A mid-1980s floor plan includes a new Southwest Wing (in gray). In retrospect, it would have been better had this expansion never been built. It would never be fully-leased. Within a few years of its dedication, the mall was in a downward spiral that it never escaped from. A new Sears could have waited a while and simply moved into the "Monkey Wards" vacated the year after the Southwest Wing was completed.

SOUTHTOWN MALL TENANTS 1986:

J.C. PENNEY (with Styling Salon and Portrait Studio) / L.S. AYRES (with beauty salon) / KOHL'S / SEARS (with Optical Department, Portrait Studio and attached Auto Center) / SERVICE MERCHANDISE / 16 Plus young ladies' wear / Aladdin's Castle video arcade / Allen County Motors / B. Dalton Bookseller / Bakers Shoes / Berman Leather / Brendamour's Sporting Goods / Breslers 33 Flavors Ice Cream / Brooks ladies' wear / C & C Flowers / Card Cage / Casual Corner ladies' wear / Chess King men's wear / Chronister Hallmark / Claire's Boutique ladies' wear / Connie Shoes / County Seat apparel / Crime Prevention Bureau / Cutlery World / Deb Shops ladie's wear / Fannie May Candies / Father & Son Shoes / Firestone Tire & Auto (outparcel) / Foxmoor Casuals ladies' wear / Fox Jewelers / Frederick's of Hollywood / Fuzzy Kritters / Foot Locker / Gallenkamp Shoes / GNC / GTE Phone Mart / Gordon's Jewelers / Gulley's Keepsake Diamonds / Guys & Gals apparel / Hanover Shoes / Jarman Shoes / Jean Nicole ladies' wear / Karmelkorn / Kay Jewelers / Kinney Shoes / Kirlin's Hallmark / Lemstone / Lerner Shops ladies' wear / Life Uniform / MCL Cafeteria / Majestic Mr. & Mrs. / Maler's apprarel / Maling Shoes / Master Cuts / McDonald's hamburgers / Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio / Merry-Go-Round apparel / Musicland / National Health / Naturalizer Shoes / Nobbson ladies' wear / NuVision Optical / Orange Julius / Overland Trading / Parklane Hosiery / Paul Harris ladies' wear / Pay Less ShoeSource / Photo Finish / Radio Shack / Record Town / Regal Shoes / Regis Hairstylists / Richman Brothers men's wear / Rost Jewelers / Rug Shoppe / Rustic Hutch / Schwartz Babyland / Service Optical / Shoe Land / Southtown Cinemas I-II-III / Spencer Gifts / Spiece Sporting Goods / Summit Bank / Sycamore Shop / TJ Sportsline / The Limited ladies' wear / Thom McAn Shoes / Ups & Downs apparel / The Closet / Waldenbooks / Walgreen Drug / Wallace Interviewing / World Bazaar / Worth's 

PATIO FOOD COURT:
Country Cookin / Chicago Hot Dog / Great Wall Chinese 


The Sears that anchored the ill-fated Southwest Wing encompassed a single level and 96,000 square feet. The store opened in July 1982 and closed for good in January 2002.
Photo from Chris Crawford