Santa Fe's Devargas Center (Mall)
Santa Fe's first shopping mall was also The City Different's first fully-enclosed -and regional-sized- retail complex.
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 DEVARGAS CENTER MALL. The (25,000 square foot) Albertsons Food Center 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, DEVARGAS CENTER MALL covered approximately 352,500 leasable square feet, with free parking for 1,500 autos.
DEVARGAS CENTER MALL qualifies as the first regional-class, retail shopping center in Santa Fe. However, two smaller, community-class complexes opened for business in 1971. SANTA FE VILLAGE and EL CENTRO, both located in the downtown area, were -in essence- climate-controlled art galleries.
Graphic from https://www.elcentrosantafe.com
The DEVARGAS 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; DEVARGAS CENTER MALL, DEVARGAS MALL and DEVARGAS CENTER.
Graphic from Weingarten Realty / Mall Hall of Fame
