Back When
Uptown Equine
Douglas Towne
U
ptown Plaza provided the
Valley with an upscale
shopping alternative to downtown
Phoenix stores when it opened
outside city limits on September
25, 1955. Located on the
northeast corner of Central
Avenue and Camelback Road, the
Del E. Webb shopping center
featured amenities modern for
the era, including free on-site
parking and air-conditioned
stores. Each of the 23 businesses
was elegantly denoted by neon-lit
cursive signage on their façade.
Uptown Plaza promoted
special events such as the “All
Arabian Horse Show” in 1970. The
Valley has long been home to such
equestrian shows, sponsored by
the Arabian Horse Association of
Arizona. One competitive class is
“Mounted Native Costume,”
where the rider wears traditional
native costumes, such as shown
in the photo.
www.arizcc.com
Arizona contractor & community