—clean lines, expansive walkways, and a nod to Spanish influences with decorative tile accents.
Sunlight spills through skylights, illuminating department store window displays packed with the latest fashions.
The Broadway offers elegant evening gowns and fine jewelry, while Sears stocks sturdy appliances and auto supplies.
Brock’s, the hometown favorite, draws in loyal customers who remember its earlier days as a downtown staple.
As the largest mall in the San Joaquin Valley, Valley Plaza quickly becomes the city’s go-to shopping destination.
Families spend weekends here, grabbing a meal at Woolworth’s lunch counter before browsing for furniture at Sears.
The department stores dominate, but smaller specialty shops start making their mark—boutiques selling perfumes, bookstores with towering shelves, and record shops where teenagers flip through stacks of vinyl.
The timing couldn’t be better. The late 1960s ushered in a new era of suburban expansion, and shopping malls are booming across the country.
Valley Plaza Mall isn’t just another retail center—it’s a sign that Bakersfield is growing, modernizing, and keeping pace with the rest of California.
The opening weekend draws crowds from across Kern County, eager to see what’s inside.
The city finally has its indoor shopping mecca, a place that promises convenience, variety, and, for a while, a taste of something bigger.
Expanding the Empire—Valley Plaza Mall’s Growth in the 1980s and 1990s
By the mid-1980s, the retail landscape was changing. Shoppers wanted more variety, more space, and more reasons to stay longer.
Valley Plaza Mall was ready to deliver. In 1986, the first major expansion pushed eastward, adding a new wing and welcoming JCPenney as a fourth anchor.
Two years later, in 1988, the mall grew again, extending west to make room for May Company, another department store powerhouse.
With each expansion, the mall’s footprint grew closer to 1.2 million sq ft, drawing customers from beyond Bakersfield.
More stores moved in, national chains that weren’t found anywhere else in the city.
The new Oasis Food Court opened, offering quick bites in a communal space where shoppers could pause before entering the retail maze.
By 1997, entertainment was becoming as important as shopping. That year, Pacific Theaters launched a 15-screen multiplex, detached from the main building but close enough to draw crowds from the mall.
A mural of the Bakersfield Sign adorned the lobby, giving a nod to the city’s past while ushering in a new era of leisure-driven retail.
Department stores still ruled, but changes were coming. The Broadway, a mainstay since opening day, was absorbed by Macy’s as part of a corporate merger.
Brock’s, a Bakersfield institution, was acquired by Gottschalks, another regional favorite. The mall was bigger, busier, and more profitable than ever.
Retail’s Harsh Reality—Anchor Store Closures and the Fight to Stay Relevant
By the early 2000s, department stores were struggling. National chains faced declining sales, and once-dominant brands started disappearing. Valley Plaza wasn’t immune.
May Company merged with Robinsons-May, but the rebrand didn’t last. The store shut down, leaving a gap in the west wing until Target moved in.
Gottschalks, which had taken over the old Brock’s space, went bankrupt in 2009, forcing the mall to find a new tenant.
Forever 21 took the spot, drawing younger shoppers with fast fashion and low prices.
But the biggest hit came in 2018. Sears, a name tied to American malls for generations, announced it was closing 142 locations nationwide—Valley Plaza’s store was on the list.
The once-busy anchor closed its doors on January 6, 2019, leaving a massive space at the west end of the mall.
Through it all, JCPenney remained. Out of the original lineup, it was the last department store standing.
Macy’s held on, too, but like all traditional retailers, it faced pressure from online shopping and shifting consumer habits.
The mall kept evolving, bringing in brands that thrived on fast turnover and trend-driven demand.
But even as new stores filled empty spaces, the loss of big anchors was impossible to ignore.
The retail world was changing, and Valley Plaza had to change with it.
Adapting to Survive—Modern Retail Strategies and Consumer Shifts
The golden age of department stores was over, and Valley Plaza Mall had to adjust.
By the mid-2010s, e-commerce was pulling customers away, and the traditional shopping experience needed a fresh approach.
The mall responded by focusing on entertainment, accessibility, and specialty retail—three things online shopping couldn’t replicate.
In 2011, Reading Cinemas took over the existing movie complex, transforming it into a 16-screen theater with IMAX.
The move was strategic—bring people in for a movie, and they might stay to shop or eat.
Families and teenagers filled the seats, but foot traffic in the rest of the mall wasn’t what it used to be.
Public transit also played a role. The Southwest Transit Center, a major hub for Golden Empire Transit (GET), made Valley Plaza an easy stop for shoppers who didn’t drive.
Bus routes ran through the center, connecting neighborhoods across Bakersfield. The mall was still a destination, but what people came for had changed.
The retail mix reflected the shift—fast-fashion brands like H&M and Forever 21 replaced the older, full-service department stores.
Specialty retailers focusing on beauty, sneakers, and electronics filled smaller storefronts.
Shoppers weren’t coming for household goods or appliances anymore—they were looking for niche items and experiences.
By 2020, renovations were in motion. Flooring updates, lighting improvements, and redesigned common areas aimed to modernize the space.
Some of the changes worked. Others couldn’t undo the deeper reality—large, enclosed malls weren’t the powerhouses they once were.
Uncertain Ground: The Future of Valley Plaza Mall
The retail landscape keeps shifting, and Valley Plaza Mall moves with it. The loss of Sears in 2019 left a massive vacancy, which H&M and Furniture Land partially filled.
While malls across the country turned to mixed-use redevelopment—adding apartments, office spaces, and entertainment venues—Valley Plaza stayed focused on retail.
Competition from The Marketplace at Ming & Wible and Riverwalk Plaza kept pressure on Valley Plaza.
Open-air centers thrived, offering quick stops, patio dining, and easy in-and-out shopping.
Valley Plaza, once Bakersfield’s retail giant, now feels boxed in. What was once an advantage—climate-controlled walkways and endless storefronts—now seems like a hurdle in a world that moves faster.
In early 2024, whispers of redevelopment spread—a fitness center, maybe, or office space carved from empty storefronts.
There were no official plans, just speculation—another sign that Valley Plaza was searching for a way forward, but no official announcements had been made.
As of 2025, Valley Plaza Mall is still standing. The largest shopping center in the San Joaquin Valley hasn’t faded into history, but its future depends on its ability to keep evolving.
False Alarm at Valley Plaza Mall
In December 2024, Valley Plaza Mall in Bakersfield pulsed with holiday crowds—shoppers weaving between sale signs, the scent of cinnamon pretzels hanging in the air.
Then, at 4 pm, chaos. There was a loud noise, a ripple of panic, and suddenly, people were running. Someone yelled about gunfire.
Mall security scrambled. Bakersfield Police arrived within minutes, ordering an evacuation, clearing stores, and scanning for threats.
Parents clutched their kids, employees locked stockroom doors. Then—nothing. There were no shell casings, no injuries, and no shooter.
The source? A fight—a moment of chaos that spiraled into full-blown fear.
By the time the mall reopened, the damage was done—another reminder of how quickly panic spreads and how quickly a normal day can turn.
Forever 21 Shuts Down at Valley Plaza Mall
In February 2025, Forever 21 at Valley Plaza Mall began its store closing sale, offering 10% to 40% discounts on remaining inventory.
The closure follows the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2019 and its subsequent acquisition by Shein in 2020.
Despite restructuring efforts, multiple locations, including the Bakersfield store, were marked for closure.
The store’s final weeks saw steady traffic as shoppers took advantage of markdowns.
Employees managed clearance sales while preparing for shutdown procedures. No official announcement has been made regarding a replacement tenant.
The closure leaves another vacancy at Valley Plaza Mall, reflecting ongoing changes in the retail sector.