The proverbial new mall on the block in 1979 was NORTH HILLS, in the city of North Richland Hills. A mere .8 of a mile west of NORTH EAST MALL, the complex held its official dedication September 13, 1979. It was shuttered in 2004 and demolished in 2007.
Graphic from Burk Collins & Company

Cox's 118,000 square foot NORTH HILLS store was the chain's first shopping mall-adjacent location. It, and the Stripling's at NORTH EAST MALL, were rebranded as Stripling & Cox in 1983. This duplication of stores resulted in the NORTH EAST MALL location being shuttered in January 1986.
Drawing from the Dunlap Company