River Valley Mall

In 1985, Fairfield County, Ohio commissioners approved a contract submitted by Glimcher Realty Trust to develop River Valley Mall along Memorial Drive, then part of US 33, west of the city of Lancaster, Ohio. Initial building costs were estimated at $4,000,000, not counting improvements to the infrastructure around the property.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/296525537/ | title=Commissioners approve new River Valley Mall contract | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=November 27, 1985 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | pages=1}} Construction began in June 1986, by which point Glimcher had confirmed that the mall would consist of nearly {{convert|500000|sqft|m2}} of retail space, including approximately 80 shops and restaurants and a movie theater. Two anchor stores had also committed to the project at this point: Lazarus,{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/296507133/ | title=First phase of mall launched | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=June 14, 1986 | accessdate=August 5, 2018 | pages=1}} and J. C. Penney, which would relocate from its existing store in the Plaza Shopping Center.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/296487002/ | title=J. C. Penney to locate store in new River Valley Mall | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=May 6, 1986 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | pages=1}} By August 1986, Hills had been confirmed as the mall's third anchor,{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/296538946/ | title=Hills department store to locate here | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=August 8, 1986 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | pages=1}} and Elder-Beerman as the fourth in March 1987.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/296490939/ | title=Elder-Beerman signs lease for local mall | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=March 24, 1987 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | pages=1}} Mall developers noted that the mall's tenant mix reflected the retail needs of a market the size of Lancaster, and that the decision to add a fourth department store was due to the initial success of the company's Indian Mound Mall in Heath, Ohio. Upon opening for business on October 1, 1987, the mall had more than 50 spaces leased.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/296495784 | title=River Valley Mall scheduled for grand opening Thursday | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=September 26, 1987 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | pages=9}} Over 25 stores joined the mall by 1989, including a {{convert|100000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} expansion consisting of the movie theater and a fifth anchor store, Sears, which opened that October.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/297051644/ | title=More growth ahead for River Valley Mall | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=February 24, 1989 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | pages=B8}}{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/297059162/ | title=New section of mall opened Wednesday | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=October 19, 1989 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | author=Carol M. Kugler | pages=1, 5}} Sears had also relocated from the Plaza Shopping Center.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/264248193 | title=Sears-Roebuck store announced in 1953 | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=January 23, 2017 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | pages=3A}} On July 23, 1995, a Target store opened near the mall.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67917962/target-plans-special-events-store/|title=Target plans special events; Store opens on July 23|publisher=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette}}

Ames acquired the Hills chain in 1999, but closed the store in 2001 as part of its departure from Ohio.{{cite web | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2001/12/03/daily24.html | title=Ames exiting Columbus market, closing three area stores | work=Columbus Business Journal | date=December 5, 2001 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | author=Doug Buchanan, Kathy Showalter}} Lazarus was converted to Macy's in 2005, but closed in 2007 due to declining sales.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/297105199/ | title=Macy's to close its doors in Lancaster | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=January 5, 2007 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | author=Tamaria L. Kulemeka | pages=1A, 2A}} Steve & Barry's, which took the former Ames in 2003, closed in 2009 when the chain went out of business, although the mall also added IHOP and Old Navy at this point. A 2009 Columbus Dispatch article noted that the additions of these new stores countered concerns about decreasing mall traffic after the US 33 by pass of Lancaster was built in 2005.{{cite web | url=https://www.dispatch.com/article/20090908/NEWS/309089734 | title=Bypass cuts traffic, not business | work=Columbus Dispatch | date=September 8, 2009 | accessdate=August 5, 2019}} Dick's Sporting Goods took the former Lazarus/Macy's anchor in 2010.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/297378012/ | title=Dick's Sporting Goods scheduled to open store in River Valley Mall later this year | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=March 24, 2010 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | author=Joe Giessler | pages=1A, 2A}}

In 2014, Regal Cinemas closed the mall's movie theater, following announcements that Cinemark would demolish the former Steve & Barry's building for a new theater.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/127868690/ | title=Last movie for a while at River Valley | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=July 3, 2014 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | author=Jeff Barron | pages=1A, 2A}} At the same time, Glimcher put up both River Valley and Indian Mound malls for sale.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/127882562/ | title=River Valley Mall for sale | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=June 19, 2014 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | author=Jeff Barron | pages=1A, 2A}} Glimcher forfeited ownership of the mall to Woodmont Company in 2016 to avoid foreclosure, and Woodmont in turn sold it to RVM LLC in 2017.{{cite news | url=https://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/story/news/2017/08/04/river-valley-mall-has-new-owner/539643001/ | title=River Valley Mall has new owner | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=August 4, 2017 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | author=Jeff Barron}} Sears closed in April 2017 as part of a plan to close 150 stores nationwide. Elder-Beerman closed on August 29, 2018 when its parent company The Bon-Ton went out of business.{{cite news | url=https://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/story/news/local/2018/04/18/elder-beerman-river-valley-mall-close/527486002/ | title=Elder-Beerman at River Valley Mall to close | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=April 18, 2018 | accessdate=August 5, 2019}} As of 2021, River Valley Mall had an occupancy rate of 50 percent.{{cite web | url=https://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/story/news/local/2018/06/22/more-and-more-people-home-shopping-can-river-valley-mall-survive/713218002/ | title=With more people shopping from home, can the River Valley Mall survive? | work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette | date=June 22, 2018 | accessdate=August 5, 2019 | author=Jeff Barron}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://rivervalleymall.com/ Official website]

{{Shopping malls in Ohio}}

Category:Shopping malls in Ohio

Category:Tourist attractions in Fairfield County, Ohio

Category:Shopping malls established in 1987

Category:1987 establishments in Ohio

Category:Namdar Realty Group