As a teen, my buddies and I took the bus to the grand opening in 1974, but before it was built it was a field of tall gold grass that went for miles. The good old days.
I watched Back to the Future at the AMC theater that was adjacent to the parking lot where they filmed that movie. The street across which the Ross store was located is called Colima Rd. The other cross street for the mall is Azusa Rd. also known as California Hwy 39. I remember when this mall was so packed with people you hardly had room to walk, and that wasn't even during the Christmas buying season. I remember the old wrought iron clock that used to hang down from the ceiling. I remember it used to have a full service sit-down McDonalds restaurant, same with Carl's Junior, and my favorite as a kid, Orange Julius. It also had a full service Bob's Big Boy at one time, as well as a nice little restaurant called "Fiddlers Three". As a high school age kid, I remember going to see my friends who worked at Hot Dog on a Stick, wasting way too much money at the video arcade, flipping through bikini posters at Spencer's Gifts, and buying triple chocolate brownies at Mrs. Fields. I remember awkward meetings with girls there, trying out new looks. Up until about maybe 1990, a couple miles east of the mall off the Pomona Freeway, I want to say at Fullerton Road, there was a cool roadside restaurant called the Turkey House.
While I don't have any fond memories of this mall having grown up in Oc and hanging out at the Cerritos Mall, but I have seen it really go downhill in the nearly 18 years that I've been living in Rowland Heights. When I first moved to the area all of the shops inside were rented out and opened and while never really crowded, it did enjoy a good amount of business. A far cry from the way it is today.
I used to live up Azusa not far from the mall i moved over there in 77 when i was 12 by the next summer i was at that mall almost every day, during the holidays you could not find a parking spot but still that mall was the place to go, by 2000 i noticed it starting to change like Perry’s Pizza leave in the mall was there in June could not believe how empty it was, it’s crazy i hope they can bring it back
I used to visit this mall in the mid to late 1980's/early 1990's. I really liked this mall very much! There was a great restaurant I used to eat at sometimes that had really good food. It was inside the mall but NOT part of the food court. It was NOT a fast food place either but a regular sit down inside the restaurant. I am trying to remember the name of it but just cannot recall. I don't believe it was a chain type restaurant either. They had such good food, a family style restaurant and their cheese soup was so delicious! Actually, I think they were known for their soup. If there were any other locations, there were probably only a few but not 100% sure of that. It was not a Mexican restaurant but just family style food. If anyone remembers what that restaurant was please let me know.
So many memories of this place. I still remember when it was just fields with sheep and shepherds on occasion. There’s an early 70s photo of me and my brother with the wooden structure of the mall in the background. Another shows that same location in 1970 when that entire area was still very rural. I went to the McDonalds in that mall in either 1975 or 1976 on a field trip. It was a huge event for kids back then. Sadly that mall destroyed the peace and tranquility that permeated that area and Rowland Heights. As one neighbor predicted, Rowland Heights became a weed town, meaning overgrown, crime ridden (Batson area with cholos and shootings ) ugly and boring.
Brea isn't much of a concern anymore, they're turning it into a mixed use complex. They've already completely torn down the old Sears building and the beginnings of a new structure, apartments or condos I think, is already visible.
As a teen, my buddies and I took the bus to the grand opening in 1974, but before it was built it was a field of tall gold grass that went for miles. The good old days.
I watched Back to the Future at the AMC theater that was adjacent to the parking lot where they filmed that movie. The street across which the Ross store was located is called Colima Rd. The other cross street for the mall is Azusa Rd. also known as California Hwy 39. I remember when this mall was so packed with people you hardly had room to walk, and that wasn't even during the Christmas buying season. I remember the old wrought iron clock that used to hang down from the ceiling. I remember it used to have a full service sit-down McDonalds restaurant, same with Carl's Junior, and my favorite as a kid, Orange Julius. It also had a full service Bob's Big Boy at one time, as well as a nice little restaurant called "Fiddlers Three". As a high school age kid, I remember going to see my friends who worked at Hot Dog on a Stick, wasting way too much money at the video arcade, flipping through bikini posters at Spencer's Gifts, and buying triple chocolate brownies at Mrs. Fields. I remember awkward meetings with girls there, trying out new looks. Up until about maybe 1990, a couple miles east of the mall off the Pomona Freeway, I want to say at Fullerton Road, there was a cool roadside restaurant called the Turkey House.
Puente hills malls. 1986,1989.
I had fun at that mall back in the 80's and 90's, I really do hope Puente Hills mall will have a comeback.
While I don't have any fond memories of this mall having grown up in Oc and hanging out at the Cerritos Mall, but I have seen it really go downhill in the nearly 18 years that I've been living in Rowland Heights. When I first moved to the area all of the shops inside were rented out and opened and while never really crowded, it did enjoy a good amount of business. A far cry from the way it is today.
I used to live up Azusa not far from the mall i moved over there in 77 when i was 12 by the next summer i was at that mall almost every day, during the holidays you could not find a parking spot but still that mall was the place to go, by 2000 i noticed it starting to change like Perry’s Pizza leave in the mall was there in June could not believe how empty it was, it’s crazy i hope they can bring it back
I got my very first job working at the Casual Corner at this mall when I was 16 years old in 1976.
The mall of my childhood!!!
It had a Mcdonalds, carls JR, KB toys and a Carls Toy store!!
I used to visit this mall in the mid to late 1980's/early 1990's. I really liked this mall very much! There was a great restaurant I used to eat at sometimes that had really good food. It was inside the mall but NOT part of the food court. It was NOT a fast food place either but a regular sit down inside the restaurant. I am trying to remember the name of it but just cannot recall. I don't believe it was a chain type restaurant either. They had such good food, a family style restaurant and their cheese soup was so delicious! Actually, I think they were known for their soup. If there were any other locations, there were probably only a few but not 100% sure of that. It was not a Mexican restaurant but just family style food.
If anyone remembers what that restaurant was please let me know.
I went to Rowland High School and spent most weekends at that mall in 1975
Can do one about Dixie square mall in Illinois
I will put it on my list. thanks.
So many memories of this place. I still remember when it was just fields with sheep and shepherds on occasion. There’s an early 70s photo of me and my brother with the wooden structure of the mall in the background. Another shows that same location in 1970 when that entire area was still very rural. I went to the McDonalds in that mall in either 1975 or 1976 on a field trip. It was a huge event for kids back then. Sadly that mall destroyed the peace and tranquility that permeated that area and Rowland Heights. As one neighbor predicted, Rowland Heights became a weed town, meaning overgrown, crime ridden (Batson area with cholos and shootings ) ugly and boring.
The same parking lot lights are still there.
Needs to turn into an indoor Outlet Mall to be dirfferent from Montebello and Brea.
Brea isn't much of a concern anymore, they're turning it into a mixed use complex. They've already completely torn down the old Sears building and the beginnings of a new structure, apartments or condos I think, is already visible.
Burlington is gone as of 7/2024.
It was a meadow they wanted to build a race track there also the a buff to the east. Were there walrus bones it was a curse area by the Indians
It was more popular than west Covina mall
nowadays, no wonder many homeless ppl wandeer there?