Before there was MILITARY CIRCLE MALL, there was the JANAF (Joint Army-Navy-Air Force) CENTER. This half-mile-long strip complex opened in December 1959. It occupied land north of the future mall site. Original JANAF CENTER stores included J.C. Penney, W.T. Grant, Ames & Brownley and Colonial and Giant Foods supermarkets.

Drawing and graphic from Janaf, Incorporated  

A grand opening was held at MILITARY CIRCLE MALL in August 1970. In its original state, the complex featured three anchor department stores and encompassed approximately 735,800 leasable square feet. The 13-story Sheraton Inn connected into the structure.

The mall was only 3 years old when its first expansion got underway. This project added 218,900 square feet in a South Wing (in gray). The addition, which was anchored by a new Leggett store, increased the gross leasable area of MILITARY CIRCLE MALL to approximately 954,700 square feet. By the time of this 1976 plan, the north anchor has been rebranded by Richmond's Thalhimers chain.