Vintage Postcards Capture Shopping Malls of the U.S. in the Mid-20th Century – Design You Trust

Vintage Postcards Capture Shopping Malls of the U.S. in the Mid-20th Century

Alabama. Eastwood Mall, Birmingham
1

The first shopping mall was technically an outdoor shopping plaza that opened in 1922 in Kansas City. However, the first indoor shopping mall that mirrored how we think of malls today was opened in 1956 in Edina, Minnesota. Malls were often anchored by a large department store with a cluster of other stores around it.

The mall was envisioned as a cultural and social center where people could come together and not only do their shopping but also make an activity of it. By 1960, there were more than 4,500 malls accounting for 14% of all retail sales.

h/t: vintag.es

Arizona. Chris-Town Shopping Centre, Phoenix
2

Arizona. Court Of Birds, Chris-Town Shopping Center, Phoenix
3

Arizona. Thomas Mall, Phoenix
4

Arizona. West Mall, Chris-Twown Shopping Center, Phoenix
5

California. Eastland Shopping Center, West Covina
6

California. Escondido Village
7

California. Rain Fountain, Topanga Plaza, Canoga Park
8

California. Riverside Plaza, Riverside
9

Colorado. Cinderella City, Shopping Center, Englewood
10

Colorado. Kiddie Shop, Cinderella City, Shamrock Mall, Englewood
11

Connecticut. Shopping Center At Hamden
12

Florida. Altamonte Mall, Orlando
13

Florida. Edison Mall, Fort Myers
14

Florida. Illuminated Waterfall, Palm Beach Mall
15

Florida. Northgate Shopping Center, Winter Haven
16

Florida. Pompano Fashion Square Mall, Pompano Beach
17

Florida. Regency Square Shopping Center, Jacksonville
18

Florida. Southgate Shopping Center, Lakeland
19

Florida. West Shore Shopping Plaza, Tampa
20

Florida. Winter Park Mall
21

Hawaii. Ala Moana Shopping Center, Honolulu
22

Hawaii. Fort Street Mall, Honolulu
23

Illinois. Dixie Square Wonderfall, Mall, Harvey
24

Maine. Shopping Center, Bangor
25

Maryland. 64th Street Shopping Center, Ocean City
26

Michigan. Eastland Center, Harper Woods
27

Michigan. Northland Center, Detroit
28

Michigan. West Court, Westland Center, Wayne
29

Michigan. Westland Center, Wayne
30

Michigan. Woodland Mall, Grand Rapids
31

Minnesota. Shopping Center, Minneapolis
32

Mississippi. Edgewater Plaza Shopping City, Biloxi
33

Missouri. The Landing Shopping Center, Kansas City
34

New York. “Clock of the Nations”, Midtown Plaza Mall, Rochester
35

New York. Delaware Plaza Shopping Center, Albany
36

New York. Fountains & Bridge, The Mall, Horseheads
37

New York. Midtown Plaza Mall, Rochester
38

New York. Midtown Plaza Mall, Rochester
39

New York. Midtown Plaza Mall, Rochester
40

New York. Summit Park Mall, Niagara Falls
41

New York. The Mall, Horseheads
42

Oregon. Regional Center, “Climate-Controlled Mall”, Portland
43

Oregon. The Lloyd Center, Portland
44

Pennsylvania. King of Prussia Plaza
45

Pennsylvania. McKnight Village Shopping Center, Pittsburgh
46

Texas. Beaumont Village Shopping Center, Beaumont
47

Texas. Northpark Shopping Center, Dallas
48

Washington. Federal Shopping Way
49

Washington. Valley North Shopping Center, Wenatchee
50

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