Summit Mall

{{infobox shopping mall

| name = Summit Mall

| image =Image:SummitMallSunburst.JPG

| caption = The mall's center court.

| location = Fairlawn, Ohio, United States

| coordinates = {{coord|41.13216|-81.61830|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| opening_date = {{Start date and age|October 28, 1965}} {{cite web |url=http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/history/timeline/1950.htm |title=Akron Ohio Historical Timeline 1950 - 1999 |access-date=2009-01-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329080311/http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/history/timeline/1950.htm |archive-date=2009-03-29 }} Akron Ohio Historical Timeline 1950-1999. Retrieved August 16, 2006.

| developer = Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. (DeBartolo Corporation)

| manager = Simon Property Group

| owner = Simon Property Group

| number_of_stores = 110 total (104 occupied){{cite web |title=Center Directory |url=https://www.simon.com/mall/summit-mall/stores |website=Summit Mall |access-date=June 2, 2023}}

| number_of_anchors = 3

| floor_area = {{convert|850,000|sqft|abbr=on}}

| floors = 1 (2 in Macy's and Dillard's)

| website = {{URL|https://www.simon.com/mall/summit-mall}}

| parking = 7,500

| publictransit = {{rint|bus|1}} METRO

}}

Summit Mall is a one-story, {{convert|850,000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} "East Side Malls" The Plain Dealer February 22, 2004. Retrieved July 31, 2006. enclosed shopping mall located at 3265 W. Market Street in the Akron suburb of Fairlawn.,{{cite web |url=http://www.cityoffairlawn.com/pdf/zoningmap.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2006-08-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060825231533/http://www.cityoffairlawn.com/pdf/zoningmap.pdf |archive-date=2006-08-25 }} City of Fairlawn Zoning Map. Retrieved August 21, 2006. and with the closing of both Chapel Hill Mall and Rolling Acres Mall, is the only remaining mall in Summit County.

Edward J. DeBartolo Sr.'s DeBartolo Corporation built the mall, which opened on October 28, 1965. Today, it is owned by Simon Property Group. Currently, Summit Mall contains 110 stores (of which 104 are currently occupied){{cite web |title=Center Directory |url=https://www.simon.com/mall/summit-mall/stores |website=Summit Mall |access-date=June 2, 2023}} and a food court. The anchor stores are Macy's and two Dillard's locations (Dillard's and Dillard's Men's and Children's).

History

DeBartolo Corporation developed Summit Mall. First announced in 1963, the mall opened to the public in 1965. The original anchor stores were Cleveland, Ohio-based Halle Brothers Co. and two other department stores both based in Akron: O'Neil's and Polsky's. Other major tenants included Woolworth, Kroger, and Acme Markets.{{cite news | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brett-eldredge-mn0002419025/biography | title=An old friend: area residents watched and shared in mall project | work=Akron Beacon Journal | date=October 27, 1965 | access-date=September 8, 2020 | pages=E3}}

After Halle's 1982 shutdown, their location was transferred to Higbee's, which operated the store until it was taken over by Dillard's in late 1992. It was a full-line location (without housewares) until 1998 when the men's department relocated to the top floor of the former Polsky's / Jewel Mart space (see below). When Dillard's took possession of the North store, the men's department and housewares relocated back to the south store which was renovated in 2005–2006.

O'Neil's became May Company Ohio in 1989, Kaufmann's in 1993, and Macy's in 2006.

After Polsky's closed, Jewel Mart occupied the main floor level. In July 1986, a Dallas businessman proposed opening a laser tag facility in the basement of the former Polksy's.Geiger, Peter. "Laser Game Proposed at Summit Mall." Akron Beacon Journal. July 9, 1986: D3. By July 1990, Rizzi's Ristorante and Pizzeria and Charlotte's West occupied the space on the half-vacant lower level.Murphey, Frances B. "Summit Mall Rizzi's has Jazz On its Menu 3 Nights a Week." Akron Beacon Journal. February 1, 1991: D18. Jewel Mart was gone by 1991 and the top floor remained vacant until Dillard's moved their men's store and started a housewares department on the upper level in 1998. Rizzi's and Charlotte's West were both gone by 2004, giving Dillard's the opportunity to renovate both floors as a Dillard's Women's store.

Summit Mall used to include a small movie theater. In July 1989, National Theatre Corporation (now Regal Entertainment Group) closed the two-screen theater at the mall when General Cinemas opened up a new theater at West Market Plaza. National Theater Corp. later opened a new theater in Montrose.Rhoden, Yalinda. "Malls Mean More Than Shopping To Attract Customers, Managers Must Provide Them Plenty of Amenities." Akron Beacon Journal. October 7, 1991: D1.

In January 2013, Williams Sonoma announced it would close its location in the mall.{{cite web |url=http://fairlawn-bath.patch.com/articles/williams-sonoma-closing-summit-mall-store-jan-20 |title=Williams-Sonoma Closing Summit Mall Store Jan. 20 - Fairlawn-Bath, OH Patch |access-date=2013-01-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115014402/http://fairlawn-bath.patch.com/articles/williams-sonoma-closing-summit-mall-store-jan-20 |archive-date=2013-01-15 }} Four years later, Ann Taylor announced that it will close at the mall.{{cite web|url=http://cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2017/01/ann_taylor_closing_in_akron.html|title=Ann Taylor closing at Fairlawn's Summit Mall|website=cleveland.com|date=11 January 2017 |access-date=23 April 2018}}

In 2021, the mall announced that the new stores will have plans.

Summit Mall

History

References

Further reading