Origins and Development of Westfield Galleria at Roseville
In the mid-1990s, Roseville, California, was rapidly growing, and developers saw an opportunity to bring a large-scale shopping center to the area. On July 25, 1995, the city approved plans for a new enclosed mall to be built in two phases.
Urban Retail Properties, Inc. led the development, and retailers quickly showed interest. Sears was the first major store to sign on, committing to an anchor space early in the project. In April 1998, Nordstrom followed, bringing a well-known luxury department store to the lineup.
By mid-1998, plans had changed. The city approved a modified version of the project that merged both construction phases into one and expanded the available anchor space.
That summer, Macy’s agreed to join, and JCPenney finalized its commitment in September, just in time for the official groundbreaking on September 2, 1998.
Construction moved quickly, and less than two years later, on August 25, 2000, the Galleria at Roseville opened.
The grand opening introduced shoppers to 120 stores, including an outdoor shopping and dining area called the Promenade.
At the time, an open-air section within an enclosed mall was uncommon, making the Promenade a unique feature.
Crate & Barrel anchored this space, adding a home furnishings component to the shopping experience.
The mall’s ownership shifted soon after its debut. In September 2000, the Netherlands-based real estate firm Rodamco North America acquired Urban Retail Properties’ shopping center division, including the Galleria.
That ownership didn’t last long. In January 2002, a group of companies purchased Rodamco’s North American assets in a $5.3 billion deal.
Among them, Australia-based Westfield Corporation took control of the Roseville property, renaming it Westfield Shoppingtown Galleria at Roseville.
The “Shoppingtown” branding was short-lived—by 2005, Westfield had dropped it from all its properties, giving the mall its current name, Westfield Galleria at Roseville.
Even in its early years, the Galleria stood out as a major shopping hub, drawing customers from across the Sacramento region.
The competition was strong, with nearby malls like Arden Fair in Sacramento and Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights.
However, its size, upscale retailers, and growing reputation helped the Galleria establish itself.
Today, it remains a central part of Roseville’s retail district, which also includes The Fountains at Roseville, Creekside Town Center, and The Ridge at Creekside.
With so many shopping and entertainment options nearby, visitors searching for things to do in Roseville, California, often find themselves at the Galleria.
Expansion and Retail Growth
To keep up with demand and attract more high-end retailers, Westfield Galleria at Roseville announced a major expansion in 2004.
The project aimed to increase the mall’s retail space and modernize its layout, giving shoppers more choices and an improved experience.
The expansion added 400,000 square feet of new and reconfigured retail space. It also included a redesigned food court—renamed the Dining Terrace—and 40,000-square-foot additions to both Macy’s and JCPenney.
Westfield relocated Crate & Barrel and demolished part of the outdoor Promenade to make room for these changes.
The project, which cost $270 million, was completed in 2009, bringing the mall’s total size to 1.3 million square feet. After the expansion, the Galleria became the largest shopping center in the region.
Luxury brands saw an opportunity in the newly expanded space. Over the years, stores like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., and Saint Laurent opened, making Westfield Galleria at Roseville one of the few malls in the Sacramento area to feature such high-end retailers.
The mall’s success also increased competition with other retail centers, including Arden Fair and The Fountains at Roseville, which continued adding new tenants to keep up.
2010 Fire and Reconstruction
On October 21, 2010, Westfield Galleria at Roseville faced a major crisis when a man set fire to merchandise inside the GameStop store. He barricaded himself in the store, causing employees and shoppers to evacuate.
While authorities worked to contain the situation, a miscommunication caused the mall’s fire sprinkler system to be manually shut off. This allowed the fire to spread quickly, engulfing the entire north wing.
The blaze caused extensive damage, destroying most of the area between Macy’s and Sears. The roof partially collapsed, and the estimated losses reached $55 million.
The day after the fire, then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Placer County, speeding up recovery efforts.
With the holiday season approaching, mall officials and city leaders pushed to reopen the unaffected areas as soon as possible. Less than two weeks later, sections of the mall that had not been damaged began welcoming back shoppers.
The north wing required a complete rebuild, which took about a year. At the same time, Westfield Galleria at Roseville renovated other parts of the mall.
New flooring, lighting, signage, and architectural updates refreshed the entire property. The rebuilt north wing reopened to the public on October 6, 2011, restoring the Galleria to full operation.
Retail Shifts and Ownership Changes
By the mid-2010s, the retail landscape was evolving, and Westfield Galleria at Roseville had to adapt.
In 2015, Sears Holdings spun off 235 of its properties, including the Sears store at the Galleria, into Seritage Growth Properties. This move reflected broader challenges faced by department stores as online shopping grew.
In December 2017, French commercial real estate firm Unibail-Rodamco announced its plan to acquire Westfield Corporation in a $25 billion deal.
The transaction was finalized in 2018, creating Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. With this new ownership, Westfield Galleria at Roseville continued to modernize its offerings, adding more entertainment and dining options to keep foot traffic strong.
On April 17, 2018, Sears announced it would close its Roseville store, leaving a large vacancy. The space didn’t stay empty for long.
Westfield redeveloped the building, welcoming a Cinemark movie theater in late 2021 and a Round 1 Entertainment center in mid-2022.
These additions reflected a growing trend—shopping malls were shifting away from traditional department stores and focusing more on experiences.
In December 2022, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield purchased the former Sears building from Seritage for $23.4 million. This move gave the company full control over the property, allowing for better long-term planning.
Store Closures and Evolving Retail Trends
In October 2023, Japanese retailer Uniqlo opened its doors, offering high-quality, everyday clothing to shoppers. This addition marked Uniqlo’s expansion into the Sacramento area, providing residents with new fashion options.
In March 2024, Forever 21 shut down its two-level XXI Forever store on the mall’s outdoor Promenade. The closure was part of the retailer’s broader downsizing strategy, affecting multiple locations nationwide.
Earlier that year, Banana Republic also closed its store at the Galleria, following the company’s decision to scale back brick-and-mortar locations in certain markets.
Despite these departures, new retailers moved in. Aritzia, a popular women’s fashion brand, opened at the mall in 2024, bringing a fresh retail option for shoppers.
Chanel Beauty also announced plans to open a location in 2025, reinforcing the Galleria’s appeal as a destination for luxury brands.
Italian clothing brand Intimissimi also announced plans to join the mall, aiming to attract shoppers seeking quality lingerie and apparel.
Security Incidents
Westfield Galleria at Roseville faced multiple security challenges in 2023 and 2024, prompting increased law enforcement presence and safety measures.
On August 19, 2023, a fatal shooting took place inside the mall’s five-story parking garage. A 34-year-old woman was shot and killed on the third floor of the structure.
Law enforcement quickly arrived on the scene, and the mall remained open while the investigation was underway.
Authorities later confirmed the incident was an isolated event, though it raised concerns about safety in mall parking areas.
In November 2023, two armed robberies occurred in the mall’s parking lots. Criminals targeted shoppers carrying high-value items, leading local police to increase patrols during the busy holiday shopping season.
On November 26, 2024, a smash-and-grab robbery took place inside S&L Gem Co., a jewelry store within the Galleria.
Thieves armed with hammers broke through display cases, stealing expensive merchandise before fleeing.
The store suffered heavy losses, and the incident was part of a larger trend of organized retail thefts affecting malls across California.
In response to these events, Westfield Galleria at Roseville strengthened security efforts. The mall increased private security patrols, partnered with the Roseville Police Department, and expanded surveillance coverage.