Escondido Village Mall
Walker Scott Escondido
The 60,000 sq ft (5,600 m) Walker Scott store, the chain's fifth, cost $3,750,000, and officially opened with a ribbon-cutting at 11 A.M. on Monday, April 6, 1964. The store had numerous notable design features. The design was by Brand-Worth & Associates. Walls, floors and fixtures were color coordinated. The signage was custom-made in classic raised Roman alphabet.
Carpet
The store featured a specially-made multi-color carpet in eight related shades around the perimeter of the store, in a progressive spectrum from red to blue. The men's department carpet was dark blue, the dress department reds and purples, the juniors and lingerie departments pink and orchid colors, and in ladies' sportswear, vermilion and lavender.
Walls
The store had wall murals in classic Roman themes by Rick Chase, a Southern California muralist. Other walls were covered in metal sculptures, including acid-etched brass trees in recesses in the walls of the apparel areas. In the sportswear department, three sculptured metal trees were made with more than 9,000 stylized leaves. Decorative grill work enclosed the glass well of the escalators.
Anchor changes
Walker Scott and Sears (relocated to North County Fair mall) both closed in 1986, with Fedco taking the Sears space and expanding it to 215,000 sq ft (20,000 m). (now The Home Depot).
Transformation to strip-style center
The mall was transformed into an unenclosed strip-style neighborhood shopping center in 1991 to try and compete after losing business to North County Fair which opened in 1986.
References
- ^ Mike Schuerman, "Fedco slated to hire 500 for new Escondido store", "Shoptalk" (column), Escondido, CA Times Advocate, September 4, 1986
- ^ "Walker-Scott columns". Times-Advocate (Escondido, CA). April 3, 1964.
- ^ Gaw, Jonathan (April 23, 1991). "Mall Makeover : Escondido Village, Vineyard Centers Struggle With Obsolescence". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Advertisement for Escondido Village". Daily Times-Advocate (Escondido, AA). September 30, 1963.