The Illuminated Playing Fountain, a feature at the north end of the THOMAS MALL shopping concourse. The Diamond's anchor store mall entrance is seen on the left.
Photo from Phoenix Public Library Collection / Petley Studios, Incorporated

The mall's monkey cage. Live animal displays, i.e., monkey cages and bird aviaries, were common in America's early shopping malls. Such high-maintenance features had fallen out of favor (with mall operators ) by the mid-1970s and were removed.
Photo from Phoenix Public Library Collection / Petley Studios, Incorporated 

In addition to its monkey cage, the original THOMAS MALL had a second high-maintenance feature...an aquarium.
Photo from Phoenix Public Library Collection / Petley Studios, Incorporated 

Lerner Shops was a charter THOMAS MALL tenant. The store was situated between Sportique and Fashionette of Arizona stores, on the west side of the shopping hub.

Photo from McCrory Corporation Annual Report 1963

THOMAS MALL encompassed around 675,000 leasable square feet. Its enclosed and air-conditioned shopping concourse was flanked by forty-six stores and services. Surrounding the complex was free parking for 5,500 autos.

THOMAS MALL TENANTS 1963:

DIAMOND'S (with Coffee Shop, Orangerie Tea Room & Cocktail Lounge, Beauty Salon and Pharmacy) / MONTGOMERY WARD (with Snack Bar, Gift Wrapping Station and freestanding Auto Center) / J.G. McCRORY 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / GOODMAN'S MARKET / Brothers Hoffbrau Delicatessen / Charming Children & Teens Shop / David's Wetherby-Kayser Shoes / Edison Brothers Shoes / Fashionette of Arizona / Frederick's of Hollywood / Goot Shoes / Hanny's men's wear / Hardy Shoes / Holiday Shoes / Household Finance Corporation / Jennifer's ladies' wear / Kerr Sporting Goods / Kody's Fashion Apparel / Lee Optical / Lerner Shops ladies wear / Maternity Modes / National Shirt Shops / Photo Shop / Piccadilly Cafeteria / Recordland / S & H Green Stamps Redemption Center / Singer Sewing Center / Southern Arizona Bank / Sportique / Starrett's Fashion World / Stephens-West of Phoenix / Thomas Mall Barber Shop / Thomas Mall Beauty Shop / Thomas Mall Pharmacy (with luncheonette) / Thomas Mall Utility Pay Station / Thies Gift & Card Shop / Thom McAn Shoes / Tie Rack / Tony's Shoe Repair / Upton's Candies / Waltah Clarke's Hawaiian Shop / Zale's Jewelers   

Two major Phoenician shopping centers opened for business during 1963. THOMAS MALL was officially dedicated in September. BILTMORE FASHION PARK, built on a site 3.2 miles northwest, opened its first two stores in September and October.

Photo from the History & Archives Division / Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records

In 1967, THOMAS MALL was enlarged with the Century's Thomas Mall Theatre. The in-mall movie house was added to the east side of the complex, at the end of the entry corridor opposite the Montgomery Ward mallway entrance. This would be the only expansion ever done to the mall.

Drawing from the Winston-Muss Corporation