The mall was dead from the start. "There are sites all over Ohio that are perfect for redevelopment, but the cost to demolish the crumbling structures on these properties is standing in the way of new economic opportunities," DeWine said in a statement. Former Forest Fair Mall, other buildings will be demolished if funds come through., Demeropolis, Tom. The malls owner was told to bring the property into compliance with Ohio Fire Code, Jones explained. Cincinnati Mills now Cincinnati Mall. Business Courier of Cincinnati 4 March 2009. [48] By January 2005, the mall had a 90 percent occupancy. Cincy Mills among firms worst performers. Cincinnati Enquirer 7 Dec. 2006. They also began negotiations with Kohl's and Bass Pro Shops for redevelopment plans. Just visited during peak holiday shopping season to go to the arcade with my sons. 11 Complications with leasing delayed the opening of the west fashion wing with upscale tenants until March 1989. The final interior tenant finally left in September, there is still a kohls, bass pro shop and a gym but they all have exterior entrances. Forest Fair Mall closed following fire and safety inspection, Sam Hubbard micd up during 98-yard TD: Cant catch me!, Bengals rookie goes extra mile for kids at Northern Kentucky primary school, Lakota superintendent to step down from position after months of controversy, George Billy Wagner III returns to Pike County courtroom, Young Bengals superfan with Down Syndrome meets players. It is situated on the border between Forest Park and Fairfield, at the junction of Interstate 275 and Winton Road (Exit 39). The Butler County Land Bank has applied for $9.5 million in state funding to raze a host of local eyesores, but the bulk of the money if awarded would go to topple the former Forest Fair Mall. 13 The Festival at Forest Fair, a themed restaurant and bar district, opened in the former Bonwit Teller at the cost of $8 million in August 1993. Forest Fair: Mall on the Mend. Cincinnati Enquirer 29 Oct. 2000. Other tenants included an Australian restaurant called Wallaby Bob's, a 1950s-styled cafe, Oshman's Sporting Goods,[12] and an eight-screen movie theater called Super Saver. The Journal-News reached out to the DoD and they did not address the deadline issue. It also received a number of proposals for renovation, none of which were realized. The mall is Ohios second largest, with a total area of 1,500,000 square feet and 250 stores. 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. "There are sites all over Ohio that are perfect for redevelopment, but the cost to demolish the crumbling structures on these properties is standing in the way of new economic opportunities," DeWine said in a statement. Boyer, Mike. The gangs were not walking around the other malls like they were at Forest Parks, Forest Fair Mall. I shopped at Parisian once I graduated from college but the selection was small and it was still expensive. The demolition projects will be funded through the governor's Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program. Nov. 16It appeared the $8 million Butler County Land Bank project to demolish the old Forest Fair mall might be in jeopardy because the deadline to spend the money is May 2023, but now state officials say they will work with the county. Forest Fair Village's businesses have been forced to halt operations after multiple public safety concerns were discovered in the mall during an inspection, according to Forest Park city. 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. In the fall of 1988 Cincinnati, Ohio would be the arena for an all out shopping mall rumble. "The goal of the program is to help communities tear down dilapidated buildings and revitalize the area for future economic development.". Timeout On The Court was the s*** when I was a kid. DeWine announced 825. 2341021 The project was aided by $19 million in tax increment financing for two parking garages. If that wasnt enough there were amusements rides for the kiddies, bumper cars for the adults and a carousel for all ages to enjoy. 6 March 2009. In addition, the president of Bigg's reported that their store in the mall had constantly struggled in sales due to it being located at the back of the property. By the end of the year, the occupancy rate had climbed to 75%, and the malls prospects seemed brighter. Not that its pretty much gone, Cincinnati may have to do what was done with the old Markets International mall (remember that? 5 Jan. 2009. Formerly known as Forest Fair Mall, Cincinnati Mall, Cincinnati Mills. [55] North Star Realty acquired the mall from Simon in January 2009. Thats my unprofessional real opinion, I was there. 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. Is Kohls really still there? Between the constant juggle of different owners, bankruptcies, and rebranding efforts, the mall never reached full occupancy and it has been on life support for many years. Support the Expedition Log on Patreon, if you like! Forest Fair Mall was one of the first malls to close its doors when the pandemic hit, and now many are wondering if it will be open again. 18 The idea never came to fruition. 12 Nov. 2008. At this point, only 65 percent of the inline mall space was occupied,[11] and the mall was described as "struggling" due to the large number of vacancies, primarily in the B. Altman wing. Boyer, Mike. A month prior to this, Higbee's withdrew from the project after being purchased by a joint venture of Dillard's and Edward J. DeBartolo Sr.[8] As a result, B. Altman was relocated from its originally planned store to the space vacated by Higbee's, thus leaving a vacant anchor store and causing delays in opening the rest of the mall. The mall is anchored by a Kohl's and one or two other large shops . In fact most would very fondly remember their local Time-Out arcade. [62] Bass Pro Shops announced plans to relocate to West Chester Township in 2013. this would be a fun place! [42], Mills Corporation bought the mall from Gator Investments in September 2002 and announced that the mall would undergo further redevelopment, along with a name change to Cincinnati Mills. Wonderpark Family Fun Center, an indoor childrens amusement park, opened in September 2001. 23 The new store would feature 150,000 square feet of retail with an Uncle Bucks Fishbowl and Grill and a bowling alley. A former paper mill site in Middletown was to be demolished and recontaminated with the help of a $2.8 million grant from the state. New stores announced for Cincinnati Mills. Cincinnati Mills 9 July 2004. Boyer, Mike. [19] As part of LJ Hooker's bankruptcy filing, the company offered all four of the department stores it had acquired for sale. Hooker in 1986, with the east wing of the mall opening in July 1988 with Bigg's hypermarket and value-oriented inline tenants. It was projected that in a total build-out scenario, the mall could support up to 15 anchors and 200 inline retailers. The former Forest Fair mall is set to be demolished, along with 825 other structures across the state, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Friday. This is a diverse community, with a wide range of shops and restaurants. Geisler said he plans to email the DoD again next week if he hasn't heard from them. 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. Skyblacker 1 mo. "They cannot move that fast.". Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Cookie Notice 2 March 2010. [15] Another major tenant present at opening day was a 100,000-square-foot (9,300m2) entertainment complex called Time Out, featuring a carousel and miniature golf course. Initially, the site at the northeast corner of the Interstate 275 beltway's interchange with Winton Road was to consist solely of Bigg's, a local hypermarket chain. [57] Under North Star's ownership, Steve & Barry's vacated due to the chain going out of business,[56] while Off 5th, Guess, Lane Bryant, and Dress Barn relocated to a newly built outlet mall in Monroe. According to the release, the site will be redeveloped by the cities of Fairfield and Forest Park. [22] Liquidation sales began in August 1990 at Forest Fair's locations of all three department stores. The neighborhoods in Forest Park average home value is low. The site has been mostly abandoned with just a few stores connected to it remaining. [60] In addition, the property owners had fallen delinquent on property taxes. The mall sits in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. He told the Journal-News they could also use money for enhancements like sidewalks after the buildings are razed. It was projected that the proposal would create 2,000 jobs. Mike DeWine's office Tuesday about the May 2023 deadline that appeared to jeopardize the $8 million project to raze the old Forest Fair mall but didn't receive a response. There is also a movie theater and a bowling alley. Malls new look holds surprises. Cincinnati Enquirer 8 July 2004. Butler County officials said the DoD wouldn't tell them if the deadline could be extended. There was a massive renovation to transform a strip mall to a 100,000 square foot enclosed shopping mall. "DeWine stated the city of Fairfield will demolish the former Forest Fair mall site on Cincinnati Mills Drive.The site has been mostly abandoned with just a few stores connected to it remaining. People would go in to gawk at the prices but you couldnt buy anything there. The Cincinnati Holding Company, a subsidiary of World Properties Inc. of New York, paid $4.7 million on March 4, 2009, for Cincinnati Mills. The mall was closed in 2009, and was demolished in 2014. The initial plans were to construct just a standalone Bigg's, a former . 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. Combined, the new Forest Fair Mall featured 1-million square feet with B. Altman, Biggs, Bonwit . 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