Barton Creek Square Mall opened in 1981 as one of the largest malls in Texas. The mall was originally anchored by Sears, JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, Foley's, Dillard's, and the Austin-based Scarbrough's department store. Opening of the mall occurred in phases, with the first stores (Sears and JCPenney) opening on August 1 while construction within the rest of the mall continued. Barton Creek Square officially opened on August 19 with 77 stores out of an anticipated 175–185 businesses; 85,000–90,000 people visited the mall on its opening day. In November 1981, the mall became the first in Texas to have Braille and bold print signage throughout the center.
