Adrian Mall

Adrian Mall was an enclosed shopping center serving Adrian and the surrounding Lenawee County area of Michigan. It opened on September 3, 1970, beginning with Sears and F. W. Woolworth Company as its principal anchor stores. JCPenney joined the center as a third anchor in April 1971, helping establish the mall as a regional retail destination for the community. The property received a substantial renovation in 1985. The $1.5 million project added an Elder-Beerman department store as a third major department-store presence, although JCPenney had already become an anchor several years earlier. For much of the late twentieth century, the mall remained relatively stable and operated in the conventional format of an enclosed American shopping center, with department stores surrounding an interior collection of specialty retailers. Management changed several times in the 2000s. General Growth Properties began managing the property in 2002, followed by CBL & Associates Properties in 2008 and Jones Lang LaSalle in 2010. These changes occurred as traditional enclosed malls faced increasing pressure from e-commerce, discount retail, changing consumer habits, and the weakening of department-store operators. Adrian Mall began losing established tenants, including Waldenbooks and one of the last Sam Goody locations, in 2009. The decline of the mall's anchor base accelerated during the following decade. Sears closed its Adrian Mall store in 2012. Plans announced in 2013 proposed converting part of the former Sears space for Hobby Lobby and adding Buffalo Wild Wings, while also expanding MC Sports. JCPenney announced the closure of its mall store in January 2015. Dunham's Sports subsequently occupied the former JCPenney wing, including space associated with the MC Sports location after MC Sports closed in late 2015. Dunham's held its grand opening at the mall on May 20, 2016. Elder-Beerman closed in April 2018 after its parent company, Bon-Ton Stores, filed for bankruptcy. Ownership also changed during this period. The Texas-based Tabani Group purchased Adrian Mall in December 2014 for an undisclosed amount. In 2019, Kohan Retail Investment Group acquired the property. Under Kohan's ownership, locally owned businesses reportedly began opening in the mall, but the property continued to experience major physical and operational problems. The most serious crisis came in 2020, when roof failures, water damage, and other building conditions brought the mall close to condemnation. A roof-replacement permit initially allowed it to remain open, but little work was completed before the situation worsened. The mall was condemned on June 16, 2020, and was given until July 31 to address the problems. Hobby Lobby and Dunham's Sports were permitted to continue operating because they occupied portions of the property treated separately from the condemned mall area. The former Sears building was also redeveloped independently. Corta Development announced in July 2020 that the portion not occupied by Hobby Lobby would be remodeled and expanded for Ollie's Bargain Outlet. Ollie's opened on March 24, 2021. By October 3, 2023, Adrian Mall itself was reported to have permanently closed and fallen into disrepair. The surviving businesses in separately occupied portions of the site do not change the status of the enclosed shopping center as a discontinued mall operation.

Adrian Mall opened on September 3, 1970, in Adrian, Michigan. Its original anchor lineup consisted of Sears and F. W. Woolworth Company. JCPenney joined as an additional anchor in April 1971, giving the center a conventional department-store structure intended to serve Adrian and nearby communities. In 1985, the mall underwent a $1.5 million renovation that added an Elder-Beerman department store. The project strengthened the center's anchor offering and represented the property's principal documented expansion during its early history. The mall then remained largely unchanged for many years while continuing to operate as an enclosed shopping center. Management shifted during the 2000s. General Growth Properties managed the property from 2002, CBL & Associates Properties took over management in 2008, and Jones Lang LaSalle was managing it again in 2010. These changes coincided with a difficult period for enclosed malls and department-store operators. In 2009, Adrian Mall lost Waldenbooks and one of the final Sam Goody locations at a time when specialty book and music retail were contracting. The anchor stores began disappearing during the next decade. Sears closed in 2012. In 2013, the property announced redevelopment concepts involving part of the former Sears store, including a Hobby Lobby conversion, a proposed Buffalo Wild Wings, and an expansion of MC Sports. JCPenney announced its closure in January 2015. Dunham's Sports later took over the former JCPenney wing; its grand opening occurred on May 20, 2016. MC Sports, which had been associated with the redevelopment plans, closed in late 2015. Elder-Beerman closed in April 2018 after Bon-Ton Stores entered bankruptcy proceedings. Ownership changed twice during the later decline. Tabani Group bought Adrian Mall in December 2014 for an undisclosed price and expressed an intention to make it a leading local shopping destination through partnerships with area businesses and organizations. Kohan Retail Investment Group acquired the property in 2019. New locally owned businesses reportedly opened under the new ownership, but the mall's physical condition became an increasingly serious issue. In March 2020, the mall faced possible condemnation because of roof problems, water intrusion, and other deficiencies. A permit for roof replacement temporarily allowed the property to remain open, subject to completing a full replacement by April 11. The work did not progress sufficiently, and the property was condemned on June 16. Officials allowed time until July 31 for the problems to be corrected. Hobby Lobby and Dunham's Sports were not affected by the condemnation in the same way and were allowed to continue operating. The former Sears building followed a separate redevelopment path. On July 5, 2020, Corta Development announced that the unused portion of the building would be remodeled and expanded for Ollie's Bargain Outlet. Ollie's opened on March 24, 2021, while Hobby Lobby occupied another portion. These uses represented a shift away from the original enclosed-mall model toward large-format discount and specialty retail. As of October 3, 2023, Adrian Mall itself was reported to have permanently closed and fallen into disrepair. The continued or subsequent operation of individual tenants in separately occupied portions of the property does not indicate that the enclosed shopping center remained active as a unified mall.

• 2023

  Enclosed mall permanently closes

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  By October 3, Adrian Mall was reported to have permanently closed and fallen into disrepair.

• 2021

  Ollie's Bargain Outlet opens

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Ollie's opened on March 24 in a redeveloped portion of the former Sears building.

• 2020

  Mall is condemned

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The enclosed mall was condemned on June 16 because of roof, water-damage, and related building problems.

• 2019

  Kohan Retail Investment Group acquires Adrian Mall

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Kohan Retail Investment Group became the property's owner.

• 2018

  Elder-Beerman closes

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Elder-Beerman closed in April following Bon-Ton Stores' bankruptcy filing.

• 2016

  Dunham's Sports opens

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Dunham's Sports held its grand opening in the former JCPenney wing on May 20.

• 2015

  JCPenney announces closure

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney announced that it would close its Adrian Mall store.

• 2014

  Tabani Group acquires the property

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Tabani Group purchased the mall in December for an undisclosed amount.

• 2012

  Sears closes

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The original Sears anchor closed its Adrian Mall location.

• 2010

  Jones Lang LaSalle resumes management

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Jones Lang LaSalle was again identified as the mall's manager.

• 2008

  CBL & Associates Properties begins management

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  CBL & Associates Properties became the mall's manager.

• 2002

  General Growth Properties begins management

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  General Growth Properties took over management of the mall.

• 1985

  Major renovation adds Elder-Beerman

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A $1.5 million renovation added an Elder-Beerman department store.

• 1971

  JCPenney joins the anchor lineup

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney opened at the mall in April, becoming an additional department-store anchor.

• 1970

  Adrian Mall opens

  [1]Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The enclosed shopping center opened on September 3 with Sears and F. W. Woolworth Company as its anchor stores.

A community and regional enclosed shopping center serving Adrian, Michigan, that later transitioned toward discount, sporting-goods, craft, and locally owned retail uses as its traditional department-store anchors departed.

• Shopping center · 1970

  Enclosed mall retail space

  Adrian Mall's principal offering was a climate-controlled enclosed shopping environment combining department stores, specialty retailers, food-service operators, and community-oriented commercial space. The format was anchored first by Sears and Woolworth, then by JCPenney and Elder-Beerman. As those anchors closed, the property increasingly accommodated standalone or large-format replacement tenants rather than a stable traditional mall mix.

• Large-format retail space · 2021

  Former Sears building redevelopment

  The former Sears building was divided and repurposed after Sears departed. Hobby Lobby occupied part of the structure, while the remaining portion was remodeled and expanded for Ollie's Bargain Outlet. Ollie's opened in 2021, illustrating the property's transition from department-store anchoring to discount and specialty big-box occupancy.

• Sporting goods retail · 2016

  Dunham's Sports location

  Dunham's Sports took over the former JCPenney wing after JCPenney announced its closure. Its grand opening on May 20, 2016, gave the property a large sporting-goods tenant and preserved retail use in a previously important anchor section.

• 2020

  Roof-replacement response to condemnation riskStrategy

  Background

  Serious roof failures, water damage, and other building issues threatened the mall's continued operation.

  Action taken

  The property pulled a roof-replacement permit, but the work did not progress sufficiently and the mall was condemned on June 16.

  Aftermath

  Hobby Lobby and Dunham's Sports were allowed to remain open, while the enclosed mall faced a deadline to correct the conditions and ultimately closed permanently.

  Source

• 2020

  Redevelopment of former Sears building for Ollie'sStrategy

  Background

  The former Sears structure contained both occupied and unused space after Sears's departure.

  Action taken

  Corta Development announced plans on July 5 to remodel and expand the unused portion for Ollie's Bargain Outlet.

  Aftermath

  Ollie's opened on March 24, 2021, creating a separate large-format retail use even as the enclosed mall deteriorated.

  Source

• 2016

  Dunham's Sports opens in former JCPenney wingProduct launch

  Background

  JCPenney announced its departure in 2015, creating another large vacant anchor area.

  Action taken

  Dunham's Sports occupied the former JCPenney wing and held a grand opening on May 20.

  Aftermath

  The replacement maintained a major retail presence in the wing after JCPenney's departure.

  Source

• 2013

  Proposed conversion of former Sears spaceStrategy

  Background

  Sears had closed in 2012, leaving a major vacant anchor space.

  Action taken

  Plans proposed a Hobby Lobby conversion, a Buffalo Wild Wings addition, and an expansion of MC Sports.

  Aftermath

  Hobby Lobby ultimately occupied part of the former Sears building; the broader set of announced plans was not fully realized as described.

  Source

• 1985

  Renovation and addition of Elder-BeermanStrategy

  Background

  The mall sought to strengthen its department-store offer and refresh the property through a major renovation.

  Action taken

  A reported $1.5 million renovation added an Elder-Beerman department store.

  Aftermath

  Elder-Beerman became part of the mall's anchor lineup until closing in 2018.

  Renovation cost. $1.5 million (1985)

  Source

1. 1Adrian Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Adrian Mall official websiteshopadrianmall.com