Tuscarawas Street West and Whipple Avenue Southwest
Canton, Ohio
Greater Canton's first shopping mall was developed by Mellett Homes, Incorporated, a joint venture of residents of a World War II-era housing development. This plat had been named in honor of Canton's gang-busting newspaperman, Donald Ring Mellett, who was gunned-down by the mob in 1926.
In the early 1960s, Mellett Homes property owners pooled their assets and formed a corporation. A single-level, open-air mall would be built on 38 acres of the former residential project. The site was located 2.5 miles west of Canton's Central Business District, in the southwest quadrant of the city.
Expansions were announced in October 1965 and February 1966. These would extend the shopping complex onto an adjacent 14-acre tract. A 3 million dollar project would add a 2-level (116,000 square foot), Akron-based O'Neil's and enclose existing mall courts and concourses. The second project, with a 15 million dollar price tag, would bring a 2-level (150,000 square foot) Montgomery Ward and fully-enclosed East Wing.
Meanwhile, MELLETT MALL was presented with a major competitor. BELDEN VILLAGE MALL {4.1 miles north, in Stark County} was dedicated in October 1970. In March 1981, MELLETT MALL changed hands. The complex was acquired by Greater Cleveland's Forest City Development Company.
Eventually, things hit rock bottom. CANTON CENTRE was auctioned off in September 2001 and sold again in October 2004. The new owners, the New York City-based Nassimi Realty, Limited Liability Company, embarked on a demalling project.
The Ward's store and East Wing were torn down, along with the multiplex cinema. A 1-level (200,000 square foot) Wal-Mart SuperCenter was built, which welcomed first shoppers on April 13, 2005. Wal-Mart was a freestanding "shadow anchor," that did not physically connect with the adjacent shopping center. Kaufmann's was "Macy-ated" on September 9, 2006. The store was shuttered In February 2008.
The first operational MELLETT MALL store, a 2-level (158,200 square foot) J.C. Penney, was dedicated on May 26, 1965. A mall-wide grand opening, with thirty-two operational stores, was held on August 18th. When fully leased, the complex housed forty-eight tenant spaces.
Charter stores and services included Gray Drug, Fanny Farmer Candies, Holiday Shoes, National Shirt Shops, Singer Sewing Center, Richman Brothers men's wear, Kroger and A & P supermarkets and an F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10. North Canton-based Camelot Music opened their second store at MELLET MALL, in 1966. Montgomery Ward dedicated a (3,100 square foot) Neighborhood Store in July of the same year.
Expansions were announced in October 1965 and February 1966. These would extend the shopping complex onto an adjacent 14-acre tract. A 3 million dollar project would add a 2-level (116,000 square foot), Akron-based O'Neil's and enclose existing mall courts and concourses. The second project, with a 15 million dollar price tag, would bring a 2-level (150,000 square foot) Montgomery Ward and fully-enclosed East Wing.
The new O'Neil's opened for business on February 15, 1968. Montgomery Ward debuted on August 22, 1968. When all construction dust settled, MELLETT MALL covered approximately 750,000 leasable square feet and contained sixty-one stores and services. The General Cinema Corporation Mellett Mall Cinema showed its first feature on December 20, 1968. The theater re-opened, as the Mellett Mall Cinemas I & II, on November 2, 1973.
Meanwhile, MELLETT MALL was presented with a major competitor. BELDEN VILLAGE MALL {4.1 miles north, in Stark County} was dedicated in October 1970. In March 1981, MELLETT MALL changed hands. The complex was acquired by Greater Cleveland's Forest City Development Company.
By 1985, Forest City was planning a major mall renovation. The project was officially announced in October 1987. As part of the 16 million dollar remodeling, mall entrances would be updated, a 10-bay Food Court created, multiplex cinema built and new flooring, lighting, skylights and restrooms installed. Moreover, J.C. Penney would add 30,000 square feet to their second floor.
In February 1988, a contest was held to rename the mall, with a $500 grand prize awarded. CANTON CENTRE was announced as the new moniker on March 16th. An official mall re-dedication was held on November 16th, which included marching bands, strolling musicians, fashion shows and a Food Court ribbon cutting. The revitalized shopping hub now housed eighty-seven stores and services.
As a final facet of the renovation, the General Cinema Corporation Canton Centre 8 was constructed in the southeast parking area. This new in-mall venue replaced the existing twin cinema and opened for business on January 26, 1990.
Meanwhile, O'Neil's had been rebranded, as a Cleveland-based May Company of Ohio, on January 27, 1989. This store morphed into a Pittsburgh-based Kaufmann's on January 31, 1993. Soon after, a second retail rival was completed. THE STRIP power center {5.1 miles northwest, in Stark County} opened in November 1996. Intense competition was also being provided by BELDEN VILLAGE MALL. By the turn of the 20th century, CANTON CENTRE was in a downward spiral.
Eventually, things hit rock bottom. CANTON CENTRE was auctioned off in September 2001 and sold again in October 2004. The new owners, the New York City-based Nassimi Realty, Limited Liability Company, embarked on a demalling project.
The Ward's store and East Wing were torn down, along with the multiplex cinema. A 1-level (200,000 square foot) Wal-Mart SuperCenter was built, which welcomed first shoppers on April 13, 2005. Wal-Mart was a freestanding "shadow anchor," that did not physically connect with the adjacent shopping center. Kaufmann's was "Macy-ated" on September 9, 2006. The store was shuttered In February 2008.
In the 2020s, the 433,500 square foot CANTON CENTRE is being promoted as a power center. The interior shopping concourse is closed to the public. The complex has been in the throes of a protracted (second) demalling for several years. In 2010, a "Phase One" reworking converted the vacant Food Court at the front of the mall into a block of outward-facing stores.
In June 2011, it was announced that the vacant O'Neil's / Kaufmann's / Macy's was to become an VXI Global Solutions Call Center. This plan was eventually abandoned. Another proposal to repurpose the vacant store as a self-storage facility fell through in 2021.
The eventual fate of vacant areas of the shopping center is uncertain. It is plausible that the delayed demalling will get back underway, with unused sections being razed at some point in time. At last count, there were fifteen operational CANTON CENTRE tenants, including J.C. Penney, which has anchored the complex since 1965.
Sources:
The Canton Repository (Canton, Ohio)
The eventual fate of vacant areas of the shopping center is uncertain. It is plausible that the delayed demalling will get back underway, with unused sections being razed at some point in time. At last count, there were fifteen operational CANTON CENTRE tenants, including J.C. Penney, which has anchored the complex since 1965.
Sources:
The Canton Repository (Canton, Ohio)
The Akron Beacon-Journal
The Evening Independent (Massillon, Ohio)
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.cinematour.com
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.nassimirealty.com
https://www.teepublic.com
Stark County, Ohio tax assessor website
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.cinematour.com
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.nassimirealty.com
https://www.teepublic.com
Stark County, Ohio tax assessor website
"O'Neil's" article on Wikipedia
"Don Mellett" article on Wikipedia
"Don Mellett" article on Wikipedia
