An Overview of Westfield Galleria at Roseville
The Westfield Galleria at Roseville is a two-level, 1.3 million-square-foot indoor upscale shopping mall in Roseville, California.
Owned by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, the mall boasts over 190 stores and services, four anchor tenants, and a parking capacity of 6,400 vehicles. It opened on August 25, 2000, and has been a major regional shopping destination.
The mall is anchored by department stores Macy’s, JCPenney, and Nordstrom, a 14-screen Cinemark theater, a Round 1 Entertainment center, large-scale Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel furniture stores, and the sole Sacramento-area locations of luxury retailers Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., and Saint Laurent.
Westfield Galleria at Roseville competes with Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento, Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights, and The Fountains at Roseville, an adjacent lifestyle center in Roseville.
It also anchors the city’s primary commerce area, The Fountains, the nearby Creekside Town Center, and The Ridge at Creekside shopping centers.
Historical Development of the Mall
The construction of the enclosed shopping center in Roseville began after receiving approval on July 25, 1995. The mall was to be developed by Urban Retail Properties, Inc. in two phases. Sears became the first anchor tenant to commit to the property, with Nordstrom following in April 1998.
A modification to the project allowed for a single phase of construction and additional anchor space, with Macy’s and JCPenney committing to the property in July and September 1998, respectively.
The Westfield Galleria at Roseville officially opened on August 25, 2000, featuring 120 stores and the Promenade, an outdoor wing of shops and restaurants anchored by a Crate & Barrel store.
One month after the mall’s grand opening, Urban’s shopping center division was acquired by Netherlands-based real estate firm Rodamco for $3.4 billion.
In January 2002, a consortium of shopping center owners purchased Rodamco’s North American assets for $5.3 billion, with Australia-based Westfield Corporation taking control of the Galleria at Roseville and renaming it Westfield Shoppingtown Galleria at Roseville.
The Shoppingtown moniker was dropped from all Westfield properties in 2005, resulting in the new title: Westfield Galleria at Roseville.
Westfield Galleria at Roseville’s History and Milestones
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Construction approval for the enclosed shopping center |
| 2000 | Westfield Galleria at Roseville opens with 120 stores |
| 2002 | Westfield Corporation takes control of the mall |
| 2004 | Expansion plans announced |
| 2009 | Expansion completed, making the mall the region’s largest |
| 2010 | A devastating fire, followed by rebuilding efforts |
| 2011 | Reopening of the rebuilt north wing |
| 2015 | Sears Holdings spins off its property |
| 2018 | Unibail-Rodamco acquires Westfield Corporation |
| 2021 | Cinemark movie theater opens |
| 2022 | Round 1 entertainment center opens |
Expansion and Growth
In 2004, Westfield announced plans to expand the four-year-old Galleria. The approved expansion plan consisted of 400,000 square feet of new and reconfigured retail space, a new Dining Terrace, and 40,000 square-foot additions to JCPenney and Macy’s.
Part of the outdoor Promenade area and the property’s original food court were demolished, and Crate & Barrel was relocated to accommodate the project. The expansion was completed in 2009 at $270 million, elevating the Galleria to the region’s largest shopping center.
The 2010 Fire and Rebuilding Efforts
On October 21, 2010, a devastating fire broke out at the mall after 23-year-old Alexander Piggee barricaded himself in the GameStop store and set fire to the merchandise. The mall was evacuated, and Piggee was arrested as he attempted to flee the scene.
Due to a miscommunication, the mall’s fire sprinkler system was inadvertently shut off, causing the fire to intensify and eventually consume a significant portion of the mall’s northern section. Firefighters from surrounding cities were called in to control the blaze. Most of the north wing between Macy’s and Sears was destroyed, the wing’s roof partially collapsed, and the total damages were estimated at $55 million.
The day after the fire, then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency for Placer County. However, mall officials and city representatives vowed to have the property partially reopened by the upcoming Christmas shopping season.
Within two weeks, sections of the mall unaffected by the fire started reopening in phases. Meanwhile, the damaged north wing reconstruction took place over the next year. In addition, a renovation was undertaken elsewhere in the mall, adding new flooring, lighting, signage, and architectural details to match the rebuilt wing. The renovated north wing was officially reopened to the public on October 6, 2011.
Alexander Piggee subsequently pleaded guilty to setting the fire and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by six years of probation.
Westfield Galleria at Roseville’s Fire Incident and Rebuilding Journey
| Fire-Related Event | Description |
|---|---|
| Fire Incident | Alexander Piggee set fire to the GameStop store on October 21, 2010 |
| Evacuation | Mall is evacuated, and Alexander Piggee is arrested |
| Damages | The fire caused $55 million in damages, heavily affecting the north wing. |
| State of Emergency | Then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declares a state of emergency in Placer County. |
| Reopening Phases | Unaffected portions of the mall reopen in phases within two weeks |
| North Wing Reconstruction | The damaged north wing is rebuilt over the following year |
| Mall-wide Renovation | New flooring, lighting, signage, and architectural details were added to match the rebuilt wing. |
| North Wing Reopening | The north wing reopened to the public on October 6, 2011 |
2010s and 2020s: Further Transformations
In 2015, Sears Holdings spun off 235 properties, including the Sears at Westfield Galleria at Roseville, into Seritage Growth Properties. In 2018, Westfield Corporation was acquired by the French real estate company Unibail-Rodamco for $25 billion, resulting in the formation of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.
On April 17, 2018, Sears announced closing its Roseville store. In its place, a Cinemark movie theater and a Round 1 entertainment center took over much of the former Sears building.
The Cinemark theater opened in late 2021, while the Round 1 entertainment center opened in mid-2022, further solidifying Westfield Galleria at Roseville’s position as a region’s premier shopping and entertainment destination.
A Legacy of Retail Excellence
Westfield Galleria at Roseville has come a long way since its opening in 2000. Over the years, the mall has continuously evolved, expanded, and reinvented itself to offer visitors a premier shopping and entertainment experience.
The Galleria has proven its resilience and commitment to excellence, from its impressive anchor tenants and luxury retailers to its innovative expansion projects.
As the mall looks toward the future, it continues to be a pillar of retail and entertainment in the region, catering to the community’s needs and attracting visitors from nearby. However, Westfield Galleria at Roseville is more than just a shopping center; it is a testament to the power of vision, determination, and transformation in the ever-changing retail landscape.
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