LORETTO DE LAS CRUCES CENTER was New Mexico's first enclosed shopping complex. The first of two LORETTO site plans dates to late 1966. At this time, the complex covers around 211,000 leasable square feet and houses twenty-three stores and services. Free parking is provided for 1,300 autos.

LORETTO DE LAS CRUCES CENTER TENANTS 1966:

DUNLAP'S / J.C. PENNEY (with beauty salon and freestanding Penneys Auto Center) / SAFEWAY supermarket / TG&Y 5 & 10 (with Dinette and Ice Cream Shop) / Books Galore & More / Eubanks Cleaners / Feder's Jewelers / Geller's Bootery / Glass Apparel / Hanley Paint / Jerry's Pet Shop / Kinney Shoes / Levine's / Loretto Barber Shop / Luby's Cafeteria / Melody Music / Mode O' Day Frock Shop / Rayburn's men's wear / Singer Sewing Center / Skaggs Drug Center (with luncheonette) / Sweetbriar ladies' wear / The Village ladies' wear / Toys By Roy

In its early days, LORETTO DE LAS CRUCES CENTER was promoted as the only enclosed mall between Dallas and Tucson. However, Tucson would not have an enclosed mall until 1971-'72. This factoid was obviously referring to enclosed malls in Phoenix, which -in 1966- had three.

Graphic from the Loretto Development Company, Incorporated 

The "Climate Conditioned Mall" was illuminated by a series of clerestory windows, which ran along its east and west sides. Signage visible in this color photo includes Geller's Bootery, Hanley Paint and Jerry's Pet Shop.

Photo from Petley Studios, Incorporated / Dick Kent

A black & white image shows the south end of the mallway. On the left is a TG&Y 5 & 10. Stores on the right include Feder's Jewelers and Books Galore & More. The mall entry of J.C. Penney is seen in the distance.

Photo from Darst-Ireland Photography

The mall's Dunlap's store was rebranded -by El Paso's The White House chain- in December 1972.

Graphic from The White House Department Stores