An officially released post card for Westfarms: "A regional retail development, is designed to be the most complete marketplace of its kind in New England. Westfarms site spans the boundaries of three outstanding Connecticut communities: West Hartford, Farmington and New Britain."

Ah yes, the 1970's. This comes to us from a time inconceivable to today's generations. A time when malls were a thing of destination, boasted on laminate post cards as vacation-like attractions with unbound amenities like air conditioning, imported terrazzo and marble floors, full-service boutique and specialty stores, gardens and water displays.

This is one three known post cards sold to promote Westfarms mall.

This very rare vantage point features the Hartford-based Sage-Allen anchor, which was one of three department stores at Westfarms upon its opening in September 1974. While no year is disclosed on this card, we can imagine this was within the tender years of Westfarms mall's opening -- one of the most unbelievable interior shopping centers of its time.

We can immediately identify the staples of yesteryear shopping mall charm: a bevy of plants, odd sculpture art and, of course, a grandiose fountain to garnish the luxury. We also see some Taubman-design mainstays as well: sharp, modern and meticulously clean geometry at floor and ceiling level, done with absolute, uncompromised elegance and simplicity the Taubman company was pre-eminent for.

We've covered those illuminated twin-towers before; just one of a dozen or so throughout the mall, designed by the now late Wen-Ying Tsai. These were the only feature to be removed fairly early on, not surprisingly as guests likely tampered with them quite a bit. These lighted towers were mildly interactive, reactive to sound via hanging microphones strewn about the mall. Guests would light the towers based on sounds emitted. Tsai's pillars of this community would go nearly forgotten today as they are somewhat obscured in the mall's history but also not listed on his own chronicle of works.

Unlike our other two post cards, we see an array of bygone sights and storefronts not seen before: the once empirical men's dress shoe chain Florsheim still exists in name today though their generous acreage here at Westfarms is long gone.

Nut House, a shop entirely dedicated to exotic array of nuts and nearby CB Perkins Tobacco, both genuinely 1970's-era chains that would have no business in a mall setting today. Perkins, which was owned by the Stop & Shop Companies (which was also under the same umbrella for Bradlees) could also be enjoyed inside the mall at this time.

On the lower level, we have what looks to be an integrated, open-air cafe. To the right of Sage-Allen is Fields Hosiery, a tame destination for ladies' intimates (unless you count that orange shag carpet!) and Natural Cosmetics, one of the most believably timeless looking shops represented.

We cannot forget that memorable glossy, piano black Information tower, a kiosk dedicated to stroller rentals and general mall information. Yes, it still exists in some form today. These beacon-like Information towers were yet another Taubman mall feature, which was finally retired in 2001..

Of course, the main feature here is Sage-Allen, whose two-level Westfarms presence was rarely caught in photos and also a formidable, long-time rival to G. Fox who also anchored the mall at opening. Interestingly, the exterior entrance to Sage-Allen is now macy*s Men's Store, whose done absolutely nothing to the funky accordion-style, retrograde exterior facade facing New Britain Ave.

You can almost smell the roasted walnuts, wildlife and cavendish from here...

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Published by NATCO, Natural Color Cards Co.

Tags:   westfarms mall retail 1970s retro shopping

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An officially released postcard for Westfarms "A regional retail development, is designed to be the most complete marketplace of its kind in New England. Westfarms site spans the boundaries of three outstanding Connecticut communities: West Hartford, Farmington and New Britain." Scanned and remastered by The Caldor Rainbow.

From a time when malls were plastered on post cards as vacation-like attractions, this is one of a few post cards sold for Westfarms, presumably in the mid-1970s.

Here's another view into the classic concourse of the unmistakably Taubman-designed Westfarms Mall, which is estimated to be taken around its opening in 1974. Almost everything you see here of the classic concourse is now gone: first to go was the unforgettable fountain, stage and Information tower (which can be seen here ever so slightly to the left), were all removed by 2001. The terrazzo tiles, which are still apart of the mall today, were twice removed from the concourse by today. Next, were the seating pits, stairs, ramps and planters, which were the last to go in 2010.

The twin obelisk structures seen here were one of a dozen or so throughout the mall, designed by artist Wen-Ying Tsai. These were the only feature to be removed fairly early on. These lighted towers were mildly interactive and reactive to sounds via hanging microphones strewn about the mall. Guests would light the towers based on sounds emitted. Tsai's pillars of this community would go nearly forgotten today as they are somewhat forogtten but also not listed on his history of works.

"Gift Showcase" and "Worth's", two staples of malls during this time, would become Abercrombie & Fitch. On the far left of the upper level is "Sights & Sounds". "Herman's World of Sporting Goods" (Dick's Sporting Goods-like chain of the 1970s) would keep that spot until its closure in 1993. Herman's also had its own mall entrance which was later converted into a maintenance hallway upon the 1996 expansion.

"Thom McAn" was as ubiquitous as Kinney Shoes and lasted until the 90's right in that spot. As for "Susan Terry", "Brooks" both women's fashion boutique and "Bakers", a shoe store for women, is still around but no longer at Westfarms.

This postcard was estimated to have been taken some short time later than the other one we posted.

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An officially released post card for Westfarms "A regional retail development, is designed to be the most complete marketplace of its kind in New England. Westfarms site spans the boundaries of three outstanding Connecticut communities: West Hartford, Farmington and New Britain." Color photo by Bill Forcht. Scanned and remastered by The Caldor Rainbow.

From a time when malls were plastered on post cards as vacation-like attractions, this is one of a few post cards sold for Westfarms, presumably in the mid-1970s.

Much to take in here from this concourse shot of the timeless Westfarms Mall, which is estimated to be taken around its opening in 1974. Almost everything you see here of the classic concourse is now gone: first to go was the fountain, stage and soon after the Information tower, which were removed around 2001. The terrazzo tiles, which are still apart of the mall today, were twice removed from the concourse. Next, were the seating pits and enclosures, which slowly disappeared throughout the 90's, then finally all the ramps, stairs and planters, which were the last to go in 2010. The staircase seen straight ahead still remains today.

The twin obelisk structures seen here were one of a dozen or so throughout the mall, designed by artist Wen-Ying Tsai. These were the only feature to be removed fairly early on. These lighted towers were mildly interactive and reactive to sounds via hanging microphones strewn about the mall. Guests would light the towers based on sounds emitted. Tsai's pillars of this community would go nearly forgotten today as they are somewhat forgotten but also not listed on his history of works.

The vacant wall on upper right is where Lord & Taylor and its wing would eventually develop in 1982, after leaving Bishop's Corner on the other end of town. Note on the lower level, one of the wall facade doors is open, revealing a wing that suggests there's more than just undeveloped area back there.

"The Craft Showcase" and "Worth's", two staple chain retailers of malls during this time, would become long-time tenant Abercrombie & Fitch and currently Louis-Vuitton. On the far left of the upper level is "Sights & Sounds".

"Thom McAn" was as ubiquitous as Kinney Shoes and lasted until the 90's right in that spot. As for "Susan Terry", "Brooks" both women's fashion and "Vanguard" shoes.

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"The Air-Conditioned Mall
Regency Square Shopping Center
Jacksonville, Florida"

Well, I've seen that look before... to the madam in the avocado skirt, pensive about the intentions of our forgotten man whose giant camera is just admiring fledgling life at Jacksonville's rising-star shopping center, Regency Square.

Once donned as the highest grossing mall in the land is now just another of America's dying indoor malls as it stands in 2018. The main attraction in the mall's original atrium was this strikingly geometric, Star Trekesque centerpiece, whose spaceship-like awning presides over a geyser-propelled fountain, almost as if it feeds this subtly, earthtoned alien-looking inverted maw.

This focal area of the mall was likely done away with in the late 70's or so and is apart of the original mall's single-corridor before its vast expanse to the "West Mall", underway by 1980. To the left was one of the original anchor set, Furchgott's, a local Jacksonville department store.

Make note of these smaller, asymmetric, multi-tiered brick structured planters that accent the ceiling -- would certainly make for a rousing game of hide 'n go seek as well, don't you think?

Super HD Scan by The Caldor Rainbow

Tags:   mall florida vintage post card shopping retail

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"LYCOMING VALLEY MALL, Halls Station, Pa. is a 668,000 sq. ft. ultra-modern shopping complex containing nearly 100 stores and shops serving Central and Northwest Pa. The colorful, 1/4 mi. long indoor concourse (shown here) is attractively accented with live floral displays, fountains, and rest areas. Photo by Ralph E. Menne

And a bountiful scene it is as we peer into the Lycoming Valley Mall upon its 1978 opening, filled with tonally fruitful muscats and cantaloupe-colored, angular rooflines. The melange of muted, playful seating, overlooking a mildly sunken seating area not alien to malls of this vintage. A especially designed, signature Crown American mall of this time.

Now, we're back in 2018. "Valley" has been retired for a simplified "Lycoming Mall", which is more so apart of Pennsdale and Muncy now. As expected, the liability magnets, er, spectacles like this lush, springing geyser have since been long retired along with all the sunken areas, the last of which was filled in and carpeted over only a few years ago. Similar fate for the inverted marquee lighting arrangements of compulsory 70's interior chic. While today's mall is becoming more endangered and demographically reformatted to keep space filled, the mall garners a good crowd on the weekends and would you know most of these charms are actually still here today, including an original, albeit mostly retired fountain fixture in one of the mall's several numb "orange" wings.

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