Enclosed Shopping Mall Is Opened in Rockville

Rockville's new 50-store enclosed shopping mall was opened officially yesterday. It replaces decaying, two- and three-story marginal businesses in the center of the city's downtown urban renewal area.

Although only 34 stores in the new mall have been rented and workmen continued their construction during ribbon-cutting ceremonies, officials praised the new shopping center that is part of a 10-year-old urban renewal project.

The ceremonies, attended by about 200 people, were held in front of the Lansburgh's department store, one of three stores opened for business yesterday. The others were the General Nutritional Center, specializing in health foods, and the Thom McAn shoe store.

Another 10 stores will open next week, said Edward Duffy, project coordinator. The entire mall is expected to be completed by mid-April, he said, adding he hoped that by that time the city will have leased the space for the second department store to be located in the Mall.

The four-story shopping center has three levels of underground parking with spaces for 1,560 cars. The parking garage is owned by the city and the first 90 minutes of parking are free with charges of 10 cents for every 30 minutes thereafter.

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Publisher’s Note: This article is a historical parody. Article is reprinted without editing from The Washington Post, Feb 15, 1972. Photos are unattributed; recolorized and refinished by Nano Banana.