Santa Fe's De Vargas Center
Santa Fe's first mall-type shopping center was also the first fully-enclosed -and regional-sized- retail complex in The City Different.
Graphic from Nash Hancock & Company
A pre-construction rendering shows the mall-to-be's Center Court and fountain.
Graphic from Nash Hancock & Company
Boise-based Albertsons opened their first New Mexico store at DE VARGAS CENTER. The store opened its doors in June 1973.
Graphic from Albertsons, Incorporated
The northside shopping hub was built in three stages. Montgomery Ward came first, in October 1970. A single-level mall was dedicated in November 1973. The final charter tenant, J.C. Penney, debuted in November 1975. Fully-realized, DE VARGAS CENTER covered approximately 352,500 leasable square feet, with free parking for 1,500 autos.
Although DE VARGAS CENTER qualifies as the first regional-class shopping center in Santa Fe, two small, community-class complexes opened in 1971. SANTA FE VILLAGE and EL CENTRO, both located in Santa Fe's downtown area, were, basically, climate-controlled art galleries.
Graphic from https://www.elcentrosantafe.com
The DE VARGAS mall's Pueblo Revival and Territorial Revival architecture was reflected in its 1990s logo. Over its commercial life, the complex has operated under three names; DE VARGAS CENTER, DE VARGAS MALL and -again- as DE VARGAS CENTER.
Graphic from Weingarten Realty
