To me, struggling/vacancy is Forest Fair/Cincinnati Mills. When they renovated, and it was packed with stores, I was ironically disappointed. Abandonment has always intriged me, which is probably why I have such an interest in Ohio cities. :lol:

 

You are my new buddy.

To me, struggling/vacancy is Forest Fair/Cincinnati Mills. When they renovated, and it was packed with stores, I was ironically disappointed. Abandonment has always intriged me, which is probably why I have such an interest in Ohio cities. :lol:

 

You are my new buddy.

 

NERDS!!!!  Both of you!

Well, someone ignored me. I need to make friends somewhere, or else the emo kid inside me will get all depressed. And we don't need a bitchy or whiny Seicer in here, right?

^We don't already have that?

 

;)

Mall Owner Accepts Simon, Farallon Merger Deal

"The Mills Corp. says it will accept a $1.64 billion, or $25.25 per share offer in cash from a joint venture formed by Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) and Farallon Capital Management. The Mills Corp. has terminated its deal with Canada-based Brookfield Asset Management Inc."

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=21898&ts=true

 

Looks like the Cincy Mills will have a new owner in about 45 days. Let hope they can bring a better mixed of retail and entertainment to the mall.

 

I wonder what Simon will do with the mall.

1. Sell it.

2. Close it.

3. Keep it the same.

4. Upgrade it with better tenants.

 

I hope its number 4. I still think this mall has potential, but history has not been good to it.

I hope 2.

Simon, Farallon get enough shares for Mills takeover

March 29, 2007 | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

 

Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management say about 86 percent of The Mills Corp.'s common shares outstanding have been tendered, clearing the way for their takeover of the shopping mall developer within the next few days.

 

Combined with the shares already owned by Simon and Farallon, 97 percent of Mills shares are represented.  Chevy Chase, Md.-based Mills, which owns Cincinnati Mills in Forest Park, agreed to be acquired in February for $1.64 billion, or $25.25 per share, in cash. The deal also includes assumption of Mills' massive debt, bringing the total value of the takeover to nearly $8 billion.

 

Read full article here:

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/03/26/daily47.html

Bigg's might close Mills store

By Cliff Peale, Cincinnati Enquirer | May 21, 2007

 

Bigg’s will decide by July whether to close its unprofitable store at Cincinnati Mills, president Steve Kaczynski said today.  With a lease that expires in July 2008, the retailer could extend the lease this summer, but is trying to negotiate better lease terms from the mall’s new owner, Kaczyinski said.  At 245,000 square feet, the store is one of the original anchors at the mall.

 

“We haven’t decided,” he said. “We’re trying to see what we can work out. It’s not the greatest location. But even the mall itself is at something like 60 percent occupancy right now.”  Mall operator Simon Property Group joined with a hedge fund earlier this year to buy mall developer Mills Corp.

 

Read full article here:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070521/BIZ01/305210042

It’s not the greatest location

 

that about sums up the thread

I miss America Live! and Metropolis at Forest Fair. That was a real bar hopping experience. Safe, secure and great parking! What else could anyone ask for? Plus after putting in good night of drinking I was always felt safe only having to drive a few miles home to my posh spread in Fairfield.

 

The mall is doomed.  I was just there last Friday and couldn't believe how quiet it was during the Christmas shopping season.  Rumor has it from one of the store owners that Bigg's is officially gone and that portion of the mall will be torn down.

 

Expect rumors that the rest of the mall will be torn down except for the department stores (save movie theatre?) and they will try again with a Lifestyle center.

I personally think it has to do with how over-saturated retail is in general. Look at how many companies are slowing their growth. Whenever a new mall/lifestyle center goes up, it takes patrons away from existing ones when you have a somewhat stagnant population and economy.

I personally think it has to do with how over-saturated retail is in general. Look at how many companies are slowing their growth. Whenever a new mall/lifestyle center goes up, it takes patrons away from existing ones when you have a somewhat stagnant population and economy.

 

I agree.  They built this thing too close to Northgate and Tricounty.  And there weren't nearly the amount of strip malls everywhere as there are now.

We've had great discussions about what we'd like to see at the Banks and so on. Let's be imaginative, this is the greatest retail white elephant in Greater Cincinnati (examples from other towns would be nice . . . Southwyck in Toledo, the old Crestview Hills Mall in NKY). Bass Pro Shops isn't going any where though if this place is as sad as I imagine then someone could probably with some decent money grab them, same with Guitar Center.

 

Honestly, not sure this is a great place for another new urbanist development/lifestyle center.

 

My thoughts. . . a racecar track (street style not loop) . . . Citylink . . . dairy farm . . .

 

 

My thoughts. . . a racecar track (street style not loop) . . . Citylink . . . dairy farm . . .

 

Hamilton County Jail

I think they should make it back into the big amusement park and arcade and restore it back to pure 90's style, including bringing back the red and blue lights on the super saver movies.  At least then the mall was fun...

Moving the mall towards a more entertainment type facilities makes a lot of sense. A large indoor amusement and water park with a resort hotel and tourist type attractions and restaurants might work. I thought they might go with more of an outlet type mall but Simon is about to build the new outlet center in Monroe. I would prefer to see them make the Mills mall a major outlet mall and not build the other one in Monroe. Redevelop vs new development.

Well the location is called Forest Fair...tear it all down except for Bass Pro Shops and a couple others, and return the rest to wildlife.  It could be used as a practice hunting ground and/or shooting range for all the people shopping at Bass Pro Shops.

 

There is only soo much retail we can actually sustain...this location just doesn't seem well suited for any of it in my opinion...at some point with all these big-boxes and malls going vacant...there are going to have to be tough choices made.  Instead of continuing to pour money down the drain at these money pits I would rather advocate the return of nature to these areas.

This mall, as ragerunner hinted, is in the midst of a downward spiral for these things that ultimately ends up being some indoor amusement/theme park thingee.  That is the equivalent to the BMV, Chinese Restaurant, and Cash Advance places moving into an old strip center.  This mall is done...let it ride off gracefully (just look across the street at the multiple abominations that have occurred there).

^I completely agree, but just like you said over in the QCS thread, its all driven by money. I can't see that possibilty without government intervention. Are Forest Park and Fairfield going to be willing to invest in demolishing economic base? Would Butler or Hamilton County?

 

I keep hearing rumors about Bass Pro moving to Union Center, but I have a feeling that is just wishful thinking.

 

I've always found Forest Fair interesting because they are the newest and failed. Generally, when new retail emerges, the older properties suffer. I would have expected Tri-County to be one that failed as a result of Forest Fair, but I guess they weren't exactly competitors.

 

I think Simon will redevelop the site (but I would not want to guess their timeline). I really believe there is to much retail in that area and the only way to make a go of this site is to turn it into a entertainment/retail/tourist destination or do something no retail there.

 

The water park hotel has been axed from that site, although the developer may still build a hotel, but no water park.

 

Side note: Wouldn't it be nice to see a real mixed use development go up on the Mills sight? All though its surrounding area is not even close to being a place for a pedestrian.

It is unbelievable that Mills Corp dumped $50 million into this place a couple of years ago...  Unreal that a $50 million boost didn't help for long.  If they had the stores of Jeffersonville Outlets, it would have been better off...  Is the income levels so low in Fairfield and Forest Park that this area can't keep this place going? 

All though its surrounding area is not even close to being a place for a pedestrian.

 

Funny, because one of the main uses of the mall these days, like it was back in the Forest Fair days, is mall walkers.

It is unbelievable that Mills Corp dumped $50 million into this place a couple of years ago...  Unreal that a $50 million boost didn't help for long.  If they had the stores of Jeffersonville Outlets, it would have been better off...  Is the income levels so low in Fairfield and Forest Park that this area can't keep this place going? 

 

I am not sure its about income levels, I think its problem is there's just to much retail in the area of town. They need to come up with something that will make them stand out (besides vacant space). Bass Pro is a start.

I keep hearing rumors about Bass Pro moving to Union Center, but I have a feeling that is just wishful thinking.

 

I severely doubt that!      That would be the worse move they could make.      I could see it going to SW Indiana, NKY or even the Westside (Redneck Central)  rather than moving farther into Suburbia Hell than they already are.    Just my opinion, but check out some of the licence plates next time you are in this area.  I guarantee they know where there customers are coming from, plus throw in the factor that Cabela's has been rumored to be interested in this region as well makes there current location pretty centralized.    It's a Destination store, so they could survive just like some have mentioned, being the only thing there.

Forest Fair has never not sucked long enough to get people to come there on a regular basis. Throw in the fact that it started as an upscale competitor to Kenwood and steadily went down market with each new owner, it has never had a personality. It is too far for west-siders when the could just hit Glenway or Northgate or post-Ron Reagan, Kenwood. What Eastsider would go that far. Fairfield folk can just hit Rt. 4 for nearly anything that was FF and be able to stop by Jungle Jim's. While Tri-County is no longer the draw it was 10 years ago, it managed to stay strong enough to prevent FF from gaining traction. Mills also turned out to be not the best managed company. Forest Park fought building the place quite strongly many moons ago as well. The only reason I've ever gone there besides when it was the big clubbing place in the late 90s is to hit Guitar Center with a friend of mine.

I love bass pro shops, I'll still go wherever they are in the tri-county.  As far as the mall, I've only been in the mall a couple times, but I do remember the amount of "mall walkers".  It was amazing to see so many "mall walkers" wisking around.

Forest Fair has never not sucked long enough to get people to come there on a regular basis. Throw in the fact that it started as an upscale competitor to Kenwood and steadily went down market with each new owner, it has never had a personality.

 

That is quite an interesting point and probably the one idea that often gets ignored.  The mall never really built any momentum, and most people outside of the northern hills probably never even heard of it.  And its mix of stores has always been bizarre, even at the beginning.

 

ragerunner is probably dead-on about the hotel idea.  Forest Park people have told me that they're actively looking for a Winton Road site for a business hotel/conference center, and I can't think of a better developable site than the Cincinnati Mills lot.

 

It's a shame because Cincinnati Mills looks BRAND NEW.  The inside is much nicer, much more updated than tri-county. That's such a waste of capital and at a time when real estate is in shambles they need to reconsider how they do things to improve longevity of projects. Kenwood seems a little better integrated with the neighborhood; people consider themselves to live in "kenwood" plus it has more wealth in close proximity. Tri-county and Cincinnati Mills are like their own little world. People in the northern 'burbs probably prefer Deerfield town center, east siders have Rookwood and people in Kentucky have Crestview Hills. I hope Kenwood continues to thrive, I'd hate to see a mall deteriorate in that area but I'm sure it's percieved as a great investment whenever they'll need to expand or update.

There is nothing at Deerfield Towne Center for men.  It is a terrible design and when ever we swing by there we rarely ever see people outside.  Look out for South Lebanon to build a mall, sadly.

Deerfield towne center is nothing more than a dressed up strip shopping center.

With heels on!

LOL  what a sucky mall.

 

Parents Want Refunds After Wonderpark Closes

 

Another business has pulled out of the Cincinnati Mills mall and some parents say they've lost money. They say they booked their children's birthday parties at the Wonderpark, but they got an unwanted surprise when they showed up for the big day.  Two families tell 9News they gave Wonderpark money when they scheduled their children's birthday parties.

 

But when they came to the indoor entertainment center inside the mall to celebrate, they found the business was shut down.  Kailey Rowe showed 9News the gifts she received for her fifth birthday.  The party didn't go as planned though.  When her family and nine friends showed up for the Wonderpark party Sunday afternoon the store gate was down – the windows were painted black.

 

Read full article here:

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=9997baf8-d912-4d63-8f62-7b5769fdc519

The mall is doomed.  I was just there last Friday and couldn't believe how quiet it was during the Christmas shopping season.  Rumor has it from one of the store owners that Bigg's is officially gone and that portion of the mall will be torn down.

 

I've heard that Guitar Center will also be closing when their lease is up, so it would make sense for them to demolish that whole wing.  That section is almost entirely vacant.

ugh. this place is a hot mess.

 

what's funny is that it's structurally a nicer mall than Kenwood, but a terrible selection of stores left. terrible location, most importantly....

I am kind of stepping in this thread, but this mall is too close to both Northgate and Tri-County malls, plus the massive amount of retail that surrounds Forest Fair/Cincinnati Mills.  Within a 5 mile radius, there is enough retail to meet the needs of the residents.  Plus, the mall itself is HUGE!  It is a big freakin' mall.  Double maybe triple the size of Northgate. 

 

Cincinnati Financial might as well purchase the land so that they can build 6 more "towers" to add to their building.  Only making traffic that much better during rush hour.  :roll:

Im willing to bet the bass-proshop will move when it's lease is up. Im thinking near IKEA.

Moving a bass pro shop has go to be HELL. That big @ss tank with all the fish. I wonder if that stays.

The mall is in debt like crazy and it now has only a 38% occupency rate. I only go there for bass pro.!. There is seriously nothing there

Bigg's in Forest Park to close

BY MIKE BOYER | [email protected]

 

Bigg’s, the largest and one of the earliest tenants of the struggling Cincinnati Mills mall, said today it will close its 245,000-square-foot store by the end of June.  Bigg’s, part of Minneapolis-based grocery chain Supervalu Inc., has been unhappy with the performance of the Cincinnati Mills store for several years, indicating two years ago it might shutter the location when its lease expires in July.

 

More recently, bigg’s, which has 11 other stores in the area, scaled back its sales space at the east end of the mall off Interstate 275 and adopted an outlet store concept.  The mall itself also has been struggling in recent years. Originally conceived with space for more than 200 stores, occupancy at the 1.5 million-square-foot Mills mall has declined to less than two-thirds its space.

 

Read full article here:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080514/BIZ01/305140086/

That's sad; growing up, we went to the Forest Fair Bigg's quite often. It was the only part of the mall that was original after the renovations.

My Friend told me that Berean moved on the other side of 275 where the walmart is which makes alot better sense for that store.. and now with biggs being gone..  that corridor wont have much of anything  and eventually Jonny Rockets will leave. Bass Pro wont be far behind..

Well there are already talks of Bass Pro moving to West Chester off of I-75 within the next 2-3 years. (nothing offical yet)  Personally.. I'd like to see Khols move into the Colerain area.. like the shopping center with Dicks.. I think they'd get good business there.

Tear it down and return the area to nature...absolutely no need for this massive retailing structure.

I would prefer to see them build the outlet mall on this site closer to the city than on the greenfield site in Monroe. Same company.

Tear it down and return the area to nature...absolutely no need for this massive retailing structure.

 

Agreed.

Tear it down and return the area to nature...absolutely no need for this massive retailing structure.

 

Agreed.

 

I am sure the company would be more than happy to sell the land to a government agency for parkland, at the right price.

With Cincinnati Financial and a lot of successful fast food places I think tearing down at least the Bigg's wing of the mall and creating an office park could be successful

 

I remembering hearing that Steve and Berry's is opening a Hamilton location so I wouldn't be surprised to see them go as the place starts to clear out. My friend worked at Showcase Springdale when they built the Cincy Mills Cinema and said it was to alleviate some of the traffic from the Springdale location which was one of their busiest, but movie theatres aren't doing as good as they once were so who knows if there is still a need. Also I heard somewhere thet Off 5th would probably move up to the new Monroe outlet mall, that's probaby true of the other outlet stores as well.

 

So on second thought, tear it all down. Which is sad, like inkaelin, Bigg's was my usual grocery store as a kid, and it had an awesome toy section.

The Nine West Outlet is closing at Cincinnati Mills.  All shoes are an additional 40% off and they have a whole bunch marked down to $10.  Their last day is June 21st.

I was absolutely wrong to think that this mall could make it after the Mills Corp remodel.  Fairfield & Forest Park are incapable of supporting a large retail development.

Well bargin shoppers will be delighted when the stores go out of business.. discount galore.. they should all go out a the same time.. you'd see mass people there for a change.. atleast for a day or two.