Diane C. Lore | lore@siadvance.com

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A vision takes shape

An indoor shopping center mall for Staten Island was still in the planning stages as the borough prepared for a new decade, the 1970s. This 1970 architect's rendering shows the Mall and new Macy's wing as it would look when completed. With the Staten Island Mall's latest remodel in the works, the Advance is taking look back on the Mall's 40 years.

Click here to see photos of stores no longer at the Staten Island Mall.

Feel free to share your own Mall memories in the Comments section below.

(Staten Island Advance photo)

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Diane Lore/lore@siadvance.com

'Dancing water' in the fountains

This December 1981 Advance file photo shows the lower-level fountains, with their plumes of "dancing water," that were located near the center Mall escalators.

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Diane C. Lore | lore@siadvance.com

Plenty of parking to be had

In 1974, this crop of Detroit-made cars packed the parking lot at the Mall, as Staten Islanders began their Christmas shopping, but there were still plenty of spots to be had near Richmond Avenue. The Fresh Kills Landfill can be seen in the background. (Staten Island Advance photo)

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Diane Lore/lore@siadvance.com

For sporting goods, Herman's

This Advance file photo from December 1982 shows women behind the counter in Herman's World of Sporting Goods working feverishly to keep up with the customers returning or exchanging holdiday gifts.

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Diane Lore/lore@siadvance.com

For bookworms, Waldenbooks

This August 1983 Advance file photo shows the Waldenbooks store, now long-gone, near the Macy’s wing of the Mall. In the pre-Internet days, Wadenbooks carried everything print -- from books, to magazines and newspapers.

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Diane Lore/lore@siadvance.com

Get ready for Dress Barn

The Dress Barn store, on the Upper Level, was being completed in this 1982 Advance file photo. Next door was Lechters, for home goods and small appliances.

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Diane C. Lore | lore@siadvance.com

'Ultra-modern' complex to make shopping convenient

“The ultra-modern complex should make shopping more convenient for Staten Islanders. Many who attended the grand opening said they would no longer travel to New Jersey or Brooklyn to do their shopping,” is the caption from this 1973 Advance file photo, taken not too long after the Mall opened.

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Diane C. Lore | lore@siadvance.com

Escalators for tired shoppers

Shoppers' legs get a break as they head for the Staten Island Mall's Upper Level in this 1990 Advance file photo.

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Diane C. Lore/lore@siadvance.com

Christmas at the Mall

In this 1980 Advance file photo, a crowd of parents with their children wait patiently in line to see Santa Claus and ride the Holiday Express in the Mall Center Court.

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Diane C.Lore/lore@siadvance.com

Performances take Center Court

In this 1974 Advance file photo, shoppers watch Tottenville High School juniors and seniors do their warmup excercises before a gymnastics presentation in the Center Court.

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Diane C. Lore/lore@siadvance.com

Anniversary celebration

Celebrating the Mall's 10th anniversary in 1981, were, from left: Martha Knopp, then the Mall marketing director; Aldo Benedetto, executive assistant to then-Borough President Anthony Gaeta; Mall manager John Grimaldi, and a young Richard Nicotra, then owner of Everything Yogurt in the Mall. (Staten Island Advance photo)

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Diane C. Lore | lore@siadvance.com

Easter Bunny visits

Garfield the cat, and the Easter Bunny, are the center of attention for hundreds of children and their parents who crowded the Center Court for a glimpse of the two in this 1985 Advance file photo.

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Diane C. Lore/lore@siadvance.com

A new wing on the way

An architect's rendering of the new JC Penney's wing from the '90s. (Staten Island Advance photo)

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Diane C. Lore/lore@siadvance.com

Carnival for a cause

Rides for children and games were featured at this 1978 carnival for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. (Staten Island Advance photo)

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Diane C. Lore/lore@siadvance.com

The Honeycomb

The Honeycomb, seen in this 1975 Advance file photo, was a popular labrynth of smaller shops on the ground floor of the Mall.

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Diane C. Lore/lore@siadvance.com

Time for a PicNic

The Mall was the scene of this 1982 celebration marking Staten Island's tricentennial, and the end of the two-year Mall renovation project that saw completion of a new 13-restaurant eating area called the "PicNic" in Center Court. (Staten Island Advance photo)

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Diane C.Lore/lore@siadvance.com

Play time for kids

In this photo from 1974, moms got a break while children explore a play structure that was tucked away near one of the entrance/exit doors. (Staten Island Advance photo)

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Diane C. Lore/lore@siadvance.com

Going green

The Mall got a face-lift in 1981. Along with the escalators, skylights and new fountains, live indoor trees were installed, to give the Mall a green look. (Staten Island Advance photo)

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Diane C. Lore/lore@siadvance.com

Decked out for Christmas

The Mall is festively decorated for Christmas in this 1981 Advance file photo, and shoppers could get their packages gift-wrapped at the booth on the Lower Level in the Sears wing.

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Diane C. Lore/lore@siadvance.com

Two floors of stores

The Hodor Dinette store and Fance Luggage shop can be seen at right in this photo from October 1982. Kaybee Toys can be glimpsed on the Upper Level, at right. (Staten Island Advance photo)

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Diane C. Lore/lore@siadvance.com

Elbow-to-elbow

Shoppers are elbow-to-elbow during the Christmas season in this 1987 Advance file photo.

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Diane C. Lore/lore@siadvance.com

Work on JC Penney wing

In this June 1992 Advance file photo, three construction workers are busy laying drainage pipes at the future site of the JC Penney wing of the Mall.