Thomas Mall by Copeland, Novak & Israel | 1963
40th Street and Thomas Road
Behold this temple to consumerism which offered bright, naturally-lit shopping spaces under enormous precast concrete tees. It was the second indoor mall built in Phoenix, featuring Montgomery Ward and Diamond's as anchor retail.
The mall interior was graced with an extensive art program, including sculpture by Herbert A. Feurlicht and Bogdon Grom. The 1140 foot concourse hosted nine water features, creating the illusion of an outdoor plaza in all the comfort of indoors.
The 2-story Diamond's store featured a "Floating Tea Room" inside a rectangular reflecting pool, hosting informal fashion shows by day and cocktails by night.
Unable to compete with other more up-to date malls in the suburbs in decades to come,
Thomas Mall closed in 1988 and was razed in 1993.
