Yeah, I know it's technically called "Cincinnati Mall" now, but it was recently better known as Cincinnati Mills. Since 1989 this mall has struggled finding it's niche and I think it's finally spouting it's death notes. Despite millions in renovations and all kinds of different concepts, the place has finally been purchased by a realty group bent on selling parcels of the land for redevelopment.

 

I grew up near the mall and have seen it change over the years and it's kind of sad to see it fail yet again. Recently I began photographing it in hopes of documenting it's final decline. The security folks don't like photographs too much so I was asked to leave  :roll:

 

But you can read about that and a more in the latest update at www.queencitydisco.com as well as see more photographs. Heres a few of my favorites though:

 

 

-The one are that actually has stores.

 

-Look closely you can see names that used to be on this sign.

 

-You can see a woman packing up the last products for American Eagle in the right hand shop.

 

-Food Court

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-left one recently closed, right one is still open.

 

 

Ever wondered what it would be like to be in the mall from Dawn of the Dead? Check out www.queencitydisco.com !

 

Thanks for checking em out guys!  :-)

As a shopper, that just saddens me. 

It's such a weird experience to walk through the Cincinnati (Mills) Mall. Especially because the building is so much NICER than the TriCounty Mall.

 

This is a great case study on why location location location is the most important thing of all. Apparently even more important than renovated, updated space.

I love this line from the write-up:

 

I smile and wave goodbye to the security guard following me as I exit the parking lot and think about what the other guard inside the mall said.to me:

"This is your one and only warning, any further infractions and you could be banned from the mall for the rest of the year."

 

The irony here is so thick you could cut it with a knife... I probably would have replied with something like, "What did you do, ban all the other customers as well?"

Greatest abandoned mall ever!

I love this line from the write-up:

 

I smile and wave goodbye to the security guard following me as I exit the parking lot and think about what the other guard inside the mall said.to me:

"This is your one and only warning, any further infractions and you could be banned from the mall for the rest of the year."

 

The irony here is so thick you could cut it with a knife... I probably would have replied with something like, "What did you do, ban all the other customers as well?"

 

LOL

It's the finest dead mall you'll ever see. What a waste!

They should have just kept the arcade, ferris wheel, putt putt, laser tag, and the Super Savers with the red and blue flashing lights from Forest Fair, and marketed it as a destination for 90's nostalgia.

They should have just kept the arcade, ferris wheel, putt putt, laser tag, and the Super Savers with the red and blue flashing lights from Forest Fair, and marketed it as a destination for 90's nostalgia.

 

Heh... I had a similar idea about Florence Mall when I stumbled across a 70's-vintage photo of that space. The retro appeal of that mall would be incredible if they had kept the orange carpet and earth-toned tile floors intact.

Of course, Gordon got nailed by mall security for two specific reasons: 1) He was too obvious and "obviously" there was no crowd to melt into (IOW: the mall cops had absolutely nothing better to do), and 2) The mall cops probably get talked-to regularly by management to stop any activity that appears to publicize the mall's business problems.

 

Now, I wonder if the same would happen to someone photographing Tri-County or the Dayton Mall? I'm going to guess that most private security organizations have very strict "approved lists" of permissible activities and if you were observed by the wrong mall cop, you'd be in the same situation.

 

Yeah, if the mall cops persisted I'd tell them to call real cops if they want me detained.

 

Oh, and the photos. Quite creepy and depressing. Man, that is a "pretty" mall. It was a really fun destination for our holiday shopping a few years ago.

Eh, I went into the mall while it was still under Simon and was having to constantly evade the "mall cops." I did note, that there is a police substation but I'm not for sure if it is still active; there are no police cars in sight.

Excellent photo set, and I can relate to your encounter with mall cops. I haven't tried to take photos in a mall, lately, but the plague of photo-phobia pervades our cities. I've heard that Fort Wayne's Glenbrook Mall, still pretty much alive by all outward appearances, strictly prohibits photography, and lifestyle center Jefferson Pointe (they ought to be bulldozed just for that ending "e") supposedly runs off people taking photos. To me it has the smell of death upon it, with quite a few vacant storefronts, but they're still trying to keep up appearances.

 

I'd like to try to create a hidden camera setup using my DSLR, not just a pocket-sized digicam. I'm thinking maybe a fairly wide lens; I have a 28mm f/2.8 that probably would work, setting the ISO pretty high to capture most lighting situations, and putting it into a shopping bag with a busy pattern that would render the hole for the lens inconspicuous. I could set the bag on a bench or pedestal as I sat down to "rest," and point it in the general direction of what I want to capture, use a remote to trip the shutter, and let photoshop take care of the rest. Most fun would be to shoot photos of ever-vigilant mall cops on their Segways.

Mall cops busted me at Fairfield Commons (not in Datyon but in Greene County), but I went to the mall office and go permission to take pix, but they still watched me.  The big beef seemed to be taking pix of the actual stores, not the mall itself (ie the skylights, interior spaces, etc)

 

I did get away with some Dayton Mall interior shots, but it was a busy day, so I guess those mall cops were otherwise occupied.

 

 

It's such a weird experience to walk through the Cincinnati (Mills) Mall. Especially because the building is so much NICER than the TriCounty Mall.

 

I remember it during its Forest Fair incarnation, when they had the little kiddyland inside. 

 

I was thinking to myself that this had to be the most impressive mall interior I had ever seen (ok, i dont travel much, but it was pretty impressive compared to most malls, which tend to the minimal so as not to draw attention away from the stores)

 

Interesting... I was in there once with a chihuahua..and I got kicked out.. The woman insisted on taking the dog shopping.

It a shame how it still looks so new.    Thanks for the pics.

Rob, the time that I went in for photographs, I used a shoulder bag and popped out the camera whenever I needed it. I boosted it to ISO 1000 and shot away, and it was good enough for the feature article for an international shopping centre magazine. Ronny, were you using a tripod for these??

 

I am tempted to go back just to spite them, like last time. And to see if that police substation is even active (by all outward appearances, it isn't).

Regarding the decor, it's very typical Mills Corp. kitsch. I used to work across the street from the gargantuan (and more successful) Gurnee Mills mall outside of Chicago, and it had a very similar vibe. That was sort of the Mills Corp. schtick... In Gurnee's case, it was designed by Cambridge Seven Associates in Massachusetts.

The irony of the picture phobia is obviously everything Google has down, both with Earth and Streetview.

Now, I wonder if the same would happen to someone photographing Tri-County or the Dayton Mall?

 

I can't speak for the Dayton Mall, but back in 2006 I was at Tri-County Mall with a friend. I took a photograph of the reflection of the sun on the glass panes of the outside of the mall while I was in my car in the parking lot, then stepped out to photograph a passing train on the tracks near the rear of the lot. Within minutes of the trains passing an Allied Barton security vehicle pulled in front of me and the security guard popped out to ask what I was doing. He was actually really nice and just said not to go near the tracks because they were private property and the only reason he was watching me was because often kids will cut through the malls parking lot to go grafitti on the sitting trains or the underpass. He was nice and left me alone.

 

Within a few more minutes another Allied Barton SUV pulled up and demanded to know what I was doing. The security officer asked to see my I.D. and the pictures I had taken. I took out the memory card, told him he had no right to see either one and that he can't block my car in. He got an attitude and informed me he was the security supervisor, I said I would only talk to a real cop. He kept demanding to see my ID and I once again asked to see a real cop. Well a few minutes later a Springdale Police Officer rolls up and talks to the security guards then talks to me. He was really friendly and then explained to the security guards that I was photographing a building in public view, but since I was on their property they had the right to ask me to leave, but absolutely no right to demand to see my ID or the camera. It was rather funny seeing the "supervisor" shut up real quick when the cop was speaking. I have some respect for mall cops, they get teased and have to deal with stupid kids and shoplifters all day, but these guys lived up to every stereotype.

 

Rob, the time that I went in for photographs, I used a shoulder bag and popped out the camera whenever I needed it. I boosted it to ISO 1000 and shot away, and it was good enough for the feature article for an international shopping centre magazine. Ronny, were you using a tripod for these??

 

I am tempted to go back just to spite them, like last time. And to see if that police substation is even active (by all outward appearances, it isn't).

 

Don't go back and bother them, they're just doing their job albeit humorous and they obviously have nothing better to do, but it's not worth going there just to piss off or 'spite' one of them. The woman on the segway was just following her procedure, although it's a dumb one. I did stop and did leave, because they have the right to ask me to stop and leave their property, but I'm not obligated to present my ID to any of them.

It's kind of sad that there are people dumb and literal minded enough to think it's their sworn duty to hassle some guy snapping pictures.

Although I feel I should be celebrating the death of an indoor shopping mall, this also kind of makes me sad.  Except for some cheesy signage ("Trend" "Style") that had me laughing, it's a completely updated mall that will now be useless.  This phenomena seems to be a large city metro thing.  Look at cities with populations under 150K and their regional malls continue to remain succesful without major updates.  I can think of a few malls up here in Michigan that I wish would feel the threat of competition to at least get rid of some of the 70's decor.

 

 

So this mall was managed under Simon, huh?.......yeah..... I can understand.

 

Regarding the decor, it's very typical Mills Corp. kitsch. I used to work across the street from the gargantuan (and more successful) Gurnee Mills mall outside of Chicago, and it had a very similar vibe. That was sort of the Mills Corp. schtick... In Gurnee's case, it was designed by Cambridge Seven Associates in Massachusetts.

 

BAH!! 

 

You'll find me at the Woodfield Mall....and at least they don't mind photography there.  I see people taking pictures of that ramp mess in center court all the time.

 

 

I agree about Woodfield... I spent more time there once I changed jobs and moved into the city. I'm convinced that Gurnee Mills, in addition to being hideous, is also the trailer trash mecca of the Midwest.

Nicest abandoned mall in the entire US of A. 

 

With Cincinnati Mills having the only Babies R Us & Burlington Coat Factory with a Baby Depot in Cincinnati, I am forced to go to this mall when we go baby shopping.  There is also a great baby furniture store underneath Babies R Us called Treehouse Kids so in a weird way, it is the best shopping destination in Cincinnati & Dayton for baby stuff.

With Cincinnati Mills having the only Babies R Us & Burlington Coat Factory with a Baby Depot in Cincinnati, I am forced to go to this mall when we go baby shopping. There is also a great baby furniture store underneath Babies R Us called Treehouse Kids so in a weird way, it is the best shopping destination in Cincinnati & Dayton for baby stuff.

 

Just wait a year or so then see if those stores are still there.. If BassPro decides to leave.. they will follow...

^Actually I'd bet the mall closes before Bass Pro does. Bass Pro seems to do really well and draw in a lot of visitors throughout the region. I had to attend a safety workshop for my employer last summer and many of the people I work with would be considered "blue collar" and I'd wager to say nearly every person I work with enjoys hunting or fishing as a pastime. Nearly every Sandusky counterpart I met during this workshop thing asked me where I was from and then proceeded to say "Ah, i know Fairfield, that ol Bass Pro Shop is down there, do you hunt?"

Amazing photos. It's a very sharp looking mall -- for a mall.

 

And the pettiness of mall cops in a mall that no one cares about anymore is laughable. It blows my mind that they take their jobs so seriously. I wonder if, when they come home work, they tell their wives (or mothers): "Honey, I saved life and property today by telling some kid with a camera in our vacant mall to beat it. Aren't you proud of me? Honey? Honey??? WAKE UP!!!"

I doubt they take their job seriously...it's really because they are pissed that they are about to lose their job.  Good news for them is there are plenty of openings everywhere for a-hole rent-a-cops.

 

Seriously though, I don't even see the big deal.  Malls are such quasi-public places, I don't see any reason for private owners to prohibit it in the concourses and food courts.  Then again, I question whether most malls even care, because they are too busy to bother with the issue.

 

 

Quick question, does Cincinnati have an enclosed mall that features local businesses, independent stores, etc?  Up in Detroit, we have a mall called Northland.  It's anchored by a Target and Macy's, but most of the shops are owned by Detroit area residents.  There's a couple chains like Finish Line, Footlocker and some restaurants, but it's got a very different feel to it.  A lot of people outside the city called it a "dead mall" because it doesn't contain first tier tenants.  However, it has good foot traffic, the mall actually has few vacancies, and the sales per square foot actually beat out or are at least comparable to most typical regional shopping centers.  Under new management I wonder if this place is capable of following a similar lead to Northland of Southfield?  Keep in mind, they'd have to drop rents to encourage local business owners on tight budgets to lease.

I think the picture taking usually has to do more with the stores and the lease...that they will be protected by the property management, not wanting others to get pics of the actual store windows and interiors by the competition.  It's stupid, but those stores get very territorial about competition.  Try to take pictures of a store or in a store at any mall...they will call security in a second.

Easton actually encouraged me to take photographs of their lifestyle center in Columbus. They were enthusiastic when I called asking about their photography policy.

 

Polaris... not so much.

Quick question, does Cincinnati have an enclosed mall that features local businesses, independent stores, etc?  Up in Detroit, we have a mall called Northland.  It's anchored by a Target and Macy's, but most of the shops are owned by Detroit area residents.  There's a couple chains like Finish Line, Footlocker and some restaurants, but it's got a very different feel to it.  A lot of people outside the city called it a "dead mall" because it doesn't contain first tier tenants.  However, it has good foot traffic, the mall actually has few vacancies, and the sales per square foot actually beat out or are at least comparable to most typical regional shopping centers.  Under new management I wonder if this place is capable of following a similar lead to Northland of Southfield?  Keep in mind, they'd have to drop rents to encourage local business owners on tight budgets to lease.

 

I'd say Tri-County is moving in that direction.

Tri County draws such a diverse clientel (for Cincinnati).  Every time I go to that mall, which is admittadly not very often, I hear so many different languages and see so many different types of people.  The mall its self is actually pretty nice, and I remember back in the mid 90's when that mall was absolutely equal with Kenwood in terms of offerings.  It has really declined in recent years, and I hope something can be done to help save it and that whole area.

 

Hayward, funny story about Northland Mall.  My family was up visiting relatives in the Detroit area, and we usually go to Somerset Mall (something like that?) because that is where my relatives live close to, but for some reason we were over in the direction of Northland and my mom needed to get make up.  So we stop in and go to Macys and she gets her make up, and I am waiting at the foodcourt with the bags for my sister and mom to get out of the bathroom, and someone stole the bags from right under my nose.  Some dude called me over to hold his tray for one second, and when i sat back down the bag was far away, and there was no sign of who took it. Kind of a funny, slightly ghetto mall story.

Nicest abandoned mall in the entire US of A. 

My thoughts exactly. It looks to be in too good of shape to be abandoned. Nice shots!

Its not abandoned.. and I seriously dont think it will be. It will be in use for something. But thats not determined as of yet.

not sure if this was posted, but did anyone see this recent nytimes article?

 

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/04/101-uses-for-a-deserted-mall/