(Photo courtesy Northpark Center)
Piece of the past
When NorthPark Center opened its doors in 1965, it was the largest climate-controlled shopping center in the nation. Dallas developer Raymond D. Nasher leased a 97-acre cotton field to bring the sleek shopping center to fruition. Its opening day was equal parts celebration and show, with the Richardson and Wilmer-Hutchins high school bands performing in a parade that snaked its way through the luxury center with great fanfare. NorthPark Center celebrated its 52nd birthday in August. In a time when many shopping malls are in perile, it continues to shine with more than $1 billion in sales every year.
