THE MALL THAT COULD HAVE BEEN (25 YEARS AGO)

Wednesday, Dec. 19, 1973; Page 1

Reprinted from The Southeast Missourian

Construction of a $13.6 million shopping mall containing 617,000 square feet of gross leasable area on Cape Girardeau's west side was revealed today when principals of the proposed development announced a long term lease of a 70-acre tract.

The site of the proposed Westborough Mall is one of the last remaining large commercial tracts in the city's growing western section. The site is bounded on the north by Route K (William Street), on the east by Kingshighway (Highway 61), on the south by Bloomfield Road and on the west by a residential section spanning areas west and east of Edgewood Drive.

The plans, subject to rezoning by the City Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council, call for construction to begin in the spring. The opening is projected for late summer of 1975.

Making the announcement of the long term land lease, which was finalized a week ago today, were officials of Westborough Malls, Inc., Charleston; Blattner Brothers Real Estate Co., Cape Girardeau, and The Commonwealth Corp., Tallahassee, Fla.

The officials are George Staples Jr., president of Westborough Malls; its secretary, Juanne Staples Hill; L.C. Blattner Jr. and Charles F. Blattner of the family owned real estate company; Charles R. Green, senior vice president of Commonwealth, and Norman W. Wood, who negotiated the lease.

The development is a joint venture of Westborough, a family owned corporation, and Commonwealth, a mortgage, banking firm.

According to the announcement, Westborough will handle the planning, construction and -- after completion -- the management and operation of the mall. Commonwealth will be in charge of finances.

Another Charleston firm of which Mr. Staples is president will handle all of the development and leasing.

Architectural drawings are being made by Thomas Swayne Burd, Sikeston. An artist's rendering is being prepared by Webb, Rice and Associates, St. Louis.

The architectural concept will complement the hill site and surrounding residential and commercial areas, the announcement said.

Access will be from major entrances off Route K, Kingshighway and Bloomfield Road. Accessibility from all abutting streets, as well as from lower and upper parking, will be gained by driving through well lighted parking areas to accommodate in excess of 4,500 cars. The parking areas will be accented by planting areas and bounded by a strip parkway on the west.

The design and layout of the crescent-shaped, two-level mall is quite unique in that it is planned as a double-faced structure, eliminating a back or rear side. Both exterior entrances to the mall, the Kingshighway entrance being contained on two levels and the Route K entrance being constructed on one level, will each take their respective position as a front entrance.

Three major department stores are planned to anchor the new mall. One will be placed at each end of the mall while the third and largest tenant will be placed centrally, affording a two-story and dramatic design focal point to the lower level Kingshighway entrance.

The open glass area and sculpted masonry will be in contrast to the plain repeating masonry panel bays adjoining the second story facade. One of the features will be an enclosed temperature control mall of 70,000 square feet all under one roof.

Pedestrian circulation will be a feature of the entire mall complex by offering two large sets of escalators, as well as stairs, for vertical transportation, one located in the center tenant's store and the other centered on the lower level parking area and arcade, and emerging in the spacious upper level mall.

Additional major tenants will include two junior department stores, one of 25,000 square feet and the other 15,000 square feet; a 50,000 square foot general merchandise and variety family center, a 16,200 square foot super drug store operation, a 10,890 square foot cafeteria, and a 10-bay tire, battery and automotive facility. In addition the mall will offer a variety of national chain and local specialty shops, such as two shoe stores, including corrective shoes and a store specializing in upper-line ladies shoes; a 7,500 square foot ladies junior department store specializing in junior apparel; three ladies apparel shops; a mod shop specializing in uni-sex fashions; tot and teen shop; greeting card and gift shop; import gift shop; antique shop; two book stores; fabric center; home decor center; furrier; wig boutique; a music store specializing in sheet music, tapes and records; radio and electronics sound center; television and appliance center; office supply, equipment and furniture store; sporting good shop; two jewelry stores; pet center; florist; family oriented game room; men's shop; photographic shop; ice cream store; orange juice and fast foods operation; candy store; snack bar; and other small speciality shops.

Besides offering the largest one-stop selection of merchandise between St. Louis and Memphis, Westborough Mall will provide a service area including a child care center, first aid center, barber shops, beauty salons, shoe repair and leather shop, secretarial and photo copy service, computer and data processing center, a travel agency, dry cleaning and laundry service and office rental space.

There will be attractive rest areas throughout the mall.

Upon completion the mall will be occupied by approximately 91 stores employing about 650 persons, 8 percent of whom will be in management and departmental supervision.

Mr. Staples has been active in Missouri commercial developments for more than 20 years. Among the shopping centers he has developed is the Town Plaza Shopping Center here, which will be near the new mall. He has also developed shopping centers and malls at Sikeston, Poplar Bluff and Columbia.