Fashion Fair Mall

Fashion Fair Mall, commonly referred to as Fashion Fair, is a regional enclosed shopping center in Fresno, California. It serves the Fresno metropolitan area and the broader Central California retail market, competing with outdoor-oriented destinations such as The Shops at River Park and Fig Garden Village. The property originally opened in 1970 with approximately 500,000 square feet of retail space and a department-store-led tenant mix centered on Gottschalks, JCPenney, and Weinstock's. The mall's principal development phases have reflected changes in American department-store retailing. An important expansion in 1983 added a Macy's presence, a westward wing, and a food court. Because the expansion connected parts of the center through JCPenney, the internal circulation of the mall became unusual: visitors traveling from one end to the other may need to pass through the department store. In 1987, the property was sold by its original developer, the MacDonald Group. Fashion Fair's anchor strategy changed substantially after the 1996 merger of Broadway Department Stores and Federated Department Stores. Weinstock's locations in Fresno and Modesto were transferred to Gottschalks, while Macy's converted the original Gottschalks locations into Macy's Men's & Children's stores. Gottschalks later entered bankruptcy and liquidated in 2009, after which its Fashion Fair lease was taken by Forever 21. Forever 21 opened a heavily remodeled store in 2011 that measured roughly 164,000 square feet and was described at the time as the largest Forever 21 location in the United States. The space was subsequently downsized in stages as the retailer restructured, and the store ultimately entered liquidation in 2025 before closing later that year. A second major transformation began in 2005 with the construction of The Village at Fashion Fair, an approximately 94,000-square-foot open-air lifestyle wing. The Village broadened the property beyond traditional enclosed-mall shopping by adding upscale fashion and beauty retailers, including Michael Kors, Sephora, Lucky Brand Jeans, LUSH Cosmetics, and Charming Charlie, together with restaurants such as The Cheesecake Factory and Fleming's. Tenant turnover in the open-air section has been significant, with former occupants including Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Z Gallerie, and Guess. Replacements have included Ulta Beauty, H&M, Five Below, Barnes & Noble, and other specialty concepts. The property has also added family-oriented and experiential uses. A forest-themed children's play area was introduced in 2008, and a mobile van selling official Hello Kitty merchandise repeatedly attracted large crowds. In 2022, several Foot Locker-family stores were consolidated into one expanded Foot Locker location, while Aeropostale moved to another part of the mall. The same period brought Cotton On, Sbarro, JD Sports, and X Lanes Family Entertainment Center, the last occupying approximately 50,000 square feet in a previously inaccessible basement area. Like many enclosed malls, Fashion Fair experienced tenant losses during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, including departures by Starbucks, Disney, New York & Company, Justice, Francesca's, Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, Chipotle, Morphe, The Body Shop, and Michael Kors. The center has continued to reposition itself: Starbucks returned in a new location inside Macy's Women's in 2024, Barnes & Noble opened a small-format Village store, Miniso entered the property, and Express reopened after a threatened closure associated with its bankruptcy proceedings. In 2025, Slater's 50/50 and MAC Cosmetics closed, while Forever 21 liquidated. As of March 2026, Dick's Sporting Goods was developing a Dick's House of Sport concept for the former Forever 21 anchor area, subject to redevelopment of the site.

Fashion Fair was built by the MacDonald Group and opened in Fresno in 1970 as an approximately 500,000-square-foot enclosed regional mall. Its initial department-store anchors were Gottschalks, JCPenney, and Weinstock's. The property was sold in 1987, beginning a long period in which ownership and anchor occupancy changed in response to consolidation in the U.S. department-store sector. In 1983, Fashion Fair expanded west of JCPenney. The project introduced Macy's and a new food court and created an unusual interior layout in which JCPenney became part of the route between the mall's two ends. In 1996, Broadway Department Stores merged with Federated Department Stores. Most Broadway stores adopted the Macy's name, while Weinstock's locations in Fresno and Modesto were transferred to Gottschalks. Macy's converted the former Gottschalks locations into separate men's and children's operations. Gottschalks filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and liquidated. Forever 21 acquired the former Gottschalks lease and opened a large remodeled store on April 1, 2011. At approximately 164,052 square feet, it was described as the largest Forever 21 store in the United States at the time. The retailer reduced the store's footprint in stages, taking upper levels out of service. Forever 21's 2019 Chapter 11 filing initially placed the Fashion Fair store on a proposed closure list, although it was subsequently removed from that list. The location later entered liquidation in February 2025 and closed during 2025. Fashion Fair's largest physical expansion began in 2005. Known as The Village at Fashion Fair, the approximately 94,000-square-foot open-air addition added upscale apparel, accessories, beauty, and restaurant tenants. Its original or early occupants included Charming Charlie, Lucky Brand Jeans, LUSH Cosmetics, Michael Kors, Sephora, The Cheesecake Factory, and Fleming's. The Village later experienced considerable churn. Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Z Gallerie, and other retailers left; Ulta Beauty replaced Urban Outfitters in 2018, H&M opened later that year, and Five Below replaced Charming Charlie in 2019. Charming Charlie briefly returned in 2021 before closing again in 2022. The center added a forest-themed children's play area in 2008. It also became a recurring stop for a van selling official Hello Kitty merchandise, an event that drew thousands of visitors. In 2022, multiple Foot Locker banners were consolidated into a single expanded store. Aeropostale was relocated, and Cotton On, Sbarro, and JD Sports opened. X Lanes Family Entertainment Center added bowling, arcade games, and a restaurant in a 50,000-square-foot basement area that had not been accessible since a 2003 renovation. The pandemic period and its aftermath produced numerous tenant departures, including Disney, Justice, New York & Company, Francesca's, Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, Chipotle, Call It Spring, Morphe, The Body Shop, Starbucks, and Michael Kors. Fashion Fair responded through continued tenant replacement and format changes. In 2024, Starbucks returned in Macy's Women's, Barnes & Noble opened a small-format Village store, Miniso joined the center, and Express reopened. Slater's 50/50 and MAC Cosmetics closed in early 2025. The former Forever 21 anchor area became the focus of a proposed redevelopment by Dick's Sporting Goods, whose Dick's House of Sport concept was approved by the Fresno Historic Preservation Commission and was under development in March 2026.

1. 2026Dick's House of Sport redevelopment advances

   A Dick's House of Sport is approved for development in the former Forever 21 area.

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2. 2025Forever 21 closes

   The former major anchor begins liquidation in February and closes later in the year.

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3. 2024New and returning tenants arrive

   Starbucks returns, Barnes & Noble and Miniso open, and Express reopens.

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4. 2022Retail consolidation and entertainment expansion

   Foot Locker consolidates several banners, new specialty tenants arrive, and X Lanes opens in the basement.

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5. 2019Forever 21 restructuring affects the store

   The store is downsized and temporarily placed on a proposed closure list following Forever 21's Chapter 11 filing.

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6. 2018Ulta Beauty and H&M expand the Village's specialty mix

   Ulta Beauty and H&M take new or replacement spaces in The Village.

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7. 2011Forever 21 opens a major anchor store

   Forever 21 opens a remodeled store of approximately 164,052 square feet.

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8. 2009Gottschalks liquidates

   Gottschalks exits after bankruptcy, creating the anchor opportunity later occupied by Forever 21.

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9. 2008Children's play area added

   Fashion Fair introduces a forest-themed play area for children.

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10. 2005The Village at Fashion Fair begins

    Construction starts on a roughly 94,000-square-foot open-air lifestyle wing.

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11. 1996Department-store realignment

    The Broadway–Federated merger leads to Weinstock's stores being transferred to Gottschalks and Macy's taking over former Gottschalks operations.

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12. 1987Property is sold

    The mall is sold by its original developer, the MacDonald Group.

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13. 1983Macy's and food-court expansion

    A west-side expansion adds Macy's and a food court, changing the mall's circulation and anchor configuration.

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14. 1970Fashion Fair opens

    The MacDonald Group opens the approximately 500,000-square-foot enclosed regional mall with Gottschalks, JCPenney, and Weinstock's as principal anchors.

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A regional, department-store-anchored shopping destination serving Fresno and Central California, with a mix of enclosed-mall retail, open-air lifestyle shopping, dining, and entertainment.

• Enclosed regional shopping mallRetail real estate1970

  Fashion Fair's core offering is an enclosed regional shopping environment combining department stores, specialty shops, food service, and public circulation space. Its tenant mix has changed repeatedly as department stores and national specialty chains have entered, downsized, consolidated, or departed.

• The Village at Fashion FairOpen-air lifestyle retail2005

  The Village is the mall's open-air lifestyle wing, developed from 2005 onward. It extends the property beyond enclosed-mall retail with fashion, beauty, accessories, home-related concepts, and full-service restaurants. Its tenants have included Sephora, Michael Kors, LUSH Cosmetics, Ulta Beauty, H&M, Five Below, Barnes & Noble, The Cheesecake Factory, and Fleming's.

• Family entertainment and leisureEntertainment2008

  Fashion Fair has supplemented shopping with experiential uses, including a forest-themed children's play area and X Lanes Family Entertainment Center. X Lanes occupies approximately 50,000 square feet and offers bowling, arcade entertainment, and food service.

• Hello Kitty merchandise visits

  Fresno · Central California

  A van selling official Hello Kitty merchandise made repeated stops at Fashion Fair and attracted large crowds, functioning as a recurring branded retail activation.

  Outcome. The visits reportedly drew thousands of shoppers, although no formal campaign performance figures are available.

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• 2026Redevelop the former Forever 21 anchor areaGeneration change

  Forever 21's former anchor space became available after its 2025 closure.

  What changed. Dick's Sporting Goods pursued a large-format Dick's House of Sport, with plans reportedly including demolition and reconstruction of an anchor building.

  Aftermath. The project was approved by the Fresno Historic Preservation Commission and remained under development as of March 2026.

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• 2022Consolidate athletic-footwear retail and add entertainmentStrategy

  The center was adjusting its tenant mix after pandemic-era closures and changing retail formats.

  What changed. Foot Action, Kids Foot Locker, and Lady Foot Locker were replaced by an expanded Foot Locker, while X Lanes and several specialty retailers were added.

  Aftermath. The changes concentrated related athletic categories and increased the property's experiential component.

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• 2011Open a large Forever 21 anchorProduct launch

  The former Gottschalks anchor space became available after Gottschalks entered bankruptcy and liquidated.

  What changed. Forever 21 opened a remodeled store of approximately 164,052 square feet.

  Aftermath. The store was later downsized in multiple stages, entered liquidation in 2025, and closed later that year.

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• 2005Develop an open-air lifestyle wingStrategy

  Fashion Fair sought to broaden its traditional enclosed-mall and department-store format.

  What changed. The property developed The Village at Fashion Fair, an approximately 94,000-square-foot open-air expansion with upscale retailers and restaurants.

  Aftermath. The Village diversified the property but later experienced substantial tenant turnover.

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• 2026Dick's House of Sport proposed for former Forever 21 space

  Dick's Sporting Goods announced plans to develop a large-format Dick's House of Sport in the former Forever 21 anchor area. The project was approved by the Fresno Historic Preservation Commission and remained under development as of March 2026.

  Product launch
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• 2025Forever 21 begins liquidation at Fashion Fair

  The Forever 21 anchor store began a liquidation sale on February 15, 2025, and closed later in the year.

  BankruptcyOther
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• 2024New retail openings follow post-pandemic tenant turnover

  Starbucks returned in a new Macy's Women's location, Barnes & Noble opened a small-format store in The Village, Miniso joined the tenant mix, and Express reopened after previously facing a potential closure.

  Product launch
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• 2022Fashion Fair refreshes its tenant mix and adds entertainment

  Foot Action, Kids Foot Locker, and Lady Foot Locker were consolidated into an expanded Foot Locker. New or relocated tenants included Aeropostale, Cotton On, Sbarro, and JD Sports, while X Lanes opened a large family entertainment venue.

  Product launch
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• 2011Forever 21 opens a major Fashion Fair location

  After an extensive remodel, Forever 21 opened in the former Gottschalks anchor space. The store was reported to be approximately 164,052 square feet, making it the retailer's largest U.S. location at the time.

  Product launch
  Source

1. Fashion Fair
2. Fashion Fair official website