Summit Mall (Akron, Ohio)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Summit Mall
Main entrance to Summit Mall
Main entrance to Summit Mall
Facts and statistics
Location Fairlawn, Ohio, USA
Opening date October 28, 1965 [1]
Developer Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. (DeBartolo Corporation)
Management Simon Property Group
Owner Simon Property Group
No. of stores and services more than 120 [2]
No. of anchor tenants 3
Total retail floor area 770,000 ft²
No. of floors 1
Website http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=161

Summit Mall is a one-story, 770,000 square foot [3] enclosed mall located at 3265 W. Market Street in the Akron suburb of Fairlawn. While its mailing address is Akron, the mall is located in Fairlawn [4].

Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr.'s DeBartolo Corporation built the mall, [3] which opened on October 28, 1965. [1] Today, it is owned by Simon Property Group. Currently, Summit Mall comprises more than 120 stores and a food court; anchor stores include Macy's and two Dillard's locations. Some stores included in the mall are Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Brookstone, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Cache, Coach, Coldwater Creek, The Disney Store, Eddie Bauer, Gymboree, Hot Topic, New York & Company, Victoria's Secret and Williams-Sonoma. The main entrance glass facade part of the mall(shown in picture above) is currently under re-construction. The glass structure is being extended, some stores are being built and some are having their facades changed into old country brown wood and stone structures. The landscape has also changed new, "Summit Mall" signs have been put up, the parking lot has been redone, and a "pull around circle" with flowers have been installed. All stores remain open doing construction they have just been downsized and you must enter the stores from the inside.

[edit] Former anchors

When the mall opened, Halle Brothers Co. was an original anchor. After their 1982 shutdown, their location was transferred to Higbee's, which operated the store until it was taken over by Dillard's in late 1992.

  • Macy's originally operated as a suburban location of the Akron-based O'Neil's department store, and after 1989, a May Company store. It became Kaufmann's in 1993 until changing names again in 2006.
  • Polsky's, another Akron department store, used to be located where Dillard's North is today. After it 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. [5] By July 1990, Rizzi's Ristorante and Pizzeria and Charlotte's West occupied the space.[6]
  • Like most malls, Summit Mall used to include a small movie theater. In July 1989, General Cinemas closed the two-screen theater at the mall in favor of their new seven-screen theater at West Market Plaza.[7]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/history/timeline/1950.htm Akron Ohio Historical Timeline 1950-1999. Retrieved August 16, 2006.
  2. ^ http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=161 Simon Property Group: Summit Mall . Retrieved July 30, 2006.
  3. ^ a b "East Side Malls" Cleveland Plain Dealer February 22, 2004. Retrieved July 31, 2006.
  4. ^ http://www.cityoffairlawn.com/pdf/zoningmap.pdf City of Fairlawn Zoning Map. Retrieved August 21, 2006.
  5. ^ Geiger, Peter. "Laser Game Proposed at Summit Mall." Akron Beacon Journal. 9 July, 1986: D3.
  6. ^ Murphey, Frances B. "Summit Mall Rizzi's has Jazz On its Menu 3 Nights a Week." Akron Beacon Journal. 1 February, 1991: D18.
  7. ^ Rhoden, Yalinda. "Malls Mean More Than Shopping To Attract Customers, Managers Must Provide Them Plenty of Amenities." Akron Beacon Journal. 7 October, 1991: D1.