Lloyd Center

Portland, Oregon. 1960's

Many thanks to reader, Rob Dunn, for submitting the great postcard above of the stairway in the East Mall location of Lloyd Center! Thanks for taking the time to share Rob. :) Current site.


1960's

Toyland. In some of my earliest toy/dime store memories, this is what they looked like.

Florence Mall

Florence, Kentucky - 1970's (I think)

I love this dreamy photo. This Southern mall looks like a lush 1970's fantasyland here! Almost the way most living rooms looked in those days, actually--throw a TV in front of that couch and we're home! Heck, now that I mention it, I'd be more than happy to live here. :) Current website.

Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center

Waikiki, Hawaii - Early 80's

"Where Aloha Comes Alive!" Now THAT is a beautiful fountain! Yeah, I have to admit, this does look like Paradise. Current website.

Music to shop by!

1960's Kresge stores background music--click here to cue the muzak! (off-site)

Hey everyone out there in retro Shopping Land! Today I'm sharing this great find (link is above) from the archives of one of my favorite weird/odd music sites, Oddio Overplay. This is beautiful stuff. Rescued from a department store demolition site is this recording of genuine 1960's in-store MUZAK! This was played in the background of Kresge department stores (anyone else remember those?) back in the said '60s, and is the very music you might well have heard as you and mom wandered the aisles back then.

This particular recording is simply titled "Background Music No. 123" (if anyone out there has more in the series--or anything else at all like this--please drop me a line!), but what great music this is, especially for the wonderful images and warm memories it evokes.

The recording was created by Special Recordings Inc., in Detroit (yeah baby, the Motor City!), for the S. S. Kresge Company. Keep in mind this note from the originating site: "This record is in the worst condition. Recommending that you not play it with headphones." Good advice.

Enjoy, and happy retro shopping everyone!

Los Cerritos Shopping Center

Cerritos, California - Early '70s

The only mall I've seen with stained glass on the cieling! Stunning. Current website.

King of Prussia Mall

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. 1960's

Current website.

Southland Mall

Memphis, Tennessee. 1960's

"The beautiful and new Southland Mall! Year round shopping in 72-degree comfort."

Pompano Fashion Square Mall

Pompano Beach, Florida. 1960's (I believe)

Briarwood Mall

Ann Arbor, Michigan. Late '70s--early '80s.

This mall just got its overdue (according to the owners) modern-day makeover and remodel a couple years back. Before that, the interior had managed to remain largely unchanged from its funky out-dated '70s look. But they decided to change all that and now it's updated like all the other malls. Whoopee.

They do still have some nice fountains, though. And hey, does anyone know if this cool sculpture is still there?

Current website.

The Mall Shopping Center

Horseheads New York. 1960's

I really wish I could go back in time, don't you? Don't you wish I could go back in time? A mall like this, back in the '60s, would be one of the first places I'd head for!

And those ugly, tacky plants there around the walkway! Looks like a yucky swamp under there. And yet, to my eyes, it's beautiful all the same. :)

Towne East Square Mall

Wichita, Kansas. 1980

Wow, look at that! Look real close. Kids get to ride little bikes around that miniature town in the middle of the mall! Now that is really cool.

At first I thought this was a miniature golf course there, which I already thought was a neat idea for the inside of a shopping mall. But then I looked closer and realized it's actually a miniature tricycle riding course! That's even better. I can't imagine they still have this there.

Current website.

Aurora Village

Seattle, Washington. Early '60s

The gleaming oasis beckons with its siren call. If you build it, they will come...

Granite Run Mall

Media, Pennsylvania. 1970's

Man, Pennsylvania sure had a lot of shopping malls (still does)! This is a 2-level "super-regional" mall that is still there today. Current website.

Crossroads Shopping Center

Omaha, Nebraska. 1960's

Neshaminy Mall

Bensalem, Pennsylvania. 1960's

Brrr! Looks like a cold mall in this shot. But then I like 'em cold and dreary.

Here's their current website.