Westgate Mall (Fairview Park)

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Westgate Mall has existed as a preferred Greater Cleveland shopping center in some form since the mid-1950s. Located at the intersection of West 210th Street and Center Ridge Road in Fairview Park, Ohio at the boundary of Rocky River, Ohio. Westgate mall is now known as "Westgate", and now has formed into an outdoor shopping center.

1 Beginning
2 Decline
3 Redevelopment
4 Featured Retailers
5 Featured Restaurants
6 Notes
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Beginning

Originally built several years after the close of World War II, the first Westgate shopping center opened in 1954 as one of the first postwar suburban retail centers with department store anchors in the United States. The original anchors of what was then an open-air plaza was Halle Bros. Co., Higbee's, Kroger Supermarket and Federal Department Stores. Eventually, Higbee's took over the Federal space, while the center was roofed over in the late 1960s. 1972 saw the construction of a four-screen movie house operated by General Cinema Corporation. Halle's closed in 1982 when the chain went out of business.

In 1984, the Richard E. Jacobs Group, a Cleveland-based real estate developer, took ownership of the fading complex and began renovations and remerchandising to aim for the upper-income buyers surrounding the mall. The year saw the addition of Pittsburgh-based Joseph Horne Co. in the former Halle space and the Promenade Food Court, which was added to replace the original movie theatres. A new six-screen cineplex was built behind the mall on its own wing, near the Higbee's Home Store.

[edit] Decline

The 1990s saw another decline of the complex as newer facilities like Westfield Great Northern Mall in nearby and far-flung suburbs, a revitalized Downtown Cleveland and a recession-battered economy took its toll. Higbee's was taken over by Dillard's in 1992, which then bought out the Horne's store, creating a unique three-unit operation with ladies apparel in the north store, men's & children's items and housewares in the south wing and furniture & electronics in the outlying Home Store. Eventually, the Home Store was closed when Dillard's discontinued electronics and furniture in their Cleveland area locations. In 1996, Kohl's built a two-level store adjacent to the Promenade, which temporarily boosted the struggling mall's fortunes, but eventually the aging mall continued its downward trend. Many stores followed their customers to other locations or simply vanished due to their own corporate problems.

Dillard's eliminated non-apparel items in early 2004 and consolidated into the north store, which it eventually closed at the end of March 2005. Almost immediately, the remaining mall stores began leaving, and the cineplex, now owned by AMC, was closed as well.

[edit] Redevelopment

A major redevelopment was announced in late May, which planned to convert the center into a lifestyle open-air center. During this, both closed Dillard's, the interior of the mall, & plaza in front were demolished to make way. The new Westgate (dropping "mall" from the name) was opened in Fall of 2007. Westgate is an outdoor center with retailers such as Target, Ulta, Kay Jewelers, Petco, Lowe's, Marshall's, Justice, Famous Footwear,Starbucks, Chick Fila, Original Pancake House and more coming/opening soon. Kohl's remained open during the redevelopment. Only some areas are completed as of now, while other areas are still under construction.