A DAYTON MALL logo montage is composed of trademarks of seven charter stores and services. These opened for business in 1969 and 1970.

DAYTON MALL, circa-1970. To a budding mallophile such as myself, this 1.2 million square foot facility seemed huge. Of course -in the pre-internet age- I was unaware of larger complexes that existed in the 'burbs of Chicago, Denver, San Francisco-Oakland or New York City.

DAYTON MALL TENANTS 1970:

RIKE'S (with Amber Lantern Restaurant, Snack Bar, Budget Basement Store, Beauty Salon and freestanding Tire Center) / J.C. PENNEY (with Coffee Shop, Lawn & Garden Center, Beauty Salon and freestanding Auto Center) / SEARS (with Coffee House and freestanding Auto Center) / LIBERAL supermarket / Baker's Shoes / Baynham Shoes / Bernard's Wigs / Bresler's 33 Flavors Ice Cream / Brijette Fashions / Brooks Fashions / Birkhardts / Burt's Shoes / Butler's Shoes / Camelot Music / Card Cage / Carousel Snack Bar / Cassano Pizza King / Chess King / Craig's ladies' wear / Dayton Mall Cinema (single screen) / Docktor Pet Center / Dolly Madison Beauty Salon / Donenfeld's ladies' wear / Dunhill's men's wear / Fabric Mart Draperies / Fanny Farmer Candies / Firestone Tire & Appliance / First National Bank / Fitzharris Shoes / Florsheim Shoes / Forum Cafeteria / Foxmoor Casuals / Frederick's of Hollywood / Gallery Three / Ganz Custom Furriers / Gem City Savings / Giddings-Jenny / Gray Drug / Hanover Shoes / Harolde's sportswear / Harris' Beautiful Shoes / Hickory Farms of Ohio / Hobby Center Toys / Hot Sam Pretzels / House of Nine ladies' wear / J.G. McCrory 5 & 10 (with restaurant, snack bar & cafeteria) / Jaccard Jewelers / Joan Bari / Jo-Ann Fabrics / Kinney Shoes / Lane Bryant / Lerner Shops / Leroy's Keepsake Diamonds / London Bobby Fish & Chips / Marshalls Fashions / Mary Jane Shoes / Mayor Jewelers / Mayor Records / Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio / Miles Shoes / Miscellaneous, Incorporated / Mobil Shoes / National Shirt Shops / Parklane Hosiery / Partycard / Regal Shoes / Richman Brothers men's wear / Russell Stover Candies / Schiff Shoes / Spencer Gifts / Thal's ladies' wear / The Children's Photographer / The Fatted Calf restaurant / The Golden Razor barber shop / The Limited / The Metropolitan apparel / The Tie Bar / Thom McAn Shoes / Tobacco Village / Waldenbooks / Walker's men's wear / Wicker World 

The mall's second level Mezzanine, as it was configured during the early years. The area fronting on Rike's, and overlooking the Main Level Atrium, was a dark, empty dead zone for several years. It would be utilized as a Food Court in 1984.

In the early 1970s, an urban legend circulated saying that psychic Jeane Dixon had predicted that DAYTON MALL was going to come tumbling down. Of course, it never did. I have read that the same "prediction" was reputedly made for Georgia's CUMBERLAND MALL, North Carolina's FOUR SEASONS MALL and Tennessee's 100 OAKS MALL.

Photo from Wikipedia / http://paranormal-corner.blogspot.com

The very first renovation of DAYTON MALL was completed in October 1984. Shopping concourses were re-floored, fountains removed or replaced and an upper floor Food Court built. Center Court was also reconfigured with a glass elevator.  

Drawing from the JMB Property Management Corporation

In late 1984, the mall has just emerged from its first renovation. Interior spaces have been altered considerably. Liberal Markets pulled up stakes in January 1979, with its vacant store being divided 5-ways. McCrory's was downsized and sub-divided in 1982 (the store would close in 1991). The Metropolitan was shuttered in August 1983 and sectioned 7-ways. Moreover, there are now 8 cinematic auditoriums located throughout the mall.