 A large Southern Red Oak tree on the expansion land became an unofficial mascot of the mall, and was retained at considerable expense even after the mall grew around it.In 1988, the mall applied for a zoning change for a major expansion, perhaps spurred by proposals for a "mega-mall" at Crossroads Plaza emerged only a mile away.In 1991, the mall completed its expansion to 1.1 million square feet and was renamed Cary Towne Center by then-owners Richard E. Jacobs Group.