Drawing from Federated Department Stores, Incorporated Annual Report 1955
An aerial of BIG TOWN MALL, looking southward. The Sanger Brothers (a.k.a. "Sanger's") anchor store is in the foreground with a Montgomery Ward off in the distance.
Photo from Oscar Slotboom / www.dfwfreeways.info
An aerial of BIG TOWN MALL, looking southward. The Sanger Brothers (a.k.a. "Sanger's") anchor store is in the foreground with a Montgomery Ward off in the distance.
Photo from Oscar Slotboom / www.dfwfreeways.info
Greater Dallas' BIG TOWN opened in February 1959 with much media fanfare. At the time, a fully-enclosed shopping mall was a big deal, as there were only two other regional-sized enclosed malls in the United States. The original BIG TOWN spanned 750,000 leasable square feet, housed forty-five stores and services, and had parking provisions for 4,000 autos.
BIG TOWN MALL TENANTS 1959:
SANGER BROTHERS / MONTGOMERY WARD (with freestanding Auto Center) / J.C. PENNEY / F.W. WOOLWORTH (with luncheonette) / WRIGLEY supermarket / Andes Candies / Big Town Beauty Salon / Big Town Barber Shop / Big Town Coffee Shop / Big Town Town Hall / Big Town Town Square / Bond Clothes / Butler Shoes / Dallas East Publishing Company / Federal Bake Shop / Gift Shack (kiosk) / Hallmark Cards (kiosk) / Hardy Shoes / Kinney Shoes / Lee Optical / Lerner Shops / Margo's La Mode / Mode O'Day Frock Shop / National Key (kiosk) / National Shirt Shops / Olan Mills Studio / Owen Shoes / Paris Hats / Phillipson's / Planters Peanuts (kiosk) / PPG Auto Glass / PPG Paints / Rexall Drug (with luncheonette) / Snack Shack (kiosk) / Tie Rak / Toy Fair / United Finance / Volk's / Wash -n- Dry Coin Laundry / Western Auto / Zale's Jewelers / Zinke's Shoe Repair / Zip Cleaners / Woolworth's Cafeteria
MEZZANINE (above Town Square):
Atlas Insurance / Big Town Mall Office
On hand at the February 1959 BIG TOWN MALL grand opening was none other than James Cash Penney (1875-1971). He personally opened his company's 38,000 square foot BIG TOWN store.
Photo from http://www.biography.com
Although BIG TOWN was Dallas' first enclosed mall, it wasn't the first in the Metroplex. This distinction goes to a nearly forgotten open-air complex in the city's Oak Cliff section. A. HARRIS OAK CLIFF CENTER was dedicated in February 1956. It was anchored by the first (and only) branch of A. Harris & Company. This chain was rebranded by Sanger-Harris in 1961.
BIG TOWN MALL TENANTS 1959:
SANGER BROTHERS / MONTGOMERY WARD (with freestanding Auto Center) / J.C. PENNEY / F.W. WOOLWORTH (with luncheonette) / WRIGLEY supermarket / Andes Candies / Big Town Beauty Salon / Big Town Barber Shop / Big Town Coffee Shop / Big Town Town Hall / Big Town Town Square / Bond Clothes / Butler Shoes / Dallas East Publishing Company / Federal Bake Shop / Gift Shack (kiosk) / Hallmark Cards (kiosk) / Hardy Shoes / Kinney Shoes / Lee Optical / Lerner Shops / Margo's La Mode / Mode O'Day Frock Shop / National Key (kiosk) / National Shirt Shops / Olan Mills Studio / Owen Shoes / Paris Hats / Phillipson's / Planters Peanuts (kiosk) / PPG Auto Glass / PPG Paints / Rexall Drug (with luncheonette) / Snack Shack (kiosk) / Tie Rak / Toy Fair / United Finance / Volk's / Wash -n- Dry Coin Laundry / Western Auto / Zale's Jewelers / Zinke's Shoe Repair / Zip Cleaners / Woolworth's Cafeteria
MEZZANINE (above Town Square):
Atlas Insurance / Big Town Mall Office
On hand at the February 1959 BIG TOWN MALL grand opening was none other than James Cash Penney (1875-1971). He personally opened his company's 38,000 square foot BIG TOWN store.
Photo from http://www.biography.com
