The trees shipped from Florida were nearly killed by a cold snap when delays in the shipment of the glass for the main entryway forced emergency heaters into use.

Half-inch-thick glass (13 mm) made by Pilkington in England was hung in curtain form with no visible support or connections and filled a 50-by-27-foot (15.2 m × 8.2 m) area at the main entrance.

[1] West Towne's grand opening was on Thursday October 15, 1970, at 9:30 a.m. and had no ceremony or ribbon cutting to mark the occasion.

The mall's manager James M. Roche explained the lack of a ceremony saying, "We feel the shopper has come out to see the center.

Detroit sculptor Joseph A. McDonnell was commissioned to create five metal sculptures for the mall.

McDonnell spent seven months completing the sculptures, four of which were motorized to rotate, as well as a large 15-by-15-foot (4.6 m × 4.6 m) chandelier-like work that hung near the east entrance.

He also created four magnesium sculptures that were suspended from the ceiling between the fountain and one of the sunken lounge areas.

According to CBL, the new design used elements of the Wisconsin State Capitol specifically noting the high chandeliers and wooden table and benches.

[citation needed] Granite City, Charming Charlie, Toys "R" Us, Payless ShoeSource, and Gymboree all closed in the 2010s.

In 2021, Hobby Lobby relocated their Madison store from South Towne Mall to the former Sears area.