 Two five and dime stores, Woolworth's and Kresge's (billed as the chain's "691st store") opened their doors in late 1957 along with various other businesses, including "Winkleman's", a local well-known clothier.The two wings of the L-shaped structure were joined in 1958 with the construction of the mall's anchor tenant, Montgomery Ward, which opened its doors in February, 1959.Easily the largest business in the center at , a separate auto shop along Eureka Road was also built that year.