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40 Vintage Photos of Malls Through the Years for a Step Back in Time

Today's malls look pretty different from the originals of the 1950s.

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Vintage Photos of Malls
PhotoQuest//Getty Images

Malls have always been a hangout for bored teenagers or families looking for something to do on a rainy day, but did you know they've been around for a lot longer than you might think? Long before '90s mallrats made America's shopping centers their own, residents of ancient Rome met in the marketplace to buy goods and catch up on the latest gossip. In Victorian times, arcades with covered walkways became the precursors to today's malls. With the rise of the suburbs and automobile culture in the mid-20th century, what's generally accepted as the first enclosed mall in the country opened near Minneapolis in 1956. Others quickly followed as the idea of having a central place to shop became increasingly appealing to a growing middle class.

Since then, malls have rapidly grown in popularity across the United States as well as in other parts of the world. As a collection of independent retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues, these shopping centers have taken the world by storm and have offered everything from entertainment and fine dining to even family-friendly theme parks and water parks. From iconic stores of past eras to the more innovative shopping complexes of today, here's a look at all the amazing and diverse malls throughout the decades.

1

1950s: The Precursor to the Modern Mall

vintage photos of malls
JHU Sheridan Libraries/Gado//Getty Images

In the early 1950s, shopping centers with plenty of parking for cars became the precursor for the modern enclosed mall. Here, Northwood in Baltimore includes a grocery store.

2

1950s: Malls Are Born

vintage photos of malls
Guy Gillette

The first enclosed mall, called Southdale Regional Shopping Center, opened in Minneapolis in 1956 so people could stay warm and dry while shopping.

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3

1950s: The First "Real" Mall

shoppers in interior garden court w vie
Grey Villet

Southdale even boasted a fountain and seating in its "interior garden court."

4

1950s: Automobile Shopping

interior detail at southdale mall in minneapolis,
Guy Gillette

Also inside Southdale, you could check out the latest features in new automobiles!

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5

1950s: Convenience for Customers

shoppers using lockers at southdale mall in minnea
Guy Gillette

The lockers at Southdale enabled customers, who weren't used to shopping in such a large space, to not have to keep going back to their cars with packages.

6

1950s: Modern Architecture

vintage photos of malls
Guy Gillette

Southdale was admired for its modern architectural sense. These lighting fixtures in the mall were quite chic!

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7

1950s: Precursor to the Food Court

vintage photos of malls
Guy Gillette

This cafe in Southdale was the precursor to today's food court — though you'll notice they're using real dishes here, not paper!

8

1950s: Something for the Whole Family

mall horse
Three Lions//Getty Images

Malls began to find other ways of enticing and amusing the entire family to come by offering amusement rides like this ten-cent horse for the kiddies.

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9

1950s: Anchor Stores Arrive

1950s 1960s shopping mall
H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock//Getty Images

By the late 1950s and early '60s, it wasn't unusual to find large department stores such as Sears "anchoring" one end of a mall.

10

1950s: The Heydey of Department Stores

department store crowd in chicago, ca 1957
Kirn Vintage Stock//Getty Images

Department stores like this one in Chicago were packed with shoppers, especially during special sales promotions or grand opening celebrations.

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11

1950s: Mall Santas

santa claus in downtown department store, 1957
University of Southern California//Getty Images

Santa has appeared in department stores regularly since the late '40s, and then later, in malls. Even today, kids still line up to see him.

12

1960s: Marketing to Mall Shoppers

a man playing a hammond organ at a shopping mall
Mondadori Portfolio//Getty Images

By the early 1960s, malls became a place where retailers could aggressively market products, such as this organ demonstration to convince shoppers that they, too, could learn to play like a pro.

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13

1960s: Speciality Stores Arrive

shopping mall
H. Armstrong Roberts//Getty Images

Many different speciality stores, such as those for hosiery or shoes, moved into malls as more and more people flocked to these centrally-located retail destinations.

14

1960s: The Mall as a Social Center

1960s two women shopping
H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock//Getty Images

With everything located in one place, shopping became more of a social event.

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15

1960s: Something for Everyone

1960s two men in golf
H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock//Getty Images

Men also were drawn to malls by the scope of products offered, such as this golf equipment shop.

16

1960s: New Technology

1960s couple with salesman
H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock//Getty Images

You also could shop for one of those new-fangled devices, the color TV, at malls.

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17

1960s: Elaborate Holiday Displays

dec 12 1968, dec 16 1968 center, setting the tone of interior dec íorations in the stores which fac
Dave Buresh//Getty Images

Massive Christmas decorations and displays, like this one in Northglenn Mall in the Denver area, became a given during the holiday season.

18

1970s: Interior Gardens

1970s corridor with store
H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock//Getty Images

Showcasing plants was an innovation that became an essential element in malls of the '70s.

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19

1970s: Indoor Trees

mar 20 1971, mar 24 1971 greenery brightens northglenn mall live trees and bushes enhance the warm
Bill Peters//Getty Images

Here, large trees brighten up the interior of Northglenn Mall. It was one of the few area malls to have live vegetation at the time.

20

1970s: Live Entertainment

chicago band
Smith Collection/Gado//Getty Images

Live entertainment to attract shoppers, like this band in a shopping center in Chicago, became a part of mall culture in the '70s.

Headshot of Arricca Elin SanSone
Arricca Elin SanSone
Contributing Writer

Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.

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