Posted April 16, 200916 yr Rolling Acres Mall Akron, Ohio August 6th, 1975 - October 31st, 2008 Once a mega-mall in Northeastern Ohio, now left as a complex filled with memories of shoppers past. With more than 1,300,000 sq ft of retail space, it now has slightly over 330,000 sq ft being used. Situated on 86.7 acres, this Akron Mall was touted as a womans dream with over 150 stores at its prime. Sears and a Penny's outlet are the only merchants alive at present day. I managed to get a few interior shots through the glass door entrances. I could not help but go through memories of when the mall was open. I almost shed a tear. J. Matthew Main Entrance showing Namesake. Parking lot @ Main Entrance Treeway @ Main Entrance Pavement towards Former Macy's Parking Lot facing towards Former Macys, Target, and Cinema. Entrance @ the Cinema Close up of doors @ Cinema Entrance Former Dillard's Stop sign @ former Dillards towards Sears Entrance to former Dillards Looking towards Sears West Mall Entrance @ Sears Close up of East Mall Entrance @ Sears West Parking lot @ Sears Interior looking towards Former Rolling Acres Travel Interior @ Mall Security Office Interior Infront of Former Dillards Shop to the Nines Interior of West Mall Entrance @ Sears Interior of Main Concourse Interior of Main Concourse with Label on window
April 17, 200916 yr I don't know what it is about dead malls that fascinates me so much. It's like they're filled with ghosts..you can almost see people walking through there doing 'mall stuff'. I always feel like I'm looking at a post apocalyptic shot of a world that doesn't exist anymore.
April 17, 200916 yr I don't know what it is about dead malls that fascinates me so much. It's like they're filled with ghosts..you can almost see people walking through their doing 'mall stuff'. I always feel like I'm looking at a post apocalyptic shot of a world that doesn't exist anymore. I agree. I never shopped at RA, shocking, I know, but I hate to see a mall close.
April 17, 200916 yr I asked security (when she came to me in an unmarked minivan stating I was too close to the building) if it was possible to get photos of the inside. She said most likely not but I would have to talk to ownership about that. I really want photos of the food court (one of the first in the nation) and the second story court with the retro glass elevator.And possibly the theatre as well And no, I do not post on thechiefsource.com. Should I?
April 17, 200916 yr What a waste. I grew up in a city (Ashland, KY) that had two malls for a population of 20,000. One was a local mall and had only three anchors (it had four for a while), and was only a few blocks from downtown. The other was a regional mall that had three anchors with room for five. The latter mall all but died during my childhood, as well as downtown retail. Sears and JC Penny moved to the mall, leaving behind landmark structures that were abandoned. I also remember City Center Mall in Columbus, OH that was thriving and very vibrant well into my teenage years. It was really sad to walk through it fairly recently and see the entire mall empty and deserted, and practically abandoned.
April 18, 200916 yr I asked security (when she came to me in an unmarked minivan stating I was too close to the building) if it was possible to get photos of the inside. She said most likely not but I would have to talk to ownership about that. I really want photos of the food court (one of the first in the nation) and the second story court with the retro glass elevator.And possibly the theatre as well And no, I do not post on thechiefsource.com. Should I? I just didn't know if you were one of those guys. They do photography of Akron, too.
April 18, 200916 yr What a waste. I grew up in a city (Ashland, KY) that had two malls for a population of 20,000. One was a local mall and had only three anchors (it had four for a while), and was only a few blocks from downtown. The other was a regional mall that had three anchors with room for five. The latter mall all but died during my childhood, as well as downtown retail. Sears and JC Penny moved to the mall, leaving behind landmark structures that were abandoned. I also remember City Center Mall in Columbus, OH that was thriving and very vibrant well into my teenage years. It was really sad to walk through it fairly recently and see the entire mall empty and deserted, and practically abandoned. Stupid Cedar Knoll Galleria. Who gave them the money for that? The funny part is that it was quite full for a while -- then died. I know the AK Steel layoffs didn't help, but between the DT-ish mall, Huntington Mall and other local retail, it was completely unnecessary. It was not a sound business plan.
April 18, 200916 yr Sigh... There are so many reasons why this mall failed- located on a divided street, lack of after hours restaurants/activities surrounding property, shifting focus of other local shopping centers, slightly unfair press coverage leading to rumors, change in local demographics, new power center located close to mall... ...its sad. Mainly because even though I don't live there anymore, I HATE Chapel Hill Mall.
April 18, 200916 yr I think Summit is the only one still surviving. No, Chapel's still alive. Just ugly and chintzy, as it always has been. They took a hit when Steve and Barry's closed.
April 18, 200916 yr I just didn't know if you were one of those guys. They do photography of Akron, too. Ah ok.. I'm straight up Independent Baby!!
April 18, 200916 yr I think Summit is the only one still surviving. Chapel hill is alive and well.. Its funny Summit mall is more for the higher class and Chapel Hill is more for the middle class.. Sad S&B is gone though.
April 18, 200916 yr What a waste. I grew up in a city (Ashland, KY) that had two malls for a population of 20,000. One was a local mall and had only three anchors (it had four for a while), and was only a few blocks from downtown. The other was a regional mall that had three anchors with room for five. The latter mall all but died during my childhood, as well as downtown retail. Sears and JC Penny moved to the mall, leaving behind landmark structures that were abandoned. I also remember City Center Mall in Columbus, OH that was thriving and very vibrant well into my teenage years. It was really sad to walk through it fairly recently and see the entire mall empty and deserted, and practically abandoned. Stupid Cedar Knoll Galleria. Who gave them the money for that? The funny part is that it was quite full for a while -- then died. I know the AK Steel layoffs didn't help, but between the DT-ish mall, Huntington Mall and other local retail, it was completely unnecessary. It was not a sound business plan. Cedar Knoll Galleria was Zamias. They thought that by building a super-regional mall, that they could steal traffic from the Huntington Mall. If Cedar Knoll had been fully built out, it would be larger than the Huntington Mall, and one of the largest malls in the state (in 1989). But Zamias did not understand that people from Kentucky and Ohio that want variety travel to Huntington to shop, not vice versa. Huntington Mall was established; Cedar Knoll was not, and was surrounded by literally industry, second-grade commercial, and strip-mined land. Ashland Town Center at least had the support of the downtown and Ashland-area residents; it was truly a local mall.
April 18, 200916 yr Are there any other defunct malls still standing in the state besides Rolling Acres, Randall Park and Canton Centre .?.
April 18, 200916 yr Are there any other defunct malls still standing in the state besides Rolling Acres, Randall Park and Canton Centre .?. Check the ghost malls thread.
April 18, 200916 yr Are there any other defunct malls still standing in the state besides Rolling Acres, Randall Park and Canton Centre .?. Check the ghost malls thread. Too much work. Its a saturday..
April 18, 200916 yr Are there any other defunct malls still standing in the state besides Rolling Acres, Randall Park and Canton Centre .?. Check the ghost malls thread. Too much work. Its a saturday.. Lazy culo!
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