See pictures of Fayette Mall when it opened: Palm trees, seats for ‘bored husbands’

Brian Simms
·4 min read

Live palm trees imported from Florida. Wide terrazzo walkways with garden areas. Rock formations and ample skylights. Four fountains, one costing $55,000.

Oh, and don’t forget the rest areas “for husbands who are tired of following their wives around.”

This is what shoppers discovered when Fayette Mall officially opened 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 11, 1971.

Built on 60 acres, Central Kentucky’s largest enclosed shopping center was designed to make patrons feel like they were in Florida, walking down a sunny beach street.

And when you needed a break from shopping, the sitting areas were meant to feel like a tropical garden oasis — but keep in mind you were still indoors, and in Kentucky, in the ’70s.

One of the four fountains and metal sculptures inside the new Fayette Mall, taken days before it opened on Oct. 11, 1971 in Lexington, Ky. Water in all four fountains was softened to prevent scum from forming. At left is a Merle Norman Cosmetics store and Regal Shoes, a men’s shoe store.
One of the four fountains and metal sculptures inside the new Fayette Mall, taken days before it opened on Oct. 11, 1971 in Lexington, Ky. Water in all four fountains was softened to prevent scum from forming. At left is a Merle Norman Cosmetics store and Regal Shoes, a men’s shoe store.
THEN: Shillito’s Department Store can be seen in the background of this photo inside the new Fayette Mall, taken days before it opened on Oct. 11, 1971 in Lexington, Ky. The wide walkways and live plants were designed on purpose to give shoppers the feeling of walking on a Florida street. Wenneker’s shoe store can be seen in the middle of the image above the fountain. There were four fountains in the new mall.
NOW: Shoppers walk towards Macy’s in Fayette Mall, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 in Lexington, Ky. The picture is taken from the same vantage point as the image above.
NOW: Shoppers walk towards Macy’s in Fayette Mall, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 in Lexington, Ky. The picture is taken from the same vantage point as the image above.

Tropical plants, featuring soil specially brought in, surrounded the rest areas while fountains were accented with hand-made black brick to resemble ceramic tile. The four fountain areas were a highlight of the mall’s look and each had a metal sculpture designed by Clarence Van Duzer, a longtime faculty member at the Cleveland Institute for Art who did sculptures for other malls.

But one fountain stood out from the rest: The center one. Located today where the kids’ play area is, it featured one of Van Duzer’s metal sculptures and was constructed for $55,000. Adjusted for inflation, that would be $424,000 today.

NOW: The kids play area has replaced the fountains in the center of Fayette Mall, but the natural light from the skylights remains. Photo take Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 in Fayette Mall.
NOW: The kids play area has replaced the fountains in the center of Fayette Mall, but the natural light from the skylights remains. Photo take Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 in Fayette Mall.
THEN: One of the four fountains and metal sculptures inside the new Fayette Mall, taken days before it opened on Oct. 11, 1971 in Lexington, Ky. This fountain, located in the center of the mall was constructed at a cost of $55,000 in 1971. Adjusted for inflation, that would be $424,000 today.
THEN: One of the four fountains and metal sculptures inside the new Fayette Mall, taken days before it opened on Oct. 11, 1971 in Lexington, Ky. This fountain, located in the center of the mall was constructed at a cost of $55,000 in 1971. Adjusted for inflation, that would be $424,000 today.
Each of Fayette Mall’s four fountains had a metal sculpture designed by Clarence Van Duzer, a faculty member at the Cleveland Institute for Art. He did sculptures for other malls. This fountain is located where the kids play area is today.
Each of Fayette Mall’s four fountains had a metal sculpture designed by Clarence Van Duzer, a faculty member at the Cleveland Institute for Art. He did sculptures for other malls. This fountain is located where the kids play area is today.
Part of the metal sculpture and skylights at the center fountain inside the new Fayette Mall, taken days before it opened on Oct. 11, 1971.
Part of the metal sculpture and skylights at the center fountain inside the new Fayette Mall, taken days before it opened on Oct. 11, 1971.

There were larger rest areas at both ends of the mall, and each was recessed into the floor — a staple of early mall design and construction. An Oct. 10, 1971, article with pictures in the Sunday Herald-Leader said the areas were primarily designed to “give tired shoppers and husbands bored with their wives’ shopping spree a place to sit down for a while out of the pattern of mall traffic.“

The story also said on special sports occasions, like the World Series, television sets would be placed in the areas.

THEN: A recessed rest area in the new Fayette Mall located near the entrance to Shillito’s Department Store, taken days before it opened on Oct. 11, 1971 in Lexington, Ky. The caption and story published in the Sunday, Oct. 10, 1971 Herald-Leader said the rest areas “give tired shoppers and husbands bored with their wives’ shopping spree a place to sit down for a while out of the pattern of mall traffic. For special sporting events television sets will be placed in these areas.”
NOW: A staple of early mall construction, the recessed sitting area has been replaced with fewer couches and shopping kiosks. Photo taken Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 in Fayette Mall.
NOW: A staple of early mall construction, the recessed sitting area has been replaced with fewer couches and shopping kiosks. Photo taken Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 in Fayette Mall.
THEN: A sitting area in the new Fayette Mall, taken days before it opened on Oct. 11, 1971 in Lexington, Ky. At left is the store Cards N’ Such which sold greeting cards, candles and accessories. The wide walking areas were lit up by ample skylights giving the green space sunlight. At night, gas lights lit up the mall. This is located where the entrance to JCPenney is today.
NOW: Old School Coffee kiosk, center, is surrounded by Coach and JCPenney stores in Fayette Mall, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 in Lexington, Ky.
NOW: Old School Coffee kiosk, center, is surrounded by Coach and JCPenney stores in Fayette Mall, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 in Lexington, Ky.

Fayette Mall opened in 1971 with 800,000 square feet of retail space. By comparison, Lexington’s first mall, Turfland Mall, opened four years earlier on Harrodsburg Road with 45 stores and 560,000 square feet.

Stores inside Fayette Mall when it opened included Embry & Co., Graves, Cox & Co., Florsheim Shoe Shop, Regal Shoes, Helzberg Jewelers, The Singer Co., Treasury Drug Center, Mary Jane Shoes, Mother-To-Be Shop and Wenneker’s.

Each of the mall’s 65 stores had different and uniquely designed fronts.

One of the more eye-catching ones was the Paul Harris Store. It had a mosaic mirrored front and curved walls inside to show off the latest women’s fashions. J. Riggins, “the store of fashion for the modern man,” said it would open a hip, but not a hippie store in the mall. That included flairs, body shirts, belts, knit trousers and an opportunity to meet and get your picture with a Playboy Bunny opening weekend.

Paul Harris Store in Fayette Mall in early October 1971, just before the mall opened. The women’s specialty shop featured contemporary fashions. Described as the most unique and exciting of the chains 42 stores, it featured a mosaic mirrored front to the step-up platform and curved walls. It sold the latest fashions like hot pants, body suits and contemporary sportswear.
Embry’s store in Fayette Mall in early October 1971. The store was known as Kentucky’s premier fur and fashion boutique, opening in 1904, specializing in hats and the “finest ladies fashions.” This branch of the downtown location had all the lines carried at the other store.
Embry’s store in Fayette Mall in early October 1971. The store was known as Kentucky’s premier fur and fashion boutique, opening in 1904, specializing in hats and the “finest ladies fashions.” This branch of the downtown location had all the lines carried at the other store.
The Sycamore Shop in the new Fayette Mall, taken days before it opened on Oct. 11, 1971 in Lexington, Ky. The men’s and women’s specialty store, owned by L.S. Ayres & Co. featured updated traditional, casual and sports clothes.
The Sycamore Shop in the new Fayette Mall, taken days before it opened on Oct. 11, 1971 in Lexington, Ky. The men’s and women’s specialty store, owned by L.S. Ayres & Co. featured updated traditional, casual and sports clothes.

An expansion in 1993 made Fayette Mall the largest mall in Kentucky. Today the shopping center on Nicholasville Road and near New Circle Road has more than 130 stores, a little over 1.1 million square feet and four anchor stores, Dillard’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, JCPenney and Macy’s.

In the 1970s, when the mall opened, it had three main tenants — and not all of them opened with the mall.

Sears, one of the main retailers, opened a month earlier and Stewart’s Department Store, the third largest store in the mall, opened the following spring. Shillito’s, the other major tenant, opened the same day as the mall in what is now Macy’s.

Contemporary women’s fashions at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971. The store and the mall opened a week later on Oct. 11, 1971. Dresses, coats, sportswear, accessories, intimate apparel, shoes and cosmetics were located close together by design to help shoppers.
Contemporary women’s fashions at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971. The store and the mall opened a week later on Oct. 11, 1971. Dresses, coats, sportswear, accessories, intimate apparel, shoes and cosmetics were located close together by design to help shoppers.

Shillito’s was anchor store of new Fayette Mall

The Fayette Mall store was the second Kentucky location for Cincinnati-based Shillito’s after its Oxmoor Mall department store opened in Louisville in 1970.

The main focus of the 180,000-square-foot store was men’s and women’s apparel and home furnishings, including 46 model rooms and vignettes. A highlight of the home department was the accessories surrounding the displays. This new strategy gave shoppers the opportunity to coordinate their home furnishing shopping, Shillito’s said at the time.

The home furnishings department at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971. It featured 46 room display settings and vignettes for furniture display. The store and the mall opened a week later on Oct. 11, 1971.
The home furnishings department at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971. It featured 46 room display settings and vignettes for furniture display. The store and the mall opened a week later on Oct. 11, 1971.
Shillito’s bath shop in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971 featured normal bathroom items plus an emphasis on accessories which had become popular. Various candles, soaps, mirrors and bath decor could be found in the department.
Shillito’s bath shop in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971 featured normal bathroom items plus an emphasis on accessories which had become popular. Various candles, soaps, mirrors and bath decor could be found in the department.

The store also featured a fur salon, a large cosmetic department and a women’s shoe department that was intentionally located next to the children’s shoe department.

The women’s shoe department, left, and children’s shoes, right, at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971. The two departments were immediately adjacent so mother and child could be served at the same time, the store said.
The women’s shoe department, left, and children’s shoes, right, at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971. The two departments were immediately adjacent so mother and child could be served at the same time, the store said.
The cosmetic department, located on the first floor the new Shillito’s Department Store inside Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971. Some of the cosmetics and fragrances on sale included Revlon, Chanel, Guerlain, Lanvin, Elizabeth Arden and Almay. The brightly lit display area opened up into the mall, show in the background of the image.
The cosmetic department, located on the first floor the new Shillito’s Department Store inside Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971. Some of the cosmetics and fragrances on sale included Revlon, Chanel, Guerlain, Lanvin, Elizabeth Arden and Almay. The brightly lit display area opened up into the mall, show in the background of the image.

Many of the departments, especially ones geared towards younger shoppers, were branded with different names, special shops-within-a-shop. For example, The Turning Point for teenage girls had the latest fashions including dune buggy jeans, suede bags and essentials for layered looks.

The new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971, featured a teen department called The Turning Point.
The new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971, featured a teen department called The Turning Point.
The junior apparel fashion department at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971. This department was designed in a setting of stark white and gleaming chrome. Shillito’s said they separated departments like this because “there comes a time when every young person wants to shop without mother.”
The junior apparel fashion department at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971. This department was designed in a setting of stark white and gleaming chrome. Shillito’s said they separated departments like this because “there comes a time when every young person wants to shop without mother.”
Young men’s fashions were sold in the pub-like atmosphere of the University Shop at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971.
Young men’s fashions were sold in the pub-like atmosphere of the University Shop at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971.
Shillito’s top lines of women’s fashions on display in the Cosmopolitan, a shop-within-a-shop set off from the women’s clothes through the use of floor-to-ceiling smoked glass and mirrors, at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971.
Shillito’s top lines of women’s fashions on display in the Cosmopolitan, a shop-within-a-shop set off from the women’s clothes through the use of floor-to-ceiling smoked glass and mirrors, at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971.

Other departments included toys, sporting goods, garden, pharmacy, books, luggage and records. There was even a snack shop, the 120-seat Fox and Pheasant Restaurant.

The record department at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971. The department also featured in the back a boutique called “Hang Up” which featured incense and incense pots, which was popular with younger customers.
The record department at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971. The department also featured in the back a boutique called “Hang Up” which featured incense and incense pots, which was popular with younger customers.
The dining room at the 120-seat Fox and Pheasant Restaurant at the new Shillito’s Department Store in Fayette Mall, Oct. 4, 1971. The restaurant, which had a large stuffed fox and pheasant at the entrance, was a focal point for the second floor of the store. Shillito’s first restaurant was designed with warm earthen tones and rugged accessories that gave the feeling of an 18th century hunting lodge. All of the artwork and stuffed animals came from Europe with many of the oil paintings being done by 18th and 19th century English painters.

On the second level was Shillito’s Budget Store. Acting as a separate store, it had the entire range of products offered at Shillito’s but at lower prices.

Not to be outdone, three days after Fayette Mall and Shillito’s grand opening, McAlpin’s opened its Lexington Mall location on Richmond Road, four years after its Turfland Mall department store opened.