1977 mall directory shows Fairlane Town Center at its peak

Imagine it's 1977 and a typical Saturday in Dearborn, Michigan. What did teenagers do? They went to Fairlane.

Maybe they flipped crepes at the Magic Pan. Or bought a gift for Dad at Chess King and a Viennese coffee from the Coffee Beanery. Then they hopped on the tram connecting the sprawling, state-of-the-art mall and the Hyatt Regency next door, to see one of the many conventions held there, like the Gem and Mineral Show or the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors.

Once the vibrant hub of America's shopping culture, malls now mark a dying breed across the nation. But the glory days of malls live on in online archives, movies, entertainment and the fabric of American culture.

The A. Alfred Taubman-built Fairlane Town Center opened its doors in March 1976, boasting 150 shopping options in its first few years across fashion, dining, entertainment, electronics, home goods, sporting goods, stationery and more. A popular spot for socializing, shopping and entertainment at its peak, Fairlane Town Center played a key role in metro Detroit's mall culture in the later 20th century.

A blast from the past

Fairlane Town Center came to metro Detroit in an America where the shopping centers marked a popular teen hangout after school, as reflected in 1980s films like "Valley Girl" and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and the Netflix series "Stranger Things."

With the federal minimum wage at $2.30 an hour in 1977, shoppers flocked to the mall's wide variety of stores and restaurants, taking advantage of the latest trends. Patrons known as "mall walkers" strolled through the halls to burn calories, while regulars or "mall rats" roamed the center and some seniors passed through, looking for coins or valuables dropped on the ground.

Fairlane was one of several malls that dominated the metro Detroit shopping scene. Others include the now-defunct Northland Center in Southfield, Summit Place in Waterford, Westland Shopping Center in Westland, Eastland Center in Harper Woods and Southland Center in Southgate, to name a few.

Here's a look at Fairlane Town Center's layout in 1977.

Department stores

  • J.C. Penney

  • Hudson's

  • Lord & Taylor

  • Sears

Women's apparel

  • Alvin's

  • Himelhoch's

  • Winkelman's

  • Gantos

  • Arden's

  • Hartmans

  • Alberts

  • Marianne

  • Jean Nicole

Women's sportswear

  • Nawrot Pendleton Shop

  • Casual Corner

  • The Limited

  • Cover Story

  • Alcove

  • Paul Harris

  • Foxmoor

  • Susie's Casuals

  • Ups & Downs

  • Merry Go Round

  • The Pant Station

  • Here & Now

  • The Gap

  • County Seat

  • Just Pants

  • Today

More: Owner of Fairlane mall in Dearborn: Past-due DTE bill was paid

Women's specialty

  • Page Boy

  • The International Skor

  • The Tall Girls Shop

  • Size 5-7-9 Shop

  • Joan Bari

  • Donna Sacs

  • i Natural Cosmetics

  • Olga's Place

  • National Uniforms

  • Parklane

  • Bernard Wigs

  • Suzy's

  • Wilson's

Women's shoes

  • Joyce by Roberta

  • Naturalizer Shoes

  • Phillips Red Cross Shoes

  • Chandlers

  • The Wild Pair

  • Bakers

  • Shoe Review

Fine & custom jewelry

  • Charles W. Warren Jeweler

  • Wright Kay Jewelers

  • Meyer Treasure Chest Stores

  • Shifrin Willens

  • J.B. Robinson Jewelers

  • DeRoy Ringsmiths

  • Corey's Jewel Box

  • Ad Libs

  • Torri Fashion Jewelry

  • Buck N' Ear

  • Engravers Point

  • Silver Brick Road

Men's apparel

  • Hughes & Hatcher

  • Anton's

  • The Barn/Napoleon's Closet

  • Chelsea

  • Fifth Avenue

Men's sportswear

  • Nawrot Pendleton Shop

  • J. Riggings

  • Jimmy's

  • Silverman's

  • Proving Ground

  • Americana Shop

  • County Seat

  • The Gap

  • Here & Now

  • The Pant Station

  • Just Pants

  • Teen/Man

  • United Shirt

  • Oak Tree

  • Chess King

A light rain falls at the new restaurant plaza entrance to Fairlane Town Center on Friday, Nov. 14, 2008.
A light rain falls at the new restaurant plaza entrance to Fairlane Town Center on Friday, Nov. 14, 2008.

Men's specialty

  • The International Skor

  • Churchill's

  • Wilson's

Men's shoes

  • Bally of Switzerland

  • Shermans Florsheim

  • The Wild Pair

  • Vanguard

  • Father & Son

  • Thom McAn

Family & children's shoes

  • Stride Rite

  • Roots Natural Footwear

  • Kinney Shoes

  • Nobil Shoes

  • The Athletes Foot

  • Playmakers

  • Sibleys Florsheim

  • Chester

Children's apparel

  • The Gum Drop Tree

  • Youth Center

Olga's Kitchen
Olga's Kitchen

Restaurants

  • The Magic Pan Creperie

  • Toll Gate

  • Olga's Kitchen

  • Broadway Deli

  • Bonanza

  • Captain Chips Potato Ship

  • Burger King

  • Elis Brothers Big Boy

  • Happy Hero

  • Koney Island Inn

  • Friendly Ice Cream

  • Jonathon B. Pub

  • Piccadilly's

Food specialty

  • Candy Hut

  • Cookie Factory

  • The Coffee Beanery

  • Tiffany's Bakery

  • Miami Bake Shoppe

  • Alpen Pantry

  • General Nutrition Center

  • Hot Sam

  • Tasty Pastry

  • Fanny Farmer Candies

Optical

  • Detroit Optometric Centers

  • Dearborn Optical Center

Bookstores

  • B. Dalton Bookseller

  • Almar Books

Record stores

  • Musicland

  • House of Music

  • Music Village

Electronic specialties & music

  • Anderson Music

  • Wurlitzer

  • Kimball Keyboards

Fabric stores & sewing

  • Singer

Home furnishings

  • Homemaker Shops

  • Raimi's Curtains

  • Austin Galleries

  • Murphy's Landing

  • St. Clair

Gifts, cards, flowers, stationery & office supply

  • Finger's

  • European Flower Markets

  • Fischer's Hallmark

  • Hugh Jarvis Gifts

  • Glass Gallery

  • Asian Bazaar

  • Cricket Box

Sporting goods, toys, hobbies, cameras & luggage

  • Schneider's Sport Shops

  • Lobby Hobby

  • Toy & Hobby Shop

  • Hobby Center

  • Rug Crafters

Services

  • Hair Cut House

  • National Bank of Dearborn

  • Michigan National Bank

  • J.C. Penney Automotive Center

  • Sears Automotive Center

The Edward Hotel in Dearborn, formerly known as the Hyatt Regency, is under new ownership. It is in the first phase of a 4 phase renovation process to be completed in 2019.
The Edward Hotel in Dearborn, formerly known as the Hyatt Regency, is under new ownership. It is in the first phase of a 4 phase renovation process to be completed in 2019.

Theaters & entertainment

  • The Movies

Ice arena

  • Fairlane Ice Arena — This ice skating rink started out on the mall's main floor, featuring a pro shop with skate purchase, rentals and repairs; 60 hours per week of public skating; private rentals and skating lessons. The facility was later converted into a movie theater.

Did you work at a mall growing up, or spend time hanging out at one? What's your favorite tale from back in the day? The Free Press wants to hear about it as we look back on the heyday of shopping in metro Detroit. Send your stories to [email protected] or message us on Facebook or X.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Fairlane mall once had 150 shopping options, directory shows