Columbus City Center
Columbus City Center was a major downtown shopping mall in Columbus, Ohio, that operated from 1989 until 2009 before being demolished and replaced by Columbus Commons.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Columbus City Center, commonly known locally as City Center, was a large three-level shopping mall in downtown Columbus, Ohio. It formed the retail centerpiece of the Capitol South development and occupied approximately 1.25 million square feet. The complex stood near the Ohio Statehouse and Ohio Theatre and was connected to the Hyatt on Capitol Square hotel. An adjacent parking garage, constructed to serve the mall, survived the mall's demolition and remains part of the surrounding downtown infrastructure. The mall opened on August 18, 1989, as an urban redevelopment project intended to restore significant shopping activity to central Columbus. The city helped develop the Capitol South area, while Taubman Centers leased and managed the property during its early period. Lazarus, a long-established Columbus department-store institution, served as one of the principal anchors through a pedestrian bridge from its existing downtown store. The original anchor lineup also included Marshall Field's and Jacobson's. The center's leasing prospects were strengthened by the commitment of Limited Brands, the locally based specialty-retailing group whose brands occupied space in the mall. At its peak in 1992, City Center had approximately 144 tenants and was regarded as Central Ohio's largest and most upscale shopping destination. Its competitive position weakened during the late 1990s and early 2000s as new suburban shopping centers opened across the northern and northeastern parts of the Columbus region. The Mall at Tuttle Crossing opened in 1997, Easton Town Center opened in 1999, and Polaris Fashion Place opened in 2001. These projects offered affluent suburban customers easier automobile access, extensive parking, and newer retail environments. Together they drew shoppers and tenants away from downtown, while also contributing to the decline of other established Columbus malls. City Center's weakening retail performance was compounded by the loss of its anchor stores. Jacobson's entered bankruptcy and closed its stores in 2002. Marshall Field's became Kaufmann's in 2003 and was later converted to Macy's after the Federated-May merger. Lazarus closed its downtown location in 2004 after more than a century and a half of presence in Columbus. Macy's eventually closed the remaining department-store anchor in November 2007. By 2009, only eight small stores remained, occupying roughly 5,000 square feet compared with the mall's original retail footprint. Ownership and management changes did not reverse the decline. The Mills Corporation acquired an interest in the property through a partnership involving General Motors' pension trust, but Mills later disclosed financial difficulties, including accounting irregularities and earnings restatements. Simon Property Group subsequently won control of Mills' assets in 2007. The City of Columbus then sued to remove Simon from management, alleging neglect, unpaid taxes, and an unpaid land-rent obligation. Before the planned eviction, the city negotiated an agreement to acquire the property and assume control. Mayor Michael Coleman announced on February 3, 2009, that the mall would close on March 5 and be demolished. Mark Pi's Express, an original tenant, was the last retail business operating in the complex and closed on February 27. Pedestrian access ended on March 5, demolition began around October 1, and the mall was removed by March 2010. The site was redeveloped as Columbus Commons, a nine-acre public park with gardens, a performance stage, a carousel, a reading room, and a café. The former mall therefore became a case of failed downtown retail repositioned as civic open space, while the parking structure and nearby redevelopment projects continued to support the district.
History
Columbus City Center was created as part of the Capitol South redevelopment effort in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The project sought to reinforce the central business district with a substantial retail destination near the Ohio Statehouse and existing cultural and hospitality facilities. The mall opened on August 18, 1989, with three levels and approximately 1.25 million square feet of retail space. Its urban design included a connection to the Hyatt on Capitol Square and an enclosed bridge linking the mall to Lazarus's established downtown department store. The original anchor tenants were Lazarus, Marshall Field's, and Jacobson's. Lazarus was especially important because its downtown store had operated since the nineteenth century and functioned as a flagship for the local market. Limited Brands also supported the initial leasing strategy by placing its specialty brands in the project. Taubman Centers leased and managed the mall during its early years. City Center quickly became Central Ohio's leading upscale shopping destination and reached its reported high point in 1992, when approximately 144 tenants occupied the center. The mall's long-term decline reflected a structural shift in Columbus retailing. Starting with Tuttle Crossing in 1997 and continuing with Easton Town Center in 1999 and Polaris Fashion Place in 2001, large suburban projects offered newer facilities, abundant parking, and convenient access from major roads. The three centers collectively covered much of the affluent suburban customer base that had previously supported downtown City Center. Their success also accelerated the decline of Northland Mall, which closed in 2002. Anchor-store losses made the competitive problem more severe. Jacobson's bankruptcy led to the closure of its stores in 2002. Marshall Field's became Kaufmann's in 2003 and later Macy's after the 2005 Federated-May combination. Lazarus closed in 2004, ending its historic downtown tenancy. Macy's, by then the mall's last major anchor, closed in November 2007 because of declining sales. The tenant count fell dramatically: from about 144 stores at the 1992 peak to only eight small businesses occupying approximately 5,000 square feet in 2009. Control of the property also changed during the decline. The Mills Corporation acquired a substantial interest through a 50/50 partnership involving General Motors's pension trust. Mills was viewed as a possible source of mall-renewal expertise, but its financial problems, including accounting irregularities and earnings restatements, disrupted redevelopment plans. In 2007, Simon Property Group won control of Mills's assets, including the Columbus property. The City of Columbus then filed a lawsuit seeking to remove Simon from management, alleging deterioration, unpaid taxes, and an unpaid land-rent obligation. Rather than proceed with the planned eviction, the city negotiated to purchase the property and take control. On February 3, 2009, Mayor Michael Coleman announced that City Center would close on March 5 and be demolished. Mark Pi's Express, an original tenant, was the final operating retail business and closed shortly before the mall. The complex was closed to pedestrians on March 5; demolition began around October 1 and was completed in March 2010. The adjacent parking garage was retained. The former mall site became Columbus Commons, a nine-acre public park developed by Capitol South and the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation. The replacement included gardens, a performance stage, a carousel, a reading room, and a café. Nearby projects later added office and residential uses to structures connected to the surviving parking facility. City Center's history consequently spans downtown retail ambition, suburban competitive displacement, anchor-store erosion, ownership conflict, and conversion of a failed shopping mall into civic open space.
- 2010
Demolition completed and park redevelopment proceeds
[1]The mall was demolished and its site was redeveloped as Columbus Commons.
- 2009
Mall closes
[1]The mall closed to pedestrian traffic on March 5, with demolition beginning later that year.
- 2007
City assumes control after management dispute
[1]Following the city's lawsuit against Simon Property Group, Columbus negotiated an agreement to acquire and control the property.
- 2004
Lazarus closes
[1]Lazarus ended its downtown tenancy after more than 150 years of Columbus retail history.
- 2002
Jacobson's exits
[1]Jacobson's bankruptcy led to the closure of its stores, removing an original anchor.
- 2001
Polaris Fashion Place opens
[1]Polaris added a third major northern-suburban competitor and further weakened City Center's regional draw.
- 1999
Easton Town Center opens
[1]Easton Town Center's mixed-use format drew substantial retail traffic toward the northeast side of the region.
- 1997
Tuttle Crossing opens
[1]The opening of Tuttle Crossing introduced a major newer suburban alternative to downtown shopping.
- 1992
Peak reported tenant count
[1]The mall reached approximately 144 tenants and represented Columbus's leading upscale shopping destination.
- 1989
Mall opens as part of Capitol South
[1]Columbus City Center opened on August 18 with Lazarus, Marshall Field's, and Jacobson's as original department-store anchors.
Products and positioning
A premium, centrally located urban shopping destination and anchor of Columbus's Capitol South redevelopment, later repositioned through public redevelopment after losing its retail role to newer suburban centers.
Department store · 1989
Lazarus
Lazarus was a historic Columbus department-store institution and one of City Center's original anchors. Its downtown store was connected to the mall by an enclosed bridge and functioned as the center's principal local flagship presence. The store closed in 2004, removing a major source of established customer traffic.
Department store · 1989
Marshall Field's
Marshall Field's operated as one of the mall's original anchor stores. In 2003, the location was converted to the Kaufmann's nameplate and was later rebranded as Macy's following the Federated-May merger.
Department store · 1989
Jacobson's
Jacobson's was an original anchor tenant positioned toward the center's upscale department-store customer. The chain entered bankruptcy in 2002 and closed its stores, creating an early and significant vacancy in City Center's anchor lineup.
Department store · 2003
Kaufmann's and Macy's
The former Marshall Field's anchor became Kaufmann's in 2003 and subsequently Macy's after the 2005 Federated-May merger. Macy's was the last major department-store anchor at City Center, but declining sales led to its closure in November 2007.
Quick-service restaurant · 1989
Mark Pi's Express
Mark Pi's Express was an original mall tenant and the final retail business to operate in Columbus City Center. Its closure on February 27, 2009, preceded the mall's formal shutdown by less than a week.
Public park redevelopment · 2010
Columbus Commons
Columbus Commons replaced the demolished mall with a nine-acre downtown public park. Its amenities include gardens, a performance stage, a carousel, a reading room, and a café, representing the site's transition from private retail use to civic open space.
Controversies
2006
Mills Corporation accounting problems
The Mills Corporation, which had acquired an interest in City Center, disclosed financial difficulties involving accounting irregularities and historical earnings restatements. The problems disrupted redevelopment expectations for the property.
Brand decisions
2009
City chooses closure and demolitionStrategyBackground
By 2009, the mall had lost its major anchors and retained only a handful of small stores.
Action taken
The city announced closure on March 5 and proceeded with demolition later that year rather than continue operating the failing shopping center.
Aftermath
The site was converted into Columbus Commons, a public park, while the adjacent parking garage was retained.
2007
Simon Property Group takes control of Mills assetsM&ABackground
Mills Corporation's financial difficulties left its Columbus properties subject to a broader contest for control.
Action taken
Simon Property Group won the bidding process and assumed control of Mills assets that included Columbus City Center.
Aftermath
The change did not restore the mall's retail performance, and the City of Columbus soon pursued legal and negotiated means to regain control of the property.
Sources1 sources
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