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America's first shopping mall (1957)
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 5:21 pm
by Paul Ringstrom
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 6:45 pm
by Roderick Grant
When Southdale opened, we drove 212 miles just to shop there. It was a wonder, FLW notwithstanding. Dayton's and Donaldson's were the two department stores that anchored the mall. Dayton's was on a par with Bonwit Teller, while Donaldson's was more like Macy's. The bargain basement at Dayton's Downtown became Target.
Someone from Taliesin worked for Gruen in those days, but offhand I cannot recall who it was.
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 7:25 pm
by SDR
Love the shot of ski wear being modeled to shoppers as they take a break at a café or restaurant . . .
SDR
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 8:00 pm
by Meisolus
The photo of the children in the playground maze is fantastic. It looks like the set from a 1960s variety show. Fab!
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 8:17 pm
by jmcnally
I guess it depends on what you call "modern." Northland in Southfield, Michigan, opened in 1954 and was a great example of MCM. Unlike the mall in Minnesota, though, it was an outdoor mall (until about 1975) and its stores were on one level. Also unlike that mall, Wright never had occasion to insult its design.
It had the same designer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northland_Center