Florin Mall
Encyclopedia
Florin Mall was an indoor shopping mall located on Florin Road in the community of Florin
in Sacramento, California
. The mall was torn down in 2006 to make way for Florin Towne Centre, an outdoor shopping center.
The mall was opened in February 1968 and was anchored by a 3-level, 157000 sqfoot, Sacramento-based Weinstock's
, which held its grand opening October 9, 1967. The mall also included a 2-level, 259000 sqfoot Sears and a 2-level, 125000 sqfoot JCPenney. Surrounding the mall were Montgomery Ward
(now Burlington Coat Factory
), Zody's
and a White Front
discount store.
The only physical expansion of the 620400 sqfoot shopping center was completed in 1978. A 1-level, 46600 sqfoot addition was built at the main entrance at the front of the mall, increasing its gross leasable area
to 667000 square feet (61,966.3 m²).
As the second mall-type center on Sacramento's south side, it eclipsed its nearest commercial competitor, Southgate Plaza.
By the 1980s, Florin Mall was becoming rather notorious as a haven for shootings, stabbings and car thefts. Local gangs had made the complex a regular hangout spot by the early 1990s. Customers began to frequent other regional centers, such as Arden Fair Mall
, Downtown Plaza
and Sunrise Mall. A remodeling of Weinstock's in 1989 and a facelift renovation of the mall proper in the second half of 1990 did little to dispel the negative image that the center had taken on. With the acquisition of Weinstock's by Federated Department Stores in August 1995, it was decided that the Florin Mall location be shuttered rather than converting it to Macy's
. The store closed in March 1996. This may be seen as the first significant decline to Florin Mall. JCPenney was converted to an outlet store in November 1998. The store was shuttered in 2003, leaving Sears as the sole anchor of the mall.
In a state of disrepair for some time, the bulk of Florin Mall was purchased by San Francisco's
Jim Kessler and Prudential Insurance Company
in October 2005. The mall closed on February 28, 2006. It was fully demolished in July 2006, leaving Sears, its Auto Center, and five outparcels standing.
, which opened on June 17, 2009. Other retailers include Ashley Stewart
, GameStop
, Payless ShoeSource
, RadioShack
, and Verizon Wireless
.
Mervyn's opened on March 6, 2008 and was the first store to open at Florin Towne Centre. The store was shuttered in February 2009 and is currently vacant.
Florin, California
Florin is a census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. The mall was torn down in 2006 to make way for Florin Towne Centre, an outdoor shopping center.
History
Florin Mall, Sacramento's first fully enclosed shopping mall, was built by the James J. Cordano Company and Blumenfield Enterprises. The single-level center was situated on 70 acres (283,280.2 m²), 8 miles (12.9 km) southeast of downtown Sacramento. The site had previously been utilized as the Sky Ranch Airfield.The mall was opened in February 1968 and was anchored by a 3-level, 157000 sqfoot, Sacramento-based Weinstock's
Weinstock's
Weinstock's was an American department store headquartered in Sacramento, California. The store was purchased by The Broadway in 1992, and later purchased by Federated Department Stores in 1995. Shortly after the purchase, most of the Weinstock's stores were converted to Macy's, while the...
, which held its grand opening October 9, 1967. The mall also included a 2-level, 259000 sqfoot Sears and a 2-level, 125000 sqfoot JCPenney. Surrounding the mall were Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
(now Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
), Zody's
Zody's
Zodys was a chain of discount retail stores that operated in the United States from 1960 to 1986. The chain operated locations in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Michigan....
and a White Front
White Front
White Front was a chain of discount stores in Southern California and the western United States from 1959 through the mid-1970s. They were noted for the architecture of their store fronts which was an enormous, sweeping archway with the store name spelled out in individual letters fanned across the...
discount store.
The only physical expansion of the 620400 sqfoot shopping center was completed in 1978. A 1-level, 46600 sqfoot addition was built at the main entrance at the front of the mall, increasing its gross leasable area
Gross leasable area
Gross leasable area in the retail development industry is a term applied to shopping malls, lifestyle centers, outlet malls and other retail centers to indicate the amount of floor space available to be rented...
to 667000 square feet (61,966.3 m²).
As the second mall-type center on Sacramento's south side, it eclipsed its nearest commercial competitor, Southgate Plaza.
By the 1980s, Florin Mall was becoming rather notorious as a haven for shootings, stabbings and car thefts. Local gangs had made the complex a regular hangout spot by the early 1990s. Customers began to frequent other regional centers, such as Arden Fair Mall
Arden Fair Mall
Arden Fair Mall is a two-level regional shopping mall located on Arden Way in Sacramento, California, USA. It consists of over 165 tenants, encompassing over of retail space. It is anchored by JCPenney, Macy's, Nordstrom and Sears...
, Downtown Plaza
Westfield Downtown Plaza
Westfield Downtown Plaza, formerly known as Downtown Plaza is a shopping mall owned by the Westfield Group, located in downtown Sacramento, California, United States near the state capitol building...
and Sunrise Mall. A remodeling of Weinstock's in 1989 and a facelift renovation of the mall proper in the second half of 1990 did little to dispel the negative image that the center had taken on. With the acquisition of Weinstock's by Federated Department Stores in August 1995, it was decided that the Florin Mall location be shuttered rather than converting it to Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
. The store closed in March 1996. This may be seen as the first significant decline to Florin Mall. JCPenney was converted to an outlet store in November 1998. The store was shuttered in 2003, leaving Sears as the sole anchor of the mall.
In a state of disrepair for some time, the bulk of Florin Mall was purchased by San Francisco's
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
Jim Kessler and Prudential Insurance Company
Prudential Financial
The Prudential Insurance Company of America , also known as Prudential Financial, Inc., is a Fortune Global 500 and Fortune 500 company whose subsidiaries provide insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services to both retail and institutional customers throughout the...
in October 2005. The mall closed on February 28, 2006. It was fully demolished in July 2006, leaving Sears, its Auto Center, and five outparcels standing.
Florin Towne Centre
Florin Towne Centre is an outdoor shopping center that opened in 2008. The 484500 square feet (45,011.5 m²) center is anchored by Sears, 24 Hour Fitness and a Wal-Mart SupercenterWal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, which opened on June 17, 2009. Other retailers include Ashley Stewart
Thor Equities
Thor Equities, LLC, is a real estate development and investment firm founded by Joseph Sitt based in New York City that specializes in revitalizing and adding value to urban properties in high density areas. The company owns the historic Palmer House Hilton in Chicago and much of the ocean front...
, GameStop
GameStop
GameStop Corporation is an American video game and entertainment software retailer. The company, whose headquarters is in Grapevine, Texas, United States, operates 6,500 retail stores throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New...
, Payless ShoeSource
Payless ShoeSource
Payless ShoeSource is a discount footwear retailer founded in Topeka, Kansas in 1956 that is owned by Collective Brands, Inc. In 1961, it became a public company as the Volume Shoe Corporation which merged with the May Department Stores Company in 1979. In the 1980s, Payless was widely known in the...
, RadioShack
RadioShack
RadioShack Corporation is an American franchise of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe, South America and Africa. As of 2008, RadioShack reported net sales and operating revenues of $4.81 billion. The headquarters of RadioShack is located in Downtown...
, and Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, is one of the largest mobile network operators in the United States. The network has 107.7 million subscribers as of 2011, making it the largest wireless service provider in America....
.
Mervyn's opened on March 6, 2008 and was the first store to open at Florin Towne Centre. The store was shuttered in February 2009 and is currently vacant.
Anchors & majors
- 24 Hour Fitness (34000 square feet (3,158.7 m²), opened 2008)
- FamsaGrupo FamsaGrupo Famsa is a retail company engaged in the purchase and sale of household appliances, electronic products, furniture, clothing and other consumer products in Mexico and United States. Today the company has 421 stores in 78 Mexican cities and 37 cities in the United States...
(22000 square feet (2,043.9 m²), opened 2009) - Sears (259000 square feet (24,061.9 m²), opened 1968)
- Wal-Mart SupercenterWal-MartWal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
(218500 square feet (20,299.3 m²), opened 2009)