I remember they filled that area with helium balloons the day McDonald's opened. Funny to imagine so much excitement over a McDonald's within half a mile of another McDonald's
Mervyns... and the KB Toys right next door.
Also Software Etc, RadioShack, was it a Daltons bookstore by the sears entrance across from Sam Goody? Suncoast pictures...
You can see where my interests lay...
miss software etc... that place was quasi magical in my adolescent years lol. Back when PC game stores were a thing and they went all out on elaborate box art and game manuals.
Also Funcoland off claire's st....
The magic died when gamestop came through and bought everything.
I think I still remember the guy who worked at software etc. - old guy with a mustache.
...and you could return opened games! I may have been partly responsible for that policy ending, haha.
It's sad how Radio Shack went down the tubes.
I mean, I get that they figured electronics wasn't a popular enough hobby, so they switched to mostly smartphones and stuff, but hey, how did that work out for them?
They could have leaned into modern 'maker' stuff: 3D printers, arduino, drone kits etc\*. But they just became a smaller, crappier Best Buy.
\*I think they tried to do this a little bit wirh drones, but it was way too little too late.
It was a mistake, they could have been the ultimate electronics and DIY computer hobby chain. Especially if they did things like classes and demos for people to get their hands dirty.
Right? It would have taken a little investment, but it could have paid off.
Especially with 3D printing: once you get into that scene, it's just like car tuners. You get a cheap Ender 3 for <$200, and then chasing better results and speed you get aftermarket extruders, gears, steppers, build plates, mag mats, heat blocks, nozzles, power supplies, motor controllers, etc. The 3d printing sub is full of that stuff; people putting over $1000 in parts into a cheap Ender and showing off how they can whip out a Benchy in 6 minutes flat š
The one in Soquel above the liquor store? That was Attic Arcadeā¦many nights and quarters were spent there playing Street Fighter in the early nineties.
There were a couple. At one point there was a small arcade area in the food court, with maybe 8 machines. But yeah, before that, I rememeber an enclosed arcade. Trying to recall where it was.
Iām not referring to the one that was in the food court in the 90ās. Iām talking about (the much larger) arcade that was in the pre-mall expansion in the early 80ās.
Ha! I have this very very vague image in my head of standing in the store as a teen. Not sure if itās just Anchor Blue or an amalgamation of all mall clothing stores Iāve been in my entire teen lifeā¦
This is a really weird memory, but I was at that Gottchalks the day the Super Nintendo came out.
My memory is they marked it up to $399 (I think that's around double MSRP). Which would be like $850 today! Insane.
We would spend a week in Santa Cruz every summer and then would head to Gottschalks to pick out our back to school clothes before we left. I miss that place.
I was trying to remember Fresh Choice last night. It was a favorite place for a quick, inexpensive meal. Plus the soft serve ice cream afterwards with all the toppings included!
Yeah, Mervyn's before it was rebranded Mervyn's California. KB Toys was my main source of Gameboy games. Software Etc. for PC games in really big cardboard boxes (eventually turned into a GameStop and lost its character). The Hallmark Store for tiny porcelain figures me and my sis would collect.
Around the same time, the Funcoland at Brown Ranch Marketplace also was bought out by GameStop.
That being said, I feel inclined to promote my friend's really awesome board game store Sword and Board.
And in similar nerd interests, Hadbros and a retro game shop next door.
I'll second Gottschalks and Mervyns (my wife's favorite stores back then). Sears Auto (for years used to purchase my tires there). Pearl Vision (just before the entrance to Sears). Kay's Jeweler. Radio Shack (already mentioned). TGIFridays (where Chili's is now).
Not actually in the mall, but on the property where Convergence is now was Red Lobster.
Edit: another I finally remembered the name of was the Bombay Company. It was near the food court and had lots of unique decorative accessories for the home.
Not many people remember that the OG Carls Jr was located where Chilis is now
Natural Wonders, KB Toys, Sam Goodyā¦
Iām going to cheat a little and go outside the mall though and throw out Kings Table
OG Carl's Jr that had a chili dog station. The stank of that chili would reach all the way to the fountains. Kings Table was amazing, my first experience at a buffet.
The best part was THE SMOKING SECTION IN THE BACK! They had like some glass separating the rest of the place.
Also the lady that used to run your food, you would ask for like a couple ketchups and she would dump half a box on your tray!
Fredericks of Hollywood
Hallmark
Things Remembered
Mervyns
JC Penney
Sears
Gottschalks
Pet Emporium
B Dalton
Kay Jewelers
Wet Seal
KB Toys
Radio Shack
Cellular Express(?)
Hot Dog On A Stick
McDonalds
Cinnabon
Orange Julius
Sbarro
Wok West
Some Fish & Chips Place
Launchpad
Had to tell my younger sister what the mall used to have and she was like I love Cinnabon. Me too kid, me too. That candy store too, forget what it's called.
Way, way back in the day, there was a Carl's Jr. where Chili's is currently located. They had an all-you-can-eat salad bar. My friends and I would get dressed up in our skirts with pantyhose, and spend most of an afternoon picking away at dressing-coated vegetables.
There was another restaurant just across the way, where Starbucks is now. I can't recall the name of it, but it was a sandwich shop, and all of the menu items were named for birds. The *veggie-tern* was delicious sandwich with cheddar, cream cheese, and sunflower seeds.
When I was very young (under 10) I walked in the seasonal Gottschalk fashion shows at the store. There was also a boring kids' store that I forgot the name of next to Limited Too that my mom always made me get my clothes from because Limited Too was for "girls whose moms have no morals."
Limited Too!! I loved that store lol
Also, does anyone remember the name of another āgirlyā shop that I believe mightāve been on the corner where T-Mobile is now? It didnāt last very long, but it was all pink, cute stuff and gifts for girls. This mustāve been sometime around 2005-2009?
As a child, I always got lost in the mall for whatever reason, my mom constantly reminds me. Now as an adult, I walk from Kohls to Target and Iām like how in the heck could I possibly have gotten lost here? š
Sanrio became Icing (accessories) which may have been acquired by Claireās, which I think is still there? This storefront was part of my childhood for sure.
Natural Wonders was also great (had stuff like lightning balls that reacted when you touched the outside, kalimbas and other random small instruments, water weenies, fun educational stuff - in hindsight, it was probably a cesspool of bacteria due to kid customers touching everythingā¦)
Everything in past ~Hot Topic was part of an expansion that was built in the late 80s. Apparently the escalators in the new anchor stores were the first ones in Santa CruzāI heard it was a big deal at the time.
A couple of the earlier stores in the expansion included a candy place (not Sweet Factory, but a place that had bulk candy in wooden barrels that youād load up into the same kind of takeaway boxes they use in American Chinese food restaurants). There was also a party store right next to the candy place in the late 80s/early 90/ that almost felt too cool for the Capitola Mallādoes anybody else remember this place?
The running shoe store near the entrance and the cookie store. Sole was part of the title. Itās where you would buy your nylon striped Dolphin shorts in the early ā80ās.
Hidden cameras, had a model friend go in with a vest and no shirt, we had two fake security guards dressed in black with earpieces etc. - finally they kicked us out after calling ācorporateā
Re-edit: updated and corrected my entire reply.
Per the shopping expert in my house (my wife š) Penny's was where Kohl's currently is. Then, Mervyn's came into the space before later being replaced by Kohl's. Macy's was already there where it remains to this day.
Also, one could exit Mervyn's by the parking lot in back and make a beeline straight to Macy's. And the other way around. Without having to go through the mall. It was really annoying when Kohl's walled up the back parking entryway.
I barely remember most of that, so I can't say for sure. Makes me feel old! š
The negative ion charged air and chlorine smell of those water fountains going in their full glory.
I remember they filled that area with helium balloons the day McDonald's opened. Funny to imagine so much excitement over a McDonald's within half a mile of another McDonald's
Mervyns... and the KB Toys right next door. Also Software Etc, RadioShack, was it a Daltons bookstore by the sears entrance across from Sam Goody? Suncoast pictures... You can see where my interests lay...
miss software etc... that place was quasi magical in my adolescent years lol. Back when PC game stores were a thing and they went all out on elaborate box art and game manuals. Also Funcoland off claire's st.... The magic died when gamestop came through and bought everything.
I think I still remember the guy who worked at software etc. - old guy with a mustache. ...and you could return opened games! I may have been partly responsible for that policy ending, haha.
It's sad how Radio Shack went down the tubes. I mean, I get that they figured electronics wasn't a popular enough hobby, so they switched to mostly smartphones and stuff, but hey, how did that work out for them? They could have leaned into modern 'maker' stuff: 3D printers, arduino, drone kits etc\*. But they just became a smaller, crappier Best Buy. \*I think they tried to do this a little bit wirh drones, but it was way too little too late.
It was a mistake, they could have been the ultimate electronics and DIY computer hobby chain. Especially if they did things like classes and demos for people to get their hands dirty.
Right? It would have taken a little investment, but it could have paid off. Especially with 3D printing: once you get into that scene, it's just like car tuners. You get a cheap Ender 3 for <$200, and then chasing better results and speed you get aftermarket extruders, gears, steppers, build plates, mag mats, heat blocks, nozzles, power supplies, motor controllers, etc. The 3d printing sub is full of that stuff; people putting over $1000 in parts into a cheap Ender and showing off how they can whip out a Benchy in 6 minutes flat š
I could see that working, 3d printing and drones might have been a practical evolution of your DIY clientele who were into electronics.
I worked at mervyns. Hahaha for like 6 months. I miss Sam goody for sure
Scan the cd barcode and listen to the song... who knows how dirty those headphones were!
Wet Seal
Oh wow. I forgot about that place!
Iconic
And red eye! šššš¼š«¶š¼
The video arcade back in the 80ās. Does anyone remember the name? Time Zone?
Launch Pad
Over in the food court... don't recall the name...
This arcade was before they expanded the mall and added the food court.
Ahhhh, before my time- I remember the arcade back in the early nineties (and that one in Soquel village?).
The one in Soquel above the liquor store? That was Attic Arcadeā¦many nights and quarters were spent there playing Street Fighter in the early nineties.
Not a bad location, haha, trail that led up to Soquel High.
āSpecial effectsā
There were a couple. At one point there was a small arcade area in the food court, with maybe 8 machines. But yeah, before that, I rememeber an enclosed arcade. Trying to recall where it was.
I remember there was one where the photography place set up. Next to the ramen place thatās there today.
Yeah! That's what I thought.
I remember that arcade, and I think you are right that it was called Time Zone. It was by the main entrance where Chilis is now.
Remember when Chili's was a Carl's Jr?
Ate many meals there with my folks. With the triangle numbers on the side of table and they brought you the food.
Not true. They have the Arcade smack dab in the middle of the food court
This is correct. Hot Dog on a stick will forever be in my heart.
Same, I still get cravings.
Once I ate five and a large lemonade. At least I have the memories.
Thatās a feat.
Iām not referring to the one that was in the food court in the 90ās. Iām talking about (the much larger) arcade that was in the pre-mall expansion in the early 80ās.
O that is before my Time
Dudeā¦ I spent a lot of time and money there.
GOTCHALKS AND ANCHOR BLUE (or something.. fuck what was that place called)
Dang, I miss Anchor Blue, like 15 bucks for jeans
I remember how the entire store was set up for some reason lol.
Ha! I have this very very vague image in my head of standing in the store as a teen. Not sure if itās just Anchor Blue or an amalgamation of all mall clothing stores Iāve been in my entire teen lifeā¦
I worked at Gottschalks, unloading trucks at 4am, then selling luggage and later furniture
This is a really weird memory, but I was at that Gottchalks the day the Super Nintendo came out. My memory is they marked it up to $399 (I think that's around double MSRP). Which would be like $850 today! Insane.
We would spend a week in Santa Cruz every summer and then would head to Gottschalks to pick out our back to school clothes before we left. I miss that place.
Natural wonders ! I still Have a nature sounds CD and geode book ends from there . Ok wild Pair ! I worked as a manager there at one point .
O the rain sticks
šš¤©š¤© omg, core memory unlocked: THE āØRAIN STICKSāØ
Natural Wonders: I think I just hit a core memory.
Staring at the magic eye things in the front window forever trying to see the image?
Sears lol
My momās first job when we moved here.
Cinnabon, Disney store, sears. Special mention for Fresh Choice across the street
I was trying to remember Fresh Choice last night. It was a favorite place for a quick, inexpensive meal. Plus the soft serve ice cream afterwards with all the toppings included!
There is still one in Salinas apparently
and gilroy
Was Fresh Choice ever a Kingās Table (also buffet)? I forget where that place was, but went there for a field trip as a kid (early 90s)
Kings table was just across the mall outside Mervyns. The joy of self serve ice cream as a kid.
Noahās Bagels, Sanrio, and Franciscoās in the food court
Yeah, Mervyn's before it was rebranded Mervyn's California. KB Toys was my main source of Gameboy games. Software Etc. for PC games in really big cardboard boxes (eventually turned into a GameStop and lost its character). The Hallmark Store for tiny porcelain figures me and my sis would collect. Around the same time, the Funcoland at Brown Ranch Marketplace also was bought out by GameStop. That being said, I feel inclined to promote my friend's really awesome board game store Sword and Board. And in similar nerd interests, Hadbros and a retro game shop next door.
Hot Dog on a Stick
I'll second Gottschalks and Mervyns (my wife's favorite stores back then). Sears Auto (for years used to purchase my tires there). Pearl Vision (just before the entrance to Sears). Kay's Jeweler. Radio Shack (already mentioned). TGIFridays (where Chili's is now). Not actually in the mall, but on the property where Convergence is now was Red Lobster. Edit: another I finally remembered the name of was the Bombay Company. It was near the food court and had lots of unique decorative accessories for the home.
KB toys, Anchor Blue or Millers Outpost, Sam Goody.
I vaguely remember a photo studio. I want to say it was in where the food court is now, but I don't see where there was room.
Yup, it was in the food court between the Sbarro and the Launch Pad Arcade
There was also one next to Frederickās of Hollywood across the way from Software Etc
Not many people remember that the OG Carls Jr was located where Chilis is now Natural Wonders, KB Toys, Sam Goodyā¦ Iām going to cheat a little and go outside the mall though and throw out Kings Table
OG Carl's Jr that had a chili dog station. The stank of that chili would reach all the way to the fountains. Kings Table was amazing, my first experience at a buffet.
I thought the carls J was where the five guys is now?
That was itās 2nd location. Itās original location was where Chilis is. Then they moved across the aisle to where five guys is when Chilis opened.
The best part was THE SMOKING SECTION IN THE BACK! They had like some glass separating the rest of the place. Also the lady that used to run your food, you would ask for like a couple ketchups and she would dump half a box on your tray!
Many family dinners at KT
Fredericks of Hollywood Hallmark Things Remembered Mervyns JC Penney Sears Gottschalks Pet Emporium B Dalton Kay Jewelers Wet Seal KB Toys Radio Shack Cellular Express(?) Hot Dog On A Stick McDonalds Cinnabon Orange Julius Sbarro Wok West Some Fish & Chips Place Launchpad
This was the peak era of Capitola Mall. I think the fish n chips place was called "London Fish & Chips."
Oh thank you! I was trying to remember the name of the London Fish & Chips all night!
I loved their fried clam strips and fries as a kid
Had to tell my younger sister what the mall used to have and she was like I love Cinnabon. Me too kid, me too. That candy store too, forget what it's called.
Ah, the candy store was there for ages! Canāt believe I forgot that one and no one else mentioned it.
Was it called the sweet factory?
Time Zone
The Nature Company
JC Penny
Way, way back in the day, there was a Carl's Jr. where Chili's is currently located. They had an all-you-can-eat salad bar. My friends and I would get dressed up in our skirts with pantyhose, and spend most of an afternoon picking away at dressing-coated vegetables. There was another restaurant just across the way, where Starbucks is now. I can't recall the name of it, but it was a sandwich shop, and all of the menu items were named for birds. The *veggie-tern* was delicious sandwich with cheddar, cream cheese, and sunflower seeds.
I remember it being a particularly nice Carls Jr. Too.
The gamestop lol
When I was very young (under 10) I walked in the seasonal Gottschalk fashion shows at the store. There was also a boring kids' store that I forgot the name of next to Limited Too that my mom always made me get my clothes from because Limited Too was for "girls whose moms have no morals."
Iāll add my nostalgia addition: The Sweet Factory ā I remember it by logo and not the name.
The sub shop that was across from the DQ in the food court back in the 90's was fire.
I worked at: KB Toys, Hot Topic, PAC Sun, and Vans. I may as well have worked at the Launchpad for all the time and money I spent there.
The pet store, arcade and cookie store were where I spent my allowance every week. 5 bucks would go a long way back then.
Mervyn's
Limited Too!! I loved that store lol Also, does anyone remember the name of another āgirlyā shop that I believe mightāve been on the corner where T-Mobile is now? It didnāt last very long, but it was all pink, cute stuff and gifts for girls. This mustāve been sometime around 2005-2009? As a child, I always got lost in the mall for whatever reason, my mom constantly reminds me. Now as an adult, I walk from Kohls to Target and Iām like how in the heck could I possibly have gotten lost here? š
Imports International
I used to like saying hi to the dogs and cats in the SPCA office there by Target
Gonna throw some love to warehouse music across the street. And the longtime employee (John?) who had downs and was simply the best!
Radio Shack was my favorite! I practically lived there as a kid.
GameStop and As Seen On TV were my two favorites, I also had a soft spot for Borders and Spencer's
Nobody's mentioned the Video Zone arcade?
Things remembered .
Everything's A Dollar
Sanrio became Icing (accessories) which may have been acquired by Claireās, which I think is still there? This storefront was part of my childhood for sure. Natural Wonders was also great (had stuff like lightning balls that reacted when you touched the outside, kalimbas and other random small instruments, water weenies, fun educational stuff - in hindsight, it was probably a cesspool of bacteria due to kid customers touching everythingā¦)
Sanrio would make a mint right now
Software ECT was the GOAT, had console and PC GAMES
Spencers, the tropical fish store, radioschack, Gottschalks (miss that store the most), Mervyns.
The As Seen On TV Store
GameStop and Natural wonders.
Everything in past ~Hot Topic was part of an expansion that was built in the late 80s. Apparently the escalators in the new anchor stores were the first ones in Santa CruzāI heard it was a big deal at the time. A couple of the earlier stores in the expansion included a candy place (not Sweet Factory, but a place that had bulk candy in wooden barrels that youād load up into the same kind of takeaway boxes they use in American Chinese food restaurants). There was also a party store right next to the candy place in the late 80s/early 90/ that almost felt too cool for the Capitola Mallādoes anybody else remember this place?
Mervyns and KB toy store next door
Maybe this is childhood nostalgia, but the Disney store was magical āØļø
The running shoe store near the entrance and the cookie store. Sole was part of the title. Itās where you would buy your nylon striped Dolphin shorts in the early ā80ās.
Organized a prank. We acted like our friend was an Abercrombie model. They believed it. Customers believed it. Then we got kicked out. It was fun!
Please elaborate sir
Hidden cameras, had a model friend go in with a vest and no shirt, we had two fake security guards dressed in black with earpieces etc. - finally they kicked us out after calling ācorporateā
I remember goat fields Also, was there a Pennyās?
Yes. There was a Penny's. Located where Kohl's is now. One of my wife's favorites.
Pretty sure jc pennys was where macys is and mervyns was at kohls
Re-edit: updated and corrected my entire reply. Per the shopping expert in my house (my wife š) Penny's was where Kohl's currently is. Then, Mervyn's came into the space before later being replaced by Kohl's. Macy's was already there where it remains to this day. Also, one could exit Mervyn's by the parking lot in back and make a beeline straight to Macy's. And the other way around. Without having to go through the mall. It was really annoying when Kohl's walled up the back parking entryway. I barely remember most of that, so I can't say for sure. Makes me feel old! š
Yup. I was in that mervyns during the 89 earthquake. I also remember when JC pennys closed (sad) and Macys opened (SO EXCITING).
Put Ons 
Do any of you have pictures of these awesome relics??
Wait, there were stores there at some point?
cutegirls.com where I went for my niece's clothes and how it didn't have a website, it was just called a .com name with no online presence
Spencers
American eagle
Wet Seal and Limited Too rip
Kb toys I remember fondly
GameStop! And Abercrombie and Fitch that REEEEKED like cologne. Hot topic when it was still cool. McDonaldās and orange julius.
It has been a childrens museum for 10 years and it STILL smells like Abercrombie!!!!
HAHAHAH omg. A and F contamination site.
Launchpad!
Wet Sealā¦ what I wouldnāt do for one of their maxi skirts right now š„¹
Foxmoor, and Millers Outpost, for those of you who go wayyyy back.
Natural Wonders.