Vintage Postcards Capture Shopping Malls of the U.S. in the Mid-20th Century
Alabama. Eastwood Mall, Birmingham
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
Arizona. Court Of Birds, Chris-Town Shopping Center, Phoenix
Arizona. Thomas Mall, Phoenix
Arizona. West Mall, Chris-Twown Shopping Center, Phoenix
California. Eastland Shopping Center, West Covina
California. Escondido Village
California. Rain Fountain, Topanga Plaza, Canoga Park
California. Riverside Plaza, Riverside
Colorado. Cinderella City, Shopping Center, Englewood
Colorado. Kiddie Shop, Cinderella City, Shamrock Mall, Englewood
Connecticut. Shopping Center At Hamden
Florida. Altamonte Mall, Orlando
Florida. Edison Mall, Fort Myers
Florida. Illuminated Waterfall, Palm Beach Mall
Florida. Northgate Shopping Center, Winter Haven
Florida. Pompano Fashion Square Mall, Pompano Beach
Florida. Regency Square Shopping Center, Jacksonville
Florida. Southgate Shopping Center, Lakeland
Florida. West Shore Shopping Plaza, Tampa
Florida. Winter Park Mall
Hawaii. Ala Moana Shopping Center, Honolulu
Hawaii. Fort Street Mall, Honolulu
Illinois. Dixie Square Wonderfall, Mall, Harvey
Maine. Shopping Center, Bangor
Maryland. 64th Street Shopping Center, Ocean City
Michigan. Eastland Center, Harper Woods
Michigan. Northland Center, Detroit
Michigan. West Court, Westland Center, Wayne
Michigan. Westland Center, Wayne
Michigan. Woodland Mall, Grand Rapids
Minnesota. Shopping Center, Minneapolis
Mississippi. Edgewater Plaza Shopping City, Biloxi
Missouri. The Landing Shopping Center, Kansas City
New York. “Clock of the Nations”, Midtown Plaza Mall, Rochester
New York. Delaware Plaza Shopping Center, Albany
New York. Fountains & Bridge, The Mall, Horseheads
New York. Midtown Plaza Mall, Rochester
New York. Midtown Plaza Mall, Rochester
New York. Midtown Plaza Mall, Rochester
New York. Summit Park Mall, Niagara Falls
New York. The Mall, Horseheads
Oregon. Regional Center, “Climate-Controlled Mall”, Portland
Oregon. The Lloyd Center, Portland
Pennsylvania. King of Prussia Plaza
Pennsylvania. McKnight Village Shopping Center, Pittsburgh
Texas. Beaumont Village Shopping Center, Beaumont
Texas. Northpark Shopping Center, Dallas
Washington. Federal Shopping Way
Washington. Valley North Shopping Center, Wenatchee
