Esplanade Mall (Oxnard, California)

The Esplanade Mall in Oxnard, California was Ventura County's first full enclosed shopping center and was, at one time, anchored by May Company California and Sears, and today operates under the name Esplanade Shopping Center as a power center anchored by Home Depot, Nordstrom Rack, Staples, Dick's Sporting Goods, Party City and Food 4 Less.

History

Construction began on September 16, 1968, on a $3-million[1] 276,595-square-foot (25,696.5 m2) Sears with two above-ground levels and a basement. The store welcomed its first shoppers in February, 1970.[2]

The single-level wing of specialty stores opened, with thirty-four initial stores, on March 5, 1970. The architect for both was Burke, Kober, Nicolais & Archuleta. S. H. Kress & Co. five-and-dime, Harris & Frank and Silverwoods were among the junior department stores at the mall's launch. In total the mall sat on a lot of 45 acres.[1][3][4] Alongside the mall existed Disco Fair, which later rebranded as Two Guys and FedMart in the 1970's and Target in 1983.

A 2-level, 150,000-square-foot (14,000 m2) May Company California was the final original anchor to open on November 2, 1970[5] and was rebranded Robinsons-May in 1993. The 2-story emporium was designed by Pasadena architects Ladd and Kelsey.

In 1999, the anchors Robinsons-May and Sears moved from Esplanade to the Buenaventura Mall in Ventura.[6]

Demolition

The enclosed mall was demolished in August 2000.

The enclosed mall was replaced by an entirely open-air center, known as Esplanade Center, the first stores opening in September 2001. These included Cost Plus World Market and Bed Bath & Beyond. A 136,000-square-foot Home Depot opened later in February 2002.[7] The only remnant of the former mall was the Target store, which later relocated to The Collection at RiverPark in 2012 and is now demolished for a new Food 4 Less market.

References
  1. "Oxnard's Esplanade to Open Thursday". Los Angeles Times. March 1, 1970.
  2. "Sears Roebuck Opens in Oxnard". Los Angeles Times. February 15, 1970.
  3. "Oxnard Approves zoning for Regional Shop Center". Los Angeles Times. May 26, 1968.
  4. "Esplanade Nearing Completion in Oxnard". Los Angeles Times. July 13, 1969.
  5. "The New May Co. Oxnard Opens Tomorrow". Los Angeles Times. November 1, 1970.
  6. Bustillo, Miguel (May 26, 1995). "Esplanade Mall May Be In for a Struggle : Oxnard: Some merchants and shoppers fear the worst after the loss of Robinsons-May. City leaders remain defiantly upbeat about the aging complex". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  7. "Esplanade Center". Mall Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 9, 2020.

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