Kenwood Towne Centre
A major enclosed shopping mall in the Kenwood area of Sycamore Township, northeast of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Kenwood Towne Centre is an enclosed regional shopping mall located at the intersection of Montgomery Road and Kenwood Road, adjacent to Interstate 71 in the Kenwood area of Sycamore Township, Hamilton County, Ohio. Although it is commonly associated with Cincinnati, the property is not within the incorporated municipal boundaries of the city. The center serves the greater Cincinnati retail market and has developed from a mid-century strip shopping center into one of the area's principal department-store-anchored malls. The property opened in 1956 as Kenwood Plaza, a linear, open-air shopping center on a roughly 34-acre site. Its original principal anchor was Cincinnati-based McAlpin's. H & S Pogue, another important regional department-store operator, was also present by 1959. The early center reflected the postwar expansion of suburban retail around Cincinnati, offering department-store shopping and smaller merchants outside the downtown core. A substantial redevelopment began in the late 1980s. Part of the original structure was demolished, while the western section and existing anchor buildings were incorporated into the first phase of a new enclosed mall. That phase opened in October 1987 under the Kenwood Towne Centre name and provided approximately 100,000 square feet of enclosed retail space. A second phase followed in late 1988, adding a roughly 450,000-square-foot, two-level concourse and a Lazarus department store at the northern end. The project transformed the property from a linear neighborhood-oriented center into a large regional mall. The anchor lineup changed repeatedly as department-store companies consolidated. Pogue's merged with L. S. Ayres in 1983, and the Cincinnati Ayres locations closed in 1988. The Kenwood location was sold to JCPenney, which closed its store in 1993; Parisian subsequently occupied the space until its closure in February 2007. McAlpin's was converted to Dillard's in 1998 after Mercantile Stores was acquired by Dillard's. Lazarus became Lazarus-Macy's in 2003 and adopted the Macy's name fully in 2005. The mall underwent another major enhancement in 2005. Macy's was expanded to more than 213,000 square feet, a multilevel parking garage was added behind the store, and the southern facade was enlarged with an exterior-oriented streetscape containing restaurants and retail shops. The renovation also introduced redesigned entrances intended to make the complex more approachable from surrounding roads and parking areas. Local design firm FRCH Design Worldwide was involved in the facade, concourse, and interior-related work. In 2007, the former Pogue's, Ayres, JCPenney, and Parisian space at the southwest end was demolished. It was replaced by a two-level Nordstrom department store of approximately 140,000 square feet, which opened on September 25, 2009. A new concourse extension connected the Nordstrom store to the existing mall and completed another major phase of the property's evolution. The center's anchor tenants have included Dillard's, Macy's, and Nordstrom. Its wider tenant mix has included apparel, specialty retail, restaurants, and other services typical of a large enclosed shopping center. In 2018, Macy's identified the Kenwood location as one of its national 'Growth 50' stores and undertook improvements including updated carpeting, paint, and other interior upgrades. The mall also faced the retail-sector pressures associated with department-store restructuring and specialty-retail bankruptcies. In 2019, Forever 21 announced a Chapter 11 restructuring and proposed closing several Cincinnati-area stores, including its Kenwood location, although the referenced material did not provide a final closing date. During the 2019 holiday season, the property introduced a temporary youth escort policy and curfew after a fight in one of its stores. The policy applied on specified dates and times and required visitors aged 18 or younger to be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older. Kenwood Towne Centre's history is therefore defined by continual physical redevelopment, anchor replacement, and adaptation to changing retail formats. Its current identity rests on its enclosed regional-mall configuration, prominent department-store anchors, highway accessibility, and role within the suburban Cincinnati shopping network.
History
Kenwood Towne Centre began as Kenwood Plaza, an open-air linear shopping center that opened in 1956 on a 34-acre tract in the Kenwood area northeast of Cincinnati. The center was located in Sycamore Township, Hamilton County, near the intersection of Montgomery and Kenwood Roads and close to Interstate 71. Cincinnati department store McAlpin's was the initial anchor, and H & S Pogue had joined the tenant mix by 1959. The original center represented the suburbanization of retail in the Cincinnati region. Its department-store format provided a destination for shoppers outside downtown Cincinnati, while the linear layout reflected the prevailing design of postwar shopping centers. Over time, the property required a more substantial enclosed-mall format to compete for regional shoppers and accommodate a broader national and local tenant base. Redevelopment in the late 1980s reshaped the property. The eastern half of the original structure was demolished, while the western portion and two existing anchor stores were incorporated into the first phase of a new enclosed complex. Renamed Kenwood Towne Centre, the first phase opened in October 1987 with approximately 100,000 square feet of enclosed space. The second phase was completed in late 1988 and added a two-level concourse of approximately 450,000 square feet, together with a Lazarus department store at the northern end. The department-store roster changed as regional chains merged or withdrew. Pogue's merged with L. S. Ayres in 1983, and Ayres closed its Cincinnati stores in 1988. The Kenwood space was then sold to JCPenney, which closed in 1993. Parisian acquired and operated the location afterward, but the store closed in February 2007 following the acquisition of Parisian by Belk. McAlpin's became Dillard's in 1998 after its parent company, Mercantile Stores, was acquired by Dillard's. Lazarus was renamed Lazarus-Macy's in 2003 and became Macy's in 2005. A significant 2005 renovation expanded Macy's to more than 213,000 square feet and added a multilevel parking garage behind the store. The project also enlarged the south side of the mall and created a more outward-facing streetscape with restaurants, shops, and redesigned entrances. FRCH Design Worldwide, a Cincinnati-area architecture and design firm, worked on the renovation and associated exterior and interior design elements. The former Pogue's/Parisian anchor was demolished during a 2007 redevelopment. Nordstrom replaced it with a new, two-level department store of approximately 140,000 square feet, which opened on September 25, 2009. A concourse extension provided the connection between Nordstrom and the rest of the enclosed mall. In 2018, Macy's classified the Kenwood store as one of its Growth 50 locations, indicating that it was among the company's strongest-performing stores nationally. The location received updates such as new carpeting, paint, and other improvements. In 2019, specialty retailer Forever 21 entered Chapter 11 and announced proposed closures that included its Kenwood store, although the available account did not identify a final closing date. The mall also adopted a temporary youth escort policy during the 2019 holiday season after a fight in one of its stores. The policy applied on selected dates around the end of December and New Year's Eve, requiring customers aged 18 or younger to be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older after specified times. This episode illustrates the operational and security measures that large shopping centers may use during high-traffic holiday periods. Through these successive phases, Kenwood Towne Centre evolved from a local strip center into a large enclosed regional mall. Its history reflects the growth of suburban Cincinnati, the consolidation and replacement of department-store chains, the redevelopment of aging mall infrastructure, and attempts to preserve the property's relevance through anchor investment, dining-oriented space, facade improvements, and tenant turnover.
- 2019
Holiday youth escort policy is implemented
[1]The mall adopts a temporary youth escort and curfew policy on selected holiday dates following a store fight.
- 2018
Macy's designates the store as a Growth 50 location
[1]Macy's identifies the Kenwood store as one of its stronger-performing locations and funds store improvements.
- 2009
Nordstrom opens
[1]A two-level Nordstrom department store opens on September 25, connected to the mall by a new concourse extension.
- 2007
Former Parisian building is demolished
[1]The former Pogue's/Parisian anchor is razed as part of a redevelopment that makes way for Nordstrom.
- 2005
Macy's and south facade expansion
[1]Macy's expands to more than 213,000 square feet, while the mall gains a parking garage and a restaurant-and-retail streetscape.
- 2003
Lazarus becomes Lazarus-Macy's
[1]The northern department store receives the Lazarus-Macy's name during the transition to Macy's ownership and branding.
- 1998
McAlpin's becomes Dillard's
[1]The original anchor adopts the Dillard's name following Dillard's acquisition of Mercantile Stores.
- 1993
JCPenney closes and Parisian takes the space
[1]The former Ayres/JCPenney location changes hands after JCPenney closes its Kenwood store.
- 1988
Second redevelopment phase is completed
[1]A two-level, approximately 450,000-square-foot concourse and a Lazarus anchor are completed.
- 1987
Enclosed mall phase opens
[1]The first phase of the redeveloped property opens in October under the Kenwood Towne Centre name.
Products and positioning
A large, department-store-anchored regional shopping mall serving suburban Cincinnati, positioned around a broad tenant mix, major national retailers, dining, and convenient access from Montgomery Road, Kenwood Road, and Interstate 71.
Shopping center · 1987
Enclosed regional shopping mall
Kenwood Towne Centre provides an enclosed, two-level regional shopping environment with department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, services, common areas, parking, and mall-operated customer amenities. Its format was established through the major redevelopment completed in phases in 1987 and 1988.
Department stores · 2009
Department-store anchors
The mall's principal anchor offering has been department-store shopping. The current referenced anchor lineup consists of Dillard's, Macy's, and Nordstrom. These stores provide broad assortments spanning apparel, accessories, beauty, home, and other general merchandise, while also serving as major traffic generators for the enclosed mall.
Food service and specialty retail · 2005
Dining and exterior streetscape
The 2005 renovation expanded the mall's southern facade to create a more outward-facing streetscape containing restaurants and retail. This component complements the enclosed concourse by adding destination-oriented dining and exterior-access shopping space.
Brand decisions
2019
Adopt a temporary holiday youth escort policyStrategyBackground
A fight in one of the mall's stores prompted additional crowd-management measures during the busy holiday period.
Action taken
On specified dates and after designated times, visitors aged 18 or younger had to be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older.
Aftermath
The policy was described as a temporary measure for the 2019 holiday season; no longer-term outcome is provided in the reference material.
2007
Replace the former Parisian anchor with NordstromGeneration changeBackground
The former Pogue's/Parisian anchor had become available after Parisian closed its Kenwood store in February 2007.
Action taken
The anchor building was demolished and replaced with a new two-level Nordstrom store and a concourse extension.
Aftermath
Nordstrom opened on September 25, 2009, adding a major national department-store anchor to the mall.
2005
Expand Macy's and add a dining-oriented south facadeStrategyBackground
The mall pursued a major physical upgrade intended to strengthen its department-store anchor and improve the property's street presence.
Action taken
Macy's was expanded to more than 213,000 square feet, a multilevel parking garage was added, and the south facade was enlarged with restaurants, shops, and redesigned entrances.
Aftermath
The work modernized a major anchor and diversified the mall's access and tenant presentation.
Sources2 sources
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