The Village Mall (photos below) once stood at the heart of Montgomery Village, serving as a central gathering place for the community before eventually evolving into the shopping center that is now known as the Montgomery Village Center.
In October 1970, developer Kettler Brothers opened the first phase of the indoor shopping center in the young planned community. Known affectionately as “the small mall with it all,” the Village Mall originally featured 18 shops and boutiques, along with a post office and a popular Greek restaurant called Athena. More than just a shopping destination, the mall quickly became a community hub, hosting small concerts, antique shows, art exhibits, dances, and serving as home to the Center for the Performing Arts.
The mall expanded in 1975 with the opening of an addition that brought 16 more shops and a three-screen movie theater. A year later, the adjacent Village Quarter debuted, adding another layer to the area’s mixed-use vision. The Village Quarter included shops and offices, with residential units located on upper floors. At street level, visitors could find the “Eatery,” a collection of food stalls offering a variety of ethnic cuisines, along with a shared community dining space…