A pre-construction rendering of the Tropical Garden shopping concourse at CROSSROADS. The shopping hub was officially dedicated in July 1961.
Drawing from the Double T Corporation

WROV radio hosted several shows in the Tropical Garden. Above, we see a gathering from 1961.

Photo from http://www.wrovhistory.com

A full color image shows The Arbor Room Coffee Shop, which was part of the Peoples Drug store. Back in the day, pharmacies always had either a lunch counter or coffee shop.

Photo from Prince Lithograph

Likewise, shopping malls of the era would -more often than not- include a self-service-type eatery. Bailey's Cafeteria was a tenant at the original CROSSROADS complex. The restaurant overlooked the Tropical Garden from the mall's Mezzanine level.

Photo from Dexter Press, Incorporated