Northland Mall
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA former shopping mall in northern Columbus, Ohio, that operated from 1964 until 2002.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Northland Mall was a shopping mall on the north side of Columbus, Ohio, at the intersection of Morse Road and Karl Road. It opened in 1964 as an open-air shopping center and became the first of Columbus's directionally named shopping hubs, later joined by Eastland, Westland, and Southland. During its first several decades, Northland was one of the Columbus metropolitan area's principal retail destinations and was especially popular with shoppers from the city's affluent northern suburbs. The center began with Lazarus and Sears as its principal anchors, supported by junior anchors including F. W. Woolworth and The Union. Its importance grew because it was initially the only large-scale shopping mall in the Columbus area. Between 1974 and 1975, Jacobs, Visconsi & Jacobs enclosed the open-air center. A later south-concourse expansion brought JCPenney to the mall in January 1980, replacing that retailer's smaller Northern Lights Shopping Center location. The Union was converted to Halle's in 1980, but that operation closed in 1982 and its former space was subsequently divided among smaller retailers. Other changes included an eight-screen General Cinema theater outside the mall, a facade modernization in 1988, and a food court that replaced the former Woolworth space in 1995. Northland remained a strong shopping destination through much of the 1980s, but its competitive position weakened during the following decade. Downtown Columbus City Center opened in 1989 with several distinctive retailers and introduced a new alternative for regional shoppers. The more consequential challenge came from newer suburban developments. The Mall at Tuttle Crossing opened in 1997 as a larger, two-level mall with four anchors, drawing customers from suburbs that had previously contributed to Northland's trade area. Easton Town Center opened in 1999 approximately five miles away and attracted both shoppers and retailers with a mixed-use lifestyle-center format. The arrival of Polaris Fashion Place intensified the decline. Construction began in 2000, and the new mall opened in fall 2001. Northland's three major anchors—JCPenney, Lazarus, and Sears—relocated to Polaris, leaving the older mall with a sharply reduced tenant base. By 2002, Northland had largely become a small collection of specialty shops, with numerous stores closing during the year. It ceased operations permanently on October 31, 2002, after 38 years. The mall concourse and vacant Sears building were demolished in February 2004. The property was redeveloped as Northland Village, a mixed-use complex combining public offices, retail, cultural facilities, and community services. Portions of the former Lazarus and JCPenney buildings were retained and substantially repurposed. The former Lazarus location became offices for the Ohio Department of Taxation, while the former JCPenney building was rebuilt for Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services offices and the Northland Performing Arts Center. A Menards store occupies the former Sears site, and the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center was established on the former multiplex-theater area. A 102,000-square-foot Kroger grocery store was completed in the broader redevelopment area in October 2016.
History
Northland Mall opened in 1964 on Columbus's north side as an open-air shopping center at Morse Road and Karl Road. It was among the first large shopping malls in the Columbus metropolitan area and initially faced little direct local competition. Lazarus and Sears served as the principal anchors, while F. W. Woolworth and The Union provided additional department-store presence. The center drew heavily from northern Columbus and nearby affluent suburbs and was regarded as one of the area's leading retail destinations through the 1980s. Jacobs, Visconsi & Jacobs enclosed the mall between March 20, 1974, and June 1, 1975. The completed enclosure was formally celebrated on June 12, 1975. A south concourse was added in fall 1979, and JCPenney opened there in January 1980 after moving from the Northern Lights Shopping Center. The Union became Halle's in 1980; after Halle's closed in 1982, its space was subdivided for other retailers. Northland also gained an eight-screen General Cinema theater in December 1985. The mall's exterior was modernized in late 1988 with a revised main entrance. The competitive environment changed in the 1990s. Columbus City Center opened downtown in 1989 and introduced several retailers that were new to the local market. Northland continued to benefit from its northern location and avoided the downtown center's parking drawbacks, but its lead gradually narrowed. A food court was added in spring 1995 in the space previously occupied by Woolworth. The opening of The Mall at Tuttle Crossing in 1997 marked a more serious challenge. Tuttle was a larger, two-level facility with four anchors and drew customers from the Powell and Dublin areas. Easton Town Center followed in 1999, only about five miles from Northland. Its mixed-use lifestyle-center design attracted shoppers, stores, and investment away from both Northland and the surrounding Morse Road corridor. The planned Polaris Fashion Place became the decisive competitive threat. Construction began in June 2000, and the center opened in fall 2001. Northland's three principal anchors—JCPenney, Lazarus, and Sears—each moved to Polaris. With its anchor base gone, Northland's remaining specialty retail declined rapidly. Twelve stores reportedly closed in January 2002, and the mall continued operating with only a small number of shops. Northland closed permanently on October 31, 2002. The central mall structure and the vacant Sears anchor were demolished in February 2004. The site was subsequently redeveloped as Northland Village. The former Lazarus building was converted into offices for the Ohio Department of Taxation. The former JCPenney building was extensively rebuilt for Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services offices and the Northland Performing Arts Center. The former Sears location became the site of a Menards home-improvement store, while the former multiplex area was reused for the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center. A new 102,000-square-foot Kroger store was completed in October 2016. As a result, the original mall no longer exists as an operating retail complex, although portions of its anchor structures and its site remain in active public, retail, and community use.
- 2016
Kroger redevelopment component completed
[1]A new 102,000-square-foot Kroger grocery store is completed within the redeveloped Northland area.
- 2004
Mall structures demolished
[1]The main concourse and vacant Sears building are demolished in February.
- 2002
Northland Mall closes
[1]After a steep loss of tenants, Northland closes permanently on October 31.
- 2001
Polaris Fashion Place opens
[1]Polaris opens in fall, and Northland's three major anchors relocate there.
- 2000
Polaris Fashion Place construction begins
[1]Construction starts on Polaris Fashion Place, which Northland's owner identified as a potentially decisive threat.
- 1999
Easton Town Center opens
[1]Easton Town Center opens nearby and accelerates Northland's loss of customers and tenants.
- 1997
Tuttle Crossing opens
[1]The Mall at Tuttle Crossing opens and begins drawing retailers and shoppers from Northland's wider trade area.
- 1995
Food court added
[1]A food court replaces the former Woolworth space.
- 1985
General Cinema opens
[1]An eight-screen General Cinema theater opens outside the mall.
- 1980
JCPenney joins the mall
[1]A south-concourse expansion brings a new JCPenney store to Northland.
Products and positioning
A major regional shopping destination in Columbus during the 1960s through the 1980s, Northland later became an aging enclosed mall competing with newer suburban malls and mixed-use retail developments.
Department store anchor · 1964
Lazarus
Lazarus was one of Northland's original principal anchors and helped establish the mall as a major Columbus shopping destination. The former Lazarus building survived the mall's demolition and was converted into offices for the Ohio Department of Taxation.
Department store anchor · 1964
Sears
Sears served as an original Northland anchor and remained one of the mall's three major stores until relocating to Polaris Fashion Place. The vacant Sears building was demolished with the main mall structures in 2004.
Department store anchor · 1980
JCPenney
JCPenney opened at Northland in January 1980 as part of a south-concourse expansion. It later moved to Polaris Fashion Place. The former JCPenney structure was extensively rebuilt and reused for county offices and the Northland Performing Arts Center.
Cinema · 1985
General Cinema
An eight-screen General Cinema theater opened outside Northland in December 1985. The former multiplex site was later incorporated into redevelopment that included the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center.
Brand decisions
2002
Close the mallOtherBackground
The opening of Tuttle Crossing, Easton Town Center, and Polaris Fashion Place had drawn away shoppers and tenants. JCPenney, Lazarus, and Sears had all relocated to Polaris.
Action taken
Northland ceased operations permanently on October 31, 2002.
Aftermath
The mall was demolished in 2004 and its property was redeveloped as Northland Village with public offices, retail, cultural, and community uses.
1995
Add a food courtStrategyBackground
Northland was updating its tenant mix as traditional department-store retail formats changed.
Action taken
A food court was created in the former Woolworth space.
Aftermath
The food court became part of the mall's later operating format, although it did not prevent the longer-term decline caused by newer competing developments.
1979
Expand with a south concourseStrategyBackground
Northland pursued additional anchor capacity and tenant space during its period of strong regional performance.
Action taken
A south concourse was added, leading to a new JCPenney store that opened in January 1980.
Aftermath
JCPenney became one of the mall's principal anchors until its later relocation to Polaris Fashion Place.
1974
Enclose the open-air shopping centerStrategyBackground
Northland was originally an open-air center, while enclosed malls were becoming an important regional-retail format.
Action taken
Jacobs, Visconsi & Jacobs enclosed the mall between March 1974 and June 1975.
Aftermath
The enclosed facility continued operating as one of Columbus's leading shopping destinations through the 1980s.
Sources1 sources
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