The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 37

Sunday Morning, July 30,1978 (Tlji- 5-D Baybrook Mall Opens GRAND OPENING CEREMONIES Began With National Anthem PHILIP SAYLES President of Joske's SAM ARNOLD, DISTRICT MANAGER Of Montgomery Ward's RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONIES At Montgomery Ward's Baybrook Mall, located at Bay Area Boulevard and 1-45, opened its doors Wednesday to the public. The grand opening ceremonies marked the opening for over 70 merchants; Sears, Wards, Joske's and a future fourth department store. Upon completion, Baybrook Mall will accommodate over 115 merchants. The first sound Baybrook shoppers heard as they entered the mall on grand opening morning was the music of the Galveston Beach Band. Among the selections performed by the group for shoppers entertainment was the musical scores to the films Rocky and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

The 24-piece band is sponsored by the City of Galveston. Under the direction of Frank Incaprera, the group is composed of school band directors for the local area along with college students and other professional musicians. Doug Murphy, from the Channel 13 TV news team, was master of ceremonies for the festivities. Special guests for the ribbon cutting ceremony included Ralph Lowe, Friendswood mayor; Dr. Christopher Kraft, director of Johnson Space Center; Deke Slay ton, manager of the orbital flight tests at Johnson Space Center; Sam Arnold, district manager of Montgomery Ward; Philip Sayles, president of Joske's; W.C.

Lochmoeller, territorial executive vice president of Sears, Roebuck and William A. Toombs, president of Homart Development Co. Homart Development listed among the top ten all-time developers by the trade publication National Mall Monitor, was founded in 1959 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sears, Roebuck Co. to develop, own and operate regional shopping centers across the nation. In tne initial planning, construction, leasing and operation of 14 wholly-owned and eight co-developments, the company, headquartered in Chicago, has acquired a management staff experienced in all phases of shopping center development.

Homart is headed by William A1 Toombs, president. Twenty-six skylights throughout Baybrook Mall create a warm and pleasant atmosphere for shoppers who have the advantage of an outdoor environment under the shelter of a climate controlled mall. Even the cloudiest days promise to be bright at Baybrook. In addition to shedding warmth and glow, the skylights nurture the live foliage planted throughout the mall. Amidst live foliage and skylights lies the courtyard, Baybrook Mall's answer to convenient and leisurely dining.

Independent fast food operations line the north side of the courtyard, providing shoppers with a vast array of foods from which to choose in one location. The common seating area in the center will accommodate 364 diners at one time. Standard mall hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday thru Saturday will be enforced throughout the center to provide convenience to shoppers. Solicitation both inside and outside the mall wjll be strictly prohibited and enforced.

Through the combined efforts of Baybrook Mall management, Baybrook shoppers will be provided with complete service. Photos By Jo Ann Oliphant GALVESTON BEACH BAND Entertained Shoppers W.C. LOCHMOELLER, TERRIRORIAL Executive Vice President Of Sears WILLIAM A. TOOMBS, PRESIDENT OF Homart Development Co. DEKE SLAYTON, MAN ACER OF THE Flight Test At Johnson Space Center.