GCC Fashion Island Cinema

Fashion Island Mall,
Foster City, CA 94403

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rivest266
rivest266 on August 18, 2018 at 5:28 pm

This closed in 1995. Discount movies 1993-1995.

rivest266
rivest266 on August 14, 2018 at 12:57 am

This opened on December 11th, 1981. Grand opening ad posted.

ajtarantex
ajtarantex on December 15, 2012 at 9:35 pm

yes,the Theatre was on the same side as Gold Mine you came in the entrance and it was the first space on the left!

Fastphilly
Fastphilly on February 3, 2012 at 10:22 am

Never seen a movie there.I used to go into the video arcade in the mall called “The Gold Mine” which was close to the theater entrance..I even worked at the Round Table Pizza parlor in the mall.

ajtarantex
ajtarantex on July 31, 2011 at 6:52 am

Steve , you can e-mail me would like to hear from you John.

sharker
sharker on June 21, 2010 at 7:28 am

I worked for John Tarantino and Barbara at the Mann 6 from 82-84 prior to entering the US Army. They ran a tight ship but were very good people. If anyone knows how to get hold of either of them, please pass on the info! I’m in some of Mr. Tarantino’s pics, but dare not identify ;)
Steve Harker

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on May 22, 2010 at 2:25 pm

Ben,great shots, I remember when i decided to drive over to REGENCY MALL and take a few pictures of my old triple REGENCY I,II,&III Cinemas: I knew the mall was slowly going down hill and i wanted a shot of the frontBoxoffice,It was inside the mall. So i took my pictures and walked out of a dying mall.Before I got to my car MALL SECURITY drove up and demanded to know what i was doing in the mall with a camera.I should have told them to piss off, but i explained what i did.I couldn’t believe it. A dying mall who would care.Hope you didn’t run into the MALL POLICE.Hell, they were never any help when i was the Assistant Manager in the early 80’s. I handled trouble myself.Bunch of wanta be “dirty harrys”,Small caps in honor of Clint Eastwood.

Benl
Benl on April 30, 2009 at 5:47 am

Great to see these photos of the theater (photos taken by John Tarantino)

http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/2963.html

Benl
Benl on July 20, 2008 at 5:47 am

Larry,

Funny you mention Ward’s, they are still in business, but they only ship their products like Amazon does.

Toysrus opened December of 1997 (just in time for Christmas)

The company that purchased the land that was Fashion Island Mall won the bid at 40 million. I believe it cost around 300 million to get everything up and going. They were paying $15,000 a day in interest, so that is the reason they did a quick demolish and rebuild of the land. Torn down in late 1996 and new retail stores open in a year is pretty amazing. The condos were not ready at that point. I remember seeing truck after truck hauling away what was left of the mall down 3rd ave. It is amazing who much more productive the private sector is compared to the government. :)

Also, it is really cool to see the new Century theater next to the Fox theater in that pic.

The last Movie I saw in the UA was “The Shadow”, I think it was around 1994 or 1995.

I do remember seeing the Laster Star Fighter and D.A.R.Y.L. during the summer of 1984 at the UA in Redwood City.

larrygoldsmith
larrygoldsmith on July 20, 2008 at 4:58 am

Benl

Now that I think about it, we bought some things at Montgomery Ward and had them sent to our Reno address BEFORE moving here in March if 95. So the mall was still in operation in 95. It must have been 96 0r 97 when it came down. I totally forgot about that. You say Red Robin is still operating? We were regulars at that place when it was at the original Fashion Island. There’s so much more retail going on there, than I realized.

Many thanks for the pictures of downtown Redwood City, the one shows the FOX THEATRE in the background. That was the theatre I worked at (along with other family members before me) that started my 12 year career with National General Theatres. I have so many wonderful memories of my “theatre days” with that company. Too bad Ted Mann had to come into the picture.

I understand there was problems with Syufy and Cinemark Theatres in regard to the continued operation of the original Century Theatre, after the new one opened on Broadway. Syufy must have sole ownership of the original Century, and does not want to let it go. It would seem counterproductive that there would be 2 Century Theatres in operation in the same town, and really not that far apart. Sorry to hear the tore down the UA on Veterans Blvd. That sure didn’t last very long. I think it had already closed in 95 be fore we came here.

Benl
Benl on July 20, 2008 at 3:46 am

I forgot to mention.

Target was never in San Mateo until that store opened in 1997.

Benl
Benl on July 20, 2008 at 3:37 am

Hey Larry,

Yes, all the big chain stories “backs” are facing HWY 92, so not to be missed.:) Target, ToysRus, Staples, Pectco, Bed, Bath, & Beyond, etc.

They have added a few new streets that goes through the old mall location.

The Home Depot is in the general area where the old part of the mall that housed Montgomery Ward, maybe a tiny bit south but very close. Also the Pier 1 Imports (the very first one ever was located in the Fashion Island Mall) is in the same parking lot as the Home Depot across the street from the ice rink. Also, right next to the ice rink is Red Robin my former employer.

The “Fashion Island Target” is not only stated on the receipts for shoppers, it’s stated on Target.com if you do a search on their store locator.

Regarding your hometown Redwood city? Lots of changed. They have done a lot of upgrading. They have a new downtown theater (as does San Mateo). The UA Theater is gone. The Century theater is really falling apart, it’s a matter of time before it closes.

Just in case you have not seen any of the new look Redwood City.

http://redwoodcitynow.com/images/century_big.jpg

http://redwoodcitynow.com/renaissance.html

P.S. I miss the old Marine World Africa USA that closed in 1986.

View link

larrygoldsmith
larrygoldsmith on July 20, 2008 at 2:55 am

Benl
Benl,
I was surprised that the ice rink was still there. After the mall came down, I was under the impression that it was all replaced with condos. You say there is also a Home Depot there now and a Target? That’s more retail than I expected.If Target still refers to itself as Fashion Island it must have been there during that time(or their just trying be clever by holding on to that old name.) We moved to Reno in 95, so you can imagine how out of touch I am now. My hometown is Redwood City and have no clue to what’s happening there! It great to hear from someone who’s somewhat in touch.

Benl
Benl on July 20, 2008 at 2:14 am

Hey Larry,

Not a problem.

I go to the old Fashion Island Mall location often, but this past week was the first time I entered the building with the ice rink. I always knew the ice rink was original, but I didn’t know that so much of the interior was unchanged! When I saw the entrance to the ice rink, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was like traveling back in time!

Also can see a lot of the old structure from inside of the new Asian buffet. It’s pretty massive. In the dining area looking up, you can see many of the old windows that let light in the mall.

Also if you shop at Target at the old Fashion Island location, the receipt says on the top, “Fashion Island Target”, not “Bridgepointe Target” I thought that was pretty cool :)

The last memory I have of Fashion Island was eating at the “Greek Isle” at the food court late 1996 or so with my girlfriend. I ran into a old childhood friend that worked at the theater also. The next time I attempted to go to Fashion Island for a bite to eat a few weeks later, there was a cyclone fence around the entire parking lot. I knew the mall was going to close, but I had no idea when. It was a pretty sad day. It’s a real shame that mall had to go. I think if the mall had a Target, ToysRus, and a big name fast food place like MCDonald’s or Burger King it would still be there today.

By the way, when the new owners took over and they had the place razed, they were debating over opening a new movie theater or a Home Depot.

As we know, Home Depot was their choice. :(

Just to think what could have been…

larrygoldsmith
larrygoldsmith on July 20, 2008 at 1:08 am

Great pics and wonderful memories of Fashion Island when I lived in Redwood City. Thanks Benl!!! Your pics were great.

Benl
Benl on July 19, 2008 at 11:39 pm

And here is a markings I made on the photo showing where the theater was and some of the stores.

http://models-games.com/fashionisland4.jpg

Benl
Benl on July 19, 2008 at 11:19 pm

Hey Misha,

I used to work right across from you at the Red Robin in Fashion Island from 1989-1991. :)

I knew a guy named Eric that used to work at Round Table Pizza.

I have so many stories/memories about that mall I could right a book about it. :)

Here is the only pic I can find of the Fashion Island Mall back in the day and it’s a view from above, very cool pic!

http://models-games.com/fashionisland3.jpg

mkteller
mkteller on July 19, 2008 at 7:28 pm

You rock Ben!
I wonder if there are any pics of the old mall itself? I haven’t been able to find anything.

Misha

Benl
Benl on July 18, 2008 at 4:24 pm

Ok, the next time I go to Fashion Island/Bridgepoint, I will take some pics and post them here.

Just give me a few weeks.

mkteller
mkteller on July 18, 2008 at 2:44 am

That would be great! Thanks for the info!

Benl
Benl on July 18, 2008 at 2:41 am

By the way, I next time I go to the Japanese Buffet that is next to the ice rink, I can take pics and post them here if anyone wants to see them of the old theater location from inside the last standing part of Fashion Island mall.

Benl
Benl on July 18, 2008 at 2:38 am

“The moved the Ice Capades Chalet Ice Rink into its own building after the mall shut down.”

Not true.

The ice rink is in the original location and the building itself is the same as when the mall was there. The tiles on the floor and ceiling are original Fashion Island construction. They did remove those drapes that used to be over the ice rink. The entrance to the ice rink for the skaters is the same glass structure also.

Getting back to the theater. I remember the movie posters that were behind the glass windows between the ticket window and the Gold Mine arcade. I saw Rambo II, Beverly Hills Cop, Jurassic Park, Etc there.

mkteller
mkteller on June 6, 2008 at 10:13 pm

I worked here from 1987~1988. The arcade was called the Gold Mine and later changed to Tilt. The moved the Ice Capades Chalet Ice Rink into its own building after the mall shut down. I made it back to the Bay Area in 2002. I would love to see some pictures of this mall from the eighties along with Hillsdale mall. A lot has changed.

scottfavareille
scottfavareille on April 23, 2008 at 6:31 pm

I do recall this particular place. The theaters themselves weren’t particularly distinguishable, however, they did do decent business, even after Fashion Island went into decline. (The center went into decline when Liberty House, who took over the Bullock’s site, went out of business. At the end, the mall only had 2 anchors, Whole Earth Access & Wards. In its final weeks, about 90% of the stores were vacant & the place was a ghost town.) The Tilt arcade next door was one of the more profitable arcades for that arcade chain. (A friend of mine was a manager at that arcade there in the mid-1980s).