South Coast Plaza
Costa Mesa, California - circa early 70's
Vintage aerial view of South Coast Plaza, with the May Co. anchor store on the left side.Way down there in the lower-right corner, you can just barely make out the mall entrance sign. And though no real details emerge, I blew it up for a closer look (at left). At least we can see the general shape of it easier. I'll see if I can't dig up a nice clear shot of it sometime.
Mall history: 1962 - present
Architect: initial design by Victor Gruen (1903-1980)
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Previous entries: 1
posted by Keith @ 5/13/2006
11 Comments:
I went into debt at SCP. Why did they give college kids credit cards with such high limits.... took me a while to pay it off! This is a very nice mall.
I can't believe how urban the area is now compared to this photo. Crazy population explosion!
Oh, and I went in debt at Del Amo. They had credit card giveaway day and I picked up 5 in one day (ah, good times of easy credit). Let me see if I can remember. Robinsons, May Co., JC Penney, Bullock's, Broadway.
Ironically, I was approved down there for cards I was denied in my home town in northern California. Credit is easier in the southland?
Scott
Talk about debt! I think it was about 1988 and South Coast Plaza had its own credit card good in all of the stores. I went nuts at Gucci I was about 20 my mom went through my things and made me return everything I bought and then tore up my card. Thanks mom! Still love that mall though!
Dumb Question.
Was there a Buffum's ever in this mall. I ask this because I am looking at the bird's eye view on the overhead view, and that looks like it could have been an old Buffum's store next to Nordstroms. It makes sense too that it was at least a department store, as its the only spot in the mall that is three stories.
The Buffum's in Santa Anita had the same looking white rock walls, and they built the Nordstroms connected to the old Buffums.
Keith,
I have a Firefighter/Fire Department Support Website with lots of links to Malls across the US. The links start at webpage www.ToSayThankYou.com/MallsI.htm and go through www.ToSayThankYou.com/MallsVI.htm
Gary
There was never a Buffum's at SCP. What you are seeing is the 3 level original Nordstrom that was built in 1978. In 1985-86 Nordstrom decided to build an entirely new 200,000+ sq ft. building directly north of their old 90,000 sq. ft store. The 1978 Nordstrom was then converted into mall space. This also happened in Brea in the late 80s.
Given the comments aoubt Buffum's, South Coast Plaza, and Fashion Island- it sounds like you all know a lot. I'd be interested in finding pictures or information about the Buffum's, Broadway, or Bullock's depatment stores. Buffum's is espcially difficult to dig up. Can anyone advise? ok to email me at ddeden@cox.net
Thanks!
1962-present? I thought it opened in 1966 (though the May Company's memorable archecture does date back to 1961's "May Co. Buena Park", at least. Good pics.
Steve C.
gcarras@aol.com
What a GREAT blog you have!
I remember Buffum's in Santa Ana when I was growing up as a kid in Huntington Beach.
I still have a silver ice bucket in the original Buffum's gift wrap that my mother bought there in the 60's.
And South Coast Plaza?
Don't even get me started!
We also have a new shopping "village" here in South Carolina that reminds us so much of Fashion Island that's what we call it instead of its gritty sounding (The Village at Sandhills) real name.
Thanks for the great memories!
I grew up at 975 Paularino. Spent the entire 60's there and went to gradeschool at SJB on Baker St. I remember the mall opening in the later 60's...I really want to say more like 1968...definitely not 1962!
I did the same thing in the 80's! Pre approved credit limits you could not resist!
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