The Birth of Richmond Mall
In 1966, Richmond Town Square (known locally as ‘Richmond Mall’ or ‘Richmond’) opened its doors to shoppers, boasting major anchors like Sears, JCPenney, Loew’s Theater, and Woolworths.
Famous mall developer Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr., developed the mall. It was located in Richmond Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, at Richmond Road and Wilson Mills Road.
Changes and Additions
Over the years, Richmond Town Square underwent several changes and additions. In 1998, Kaufmann’s was added to the mall as an anchor, located initially at the Euclid Square Mall in Euclid, Ohio.
The anchor changes included the expansion of the Loews Theater from a 10-screen theater to a 20-screen theater and adding a junior anchor, Barnes & Noble.
Also, in 1998, DeBartolo Realty Corp. merged with Simon Property Group, and in the same year, Simon remodeled the mall, expanded it, and renamed it.
Closures and Renovations
The mall experienced several closures, including Woolworths in 1997, Barnes & Noble in 2010, and Macy’s in 2015.
The mall underwent a $100 million renovation in 1998, taking advantage of new and emerging technologies “in materials, as well as architectural and decorative innovations.”
In 2006, Kaufmann’s was rebranded to Macy’s as a part of the Federated–May merger, and the Loews Theater was rebranded to Regal Cinemas.
Vacancies and Revitalization Plans
The mall saw a decline in business in recent years, with Sears closing in 2017, followed by JCPenney in 2017.
The mall was sold to the Kohan Retail Investment Group for $7.25 million in 2016. In 2018, DealPoint Merrill announced they would spend $69 million to bring apartments, a hotel, and a park to the mall’s north end, where the vacant Sears building and parking lot were located.
In 2021, an event was held in the parking lot of the former Sears, showing locals the plans of Belle Oaks, and the mall was planned to be demolished in the fall of 2021.
The End of an Era
On May 6, 2021, Richmond Town Square finally closed its doors for good, and as of mid-2022, the mall had not yet been demolished.
While the only remaining anchors at the mall are a 20-screen Regal Cinemas theater, LifeStorage, and Planet Fitness, there are plans for revitalization and redevelopment of the area, bringing hope for a new era in the history of this once-vibrant shopping destination.
Reflecting on the Legacy of Richmond Town Square: A Tribute to a Beloved Shopping Destination
The story of Richmond Town Square Mall is a bittersweet one. For over five decades, it was the go-to shopping destination for Cleveland area residents, offering a variety of stores, restaurants, and entertainment options.
It was a cultural hub and a beloved community space. The mall’s impact on the area cannot be overstated, and its closure marks the end of an era.
Despite its decline in recent years and eventual closure, Richmond Town Square was a cool and unique mall that will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who frequented it.
From its original anchors like Sears and JCPenney to the addition of Barnes & Noble and Planet Fitness, the mall evolved with the times. And it remained a relevant and essential part of the community.
It is sad to see the mall go, especially given its impact on the area and the memories it created for so many. However, it is also an opportunity for the community to reflect on its history and imagine new possibilities for the space.
With plans for revitalization already in the works, we can only hope that whatever comes next will be just as memorable and meaningful to the people of the Cleveland area. The legacy of Richmond Town Square will live on, even as the mall becomes a memory.
It was a nice, convenient mall, but I am not surprised that it failed. It seems that the mall developers have this “mall mentality” to hat hasn’t changed for the 51 years I have been alive. Their idea of the mall shopping experience is stores like Spencer’s and little nick nack stores. Why not arrange things to draw people in for what. they clearly Need when they go shopping? Grocery stores and Dollar Tree, etc. People like malls because it is easy to go from one place to the next, and it is warm. I think they would have survived, if they were smarter and marketed for convenience and necessity. How many shoe stores do you really need?
Absolutely! Mall developers are still stuck in the same old mentality instead of focusing on people’s needs. While malls are convenient because they’re all in one place and provide shelter from the weather, they must adapt to changing consumer needs to stay relevant and successful. Hopefully, mall developers will start to recognize this and make changes to better serve their communities instead of just closing malls.
first of all it was originally called just the Richmond Mall and did so poorly but cause people stopped going out to shop and shopped on the computer and that will not change and also malls are dangerous especially around the inner ring
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about Richmond Town Square in Ohio. I hope the management continues to work towards making malls a safe and enjoyable places to shop.