The year was 1958. The new mall in Hyattsville was opening its first two stores just before the holiday shopping rush.

Then known as Prince Georges Plaza — it was renamed the Mall at Prince Georges in 2004 — the open-air shopping center had two anchor tenants.

The first to open on Nov. 2 was Hecht’s, the third suburban D.C. store for the rapidly growing department store chain, which was known for being welcoming toward customers of all races.

Then, on Dec. 17, the Grand Union Supermarket opened on the opposite end of the shopping center, where T.J. Maxx is now located.

It being the 1950s, the store’s owners decided to add a little flair. As an ad described it: “Kris Kringle Comes by ‘Kopter!'”

“Yes, old St. Nick himself will land on our parking lot in a Helicopter just in time to cut the ribbon at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning!” the ad read. “Bring the children, they’ll get a tremendous thrill out of seeing Santa.”

Claus was joined by two other notables: WRC weather girl Tippy Stringer and WTOP kids star Ranger Hal. The Washington Post was on hand for the event:

Santa Claus cut the red ribbons across the main entrance of Grand Union’s new supermarket in Prince Georges Plaza promptly at 9 a.m. yesterday, and the “grand opening” of this newest supermarket got under way.

For 30 minutes before Santa’s arrival in a helicopter on the parking lot outside the new store, a crowd of small fry, hanging onto parents’ hands, waited. Each time a bird flew over, a small voice would cry, “There he is.” Finally, the whirly-bird came into view. The kids cheered. (As a self-appointed greeter of airbornes Santas this year — this is the third one we’ve met — we cheered, too.)