Bel Air Mall original tenants (Mobile, Morris: restaurants, shop, pub)

[Wemopo]

I am trying to compile a list of the original/early tenants of Bel Air Mall in Mobile. It opened in August 1967. Any contributions (and related info) appreciated.
- Sears
- Hammels (later D.H. Holmes, later Dillard's)
- Kretzers (TVs, stereos, etc)
- Camelot Music (record store)
- Woolworth's
- Orange Julius
- Eight Kings/The Pub (restaurants)
- Paul Brown's Hallmark Card Shop
- Gerhardt's (luggage)
- Pier One
- optometrist office
- bookstore/magazine stand (don't recall name, but it passed through from the main hall to the side hall)
- cafeteria (similar to Morrisons, but don't recall name)
- Lillie Rubin (high-end women's clothes)
- numerous clothing and jewelry stores
- candle shop (in the mini-mall)
- head shop (a little later in the mini-mall; a long-hair named Tony (Prostenak?) ran it)

[edtv411]

Calagaz may have been an original tenant as well. They operated well into the 1990s from there when they operated branch stores (when people had cameras and had to have their film developed!)

Here's a picture of the circa-1992 tenants of Bel Air. Woolworths was still there and the tenants that connected the 70's wing to the then-food court were still intact.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/499534...n/photostream/

Calagaz itself (in 1992) was located in the 70s wing outside Parisian. They may have operated a larger store in the original mall when it opened. By then, it was probably just a "1 hour photo" operation instead of a general camera store.

[luksky]

I think the cafeteria you mentioned, was Piccadilly's.

[bhammaster]

The weapon shop? Forgot the name.

[luksky]

Not sure if it was original, but there was also a Singer sewing store

[Wemopo]

Thanks all for the input. Wasted many an hour in that place, just hanging out. Haven't been in there in 10 years. The "weapon shop" was probably Smith Knife & Stone, but I don't think they were an original tenant.

[piratepress]

Brings back a lot of good memories. I frequented it mostly in the 80s when I was a teenager. Sadly, I rarely go back now as it's far from the mall I remember.

[one90proof]

I believe The Tinder Box and McDonalds were both original tenants.

[Wemopo]

Not too sure about the McD's...it's located in the "new" north-south hall, which is not original. So was the Tinder Box I believe. But both were original to that expansion.
Thanks for the input!

[bon_regis]

From a 1968 Polk City Directory:

Like in most malls, the original tenant mix included more service-oriented businesses.