The four LOST MALLS flanking Memorial Parkway should probably not be classed as "freeway-friendly" during their early years, as The Parkway was upgraded to a limited-access highway on a piecemeal basis.

MADISON SQUARE, in the western environs of the metro area, should probably be remembered as the city's first freeway-friendly mall. Dedicated in August 1984, it was built adjacent to an interchange on the Research Park Boulevard expressway.

Graphic from CBL & Associates Properties

This shopping facility opened with an incredible amount of ballyhoo (I was present at its grand opening). After 20 years of success. it started to decline in the 2010s and was given a wrecking ball renovation in February 2017. Its successor, MIDCITY HUNTSVILLE, is a mixed-use project, which (naturally) is open-air in format. 

With these revelations, MADISON SQUARE becomes the Rocket City's fifth LOST MALL. However, our focus -or Prime Directive- on the MHoF site is to cover malls which opened for business between the years 1946 and 1979. The dedication of MADISON SQUARE, in 1984, places it outside of our timeline focus. So, it will not be covered in this article.

And away we go!