North Towne Square
Former enclosed shopping mall in Toledo, Ohio, developed by Simon Property Group and closed in 2005.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
North Towne Square was an enclosed shopping mall on Telegraph Road in northern Toledo, Ohio, less than a mile from the Michigan state line. Developed by Simon Property Group in 1980 and opened in 1981, the mall was designed as a three-anchor regional shopping destination serving Toledo as well as communities in southeastern Michigan. Its location reflected expectations that residential growth on the Michigan side of the border would generate additional retail traffic. The center initially featured Lasalle's, The Lion Store, and Montgomery Ward as its principal department-store anchors. Lasalle's began operating under the Macy's name shortly after the mall opened, although the Toledo-area stores were subsequently sold to Dayton's Elder-Beerman in 1984. The mall's cross-border customer base was an important part of its early positioning, but competition increased after Frenchtown Square Mall opened in Monroe, Michigan, in 1988. North Towne Square also faced pressure from expansions at Franklin Park Mall in Toledo and from broader economic weakness in the city. During the 1990s and early 2000s, the property lost most of its major anchors and many smaller tenants. Elder-Beerman entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1995 and reduced its North Towne operation before closing the store in 1997. The Lion Store locations in Toledo were acquired by Dillard's in 2000, but Dillard's closed its North Towne location in 2002. Montgomery Ward also shut its store in 2002 amid the retailer's bankruptcy. The mall's movie theater complex closed by the early 2000s, and by 2002 the property reportedly had only about 20 stores, with MC Sports among the largest remaining tenants. Simon Property Group placed the mall on the market in 1999 and sold it in 2002. A redevelopment effort renamed the center Lakeside Centre in 2003, but the new identity did not restore occupancy. Remaining leases were terminated in early 2005, and the complex closed in February of that year. The owners cited high electrical costs associated with maintaining a largely vacant building. Part of the parking lot was temporarily used to store excess inventory for a nearby Chrysler dealership. The vacant property continued to attract redevelopment proposals and municipal attention. Walmart proposed constructing a store on the site in 2007, but the proposal encountered political opposition. In 2010, Toledo issued a condemnation notice after a water-main break damaged nearby businesses and the owners faced nearly $86,000 in delinquent taxes. The city required remediation of water damage and mold-related conditions. Demolition was announced in 2012, began in January 2013, and was completed later that year at a reported cost of $600,000. Some site infrastructure, including portions of the original floors, parking lot, and lamp posts, remained, while a wall was added to the adjacent Super Fitness building. In 2021, Toledo announced plans to sell the former mall site to NorthPoint Development for a proposed $70 million industrial park, with a groundbreaking targeted for spring 2022. North Towne Square therefore survives primarily as a case study in the decline of a border-market shopping center, the effects of new regional competition, anchor-store failures, and the conversion of obsolete retail property to industrial use.
History
North Towne Square was developed by Simon Property Group in 1980 and opened in 1981 on Telegraph Road in northern Toledo, close to the Ohio–Michigan border. Its developers expected the mall to benefit from residential expansion in southeastern Michigan and from its position between Toledo and communities across the state line. The original anchor lineup consisted of Lasalle's, The Lion Store, and Montgomery Ward. The anchor lineup changed soon after opening. Lasalle's began using the Macy's name after two years, while the Toledo-area stores were sold to Dayton's Elder-Beerman in 1984. The mall initially attracted customers from both Ohio and Michigan, but the opening of Frenchtown Square Mall in Monroe, Michigan, in 1988 reduced traffic from the north. Expansion at Toledo's Franklin Park Mall and deterioration in the local economy added to the pressure. North Towne Square then entered a prolonged decline. Elder-Beerman's 1995 Chapter 11 bankruptcy led to reductions at its location, which ultimately closed in 1997. In 2000, Dillard's acquired The Lion Store locations in Toledo and rebranded them, but the North Towne store closed in 2002. Montgomery Ward also left in 2002 as part of the retailer's bankruptcy. By that point, the mall's movie theater had closed, chain tenants had relocated to competing centers, and the property had only around 20 operating stores. MC Sports was among the largest remaining tenants. Simon Property Group marketed the property for sale in 1999 and sold it in 2002. A redevelopment attempt changed the name to Lakeside Centre in 2003, but the renamed property did not regain sufficient occupancy. Remaining leases were ended in early 2005, and the complex closed in February. The owners cited the high cost of electricity for a mostly empty building. The parking lot was also used temporarily to store surplus vehicles or inventory from a nearby Chrysler dealership. After closure, the site became the subject of redevelopment proposals. Walmart considered building a store there in 2007, although the plan faced opposition. In February 2010, Toledo issued a condemnation notice following a water-main break that affected neighboring businesses, including Super Fitness Center. The city also cited nearly $86,000 in delinquent taxes and required the owners to repair water damage and remove mold-related contamination. Demolition was announced in April 2012 and began in January 2013. The work was completed several months later at a reported cost of $600,000. A new wall separated the neighboring Super Fitness building from the former mall site, while parts of the old flooring, parking area, and lighting infrastructure remained. In 2021, Toledo announced a planned sale to NorthPoint Development, which proposed a $70 million industrial park and a spring 2022 groundbreaking. The planned reuse reflected the broader transition of the property from enclosed retail to industrial development.
- 2021
Industrial park redevelopment is proposed
[1]Toledo announces a planned sale of the site to NorthPoint Development for a proposed industrial park.
- 2013
Demolition is completed
[1]The former mall is demolished after Toledo's redevelopment and condemnation efforts.
- 2005
Mall closes permanently
[1]Remaining leases are terminated and the largely vacant complex closes.
- 2003
Property is renamed Lakeside Centre
[1]A redevelopment effort gives the property the Lakeside Centre name.
- 2002
Major anchors depart
[1]Dillard's closes the former Lion Store location, and Montgomery Ward closes during its bankruptcy; the mall is left with only one anchor.
- 1997
Elder-Beerman closes
[1]Elder-Beerman shuts its North Towne Square store after reducing its retail and clearance operations.
- 1995
Elder-Beerman files for Chapter 11
[1]The anchor retailer enters bankruptcy and begins reducing its North Towne Square operation.
- 1988
Frenchtown Square Mall opens
[1]A competing mall opens in Monroe, Michigan, reducing North Towne Square's draw from southeastern Michigan.
- 1984
Toledo stores are sold to Elder-Beerman
[1]R.H. Macy & Co. sells its Toledo-area stores to Dayton's Elder-Beerman.
- 1983
Lasalle's begins using the Macy's name
[1]The Lasalle's anchor begins operating under the Macy's name.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping center positioned near the Ohio–Michigan border to capture shoppers from northern Toledo and southeastern Michigan.
Regional shopping center · 1981
North Towne Square enclosed mall
The core offering was a regional enclosed shopping environment combining department-store anchors, smaller specialty retailers, food and restaurant services, and a movie theater complex. Its proximity to Michigan allowed it to serve a cross-border customer base, although later competition and anchor closures weakened that role.
Department stores · 1981
Department-store anchor lineup
The mall originally offered Lasalle's, The Lion Store, and Montgomery Ward as its principal anchors. These locations later operated under Macy's, Elder-Beerman, and Dillard's identities through ownership changes and rebranding before ultimately closing.
Entertainment
Movie theater complex
A cinema complex formed part of the mall's entertainment mix, but it closed before the shopping center itself ceased operations.
Brand decisions
2021
Plan industrial redevelopment of the former mall siteM&ABackground
After demolition, Toledo sought a productive reuse for the obsolete shopping-center property.
Action taken
The city announced plans to sell the site to NorthPoint Development for a proposed industrial park.
Aftermath
The announced project represented a shift from regional retail use toward industrial development; the cited material does not confirm final construction or completion.
Proposed development value. $70 million (Announced in 2021)
2005
Close the largely vacant mallStrategyBackground
The property had few remaining tenants and high electrical costs made continued operation uneconomic.
Action taken
The owners terminated the remaining leases and shut the complex.
Aftermath
The site remained vacant, was later condemned and demolished, and became the subject of industrial redevelopment plans.
2003
Rename the property Lakeside CentreStrategyBackground
The mall had lost major anchors and many tenants, while nearby competing centers were attracting retailers and shoppers.
Action taken
The property was renamed Lakeside Centre as part of an attempted redevelopment.
Aftermath
The relaunch did not restore occupancy, and remaining leases were terminated before the complex closed in 2005.
Sources1 sources
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