East Bay Science and Technology Center facts for kids

The East Bay Science and Technology Center is a large building in Richmond, California. It used to be a popular shopping mall known as Hilltop Mall and later The Shops At Hilltop. Today, it is managed by LBG Real Estate Companies, LLC. Some of its main stores, called anchor stores, include Walmart and 24 Hour Fitness. Other big stores like Macy's, JCPenney, and Sears used to be here but have now closed.

History of Hilltop Mall

Early Days and Opening

Hilltop Mall first opened its doors in September 1976. It was built on land that used to be an oil storage area owned by the Chevron Corporation. A famous developer named A. Alfred Taubman created the mall. He also built other well-known shopping centers in the East Bay and Santa Clara Valley areas, like Eastridge Center and Stoneridge Shopping Center.

When it first opened, Hilltop Mall had three main anchor stores: Capwell's, JCPenney, and Macy's. Interestingly, both Macy's and JCPenney had stores in downtown Richmond before moving to the mall. In 1990, Sears was added to the mall in a new section.

Changes Over Time

The mall stayed mostly the same until 1996. That year, the Capwell's store closed. In 1998, Macy's moved into the bigger space where Capwell's used to be. The old Macy's spot was empty for a while until Walmart opened there in 2007.

In 2007, a company called Simon Property Group bought the mall. A few years later, in December 2011, there was a big crowd at the mall because of a special shoe release. This led to a disturbance, and the mall had to close temporarily.

Recent Closures

Over the years, more anchor stores began to close. In 2017, JCPenney closed its doors. Then, in 2020, Sears also closed. Finally, in January 2021, it was announced that Macy's would close in April 2021. After Macy's closed, Walmart became the only original anchor store left.

Failed Plans for a New Future

This is what The Shops of Hilltop could’ve looked like if the revitalization had gone forward.

In July 2017, new owners, LBG Real Estate Companies, LLC and Aviva Investors, bought the property. They had big plans to make the mall modern and exciting again. They even changed its name to The Shops at Hilltop.

The Vision for The Shops at Hilltop

The new owners wanted to transform the shopping center. Their plans included adding new restaurants, entertainment spots, offices, and more stores. They hoped to bring in a new main store called 99 Ranch Market and offer many different types of food. There were also ideas for personal care services and fun entertainment options, like a live theater.

Beyond the existing building, the owners planned an even bigger project called Hilltop by the Bay. This huge development would have included over 3,500 homes, offices, a hotel, and more entertainment. The idea was to create a vibrant "urban village" where people could live, work, and play all in one place.

Why the Plans Changed

Sadly, these big plans never fully happened. The COVID-19 pandemic made it very difficult to move forward. Because of this, the owners decided to change direction. They have now renamed the location "The East Bay Science and Technology Center." They hope that companies in the science and technology fields will want to set up their businesses there.

Current Anchors

• Walmart (150,000 sq ft (14,000 m²))
• 24 Hour Fitness (37,383 sq ft (3,473.0 m²))

Former Anchors

• Capwell's: Opened with the mall in 1976, closed in 1996. Macy's later moved into this space.
• JCPenney: Opened with the mall in 1976, closed on July 31, 2017.
• Sears: Opened in 1990, closed in March 2020.
• Macy's: Opened with the mall in 1976, moved to a new space in 1998, and closed in April 2021.

Oakland Tribune (Richmond-area edition), Sept. 3, 1976, page 13