Anchoring HARDING MALL was a Nashville-based Castner-Knott. The original store, opened in March 1966, consisted of a single level and 57,500 square feet. It was expanded -to 2 levels and 107,500 square feet- as part of a 1973 renovation.

Drawing from the Mercantile Stores Company  

A rare peek inside the HARDING MALL Castner-Knott shows the Ladies' Sportswear department. 

Photo from Mercantile Stores Company, Incorporated Annual Report 1966 

A circa-1969 site plan includes the new Capri Theatre. At this time, the shopping complex encompassed around 185,000 leasable square feet and housed twenty-two stores and services. Free parking was provided for 1,600 autos.

HARDING MALL TENANTS 1969:

CASTNER-KNOTT (with House & Garden Shop, Castner's Kettle restaurant and beauty salon)  / G.C. MURPHY 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / A & P supermarket / Baker & Baker Employment Service / Capri Theater (single screen) / Family Booterie / Firestone Auto Center / First American National Bank (outparcel) / Harding Mall Barber Shop / Harding Mall Grand Prix Raceway / Happiness House Books & Gifts / Jo-Ann Fabrics / Music Land of Harding Mall Record Shop / Radio Shack / State Farm Insurance Agency / The Flaming Pit Restaurant / The Happiness House Books, Gifts & Cards / Thom McAn Shoes / Togue Uchido Studio / Twenty-One, Limited apparel / Walgreen Drug (with Walgreen Grill) / Webster Clothes For Men