A Phase I expansion was built between March 1967 and October 1968. The 3 million dollar project added J.C. Penney and twenty-one inline stores and expanded the gross leasable area to around 417,900 square feet. Free parking was now provided for 2,400 autos. A south end anchor store (on the left) is shown on this circa-'67 rendering. It wouldn't be built until the early '70s.
Drawing from the Daum Development Corporation


An alfalfa field becomes a fully-enclosed shopping center! In this site plan, we see KARCHER MALL as it was configured in early 1969. The complex had started out with a North Wing (in black). A southern extension (in gray) expanded the mall's directory to twenty-eight stores and services.

KARCHER MALL TENANTS 1969:

J.C. PENNY (with Beauty Salon and freestanding Auto Center) / BUTTREY FOODS / TEMPO (with attached Auto Service Center) / SPROUSE-REITZ 5 & 10 / Adorn Beauty Salon / David's Fabrics / Day's Cosmetics / Downer's / Eddie May's Restaurant & Lounge / House of Fabrics / Garber Shoes / ID Store / Irene's Fashions / Jay-Vee Shops ladies' wear / K-G Bootery / K-G Men's Store / K-Lee's Diamonds & Fine Jewelry / Kinney Shoes / Mall Barber Shop / Miss K-G ladies' wear / Mode O'Day Frock Shop / Singer Sewing Center / Skaggs Drug Center / State Farm Insurance / The Idaho First National Bank / Tewksbury Jewelers / Walton's Card & Gift Shop / William's Pro-Kleen


The late '60s mall expansion added a freestanding Penneys Auto Center. The 10-bay facility stood in the front parking area.
Graphic from the J.C. Penney Company