Photo from www.loopnet.com
Cleveland's Parmatown Center
The nucleus of what eventually morphed into Greater Cleveland's seventh-largest enclosed shopping mall. PARMATOWN CENTER, an open-air strip complex, was inaugurated in October of 1956. By the time of this snapshot, the original strip section had been renamed PARMATOWN PLAZA.
Photo from www.loopnet.com
Photo from www.loopnet.com
A rendering of "May's Parmatown." The store opened for business in August 1960.
Drawing from the May Department Stores Company
Shoppers stroll the new Kresge Court at PARMATOWN CENTER. At the time this photo was taken (September 1960), the open-air mall addition had not been completed.
Photo from http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu / Cleveland Memory Project / Joseph E. Cole
The open walkway at a fully-realized PARMATOWN CENTER. This photo is dated August 1961.
Photo from http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu / Cleveland Memory Project / Joseph E. Cole
Photo from http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu / Cleveland Memory Project / Joseph E. Cole
Higbee's opened a PARMATOWN location in August 1967 and would operate in the mall for 25 years.
Photo from http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu / Cleveland Memory Project / Joseph E. Cole
This section of the shopping complex had been built as an open-air concourse in 1959-1960. At the time of this April 1968 photo, it had just been roofed-in.
Photo from http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu / Cleveland Memory Project / Joseph E. Cole
Davidson's PARMATOWN, in the new West Wing. The men's wear store started out in the open-air PARMATOWN CENTER in 1960. It moved to this location in early 1968.
Photo from http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu / Cleveland Memory Project / Joseph E. Cole
Casual Center opened a PARMATOWN West Wing store at the same time.
Photo from http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu / Cleveland Memory Project / Joseph E. Cole
As part of the 1979-'80 expansion, the interior of the existing complex was given a face lift. Here we see the refurbished May Company mall entry.
Photo from http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu / Cleveland Memory Project / Joseph E. Cole
By the dawn of the 21st century, PARMATOWN was in need of another renovation in order to remain competitive. An indoor-outdoor remodeling was done between late 2003 and late 2005.
Photo from the RMS Investment Corporation
An early 2000s view of the mall's 10-bay Food Court.
Photo from www.parmatown.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
The 2000s redo was unsuccessful. Competition from other malls, internet retail and the tanking of the US economy contributed to the decline of PARMATOWN. The shuttering of Macy's (operating in the old May Company store) was the final nail in a proverbial P-TOWN coffin. A new owner embarked on a demalling in 2014, with the old "May's Parma" store being one of the first structures razed.
Photo from "DaveBronx"
Stores in THE SHOPPES AT PARMA power plaza began opening in April 2015. A fifth major renovation of the property had added newly-built structures and refurbished those that had been left standing. Case in point, the circa-1956 strip center seen here.
Photo from http://www.rlba.com / Richard L. Bowen Associates, Incorporated
A view of the demalled shopping concourse and new -open-air- J.C. Penney.
Photo from http://www.rlba.com / Richard L. Bowen Associates, Incorporated
The entire exterior of the Penney's store was given a face lift. Here, we see the south and west-facing facades, post-refurbishment. These renovations proved somewhat unnecessary, as the store closed its doors for good in late 2020.
Photo from "DaveBronx"
A brand new Dick's Sporting Goods was built to replace a store that was only 10 years old. The new location, seen here, welcomed its first shoppers in April 2015.
Photo from "DaveBronx"
West Ridgewood Drive and Ridge Road
Parma, Ohio
The second shopping mall in Greater Cleveland started out as an open-air strip complex in the mid-1950s. PARMATOWN CENTER, developed by the Ratner, Miller and Shafran familes (a.k.a. the RMS Investment Corporation) encompassed approximately 147,000 leasable square feet. The shopping hub occupied the eastern corner of a 65-acre parcel, located 11 miles southwest of downtown Cleveland's Public Square.
The first PARMATOWN CENTER stores opened their doors on September 27, 1956. An official dedication was held on November 8 of the same year. Charter PARMATOWN tenants included Nobil Shoes, D.O. Summers, Palevsky Hardware, Hudgeon's, Miller's Drug, Faflik Shoes, Fisher Foods and an F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10.
An open-air mall was added to the west end of the complex, with its groundbreaking held on June 1, 1960. The 10 million dollar addition was designed by Seattle's John Graham, Junior and the Weinberg & Teare firm, of Cleveland. The new West Wing was anchored by a 4-level (299,200 square foot), Cleveland-based May Company of Ohio.
"May's Parmatown" was inaugurated, as part of a mall-wide grand opening, on August 21, 1960. The event was hosted by Sylvester Augustine (Mayor of Parma). Officials from May Company and several local city council members were also in attendance. Among thirty-three charter stores were Lerner Shops, Marshall Drug, Diamond men's wear, an S.S. Kresge 5 & 10 and Pick-N-Pay supermarket.
A second expansion was underway by 1966. This project would be anchored by a 2-level (188,000 square foot), Cleveland-based Higbee's and include an expanded -and fully-enclosed- West Wing. The circa-1960 open-air concourse was also roofed in. Higbee's Parmatown opened its doors on September 5, 1967. The General Cinema Corporation Parmatown Cinema I & II debuted on November 15 of the same year. A mall-wide dedication took place on April 1, 1968. New stores included Petrie's, Susan Ives, Winkelman's, Chess King, Franklin-Simon, Davidson's and a Hot Shoppes Cafeteria.
A third expansion was done in 1979-1980. This added a new South Wing and 10-bay Picnic Place Food Court. The refurbished complex, now officially promoted as PARMATOWN MALL, was formally dedicated on July 21, 1980. New inline tenants included Houlihan's restaurant and Shoe World. A 2-level (159,200 square foot) J.C. Penney welcomed first shoppers on November 26, 1980.
Major shopping venues in the vicinity of PARMATOWN MALL included SOUTHLAND PLAZA / CENTER (1950) {2 miles west, in Middleburg Heights}, WESTGATE CENTER (1954) {8 miles northwest, in Fairview Park} and, eventually, SOUTHPARK CENTER / WESTFIELD SOUTHPARK (1996) {6.2 miles southwest, in Strongsville}.
Anchor rebrandings commenced at PARMATOWN MALL in August 1992, when the Higbee's location became a Dillard's. It closed for good in the year 2000. May Company was rebranded as a Pittsburgh-based Kaufmann's in January 1993 and was "Macy-ated" on September 9, 2006.
Meanwhile, a fourth major mall renovation had commenced in late 2003. The vacant Higbee's / Dillard's was demolished. The cinema, which had closed on August 12, 2004, was also knocked down. A 1-level (152,200 square foot) Wal-Mart was built on the Higbee's spot. The store held its grand opening on January 28, 2004. Wal-Mart was joined by a (50,000 square foot) Dick's Sporting Goods, which was built on the old Cinema spot. The reconfigured shopping center, completed in the fall of 2005, encompassed approximately 991,600 leasable square feet and contained 150 stores and services.
The tanking of the US economy in 2008 was a harbinger of doom for PARMATOWN MALL. By June 2011, the proprietors (Cleveland's RMS Investment Corporation) were saddled with a partially vacant shopping center and upside down mall mortgage. 63 million dollars were owed on a shopping center valued at between 30 and 42 million.
RMS defaulted on the loan and a receiver was brought in to manage the property and prepare it for sale. In the meantime, 800,000 dollars were invested in repairs and improvements. Then came news that Macy's was closing their PARMATOWN store. This transpired on March 25, 2012.
The moribund mall had been placed on the open market in the previous January. Cincinnati-based Philips Edison & Company bought the delinquent mortgage on the property in October 2012. They started a massive renovation in the summer of 2013. This entailed demolition of the old May Company / Macy's and most of the enclosed mall.
Structures that had been retained were thoroughly renovated and reoriented into an open-air format. Several new buildings were added. WalMart expanded to a (178,600 square foot) SuperCenter and a new (50,000 square foot) Dick's Sporting Goods was built. It was dedicated April 14, 2015.
Inline stores in the new and improved THE SHOPPES AT PARMA included Ulta Beauty, Torrid, Rue 21, Fast Eddie's Kitchen & Bar, Panera Bread, Five Guys Burgers & Fries and Mattress Firm. As these were opening for business, the Phillips Edison & Company formed a new division. The PREP Property Group was created in May 2015 to redevelop and operate grocery-anchored shopping centers, power centers, lifestyle centers and enclosed malls.
Sources:
The Cleveland Plain Dealer
http://www.parmatown.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
http://www.cleveland.com
Info, photos and drawings from "DaveBronx"
Info, photos and drawings from "DaveBronx"
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.rlba.com / Richard L. Bowen Associates
http://www.phillipsedison.com / Phillips Edison & Company
https://www.preppg.com / PREP Property Group
http://www.rlba.com / Richard L. Bowen Associates
http://www.phillipsedison.com / Phillips Edison & Company
https://www.preppg.com / PREP Property Group
http://www.prnewswire.com
"Parmatown Mall" article on Wikipedia
FAIR USE OF PARMATOWN IMAGES:
The photos from The Cleveland Memory Project illustrate a key moment in the
mall's history that is described in the article. The images are not replaceable with free-use or public-domain images. The
use of the images does not limit the copyright owners' rights to
distribute them in any way. The images are being used for non-profit,
informational purposes only and their use is not believed to detract from
the original images in any way.
A circa-1963 aerial view of SEVERANCE CENTER, which was the Buckeye State's first enclosed shopping complex.
Photo from Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University / Parade Studios
In addition to Higbee's, the original SEVERANCE CENTER was anchored by Cleveland-based Halle's. Here we see the store's mall entrance.
Photo from Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University / Daniel Ho
A primary feature of the Halle's SEVERANCE CENTER store was its Geranium Room restaurant.
Photo from Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University / Joseph E. Cole
In this early '60s view, we see the mall's Center Court and fountain.
Photo from Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University / Bernie Noble
Winkelman's SEVERANCE CENTER store. The chain, based in Detroit, was a well-known ladies' ready-to-wear retailer.
Photo from Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University / Joseph E. Cole
Fisher Foods built a Master Market store at SEVERANCE CENTER. It was at the far end of an open-air Convenience Wing that extended from the mall's northwest corner.
Drawing from Fisher Foods, Incorporated Annual Report 1963
A high-definition Complete Plan of the 1964 complex. All of its seventy-five stores and services are indicated. The center was based on a main retail level. A basement floor housed a bowling alley, leased office spaces and six-store "Convenience Wing." In all, the mall encompassed around 854,000 leasable square feet and provided free parking for 4,500 autos.
The mid-1980s reinvention of SEVERANCE TOWN CENTER was not an astounding success. By the mid-1990s, both of its anchor stores had been abandoned. The bulk of the mall was bulldozed in the late 1990s and replaced by the open-air power plaza seen here.
Photo from www.pinetreecommercial.com / Pinetree Commercial Realty
Stores in the new & improved SEVERANCE TOWN CENTER opened between 1998 and 2000. The complex was anchored by Home Depot, Wal-Mart and the Regal Severance Town Center Stadium 14.
Photo from http://www.cinematreasures.org / Eric K.
In our most recent SEVERANCE site plan, we see the true directional orientation of the retail complex. Its 1998-2000 reinvention was successful for a time. However, by the 2010s, the complex was -once again- virtually vacant and on life support. Its Wal-Mart did an "anchors away" in late 2013, followed by the megaplex cinema, which closed in early 2015.
A parting view of SEVERANCE TOWN CENTER; this taken before the 2013 defection of Wal-Mart. In July 2017, a redevelopment was proposed that would rename the complex and possibly add an arts center, public green space and several entertainment venues.
Photo from www.pinetreecommercial.com / Pinetree Commercial Realty
SEVERANCE CENTER
Mayfield and South Taylor Roads
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Ground was broken for Ohio's first fully-enclosed shopping mall in February 1962. SEVERANCE CENTER, designed by Seattle's John Graham, Junior, was developed by a joint venture of Cleveland's Austin Company and Seattle-based Winmar Pacific. The 136-acre mall site was located 7 miles east of Cleveland's Public Square. It had previously been part of Longwood, the estate of local philanthropist John L. Severance.
Two Cleveland-based anchor stores opened for business on August 5, 1963; a 3-level (257,000 square foot) Higbee's and 2-level (150,000 square foot) Halle Brothers Company's or Halle's ["Hal-eez"]. Higbee's, designed by Los Angeles-based Welton Becket & Associates, stood at the northeast end of the mall, Halle's, at the southwest.
SEVERANCE CENTER was officially dedicated on October 17, 1963. The 9 million dollar complex encompassed approximately 854,000 leasable square on 2 levels. Most retail stores were located along a Mall Level, that stretched between the two anchors.
There was also a basement floor, which included a bowling alley and five office suites. A Convenience Wing extended from the basement, toward the northwest. It housed a Fisher Foods supermarket, Diamond's Deli and four additional stores. These had only exterior entrances onto a lower level parking area and were not connected into the upper (Mall Level) concourse.
In mid-1964, the center housed fifty-two stores and services, with a total of seventy-three tenant spaces. Included on the charter tenant list were Gray Drug, Hot Shoppes Cafeteria, Winkelman's ladies' wear, Milgrim's ladies' wear, Richman Brothers men's wear, a Sirloin & Saddle restaurant and F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10. The National Theatres Corporation Severance Theatre at the Mall showed its first feature March 10, 1965.
Retail rivals of SEVERANCE CENTER included CEDAR-CENTER PLAZA / UNIVERSITY SQUARE (1956) {1.2 miles southeast, in University Heights}, RICHMOND MALL (1966) {3. 1 miles northeast, in Richmond Heights}, RANDALL PARK MALL (1976) {5.7 miles southeast, in North Randall} and BEACHWOOD MALL (1978) {3 miles southeast, in Beachwood}.
SEVERANCE CENTER received a face lift renovation in 1972. The complex was physically expanded 9 years later, with a new Southwest Wing. Formally opened on November 5, 1981, it housed a 1-level (85,000 square foot) Gold Circle discount mart.
Mayfield and South Taylor Roads
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Ground was broken for Ohio's first fully-enclosed shopping mall in February 1962. SEVERANCE CENTER, designed by Seattle's John Graham, Junior, was developed by a joint venture of Cleveland's Austin Company and Seattle-based Winmar Pacific. The 136-acre mall site was located 7 miles east of Cleveland's Public Square. It had previously been part of Longwood, the estate of local philanthropist John L. Severance.
Two Cleveland-based anchor stores opened for business on August 5, 1963; a 3-level (257,000 square foot) Higbee's and 2-level (150,000 square foot) Halle Brothers Company's or Halle's ["Hal-eez"]. Higbee's, designed by Los Angeles-based Welton Becket & Associates, stood at the northeast end of the mall, Halle's, at the southwest.
SEVERANCE CENTER was officially dedicated on October 17, 1963. The 9 million dollar complex encompassed approximately 854,000 leasable square on 2 levels. Most retail stores were located along a Mall Level, that stretched between the two anchors.
There was also a basement floor, which included a bowling alley and five office suites. A Convenience Wing extended from the basement, toward the northwest. It housed a Fisher Foods supermarket, Diamond's Deli and four additional stores. These had only exterior entrances onto a lower level parking area and were not connected into the upper (Mall Level) concourse.
In mid-1964, the center housed fifty-two stores and services, with a total of seventy-three tenant spaces. Included on the charter tenant list were Gray Drug, Hot Shoppes Cafeteria, Winkelman's ladies' wear, Milgrim's ladies' wear, Richman Brothers men's wear, a Sirloin & Saddle restaurant and F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10. The National Theatres Corporation Severance Theatre at the Mall showed its first feature March 10, 1965.
Retail rivals of SEVERANCE CENTER included CEDAR-CENTER PLAZA / UNIVERSITY SQUARE (1956) {1.2 miles southeast, in University Heights}, RICHMOND MALL (1966) {3. 1 miles northeast, in Richmond Heights}, RANDALL PARK MALL (1976) {5.7 miles southeast, in North Randall} and BEACHWOOD MALL (1978) {3 miles southeast, in Beachwood}.
SEVERANCE CENTER received a face lift renovation in 1972. The complex was physically expanded 9 years later, with a new Southwest Wing. Formally opened on November 5, 1981, it housed a 1-level (85,000 square foot) Gold Circle discount mart.
A 20 million dollar renovation was completed in 1986. The Gold Circle space, which had been vacated in 1984, was enlarged and retenanted by Dunham's Sporting Goods, the 14-bay Galaxy Food Court and National Theatres Corporation Severance Movies 6plex. This new theater, which opened April 5, 1986, operated in conjunction with the circa-1965 venue, which had been divided in 1971 and renamed the Severance Movies Twin. With this renovation, SEVERANCE CENTER housed 103 stores under its roof.
Unfortunately, the mall was becoming a haven for crime. In a move to quell any negative perceptions, the Cleveland Heights City Hall, jail and court complex relocated to new buildings, at the northwest corner of the mall site, in 1986. The civic center and retail hub became known, collectively, as SEVERANCE TOWN CENTER.
The Halle's chain had gone belly-up on March 27, 1982. This created a vacancy that wasn't filled until August 17, 1989, when the Pittsburgh-based Joseph Horne Company opened a store in the vacated -and renovated- building.
Horne's was shuttered on July 12, 1992. News surfaced about the store re-opening as a second Higbee's location. In actuality, it became part of a Dillard's "double-header," which was established in August 1992. Higbee's became Dillard's East (a Women's store) with the old Halle's / Horne's re-opening as Dillard's West, which carried Men's, Children's & Home merchandise.
Dillard's closed both SEVERANCE CENTER stores in June 1995. Within months, a plan to redevelop the shopping hub had been formally announced. The abandoned anchor stores were the first structures to be demolished.
A 1-level (113,800 square foot) Home Depot, built on the old Halle's / Horne's spot, welcomed first shoppers on October 29, 1998. A 1-level (126,200 square foot) Wal-Mart SuperCenter, assuming the Higbee's spot, opened for business in January 1999. By this time, the inline store section of the mall had been bulldozed, with the Convenience Wing left standing. It was worked into a 475,000 square foot power plaza, that retained the SEVERANCE TOWN CENTER name.
The complex was officially re-dedicated in late 1999. Its stores and services included a (30,400 square foot) Marshalls, (25,700 square foot) Borders Books, (68,400 square foot) Dave's Supermarket and Regal Severance Town Center Stadium 14 megaplex.
Within a few years, there was a new lifestyle center in the vicinity. LEGACY VILLAGE {2.5 miles southeast, in Lyndhurst} was dedicated in 2003. Chicago-based Syndicated Equities acquired SEVERANCE TOWN CENTER in April 2004. Lake Bluff, Illinois-based Pine Tree Commercial Realty was enlisted to manage and lease the complex.
A major vacancy was created on October 15, 2013, when Wal-Mart was shuttered. The cinema shut down in March 2015. By this time, the shopping hub was over 40-percent vacant. It was foreclosed on and sold at a sheriff's auction in November 2015. The buyer, New York City-based CWCapital Asset Management, bought and flipped the property. Great Neck, New York's Namdar Realty Group assumed ownership in May 2016.
In July 2017, a tentative redevelopment plan came to light. It would reinvent the struggling retail facility in three phases, over a period of 15 to 20 years, and add amenities such as an arts center, public park and several entertainment venues.
Sources:
The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Unfortunately, the mall was becoming a haven for crime. In a move to quell any negative perceptions, the Cleveland Heights City Hall, jail and court complex relocated to new buildings, at the northwest corner of the mall site, in 1986. The civic center and retail hub became known, collectively, as SEVERANCE TOWN CENTER.
The Halle's chain had gone belly-up on March 27, 1982. This created a vacancy that wasn't filled until August 17, 1989, when the Pittsburgh-based Joseph Horne Company opened a store in the vacated -and renovated- building.
Horne's was shuttered on July 12, 1992. News surfaced about the store re-opening as a second Higbee's location. In actuality, it became part of a Dillard's "double-header," which was established in August 1992. Higbee's became Dillard's East (a Women's store) with the old Halle's / Horne's re-opening as Dillard's West, which carried Men's, Children's & Home merchandise.
Dillard's closed both SEVERANCE CENTER stores in June 1995. Within months, a plan to redevelop the shopping hub had been formally announced. The abandoned anchor stores were the first structures to be demolished.
A 1-level (113,800 square foot) Home Depot, built on the old Halle's / Horne's spot, welcomed first shoppers on October 29, 1998. A 1-level (126,200 square foot) Wal-Mart SuperCenter, assuming the Higbee's spot, opened for business in January 1999. By this time, the inline store section of the mall had been bulldozed, with the Convenience Wing left standing. It was worked into a 475,000 square foot power plaza, that retained the SEVERANCE TOWN CENTER name.
The complex was officially re-dedicated in late 1999. Its stores and services included a (30,400 square foot) Marshalls, (25,700 square foot) Borders Books, (68,400 square foot) Dave's Supermarket and Regal Severance Town Center Stadium 14 megaplex.
Within a few years, there was a new lifestyle center in the vicinity. LEGACY VILLAGE {2.5 miles southeast, in Lyndhurst} was dedicated in 2003. Chicago-based Syndicated Equities acquired SEVERANCE TOWN CENTER in April 2004. Lake Bluff, Illinois-based Pine Tree Commercial Realty was enlisted to manage and lease the complex.
A major vacancy was created on October 15, 2013, when Wal-Mart was shuttered. The cinema shut down in March 2015. By this time, the shopping hub was over 40-percent vacant. It was foreclosed on and sold at a sheriff's auction in November 2015. The buyer, New York City-based CWCapital Asset Management, bought and flipped the property. Great Neck, New York's Namdar Realty Group assumed ownership in May 2016.
In July 2017, a tentative redevelopment plan came to light. It would reinvent the struggling retail facility in three phases, over a period of 15 to 20 years, and add amenities such as an arts center, public park and several entertainment venues.
Sources:
The Cleveland Plain Dealer
1964 and 1990 Severance Center brochures submitted by Mike Dannhauser
preservenet.cornell.edu/publications/Longstreth Branch Store.doc
https://clevelandhistorical.org
http://www.ech.case.edu / The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.city-data.com
http://www.syndicatedequities.com / Severance Towne Center
http://www.pinetreecommercial.com / Pinetree Commercial Realty
preservenet.cornell.edu/publications/Longstreth Branch Store.doc
https://clevelandhistorical.org
http://www.ech.case.edu / The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.city-data.com
http://www.syndicatedequities.com / Severance Towne Center
http://www.pinetreecommercial.com / Pinetree Commercial Realty
https://namdarrealtygroup.com / Namdar Realty Group
FAIR USE OF SEVERANCE CENTER IMAGES:
FAIR USE OF SEVERANCE CENTER IMAGES:
The photos from The Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University illustrate a key moment in the
mall's history that is described in the article. The images are not replaceable with free-use or public-domain images. The
use of the images does not limit the copyright owners' rights to
distribute them in any way. The images are being used for non-profit,
informational purposes only and their use is not believed to detract from
the original images in any way.
Cleveland's Great Northern Mall
An aerial view of GREAT NORTHERN CENTER, which was the first retail structure built at the future mall site. The open-air strip complex was officially dedicated in October 1958. Some of its charter stores were J.C. Penney, W.T. Grant, Fisher Foods, Sears Catalog & Appliance and Richman Brothers men's wear.
Photo from Fisher Foods, Incorporated Annual Report 1958
Land adjacent to GREAT NORTHERN CENTER was developed in the 1960s and '70s. May Company of Ohio built its sixth branch location, which opened in September 1965. The Welton Becket-designed "May's Great Northern" included a Beauty Salon and the Mayfair Tea Room.
Photo from http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu / Cleveland Memory Project / Joseph E. Cole
Photo from http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu / Cleveland Memory Project / Joseph E. Cole
A fully-enclosed mall was added to May's Great Northern. GREAT NORTHERN MALL held its grand opening in November 1976.
Graphic from the Biskind Development Company
In its original state, GREAT NORTHERN MALL featured anchor-size J.C. Penney and Sears stores. The complex covered approximately 844,500 leasable square feet and housed 100 stores and services under its roof. Free parking was provided for over 6,000 autos.
Photo from https://www.cleveland.com
The mall in North Olmstead was promoted with this logo in the early 1990s. It was used on store directory brochures and in a series of TV ads.
Graphic from Hexalon Real Estate, Incorporated
That renowned Little Rock retailer established a presence at GREAT NORTHERN MALL in March 2003. The newly-built store encompassed 2 levels and 220,000 square feet.
Photo from https://malls.fandom.com
A view of the Northwest Entrance of the retail hub; this image taken during its WESTFIELD GREAT NORTHERN stint. A Yogurt Vi store is located just inside the doors.
Photo from http://www.rsms-arch.com / RSMS Architects
As mentioned, the GREAT NORTHERN Food Court was moved from the southeast to northwest sector of the mall during a 2011 renovation. The new 12-bay culinary complex, known as the Dining Court, is seen here.
Photo from http://www.rsms-arch.com / RSMS Architects
Our fifth and final GREAT NORTHERN MALL layout dates to 2022. BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, a new freestanding bistro, welcomed first customers in December 2016. Built in the northwest parking area, it replaced a Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill. In the upper right, a shuttered Bennigan's has re-opened as a Harry Buffalo Restaurant & Sports Bar.
GREAT NORTHERN MALL TENANTS 2022:
DICK'S SPORTING GOODS / DILLARD'S / J.C. PENNEY (with Optical Department, Portrait Studio, Styling Salon and Sephora store) / MACY'S (with Salon & Spa, Backstage store and Sunglass Hut store) / 360 Clothing Studios / Aeropostale apparel / All Smiles Aboard mall train / All Star Elite apparel / American Commodore Tuxedo / American Eagle Outfitters / Ashcroft & Oak jewelers / Auntie Anne's Pretzels / Avon cosmetics / Bath & Body Works / BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (outparcel) / BoxLunch / Brow Art 23 / Brow Art 23 (kiosk) / C & C Market Research / Cell Doc / Center for Covid Control (outparcel) / Cinnabon-Carvel ice cream / Claire's Boutique ladies' wear / Custom World / Cutters Corner / Dakota Watch Company (kiosk) / Designer Perfumes (kiosk) / Earthbound Trading Company / Express apparel / Fashion Scarves & More / Finish Line / Foot Locker / Forever 21 young ladies' wear / Fresh Healthy Cafe (kiosk) / Fun Station / FYE (For Your Entertainment) / Games & More / GIO home decor / Go! Calendars, Toys & Games / Gold & Diamond Source (kiosk) / Great Expressions Dental Center / Green Spa / Hall of Framers / Hallmark Gold Crown / Harry Buffalo restaurant & sports bar / Health Plan Superstore / Hot Topic apparel / hype sneakers & apparel / / Leasha's Cupcakes / Jewelry Express (kiosk) / JoJo's Arcade / Journeys shoes / Journeys Kidz / Kay Jewelers / Lane Bryant ladies' wear / Le Grand Orchid Nail Salon & Spa / Le Nails / LensCrafters / Lids / Lock & Load / Locker Room by Lids / Lucky Mart cards & gifts / McAlister's Deli / MobilExpress (kiosk) / NoBasis apparel / Piercing Pagoda (kiosk) / Piercing Perfections / Pink ladies' wear / Portraits USA / PS apparerel & accessories / Red Lobster restaurant (outparcel) / Regal Great Northern Mall Stadium 10 / Retro Games / Rue 21 ladies' wear / Shoe Deptartment Encore / Skechers shoes / Slippers Station / Socks To Be You / South Mountain kiddie rides / Spencer Gifts / Stitches / T-Mobile / The Children's Place / Things Remembered / Torrid young ladies' wear / Tuxedo Junction men's wear / US Bank (outparcel) / Victoria's Secret / Visionworks / V Trends ladies' wear / Work'N Gear apparel / Zumiez apparel
IN THE DINING COURT:
Burger Guys / Charleys Philly Steaks / China Experience / Mango Thai / Mr. Hero / Sarku Japan / TJ Hibachi & Sushi Bar / Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen / Yogurt Vi
Photo from https://malls.fandom.com
GREAT NORTHERN MALL
Brookpark Road and Great Northern Boulevard
North Olmsted, Ohio
Brookpark Road and Great Northern Boulevard
North Olmsted, Ohio
A major North Coast shopping district was developed on a 115-acre site, located 15 miles southwest of Cleveland's Public Square, in the bedroom community of North Olmstead. Its first phase, GREAT NORTHERN CENTER, was built by Cleveland's Saul S. Biskind. Officially dedicated on October 16, 1958, the open-air strip complex encompassed approximately 365,000 leasable square feet.
A second phase of the GREAT NORTHERN complex was constructed on a pad situated east of the existing strip center. "May's Great Northern," a 3-level (181,000 square foot) department store, commenced operation on September 5, 1965.
At the same time, a single-screen movie house was under construction. The RKO Stanley Warner Great Northern Theatre was added to the GREAT NORTHERN strip complex. Its first feature was shown on March 24, 1966. The venue, which eventually featured seven screens, closed for good in October of the year 2000.
Meanwhile, construction began on a fully-enclosed, single-level shopping mall in the mid-1970s; this being added to the east side of May's Great Northern. GREAT NORTHERN MALL, developed by a joint venture of Sol & Sydney Shur and Saul S. Biskind, would occupy 62 acres of the total 115-acre plot.
The new shopping facility was designed by Cleveland-based Keeva J. Kekst Architects and the Andrew J. Burin firm, of Fairview Park. In addition to May Company, its anchors were a 2-level (179,600 square foot) Sears and 2-level (165,400 square foot) J. C. Penney. Sears, which relocated from a smaller store in the adjacent strip center, opened its doors on July 28, 1976. J.C. Penney, also relocated from the strip, was dedicated -along with the mall- on November 3rd of the same year.
Charter GREAT NORTHERN MALL tenants included Kay-Bee Toys, Small Stuff, Gordon's Jewelers, Recordland, J. Riggings men's, The Limited, Hickory Farms of Ohio, Mesmod Jaccard & King Jewelers, Waldenbooks, Winkelman's ladies' and the Great American Game Room. The Commons Restaurants, a 14-bay food court, featured Capri Pizza, Cut The Mustard, Maxie's Deli and Hamilton Burrgers.
Major retail hubs in the vicinity of GREAT NORTHERN MALL included WESTGATE CENTER (1954) {4.5 miles northeast, in Fairview Park / Rocky River} and MIDWAY MALL (1964) {10.4 miles west, in Elyria}.
GREAT NORTHERN MALL and the adjacent GREAT NORTHERN CENTER were renovated and expanded during the 1980s. The nineteen-store North Court was created -in 1985- out of gutted mall space. A fifteen-store South Court section was built onto the mall's southwest corner, with its dedication held in 1987.
The Food Commons, a 2-level -17-bay- culinary complex, was installed in the southeast corner of GREAT NORTHERN MALL, with a grand opening held in 1988. May Company was also enlarged, to 228,500 square feet, with a single-level addition. The Biskind company formed a joint venture with Rotterdam, Holland's Hexalon Real Estate, Incorporated in 1980. In 1991, Hexalon established full ownership of GREAT NORTHERN MALL.
A renovation got underway, which refurbished older sections of the mall and made them consistent in appearance with newer areas. A re-dedication was held on October 20, 1992. May Company was rebranded as a Pittsburgh-based Kaufmann's on May 31, 1993. With these improvements, GREAT NORTHERN MALL encompassed approximately 892,000 leasable square feet and contained 135 stores and services.
Australia's Westfield purchased GREAT NORTHERN MALL in early 2002, and renamed it WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN GREAT NORTHERN. "Shoppingtown" was dropped from the official name in June 2005, with the complex known, henceforth, as WESTFIELD GREAT NORTHERN.
The third addition of shopping space was completed early in the 21st century. An extended South Court was built, with fifteen inline stores and a 2-level (220,000 square foot) Dillard's. This store was dedicated March 19, 2003. A 2-level (84,000 square foot) Galyans Trading Company was also planned; this to be built onto the north-facing front of the mall. That store opened -in 2004- as a Dick's Sporting Goods.
With this addition, WESTFIELD GREAT NORTHERN housed approximately 1,235,200 leasable square feet and contained 152 stores and services; one of these being a rebranded Kaufmann's. It received a Macy's nameplate on September 9, 2006. Outparcel business at this time included US Bank, Red Lobster restaurant, Bennigan's restaurant, Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill and 1-level (14,500 square foot) J.C. Penney Furniture.
In May 2011, Westfield initiated an 8 million dollar mall face lift. A 12-bay Dining Court was installed in gutted and rebuilt space adjoining the Dick's store. Eateries included Thai Kitchen, Subway, Chicken Wow, Charley's Grilled Subs, Sarku Japan and Chop It Salad Company. Children's play areas were also created in the Macy's and Dillard's courts. This renovation was dedicated on November 3, 2011.
In October 2012, another remodeling project got underway in the old Food Court. It was razed and rebuilt into the state-of-the-art Regal Great Northern Mall Stadium 10, whose first features were shown on December 12, 2013. Two sit-down restaurants, The Rail Burger Bar and Mama Fu's Asian House, were installed in the space and a new mall entry and corridor built west of the existing Sears.
Westfield sold GREAT NORTHERN in September 2013, as part of a 7-mall transaction with Starwood Retail Partners, an affiliate of the Greenwich, Connecticut-based Starwood Capital Group. The other properties involved were WESTFIELD BELDEN VILLAGE and WESTFIELD FRANKLIN PARK {in Ohio}, WESTFIELD CAPITAL {in Washington State}, WESTFIELD PARKWAY and WESTFIELD WEST COVINA {in California} and WESTFIELD SOUTHLAKE {in Indiana}. After the transaction closed, the name of the Greater Cleveland retail hub reverted back to GREAT NORTHERN MALL.
Starwood Capital encountered financial difficulties in 2020. A joint venture was formed by Golden East Investors {of New York, New York} and Pacific Capital Partners {of El Segundo, California}. This new entity would manage Starwood Capital malls, straighten out financial problems and prepare properties for potential sale. As this was playing out, news of Sears' impending closure at GREAT NORTHERN was announced. The 44-year-old store went dark on August 21, 2020.
Sources:
The Cleveland Plain Dealer
http://cinematreasures.org
http://www.shopgreatnorthernmall.com (Website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
http://www.westfield.com / The Westfield Group
https://greatnorthernohio.com
https://www.mallscenters.com
Cuyahoga County, Ohio property tax assessor website
"Westfield Great Northern" article on Wikipedia
FAIR USE OF MAY COMPANY AND GREAT NORTHERN MALL IMAGES:
The photos from The Cleveland Memory Project and www.cleveland.com illustrate a key moment in the mall's history that is described in the article. The images are not replaceable with free-use or public-domain images. The use of the images does not limit the copyright owners' rights to distribute them in any way. The images are being used for non-profit, informational purposes only and their use is not believed to detract from the original images in any way.
Cleveland's Randall Park Mall
A 1976 aerial view shows the newly-completed North Coast megamall. Built by Youngstown's Edward J. Debartolo, it encompassed an astounding (for the time) 2.2 million leasable square feet and would eventually house 175 stores and services. The bi-level parking area accommodated 9,000 autos at one time.
Photo from the Cleveland Plain Dealer
The super-sized shopping hub was promoted as "the biggest mall in the world." There were originally five anchor department stores. A sixth, purported to be a Cleveland-based Halle Brothers Company, would never be built.
RANDALL PARK MALL TENANT LIST 1977:
HIGBEE'S (with The Racing Silks Dining Room and Pronto Room restaurants) / JOSEPH HORNE COMPANY (with Josephine's On The Mezzanine restaurant) / SEARS (with Coffee shop and attached Auto Center) / MAY COMPANY (with The Thistle Grill restaurant) / J.C. PENNEY (with Coffee Shop, Beauty Salon and freestanding Auto Center)
LOWER LEVEL INLINE STORES:
Amber's Young Colony / American Commodore Tuxedo / B.R. Baker men's wear / Bernard Wigs / Bresler's 33 Flavors Ice Cream / Brooks Fashions / Burger Country / Camelot Music / Cards-N-Such / Casual Corner / Chess King / Craft Showcase / Davy Jones Locker / D.K. Marshall / Evelyn Carr & Company / Fanny Farmer Candies / Flowerama / Foxmoor Casuals / Friendly's Ice Cream / Fun-N-Games / GNC / Gray Drug / Hahn Shoes / Hanover Shoes / Hot Sam Pretzels / J.B. Robinson Jewelers / Jean Nicole / Joan Bari / Jo-Ann Fabrics / Jon Steed / Jones Optical / Just Pants / Karmelkorn / King's / Koney Island Inn Hot Dogs / Lady Madonna Maternity / Lane Bryant / Lynn's Hallmark / Market Research, Incorporated / McKelvey's Loft / Merry-Go-Round / Milles Shoes / Miss Bojangles / National Uniform Shops / Naturalizer Shoes / Nobil Shoes / Oke Cookie / Parklane Hosiery / Paul Harris / Petrie's ladies' wear / Rogers Jewelers / Rose Jewelers / Small Stuff ladies' wear / Society National Bank / Stride-Rite Shoes / The Children's Photographer / The Fly Shop / The Gap / The Jox Shop Shoes / The Oak Tree / The Proving Ground / The Pub / The Shoe Lace / The Swiss Colony / The Wild Pair Shoes / Thom McAn Shoes / Toyco / Ups & Downs / Vangaurd Limited Shoes / Waldenbooks / Whittman, Incorporated / Winkelman's ladies' wear / World Bazaar / Young Faces
UPPER LEVEL INLINE STORES:
A.S. Beck Shoes / Alexander's Flowers & Plants / Athlete's Foot / B. Dalton Bookseller / Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors Ice Cream / Betty Lee Fashions / Bill's Clothes for Men / Bill Jones Leather / Bond Clothes / Burrows / Burt's Shoes / Captain Chips Potato Shop / Carousel Snack Bar / Chandler's Shoes / Charlie Chan / Claire's Boutique / Cole Shoes / Coles The Book People / Cookie Kitchen / County Seat / Cowell & Hubbard Jewelers / Diamond men's & boy's wear / Faflik Shoes / Fanny Farmer Candies / Father & Son Shoes / Florsheim Shoes / Frederick's of Hollywood / Fun-N-Games / Gordon's Jewelers / Hickory Farms of Ohio / Hobby Center / Homemaker Shop / Hot Dog On A Stick / Hot Sam Pretzels / House of Cards / J. Riggings / Jaccard's Jewelers / Jeans West men's / Jerry Mill / Just Jeans / Kelly-Kitt / Kinney Shoes / Koenig Sporting Goods / Le Cookery / Lerner Shops / Luv / Man Talk International / Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio / Morrow's Nut House / Orange Julius / Page Boy Maternity Fashions / Pearle Vision Center / Porky's Restaurant / Radio Shack / Randall Park Cinema I-II-III / Record Rendezvous / Richman Brothers men's wear / Roffler Hair Styling / Rug Crafters / Scotto Pizza / Silverman's / Singer Sewing Center / So-Fro Fabrics / Spencer Gifts / Strictly Graphics, Limited / Sumwall's Keyboard Music / Susie's Casuals / Terra Art / The Bottom Half / The Limited / The Magic Pan Creperie / The Rivet / The Tinder Box Tobacconist / Things Remembered / Thom McAn Shoes / Tiffany's Bakery / Women's Federal Savings & Loan Association
RANDALL PARK MALL TENANT LIST 1977:
HIGBEE'S (with The Racing Silks Dining Room and Pronto Room restaurants) / JOSEPH HORNE COMPANY (with Josephine's On The Mezzanine restaurant) / SEARS (with Coffee shop and attached Auto Center) / MAY COMPANY (with The Thistle Grill restaurant) / J.C. PENNEY (with Coffee Shop, Beauty Salon and freestanding Auto Center)
LOWER LEVEL INLINE STORES:
Amber's Young Colony / American Commodore Tuxedo / B.R. Baker men's wear / Bernard Wigs / Bresler's 33 Flavors Ice Cream / Brooks Fashions / Burger Country / Camelot Music / Cards-N-Such / Casual Corner / Chess King / Craft Showcase / Davy Jones Locker / D.K. Marshall / Evelyn Carr & Company / Fanny Farmer Candies / Flowerama / Foxmoor Casuals / Friendly's Ice Cream / Fun-N-Games / GNC / Gray Drug / Hahn Shoes / Hanover Shoes / Hot Sam Pretzels / J.B. Robinson Jewelers / Jean Nicole / Joan Bari / Jo-Ann Fabrics / Jon Steed / Jones Optical / Just Pants / Karmelkorn / King's / Koney Island Inn Hot Dogs / Lady Madonna Maternity / Lane Bryant / Lynn's Hallmark / Market Research, Incorporated / McKelvey's Loft / Merry-Go-Round / Milles Shoes / Miss Bojangles / National Uniform Shops / Naturalizer Shoes / Nobil Shoes / Oke Cookie / Parklane Hosiery / Paul Harris / Petrie's ladies' wear / Rogers Jewelers / Rose Jewelers / Small Stuff ladies' wear / Society National Bank / Stride-Rite Shoes / The Children's Photographer / The Fly Shop / The Gap / The Jox Shop Shoes / The Oak Tree / The Proving Ground / The Pub / The Shoe Lace / The Swiss Colony / The Wild Pair Shoes / Thom McAn Shoes / Toyco / Ups & Downs / Vangaurd Limited Shoes / Waldenbooks / Whittman, Incorporated / Winkelman's ladies' wear / World Bazaar / Young Faces
A.S. Beck Shoes / Alexander's Flowers & Plants / Athlete's Foot / B. Dalton Bookseller / Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors Ice Cream / Betty Lee Fashions / Bill's Clothes for Men / Bill Jones Leather / Bond Clothes / Burrows / Burt's Shoes / Captain Chips Potato Shop / Carousel Snack Bar / Chandler's Shoes / Charlie Chan / Claire's Boutique / Cole Shoes / Coles The Book People / Cookie Kitchen / County Seat / Cowell & Hubbard Jewelers / Diamond men's & boy's wear / Faflik Shoes / Fanny Farmer Candies / Father & Son Shoes / Florsheim Shoes / Frederick's of Hollywood / Fun-N-Games / Gordon's Jewelers / Hickory Farms of Ohio / Hobby Center / Homemaker Shop / Hot Dog On A Stick / Hot Sam Pretzels / House of Cards / J. Riggings / Jaccard's Jewelers / Jeans West men's / Jerry Mill / Just Jeans / Kelly-Kitt / Kinney Shoes / Koenig Sporting Goods / Le Cookery / Lerner Shops / Luv / Man Talk International / Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio / Morrow's Nut House / Orange Julius / Page Boy Maternity Fashions / Pearle Vision Center / Porky's Restaurant / Radio Shack / Randall Park Cinema I-II-III / Record Rendezvous / Richman Brothers men's wear / Roffler Hair Styling / Rug Crafters / Scotto Pizza / Silverman's / Singer Sewing Center / So-Fro Fabrics / Spencer Gifts / Strictly Graphics, Limited / Sumwall's Keyboard Music / Susie's Casuals / Terra Art / The Bottom Half / The Limited / The Magic Pan Creperie / The Rivet / The Tinder Box Tobacconist / Things Remembered / Thom McAn Shoes / Tiffany's Bakery / Women's Federal Savings & Loan Association
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