Stanford Shopping Center

Stanford Shopping Center is an upscale open-air retail complex located at the intersection of El Camino Real and Sand Hill Road in Palo Alto, California. Although it sits on land owned by Stanford University, the center is within the City of Palo Alto rather than the Stanford census-designated place, and the university does not own the retail buildings or the stores operating inside them. Simon Property Group owns approximately 94.4% of the buildings and manages the property under a long-term ground lease from Stanford University. The center traces its origins to 1954, when construction began on land that had previously formed part of Leland Stanford’s vineyards. The initial development comprised nine buildings and 45 businesses. Roos Brothers became the first retailer to open, in September 1955, while Blum’s restaurant opened on October 22, 1956, marking the formal completion of the original center. The opening was presided over by Stanford University leaders and included a ceremonial appearance by Shirley Temple Black. The original anchor lineup included San Francisco department store The Emporium and luxury retailer I. Magnin & Co. Stanford Shopping Center quickly became an important commercial asset for Stanford University because its lease income provided a substantial source of unrestricted revenue. Its tenant and anchor mix expanded over subsequent decades as the property adapted to changes in department-store retailing. Macy’s California joined in 1961, Saks Fifth Avenue opened in 1962, and Bullock’s was added during a 1972 expansion. After Bullock’s withdrew from Northern California, Nordstrom acquired the location and opened there in November 1984. Neiman Marcus became another anchor in August 1985. The center underwent a major department-store reconfiguration during the 1990s. Saks Fifth Avenue closed in 1994, the former I. Magnin location was converted into a Macy’s Men’s store in 1995, and The Emporium was replaced by Bloomingdale’s in November 1996. The former Saks building was subsequently divided between Crate & Barrel and Andronico’s gourmet market. Andronico’s left in 2011, and The Container Store opened in the space in 2013. Stanford University transferred operational control and ownership of the retail improvements to Simon Property Group in 2003 for $333 million, while retaining ownership of the land. The ground-lease arrangement included annual rent calculated as 25% of the center’s net profits. Before the sale, the property had been managed through Stanford Management Company since 1991. Under Simon’s ownership, the center continued to reposition itself toward luxury, specialty retail, dining, and experiential uses. A significant redevelopment began with Bloomingdale’s. In 2012, the retailer announced plans for a new three-level, 120,000-square-foot store. The replacement opened in 2014, and the former Bloomingdale’s building was demolished to create a new retail wing. That wing opened in mid-2016 with a multilevel Anthropologie store and a True Food Kitchen restaurant among its prominent occupants. The center’s broader tenant mix has included luxury and premium brands such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Burberry, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Frette, as well as major department stores including Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom. It is also associated with the first Victoria’s Secret retail store. The property is an approximately 1.35-million-square-foot open-air center serving affluent Peninsula and Bay Area shoppers, office workers, visitors, and Stanford-related audiences. In March 2020, it temporarily closed with other Simon-owned Bay Area malls in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Later redevelopment plans included replacing the former Macy’s Men’s building with a three-level RH gallery, a rooftop restaurant, additional restaurant buildings, and a larger Wilkes Bashford store. Palo Alto approved the project in late 2019, with demolition beginning in 2021. The center’s identity…

Stanford Shopping Center was developed on former vineyard land associated with Leland Stanford. Excavation and construction began in 1954, producing nine buildings intended to house 45 businesses. Roos Brothers became the first retailer to open in September 1955. Blum’s restaurant opened on October 22, 1956, completing the original center. The opening ceremony brought together Stanford University trustees, university president J. E. Wallace Sterling, and Shirley Temple Black, who participated in the ceremonial cake-cutting. The original anchor tenants were The Emporium and I. Magnin & Co., both prominent San Francisco department-store retailers. The center’s commercial success made it an important financial asset for Stanford University, whose relationship with the property has always differed from that of a conventional shopping-mall landlord. Stanford owns the land but not the buildings and retail businesses. The property is located in Palo Alto, even though it is adjacent to and associated with the university campus. The tenant roster expanded during the 1960s and 1970s. Macy’s California joined the center in 1961, Saks Fifth Avenue opened in 1962, and Bullock’s was added during a 1972 expansion. Bullock’s later withdrew from Northern California, and Nordstrom took over the site, opening in November 1984. Neiman Marcus joined the center as a sixth department-store anchor in August 1985. A series of changes reshaped the anchor buildings during the 1990s. Saks Fifth Avenue closed in 1994. The former I. Magnin store was converted into a Macy’s Men’s location in 1995. The Emporium closed and was replaced by Bloomingdale’s in November 1996. In 1997, the former Saks building was divided between Crate & Barrel and Andronico’s gourmet market. Andronico’s subsequently closed in 2011, and The Container Store replaced it in 2013. Stanford Management Company managed the center for Stanford University from 1991 until a major ownership transaction in 2003. Stanford’s board of trustees agreed to sell the buildings and related improvements to Simon Property Group for $333 million. Simon assumed ownership and management while leasing the underlying land from the university through a 51-year ground lease. The agreement included annual rent equivalent to 25% of the center’s net profits, preserving a continuing financial relationship between the shopping center and Stanford. Simon later pursued a series of physical and tenant improvements. Bloomingdale’s announced in 2012 that it would move into a new three-level, 120,000-square-foot store. The new store opened in 2014, after which the previous Bloomingdale’s building was demolished. The cleared area became a new wing that opened in mid-2016, featuring a multilevel Anthropologie store and a True Food Kitchen restaurant. The center’s broader merchandising strategy emphasizes premium and luxury retail. Its reported tenants and anchors have included Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Burberry, Ermenegildo Zegna, Frette, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom. The property is also notable for having housed the first Victoria’s Secret retail store. Its open-air format and location on El Camino Real support a positioning centered on destination shopping, upscale fashion, dining, and lifestyle retail. In early 2019, Simon proposed another substantial redevelopment involving the former Macy’s Men’s building. The plan called for demolition and construction of a 40,000-square-foot, three-level RH gallery with a rooftop restaurant, two smaller restaurant structures, and a larger 29,000-square-foot Wilkes Bashford store. Palo Alto approved the proposal late in 2019, and demolition began in 2021. In March 2020, Stanford Shopping Center was among seven Simon-owned Bay Area malls temporarily closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. These events illustrate the center’s continuing evolution from a traditional department-store complex into a luxury-oriented, mixed retail and dining destination.

1. 2021Demolition begins for approved redevelopment

   Demolition of the former Macy’s Men’s building begins as part of the approved RH-led redevelopment.

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2. 2020Temporary pandemic closure

   The center closes temporarily with other Simon-owned Bay Area malls during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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3. 2019RH redevelopment approved

   Palo Alto approves Simon’s plan for an RH gallery, restaurants, and a larger Wilkes Bashford store.

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4. 2016Redeveloped retail wing opens

   A new wing opens on the former Bloomingdale’s site, with Anthropologie and True Food Kitchen among its notable tenants.

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5. 2014New Bloomingdale’s opens

   Bloomingdale’s moves into a new three-level store of approximately 120,000 square feet.

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6. 2003Simon Property Group acquires the retail improvements

   Stanford University sells the center’s buildings and related improvements to Simon Property Group while retaining ownership of the land.

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7. 1996Bloomingdale’s replaces The Emporium

   The Emporium store closes and is converted into a Bloomingdale’s location in November.

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8. 1985Neiman Marcus becomes an anchor

   Neiman Marcus opens in August, becoming the center’s sixth department-store anchor.

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9. 1984Nordstrom opens

   Nordstrom replaces Bullock’s at the center and opens in November.

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10. 1972Bullock’s added in expansion

    A 1972 expansion adds Los Angeles-based department store Bullock’s.

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11. 1962Saks Fifth Avenue opens

    Saks Fifth Avenue becomes another major department-store tenant.

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12. 1961Macy’s California joins the center

    Macy’s California opens at Stanford Shopping Center, expanding its department-store offer.

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13. 1956Original center completed

    Blum’s restaurant opens on October 22, completing the original development.

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14. 1955First retailer opens

    Roos Brothers becomes the first retailer to open at the center in September.

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15. 1954Construction begins

    Excavation begins on former vineyard land associated with Leland Stanford for a new shopping center comprising nine buildings and space for 45 businesses.

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An affluent, open-air Peninsula shopping destination combining luxury boutiques, major department stores, lifestyle retailers, restaurants, and proximity to Stanford University.

• Luxury fashion and accessoriesLuxury retail

  The center has hosted premium and luxury fashion houses including Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Ermenegildo Zegna, and other designer-oriented retailers. These stores support the property’s role as an upscale shopping destination for the Stanford and Silicon Valley communities.

• Department-store retailDepartment stores1955

  Department stores have been central to the center since its opening. Historical and reported anchor tenants include The Emporium, I. Magnin, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bullock’s, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdale’s. The anchor roster has repeatedly changed as the property responded to shifts in American department-store retailing.

• Jewelry and luxury goodsJewelry and accessories

  Luxury jewelry and accessories are represented by brands such as Tiffany & Co. The category complements the center’s designer fashion, premium service, and affluent customer positioning.

• Home furnishings and lifestyle retailHome and lifestyle1997

  Home and lifestyle retail has included Crate & Barrel, Frette, The Container Store, Anthropologie, and planned or proposed RH space. These uses broaden the center beyond apparel and reinforce its destination-shopping format.

• Dining and restaurantsFood and beverage1956

  Restaurants are an important part of the center’s open-air lifestyle proposition. Blum’s was part of the original development, while later redevelopment introduced destinations such as True Food Kitchen and proposed rooftop and standalone restaurant spaces.

• Victoria’s Secret retail storeSpecialty retail

  Stanford Shopping Center is noted as the location of the first Victoria’s Secret retail store, an early example of the center’s role in hosting nationally significant specialty retail concepts.

• 2020Temporary COVID-19 closureOther

  Simon Property Group temporarily closed seven Bay Area malls in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public-health restrictions.

  What changed. Stanford Shopping Center closed on March 18, with the initial announcement stating that the closure would continue through March 29.

  Aftermath. The closure interrupted in-person retail and dining operations during the early phase of the pandemic.

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• 2019RH-led redevelopment proposalStrategy

  The former Macy’s Men’s building had become available for redevelopment as the center continued shifting toward luxury, home, dining, and lifestyle uses.

  What changed. Simon submitted plans for a 40,000-square-foot, three-level RH gallery with a rooftop restaurant, two smaller restaurant buildings, and a larger 29,000-square-foot Wilkes Bashford store. Palo Alto approved the plan later in 2019.

  Aftermath. Demolition began in 2021. The project represented another effort to replace conventional department-store space with luxury home furnishings and destination dining.

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• 2012Bloomingdale’s relocation and retail-wing repositioningStrategy

  The existing Bloomingdale’s building was considered for replacement as part of an effort to modernize the center and create additional retail space.

  What changed. Bloomingdale’s planned and later opened a new three-level, approximately 120,000-square-foot store. The former building was demolished for a new retail wing.

  Aftermath. The new wing opened in 2016 with Anthropologie and True Food Kitchen among its prominent tenants.

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• 2003Stanford sells center buildings to Simon Property GroupM&A

  Stanford University had managed the property through Stanford Management Company since 1991. As shopping-center valuations rose, the university’s trustees approved a transaction covering the retail buildings and improvements.

  What changed. The buildings were sold to Simon Property Group for $333 million. Stanford retained the land and leased it to Simon through a 51-year ground lease.

  Aftermath. Simon became the property owner and manager, while Stanford continued receiving ground rent tied in part to the center’s net profits.

  Transaction value. $333 million sale (2003)

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• 2020Stanford Shopping Center closes temporarily during COVID-19 pandemic

  Simon Property Group temporarily closed Stanford Shopping Center and six other Bay Area malls beginning March 18, 2020, with the announced closure initially scheduled through March 29 as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  OtherRegulation
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• 2019Simon Property Group submits plans for RH-led redevelopment

  Simon submitted plans to replace the former Macy’s Men’s building with a three-level RH gallery, rooftop restaurant, two smaller restaurant buildings, and a larger Wilkes Bashford store. Palo Alto approved the project later that year.

  Product launch
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• 2016New Stanford Shopping Center retail wing opens

  A new wing opened after the original Bloomingdale’s building was demolished. Its prominent tenants included a multilevel Anthropologie store and True Food Kitchen.

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• 2012Bloomingdale’s announces replacement store and retail-wing redevelopment

  Bloomingdale’s announced plans to leave its existing building for a new three-level, 120,000-square-foot store. The replacement opened in 2014, allowing the former building to be removed and replaced by a new retail wing.

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1. Stanford Shopping Center