Forest Fair Mall’s Days are Numbered

Forest Fair Mall/Cincinnati Mills/Cincinnati Mall’s days are numbered under a new plan to tear down the mall for redevelopment.

The Forest Fair Mall, also known as Cincinnati Mills and Cincinnati Mall, represents a classic case of a shopping center that failed to thrive. Opened in 1988, it initially featured Bigg’s hypermarket and several smaller stores. Its prospects seemed to brighten in 1989 with the completion of a fashion wing, which brought in prestigious retailers like B. Altman, Biggs, Bonwit Teller, Elder-Beerman, and Parisian, along with an array of 200 stores. However, despite these early signs of success, the mall struggled to maintain momentum. A series of challenges, including frequent changes in ownership, financial bankruptcies, and numerous rebranding attempts, hindered its growth. As a result, the mall never achieved full occupancy and has been languishing for many years.

Recently, it was announced that an industrial firm plans to purchase this nearly vacant shopping center, where only Bass Pro Shop and Kohl’s remain as major tenants. The firm intends to demolish the existing structure and redevelop the site for light industrial use, marking the end of an era for this once-promising retail hub.