Westland Mall, once a bustling shopping center on the outskirts of Columbus, Ohio, is being demolished after years of abandonment.
Westland Mall, once a bustling shopping center on the outskirts of Columbus, Ohio, saw its rise and eventual decline over several decades.
Established in 1962 with Lazarus as its pioneer tenant, the mall expanded significantly by 1969, housing stores such as Sears, JC Penny, and Woolworth. However, with changing economic climates and competition, particularly after the opening of the Mall at Tuttle Crossing in 1997, Westland’s prominence waned. By September 2017, it stood vacant.
In a bid to revitalize the area, LGR Weston acquired the site in 2019 with intentions for redevelopment. The turning point came in January 2023, when it was announced that the abandoned mall would be demolished under the Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program. Work to tear down Westland Mall began in June, marking the end of an era for the once-iconic shopping landmark.
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Add Yours →Sad to see these dinosaurs go. Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s I spent many of hours roaming malls with my friends, a joy my kids will never get to experience. That aerial view of the parking lot…. I’ve never seen that much space between spots. Bet no one has door dings from parking at that mall. Thanks for sharing your travels.
We’ve been keeping an eye on ol’ Westland for some years now. We bought our TV set and, I believe my bedroom slippers, from the Westland Sears, which hung on bravely until the last. It would be nice to have a real Sears store right about there, and perhaps they’ll return in another form. Eastland Mall is also being demolished, and there are perhaps a few others that failed to apply the lamb’s blood unto their doorposts as well.
I got a lot less emotional about demolition work when we had to take apart a large portion of the exhibits at COSI, our regional not-very-scientific science museum.
Mark Kinsler, Lancaster, Ohio, which is about 30 miles southeast of Columbus.