Mayfair Mall, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 1963

This authentic 1960s color photograph, captured in 1963, provides a look at the functional logistics and mid-century modern design of Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. The archival image features the entrance to the underground service tunnel, marked by a prominent white sign reading “CAUTION SERVICE TUNNEL ONLY” on a yellow-based pole. To the left, a light blue 1961 Chevrolet Corvair 95 Rampside or Lakewood is parked on the grass verge, while the background reveals a vast parking lot and a row of suburban retail storefronts, including Stuarts, Toepfer & Bellack, and Flanner & Hafsoos. The architecture is characterized by clean, horizontal masonry lines and a large stone-facade building to the right, which served as part of the Marshall Field & Company anchor. Mayfair Mall originally opened in 1958 as an open-air shopping center, utilizing these innovative underground tunnels to keep heavy delivery traffic separate from the pedestrian experience on the main concourse. While the mall was eventually enclosed and significantly expanded, this service infrastructure remains a critical component of the site’s operations today. This factual record preserves the organized, high-tech suburban planning that defined major Midwest retail hubs during the early sixties. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.