Comments on: Eastmont Mall; Oakland, California

By: Joe Toxic

Joe Toxic — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:47:47 +0000

…one more thing the Mrs did say, along with a relative of hers, that the mall for a brief time had the major retailers for was “bustling” with shoppers, albeit breifly.

By: Joe Toxic

Joe Toxic — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:44:23 +0000

I stumbled on this web site and now I’m hooked on this “dead mall” thing. Anyway, took family members to OAK/KC game yesterday (two bad teams and plenty of good seats!!!), I’m a MIA D fan, but daughter likes OA. Anyway my wife actually went to the high school next door back in late 80’s, we tried to go inside,,,,it was a Sunday and the mall is closed on Sundays. I’m now officially a “dead mall rat” at the ripe age of 46, and I don’t even like shopping, so going to dead malls is kinda cool, since there’s nothing to shop for.

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:43:14 +0000

Wow, I am surprised to see this mall on the site. I was in the mall around 1998, not by choice though… I tell this story often, so here goes… I was attending the Gatsby Fair in the Oakland Hills one year, and, keeping true to the era, they would not let me in wearing shorts (I was only 15, and I was with my parents, and grandmother) so my step-father and I ventured off to find a mall for some pants for me to wear. We came upon the Eastmont Mall, and I have to say that even though it retains some of it’s historical aspects, it has undergone improvements, it was much more a time-capsule to the very early 70’s back then…. The murals of mixed-cultured people on some walls, the lack of climate control, and being a first-generation european, there was at that time a huge reverse-racism factor. Housed in a mostly african-american side of East-Oakland, we were the only two white people in the mall, and we were getting looks of misplacement, and a general “not welcome” feeling. I also noticed though, how great this mall must have once been, the then-closed multi-level parking structure, and the closed anchor stores, Eastmont was by no doubts hurting financially. In fact, when I found what was probably the best pair of pants I have ever owned, we paid the gentleman, and he took and made change from a fanny-pack, very strange, however, it was definately an experience that I will never forget. I not work in a mall, much smaller than Eastmont, but Eastmont is the reason I stumbled upon these great sites developed to honor the great malls of the past, and is also why I have such an interest in the history of the american mall, mostly hoping to find historical pictures from thier great times. As I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s, I wish people took more pictures of those era’s in malls, and I will now make it my mission to do so.

By: Keita

Keita — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:21:14 +0000

People need to quit hating on Eastmont Mall. The fact is people are scared of Oakland, I don’t know why. To be an innercity, it’s relatively safe compared to Camden, New Orleans, Miami Gardens and Gary. It just has a bad rep. People don’t want to invest in Easmont out of fear for the reputation. Crime and poverty are not excuses. If the mall on Crenshaw and King in Los Angeles can survive with booming business and a movie theater, so can Eastmont, we just need someone to invest in it. Rumor has it that Al Davis owns the joint so he’s screwed the city in more ways than one

By: alexh1013

alexh1013 — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:57:57 +0000

I live in Hayward and people be hatin on southland mall too! Eastmont is not alone!

By: Derby

Derby — Wed, 14 May 2008 03:25:34 +0000

Here is a great video of an event held at eastmont.

By: Dena94603

Dena94603 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:37:05 +0000

I grew up in [East] Oakland, and as a teenager, I probably spent every weekend at Eastmont Mall. Your photos really brought back memories for me! I moved from Oakland to Sacramento in 1996, and have’nt really been back since then. But I still remember Eastmont when it was full of boutiques, jewelry stores, a toy store, Wauzi Records, a movie theater…it even had a pet store waaaaayyyy back in the 70’s that sold puppies. Wow, am I getting old!

By: romleys

romleys — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:48:56 +0000

Oh yeah, the Safeway had a neighboring SuperS Drug Store which later became a PaynSave Drug Store.

By: romleys

romleys — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:45:31 +0000

All I can say is that your lucky you and your photos have come back safely!

By: Monty

Monty — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:05:41 +0000

Love the poster of Africa in one the pics. If that’s not a sign to stay away, nothing is.