Anaheim's Broadway Orange County Center

The first shopping mall in Orange County was added to a freestanding The Broadway department store, which opened in October 1955. The open-air concourse at BROADWAY ORANGE COUNTY CENTER was dedicated in November 1957. Over the years, the complex would be promoted as BROADWAY ORANGE COUNTY CENTER, BROADWAY CENTER, ANAHEIM CENTER and ANAHEIM PLAZA.

Drawing from Broadway-Hale Stores, Incorporated

Broadway-Anaheim was an identical twin of the Broadway-Valley unit in Los Angeles. These 6 million dollar stores encompassed 4 levels and 200,000 square feet. Their interiors were decorated with chestnut paneling, imported silk with antique leaf molding and hand-painted and photographic murals. A feature of both stores was their Terrace Room Restaurant & Coffee Shop.

Photo from Online Archive of California

BROADWAY ORANGE COUNTY CENTER is seen in a late 1950s aerial view. A freestanding Convenience Center, housing a Ralph's supermarket and Sav-On Drugs, was added to the site in 1956. 
Photo from Online Archive of California