A vintage aerial view of NORTHGATE CENTER, showing the southern section of the 12 million dollar complex.
Photo from Allied Stores Corporation Annual Report 1951


The nation's very first Shopping Mall Movie House opened at NORTHGATE CENTER in September 1951. The exterior of the structure was done in a "Late Moderne" style, while its interior reflected the Native American motif of the adjacent mall. The motion picture venue was in operation for over 50 years.


The image above, and two that follow, were taken in 1954. Here, we see the south end of the Miracle Mall shopping concourse. The mall's IGA Foodliner supermarket is seen on the right, with the two story structure in the distance housing a Woolworth 5 & 10. Van de Kamp's Bakery appears on the left.
Photo from http://archives.seattle.gov / Seattle Municipal Archives


Shoppers stroll the mall's center court area, known as Northgate Square. Leed's Qualicraft Shoes is seen on the right, with the Woolworth store on the left.
Photo from http://archives.seattle.gov / Seattle Municipal Archives


The north end of the Miracle Mall concourse is seen here. A J.J. Newberry 5 & 10 is on the right, with Fahey Brockman, a men's clothier, on the left.
Photo from http://archives.seattle.gov / Seattle Municipal Archives


Clark's Restaurant opened a NORTHGATE CENTER location in 1958.
Photo from https://archive.org / Lost Mall Memories / Times We Lost


In late 1962, work was completed on a "Sky Shield," which covered the mall's open courts and concourses. It provided some degree of protection from the elements, but was not a fully-enclosed and air-conditioned structure.
Photo from Meredith L. Clausen / Permission for use granted


The NORTHGATE anchor department store was enlarged in the early 1960s. The new & improved "Bon" was dedicated in August 1963. In addition to the existing Legend Room restaurant, there were now the Corner House coffee shop and Men's Grill cocktail lounge.
Graphic from the Allied Stores Corporation


This mid-'60s snapshot shows the recently-expanded Bon Marche. Its Legend Room restaurant is seen on the left.
Photo from Allied Stores Corporation Annual Report 1966