Randall Park Mall
A former super-regional shopping mall in North Randall, Ohio, that opened in 1976, closed in 2009, and was largely demolished for industrial redevelopment.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Randall Park Mall was a large super-regional shopping center in North Randall, Ohio, a suburb southeast of Cleveland. It opened on August 11, 1976, on the former site of Randall Park Race Track and was developed as the commercial centerpiece of an ambitious mixed-use project associated with Youngstown developer Edward J. DeBartolo. The original concept was promoted as a “city within a city,” combining a major enclosed mall with apartments, offices, and a performing-arts venue. Although several elements of that broader plan were not realized, the shopping center itself became one of the most prominent retail destinations in the Cleveland area. At opening, the mall featured approximately 200 stores and five major anchors: Sears, JCPenney, the May Company, Higbee’s, and Horne’s. JCPenney opened before the main mall in March 1976, while Sears followed in February 1977. Randall Park claimed to be the world’s largest shopping center when it opened, reflecting both its physical scale and the competitive ambition of its developers. Its department-store lineup represented the dominant enclosed-mall retail model of the period, with national and regional chains drawing shoppers from across the metropolitan area. The property underwent repeated changes in ownership, merchandising, and tenant mix. Higbee’s was converted to Dillard’s in 1992, and the May Company became Kaufmann’s in 1993 before the store was rebranded as Macy’s in 2006. Horne’s closed after its parent chain entered bankruptcy in 1992. Its former space was later divided between LaSalle Furniture and Burlington Coat Factory. The mall also operated a small General Cinema multiplex from its opening until 1993, followed by a 12-screen Magic Johnson Theatres complex that opened in 1999. After Loews Cineplex Entertainment was acquired by AMC, the cinema became O Theater and eventually closed in early 2009. The mall’s long decline became especially visible after the death of Edward J. DeBartolo in 1994 and the subsequent merger of DeBartolo Realty Corporation with Simon Property Group. Occupancy fell well below the national average during the late 1990s, although it temporarily improved around 2000. That recovery did not last. JCPenney converted its store to an outlet format in 1998 and closed it in 2001. Dillard’s closed in 2003, Macy’s announced its closure in late 2007, and Sears shut its location in June 2009. By the mid-2000s, roughly half of the mall was vacant, while the building suffered from deteriorating infrastructure, inactive escalators and fountains, and a poor safety reputation. Ownership also became increasingly unstable. The mall was sold to the Farbman Group in 2002 and later transferred to investor Haywood Whichard for a reported six million dollars, a fraction of its original development cost. A proposed sale to United Church Builders in 2008 did not reach completion. The enclosed mall closed on March 12, 2009, although several externally accessed businesses and educational facilities continued operating temporarily. Power to the mall was disconnected in May 2009. The abandoned complex later became known through urban-exploration photography, including work by Cleveland photographer Johnny Joo. In 2014, local officials announced plans to replace the property with an industrial park. Demolition began in December 2014 and continued through 2015. The remaining anchor buildings were subsequently removed or repurposed. In 2017, Amazon announced plans for an approximately 855,000-square-foot distribution facility on the former mall site. The facility opened in 2018, bringing the property into a new industrial and logistics-oriented phase after the mall’s retail life had ended.
History
Randall Park Mall developed from a series of competing proposals for large-scale retail construction in Cleveland’s southeastern suburbs. In the late 1960s, Dominic Visconsi proposed Garfield Mall in nearby Garfield Heights. That project was later reduced in scope after Edward J. DeBartolo proposed a larger mixed-use development in the area. The eventual Randall Park project was planned on the site of Randall Park Race Track, immediately south of Thistledown Race Track. DeBartolo promoted the development as a “city within a city.” Plans called for an enclosed shopping center with roughly 200 stores, three 14-story apartment buildings, two 20-story office towers, and a performing-arts center. The mall itself was designed by Frank DeBartolo, Edward’s younger brother. Construction was reported to have cost $175 million. JCPenney opened its location in March 1976, ahead of the main complex, and the mall officially opened on August 11, 1976. Sears followed in February 1977. The original anchors were Sears, JCPenney, the May Company, Higbee’s, and Horne’s. Randall Park opened during the peak of the enclosed regional-mall era. Its extensive department-store lineup and large trade area made it a major destination for shoppers from the Cleveland region. The mall also included a three-screen General Cinema theater. That cinema shifted to second-run programming in 1991 and closed in 1993, after which its space was used for storage. A larger 12-screen Magic Johnson Theatres complex opened in 1999 in an effort to strengthen the property’s entertainment offering. Following the acquisition of Loews Cineplex Entertainment by AMC Theatres, the venue was renamed O Theater and operated with discounted matinee pricing before closing in early 2009. Tenant and ownership changes increasingly reflected the consolidation of American department-store retail. Horne’s closed in 1992 after its chain entered bankruptcy. Higbee’s was converted to Dillard’s that year, while the May Company became Kaufmann’s in 1993 and later Macy’s in 2006. In 1992, DeBartolo announced plans for major remerchandising. After Edward J. DeBartolo died in December 1994, DeBartolo Realty Corporation merged with Simon Property Group two years later. Randall Park’s occupancy was approximately 73 percent in the late 1990s, below the reported national average, although it reached about 92 percent around 2000. The improvement was temporary, as JCPenney soon announced the closure of its outlet store. JCPenney had converted its traditional mall store into an outlet in October 1998, but the location closed in January 2001 amid declining sales and a broader national closure program. The former Horne’s building was divided between LaSalle Furniture and Burlington Coat Factory. Dillard’s closed in March 2003 after a fatal confrontation involving a suspected shoplifter and an off-duty police officer working as a security guard. The guard was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to three years in prison. By 2004, approximately half of the mall was vacant. The interior was visibly deteriorated, with inactive escalators and fountains and many storefronts enclosed by walls. Residents increasingly regarded the property as unsafe. Ownership changed again: the Farbman Group acquired the mall in 2002 and later sold it to Haywood Whichard for a reported six million dollars. In 2007, Ohio Technical College announced plans to use more than 200,000 square feet for its PowerSports Institute, occupying portions of the former JCPenney and Firestone Complete Auto Care areas. Macy’s announced the closure of its Randall Park store in December 2007, and the location ceased trading in February 2008. In May 2008, the North Randall mayor announced that the owner intended to close the mall. A proposed sale to United Church Builders was discussed that June, but the transaction was not finalized by the following year. The property also faced more than $200,000 in delinquent property taxes and multiple mortgages, according to county records cited in contemporary reporting. The last interior tenants closed or relocated on March 12, 2009. Burlington Coat Factory, Sears, the Ohio Technical College satellite facility, and Furniture Mattress Liquidators retained temporary access from outside the mall. Sears closed in June 2009, and power to the mall was turned off in May. The vacant complex subsequently attracted attention from urban-exploration photographers, including Johnny Joo, whose images were widely circulated after appearing in a 2014 BuzzFeed feature. In 2014, North Randall officials announced that Industrial Realty Group would redevelop the property as an industrial park. Demolition began on December 29, 2014, starting with the former Higbee’s/Dillard’s anchor and continuing through the mall interior. By mid-2015, most of the enclosed structure had been removed. Burlington closed in January 2015, while the remaining anchors survived for a limited period. In August 2017, the remaining anchor buildings were demolished except for the former Sears structure, which was repurposed for other businesses. Amazon developed an approximately 855,000-square-foot distribution facility on the former mall site, opening it in 2018 and replacing the failed retail complex with a logistics operation.
- 2018
Amazon distribution facility opens
[1]Amazon opened a logistics facility on the redeveloped former mall property.
- 2017
Amazon warehouse plan is confirmed
[1]Amazon announced an approximately 855,000-square-foot distribution center for the former mall site.
- 2014
Industrial redevelopment is announced
[1]Industrial Realty Group announced plans to replace the vacant mall with an industrial park, and demolition began in December.
- 2009
Enclosed mall closes
[1]The interior mall closed on March 12. Sears remained open briefly before closing in June.
- 2008
Macy’s closes and mall shutdown is announced
[1]Macy’s ended operations in February, and local officials later announced plans to close the largely vacant mall.
- 2007
Ohio Technical College announces educational reuse
[1]The college announced plans to occupy more than 200,000 square feet for its PowerSports Institute.
- 2006
Kaufmann’s becomes Macy’s
[1]The remaining Kaufmann’s department store was converted to the Macy’s brand.
- 2003
Dillard’s closes
[1]Dillard’s shut its Randall Park store in March, accelerating the loss of major anchors.
- 2002
Farbman Group sells the property
[1]The mall was sold to investor Haywood Whichard after a period of ownership by the Farbman Group.
- 2001
JCPenney closes
[1]The outlet store closed in January amid falling sales and a wider national reduction in JCPenney locations.
Products and positioning
A large regional retail and entertainment destination designed around department-store anchors and the enclosed-shopping-center model of the 1970s. It was initially positioned as a metropolitan-scale shopping complex and later became associated with suburban retail decline, abandonment, and industrial-site redevelopment.
Retail property · 1976
Enclosed shopping mall
The core offering was a large enclosed shopping environment with approximately 200 stores, pedestrian interior concourses, department-store anchors, specialty retail, dining, and entertainment. Its scale was intended to draw shoppers from a broad metropolitan trade area and to compete with other major Cleveland-area shopping centers.
Department stores · 1976
Department-store anchors
The original anchor group consisted of Sears, JCPenney, the May Company, Higbee’s, and Horne’s. Over time, the locations changed format or branding: Higbee’s became Dillard’s, the May Company became Kaufmann’s and later Macy’s, and the former Horne’s space was divided between other occupants.
Cinema · 1976
General Cinema
The original mall cinema opened with three screens operated by General Cinema Corporation. It later became a second-run theater, closed in 1993, and was subsequently used for storage before the space was replaced by a larger multiplex operation.
Cinema · 1999
Magic Johnson Theatres / O Theater
A 12-screen Magic Johnson Theatres complex opened in 1999 under Loews Cineplex Entertainment. After AMC acquired Loews Cineplex, the venue became O Theater and marketed discounted first-run movie admissions. It closed in early 2009.
Education · 2007
PowerSports Institute
Ohio Technical College used more than 200,000 square feet of the former mall for its PowerSports Institute. The educational reuse occupied portions of the former JCPenney and Firestone Complete Auto Care areas and continued after the enclosed mall closed.
Controversies
2016
Arson at the former theater
A fire at the abandoned former Magic Johnson Theatres building was investigated by the North Randall Fire Department and classified as arson.
2003
Fatal security-guard confrontation at Dillard’s
An off-duty police officer working as a security guard at Dillard’s apprehended a suspected shoplifter and injured him by striking or slamming his head on the floor. The suspect died in hospital two days later. The guard was sentenced to three years in prison for involuntary manslaughter.
Brand decisions
2017
Redevelop the site for Amazon logisticsStrategyBackground
After the mall’s closure and demolition, the site was repositioned for industrial and distribution use.
Action taken
Amazon announced plans for an approximately 855,000-square-foot warehouse and the demolition of the remaining mall anchors.
Aftermath
The Amazon facility opened in 2018 and replaced the former mall as the principal use of the redeveloped site.
Announced full-time jobs. 2000 (2017 announcement)
2014
Replace the mall with an industrial parkStrategyBackground
The abandoned retail complex was considered unsuitable for continued operation and local leaders sought a new use for the site.
Action taken
Industrial Realty Group acquired the property for redevelopment and began demolition in December.
Aftermath
Most of the enclosed mall was removed by 2015, followed by demolition of remaining anchors and later construction of an Amazon distribution facility.
2009
Close the enclosed mallStrategyBackground
The property had extensive vacancies, deteriorating infrastructure, declining anchor support, and unresolved ownership and financial difficulties.
Action taken
The interior shopping mall closed on March 12. Remaining externally accessed tenants operated for limited periods.
Aftermath
Sears closed in June, power was disconnected in May, and the property moved toward demolition and redevelopment.
2007
Pursue educational reuse of mall spaceStrategyBackground
Vacancy was increasing and the mall needed uses beyond traditional retail.
Action taken
Ohio Technical College announced plans to occupy more than 200,000 square feet for its PowerSports Institute.
Aftermath
The educational facility remained among the limited occupants with external access after the interior mall closed.
2006
Rebrand Kaufmann’s as Macy’sGeneration changeBackground
Department-store consolidation led to the conversion of Kaufmann’s locations into Macy’s stores.
Action taken
The Kaufmann’s anchor at Randall Park Mall adopted the Macy’s brand.
Aftermath
Macy’s announced the store’s closure in 2007, and it stopped trading in February 2008.
1999
Add a 12-screen cinema complexProduct launchBackground
The original three-screen cinema had closed in 1993, leaving the mall without a major movie-theater attraction.
Action taken
Loews Cineplex Entertainment opened Magic Johnson Theatres at the mall.
Aftermath
The venue was later renamed O Theater after AMC’s acquisition of Loews Cineplex and closed in early 2009.
1998
Convert JCPenney to an outlet storeStrategyBackground
The mall was experiencing pressure from declining traffic and changing retail conditions.
Action taken
JCPenney changed its conventional department-store location into an outlet format in October.
Aftermath
The outlet closed in January 2001 after falling sales and a wider national closure program.
Sources1 sources
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