1955-1979

Stores follow planned freeway

Construction continues in July 1975 on the J.C. Penney store at Cross Creek Mall.

It's a chicken-and-egg argument. Which came first? Cross Creek Mall or the All American Freeway? The two combined to turn corn and bean fields into the economic center of Cumberland County.

The All American Freeway dates to 1963 when the state announced plans for the Owen Drive Freeway to link Fort Bragg with the Cape Fear Valley Medical Center area.

In 1967, developers J.P. Riddle and Tom Wood purchased the 600-acre Marsh farm. Two years later, they built Cambridge Arms Apartments on part of the land off McPherson Church Road.

By the 1970s, downtown stalwarts Sears and Belk-Hensdale were looking to move. Each was considering sites on Sycamore Dairy Road. Bragg Boulevard was also considered.

But they knew the freeway was planned.

In 1970, Charlotte developer Henry Faison bought 90 acres west of the proposed freeway from Riddle and Wood.

Faison chose the land because of its central location - and because the freeway was coming.

Two years later, he announced plans for an enclosed mall that would house not only Sears and Belk, but two other major tenants, and have space for up to 90 other stores.

Construction of the 8.2-mile freeway began May, 9, 1974.

On Feb. 26, 1975, the mall opened with almost every space leased. "Rarely had that happened with other malls," said Von Autry Jr., then an executive vice president for Belk.

About 40,000 shoppers came the first day. They not only found bigger stores, but also a wider selection of merchandise.

Opening-day sales included leisure suits for $19 and polyester pantsuits for $29.

The Record Bar advertised eight-track tapes. The first 1,000 customers at Belk received a free 45rpm record.

No traffic problems were reported opening day, but there was some concern about access to the mall. Autry remembers that work on the Morganton Road bridge over the freeway was going slowly and it appeared it wouldn't be ready in time for the mall opening.

Autry said Belk, Sears and Faison paid for overtime work so the bridge would be finished on time.

The All American Freeway was officially completed Sept. 15, 1978.

The farmland around the mall soon filled with more stores.