Sunrise Mall (Citrus Heights, California)

One of the entrances to Sunrise Mall
An indoor view looking in the direction of the food court

Sunrise Mall is a single-level regional shopping mall located at the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights, California, United States in the Sacramento metropolitan area. It is one of the area’s largest and most successful enclosed super regional shopping centers. The mall is the centerpiece of the Sunrise MarketPlace shopping district in Citrus Heights, which provides the city with a hearty economy based on sales. Sunrise Mall is accessible from I-80 or Highway 50 from most locations in the greater Sacramento area.

History

Sunrise Mall was constructed in 1971 and was originally anchored by J. C. Penney, Liberty House, Sears, and Weinstock's. Liberty House shuttered operations in 1984 and a Macy's (the current Women's store) opened in its place shortly thereafter, moving some of its operations from Birdcage Walk (now the Marketplace at Birdcage), a competing shopping center across Sunrise Boulevard. In 1996, Weinstock's was converted into a second Macy's (the current Men's & Home store), moving the rest of its operations from Birdcage. In 1999, Sunrise Mall underwent an extensive interior renovation for the first time, and in 2007, a 500-seat food court with a fireplace was added in the corridor between J. C. Penney and Macy's Men's & Home.[1] In January 2008, Steadfast Companies acquired the mall from the original owners.

World TeamTennis

Overhead view of the Sacramento Capitals Game

The World TeamTennis (WTT) Pro League returned to Sunrise Mall July 8 for the first home match of the 2011 season. Sunrise Mall had lost this asset in 2007, when the Sacramento Capitals moved to nearby Westfield Galleria at Roseville. Many fans have followed the Capitals as they’ve moved from the Sunrise Mall to Roseville’s Galleria and back. The team was very involved in the community and gave over a million dollars back to the community throughout the time they were in Sacramento.

The 2011 team included world class players Mardy Fish, Vania King, Mark Knowles, Dusan Vemic, Christina Fusano, Nick Monroe and Sacramento’s own Yasmin Schnack. Wayne Bryan coached the team. In previous years, the WTT had guest players such as Andre Agassi and Anna Kournikova appear in Sacramento. In 2011, Serena Williams played against the Sacramento Capitals in front of a sold-out crowd.

2011 marked the 26th year that the Sacramento Capitals were part of WTT. Along with the growth of tennis all around the country, fan support grew over the years. Nine teams made up the 2011 WTT Pro League season, sponsored by GEICO. The short season ran from July 4 to July 24.

WTT did a lot to keep fans in the game including soliciting support by giving away Capitals merchandise, Sunrise Mall gift cards and other fun prizes. T-shirts and other items were thrown into the audience during breaks.

In addition, vendors were set up to sell food, drinks and tennis merchandise for the event. Activities and play areas for kids were set up and a live band played beforehand and performed the national anthem. DJ music was even played over the PA system, getting some fans to dance in the stands.

The Sunrise MarketPlace, Sunrise Mall and the Capitals enjoyed a wonderful partnership that brought six WTT championships to Sacramento.[2]

On February 4, 2014, the Capitals, after 28 seasons in Sacramento, announced their move to Las Vegas. The team was renamed the Las Vegas Neon.[3] The new Las Vegas team was shut down a few weeks later, before it even started after owner Deepal Wannakuwatte was arrested for running a Ponzi scheme.[4]

On February 23, 2015, WTT announced that a new ownership group had taken control of the Texas Wild and moved the team to Sunrise Mall, renaming it the California Dream.[5]

Reference List

  1. ↑ http://www.steadfastcompanies.com/images/divisions/commercial/sm_fact_sheet.pdf
  2. ↑ http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/53188/Sacramento_Capitals_Open_26th_Year_of_Play
  3. ↑ http://www.sacbee.com/2014/02/04/6128186/after-28-seasons-capitals-of-moving.html
  4. ↑ STEVE CARP LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. "League pulls plug on Las Vegas tennis franchise". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  5. ↑ "Mylan World TeamTennis Returns to Sacramento Area in 2015 with California Dream". World TeamTennis. February 23, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2015.

External links

Coordinates: 38°40′30″N 121°16′08″W / 38.67497°N 121.26901°W