Cortez Plaza Shopping Center

Bradenton, Florida - December 6, 1978

Arches in an entryway are under construction as remodeling work goes on at the Cortez Plaza Shopping Center in 1978. A sign welcomes shoppers to "Ye Old Entry to the Mall". I love it! :D

Visible nearby to the North East on the aerial link below, is Desoto Square Mall.

Mall history: 1960s - present
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Resource articles: 1, 2, 3
Previous entries: 1

(image courtesy the Manatee County Public Library Historic Photograph Collection)

River Oaks Center Mall

Calumet City, Illinois - circa 1966

View looking towards a portion of the River Oaks Center Mall, around the time it first opened. A Fabric Mart store can be seen on the right, as we gaze past a central open-air court area. See the Wikipedia link below for the full history of this mall. Thanks very much to, Paul Mcvay, for submitting this great shot of a mall I've not yet covered here!

Mall history: 1966 - present
Developer: KLC Ventures
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Info from Wikipedia
Previous entries: none

Vintage Korvettes store TV commercial

Korvettes - 1970s

Behold, a vintage '70s Korvettes store commercial! And get a load of all the groovy old stereos, radios, TV sets and stuff! Yep, this was back in the day when going to the store was still cool. Dang cool. And Korvettes discount stores were some of the coolest around in their day--at least to my young eyes they were.

Note: Video is Flash format. If you don't see it, you must temporarily disable your ad-blocking programs.

May Company Store sign

University Heights, Ohio - 1957

Wonderful old May Co. department store sign (with bell!) in University Heights, Ohio. What a great and unique design. I had never seen one like this before (but then, I've never followed May stores much).

According to this info at Wikipedia and elsewhere, it appears that (if I'm piecing it all together correctly) this original May store became a Kaufmann's in 2002, and is currently being converted into a Macy's (Wikipedia shows 9/9/2006, as the actual finished conversion date), as the enitre site has undergone a complete redevelopment to form the new outdoor regional shopping center, University Square. Or something like that anyway--it's quite a tangled web, this story, lol.

But the logistics and dates aside, I just thought this great sign was worth gazing at today.

Mall history: n/a
Current website: n/a
Current aerial view
Resource articles: 1, 2, 3
Previous entries: none

(photos courtesy & © Special Collections, Cleveland State University Library)

East Hills Shopping Center

Orem, Utah(?) - circa 1970s

I was told this postcard depicts the East Hills Shopping Center in "Orem, UT", but I can't find any reference or shred of evidence online, showing it ever existed there. The main one that turns up in all my searches is a mall by the same name in St. Joseph, Missouri, no mentions anywhere of one in Orem. Weird. I wonder if the person I got this from is mistaken about that. But I'll go with this information till I hear otherwise.

So does anyone out there know for sure if there ever was (is?) an East Hills Shopping Center in Orem, Utah, at least into the 1970s (or before)? If so, then there certainly doesn't appear to be much info about it online. Consequently, I have nothing to list below for its history. If it turns out to be the mall in Missouri, I'll update this post with that mall's reference information later.

At any rate, it's still a dang cool shot we have here of the Montgomery Ward anchor, and a Safeway, just barely visible on the far left (see the tell-tale logo?). As well, I like the swanky interior shot, too. Cool looking mall! Just need to know exactly where it is now. :)

The Landing Mall

Kansas City, Missouri - 1960's

Probably one of the coolest shopping mall entrances I've seen! And even though I'm sure this great sign isn't still around, at least the memories, and photos like this, are (thanks to MOA reader, Doug Riley, for the tip on this shot!).

As for this mall, The Landing, I couldn't find much more than passing mentions of it online, nor could I spot an official website either, so I don't have a lot of info to add for it. If anyone else knows more, please comment or e-mail me.

Anyway, the above postcard comes from this Flickr set, and while I personally don't much care for Flickr as a photographic presentation platform (which is why I blog and don't choose to put my stuff on there, as some have requested I do), there are some nice vintage roadside photos in this collection, nonetheless! I'll note that I did do some overall spot-removal and cleanup on the original image, as well as some color/contrast adjusting, as the scan was a little too muddy. I think it looks better now.

Mall history: 1960 - present
Current website: n/a
Current aerial view
Previous entries: 1

Deptford Mall

Deptford, New Jersey - 1970s(?)

Hmm... Sort of strange looking fountains in Deptford Mall, aren't they? Still, cool little array, though! I really like how they have the fountain basins tiered like that. You can barely see a larger one just out of camera range in the foreground underneath the smaller two. Nice. Wonder how they looked at night (and are they still there?).

Mall history: 1975 - present
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Resource articles: 1, 2
Previous entries: none

Dadeland Mall

Miami, Florida - circa 1960s

This colorful postcard image features a beautiful fountain outside of Dadeland Mall, in Miami.

History: 1962 - present
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Info from Wikipedia
Previous entries: 1, 2

Vintage Dixie Square Mall map

I posted this directory map of the Dixie Square Mall in Harvey, Illinois, before but here is an upgraded version that was kindly sent to me by, Paul Mcvay, director of the upcoming documentary, Dixie Square, from Paw Filmworks (to the right is a blowup image I'm also adding for our reference, to make the store layout details and text easier to study and read). Paul wrote:

"I noticed you had a copy of the mall map from 1966 included in your post. It looks as though someone has altered it a bit, for some unknown reason.

I have included two attachments here of a fresh scan I did today of the same mall map but this one is from 1968. This map has previously not made the rounds online and infact isn't even available on anybody's website because the only remaining copy is in my posession. I thought I would share it with you and the Malls Of America group before anyone else.

The map differs quite a bit as far as the store listings and is a much better scan than the 1966 version (which originally came from Harvey, Illinois Historian Debbie Lundmark and has been copied a million times since she originally scanned it about 6 years ago). Hope you and the Malls Of America group enjoy it."

We will, Paul. Thanks again for taking the time to share it (exclusively) with us! I really do appreciate it and continue to look forward to the documentary when it's finally complete this Fall (hopefully). :)

Mall history: 1966 - 1978 (dead)
Architect: Hornbach & Steenwyk
Fan website: here
Current aerial view
Info from Wikipedia
Previous entries: 1, 2, 3, 4

Lloyd Center Mall jewelry store

Portland, Oregon - circa 1960s

The sparkling, swinging '60s interior of the Stevens & Son jewelry store in Lloyd Center Mall, dubbed in those days: "The world's largest shopping center jewelry store". Bet there's a lot of great vintage bling in there.

Mall history: 1960 - present
Current website: here
Info from Wikipedia
Current aerial view
Previous entries: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Retro Video - Dime Store Odyssey

"Dime Store Odyssey"

Found this short vintage 1960s public domain footage of a woman browsing in an old dime store, it appears. The original film is silent, so I thought it'd be fun to add some music to it and see what happens. Much better, I think.

This film actually has the title, "Dollar Store #2", attached to it by whoever uploaded it to Archive.org, but I'm not so sure about that. It looks more like a dime store to me, so whatever, at least for the purposes of my little video mix, I dubbed it, Dime Store Odyssey, which sounds cooler than Dollar Store #2 anyway.

You can tell this was actually raw footage, probably taken from a local TV commercial shoot, as the woman just kind of walks aimlessy around the store touching stuff, and most of the shots get numerous takes one after the other. Not too exciting to some maybe, but the old store interior and merchandise is pretty cool to watch if you ask me. Nothing fancy but I hope you guys dig it!

Note: Video is Flash format. If you don't see it, you must temporarily disable your ad-blocking programs.

Larwin Plaza Shopping Center

Vallejo, California - circa 1960s(?)

Here's a picturesque little scene outside the Kresge and Sears stores at the old Larwin Plaza, which is now called Vallejo Plaza Shopping Center, as far as I can tell. Found no official website for the place, nor any information re: the year it originally opened (under the Larwin Plaza name), but I believe the name was changed to Vallejo Plaza around 1981, according to the Retail Traffic article I cite below.

At any rate, it's a pretty nifty shot, that much I do know for sure!

Mall history: n/a
Current website: n/a
Current aerial view
Resource articles: 1, 2
Previous entries: none

Southside Plaza Shopping Center

Richmond, Virginia - circa 1950s

Colorful little shopping center (especially that groovy looking GC Murphy Company store!), that, while not really an enclosed shopping mall, still looks cool enough to post here, me thinks.

Besides, I just love any kind of retail center with the word "plaza" in its title. I really do. :)

Mall history: n/a
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Previous entries: none

DeSoto Square Mall - Vintage Denim

Bradenton, Florida - photos March, 1974

This guy's here to chew bubblegum and wear denim--and he's all out of bubblegum!

Yeah, in the 1970s, real men wore flannel shirts and denim jeans--and this County Seat clothing store worker in DeSoto Square Mall is certainly up to his armpits in it, as he tends the Levi's stock. Apparently he's not only the manager, he's also a client.

Mall history: 1973 - present
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Previous entries: 1

(image courtesy the Manatee County Public Library Historic Photograph Collection)

New Comment Index: August 11-17, 2006

Here are all the posts that received new comments last week! (newest entry date to oldest)

Feel free to dig into past entries and add to the latest discussions and information yourself, so the archive of shopping mall memories and details here will continue to grow and be even more useful as a resource for vintage-era mall information and first-hand accounts.

• Northshore Mall (8/17/2006)
• Department Store Escalators Study (8/17/2006)
• The Arcade Shopping Mall (8/17/2006)
• Westfarms Mall (8/17/2006)
• Rheem Shopping Center (8/15/2006)
• Big Town Mall (8/15/2006)
• Anaheim Plaza Shopping Center (8/14/2006)
• Northgate Mall (8/14/2006)
• Palm Beach Mall (8/14/2006)
• Gulfgate Shopping Center (8/14/2006)
• North Port Charlotte Plaza (8/13/2006)
• Rogers Plaza (8/13/2006)
• Abandoned mall art (8/10/2006)
• More interactive mall floor displays (8/10/2006)
• Lloyd Center Mall Ice Rink (8/10/2006)
• Belden Village Mall (8/10/2006)
• Glendale Center Mall (8/09/2006)
• Westland Center (8/08/2006)
• Northway Mall - Birdcage (8/07/2006)
• Tri-City Mall (8/07/2006)
• Harundale Mall (8/03/2006)
• Oxford Valley Mall (8/03/2006)
• Mall del Norte (7/31/2006)
• Retro Video - The Front Line (1965) (7/29/2006)
• Dixie Square "The Dead Mall" Promo (7/28/2006)
• Tacoma Mall (7/27/2006)
• Midtown Plaza mall "Clock of the Nations" (7/21/2006)
• Pompano Fashion Square Mall (7/18/2006)
• Somerset Mall (7/12/2006)
• Tacoma Mall (7/10/2006)
• Windsor Park Mall - "The Final Call" (3/28/2006)
• Macon Mall (12/19/2005)
• Lenox Square Mall (10/23/2005)
• King of Prussia Plaza (10/21/2005)
• King of Prussia Mall (7/21/2005)
• Pompano Fashion Square Mall (7/18/2005)
• Granite Run Mall (7/07/2005)
• Neshaminy Mall (7/05/2005)
• Ford City Shopping Center (6/23/2005)
• Golf Mill Shopping Center (6/15/2006)

Parmatown Mall May Compay

Parma, Ohio - 1968


Parma, Ohio - 1981

Here are shimmering examples of what class used to look like at the shopping mall. I give you two different views of the entrance to the May Co. department store in Parmatown Mall--one from 1968, and one from 1981. The first photo certainly reflects a more '60s vintage-era design aesthetic and feel, while the second, looks more modern and groovy, almost spacey, coming out of the 1970s.

You should be weeping now looking at these.

Mall history: 1962 - present
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Resource articles: 1, 2
Previous entries: none

(photos courtesy & © Special Collections, Cleveland State University Library)

Consumerism: the Wal-Mart documentary

"Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price"

Fascinating 2005 documentary by Robert Greenwald, about the Wal-Mart chain and their dominance of the American retail landscape. People differ on which side of the fence they sit on this one--some love the Wal-Mart, some just loathe it--I'm simply putting the film here for your own consideration and study, and leaving the conclusions up to you. There are valid points on both sides of the debate, of course.

Personally, I'm on no vehement crusade, particularly, to have all Wal-Marts everywhere shut down (like some people are--and more power to ya), but obviously, as a lover of all-things-vintage in this world; from the local American malls and stores I grew up with, down to retro architecture around town in general, I don't dig the idea of the same generic behemoth chain store sitting on every stinkin' corner you look--especially, especially when they have to demolish all my beloved old shopping malls, local corner stores, and drive-in theaters to do it! Uh-uh. That's where I do draw the line personally.

So in that sense and in those circumstances, yes, count me as against a retail "blob" rolling across the world and putting everyone else out of business, gobbling up all the land and old buildings in its fat, blobby path! Yeah, I'm against that.

But anyway, wherever you stand on the issue, this is a very interesting and fun documentary, nonetheless, and does have a bearing here at MOA, as we struggle to answer the question many of us ask ourselves more and more these days: "Where are all the shopping malls going??!"

Well, the truth is, many have been (and are being) demolished to make way for more Wal-Marts, man.

Official film website: here
Wal-Mart homepage
Resource articles: 1, 2
Buy the DVD and read reviews at Amazon

Note: Video is Flash format. If you don't see it, you must temporarily disable your ad-blocking programs.

Oakbrook Center

Oak Brook, Illinois - photos circa 1962

Here are two very choice retro photographs, showing some of the famous courtyard areas at the Oakbrook shopping center in 1962.

Update: Made a date correction on the first picture. Both are from '62.

History: 1962 - present
Architect: Richard Marsh Bennett
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Previous entries: 1, 2, 3

(photos courtesy of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries)

Bellevue Square Mall - Unreal map

Bellevue, Washington

And now for something completely different. Here's a really cool video I came across recently, of the Bellevue Square mall, modeled in 3D, utilizing the Unreal Engine, which is a video game engine used to power the popular computer action shooter game of the same name, Unreal Tournament. It [the map] was put together by students at Bellevue Community College, in Washington.

Now I'm a huge computer game fan & player (have played more than my share of UT2004, among many others!), so this is right down the old snot-locker for me (sorry, that's pilot talk. I've also played too many air combat games over the years as well, hehe). Anyway, I think it's pretty neat, especially considering the fact that I've long been doing "virtual" mall map experiments along these same lines myself over the years, using several different gaming engines--with varying results.

Mall history: 1946 - present
Developer: Kemper Freeman Sr.
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Info from Wikipedia
Resource articles: 1, 2, 3
Previous entries: none

Note: Video is Flash format. If you don't see it, you must temporarily disable your ad-blocking programs.

Normandale Shopping City

Montgomery, Alabama - circa 1959

Aerial view of The Normandale Shopping Center (originally Normandale Shopping City).Couldn't find an official, dedicated website for the mall, though it seems like there should be one. Anyway, here's a little background detail from LoopNet.com:

"For all those familiar with Montgomery, The Normandale Shopping Center is the place to shop and has its presence deep in the fabric of Montgomery culture. With aggressive new management and leasing, The Normandale Shopping Mall is pleased to present this opportunity to retailers to become an anchor in the most recognized and famous shopping center in the area. The Normandale Shopping Center, built in 1952, was Alabama's first shopping center and continues to be cherished. The new national Ownership has big plans for the area, owner has received permits to build 64 upscale townhomes adjacent to the site as well as to expand the shopping center."

Mall history: 1954 - present
Developer: Aaron Morris Aronov
Current website: n/a
Current aerial view
Resource articles: 1, 2
Previous entries: none

Northshore Mall

Peabody, Massachusetts - circa 1960s

Northshore Mall (formerly the Northshore Shopping Center) is one of the largest shopping malls in New England, and this vintage postcard certainly captured it looking swell and on one heck of a beauiful day! Stores visible are a Filene's on the right, and a Jordan Marsh Company anchor store on the left--dig their nice script logo!

Mall history: 1958 - present
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Info from Wikipedia
Previous entries: none

Department Store Escalators Study

Well, if you like escalators (and who doesn't?), you'll like this. Here's some hot department store escalator action for you, via YouTuber, CoastersNSich, who provided this description for the video (and is way too much into escalators, lol):

"Riding the escalators at Famous-Barr in Downtown St. Louis. You will notice three different types of escalators. First, a modern Schindler escalator (used for floors 1-4) with glass balustrades, no more than 5 years old. Next, an earlier Westinghouse model (floor 4 to 5)with steel art deco-style balustrades and design. Finally, two wooden Otis escalators (Floors 5 to 7), possibly from the 1930s - wooden escalators but with steel steps.

Ever since my childhood, I've loved riding the many escalators in the big old downtown department stores - St. Louis is fortunate to have this one. This store is set to be rebranded as Macy's this fall as a result of the Federated-May merger."

Cool video, CoastersNSich! Though personally, I could think of better music to accompany the visuals if I had my druthers. But hey, it's your baby, you rock it. :)

Note: Video is Flash format. If you don't see it, you must temporarily disable your ad-blocking programs.

The Arcade Shopping Mall

Nashville, Tennessee - circa 1970s

Opening in 1903(!), the enclosed two-story Nashville Arcade, inspired by the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele in Milan, Italy, is truly one of the nation's very first indoor shopping malls if ever there was one! And not much has changed there over the many years. Postcards and photos that date from its opening days and on into the '20s and '30s, all still pretty much look the same as this photo here.

"The Arcade is one of the oldest shopping arcades in the country and smells of roasted peanuts the minute you walk through the door" --Tennesseevacations.com

"Inner city under glass — The Arcade is a two-story shopping area with a glass roof between Fourth and Fifth Avenues near Printers Alley. It's been around since 1903, and it has a shadowy inner-city feel that sometimes has you clutching your wallet. But it does offer a real taste of the city." --USA Today

History: 1903 - present
Developer: Daniel C. Buntin
Current website: n/a
Current aerial view
Previous entries: none

Space Mall

(via www.mrboffo.com)

Westfarms Mall

Farmington, Connecticut - circa 1970s

Westfarms Mall interior photo. Yep, it's a Taubman mall. But of course, many of us can tell this by now at first glance, can't we? :)

Mall history: 1974 - present
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Resource articles: 1, 2
Previous entries: none

Big Town Mall

Mesquite, Texas - circa 1960s

Big Town, the first enclosed shopping mall in the Southwest, as well as the first enclosed, air-conditioned mall in Texas, began its date with destiny (the wrecking ball) last month, as wrecking crews began demolishing the structure. They estimate the job to be completed in September. There are no plans to redevelop it, nor any decision yet on what will take its place at the site. Thanks to MOA reader, Howard Wen, for the head's up on the demolition!

I enlarged the small interior inset photo on the postcard, so we could get a little better look inside. Also noticed this place had a great sign, too! See the Resource links below for in-depth history and info. Boy, I hate to see the old classic go.

Good Night Sweet Mall, And Flights of Angels Sing Thee to Thy Rest...

History: 1959 - 2006 (dead)
Current aerial view
Info from Wikipedia
Resource articles: 1, 2, 3, 4
Previous entries: none

Rheem Shopping Center

Moraga, California - 1960s

Just love this shot of the Rheem Shopping Center, nestled in the lush and picturesque (back then anyway) Rheem Valley. One of the more unique looking settings I've seen for a mall or shopping center--like the Gulf View Square Mall, for instance, which sits right on the edge of (and almost into!) the Gulf of Mexico, in Port Richey, Florida.

Mall history: mid '50s - present
Current website: n/a
Current aerial view
Previous entries: none

Anaheim Plaza Shopping Center

Anaheim, California - 1973

The Broadway department store and parking lot at the Anaheim Plaza mall, in Southern California. Thanks very much to, Paul Engel, for directing me to these great shots! This one above is pretty as a postcard (though it's not). Paul added:

"The Broadway department store and the outdoor center opened in 1955 [online sources indicate 1954 --Keith]. Robinson’s opened in 1963. The mall was enclosed in the mid-70’s and did well up until the Bullock’s Fashion Square (1958) in Santa Ana was enlarged, enclosed, and renamed MainPlace Santa Ana in the mid-80s. Robinson’s abandoned their Anaheim store in favor of MainPlace and Anaheim Plaza started its slow decline. The Broadway closed in the late 90’s and the entire mall was bulldozed. Today, itâ€