College Grove Center (Marketplace at The Grove)

"The former San Diego State majorette was reportedly the inspiration for the iconic neon sign that has adorned San Diego’s landscape for more than half a century. The landmark outline of a majorette wearing an Aztec headdress graced the College Area Campus Drive-In for many years and was later moved to the College Grove Shopping Center." (2011) https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-iconic-majorette-

A night picture of the iconic neon majorette as she stood over the Mann 9 Theatres (now Sam's Club), from 1988 to 1999, before being moved to the front of the shopping center where she currently stands.

"Ironically, the sign will pulsate onto College Avenue from the wall of a shopping center--the very same kind of suburban development that forced its removal in March, 1983, when the drive-in and the sign were torn down at their El Cajon Boulevard and College Avenue location." - L.A. Times, August 1985 https://www.latimes.com//la-xpm-1985-08-09-me-2448-story.h

#FunFact: The one-time Blockbuster building at the north entrance (which now houses Rubio's along with two other tenants) is the only building that still bears the design of the 1989 renovations that then-modernized the now torn down 1960-1999 mall structure. It is the only building that has not been refaced to match the current style of the rest of the shopping center. Take a look the next time you stop by!

The end of #Mann9Theatres at The Grove came in 1999. Sam's Club now stands in its place.

The end of #Mann9Theatres at The Grove came in 1999. Sam's Club now stands in its place.

Happy New Year everyone!!! Speaking of the #WalkerScott, take a look at one of the most popular tenants ever to exist at College Grove Center (Marketplace at The Grove)! The Walker Scott building was torn down as a part of the 1980s renovation and replaced by the #Mann9Theatres in 1989. This picture is from its opening day. If you look off to the right you will see the neon majorette, in her original location on the property, next to the words 'The Grove' (as the mall came to be known). At the time it opened, the Mann 9 was the largest movie theatre in San Diego.

#MerryChristmas! Enjoy this rare color photograph of College Grove Center (Marketplace at The Grove)'s first anchor, Walker Scott, circa 1960! The building was demolished in 1987 during renovations, to make way for what became Mann 9 Theatres. That building was demolished in 1999 during the second wave of renovations and today the site is the home of Sam's Club.

Los Angeles Times in 1991: "Another senior citizen of the shopping world was College Grove, San Diego's first shopping mall. Built in 1960, the center was "functionally obsolete," with half its stores vacant, when new owners bought the property in 1982."

The 1988-1989 renovations to College Grove Center, which renamed it Marketplace at The Grove, cost a reported $29 million.

Now replaced by Target, HomeBase was one of the stores that launched 'College Grove' in 2000. This is one of the advertisements for the October 30, 2000, grand opening.

As most of 'Marketplace at The Grove' was being torn down to make way for the 'College Grove Center' renovations in 1999, the service tunnel that ran through the center of the mall (to distribute items to the stores) built in 1960, was one of the last to be demolished. One opening was at the front of the mall by the Firestone (where Walmart currently stands). The other opening (pictured here) was by the Mann 9 Theatres (the current location of Sam's Club).

"More than 80 percent of the center was leased at the start of construction. Flagship stores were Walker Scott and J.C. Penney, both building stores twice as large as their San Diego counterparts. Other storesmost now a distant memory and their wares on the vintage listincluded J.J. Newberry, Woolworth's, Safeway, Leed's Shoes, Copper Penny Restaurants, Bond Clothes, Lawton-Schiller Jewelers and more. Ultimately there were 90 stores and jobs for 1,500 people."

"The 1986 plan seen above was scaled-down drastically. The mall was never enclosed and no new anchors -or parking garages- were added. The lower level of outward-facing stores were buried by an extension of upper level parking. This version of the mall -known as MARKETPLACE AT THE GROVE- lasted for only 10 years."

"San Diego's first shopping mall was decorated with a nice array of tropical plantings, as this 1965 photo attests. Here we see the southwest end of the COLLEGE GROVE CENTER mallway, with Bond Clothes on the right. Off in the distance is a Woolworth 5 & 10. Photo from IIvintage" - http://mall-hall-of-fame.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.ht

Best #CoffeeMugs ever? Mugs made during the time '#CollegeGrove' went by the '#MarketplaceAtTheGrove' moniker.