<P> Developers then built what became Kentucky's second enclosed mall . The initial plan, unveiled in 1958, called for a $7.5 million, five - story mall with a pool in front on the Bardstown Road side and penthouse apartments on the top floor . The plan was gradually whittled down to a one - story plan with a lower level . The main developer of the project was Guy E. McGaughey, Jr., an attorney from Lawrenceville, Illinois . The concept of an enclosed mall was very new . There were only a handful of enclosed malls in the US at the time . </P> <P> Construction began in March 1962 and the mall was completed in October of that year at a cost of $3 million . The shopping center formally opened on October 10, 1962, in a ribbon - cutting ceremony attended by Louisville Mayor William O. Cowger and Jefferson County Judge Marlow Cook . The mall contained 180,000 square feet (17,000 m) of leasable space and 22 stores . </P> <P> McGaughey played an active role in the mall's early years . He personally managed the Office lounge and was arrested by the police in 1963 for drunkenness, in what he called a shakedown . On June 21, 1964 an early morning fire that started in the Cherokee Book and Card Stop (also owned by McGaughey) caused $200,000 (equivalent to $1,598,696 in 2017) in damage to the mall . In 1965, police investigated after mall tenants complained of pinball machines in the lobby . In 1968, McGaughey was convicted of battery of a former waitress at the Office Lounge . He was convicted of allowing after - hours drinking in 1968, and in 1969 a judge ordered the Lounge and bowling alley closed over fire hazards . He was sued by the IRS in 1971 for not paying his taxes in the 1960s, and by investors in the mall in 1972 for diverting lease revenue from mall tenants to himself rather than paying investors . McGaughey settled the lawsuits but began to fall behind on mortgage payments and stopped paying for maintenance of the mall . </P> <P> By the mid-1970s, the Bardstown Road corridor was in decline, and local leaders saw the sprawling mall as the epicenter of the problems . Complaints about crime, poor maintenance and deterioration of the structure were common . To force improvements to the mall, the surrounding neighborhood associations banded together and started a boycott of the mall in February 1975 . Partially as a result of the boycott, the mall went into foreclosure in Fall 1976, and receivership on January 1, 1977 . By the end of the 1970s the mall was sold to the Metts family, who were more willing to improve the property and work with neighborhood leaders . Inspired by the successful efforts to force positive change in the Mid City Mall situation, many who were involved formed the Highlands Commerce Guild in 1977, which continues to work to revitalize the Bardstown Road corridor as of 2007 . </P>

Mid city mall number of stores and services