1965: Westown Shopping Center: Part 2

Westown Update – A Woolco Wonderland Is Coming to Granger (circa 1965)
60 Years Ago, the Vision Was Bold—And the Faith in Granger’s Future Was Even Bigger

The plans for the Westown Shopping Center in Granger continued to gain momentum in 1965, as one of the most ambitious commercial projects in the Intermountain West announced its next major tenant: Woolco Department Stores.

According to Lester Davis, Vice President of F.W. Woolworth Co. and General Manager of the Woolco Division, the new Woolco store in Westown would be a full-line department store encompassing 118,000 square feet—making it one of the largest retail stores ever built in the Salt Lake area at the time. It would include a Red Grille Restaurant with seating for 110 patrons, a full-service automotive center, and a vast selection of departments: from apparel and home appliances to hardware, books, and floor coverings. Construction was expected to begin shortly, with an anticipated opening in spring 1966.

This announcement followed news of another retail giant: the Auerbach Company, which planned a three-story, 169,200 square foot store—the first major suburban expansion of the beloved downtown department store. Fred Auerbach himself expressed excitement about the Woolco announcement, noting how the addition of another anchor store strengthened the overall retail power of Westown.

Lester Wade, President of 35/40 Inc., shared further details of the growing roster of businesses committed to this groundbreaking shopping mall. Confirmed tenants at the time included:

  • Dan’s Foodtown

  • Hatch Hallmark Cards

  • GEM Music Company

  • Wally’s Flowers

  • Harman’s Take Home Café

  • Kay’s Men’s Wear

  • Auerbach Tire & Accessory Center

  • Walgreen Drug

  • Muir Barbershop

  • Harman’s Hardware & Appliance

  • Zions First National Bank

  • Baker’s Shoes

  • House of Fabrics

  • Kinney’s Shoes

  • Mode-O-Day Fashions

  • Mountain Fuel Supply Office

  • Rollnick’s Shoes

  • Zale Jewelry

  • Peppermint Palace Candy & Ice Cream

Wade indicated that several local and national retailers were close to signing leases, with announcements expected within weeks.

At the time, Westown was envisioned as a regional shopping destination, located on a 47-acre site in the heart of Granger, boasting more than 700,000 square feet of commercial space, parking for 3,400 cars, and some of the most modern energy infrastructure in the region. The development symbolized more than just a mall—it was part of a broader dream to transform the southwest valley from farmland into a suburban hub of commerce, community, and convenience.

Though the full vision of Westown would not unfold as originally imagined, the dedication of local leaders like Lester Wade, Fred Auerbach, and Pete Harman helped lay the groundwork for the growth that followed. Their bold planning—and belief in the potential of Granger and Hunter—turned what was once desert into a thriving, dynamic heart of what is now West Valley City.

Businesses by Addresssheri biesingerThrift City, Grand Central, Harmans, Harmon, PeteComment