The mall was given another makeover in the mid-1990s. Penney's relocated from the west end of the mall into a newly-built store at front center. On the periphery of DAYTON MALL, the grand Southland 75, a cool, Mid-Century Modern drive-in, had been bulldozed. The land became too valuable to waste as a lowly outdoor movie theater.

Elder-Beerman set up shop in the original J.C. Penney building in 1998. It is ironic that this chain ever operated in the complex. In 1968, Elder-Beerman (then Dayton-based) was blocked -by Federated Stores and Edward J. Debartolo- from being included as a mall anchor. A nasty lawsuit ensued...

A circa-2005 aerial, with a section of Elder-Beerman in the upper right. The mall's northwest parking area has been excavated in preparation for a new lifestyle addition.
Photo from www.glimcher.com / Glimcher Realty Trust

A bird's-eye view of the northwest corner of the complex, with the new VILLAGE AT DAYTON MALL in the foreground. Tenants in the 90,000 square foot lifestyle center opened for business between September 2006 and December 2007.
Photo from www.glimcher.com / Glimcher Realty Trust