Summit Mall

Summit Mall is a one-story enclosed shopping mall at 3265 West Market Street in Fairlawn, an Akron suburb in Summit County, Ohio. Developed by Edward J. DeBartolo Sr.'s DeBartolo Corporation, the mall opened to the public on October 28, 1965, following its initial announcement in 1963. It was designed as a regional retail destination serving Akron and surrounding communities and became one of the area's principal department-store and specialty-retail centers. The mall originally opened with three department-store anchors: Cleveland-based Halle Brothers Co. and two Akron retailers, O'Neil's and Polsky's. Its early tenant mix also included national and regional operators such as Woolworth, Kroger, and Acme Markets. Over time, the property experienced the succession of department-store brands that shaped much of the American enclosed-mall sector. Halle's closed in 1982, after which its space was occupied by Higbee's and later acquired by Dillard's in late 1992. O'Neil's became May Company Ohio in 1989, Kaufmann's in 1993, and Macy's in 2006 as those retail companies consolidated or changed corporate identities. The former Polsky's space also underwent several changes. After Polsky's departed, Jewel Mart used the main floor. A proposed laser-tag facility was discussed for the basement in the late 1980s, while restaurants and other tenants occupied portions of the lower level during the early 1990s. Jewel Mart had left by 1991, and the upper floor remained vacant until Dillard's moved its men's operation there and added a housewares department in 1998. Further renovations in 2005 and 2006 returned men's merchandise and housewares to the south store, while the former multi-level space was ultimately reorganized as a Dillard's women's store. Summit Mall also once contained a small two-screen cinema. That theater closed in July 1989 after a newer General Cinemas location opened at nearby West Market Plaza. The mall's tenant roster continued to evolve as specialty retailers adjusted their store networks; Williams Sonoma announced the closure of its Summit Mall location in 2013, and Ann Taylor announced a closure in 2017. According to the cited reference material, Summit Mall contains approximately 850,000 square feet of enclosed retail space and has about 110 stores, with 104 occupied at the time described. Its principal current anchors are Macy's and two Dillard's locations: a full-line Dillard's store and a Dillard's Men's and Children's store. The property includes a food court and remains the only surviving mall in Summit County following the closures of Chapel Hill Mall and Rolling Acres Mall. Its continuing operation reflects its role as a comparatively resilient regional shopping center despite broader structural pressure on traditional enclosed malls.

Summit Mall was developed by the DeBartolo Corporation, the retail real-estate company associated with Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. The project was first announced in 1963 and opened on October 28, 1965, in Fairlawn, Ohio. Its location on West Market Street positioned it to serve Akron and nearby communities in Summit County. The original anchor lineup consisted of Halle Brothers Co., a Cleveland department-store chain, together with O'Neil's and Polsky's, both associated with Akron's retail market. The initial tenant mix also included Woolworth, Kroger, and Acme Markets. The mall's history reflects the repeated corporate changes that affected American department stores. Halle Brothers ceased operations in 1982, and its Summit Mall location was subsequently occupied by Higbee's. Dillard's acquired that store in late 1992. The former O'Neil's location passed to May Company Ohio in 1989, then to Kaufmann's in 1993, and finally to Macy's in 2006. These changes preserved department-store representation at the property while the identities and ownership structures of the chains changed. Polsky's former space followed a more complicated path. Jewel Mart used the main-floor portion after Polsky's departure. During the second half of the 1980s, a Dallas businessman proposed converting the basement into a laser-tag venue, although the reference material does not indicate that the proposal became a lasting operation. By 1990, Rizzi's Ristorante and Pizzeria and Charlotte's West occupied parts of the lower level. Jewel Mart was gone by 1991, and the upper floor remained unused until Dillard's expanded its presence in 1998 by moving men's merchandise there and adding housewares. Rizzi's and Charlotte's West had both left by 2004. Dillard's later renovated the two-level area, and work carried out in 2005–2006 reorganized the department-store space. Summit Mall also operated a small two-screen movie theater. National Theatre Corporation closed it in July 1989 after General Cinemas opened a new theater at West Market Plaza. The former theater was part of a broader pattern in which entertainment and retail uses around enclosed malls changed as newer formats and competing sites emerged. In the twenty-first century, the property's specialty-retail lineup continued to change. Williams Sonoma announced a Summit Mall closure in January 2013, followed by Ann Taylor's closure announcement in January 2017. Despite these departures and the wider decline of many traditional enclosed malls, Summit Mall remained an active regional center. The cited description identifies Simon Property Group as its owner and reports approximately 850,000 square feet of enclosed space, around 110 stores, and a food court. Its anchor lineup consists of Macy's and two Dillard's operations, including a Dillard's Men's and Children's store. Following the closures of Chapel Hill Mall and Rolling Acres Mall, Summit Mall is described as the only remaining mall in Summit County.

• 2006

  Kaufmann's becomes Macy's

  [1]Summit Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The former O'Neil's-May Company Ohio-Kaufmann's anchor adopted the Macy's name.

• 1998

  Dillard's expands into former Polsky's space

  [1]Summit Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Dillard's moved its men's operation to the upper level of the former Polsky's space and added housewares.

• 1992

  Dillard's takes over former Halle's location

  [1]Summit Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Dillard's assumed control of the former Halle Brothers/Higbee's anchor store late in the year.

• 1989

  O'Neil's becomes May Company Ohio

  [1]Summit Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The O'Neil's anchor was converted to the May Company Ohio banner.

• 1989

  Mall cinema closes

  [1]Summit Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall's two-screen theater closed after a newer competing cinema opened nearby.

• 1982

  Halle Brothers closes

  [1]Summit Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Halle Brothers shut down, beginning a succession of replacement department-store operators in its anchor space.

• 1965

  Summit Mall opens

  [1]Summit Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall opened on October 28 with Halle Brothers Co., O'Neil's, and Polsky's as its original department-store anchors.

• 1963

  Mall project announced

  [1]Summit Mallen.wikipedia.org

  DeBartolo Corporation publicly announced plans for a regional enclosed shopping mall in the Fairlawn area.

A regional enclosed shopping center serving Fairlawn, Akron, and the wider Summit County market, with department-store anchors, specialty retail, dining, and convenience-oriented mall services.

• Department store · 2006

  Macy's

  Macy's is one of Summit Mall's principal anchor stores. The location represents the continuation of the former O'Neil's department-store space, which successively operated under the May Company Ohio and Kaufmann's names before adopting the Macy's banner in 2006. Its merchandise scope is associated with broad department-store categories including apparel, accessories, beauty, and home goods.

• Department store · 1992

  Dillard's

  Dillard's operates a full-line department store at Summit Mall. The store occupies the former Halle Brothers and Higbee's anchor location, which Dillard's acquired in late 1992. The branch forms part of the mall's department-store core and offers the broad apparel, accessories, beauty, and home-related assortment typically associated with the Dillard's format.

• Department store · 1998

  Dillard's Men's and Children's

  Dillard's Men's and Children's is a separate Dillard's operation identified among Summit Mall's current anchor stores. Its history is linked to the former Polsky's/Jewel Mart space, where Dillard's placed men's merchandise and housewares on the upper level in 1998 before later renovation and reorganization.

• Mall dining

  Food court

  Summit Mall includes a food court serving as a shared dining amenity for shoppers and visitors. The supplied reference material confirms the food court's presence but does not identify its individual operators or current restaurant lineup.

• 2005

  Dillard's renovates former Polsky's spaceStrategy

  Background

  Dillard's had been using portions of the former Polsky's building for men's merchandise and housewares.

  Action taken

  Renovation work during 2005–2006 returned men's merchandise and housewares to the south store and enabled further reconfiguration of the former two-level location.

  Aftermath

  The space was ultimately operated as a Dillard's women's store, while the mall retained multiple Dillard's anchor operations.

  Source

• 1998

  Dillard's consolidates operations in the former Polsky's spaceStrategy

  Background

  The upper levels of the former Polsky's/Jewel Mart space had experienced vacancies and changing temporary uses.

  Action taken

  Dillard's moved its men's department into the upper level and added a housewares department, later reorganizing the space through renovation.

  Aftermath

  The former multi-level anchor area became part of Dillard's expanded presence at the mall.

  Source

1. 1Summit Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Summit Mall official property pagesimon.com