The Shoppes at Parma

The Shoppes at Parma is a retail shopping center in Parma, Ohio, approximately 10 miles south of Cleveland. The property occupies the southwest corner of Ridge Road and West Ridgewood Drive and is the successor to Parmatown Mall, a shopping plaza that opened in 1956. It was initially an open-air commercial development, was enclosed during the mid-1960s, and later returned to an outdoor shopping-center format after a major redevelopment in the 2010s. The center's history reflects the changing structure of suburban American retail. Its earlier tenant mix included major department stores and a discount-oriented Kresge location. May Company became one of the principal anchors in 1960, while Higbee's opened as another anchor in 1967. The Higbee's store was later converted to Dillard's in 1992 and closed in 2000. Its building was demolished and replaced by a Walmart store in 2004. May Company was converted to Kaufmann's in 1993 and subsequently to Macy's in 2006. Macy's announced its departure in January 2012, and the former department-store building was demolished beginning in January 2014. Parmatown also had a notable cinema history. A five-screen theater operated in the Dillard's wing from 1967 through 2004. General Cinema initially opened a two-screen venue, expanded it to three screens during the 1970s, and added two further screens in the 1980s. After General Cinema closed the theater in 2001, Cinema Grill briefly operated a dining-and-movie concept. Cleveland Cinemas later took over, but was required to leave in August 2004 so the space could be redeveloped for Dick's Sporting Goods. The property experienced financial and physical decline before its redevelopment. In July 2011, the lender filed for receivership after a loan-servicing default involving RMS Enterprises, a venture associated with the founding Ratner, Miller, and Shafran families of Forest City Enterprises. In March 2013, the new owner, Phillips Edison & Co., announced the name The Shoppes at Parma and outlined a substantial renovation. Work began during the summer of that year, and the enclosed mall was ultimately transformed into an outdoor shopping center, with interior portions demolished during the 2017 redevelopment program. The current center has been anchored or supported by Walmart, Burlington, Marc's, and Dick's Sporting Goods. Dick's relocated from its original location to the former Macy's site as part of the redevelopment. Other tenant changes included the arrival of Burlington after Gordman's filed for bankruptcy, the planned addition of Old Navy, the opening of Ace Hardware in the former A.C. Moore space, and the replacement of JCPenney by Shoppers World. Shoppers World opened on November 26, 2021, but closed its Shoppes at Parma location on March 5, 2025. The future of that building was reported as uncertain in the supplied reference material. The Shoppes at Parma therefore represents a transition from a traditional enclosed, department-store-anchored mall to a more flexible open-air retail plaza. Its identity has changed repeatedly through anchor closures, demolitions, relocations, new tenants, and reconfiguration, while its local role remains tied to serving Parma and the wider Cleveland-area retail market.

The property now known as The Shoppes at Parma began as Parmatown, an open-air shopping plaza established in Parma, Ohio, in 1956. Its location at Ridge Road and West Ridgewood Drive placed it within the suburban retail corridor south of Cleveland. During the mid-1960s, the plaza was enclosed and developed into a conventional mall format. Department stores became central to its identity: May Company opened as an anchor in 1960, and Higbee's opened in 1967. Kresge also served as an anchor until the early 1980s, when its space was closed to permit an expansion. The center maintained a five-screen cinema from 1967 until 2004. General Cinema began with a two-screen theater, an unusual configuration at the time, then expanded it in stages during the 1970s and 1980s. General Cinema closed the theater in 2001. Cinema Grill subsequently leased the venue, renovated the lobby, and adapted the operation so customers could eat meals while watching films. After Cinema Grill was evicted for failure to pay rent, Cleveland Cinemas took over. Cleveland Cinemas was asked to leave in August 2004 so the theater area could be replaced by a Dick's Sporting Goods store; its final operating day was August 11, 2004. The department-store lineup changed over time. Higbee's became Dillard's in 1992, but Dillard's closed in 2000. The former Higbee's building was demolished and replaced by Walmart in 2004. May Company became Kaufmann's in 1993, and Kaufmann's was converted to Macy's in 2006. Macy's announced in January 2012 that its Parmatown store would close. Demolition of the former Macy's building began in January 2014. By 2011, the property was experiencing serious financial pressure. On July 6, the lender filed for receivership after RMS Enterprises defaulted on loan servicing. RMS was described as a venture formed by the Ratner, Miller, and Shafran families associated with Forest City Enterprises. The property subsequently changed hands. On March 26, 2013, Phillips Edison & Co. announced the new name The Shoppes at Parma and a broad renovation and reconstruction program. Work began in the summer of 2013. The redevelopment sought to replace the enclosed mall with an outdoor shopping-center format. Dick's Sporting Goods announced in 2014 that it would relocate into the former Macy's space to support the planned 2017 replacement project. Its original store closed and demolition began in July 2015. The center's interior was ultimately demolished or substantially removed, while portions of the original open-air layout remained. The repositioned property retained or introduced tenants including Walmart, Marc's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Burlington, Old Navy, and other retail and service operators. Tenant turnover continued after redevelopment. Burlington was announced in August 2018 for space vacated by Gordman's, which had entered bankruptcy. Old Navy announced a planned store in June 2018, and Ace Hardware opened in early 2020 in the former A.C. Moore location. JCPenney announced in June 2020 that it would permanently close, leaving the center without one of its remaining longstanding legacy anchors. Shoppers World opened in the former JCPenney space on November 26, 2021, but closed that location on March 5, 2025. The disposition of the building was described as unresolved in the supplied reference. The property's history is consequently one of repeated format changes: from a 1950s open-air plaza, to a mid-century enclosed mall, and back to a redeveloped outdoor shopping center. Its anchor succession, cinema conversion, financial restructuring, demolition, and tenant replacement illustrate the broader evolution of American suburban retail.

• 2025

  Shoppers World closes

  [1]The Shoppes at Parmaen.wikipedia.org

  Shoppers World closes its location on March 5, leaving the future of the building unclear.

• 2021

  Shoppers World opens

  [1]The Shoppes at Parmaen.wikipedia.org

  Shoppers World opens in the former JCPenney space on November 26.

• 2020

  JCPenney announces permanent closure

  [1]The Shoppes at Parmaen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney announces the permanent closure of its location at the center.

• 2017

  Outdoor shopping-center redevelopment

  [1]The Shoppes at Parmaen.wikipedia.org

  The former enclosed mall is converted into an outdoor shopping center, with its interior demolished as part of the replacement project.

• 2013

  Property is renamed The Shoppes at Parma

  [1]The Shoppes at Parmaen.wikipedia.org

  Phillips Edison & Co. announces the property's new name and redevelopment program.

• 2012

  Macy's announces closure

  [1]The Shoppes at Parmaen.wikipedia.org

  Macy's announces that its store will close in early 2012.

• 2011

  Receivership proceedings begin

  [1]The Shoppes at Parmaen.wikipedia.org

  The lender files for receivership following a loan-servicing default involving RMS Enterprises.

• 2004

  Former Higbee's building is replaced by Walmart

  [1]The Shoppes at Parmaen.wikipedia.org

  The former Higbee's structure is demolished and replaced by a Walmart store.

• 1992

  Higbee's becomes Dillard's

  [1]The Shoppes at Parmaen.wikipedia.org

  Dillard's takes over the Higbee's anchor location.

• 1967

  Higbee's and the original cinema arrive

  [1]The Shoppes at Parmaen.wikipedia.org

  Higbee's opens as an anchor, and a General Cinema theater begins operating in the property.

• 1960

  May Company becomes an original anchor

  [1]The Shoppes at Parmaen.wikipedia.org

  May Company opens as a principal department-store anchor.

• 1956

  Parmatown opens as a shopping plaza

  [1]The Shoppes at Parmaen.wikipedia.org

  The retail property opens in Parma, Ohio, as an open-air shopping plaza.

A community-oriented suburban shopping center serving Parma and the surrounding Cleveland area, repositioned from an enclosed mall into an open-air, multi-tenant retail plaza.

• General merchandise · 2004

  Walmart

  Walmart occupies the former Higbee's/Dillard's anchor site and provides broad general merchandise retail, including household goods, groceries, apparel, and everyday consumer products.

• Grocery and discount retail

  Marc's

  Marc's is a major tenant associated with the center and contributes grocery, household, and value-oriented retail services to the local shopping mix.

• Sporting goods · 2004

  Dick's Sporting Goods

  Dick's Sporting Goods became part of the center's post-cinema redevelopment and later relocated into the former Macy's space as part of the broader shopping-center replacement plan.

• Off-price apparel and home goods · 2018

  Burlington

  Burlington was announced for space formerly occupied by Gordman's, adding off-price apparel, accessories, and home merchandise to the redeveloped center.

• Discount department store · 2021

  Shoppers World

  Shoppers World occupied the former JCPenney space and opened on November 26, 2021. The store closed its location on March 5, 2025.

• Cinema · 1967

  Parmatown Theater

  The former five-screen cinema began as a General Cinema venue, later operated under Cinema Grill and Cleveland Cinemas, and closed in 2004 to make way for Dick's Sporting Goods.

• 2020

  Replace JCPenney after permanent closureOther

  Background

  JCPenney announced that it would permanently close its store, creating a large vacant former-anchor space.

  Action taken

  The space was subsequently leased to Shoppers World.

  Aftermath

  Shoppers World opened in November 2021 but closed the location in March 2025, leaving the building's future uncertain.

  Source

• 2014

  Relocate Dick's Sporting Goods into the former Macy's siteStrategy

  Background

  The planned redevelopment required changes to the existing store layout and replacement of portions of the former mall.

  Action taken

  Dick's Sporting Goods announced that it would move from its original location into the former Macy's space.

  Aftermath

  The original Dick's space closed and demolition began in July 2015 as the redevelopment progressed.

  Source

• 2013

  Rename and redevelop the propertyStrategy

  Background

  The center faced financial distress, anchor departures, and an aging enclosed-mall format.

  Action taken

  Phillips Edison & Co. announced the name The Shoppes at Parma and began a major renovation and reconstruction program.

  Aftermath

  The property was repositioned as an outdoor shopping center, with substantial interior demolition and a new tenant configuration.

  Source

1. 1The Shoppes at Parmaen.wikipedia.org