Summer 1970: Valley Fair Mall
Valley Fair Mall: 55 Years Since West Valley’s Retail Dream Became Reality
In the summer of 1970, after more than six years of community anticipation, the southwest valley finally got the shopping center it had long hoped for: the grand and modern Valley Fair Mall.
Opening with the slogan “Where it’s spring year-round,” the mall wasn’t just a collection of stores—it was a regional destination, an indoor retail wonderland that symbolized progress, convenience, and suburban pride.
The first store to open its doors was J.C. Penney, which launched nearly two weeks ahead of the mall’s official dedication in July 1970. This anchor store offered more than just shopping—it included a coffee shop, a beauty salon, and even a freestanding auto center, showing the full-service nature of the era’s retail experience.
By August 1970, the mall was in full swing. Encompassing approximately 590,000 square feet of leasable space, Valley Fair Mall featured 61 operating stores and services, with room for 75. It also boasted free parking for 3,500 vehicles—a clear nod to the booming car culture of the time and the community’s growing reliance on convenient, all-in-one shopping destinations.
Among the original tenants were some of the most iconic retailers of the time:
ZCMI, the beloved Utah-based department store, brought local pride to the mall’s anchor lineup.
S.H. Kress 5 & 10, complete with a luncheonette, offered classic variety store charm.
Castleton’s, Foxmoor Casuals, and House of Nine added to a robust selection of fashion-forward women’s apparel.
Baskin-Robbins, Barricini Candies, Orange Julius, and The Cheese Shop delighted the senses with sweet treats and snacks.
The Valley Fair 4 Cinemas, which debuted in August 1970, provided on-site entertainment—a relatively new concept for suburban malls at the time.
And then there were the quirky and beloved specialty shops: Betty’s Bra Bar, Predan Key Shop, Chess King, The Tie Tack, and Broadway Shoe Rebuilders—each helping to define the unique character of Valley Fair Mall in its early years.
The mall also housed practical services such as Deseret Book, First Security Bank, Zion’s First National Bank, Singer Sewing Center, Durfey Laundry, and Household Finance Corporation. For many in the community, Valley Fair quickly became not just a place to shop—but the heart of everyday errands, family outings, and social life.
Looking back, it’s hard to overstate what the opening of Valley Fair Mall meant in 1970. It wasn’t just a commercial center; it was a symbol of how far Granger and the surrounding area had come. What had once been farmland and scattered neighborhoods had now grown into a self-sustaining suburban community—complete with modern conveniences, entertainment, and economic opportunity.
Now 55 years later, Valley Fair remains a pillar in the heart of West Valley City, having weathered decades of change, reinvention, and growth. Its opening marked the beginning of a new era in local life—and for many residents, it still holds a special place in their memories.
