We switch back to color photos for the following spread. These reveal the true beauty of the original CHRIS-TOWN, which -to the author- qualifies as one of the most stunning Mid-Century malls ever built. Here we see the Court Of Fountains, which was situated at the center of the 1,000-foot-long "refrigerated mall."
Photo from Phoenix Public Library Collection / Petley Studios, Incorporated

Equally as breathtaking was the Court Of Flowers, the focal point of the mall's east end. The area featured lush tropical vegetation and a papier mache' bull known as Ferdinand. The Sidewalk Cafe snack bar is seen in the background.
Photo from Phoenix Public Library Collection / Petley Studios, Incorporated 

The Court of Birds, at the west end of the complex. The cages contained a variety of feathered creatures. Behind all of the hanging bird cages is a Woolworth's mall entry. Montgomery Ward's storefront appears on the right.
Photo from Phoenix Public Library Collection / Petley Studios, Incorporated

To get our bearings, we have a basic physical layout of the original CHRIS-TOWN CENTER. This drawing shows the mall proper and its three outparcel structures; the aforementioned Bob's Big Boy, a First National Bank branch and Convenience Center, which included an El Rancho Market grocery store.

Getting more detailed, we present a high-definition Complete Plan which shows all of the fifty stores and services that were in operation at the August 1961 grand opening of CHRIS-TOWN CENTER. Three spaces are still available for leasing.