Northland Mall
Encyclopedia
Northland Mall was a shopping mall located on the north side of Columbus, Ohio
, at the intersection of Morse Road and Karl Road. It opened in 1964 as an open-air shopping center and the first shopping mall in Columbus. Northland was the first of the four directionally-named shopping hubs in Columbus, along with Eastland (1967), Westland (1969) and Southland (1975) [a small strip center, now closed]. Though popular through the 1990s, three new shopping centers were completed in the late 1990s and early 2000s that took businesses and shoppers away from Northland. It closed in 2002 and was demolished in 2004.
. Its original two anchors were Lazarus
(now Macy's
) and Sears. A JCPenney was added in 1979, when the mall was expanded and enclosed.
Throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s it was one of the most popular shopping destinations in Columbus. A food court was added in a further expansion in around 1990, and the main mall's facade was updated. During the 1990s, however, the mall saw a steady demise caused by the introduction of new shopping malls in the area. The first new mall in Columbus in 20 years, the downtown City Center
included several tenants that were unique to Columbus, including anchors Marshall Field's
and Jacobson's, which took some business from Northland. However, it remained popular with shoppers in the northern half of Columbus.
The opening of The Mall at Tuttle Crossing
in 1997 was the first major hit to Northland. It could not match the capacity of Tuttle, which was larger and had more anchors. The opening of Tuttle was more devastating to Westland Mall, but nonetheless took shoppers away from the suburbs of Powell and Dublin, who had previously gone to Northland.
In late 2001, all three anchors (Lazarus, Sears, and JCPenney) closed their stores at Northland, relocating to new stores in Polaris Fashion Place
. Finally, on October 31, 2002, after 38 years of service to Columbus, Northland Mall closed. In February 2004, it was demolished. The only parts that remain are the former anchor stores of Lazarus, which was converted to offices for the Ohio Department of Taxation, and the former JCPenney store, which will house a local theater group (Vaud-Villites) after renovation. Ground has been broken for a Menards
home improvement store on the site of the former Sears.
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, at the intersection of Morse Road and Karl Road. It opened in 1964 as an open-air shopping center and the first shopping mall in Columbus. Northland was the first of the four directionally-named shopping hubs in Columbus, along with Eastland (1967), Westland (1969) and Southland (1975) [a small strip center, now closed]. Though popular through the 1990s, three new shopping centers were completed in the late 1990s and early 2000s that took businesses and shoppers away from Northland. It closed in 2002 and was demolished in 2004.
History
Northland was the first mall to open in the Columbus Metropolitan area. It was also the only mall in the area from 1964-1967, when Eastland Mall was constructed near the suburb of WhitehallWhitehall, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,201 people, 8,343 households, and 4,930 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,681.9 people per square mile . There were 8,997 housing units at an average density of 1,725.2 per square mile...
. Its original two anchors were Lazarus
Lazarus (department store)
F&R Lazarus & Company — commonly known as Lazarus — was a regional department store retail chain operating primarily in the U.S. Midwest, and based in Columbus, Ohio...
(now Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
) and Sears. A JCPenney was added in 1979, when the mall was expanded and enclosed.
Throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s it was one of the most popular shopping destinations in Columbus. A food court was added in a further expansion in around 1990, and the main mall's facade was updated. During the 1990s, however, the mall saw a steady demise caused by the introduction of new shopping malls in the area. The first new mall in Columbus in 20 years, the downtown City Center
Columbus City Center
Columbus City Center was a , three-level shopping center in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It was located in the city's downtown, near the Ohio State Capitol, next to the Ohio Theatre, and connected to a Hyatt hotel...
included several tenants that were unique to Columbus, including anchors Marshall Field's
Marshall Field's
Marshall Field & Company was a department store in Chicago, Illinois that grew to become a major chain before being acquired by Macy's Inc...
and Jacobson's, which took some business from Northland. However, it remained popular with shoppers in the northern half of Columbus.
The opening of The Mall at Tuttle Crossing
The Mall at Tuttle Crossing
The Mall at Tuttle Crossing is a shopping center located in Columbus, Ohio, USA near the suburb of Dublin. It was developed by a joint venture of Taubman Centers and The Georgetown Company and opened on July 11, 1997. The original anchor stores were Sears, Lazarus, Marshall Field's, and JCPenney...
in 1997 was the first major hit to Northland. It could not match the capacity of Tuttle, which was larger and had more anchors. The opening of Tuttle was more devastating to Westland Mall, but nonetheless took shoppers away from the suburbs of Powell and Dublin, who had previously gone to Northland.
In late 2001, all three anchors (Lazarus, Sears, and JCPenney) closed their stores at Northland, relocating to new stores in Polaris Fashion Place
Polaris Fashion Place
Polaris Fashion Place is a two level shopping mall and surrounding retail plaza serving Columbus, Ohio, United States. The mall, owned locally by Glimcher Realty Trust, is located off Interstate 71 on Polaris Parkway in Delaware County just to the north of the boundary between Delaware and Franklin...
. Finally, on October 31, 2002, after 38 years of service to Columbus, Northland Mall closed. In February 2004, it was demolished. The only parts that remain are the former anchor stores of Lazarus, which was converted to offices for the Ohio Department of Taxation, and the former JCPenney store, which will house a local theater group (Vaud-Villites) after renovation. Ground has been broken for a Menards
Menards
Menards is a chain of home improvement stores in the Midwestern United States.The privately held company headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin has 262 stores in 13 states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, and...
home improvement store on the site of the former Sears.
Anchors
- Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
196000 sq ft (18,209 m²). 1964-1979; 350000 sq ft (32,516.1 m²). 1979-2002 - JC Penney 175000 sq ft (16,258 m²).
- Sears 212900 sq ft (19,779.1 m²).