The first structure built on the mall site was a freestanding Almart discount department store. It welcomed first customers in March 1966. Note: I've heard locals refer to this store as "All-mart." This was back in the day, when no one outside of Arkansas had ever heard of WalMart. For the record, the "Al" in Almart rhymes with "pal."
Photo from http://www.oldwilmington.net
We found a couple photos of the inside of the Concord Pike Almart. Here we see a department that sold ladies' evening gowns.
Photo from Allied Stores, Incorporated Annual Report 1966
The store's Millinery department is seen here.
Photo from Allied Stores, Incorporated Annual Report 1966
This Delaware Valley shopping complex was developed in four phases. The aforementioned Almart was dedicated in 1966. A South Wing and Pathmark grocery (in black) opened in 1969. A convenience center (dark gray) was completed in 1970. The final phase (medium gray) included a North Wing, enlarged Woolworth's and Pomeroy's anchor store. This section was finished in 1972.
CONCORD MALL TENANTS 1972:
SOUTH MALL (1969)
ALMART (with snack bar) / F.W. WOOLWORTH 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / Adam's Clothes / Arthur's / Docktor Pet Center / Donuts Galore / Doubet Jewelers / Fabric Tree / Farmer's Bank / Hall of Fame Records / Headhunters / James T. Mullin / Jonathan's Restaurant / Kennards / Loft's Candies / Lucille's ladies' wear / Miles Shoes / Regal Shoes / Shoe Boat / Singer Sewing Center / Stoem's Shoes / Thrift Drug (with luncheonette) / Tobacco Village / Town & Country Casuals ladies' wear / Warren's Card & Gift Shop / Wilmington Piano Company
CONVENIENCE CENTER
Concord Mall Cinema (single screen) / Pathmark supermarket /
NORTH WING (1972)
Bendheim's / Braunstein's / Bresler's 33 Flavors Ice Cream / Chess King men's wear / Children's Shop / Crown Jewels / Cutler Camera & HiFi / Dial Shoes / GNC / Friendly's Ice Cream / Gordon's Jewelers / Harvest House Cafeteria / Hickory Farms of Ohio / Jack Lang Clothes / Joan Roberts Children's Shop / Kinney Shoes / Lemar's Bridal & Formal Shop / Little Heel / Lovely Lady / Marianne Shops ladies' wear / Parklane Hosiery / Radio Shack / Robert's Hair Styling / National Shirt Shops / Small's Formal Wear / Spencer Gifts / Susie's Casuals / Tip Top Ties / Yarn & Creative Crafts / Wall & Ochs / Waldenbooks
A CONCORD MALL expansion was dedicated in August 1983. It added a 15 million dollar Strawbridge & Clothier anchor store (in medium gray). With this enlargement, the complex encompassed approximately 820,000 leasable square feet.
