Today marks the 30th anniversary of the grand opening of SouthPark Mall (then SouthPark Center) back in 1996. The mall has changed a lot over that time and has gone through multiple eras. From SouthPark Center to Westfield SouthPark to SouthPark Mall. From the Jacob’s Group to Westfield to Starwood to Spinoso. When I visit SouthPark, I can tell it was designed with an intention to stand out among others. The architectural design from the heights of the impressive entrance vaults, grand barrel vault skylights & domes to the attention to detail in the ground tile patterns (more so of the original in this case) never get old for me and I hope they continue to inspire for years to come. SouthPark played a role in my desire to pursue a career in the world of architecture.
This is the mall I grew up with and it’s fascinating to think about the strength of presence it’s had on me. My early memories include the Westfield years with the Disney Store and the dining court with the glass facade. Not long after, the 2006 facelift took place. I remember experiencing the mall amidst the renovations and how exciting that was.
There’s so many memories in general. I remember a Charlotte’s Web experience with the Christmas setup one year. The clock tower used to be filled with references to “A Christmas Story” (before I understood any of that). I remember Caribou Coffee (although I was too little for coffee at the time), Firefly’s Minigolf, and Kids Concoctions. Helping with setup for Christmas decorations multiple years in high school. The grand opening of Mitchell’s Ice Cream. I also have a vague memory of the existence of Johnny Rockets.
So many memories and so much has changed over 30 years that has not always been kind to SouthPark. There have definitely been challenges but I’m optimistic that SouthPark’s highs can still be stronger than its lows. Even with the addition of newer centers like Crocker Park and Pinecrest, SouthPark continues to perform. Ownership changes through the years have shown (in my view) different levels of effort towards SouthPark. I’ll long miss the Westfield era and, although there have been positive impacts, I’m still skeptical of the Spinoso era. I hope they genuinely have the best interests of SouthPark in mind and are willing to do whatever it needs to continue perform in the long term. (A Westfield level full interior renovation would be nice for one. Replacing the faulty escalators for two.)
I came home to Strongsville to visit one Christmas and he was the first person I saw at the mall. It's like I had a cheat code to take me to the Final Boss.
I remember the WVIZ store on the second floor and the Indians team shop on the first. During Christmas I would drop the family at the main entrance and go hunting for a parking spot. I usually had to park by 82. Once they closed the Sears and the Taco Bell there was no reason for me to visit.
The Store of Knowledge. It licensed local PBS affiliates as part of their brand and paid them royalties.
While they sold some PBS related merch, it was just a way to seek out the PBS demographic and lure them in. It was more a cross of the Discovery Channel Store and ZanyBrainy
This was the 'fancy' mall we'd only go to around Christmas. Start at the Sandusky Mall, then go to Midway (it was nicer because it had a food court) and eventually get out to Southpark.
Do you remember the Friendly’s right in the mall? In high school we thought we were so grown up going in and ordering sundays. My oldest born in 2000 had his first pictures with Santa at that mall too. It makes me sad every time we are in the area and see its demise.
I graduated HS in Lorain in 98, and rarely have occasion to go back. but I spent a lot of time at Midway, and it'sn oddly complex feeling to go by there now.
I spent a few years running the Cinemark there. I've worked at multiple Northeast Ohio Cinemark locations over the years, and the Strongsville location has always been my favorite. Great theater, great coworkers, great boss, great staff. I miss those days.
I remember Cinemark opening and my family would go watch a new movie each month. It’s not a bad theater now by any means, though I do wish it had any premium screen options. All the theaters are just standard screens with the luxury recliners. I have amc a-list and love to watch Dolby Cinema so as much as I grew up liking cinemark the most, now I’m team amc.
Also, as a fun extra thing, I saved this concept art of the 2006 renovation years ago and, if you look closely, you can see an amc logo instead of cinemark.
I live out of town, now, but my parents live between the mall. I'm always driving past it, going between visiting them and the other. I've gone in several times, and it's always a bit of nostalgia.
And looking at the broken escalator that SHOULD be going up to the Cinemark.
I just took my niece to this mall a couple weekends ago. I went to it when it was the “new mall” but haven’t really been there in 20+ years.
My niece was on the hunt for squishy toys and there were plenty! Seems like every third store was that sort of thing.
I was surprised how busy it was too. Took a minute to find parking. It was a Sunday and the Browns were playing like shit (duh) so everyone was at the mall.
I was always a Chapel Hill Mall person so this mall seems new and fresh to me 😂
There’s still Great Northern and Beachwood Place in the area although they’re facing their own struggles rn especially:
1. close proximity to Crocker Park and Eton/Pinecrest respectively
2. dealing with empty/in limbo anchor spaces (Sears & Saks)
Curious to know if Creepy Mall Guy was still alive and kicking. No one could ever give me a straight answer, since I’ve haven’t been there in 10 years.
Yep. My cousin has a partial stake in SouthPark and he's made an incredible return over the past 30 years, gets a new car every year lol. Thanks for shopping there everyone!
I'm going to get downvoted to hell for this, quite possibly... But I'd rather eat moth dust than go inside the Hellmouth that is Southpark Mall. Hard pass. I have lingered around enough Strongsvillans that the Nucleus of Strongsville is the last place I want to spend my dollar.
97
u/TodashChimes19 1d ago
One day, I hope I can love something as much as OP loves malls.