Bakersfield, California - circa late '60s
Housing more than 140 retail stores, the Valley Plaza Shopping Center (now called Valley Plaza Mall and also referred to as Valley Plaza Center) opened in 1967 in Bakersfield, California, and is currently owned and managed by General Growth Properties, Inc. In the photo above you can see the original Sears anchor which is still there today. Here's the postcard's caption:
"The Valley Plaza Shopping Center, a 900,000 square foot enclosed mall shopping complex at Ming Avenue and New Freeway 99, was opened in February 1967. Seventy tenants occupy the mall, with Sears, The Broadway, and Brock's at terminal points of the enclosure. The huge parking area surrounding the main building also serves adjacent pavilion shopping facilities. Interior decor reflects the Spanish influence on Southern California in a contemporary manner."Mall history: 1967 - present
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Previous entries: none
Great picture! Love the cars in the picture as well. Notice the Corvair in the lower left corner: "Unsafe at any speed!"
ReplyDeleteAwesome. Just awesome.
ReplyDeleteGotta love the sign!
ReplyDeleteMy husband once owned a Corvair in his youth. I once asked whether that was the bootlegged versian of a Corvette. LOL
ReplyDeletefar from it
DeleteI could see that, Didi. lol
ReplyDeleteGlad you guys dug this one. I agree, nifty sign and nifty Corvair. The palm tress ain't bad either.
Keith--
ReplyDeleteWe are a locally owned shop in the Valley Plaza mall and we love your picture. Would you be willing to allow us to use it for a promotional flyer we would like to do.
I use to play in the fields the Plaza is built on...
ReplyDeleteThank youu for sharing this
ReplyDelete