Announced in April 1953, the shopping center was built on the 48-acre site of the former Oakland Speedway automobile racing stadium, and cost $25 million to build, and an additional $6 million to build the anchor department store, a 200,000-square-foot (19,000 m2), three-story Macy's.[2] The mall construction did not begin until 1956.
Macy's was the first unit to open, on August 8, 1957, with mall shops opening in the months following. On November 8, 1957, 19 new stores (besides Macy's), including a supermarket, celebrated their grand opening.[4][5]
The mall shop area (outside Macy's) was open-air and in an L-shape, split-level (i.e. on two levels, but not two stories one on top of another). It claimed to be the first shopping center in the Western United States to be built across two stories.[6][7][8]
Expansion (1960s–1990s)
The mall continued to expand, and a new department store anchor, Montgomery Ward opened a two-story, 159,000 sq ft (14,800 m2) store and auto center on August 4, 1971. With Ward's the mall had grown to 600,000 sq ft (56,000 m2) in size and had 62 stores.[9]
In 1977, owner Macy's announced a major renovation of the mall. It was enclosed and added escalators, air conditioning and carpeting. On the ground level, 18,000 sq ft (1,700 m2) of retail space was added on and a further 4,000 sq ft (370 m2) atrium and "specialty court" for boutiques and restaurants. On the new second level, 16,200 sq ft (1,510 m2) of retail space was added. In a second pase, 12,000 sq ft (1,100 m2) of retail space was adjacent to Macy's and 32,000 sq ft (3,000 m2) elsewhere. In total, 82,000 sq ft (7,600 m2) of space was added for about 40 additional shops, for a total of about 100 shops.[10]
In 2001, Montgomery Ward went bankrupt and closed its stores nationwide. The abandoned Ward's store was demolished and in October 2002, a 145,000 sq ft (13,500 m2) Target Greatland opened on the site.[12]
Also In late 2002, the mall was acquired by Chicago-based M & J Wilkow Ltd. The updated shopping center measured 820,000 sq ft (76,000 m2). Bayfair's owner planned to remodel the ailing center into an open-air power center, renamed "Bayfair/580," which would have several big-box tenants and upscale "lifestyle-oriented" stores. The plan never came to fruition, however, and the mall was sold to Madison Marquette in late 2003.[13]
The Macy's continues to operate and the mall is enclosed, but by 2012, the other anchors were more typical of those in a power center: big box storesKohl's, Staples, Old Navy, PetSmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and 24 Hour Fitness. There was also a Cinemark cinema multiplex.[14] According to the city of San Leandro in a 2016 study, Bayfair has been successful in transforming itself to a tenant mix that meets with current needs.[15]
On September 22, 2022, it was announced that Bed Bath & Beyond would be closing as part of a plan to close 150 stores nationwide.[16]
On January 18, 2024, it was announced that Macy's would be closing as part of a plan to close 5 stores nationwide.[17] Macy's closed in March 2024.[18]
Plans for transit-oriented village
In 2018, the city of San Leandro adopted a plan to transform the Bay Fair neighborhood, including the mall and areas around it, into a transit-oriented "village", a high-density, mixed-use neighborhood with a street grid of small blocks to encourage walking and cycling, and including small parks and space for community events.[19][20]
