 In the mid-1970s, retailing was increasingly migrating from the city center to new suburban shopping malls, and fewer and fewer shoppers were coming to downtown, a trend that the Naitos hoped to slow or reverse through this project and others.The renovations included opening up the interior by restoring the 1949-closed central atrium and adding a large central stairway.By 1977, when the reconfigured building reached full occupancy, 48 merchants were leasing space there.