Parkway Plaza, formerly known as Westfield Parkway, is a shopping mall in El Cajon, California.OwnershipWestfield America, Inc., a precursor to Westfield Group, acquired the shopping center in 1998, and renamed it Westfield Shoppingtown Parkway, but dropped the "Shoppingtown" part of the name in June 2005. In 2013, Starwood Retail Partners obtained the mall, renaming the mall to its current name, Parkway Plaza.OpeningParkway Plaza was the second indoor shopping center to be built in the San Diego County, opening in the early-1970s shortly after Plaza Camino Real, in Carlsbad. Constructing an indoor mall was ideal for the area, as El Cajon, its host city, is notably hot during summers. Since opening the mall, Parkway Plaza has expanded as necessary.Sears Roebuck opened first, on the West edge of the property, in the 1969-1970 timeframe, as a freestanding anchor. The mall was built shortly thereafter, attaching to its East side. May Company originally anchored the mall's East end and a large Woolworth's maintained the middle anchor position on the South side. A 3 screen movie triplex was located on the South side of the mall as was a Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor, near May Co. The grand entrance on the North side featured an iconic-contemporary geometric roof, the surface of which has been altered over the years and did not originally feature branding. A simple understated illuminated red sign that stated "Parkway Plaza", along with a unique logo, was displayed on the brickwork to the right of the entrance. Initially, with the exception of Farrell's and the theaters, small-shop storefronts were not featured anywhere on the exterior of the mall; only large sloping planters that served to hide the loading docks of the various shops. The interior featured skylights and a 1970s contemporary decor, with numerous built-in planters and seating throughout.
