Our first PARK CENTRAL plan dates to 1957, the year that the shopping complex was officially dedicated. At this time, it spanned approximately 483,000 leasable square feet and contained forty-two store spaces.

PARK CENTRAL SHOPPING CITY TENANTS 1957:

GOLDWATERS (with Beauty Salon) / DIAMOND'S (with Beauty Salon and Garden Center) [Diamond's Tea Room added in 1960] / EL RANCHO MARKET / J.J. NEWBERRY 5 & 10 (with Snack Bar and Cafeteria Luncheonette) / Andersen's Store for Men / Berner-Judd ladies' & children's wear / Bill's Record Shop / Coffee Dan's cafe & Geronimo Room restaurant / David's Florist / David's Shoes / Doctor Harold Goodman, Optometrist / Expectation Shop maternity wear / Gallenkamp Shoes / Grayson's ladies' wear / Green Feather Book Shop / Guggy's Coffee Shop / House of Fabrics / Kay's children's wear / Lawson's Jewelers / Leonard's Luggage & Leather Goods / Lewis Shoe Salon / Mr. Phoenix Barber Shop / Marizon Specialty Shop for Women / Old Woman in a Shoe Nursery (outparcel) / One-Hour Valet / Pancho's Gifts & Southwestern Wear / Park Central Photo / Park Central Sportswear / Pinney & Robinson Sporting Goods / Remer's Distinctive Gifts / Slenderella Figure Salon / Skomer's men's wear / Taylor's Candies / Tony's Shoe Repair / Walgreen Drug (with Walgreen Grill) / Yoshi's Oriental Shoppe 

CAMELBACK TOWN & COUNTRY VILLAGE, the second Phoenician shopping mall, opened in January 1957.

Photo from the Phoenix Public Library Collection / Petley Studios, Incorporated

 

The PARK CENTRAL mall was just 2 years old when its first expansion was started. The Goldwaters and Diamond's anchor stores were enlarged by 37,000 and 76,000 square feet, respectively. Moreover, a courtyard was filled in with a block of inline stores. With these improvements, the  retail facility encompassed around 614,300 square feet.
Photo from Phoenix Public Library Collection / Petley Studios, Incorporated