Here are a few pictures of the old mall, featuring Montgomery Ward.
This mall was located where Kohl’s, Dick’s, etc. is now located, and of course, it’s the old home of the now demolished Dome theater in the City of Pleasant Hill.
Here are a few pictures of the mall (courtesy of groceteria.com).
Anybody remember the stores that used to be in the mall? Leatherby’s, the Christian Book Store? Thrifty? Also, who remembers the art/craft/jewelry sale that used to fill the inside of the mall during Christmastime?
Thanks again to groceteria.com for the pictures. Visit their site for many more photos from all around the United States!
ABOUT THE CLAYCORD ONLINE MUSEUM: The Claycord Online Museum is made up of historical photos, documents & anything else that has to do with the history of our area.
33 comments
… wish we had it back (along with the theater) instead of the Kohl’s and strip mall stuff… between Monkey Wards & Sears you could get anything you needed and actually get a salespersons help …. forget it now days (Sears or Kohl’s)
I miss the Loaded Hog.
You mean the Sail Inn?
I went to the barber shop there a few times in the early 2000s before it closed. The woman cutting hair there was one of a handful of barbers still using a combination buzzer/vacuum. So, when she buzzed your noggin’ the hair was sucked up into a vacuum bag. No hair to sweep up.
I usually used the barber at Gregory Village. I believe it was located where Bay-Area Properties is today. There was a chain-smoking woman there for years who could buzz your head in 3 minutes, clean around your ears with a straight razor and then finish with some kind of foo-foo juice that smelled like 1960. I loved that place.
Used to be a Chinese restaurant in there was pretty good.
The true star was Fentons.
Yes!!! We would go there after swim meets all through the summer. I can hear the clink of the spoon hitting the bottom of the ice cream dish right now.
When I was a child the appliance store was an ice cream parlor. I can still remember the smell🥰😍 fresh waffle cones and sweet ice cream.
I remember that place vividly, went a few times with family as a kid. Killer banana splits.
There used to be a craft fair inside around Christmas time too.
Head into Thrifty and load up on cheap candy to smuggle into the theater.
The good olé days! I remember it all including the craft/art tables in the mall.
I remember when they would have a makers fair during Christmas and for one weekend the inside of the mall was filled with people selling really cool handmade stuff
Leather belts, pottery , art ect
If I recall correctly, the Dollar Tree (formerly called Only $1.00) is the only store that has been at that shopping center for the longest time and at the same spot.
Leatherbys was the best. We went there all the time. I have only been to Kohl’s once.
I really liked this shopping center – Montgomery Ward, Leatherbys Ice Cream Shop, the Christian Bookstore, the Dome Theatre, etc. I also liked the indoor craft fairs they would have. Brings back some nice memories.
RIP Loaded Hog 🐷🥺😢
I worked at the Dome theater from 2010-2013 (until closure). I remember the first time I saw what I believe was a Mother’s Day Poker Run–I couldn’t believe how many motorcycles ended up in the parking lot! The owner was a good guy. The last time I saw him, he said he was working on opening a bar in Martinez. He was going to call it the “Quart House”. Not sure if it came to fruition or not, as I cannot find anything about it. I remember on one of the last days that we were open I went over to the Hog to have my first and last drink there (wasn’t 21 until 2013). Good times!
I remember that place fondly. Chinese food, dinks at the Sail Inn and movies in the dome. And I remember the Christmas craft fair every year. Simpler times.
The Sail Inn…. and waddle out….. or was that a different bar in the same place?
I remember the doll furniture store and the dome movie theater! I think there was an arcade too!
I remember every Christmas they had arts & crafts for sale along that strip inside there
Working a few blocks away, the Chinese restaurant was a good place for lunch. The clock tower in the parking lot by Monkey Wards would show the time and temperature which was visible from 680. And of course, the key kiosk! Visited it a few times too.
The mall had seen better days for sure but it was always safe whenever I was there.
@Martinez Guy..…Many a $10 4-finger baggie of weed exchanged hands underneath that clock tower.
There were other things that happened in that parking lot too. 🙂
The good old days working in the Century Theater box office:
“Your show will be playing around the corner in the mall.”
“The what? Where?”
“Follow the yellow line sir.”
Good times. Plus we were next door to the Saw Mill. Anyone else remember the commercials with Marty Sherman and George?
Really appreciate the Museum Articles. In the 60’s, Ward’s in Richmond (CA) was my go to.
Interesting that in these comments there is mention of all the other businesses there. Including the “Dome”
Had last been there for a movie on December 23, 1985; just left the Sun Valley Mall about 20 minutes prior too…. Well, you know,
Claycord should post that article in Memory later today???
I still can’t believe they removed the dome theater. To this day, I refuse to shop there. That location is dead to me.
The best part was the smell of roasting toffee nuts wafting from the Wards candy counter.
I remember, in the waning years of the mall, the saddest ever Santa situation. Santa’s chair was basically a dining table chair, in that cement hallway outside of the dept. store. There was an underwhelming christmas tree and a few decorations. It was tragic. Kids must have been so disappointed to think this is what Santa was doing in the run-up to Christmas.
I also remember seeing Schindler’s List at the dome theater, and the whole audience staying seated and quiet for the entirety of the closing credits. The only time in my life I have seen that happen.
The last movie I saw there was “Saving Private Ryan” (some of the movie goers were crying at the beginning of that movie) but that was still years before the Dome closed. I never really liked the place much…. I think it was the chicken wire ceiling that bugged me.
Late night weekend showings of The Song Remains the Same at the dome.
The annual Christmas craft fair for Christmas gifts. Breuners furniture store, and their elaborate Christmas window display. It was a great place!
Waiting in line for The Empire Strikes Back, a fight almost broke out when an exiting moviegoer shouted, “Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s dad.”
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