BIGMallrat's Editorial Review
Westfield Valley Fair mall in
San Jose is considered to be the best enclosed shopping
center in Northern California. It has knocked
the pants off nearby Cupertino
Square and Sunnyvale
Town Center. Even giving the desirable Stanford
Shopping Center some healthy competition.
Look for an expansion and two new anchor stores soon!
Occupancy
Of course, this mall is bursting at the seams.
We can't even recall a vacant store front.
Atmosphere
With Westfield, it's all in the details. The interior
architecture is inspired by the Art Deco and Arts & Crafts movement.
Beautiful light fixtures and unique metal designs on every column.
Stores
With over 200 stores, how could you go wrong?
Valley Fair is filled with many upscale shops rarely found outside
of San Francisco. The Macy's is very large (there are two). You'll
even find a state-of-the-art Nordstrom.
Food
You'll find a stunning food court on Level Two.
It especially shines with its gorgeous lodge appearance,
complete with expansive ceiling, fireplace, and
outdoor dining. A fine collection of eateries is sure to satisfy
even the most discriminating palates.
Parking
Parking is a test of patience. Take my advice
and get the valet. A few bucks will free up time and considerable
frustration. The valet is usually at the middle entrance from Stevens
Creek Blvd.
Later, take a walk to Santana
Row across the street.
Location
Valley Fair mall is conveniently located at I-880
and Stevens Creek Boulevard on the border of San Jose and Santa Clara.
The area is highly congested due to the popularity of this mall and
Santana Row, across the street.
Brief history
Valley Fair was formed when they knocked down
the old
Valley Fair Shopping Center in San Jose (leaving Macy's) and
Stevens Creek Shopping Center (leaving The Emporium and I. Magnin)
in Santa Clara. In 1986, they built a new mall to join the remaining
department stores. For that reason, half of this mall is in Santa
Clara and the other half is in San Jose. An additional
56,000 square feet was added in 2003, making it huge!
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