Hillsdale Shopping Center

Macy’s impulse which is located on the bottom floor. It’s the makeup a section of Macy. I’m not sure what the women name is but she has blonde short hair & works at impulse. She was so rude! Not friendly at all! She was worried about her makeup instead of helping us out. We wanted to do a color match of BareMinerals. She did help us, although she had this stuck up attitude going on. She looked like she hated her job. Her attitude is very ugly! Something that really annoyed me is how she would look at us. She starred at us, like we were stupid or something. She will be reason why I will not shopping at impulse anymore. Thank god! They are opening up a Sephora. I can NOT deal with makeup artist who are so stuck up. I didn’t say anything to her at the time because we were in a rush but next time, But I will speak up. Don’t go to impulse at Macy’s ! Go to Sephora!

Today was my first time shopping at this mall. I’ve been here maybe once or twice before to eat at Cheesecake Factory. My boyfriend and I came a bit late on a Saturday night, I think around 8 pm. It wasn’t busy at all and there were lots of parking spots.
The stores here are great! The Hollister here had a pair of jeans I’ve been wanting but couldn’t find my size in anywhere and of course I bought them. We also stopped by Forever 21 and found a top I bought months earlier in black (my favorite color) and I also took it home with me. We found out from an employee that it is the largest forever 21 in California! Pacsun had a large Brandy Melville section. I found a top in a design I’ve been looking for for awhile and a hat that I’ve been wanting forever but it was sold out everywhere else plus online!
I’d definitely be back again and take my girlfriends with me!

Eh this mall is alright. Just a few great stores, nothing really sticks out. I do like how the mall is wide open with plenty of ventilation! Nothing much I can say here. their H&M is great though!

As a mall Hillsdale is fine. It had a reasonable selection of decent stores, as well as some pretty solid places to eat down in the food court. I wouldn’t say anything here could be considered fine dining, but what else do you expect at a mall that most likely caters towards a younger crowd. You can get your usual pizza, burgers, whatever, but there are also a couple nice mediterranean restaurants as well as a boba shop.
There are plenty of places to sit and hang out while your kids/​loved ones spend hours upon hours trying on outfits that all look relatively the same, but the experience is further hampered by pretty terrible cell service. I’m on a Verizon plan, and do not get service in most areas of the mall. Certain spots like inside Macy’s seem to be worse than others. So if you plan on sitting around while you wait for people to try stuff on, scope out a spot with good service because you will probably be there a while.
I am a little bit disgruntled by the fact that the only public restrooms in the entire mall are on total opposite ends of the mall, so if you have to take a leak and are at say Nordstrom’s you will have to walk clear across the mall in either direction. It’s a little annoying, but not a huge deal.
Other then that it’s a decent place to spend an hour or two on a weekend, and never really feels that crowded. There is ample parking always, and even a couple cooler shops like the Lego store.

The selection is OK here. I mainly only go to H&M, Uniqlo, Gap, American Eagle, and Forever 21. They could manage to get a bathroom on both floors and do a better job maintaining it.
If you’re looking to charge your phone somewhere, go to the Gap on the 2^nd floor!

Hillsdale was out of the way for me and I never really came to this mall, but now that I work a few minutes away it is more convenient for me to stop by if I need to. There are not many stores that I would personally shop in. The Forever 21 is pretty huge and they have lots of product but sometimes I don’t walk out with one thing and it’s kinda weird. They have Nordstrom and Macy’s for more of the department store shopper.

Justin’s friend here. I like this mall for quick shopping. It has a fairly wide variety of stores like Mac, Apple, Nordstrom and Gap –staples of all malls. I usually shop online but for some reason most items out of stock have a high chance of being in stock at stores here. So if I don’t want to practice delayed gratification on an item, I check here. One can pick out a lip gloss then strut across to the other end to find shoes and saunter into Starbucks for a caramel macchiato with extra caramel for the road; get in and get out in 45 mins tops if you don’t allow the I-don’t-have-a-care-in-the-world walkers to slow you down, which this mall is infamous for. But, I see this trait as an attribute as it allows me to grab and go and prevent further boyfriend mope.
Otherwise, don’t come here without having seen or knowing exactly what you want. The shops are not designed for window shopping. Nordstrom is lackluster where the only plus is the beauty department. The selection of denim lacks the full collections of core brands such as Paige and j brand and boring are the tops. Gap is constantly missing a beat. Where are the revolution skinny jeans and classic cotton t-​shirts? Why did they rule those out of their inventory to replace them with graphic tees for impressing the «bad» boys at high school and poor-​quality striped dresses for casual church? Walking into h and m is like entering a quarantine box-​clothes sweating off hangers and racks (does anyone work here?), mirrors situated at the dreariest corners in the rooms designed to incite a «is that me?!» from the looker, and there’s nowhere to stand. Choice a, step on fallen clothes. Choice b, weave and dodge through racks on your way to another mirror lit by Lowes bogo bulbs.
By v.

This is a mall for women, like no joke. I’m not trying to be sexist or anything, but in general this mall is for women. There are shops of all sorts here. There are a couple of restaurants like Cheesecake factory or Paul Martins. There are a couple of chocolate shops, a couple of everything! But it’s not really a guy’s place. Yes, there are places like Nike, Vans, and Gamestop… But honestly it’s not a place that you can visit time and time again to just buy shoes. You’d be better off just finding another place to buy your shoes, that would probably be cheaper as well…
Things here are pretty expensive as well. Obviously it’s in a pretty wealthy neighborhood where everyone can afford to buy some sort of Tesla around here, but things are pretty expensive nonetheless.
You may or may not know this, but there is a high school that is a couple blocks away from the mall which results in tons of teenagers coming to hangout at the mall and do whatever. I’m not trying to imply something or throw you off coming here, but it is something that should definitely be noted.
It’s rumored that Sears is going to be torn down and rebuilt into a movie theater. I cannot validate any claims or rumors, as it has been rumored for years at the time that I am writing this. But if they do make a movie theater here in the place of Sears, it would boost up my thoughts and reviews of the place. But for now, it’s not the greatest place to go to if you want to go shopping.

HIllsdale Shopping Center has gone through some big changes the last few years. While they’ve made greater use of the empty space left by the closure of Mervyn’s by revamping it with H&M, Forever 21, and Cheesecake Factory, and also a bunch of other food options as well like Paul Martin and Gabriel & Daniel’s Mexican Grill, it hasn’t really done much in terms of adding more foot traffic. If you go on any random day, this place is almost like a ghost town.
On the south wing of the mall the closure of Macaroni Grill leaves a huge gap in the middle, but it seems that part is doing fine with the Barnes & Noble (one of the few storefronts left in the peninsula), DSW, The Counter, and Trader Joe’s. The main building here does look weird though because it was originally a mega Tower Records store.
Despite the shortcomings, I still like going shopping at Hillsdale from time to time. I find their Macy’s to have a more extensive selection of clothes compared to Serramonte and Stonestown so whenever I go there, I know I’m guaranteed to find something.

***2.5 stars***
geographically speaking, this mall is located in a central location, just off 101 & hillsdale, near 92 freeway, and roughly halfway between san francisco and san jose. there are quite a few restaurants to choose from, namely paul martin and outback steakhouse, as well as several well-​known, popular stores like macy’s, gap, banana republic, and uniqlo.
however, when compared to stanford shopping center in palo alto (just 12 miles south) and valley fair mall in san jose, this mall pales in comparison when you look at the store offerings and general layout. stanford has the outdoor, plein air look, anchored by several large department stores, while valley fair boasts four stories of shops, with renovated dining terrace.
hillsdale? they have a fraction of the stores that each of stanford & valley fair offers, with several of the key stores like old navy and barnes & noble standing solo outside of the main mall, forcing shoppers to have to go outside and cross the busy street, or forego it altogether if it is too cold or rainy.
my other gripe is that there is only one set of restrooms in this mall. i found out the hard way when i was here on black friday and ended up waiting over 10 minutes to use the restroom. there were 4 – 5 stalls in the ladies’ room, and at least 4 – 5 times that many women in line!
there is a large parking structure, split into 2 sections, i believe, but it’s quite difficult to find a space, any space, on a given weekend (black friday or not!) i often find myself driving in circles, and possible following other shoppers who appear to be leaving so that i might be able to snag their space.
even though i only live 15 minutes south of here, i don’t typically have many reasons to shop here, so my visits will remain few and far between, read 1 – 2 times per year.
if you’re looking for a better shopping experience, i’d recommend either stanford shopping center or valley fair mall.

Hillsdale is an okay mall if you are looking to do shopping at the traditional type mall stores. There are most of the major chains like GAP, BR, H&M, Macy’s and nordstrom. Not very many independent shops a la tanforan but mostly a mid range mall. Not as nice and large as valley fair but it will work when in the area. Food Choices in the food court are okay. Nothing great or standout-​ish. The Cheesecake factory here always has like an hour plus wait. Not sure why but it does.
This mall also has the worst cell signal inside. I’m not sure if it was made as a war bunker or something but I cannot get reception very well inside. I have verizon. This is pretty important if you are out shopping and want to compare prices online or do other web browsing type stuff like check sports scores. Luckily there are a few stores with free wifi where you can find some signal but I’m not sure what the deal is with the signal. Big drawback in my opinion.
Some positive stuff about this place.
Free parking that is usually pretty abundant.
Stores that you would normally shop.
Sometimes they have events in the center court for kids. The line for this gets ridiculously long so people do come for this. It is just pretty crazy.
So come shop if you needs some clothes or looking for a gift. If you are looking for an all day shopping extravaganza you are better off going to union sq or valley fair/​santana row.

This is a nice upscale mall with lots of stores, plenty of benches to sit and just a pleasant overall atmosphere.
The depressing food court is in serious need of an update however. You’ve got mostly no-​name places with the exception of Panda Express, Burger King and Hot Dog on a Stick and aside from Panda, you’ll never see a line any any of them. In fact here’s a panninni sandwich place that I have NEVER EVER seen a customer at in the dozens of times I’ve gone there. My understanding is that the building with Sears and the Food Court is due to be torn down /​remodeled.

Easily accessible via CalTrain, somewhat of a larger shopping center. Pretty large parking garage that is free which is a plus. Some of the stores are higher end while some are not. There are a few restaurants including Paul Martins and Cheesecake Factory. The mall is pretty clean itself and wide open spaces throughout the halls so it doesn’t get crowded and people aren’t bumping into going in and out of stores. I love the fact that they have Forever 21 and H&M which are my favorite to shop for since I buy on the lower end of pay scale. I would definitely make the visit across the street to the Old Navy, huge selection and great sales– very friendly staff as well :)

It’s always hard to find the restrooms here.
But the stores here are amazing with F21, H&M and some cute boutiques except for the lack of movie theater, Zara and Sephora. If you are a boba fan, the existence of Comebuy makes it a worthwhile trip. Lines are usually long but pretty fast.
Don’t bother coming here for food. They definitely need more options. Wouldn’t bother going to the food court unless it’s for the Mexican food there or Panda Express. The restaurants are always packed. We need more restaurants here please.
Know what will make the mall perfect? Bring Coffee Bean here! Sorry Starbucks.

Hillsdale Shopping Center is an okay mall. I’ve seen way worse malls but I’ve also seen a lot better malls. It does feel slightly tired and dated, and it is probably overdue for a makeover.
The stores that I would shop here include Uniqlo, Nordstrom, Ann Taylor, Gap, Banana Republic… that being said, it does feel like some staple mall stores are missing (e.g. Sephora) and I think the food court could use an update. It’s also tucked away in a weird corner of the mall, next to Sears, so unfortunately one part of Sears just perpetually smells like Panda Express.
I parked in the parking structure next to Sears. The spaces are quite tight so just keep that in mind if you have a gigantic car.

Over the last couple of years it has been really clear that Hillsdale no long wants to be a small town mall, rather they want to be more modern and upscale. This place will always be special to be as it was more of my «high school» mall but I find myself going less and less as I shop online more and malls can be difficult!
Lot’s of different store, Macy’s, Nordstrom, and lot’s of restaurants at every price point!

I’ve lived in the suburbs all my life, so I know a thing or two about malls.
Hillsdale doesn’t aim to be anything more than middle of the road, but in my opinion they don’t even get there. Even saying subpar seems too kind for this place on a random weekday afternoon, but I guess I’m just one 30-​something lady whose demographic shopping need isn’t even lightly skimmed here.
This is the first time I’d been to a shopping center that has a Nordstrom that was so low end. It was 82 degrees outside and sunny, and inside it’s somehow closer to 90. M’thinks they’re really budgeting their AC bill this time of year, which might be fine on some days, but on this day, walking through made you feel like you were at the point right before your fever breaks and then someone dumps a scolding bowl of sticky chili on your head. It’d be hard for them to make you feel any more uncomfortable.
Back to the Nordstrom… nothing to brag about. When did everything they sell get so boring? Did they get bought out by Old Navy and I didn’t get the memo?
The parking lots here was definitely designed by someone who wanted to see people suffer. Like, maybe they were waffling between going postal or making the most non-​sensical parking structure known to man, and went with the parking thing because they knew that in the long run it’d impact the general state of people’s mental stability more than the postal plan.
Stores inside seemed geared mostly towards tweens and then peppered with a few options for their parents but the quality on everything… I don’t know. I mean, I know it’s the same stuff that you’d get at these stores anywhere else, but the lighting just made everything look sooo sh*tty and like tissue paper sewn together with dental floss, and designed for one wear before being disposed of. Retail rejects… all of it. Never going back.

I like that this mall has lots of parking — and a Barnes and Noble across the street (my fave!)
I also like that its not too big to where you’re just overwhelmed and discouraged to shop really, out of being so tired. It’s just the right size. Try to avoid around the holidays because it gets really, really full.

This mall isn’t bad. It is really clean and it is never really crowded, it actually seems empty to me, which is more relaxing when shopping for christmas presents. There wasn’t a bunch of teenagers hanging out in groups like in other malls, so I prefer going here over Serremonte/​Tanforan even though those malls are closer to me.
They have all the necessary stores for women; Nordstrom, Forever, H & M, Bebe, etc. The food court is big and can always find a place to sit. The only thing I had a problem with was the bathroom situation. I only found one far away from the end of the mall, where Forever 21 is. The have a Cheesecake Factory here, which was ok if you wanna spend a lot for mediocre food, but I guess you can go here if you have to use the restroom while shopping. (Will review Cheesecake later). I took my baby here for a Santa pic and the line was pretty short. Service was easy and the customer service girl didn’t seem annoyed or stressed with all the children around and my crying baby. Santa looked a little creepy though. :) They also decorated the mall with nice Christmas decorations.

A decent mall… not bad nor great. I live blocks away so I visit here frequently.
The mall definitely need some exterior renovation and updates. It still has that old 1980’s vibe… especially the Macy’s and Sears.
Has all the shops I frequent-​Banana Republic, Williams Sonoma, Nordstrom, Khiels, Bath & Body Works, Apple, and Brookstone.
Good selection of food places too-​Auntie Anne’s, Andersen Bakery, Boudin, Godiva and the food court. The food court itself can have better fast food. It’s missing an ice cream store too.
I can see them trying very hard to upscale the place with its addition of Uniqlo, H&M, Paul Martins and Cheesecake Factory. But most of the smaller stores are simply, well, small and cramped. A renovation is needed.
Big plus is parking. It’s easier to find a space at this mall than others around the area. I usually park in the back on the second and third stories near Nordstrom.