Atlanta's Stewart-Lakewood Center

LENOX SQUARE is generally regarded as Atlanta's -and  Georgia's- first mall-type shopping center. However, checking contemporary newspapers reveals that the the first stores in STEWART-LAKEWOOD CENTER were dedicated in February 1959. LENOX SQUARE opened in August.

Graphic from Tri-City, Incorporated

While STEWART-LAKEWOOD CENTER opened first, the "Dynamic new concept in shopping," was a small -230,000 square foot- community class complex. It was dwarfed by the regional-class LENOX SQUARE, with 800,000 square feet.

A vintage view of the "super-convenient on-the-mall" shopping concourse, which is decorated for the yuletide season. Standing in Center Court is a statue of jolly St. Nick. During the early years of the mall, it was promoted as The World's Tallest Santa Claus.
Photo from www.ajc.com