A fledgling PRAIRIE VILLAGE SHOPS is seen in this 1948 aerial view. 

Photo from The State Historical Society of Missouri / J.C. Nichols Company Scrapbook

A Pay-Less supermarket was a charter 1948 PRAIRIE VILLAGE tenant. This store was quickly outgrown. A new "Super Food Market" was built, which opened in September 1951.

Drawing from Pay-Less Stores, Incorporated

The first of four PRAIRIE VILLAGE site plans depicts the shopping center of early 1952. Building 1 (a.k.a. the Main Plaza) was completed in several stages, with the oldest sections shown in black. 

PRAIRIE VILLAGE SHOPS TENANTS 1952:

OPENED MAY-JULY 1948:

PAY-LESS supermarket / CLYDE SMITH 5 & 10 / Calvert's Beauty Salon / Ed Cox Bakery / Hannah Cleaners / John S. Watkins Drugs / M.A. Stevenson Plumbing (basement) / M & H Book & Gift / Robinson Shoe Company / Skelly Oil Company / Ziegler's Plainfield Cab

OPENED NOVEMBER 1948:

Hensler & Bollard Village Washerette / Joe Maseda's Toon Shop / Johnson County National Bank & Trust Company / Marcia Thompson's Infant's & Children's Wear / Pete Potter & Martha Grother Dress Shop / Robert N. Miller Hardware 

OPENED MAY 1949:

Johnson County National Bank & Trust Company # 2 (outparcel) 

OPENED 1951:

PAY-LESS supermarket # 2 / Prairie Village City Hall (basement) / Standard Oil service station (outparcel)

A series of contemporary PRAIRIE VILLAGE exterior views begins with Building 1 and the storefront originally leased by John S. Watkins Drugs. At the time of this snapshot, the space was occupied by Fleet Fleet Sports.

Photo from Johnson County, Kansas

Here, we see the southwest end of Building 1 and its Chico's dress shop.

Photo from Johnson County, Kansas

Comprising the southeast end of Building 1, this structure housed the center's second Pay-Less supermarket. The first Prairie Village City Hall was in its basement. Over the years, grocery stores have operated here under the Pay-Less, Safeway, Food Barn and Hen House Market nameplates. 

Photo from Johnson County, Kansas