The building has been gone now for decades, but the Bazaar of All Nations that once stood between Oak and Bishop avenues off Baltimore Pike remains strong in the Delaware County memory.

There are fond memories recounted in Facebook groups, old photographs, newspaper clippings, and a detailed 2010 documentary produced by Patrick Manley and Brendan O’Riordan, directed by Melissa Whitely.

In concept, it was the nation’s first mall, based on the idea of an international flea market of vendors, America’s largest and most beautiful “City of Shopping.”

Origins

The Bazaar of All Nations was created by developer Morris Kravitz, who also built the Manoa Shopping Center.  

The Bazaar was built on the 30-acre Burn Brae Hospital property, which Kravitz acquired in 1954.  It was located in Upper Darby but had a Clifton Heights mailing address.

The interior was essentially two long aisles that looped, with business stalls on either side.

Initially called the Oak Park Shopping Center, early plans had 60 stores, a department store, a bowling alley, and a skating rink, according to the “Bazaar of All Nations” documentary.

By the time the Bazaar opened on Nov. 8, 1960, its concept of a “city of stores” was set. It had expanded to a potential 200 merchants under one roof over a four-block area, employing 600 salespeople.  The parking lot could accommodate 3,000 cars.

The Bazaar Businesses  

Shoppers could find almost everything they needed, and in Delaware County, you were either a Bazaar customer or you worked there.

The documentary highlighted many of the stores.

There was Jerry’s Records, Clothes Quarters, Mr. Pleates Comics, B&J Photo Studio for portrait work, RAM Army Navy Store, Mele’s Pet Shop, Noonans Wallpaper, and Fix-A-Vac. Computer Corner did computer repairs, and Video Tape Library let you rent videos.  Kent Studio did frame work.

There was a candy store, a shoe repair, carpeting and furniture for sale, dry cleaners, a music store, a stamp and coin shop, an antique shop, a flower shop, an auto parts store, a hardware store, a toy store, jewelry, and more.

Most people remember the food and the incredible odors.

“All the strong scents from sweets, shoe polish, dry cleaning fluid, baked pretzels, cinnamon, horseradish, pizza sauce, pet animals, paint, and more. Loved hangin’ there,“ reads a comment from Janice Canifield from seven years ago posted on the Delco Memories Facebook page.

A visit to the Bazaar meant buying soft pretzels at Bernie’s Pretzel Bakery, sticky buns at D’Amato’s Bakery, pizza at D’Amato’s Pizza, hot dogs at Tommy’s Hot Spot, water ice, or fresh produce at Cantando Fruit and Produce store.

You could catch a meal at Larry Riviello’s Oaks Cafeteria.

It was a small business mecca where customers could talk directly with the owners of multiple businesses in one space.

Visitors could do their laundry, get a haircut, play video games in the arcade, or buy the latest model from the hobby shop.

“If you lived in Clifton Heights, the Bazaar babysat you,” said Leslie Philiposian-Paynter, quoted in a Daily Times article about the Bazaar written Feb. 1, 2010, by Paul Luce. “It was just such a staple in our lives.”

Grand opening

When the $5 million Bazaar of All Nations had its grand opening on Nov. 8, 1960, the concept of multiple stores under one roof was a new idea. Its owners called it “A fantastic idea in retailing,” according to a NEWS of Delaware County article from that year.

 Keith Andes, a former Upper Darby resident who was then starring in “This Man Dawson” on TV, and in “Wildcat”,  a new play with Lucille Ball, made a celebrity appearance, along with Tsadok Savir, an internationally-known singer-comedian from Café Sabra in New York City.

Those who showed up that day had a chance to win a trip to Rio, Bermuda, or Miami.

Promotions and Celebrities

The Bazaar had a big bag of tricks to lure customers in.

The Roto sphere was a highly visible, large, rotating illuminated ball atop a tower that stood in the parking lot. It was nicknamed Sputnik.

A large suit of armor greeted customers above the main entrance.

Patrons could drop in a coin and enjoy the sounds of a player piano in front of the window shade store.

On the first-year anniversary of the Bazaar’s opening, at a time when the Cold War was raging, the Bazaar hosted the Stearns family, inviting them to live for one week, Nov. 1 to 8, 1961, in a bomb shelter placed in the parking lot. The family survived the ordeal and won the bomb shelter as a prize, but had no place to put it.

There were beauty contests, auctions,  helicopter rides, a space capsule on display, carnivals, and more.

Celebrity visits included Danny Thomas, Larry Ferrari, George Hamilton, Captain Noah, Bill Webber, Sally Starr, Chief Halftown, Pixanne, Al Alberts, Bob Ross, and various players from the Philadelphia Phillies.

Three politicians also stopped by–U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy paid a visit, as did  Robert F. Kennedy on April 1, 1968, and Richard Nixon in September 1968.

The Bazaar community

The Bazaar of All Nations was more than just a place to shop and eat.

“I think for most people, the Bazaar was as much a hangout or a place for a family outing as it was a shopping center,” said Diana D’Auria, who was quoted in the Daily Times article. D’Auria created a Facebook page devoted to the Bazaar experience, “Fans of the Bazaar of All Nations.”

“When there was nothing to do, there was always the Bazaar,” reads a comment from John LePere on the Meanwhile in Delco Facebook page.

“Miss that place … Totally a Delco thing !!!!” commented William Cole on the Delaware County PA History Facebook page.

The Bazaar closed for good on Dec. 31, 1993, ending its 33-year lifespan. Half of the building was demolished, and a new Acme store was built on the site. The other half was knocked down, and a Home Depot was built on the spot.  

“The first time I passed the Bazaar, and I saw it was gone, I was shocked. Shocked and sad because a piece of my life was taken away, but you can’t take away the memories,” commented former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiverVince Papale in the “Bazaar of All Nations” documentary.

“They’ll always be there. It’s like somebody you love. They’ll always be a part of you.”

Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on DELCO Today in February 2026.