Dont do anything with it and just allow it to be a landmark. As of now, there is no word from the mall on when it will reopen. Overall, Forest Fair Mall would be the second-biggest mall in the state of Ohio at the time of construction, behind only the now-defunct Randall Park Mall in North Randall, a suburb of Cleveland. [45] Renovations began in January, which included new paint, floors, and signage throughout, along with differently-themed decor for each wing of the mall, typical of properties developed by Mills at the time. History. 11, FFM placed Malls at Forest Fair on the market in February 1995 which was acquired by Gator Forest Park Partners of Miami in 1996 for $18 million.11 Gator envisioned Forest Fair as a destination outlet mall3710 and pledged to invest $10 million into the shopping center over the next three years. 23 The new store would feature 150,000 square feet of retail with an Uncle Bucks Fishbowl and Grill and a bowling alley. 2000-2023 Abandoned. I saw a tour of this on YouTube by the Proper People, they tour abandoned buildings and take some beautiful pictures, and since that video was made couple years ago I had to see if it was still open. Ben Davis with Hillwood told the Journal-News they can't comment on the deadline issue. 12 Nov. 2008. But Time-Out on the Court was not your normal shopping mall arcade. Finally called them and they said they were next to the food court which was completely closed except for an unpatronized Japanese restaurant. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. [25][20], In 1992, the owners announced a new concept for the mall, known as The Shops at Forest Fair. This included the loss of Media Play, which went out of business entirely, and Johnny's Toys, which was closed so that Steve & Barry's could create a larger store using all of the former Elder-Beerman store. The old Forest Fair Mall, now known as the Cincinnati Mall, is being demolished by the Butler County Land Bank, which has applied for a $9.5 million grant. Turn it into a hotel with outlet stores in it or a entertainment center like scene 75 with outlet stores. Commissioner Don Dixon asked if the deadline holds firm whether the county can use the funds elsewhere. The Internet Museum of Shopping and Retail History. Following years of tenancy decline, it closed to the public on December 2, 2022. The website also has a section for businesses, which is a great resource for finding local businesses. DeWine stated the city of Fairfield will demolish the former Forest Fair mall site on Cincinnati Mills Drive. [28], The mall was put up for sale again in 1995, with FFM representatives noting that the partnership did not intend to maintain ownership for over five years. Forest Fair Village Website. UNLESS they can convince some STRICTLY Upscale retailers to open up shop here, and Im talking Versace ans such, it will have to become a multi use facility. [44] As part of the redevelopment, Mills forced many small independent businesses out of the property. In 2002, the Mills Corporation purchased the Malls at Forest Fair for $69.4 million and began a $70 million renovation project in February 2003. The website has a lot of information about the village, including history, events, and attractions. We went everyday in the summer. Another hired not only Micky Mouse but also Ray Charles, like the real, actual Ray Charles, to head line the grand re-opening upon completion of their $100 million expansion. Forest Fair Village hours of operations Please note, operating hours might temporarily vary due to the new COVID-19 coronavirus. The Forest Fair Mall was a shopping mall in Forest Park, Ohio, United States. - https://www.patreon.com/salvatoreamadeoCatch up on the full Expedition Log Series!https://www.youtube.c. Some of the most popular stores include Macys, JCPenney, Target, and Forever 21. Hillwood has not purchased the property yet, according to the Butler County Auditor's website the last property transfer occurred in 2010. [71] Officials of both Butler and Hamilton County submitted plans to the state of Ohio in 2022, calling for $9.5 million in funds to demolish the mall. Combined, the new Forest Fair Mall featured 1-million square feet with B. Altman, Biggs, Bonwit . You can read about it and see pictures here, though in this article there are still lights in the food court. Support the Expedition Log on Patreon, if you like! The Butler County Land Bank applied for $9.5 million in state funding to raze dilapidated and abandoned buildings, with the bulk of the money, if approved, going to tear down Cincinnati Mall. The current owners are attempting to sell the property for $55 million, but they have not been able to do so because a buyer is not willing to pay this price. 3. Cincinnati Mall announces redevelopment., Dowdy, Rob. The Butler County Journal News reported that any plans for the mall's demolition would be contingent on the availability of funds, with one potential plan being to convert the property to light industrial use. The mall was closed in 2009, and was demolished in 2014. [59] Cincinnati Holding Company purchased the mall in 2010,[61] right as Showcase Cinemas closed. B. Altman was confirmed as a tenant in November 1987 and Parisian in March 1988,[5][6] while negotiations with Sakowitz began in October 1988. I think its time to tear this down and reclaim the land for another use. [75], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}391812N 843107W / 39.303262N 84.518603W / 39.303262; -84.518603, The Kohl's wing of Forest Fair Village, May 2018, 1990s: The Shops at Forest Fair and redevelopment, 2008present: Cincinnati Mall, Forest Fair Village, "Larger Bigg's mall planned in Fairfield", "Developers optimistic about five mall stores", "B. Altman to be a Forest Fair Mall anchor", "Forest Fair Mall's full opening delayed", "Forest Fair tenants slow in opening stores", "Beer down under: Pub opens at Forest Fair", "Success of Forest Fair Mall isn't assured", "Hooker wants OK to close 3 Forest Fair Mall stores", "Last B. Altman's changes focus to stay in business", "Cities count on Forest Fair's full recovery", "Kohl's Department Stores to open at Forest Fair Mall", "Meijer hyperstores boost competition in Southwest Ohio", "Saks bought by Proffitt's in $2.1B deal", "Media Play helps jazz up renewed Forest Fair Mall", "Shoppers check opening of Saks discount outlet", "New owners, new theme give hope to Forest Fair", "Forest Fair Mall tenants upset by operator's timing", "Mall to reopen with focus on families, discounters", "Johnny's Toys opens in Cincinnati Mills", "Two years after makeover, mall struggles to find niche", "Development of former Cincinnati Mall still in 'holding pattern', "Bass Pro moving to West Chester, adding eatery", "New in Town Burlington Coat Factory moving from Cincinnati Mall to Springdale", "Bass Pro move to further slow Forest Fair mall development", "Future of the former Cincinnati Mall in limbo again", "Cincinnati malls' death spiral: Will yours survive? 7Biggs closed its hypermarket due to slumping sales in June 2008 following an attempt to partition off a section of its store and attempt an outlet store concept. Due to the increased traffic brought on by the new stores, many new retail developments were constructed at the I-275 interchange, while the increase in businesses also boosted tax revenues in Forest Park. The second and latest was in January this year. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The only thing that will save this once vibrant mall is a liquor license and strip poles. Bigger Than Life - Time Out at Forest Fair Mall. Kohls opened in the B. Altman location in September 1994. Cookie Notice If you put in a school and some offices, that will lend itself to a bustling food court and some retail options. Boyer, Mike. [34] A gym called Moore's Fitness also opened during this timespan. I think its SM City Cincinnati by Henry Sy owned!!! Seeking to turn around its flagging fortunes, FFM rebranded the mall as Malls at Forest Fair in May 1992 as part of a $25 million project which included dividing the concourses into four retail themes centered around entertainment, fashion, lifestyle, and value. Store hours may vary. [30] Several anchor stores in the mall changed under Gator's ownership: Dawahares closed in late 1996 due to poor sales,[31] Berean Christian Stores signed a 10-year lease for a 21,250 square feet (1,974m2) Christian bookstore at the mall in late 1997,[32] while Parisian closed in June 1998[33] and Guitar Center replaced CompUSA in August 1998 after that store moved to a larger location across from Tri-County Mall. ago. 24 25 Hillwood pledged to match $2.6 million toward demolition costs that were estimated at $10.5 million. Chief Jones says they found several issues during a fire and safety inspection on Nov. 23. Just shy of 2 million square feet, would not only put Forest Fair Mall in the elite 1% of malls larger than 1 million square feet it would also make it the second largest shopping mall in the state. Its not Time-Out for sure, but its still a lot of fun to visit. Privacy Policy. And one of those stores is an arcade. 614, In 2007, Cincinnati Mills was a contender for IKEA, a Swedish home furnishings retailer, but the deal fell through after IKEA announced that it would build a free-standing store in West Chester. 11 Complications with leasing delayed the opening of the west "fashion" wing with upscale tenants until March 1989. 5 min read Nov. 16It appeared the $8 million Butler County Land Bank project to demolish the old Forest Fair mall. This mall has changed hands again and is undergoing another rebrand. put stuff in there for teens and kids to do like ice skating roller skating the movie theater bowling jump zone games dance room! It will most likely never be a mall again in the sense that it was before, but as a multi use facility, especially academic and office space, it can work. After having been renamed to Cincinnati Mall and again to Forest Fair Village in the 2010s, the property received significant media attention as an example of a dead mall. 12 Nov. 2008. The site has been mostly abandoned with just a few stores connected to it remaining. Forest Fair Mall and the Second Lamborghini. Such good memories. The initial plans were to construct just a standalone Bigg's, a former . He told the Journal-News they could also use money for enhancements like sidewalks after the buildings are razed. [24] In October 1990, the mall was sold to a partnership called FFM Limited, headed by a group of banks which had loaned to LJ Hooker most of the $250 million in construction costs. Bonwit Teller closed in October 1990, followed by B. Altman and Sakowitz in November. Forest Fair Mall Pt. If you do go to the mall, why not do it in style in a retro style Forest Fair shirt from Untitled Colours. 1983 homicide of Robert "Bobby" Gutkaiss. It was a slightly chilly morning in downtown Cumberland, Maryland when I awoke to my alarm and the passing locomotives chugging along the former Western Maryland rail line through the heart of the city. I also remember after seeing the film my parents took me and my sisters to Wonderpark to conclude our time there. 12 Nov. 2008. There are also a variety of restaurants and cafes located throughout the mall. It was projected that the proposal would create 2,000 jobs. It is interesting to walk the ghost-town mall. Opening in 1988 with Bigg's hypermarket and some inline tenants, it really took off with the 1989 completion of its fashion wing that added B. Altman, Biggs, Bonwit Teller, Elder-Beerman, and Parisian, along with 200 stores. [60] In addition, the property owners had fallen delinquent on property taxes. The mall was dead from the start. In February 2022, Hillwood Construction Services began negotiations to purchase the site with the goal of tearing down the 1.9-million-square-foot shopping center and redeveloping the site with 1.5 million square feet of light industrial buildings at the cost of $150 million. Thats my unprofessional real opinion, I was there. Boyer, Mike. "With these grants, we're giving communities the resources they need to help clean up and revitalize sites to remove eyesores and attract new business," Lt. Gov. "I think the state understands the deadline pressure and I'm fairly certain they're going to be flexible," Rokakis said. 12 Nov. 2008. "With these grants, we're giving communities the resources they need to help clean up and revitalize sites to remove eyesores and attract new business," Lt. Gov. She had been stabbed multiple times . According to the funding application, the property is currently valued at $9.2 million, with $2 million of that on the Butler County side. 3 6 Cincinnati Mills had declined to 115 tenants by mid-summer and the shopping center had become one of the weakest performers in the Mill Corporations portfolio, with sales per square feet less than half the average for similarly sized facilities. So thanks Forest Fair-we loved you. The total mall demolition is estimated at $10.5 million and there is a $2.6 million local match the developer would pay. https://discord.gg/g4tKbpuIn the 30th episode of the Expedition Log Series, we visit the mostly abandoned Forest Fair Mall for the 10,000 subscriber special!#TheDeadMallsOfDiscord #ExLog #Sal Where else in the world would you be legally allowed to enter premises that are closed for business. [65] The proposed relocation of Bass Pro Shops, combined with the continued delinquent taxes, created delays in any further attempts at redevelopment. Forest Fair Mall was previously known as the mall, and it has gone through several names over its long history. Timeout On The Court was the s*** when I was a kid. For more information, please see our Cincinnati Mall, formerly known as Forest Fair Mall and Cincinnati Mills, is an ailing shopping center in Fairfield, Ohio. The sad thing is the retail landscape in this country has changed. [13] Many of the tenants were unique at the time: Wallaby Bob's was "the first brewery-restaurant in the nation that operates in a suburban shopping mall",[14] while another tenant, Koala Klubhouse, was the first licensed day care to be located in an American shopping mall. Hooker was saddled with debt as construction costs that were estimated at $200 million came in at more than $250 million. In the meantime, Jones says the city is working with the businesses to relocate them to temporary spaces. Butler County officials said the DoD wouldn't tell them if the deadline could be extended. Forest Fair Mall was constructed by L.J. Although there are a number of properties on the mall property in Hamilton County, officials had already submitted demolition applications to the state. By this time, Guitar Center had also closed, and a studio was proposed for its space, while a hotel was slated for the former Elder-Beerman/Steve & Barry's space. The land bank applied for $11.5 million to topple 51 eyesores with the the Ohio Department of Development in February and was awarded $8.7 million late last month. I was around when the Forest Fair Mall came into fruition, which was the only way (at the time) that the mall area could have been saved. Although most of the mall is vacant today, the plans are to restore it to its former glory. Land bank officials said a project of his magnitude there are zoning and other issues to contend with could take 12 to 18 months. Probably a good spot for laser tag or paintballing in the future. 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