By Sara Beth Williams– — With four major anchor retailers and at least 100 stores, Sunrise Mall hit its stride during the 80s and 90s. Doyle Phelan, who managed the mall for 23 years until 2008, said even the opening of the new Birdcage Walk shopping center across the street hardly impacted the revenue Sunrise Mall generated.
During a presentation on the history of Sunrise Mall at the Orangevale History Project, Phelan said there were few vacancies during his time as mall manager, and they were easily filled. Rent inside the mall was also four times the rent of suites located elsewhere on Sunrise Boulevard.
Sunrise Marketplace property and business improvement district Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter said as a single mom, Sunrise Mall was a special place for her and her daughter. “The Mall was the center of activity, where people connected, a place to create shared memories—a true community gathering place,” Carpenter said of Sunrise Mall’s legacy…