Franklin Park Mall is a super-regional shopping mall in Toledo, Ohio. It is anchored by Dillard's, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods, Forever 21 (closing 2025), and DSW. A vacant anchor store formerly occupied by Macy's, which closed in early 2025.

History

Developed by The Rouse Company, the mall opened on July 22, 1971, occupying the former site of the Franklin Airport.[2] The mall was built using the Syncon modular building subsystems for an estimated savings of $500,000.[3] When the mall opened, its original anchor stores were Hudson's, J. C. Penney, and local department store Lamson Brothers.[4] The mall comprised about 75 stores in 940,000 square feet (87,000 m2) of floor space, with the 294,000 square feet (27,300 m2) J. C. Penney anchor being one of the largest in the chain at the time.[2] Mall concourses featured sunken courts before the entrance to each department store, skylights, and a mobile constructed by Alexander Calder in front of the Hudson's entrance.[2]

In 1974, Lamson Brothers went bankrupt and the store was replaced by Jacobson's of Jackson, Michigan. This store was the fourteenth in the Jacobson's chain.[5]

In 1993, Rouse significantly remodeled the mall and added a new wing anchored by the Lion Store. In 1998 the Lion Store was renamed Dillard's, while in 2001, Hudson's was renamed Marshall Field's. The Westfield Group acquired the shopping center in early 2002, and renamed it "Westfield Shoppingtown Franklin Park", dropping the "Shoppingtown" name in June 2005. Jacobson's went bankrupt and closed its location in early 2002, days before Westfield announced the takeover.[6]

The former Lamson Brothers/Jacobson's was demolished in 2004 and in its place a new wing, the centerpiece of a massive $100 million renovation, opened in 2005. It was at this time that a new National Amusements multiplex theater and Dick's Sporting Goods were built, as well as a new Food Court and Borders books.[7] Marshall Field's became Macy's in 2006.[8]

In 2008 Westfield held a press conference at Franklin Park to announce were shoe retailer DSW Warehouse, clothing store Old Navy, and an Ulta cosmetic salon. The stores opened as part of the 49,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) addition.

After Borders ceased operations in 2011, its space became Forever 21, which relocated from a smaller store within the mall.[9] In March 2021, Forever 21 announced it would file for bankruptcy protection and close all its location by May 1.[10]

In fall 2013, the mall was sold to Starwood Capital Group with 6 other Westfield properties. As a result, it reverted to Franklin Park Mall.[11]

In December 2020, the mall was sold to Pacific Capital Retail Partners along with 6 other Starwood properties.[12]

In January 2025, Macy's announced that its store at Franklin Park Mall would close in the first quarter of 2025. It closed in March 2025.[13] The location where the Macy's is has been listed on a real estate website, and it is unclear what will happen with the location going forward.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Franklin Park Mall". Starwood Retail Partners. Retrieved 2020-07-04.[dead link‍]
  2. ^ a b c "Bands, ribbon-cuttings open mall". The Blade. Toledo. July 22, 1971. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  3. ^ Kinchen, David (February 5, 1972). "Syncon Develops System to Cut Building Costs". Milwaukee Sentinel. No. Part 2, Page 11.
  4. ^ Brickey, Homer (March 7, 1971). "Shopping opportunities to grow by millions of square feet". The Blade. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Newcomer in town". The Blade. October 23, 1974. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Jacobson's files for bankruptcy, 5 stores to close". The Michigan Daily. Ann Arbor. Associated Press. January 16, 2002. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  7. ^ "Jacobson's Demolished". The Blade. March 13, 2004. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  8. ^ Norris, Michelle (September 21, 2005). "Historic Marshall Field's Stores Get New Name". All Things Considered. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  9. ^ "Toledo real estate sees increased activity in retail market". WTOL News. December 12, 2011. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04 – via WIS News.
  10. ^ Limehouse, Jonathan. "All Forever 21 stores to be closed by May 1 following closing sales, operator says". USA Today. New York City. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  11. ^ "Westfield Franklin Park mall being sold Private equity firm Starwood Capital Group purchases Toledo shopping-scape as part of a $1.64 billion, seven-mall package". The Blade. September 16, 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  12. ^ Chavez, Jon (July 3, 2021). "At age 50, Franklin Park Mall tries to swim against the retail current". The Blade. Toledo. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  13. ^ Tyko, Kelly (January 9, 2025). "More Macy's stores to close in 2025. See the list of closing locations". Axios. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  14. ^ "Macy's closing dozens of department stores, including Toledo location". WTVG News. January 9, 2025. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Park_Mall
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