A full-page newspaper ad announces the October 3, 1966 formal opening of the new South Side shopping hub. Most RIVER OAKS stores began business on this day. A second group of tenants opened their doors on November 1st.
Advert from KLC Venture, Limited

RIVER OAKS CENTER was a cluster layout, open-air complex with sixty stores and services. At the time of its opening, in late 1966, it covered 921,000 leasable square feet and was -reputedly- the third-largest mall in Chicagoland. The parking area had space for 5,900 autos.

RIVER OAKS TENANTS OCTOBER 1966:

EDWARD C. MINAS [opening December 1966] / MARSHALL FIELD'S (with The Tea Room restaurant, Beauty Salon, Candy Carousel and Budget Floor) / SEARS (with Coffee House, Beauty Salon and freestanding Auto Center) / S.S. KRESGE 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / JEWEL TEA COMPANY supermarket / Almer Coe Optical / Baker's Qualicraft Shoes / Bank of River Oaks / Baskin Clothing / Benson-Rixon men's wear / Broadstreet's men's wear / Chandler's Shoes / Draper & Kramer, Incorporated  / Evans, Incorporated / Fabric Mart Draperies / Fannie May Candies / Florsheim Shoes / Gilded Cage / Hirsch Clothing Company / House Of Organs / Kroch's & Brentano's Books / Lane Bryant ladies' wear / Lebolt & Company / Lytton's / Mary Del Corsetiers / Maurice L. Rothschild & Company / O'Connor & Goldberg / Osco Drug (with luncheonette) / Page Boy Maternity Shop / Lotus / Phillip's Flowers & Gifts / Rosalee / Schiff Shoes / Stuart's ladies' ready-to-wear / Thayer-McNeil Shoes / The Country Cobbler Shoes