January 3, 200520 yr J Miles Wolf has some kick-ass photos...my wife and I just took a print of his of Alms Park in winter to have it framed - should be finished this week sometime (woo hoo!).
January 3, 200520 yr Well this is not good news so I will give good news. My mom works at the Saks Outlet at the mall and tells me the sales have dramatically increased since the opening of the mall (can't remember the exact percent but it was big). Saks was open before the mall opened during the renovations. Anyway, she says the mall is always busy and the traffic is terrible. I have personally been there 4 or 5 times and was always impressed with the amount of people in the mall as well. I also always went into the Cincinnati Gallery store and it was depressingly dead. That store is not a good example for the rest of the mall I believe.
January 15, 200520 yr ^ The store just doesn't really fit with the rest of the mall. Nobody goes there to buy a $500 framed photograph. I like the idea of local stores, but they have to fit with the demographic.
January 23, 200520 yr There were several article's in today's (1-23-05) Enquirer regarding Cincinnati Mills and other local malls. Since they are pretty large, I'll just post the links: Battle of the Malls (main story...on Cincinnati Mills and its impacts on other local malls, Tri-County specifically) Some adopt outdoor concept (on local "lifestyle centers") Penney's mum on whether it'll exit (on whether JCPenney's will abandon Tri-County for the new Bridgewater Falls project at Bypass 4 and Princeton Rd. in Fairfield Twp.)
August 1, 200519 yr Cincinnati Mills not worried about Northgate impact Manager: Renovation reinforces investment By Michael D. Pitman Cox News Service Cincinnati Mills management isn’t worried about the $20 million-plus renovation plan for the recently purchased Northgate Mall in Colerain Township. Mall general manager Jim Childress said the recent purchase of Northgate Mall reinforces the reason why the Mills Corp. purchased its mall off Gilmore Road. “It only serves to reinforce our statement that Cincinnati is a viable retail market,” Childress said. “It’s a good market for all of us.” But the mall’s family venues and opportunities are what Childress said is one separation from other malls. Mall management has incorporated two play areas and a club for children. Read full article here: http://www.journal-news.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/08/01/HJN0801Northgatereax.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=6
August 2, 200519 yr Author Thanks for posting Grasscat. I personally like seeing the current malls improved and reinvested than abandoned for other locations. The last thing we need is a Monroe or Mason Mall.
August 3, 200519 yr I agree. The good thing about Cincinnati Mills is that its tenant mix really isn't duplicated in other nearby malls.
October 7, 200519 yr Cincinnati Mills: One Year Later Revamped mall is showing it’s not another Forest Fair Wednesday, October 05, 2005 If you’re looking for a success story from a store in the Cincinnati Mills mall, just talk with Heather Sumpter. The spokeswoman for Bass Pro Shop was a patron of the store for which she is now employed when it was part of what was then the Forest Fair Mall. Since the Mill Corp. bought the shopping wasteland for $69.4 million in 2002 and then spent $70 million on renovations before its Aug. 19, 2004, rebirth, Sumpter has seen things change. “I used to come over to the mall, and it was like night and day difference,” Sumpter said. “We’ve had a huge increase in foot traffic.” Sales have increased as well. Although Sumpter said she cannot give specific dollar figures, Bass Pro Shop’s sales have increase by 25 to 50 percent since the newly minted Cincinnati Mills mall opened. Read full article here: http://www.fairfield-echo.com/hp/content/news/stories/2005/10/05/pj1006cincinnatimills.html
October 8, 200519 yr I went one time and it sucked...I miss the old forest fairmall. Bring back the minature golf and arcade! Does anybody else on this forum actually shop there?
October 8, 200519 yr Max, I don't shop there. I don't like malls in general and I've only been to Cincinnati Mills twice. Both times it was someone else's idea.
October 10, 200519 yr I remember when FFM opened. I was probably in junior high and even at that young age, I had enough sense to question why they were building such a huge mall down the road for Tri County. Plus the concept of high end/low end in the same mall didn't make much sense. We walked into one of the fancy shmancy department stores and I picked up a sweater that I thought was $49.95. It was actually $499.95....missed that third 9. I wonder why they went out of business. Went there again while Gator owned the property and I can remember thinking how sad of a shape it was in. Went to Cincinnati Mills to have dinner at that Asian place (not very good), but didn't go inside the mall. I think they need more department stores for a mall that size to be successful. What's there now? Biggs and Kohls?
October 10, 200519 yr ^Outdoor World and Burlington Coat Factory. When they opened they boasted like 15 anchors, but most are smaller stores like Johnny's Toys and Saks 5th. They also have a nice Media Play.
May 1, 200619 yr Despite success, Cincinnati Mills may return to sale rack Mall's parent, battling financial woes, consults advisers Cincinnati Business Courier - April 28, 2006 by Lisa Biank Fasig Cincinnati Mills, the giant retail center that has found recent success following decades of failure as Forest Fair Mall, is expected to change hands again as its parent struggles with its own financial troubles. Mills Corp. has hired advisers to consider options for the company, including a possible sale of its 42-mall portfolio. But the properties may not all go to one buyer. As recently as April 21, the CEO of rival Taubman Centers Inc. said he may be interested in buying some of the centers. The issue calls into question once again Cincinnati Mills' future, though this time it certainly looks more promising. The former Forest Fair has been dogged by bad breaks since it opened in 1989 and it had been bought and sold several times. Mills acquired the 1.5 million-square-foot center in 2002, for $69.4 million, and transformed the site into the most workable concept to date: a value center with outlet stores, new-to-market destinations and competitively priced chains. It counts roughly 200 tenants, including Saks Off Fifth, Guess Factory Store, Forever 21 and Mikasa. Read full article here: http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/05/01/story5.html
May 1, 200619 yr Please make 275 and its 6 shopping malls go away. The soap opera of Forest Fair, Tri-County, and Northgate haunt my dreams. Convert Northgate to the Hamilton County Jail and call it a day. Hey, I work at the Northgate Mall at the Cincinnati Bell store. We don't want a prison here.
May 2, 200619 yr ^ hey, i like the way tri county looks from the highway. i dont want a jail there. :-D
May 2, 200619 yr Well there seems to be a big parking lot near downtown, Broadway Commons, right next to the current jail. Or we could stop arresting people for smoking weed.
May 2, 200619 yr ^ hey, i like the way tri county looks from the highway. i dont want a jail there. :-D We will keep the exterior the same and use the acres of surface parking and the structure for a light rail station using the tracks that run right behind the mall... ^cincybearcat, I agree, by the current jail is my preferred option, but ONLY if properly designed. Back to the subject at hand...
May 2, 200619 yr I thought I read somewhere (specifically the Center City Mall thread) that the Mills Corp. is having financial difficulties. Could this be why they are selling Cincinnati Mills?
May 3, 200619 yr The jail should be put in Warren County or Butler County. All criminals should be jettisoned from Cincy and be put in those counties. Let them deal with them instead of our fair city always being saddled with the problems.
May 3, 200619 yr I thought I read somewhere (specifically the Center City Mall thread) that the Mills Corp. is having financial difficulties. Could this be why they are selling Cincinnati Mills? Yeah, I'm surprised that Mills' financial troubles are only mentioned in passing. It seems to me that such info is actually pretty crucial to the story.
July 12, 200618 yr Mall struggles to find niche BY MIKE BOYER | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER When Marilyn Marie White watches mall goers stroll by her specialty boutique in the heart of Cincinnati Mills, what strikes her is the lack of shopping bags. "If you go to Northgate (Mall) or Kenwood (Towne Centre), you see people with shopping bags -- but not here. You see people walking around, but not a lot actually shopping," says White, who has owned Miz Maree on the 1.5 million-square-foot mall's upper level almost two years. White, who formerly had a store in downtown Cincinnati, was attracted to the mall after developer Mills Corp. of Arlington, Va., acquired Forest Fair Mall, which straddles Forest Park and Fairfield north of Interstate 275 in 2002 for $69 million. When it took over, Mills promised as many as 200 value-priced retailers, restaurants and attractions along with existing anchors that included bigg's, Kohl's and Bass Pro Shops. Today, there are about 115 tenants, including two recent additions: a Lane Bryant outlet store opening Friday and Nick's Jazz in the Park restaurant. But there are 30 vacant storefronts scattered through the mall, including the space vacated this year by one anchor, Media Play, a national chain of music, video and video-game stores. Read full article here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060712/BIZ01/607120321
July 12, 200618 yr I think out of the 3 malls in the small radius (Northgate, Tri-C, and Cincy Mills), Northgate and Tri-C have the best chance and the brightest future. If Northgate is managed well and updated to the current times -then Northgate will be right up there with Tri-C. I was in Northgate recently and there was a decent crowd for a weekday afternoon.
July 12, 200618 yr Yes, the Mills corporation is bankrupt. Which, I might add, is just another nail out of many in City Center's coffin as well.
July 12, 200618 yr The Mill mall appears to be on a solid retail standing at the moment. They really need to focus on outlet stores to create a nich in the market. They also could use a few themed restuarants to add to the mix. I agree that this is not a Cincinnati Mills problem but a Mills problem.
July 12, 200618 yr I think out of the 3 malls in the small radius (Northgate, Tri-C, and Cincy Mills), Northgate and Tri-C have the best chance and the brightest future. If Northgate is managed well and updated to the current times -then Northgate will be right up there with Tri-C. I was in Northgate recently and there was a decent crowd for a weekday afternoon. I would think that Northgate will always be at a natural disadvantage to Cincinnati Mills and Tri-County. They only have one level of shopping....smaller retail locations throughout the mall....and offer very little (in terms of variety) compared to the other two malls. Not to mention Colerain Ave is becoming so swamped with other retail along the corridor that there might not be much left for the mall to offer.
July 12, 200618 yr I think out of the 3 malls in the small radius (Northgate, Tri-C, and Cincy Mills), Northgate and Tri-C have the best chance and the brightest future. If Northgate is managed well and updated to the current times -then Northgate will be right up there with Tri-C. I was in Northgate recently and there was a decent crowd for a weekday afternoon. I would think that Northgate will always be at a natural disadvantage to Cincinnati Mills and Tri-County. They only have one level of shopping....smaller retail locations throughout the mall....and offer very little (in terms of variety) compared to the other two malls. Not to mention Colerain Ave is becoming so swamped with other retail along the corridor that there might not be much left for the mall to offer. Colrain Ave. has always been swamped with other retail options. Northgate has been around since '72 ... they're not going anywhere.
December 10, 200618 yr Author Seems like this mall has been struggling lately. Last time I was there about two months ago I was losing my hope. There are too many dollar stores and not enough substance.
January 5, 200718 yr Cincy Mills among firm's worst performers Non-anchor sales less than half national average amid remodeling BY MIKE BOYER | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER Cincinnati Mills is among the weakest performers among shopping center operator Mills Corp.'s properties, the struggling Chevy Chase, Md., company disclosed in a government filing. Mills, which is for sale in the midst of an accounting scandal, was required by the New York Stock Exchange to disclose some operating data as a condition for continuing to trade on the exchange. Mills reported that gross sales, excluding anchors, at Cincinnati Mills, its Pittsburgh Mills and Columbus City Center malls was a combined $166 a square foot for the 12 months ended Sept. 30. That was up from $134 a square foot in the same period a year ago. But both figures are less than half the average for most enclosed U.S. shopping malls, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. Through September, this year, the ICSC says the average sale for non-anchors was $415 a square foot. For all of 2005, the ICSC says the average was $392 per square foot. Read full article here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061207/BIZ01/612070323/1001/BIZ
January 5, 200718 yr It is too close to Tri-county mall. Don't they know that??? If this was in the eastgate area where that dinasaur is now. It would perform much much better.
January 5, 200718 yr ^Hell, downtown could possibly even be a better fit for many of these places...as opposed to trying to compete with the mall trifecta along that part of I-275.
February 4, 200718 yr Can Cincinnati Mills work? Hardly anything has gone right since it opened 17 years ago By Mike Boyer, Cincinnati Enquirer Describing Cincinnati Mills as "struggling" doesn't quite capture the misfortunes of the sprawling mall at Interstate 275 and Winton Road. The 1.5 million-square-foot facility, straddling Forest Park and Fairfield, has suffered from a combination of flawed retail concepts, weak demographics, stiff competition and distracted management almost from the day it opened as Forest Fair Mall in 1989. And just recently, the mall was close to landing a big-name new tenant that could have reversed its perennial cycle of misfortune - and it just didn't happen. Ikea, the Swedish home furnishings retailer, which plans to open its first Ohio store next year off Union Centre Boulevard, gave the Cincinnati Mills site serious consideration before deciding on a West Chester location, said Steve Brandt, president of Kenwood's Brandt Retail Group, who represented Ikea. Read full article here: http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070204/BIZ01/702040324/-1/CINCI
February 4, 200718 yr "Cincinnati Mills' location - just five miles from the older, more established Tri-County Mall in Springdale to the east and Northgate Mall in Colerain Township to the west - probably hasn't helped." Well, duh! "What the mall needs, he said, is a collection of big-box retailers that can differentiate the mall from its nearest competitors." I'm sorry, but these don't exist. What they need to do is call it a loss. Its not working. At least they tried, I think. But, it looks like it was doomed from the start. Had this been off I-74 near the OH/IN border, it might have worked. Had been off 1-71/75 or I-275 in KY a good distance away from Florence Mall, it might have worked. But, in the location it was in, it was not going to work.
February 6, 200718 yr Cincinnati Mills hopes sparked By Mike Boyer, Cincinnati Enquirer | February 6, 2007 Despite problems at Cincinnati Mills, Forest Park officials think the best days could be ahead for the mall at I-275 and Winton Road. Paul Brehm, Forest Park's economic development director, estimates the mall is about two-thirds full. While that's down from the nearly 90 percent occupancy when Mills Corp. unveiled its renovations just over two years ago, Brehm said it's a vast improvement from several years ago, when the Y-shaped facility was two-thirds empty. Brehm says the impending sale of the mall "has fueled some optimism. They'll be able to sign new leases. I think Mills Corp.'s financial difficulties have made it difficult to attract tenants." Read full article here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070206/BIZ01/702060360/1076/BIZ
February 6, 200718 yr We shall see, Simon is the king of retail so they could really do a lot for the Mills (if they want to). I agree with the comment that the Cincy Mills needs more entertainment. They need a Rainforest Cafe or TREX Cafe and they need to expanded Wonderpark into the old Media Play building.
February 6, 200718 yr Author I will be the first to say I was wrong. I praised Mills Corp when this deal happened but I have even been unimpressed with the mall. How many dollar stores can one mall have? I have shopped at Jeffersonville Outlets 4 times since I have last been to this mall. I don't have a problem with the location, I have a problem with the offerings and some yokel hillbilly Bass Pro Shops isn't going to change that. As for Rainforest Cafe's, they are on their way out. The opened too many to quick, even the one in Tyson's Corner closed down, last time I was in DC. I agree that Wonderpark should expand though, we had my daughter's birthday party there two years ago and it was by far the best party experience we have had.
February 7, 200718 yr Author ^ But the question really is, will Simon be able to bring in better tenants? It is amazing so much money has been invested in Cincinnati Mills. In reality the mall should have never been built. It is only bringing down the neighboring malls of Tri-County & Northgate.
February 12, 200718 yr ^ But the question really is, will Simon be able to bring in better tenants? It is amazing so much money has been invested in Cincinnati Mills. In reality the mall should have never been built. It is only bringing down the neighboring malls of Tri-County & Northgate. I believe Simon will win the bidding war for the mills company and that if they want they can do some amazing things in the retail industry. Weather or not they want to do it at Cincy Mills may be up in the air. I hope they want to really work on Cincy Mills because it has a lot of potential. But you maybe right, just because they may take control of the mall doesn't mean they will invest in the mall.
February 12, 200718 yr I wish the old Forest Fair was still there. At least they had the amusement park equipped with bumper cars, mini golf, ferris wheel, massive arcade, and laser tag. It also had the blue and red flashing super savers, which was decidedly tacky but no where near as dull and tacky as the current DANBURRY sign. They also used to have a kick ass snow cone place in there and it was good for walking through on rainy days.
February 13, 200718 yr "Speaking to Bloomberg, Rich Moore said Indianapolis-based Simon-the nation's largest mall owner-brings substantial economies of scale. "Simon will get tenants, upgrade tenants or put the Mills properties through renovations," Moore told Bloomberg. Simon made the offer in partnership with the San Francisco hedge fund Farallon Capital Management LLC. Simon's unsolicited bid is higher than the $1.35 billion offered by Toronto-based Brookfield Capital Management Inc." Mills said it has authorized its board to terminate its agreement with Brookfield if Brookfield does not counter within three days." http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=135&ArticleID=32125 Lets hope they will do these kinds of retail upgrades at Cincy Mills.
February 13, 200718 yr the mall just keeps crushing itself under its own weight. why do we think we should keep building more and more retail that doesn't correspond to any large population or wage growth? As soon as the consumers have squandered all the equity they pulled out of their homes we are going to be in trouble.
February 14, 200718 yr the mall just keeps crushing itself under its own weight. why do we think we should keep building more and more retail that doesn't correspond to any large population or wage growth? As soon as the consumers have squandered all the equity they pulled out of their homes we are going to be in trouble. I would not disagree with that statement. Both from a planning and economic standpoint. As you know from the housing = recession thread, I truly believe that most of the spending on big ticket and small ticket items (cars, tv's, vacations, etc...) in the last three or four years has been mainly fueled by HELCOs, easy credit card access, ARMs and I/O. I am a firm believer we are headed into a difficult recession.
February 14, 200718 yr "Speaking to Bloomberg, Rich Moore said Indianapolis-based Simon-the nation's largest mall owner-brings substantial economies of scale. "Simon will get tenants, upgrade tenants or put the Mills properties through renovations," Moore told Bloomberg. Simon made the offer in partnership with the San Francisco hedge fund Farallon Capital Management LLC. Simon's unsolicited bid is higher than the $1.35 billion offered by Toronto-based Brookfield Capital Management Inc." Mills said it has authorized its board to terminate its agreement with Brookfield if Brookfield does not counter within three days." http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=135&ArticleID=32125 Lets hope they will do these kinds of retail upgrades at Cincy Mills. Call me the sarcastic pessimist but I'll have to see it to believe it. That mall has been nothing but crap and I've never seen any of the retail combinations work.
February 14, 200718 yr To me, struggling/vacancy is Forest Fair/Cincinnati Mills. When they renovated, and it was packed with stores, I was ironically disappointed. Sir, you've pretty much summed it up for me. But this time if it fails, I will not be the least bit surprised. =/
February 14, 200718 yr To me, struggling/vacancy is Forest Fair/Cincinnati Mills. When they renovated, and it was packed with stores, I was ironically disappointed. Sir, you've pretty much summed it up for me. But this time if it fails, I will not be the least bit surprised. =/ Programer we always take you seriously.
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