Your mall carries the name of Diego de Vargas, one of two enclosed shopping centers in Santa Fe. Once called DeVargas Mall, it remains one of two enclosed malls in Santa Fe. The center was developed by Kentucky businessman Nash Hancock and formally opened its doors in 1973, though an Albertsons and a Factory 2-U had already opened here a few years prior.
The structure was designed by Santa Fe architect William Lumpkins, and you can still sense the intent of that original plan as you stand here. In 1975 the luxury men’s store Goodman’s relocated from the Santa Fe Plaza to this site, and by 1977 the center had added Montgomery Ward, JCPenney and a United Artists two‑screen theater. When Villa Linda Mall opened in 1985, JCPenney moved to the southwest side of town and its old spot here was later replaced by C. R. Anthony Co. The mall changed hands for the first time with Weingarten Realty and saw a $1‑million renovation that upgraded the interior and expanded the theater; later, Ross Dress for Less opened a new-to-market location in 1996 and Montgomery Ward closed after announcing bankruptcy in 1998.
Picture William Lumpkins' design taking shape here in 1973, before Goodman's and Montgomery Ward arrived.