The first fully-enclosed shopping center in Arizona was built in the northern environs of Phoenix. Although signage on the front of the complex plainly reads "Chris-Town Mall" on this 1963 postcard, the shopping hub was officially promoted as CHRIS-TOWN CENTER at the time.
Photos from Phoenix Public Library Collection / Petley Studios, Incorporated
While CHRIS-TOWN was Arizona's first fully-enclosed mall, the partially-enclosed BAYLESS SHOPPING CENTER was the state's first retail hub with an enclosed mall. This complex, in the west Phoenix suburb of Goodyear, opened in September 1958. It encompassed 73,200 square feet, with thirteen stores. CHRIS-TOWN encompassed over 600,000 square feet and contained fifty-three stores.
Photo from https://www.goodyearaz.gov / City of Goodyear Arizona
