MALL HALL OF FAME: May 2010

A. Alfred Taubman (1924-2015) headed one of the nation's largest mall development empires. His portfolio of enclosed shopping complexes, outlet centers and mixed-use projects extended from coast-to-coast.
Photo from http://www.taubman.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)

Adolph Alfred Taubman was born, in Pontiac, Michigan, on January 31, 1924. He graduated from Pontiac Central High School and attended the University of Michigan and Lawrence Technological University, majoring in architecture. Taubman did not receive a degree from either institution, but did serve in the US Army Signal Corps during World War II.

Upon returning to The States, Taubman briefy resumed his education. Later on, he worked at the Detroit firms of Charles N. Agree and O.W. Burke. In 1950, he founded the Taubman Company, which was a Detroit-based real estate development concern. The Company's first commission was for the construction of a bridal shop.

FIRST FORAYS

The Taubman Company was the contractor for several Wolverine State strip shopping centers. In November 1954, NORTH FLINT PLAZA opened its doors. A sister center -SOUTH FLINT PLAZA- was dedicated in December 1956. TAYLOR TOWN CENTER, in Wayne County, welcomed first shoppers in August 1960.

For their next project, the Taubman Company advanced to the actual development of a shopping complex. ARBORLAND CENTER, in Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor), Michigan, was their first development. A grand opening was held in October 1961.

The Taubman Company's first development project was also their first mall-type retail complex.
Photo from Ann Arbor District Library / Ann Arbor News [See Fair Use Rationale at end of article]
Graphic from the Taubman Company

1977, another year when 20th century technology took a giant leap into the future. NASA launched the Voyager 2 and Voyager 1 space probes. They would eventually transmit startling images of the outer planets in our solar system. On the home front, one could now own a workable personal computer, record on a VHS machine and purchase -and possess- home video.

"R2D2" image from LucasFilm-Walt Disney Corporation

"Rumors" LP image from Warner Brothers Records

(See media fair use rationale at the end of the article).

The standard shopping mall of 1977, showing just how much things have evolved since 1956, 1963 and -even- 1970.
-Click on image for a larger view-

The time has come to grab your MasterCharge card and prepare for a Disco daze shopping spree!
Image from Wikipedia / "Gurudta" (See non-free media use rationale at the end of the article).

In our very own Wayback Machine, you are transported back to the year 1977!

Your destination, the Main Entrance of a virtual late 1970s merchandising emporium. The fully-enclosed and air-conditioned complex will be known as METROMALL.

Your first stop will be at the METROMALL record and tape store, which is a franchise of the Record Bar chain.

Graphic from Record Bar, Incorporated

For nearly 100 years, the key-punch-type cash register has been the means by which Americans have paid for retail store purchases. Three years ago (in June 1974) an all new, automated "bar scan" system was introduced at a supermarket in Ohio. This new format is making cash registers, such as the model seen above, obsolete.
Photo from https://fineartamerica.com

This new system uses something called a "Universal Product Code." This consists of a 12-digit label that is read by a laser "scanner" device. There is no need to manually punch in the price of every item (as was the case with the standard cash register).
Image from Wikipedia / "OrlandoTheMagic"

Some of 1977's biggest LPs. These are also available -at Record Bar- in the stereo 8-track cartridge and stereo cassette formats. The 4-channel -or Quadraphonic- LP and 8-track are now a thing of the past. They were introduced in the early '70s and discontinued last year.
Graphic from Record Bar, Incorporated

Images (upper left to upper right) from Sony Music Entertainment, the Radio Corporation of America, ABC Records-Universal Group, Warner Brothers Records and Sony Music Entertainment

In 1977, foxy Farrah Fawcett -one of the stars of ABC-TV's "Charlie's Angels"- is THE girl. Her pin-up poster, currently in stock at Record Bar, is a top seller. It has helped make her a MAJOR (pardon the pun) pop culture icon.
Photo from Wikipedia / "GageSkidmore"

After checking out the scene at Record Bar, you stroll past one of the better-known dress shop chains...Foxmoor Casuals.

Graphic from the Melville Corporation

These days, Disco permeates nearly every facet of American life. Naturally, there has to be a fashion statement -or statements- to exploit such a fad. Enter the "Disco Dress." Three styles are on sale this week at the METROMALL Foxmoor store.

Advert from the Melville Corporation

A stroll farther down the mall takes you past one of America's most popular shopping mall-based beauty salon chains, Regis Hairstylists.

Graphic from the Regis Corporation

Here are a few of the most trendy styles. Any -and all- are readily available at the METROMALL Regis.

Most any shopping mall you go to these days will have a Naturalizer Shoe store. The one in METROMALL is next door to Regis Hairstylists.

Graphic from the Brown Shoe Company

A few of the "on sale this week" pairs for the ladies.

Advert from the Brown Shoe Company

Another of the many Disco-derived fashion statements...the platform shoe. Several pair can be had at the Naturalizer Shoe store.
Photo from http://www.amazon.com

Just down the mall from Naturalizer Shoes is the premier men's store at METROMALL, Wolf Brothers.

Graphic from Wolf Brothers, Incorporated

For the sharp-dressed guy...Wolf Brothers has a 3-piece suit. It is very much like the one worn by John Travolta in that new "Saturday Night Fever" flick.

Advert from Wolf Brothers, Incorporated

The newest store at METROMALL is Computer Center, which is currently holding its grand opening. You decide to go inside and take a gander at the latest wonder of modern technology, the recently-introduced "personal computer."

Many folk see this sign, which is prominently positioned in the store. They wonder what all of the "personal computer" hoopla is about. After all, why would you want to pay something like 800 dollars for a glorified calculating machine?

The first electronic marvel you see at Computer Center is the low price point Commodore Pet (Personal Electronic Transactor), that was introduced this past January. It comes with a built-in "datasette" cassette storage unit, 9-inch (diagonal) monochrome monitor and commanding 1 megahertz of processing power!
Commodore Pet Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomislavmedak

For the more serious computer fan, we have the top of the line Apple II, which entered the marketplace in June. It has -basically- the same specs as the Commodore Pet, but comes with a FULL COLOR monitor. Hopefully, the cassette data storage unit comes along with the 13 hundred dollar price tag!
Apple II image from http://www.vintage-computer.com/pet2001

You continue your personal computer perusing at the Radio Shack down the mall.

Graphic from the Tandy Corporation

The Tandy Corporation's August entry into the personal computer marketplace is the TRS 80. For $880 you get the computer, 12 inch (diagonal) monochrome monitor, separate keyboard and cassette storage unit.
TRS-80 image from http://www.vintage-computer.com/pet2001

The next Taubman endeavor was the creation of Bayshore Properties, a joint venture of Taubman, Chicago's Arthur Rubloff and New York City's Charles Allen, Junior. Five San Francisco Bay Area malls were built between 1963 and 1980. The Taubman Company also constructed Kmart, Shopper's Fair and Sam's discount department stores in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Utah and Idaho.

MALL METAMORPHOSIS

Meanwhile, the Taubman Company had incorporated as Taubman Centers in 1973. Although A. Alfred Taubman did not invent the shopping mall, per se, he did tweek the concept, creating several large and luxurious retail centers.

In the 1980s, Taubman began to develop high-end, center city malls, such as Los Angeles' BEVERLY CENTER, Ohio's COLUMBUS CITY CENTER and STAMFORD TOWN CENTER, in Connecticut. He also dabbled in the operation of restaurant chains and became a patron of the arts.

Taubman assembled the Michigan Panthers, one of twelve inaugural teams in the United States Football League (1982-1986). In September 1984, he acquired a controlling interest in DCs Woodward & Lothrop department store chain, which he later sold at a loss.

PROFITABLE PURSUITS

Other Taubman endeavors were more profitable. A sale of Orange County, California's Irvine Ranch property netted Taubman Centers a cool 900 million dollar profit. The purchase of the Sotheby's auction house, in 1983, resulted in a 460 million dollar return on that investment.

Unfortunately, as Taubman's business interests grew, he began to hire others to manage various segments. Partly due to this, he was convicted of a price-fixing scheme at Sotheby's in 2001. Taubman served a 10-month prison term, but returned to regular life undaunted.

A joint venture of Taubman Centers and the Mills Corporation had been established in 1998. Taubman Centers' focus on building high-end luxury malls shifted to the development of value-oriented, outlet shopping hubs, such as Greater Detroit's GREAT LAKES CROSSING and Greater Miami's DOLPHIN MALL.

MICHIGAN MOVES

Over the years, the headquarters of the Taubman Company-Taubman Centers enterprise relocated four times. The concern started out in Detroit (1950), moved to Oak Park, Michigan (1955), Southfield, Michigan (1968), Troy, Michigan (1978) and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (1985).

Taubman's final years involved more philanthropic pursuits, with him donating millions to educational institutions, medical centers and art museums. He died, at the age of 91, on April 17, 2015.

TAUBMAN-DEVELOPED MALLS 1961-2015:

A list of malls developed by A. Alfred Taubman & company between the early 1960s and mid-2010s, with some being joint ventures. Those indicated in green have been inducted into the Mall Hall of Fame.

1. ARBORLAND CENTER-ARBORLAND CONSUMER MALL-ARBORLAND CENTER, Washtenaw County, MI (October 1961)
2. SOUTHLAND CENTER-SOUTHLAND MALL, Hayward, CA (April 1965)
3. SUNVALLEY CENTER, Concord, CA (August 1967)
4. WOODLAND MALL, Kentwood, MI (March 1969)
5. SOUTHRIDGE MALL, Greenfield, WI (September 1970)
6. EASTRIDGE CENTER-EASTRIDGE MALL-EASTRIDGE, Santa Clara County (San Jose), CA (May 1971)
7. WOODFIELD MALL, Schaumburg, IL (September 1971)
8. NORTHRIDGE MALL, Milwaukee, WI (August 1972-March 2003)
9. CAMBRIDGE MALL, Hazel Park, MI (June 1973)
10. QUEENS CENTER, New York, NY (September 1973)
11. BRIARWOOD MALL, Ann Arbor, MI (October 1973)
12. WESTFARMS MALL-WESTFARMS, Farmington & West Hartford, CT (October 1974)
13. FAIRLANE TOWN CENTER, Dearborn, MI (March 1976)
14. LAKESIDE MALL, Sterling Heights, MI (March 1976-July 2024)
15. HILLTOP MALL- THE SHOPS AT HILLTOP, Richmond, CA (September 1976-April 2021)
16. TWELVE OAKS MALL-TWELVE OAKS, Novi, MI (August 1977)
17. MEADOWOOD MALL, Reno NV (March 1979)
18. FAIR OAKS MALL, Fairfax County, VA (July 1980)
19. STONERIDGE CENTER, Pleasanton, CA (September 1980)
20. STAMFORD TOWN CENTER, Stamford, CT (February 1982)
21. BEVERLY CENTER, Los Angeles, CA (February 1982)
22. MARLEY STATION, Anne Arundel County, MD (February 1987)
23. COLUMBUS CITY CENTER, Columbus, OH (August 1989-March 2009)
24. CHERRY CREEK CENTER, Denver, CO (August 1990)
25. WATERSIDE SHOPS, Collier County, FL (November 1992)
26. THE MALL AT TUTTLE CROSSING, Columbus, OH (July 1997)
27. ARIZONA MILLS, Tempe, AZ (November 1997)
28. GREAT LAKES CROSSING-GREAT LAKES CROSSING OUTLETS, Auburn Hills, MI (November 1998)
29. MACARTHUR CENTER, Norfolk, VA (March 1999)
30. DOLPHIN MALL, Dade County, FL (March 2001)
31. THE SHOPS AT WILLOW BEND, Plano, TX (August 2001)
32. INTERNATIONAL PLAZA & BAY STREET, Tampa, FL (September 2001)
33. THE MALL AT WELLINGTON GREEN, Wellington, FL (October 2001)
34. THE MALL AT MILLENIA, Orlando, FL (October 2002)
35. STONY POINT FASHION PARK, Richmond, VA (September 2003)
36. NORTHLAKE MALL, Charlotte, NC (September 2005)
37. MALL AT PARTRIDGE CREEK, Macomb County, MI (October 2007)
38. CITY CREEK CENTER, Salt Lake City, UT (March 2012)
39. TAUBMAN PRESTIGE OUTLETS OF CHESTERFIELD, Chesterfield, MO (August 2013)
40. THE MALL AT UNIVERSITY TOWN CENTER, Sarasota County, FL (October 2014)
41. THE MALL OF SAN JUAN, San Juan, Puerto Rico (March 2015)

NOTE: Redeveloped or acquired properties are not included on this list.

One of Mr. Taubman's crowning achievements was his participation in the development of Chicagoland's WOODFIELD MALL. This gargantuan shopping complex, a joint venture of three corporate entities, was dedicated in September 1971. It was promoted as the nation's -and world's- largest shopping complex for several years.
Photo from Wikipedia / "Joe+Jeanette Archie"

New Jersey's MALL AT SHORT HILLS evolved from an open-air complex developed between the mid-1950s and late 1960s. Taubman Centers acquired a share in the mall in 1974. It was enclosed in 1980 and substantially enlarged in the 1990s.
Photo from Wikipedia / Daniel Case

South Florida's DOLPHIN MALL was built by a joint venture of Taubman Centers and the Mills Corporation. The discount outlet facility held its grand opening in March 2001 and was the first of four Taubman malls opened during that year.
Graphic from https://www.taubman.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)

An early 2000s-vintage map showing all Taubman retail properties.
Graphic from Taubman Centers Annual Report 2002

A stroll farther down the METROMALL shopping concourse brings us to S. S. Kresge. These days, 5 & 10s are no longer a standard store in shopping malls, as they were only a few years ago. The Kresge's here opened without a luncheonette (which used to be a common 5 & 10 fixture). It is believed that the proliferation of fast-food restaurants are putting dime and drug store luncheonettes out of business...

Graphic from the Kmart Corporation

Here are some of the "softlines" on sale this week at Kresge's.

Advert from the Kmart Corporation

The latest cameras don't use disposable flashbulbs or flashcubes. They have their own "electronic flash"...that you use over and over and never have to replace. The Vivitar 602, one of these new-fangled models, uses a standard 110 film cartridge and two AA batteries. It is on sale this week, at the METROMALL Kresge's, for just $49.95!
Advert from the Kmart Corporation

This Capehart "Quadraphonic Sound System" is also on sale at Kresge's. It has a built-in Quad-8 deck. You wonder whether or not you can play a standard stereo 8-track tape on it?

Advert from the Kmart Corporation

After stepping outside for a minute, you re-enter METROMALL through a parking lot entrance of its Anchor Department Store.

One of the store's hot-ticket items these days is the Atari VCS (Video Computer System), which made its debut this past September.

Advert from Atari, Incorporated

Also available at the Anchor Department Store is this Sony BetaMax video recorder. BetaMax has been on the market, in the United States, since 1975. It has recently been improved with 2-hour tape recording capability (early BetaMax machines could only record for 1 hour).

Advert from the Sony Corporation of America

The latest thing in home video recording is RCA's SelectaVision, which debuted this past October. It utilizes a system called VHS (or Video Home System), that was first marketed in the United States back in August. VHS is completely incompatible with Sony's BetaMax. With the VHS format, 4 hours of recording is possible. Blank tapes may be had for just 20 dollars each.

Advert from the Radio Corporation of America

Accompanying the introduction of VHS are the very first "home video" releases; these from the vaults of 20th Century-Fox. Fifty films can be purchased for just $50 apiece. The other major studios -totally freaked by the advent of home video- are considering marketing video cassette movies with a cog inside. This would allow the purchaser just one viewing. After this, the tape may as well be thrown in the garbage. Hopefully, this idea will end up there, as well.
Images from the 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation

After checking out the latest home video recorders and movies at the Anchor Department Store, you stroll to the opposite end of METROMALL and head into JC Penney, the shopping center's second anchor.

Graphic from the J.C. Penney Company

You zip through the various clothing departments on the store's ground floor and step on the escalator going up to the second. Here you find the furniture department and a nice contemporary sofa on sale for just $399.