Hillsdale grew up around the mall. When Hillsdale Shopping Center opened in 1954 on old dairy-farm land, it helped turn this stretch of San Mateo into the busy shopping and dining hub locals still circle through today.
San Mateo Local lists 63 local, independent businesses in Hillsdale, San Mateo, from restaurants and shops to everyday services. Nobody pays to be listed.
The Hillsdale you know started with a shopping center. Developer David D. Bohannon assembled hundreds of acres here in the old Beresford district, later renamed Hillsdale, and in November 1954 opened Hillsdale Shopping Center on what had been a dairy farm. It was an open-air plaza of wide walkways and palm-lined paths built for the postwar car, anchored by a brand-new Macy's that opened its doors that November.
For a generation of locals, the heart of Hillsdale was not a department store, it was the Farmer's Market at the north end, past 31st Avenue. This open-air hall had a grocery, a produce section, a butcher, and one of the Peninsula's first international food courts, with spots people still name from memory: the Capri Room, a cocktail restaurant tucked in a corner, alongside the Hofbrau, the Steak Inn, and Chinese food. You would sit at round tables inlaid with the market's rooster logo, in blue vinyl bucket chairs, under round skylights that poured in the light. Plenty of people came as much to socialize as to shop, and more than one still remembers a grandmother who was there five days a week.
Over the decades the big anchors came and went. Sears, The Emporium, J.J. Newberry, and Mervyn's joined Macy's, and today Nordstrom holds down a corner. Locals still bring up the little things, like the wishing fountain near the stairs where you would toss in a coin, until it was removed in 1977 during the drought. The open-air center was enclosed into a two-level mall in 1981, and it has kept reinventing itself ever since, pivoting toward an experiential mix of dining, a movie theater, and shops as the newer Bay Meadows blocks filled in right next door.
Modern dim sum, Cantonese roast meats, and Peking duck from the Koi Palace team.
Family-owned, home-style Italian plates and classic pastas in a neighborhood setting.
Latin-American artisan bakery cafe known for alfajores and pastries, with coffee in a cozy setting.
Locally owned shop for customizable coffee, matcha, and energy drinks plus breakfast burritos and pastries.
Family-run neighborhood dive open daily until 2am with pool tables, bumper pool, Pac-Man, and a jukebox.
A family-owned frozen yogurt and ice cream shop serving San Mateo since 1985, open late every night with a wall of self-serve flavors and toppings.
A neighborhood coffee and tea spot near Hillsdale with espresso drinks, loose-leaf teas, and light bites.
Family Peruvian kitchen known for ceviche, seafood, and fried calamari, plus hearty beef and chicken plates.
European-style bakery for fresh pastries, breads, and sandwiches near Hillsdale.
A family-run Sicilian ice cream parlor on 37th Avenue, making ricotta and ice-cream cannoli, gelato, spumoni, and cassata since 1968.
Themed, story-driven escape rooms at Hillsdale for small groups.
A dine-in luxury cinema at Hillsdale with reclining seats and full food-and-drink service to your seat.
A combined bowling-and-bocce venue with an Italian-American bistro and an outdoor fire-pit patio at Hillsdale.
A child-sized pretend-play town at Hillsdale where kids ages two to seven take on roles like grocer, firefighter, and doctor.
A live game-show experience at Hillsdale Mall, teams compete through rounds of challenges.
The Hillsdale branch of the San Mateo Public Library, a neighborhood spot for books, holds pickup, kids programs, and free wifi near West Hillsdale Boulevard.
San Mateo's flagship mall with 130-plus stores, dining, and a luxury cinema, anchored by Nordstrom and Macy's.
A specialty grocery carrying Indian staples, spices, and South Asian and Middle Eastern goods.
An international grocery stocking Middle Eastern, Eastern European, and Mediterranean staples like olives, tahini, pickles, and imported pantry goods.
A Middle Eastern and Mediterranean market and deli established in 1992, known for halal meat, house-made hummus and falafel, and imported groceries.
A Central Asian specialty grocery and cafe on El Camino, with imported goods and a small cafe counter.
An inside-the-mall nail spa that welcomes walk-ins for manicures, pedicures, and fills with evening hours.
An independent auto repair shop specializing in European and imported vehicles.
A full-service independent veterinary clinic.
An optometry office on Hillsdale Mall.
An independent full-service dog and cat grooming salon on 37th Avenue.
63 local, independent spots in Hillsdale, San Mateo, and the list grows every week.
Hillsdale has a mix of local restaurants, shops, and services. Browse them above, or ask a local for a pick.
No. Nobody pays to be listed, and there are no chains. It's an honest guide, not an ad platform.
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