DEAD MALL - Richland Mall - Mansfield Ohio - Revisited | ERA_Productions

Hello everyone! Welcome to the Richland Mall in Ontario Ohio, just outside of Mansfield Ohio. Opening in 1969, Richland Mall would bring indoor shopping to the Mansfield region. With Sears, O'Neil's and Lazarus as anchors, It would see great success throughout the 70s and 80s with more to come. 1993 would see O'Neils be rebranded to Kauffmann's. The mid 1990s would see an expansion and renovation happen, adding more JCPenney, a food court, and several more shoppes! 2002 saw Westfield bought the property, however, struggles were about to begin. 2005, saw the May and Federated department store merger happen, and with Lazarus and Kauffmann’s both getting converted to Macy’s, they did not want to operate it to anchor set up in the mall and chose to only operate in the Kauffmann’s building. With that the Lazar building would sit vacant for years. That was until 2013 when Avita Health turned the former Lazarus building into a hospital. Even with that though, it would not be enough to save Richland Mall. 2019 saw Sears close its store, and Macy’s closed in 2021. Let’s take a walk through this mall and see how it’s holding up!
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Walkthrough by glaciære: steviasphere.b...
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Filmed on September 13th. 2023
#deadmall #deadmallkings #exploringretailswithandrew #richlandmall #mansfieldohio #ohiodeadmall
Copyright 2024 by ERA_Productions © - Anyone Who Reuploads Or Reuses My Content Without Permission Will Be Claimed and Have There Video Removed.
Disclaimer: We Do Not Condone Of Vandalizing And Committing Of Crimes While Filming These Places. We Just Film Them To Preserve Their History And For The Memories.

[@ERA_Productions]

What are your thoughts on Richland Mall, and what do you think it's future holds?

[@Optopolis]

You said the land was changed to be mixed use. They should take advantage of that. Rip up some of the desert surrounding the mall and make it into a place for people to come hang out. Add residential apartments into the empty anchors as well so that people are right there instead of having to travel to the mall. Add some other businesses that would help them too, turn it into a tiny town almost.

[@jonathanrowe1827]

Malls in Asia have supermarkets in them.

[@Roscoetherev]

@@Optopolisthe area actually has a lot of new housing and some great restaurants and housing. But I like some of those ideas.

[@heruka369]

I grew up in Ashland and worked at the Mall at Waldenbooks since 1986 till 2001 and this just breaks my heart. So many memories...I had been coming to the Mall since the 70's.

[@nh4237]

I miss Waldenbooks!!!

[@modrn_]

It's sad, I worked here as a teenager. As a kid, this mall was PACKED anytime we went to it. On Fridays and Saturdays, all of our friends would meet up here, go to the arcade (which is not what you see in this video, there was an Aladdins Castle by the food court when I was younger). KB Toys, Babbages, all of the anchor stores (Macys, Kaufmans, Lazurus and JC Penny) were popping off, totally packed.

[@1Vettefan]

When I attended OSU Mansfield campus back in the early 1990's I used to come here if I had a break between classes to get lunch. There was also a nice music store and arcade I frequented. Sad to see how much this mall has slowed down over the years.

[@naunga9450]

I grew up in and went to college in Ashland in the early 90s, so this mall played a huge part of my life from my teen years through my early 20s when I moved away. So many memories of this place. I don’t live anywhere nearby anymore, but it is still kind of sad to see it fading away. You’re doing good work documenting these forgotten places.

[@ProtoMario]

I lived around these parts all my life. In the 80s, the movie theater was outside the mall, backside and drove business alot. Lazerous and all the typical anchors were there. Arcade, Hot Topic, Game Stop, KBToys, Spencers, all of it. ChuckeCheese came later, after Sears left. Now the Hospital owns much of it, and will likely continue to buy the remainder. I was told the owner of the mall Defaulted on his payments even though the vendors were paying so the bank offered Avita the opportunity to buy it.

[@cday131]

I still go to this mall sometimes. It kind of sucks! The one in Sandusky is more alive. You have to go to Columbus to get malls that still feel like old malls. I visited here often as a kid. Most of the time was spent looking through the used games in babbage's/gamestop, which is now down the road and is much less appealing for that purpose these days. I go to this mall more than gamestop in fact. I also grew up around the Rolling Acres mall in Akron. The fountain and the clear elevator was cool.

[@MichellesdesignsEtc]

Bath And body works is one of my favorites still holding out!

[@brianhuntington1438]

i use to hangout there in 1982,wow like a different mall. they use to let u smoke too.

[@mid-ohioguardian6927]

I remember there use to be a Burger King and a Toys R Us plus a arcade and you could smoke inside

[@ericwilliams9440]

Grew up in Marion & southland mall in the early 90's & would come to this mall for "a change*.

[@1976smb]

It now has new owners who have big plans for it. Though I think they should bring back an arcade, I only live five minutes away. They should never have removed the fountains.

[@ZeeMann_Retail]

Wow, this was a cozy, quaint looking mall. I hope it can power on for a while longer. Great video!

[@ERA_Productions]

I hope so too! Thank you!

[@johnbgood52]

I used to hang out at the Richland Mall with my friends when I was young, but I haven't been there in probably twenty years at least. There's just no longer any reason to go there. Malls have been dying for years, partly due to online shopping, which is killing brick and mortar stores in general, not just malls, and partly because mall rent is generally high (always has been) and high rent means high prices. Malls have become a relic of a way of life that no longer exists, and I don't think it'll be long before they're gone for good.

[@christinaphelps4688]

I've lived in this area my entire life and have many memories of this place. I stopped really going there after Sears closed. Recently I did take my children there to play in the kids area as cabin fever was getting to us. When I told my 5 year old son we were going to the mall he was confused and asked me what mall... He's probably only been there two or three times in his life.

[@Roscoetherev]

Fun nostalgia fact: The arcade in the mall used to be called Aladdin’s Castle frequented by lots of us kids in the day. This is the same arcade that a writer named Ernie Cline would later draw some inspiration for his now famous book, “Ready, Player One.” Later it was turned into the movie by the same name directed by Steven Spielberg. I met him a few times at the library in Ashland where he grew up. Nice guy and the book was so much CB better than the movie, especially the references to our local mall.

[@cammythings1901]

@@Roscoetherev Wow, I didn't notice the references of this mall in the book! I'll have to reread it!

[@KissMyFlapjack]

I've only been here once and I still remember that glorious facade of the La Avita Hospital anchor - although when I was there, it was vacant. Chuck E Cheese was also in the food court at the time. It looked pretty dead back then and even worse today. Great video, bud!

[@ERA_Productions]

Thank you! I do believe Sears and Macy's leaving here accelerated this mall's fate sadly.

[@kayomoneybags5346]

I used to hang out at this mall as a kid....there actually was another mall like 5 minutes from this one called Kingsgate I believe. I remember going to both of malls as a kid. I went to the one in Marion alot as well since it was closer and my mom worked at the Joanne fabrics there for a bit.

[@cammythings1901]

The Pretzel Maker isn't even in the Richland Mall anymore. Oriental Express is the only food spot that's still holding on. They do hold a farmer's market every Friday, though!

[@RobHoffman83]

I remember when there were fountains and a sunken rest area. Baskin and Robbins, Gray Drug, Dr. X Pet Center, Hallmark, Hot Sam's, Whoolworth's. Lazarus Restaraunt, O'Neals Restaraunt, and Whoolworth's restaraunt. It breaks my heart every time I walk through it. Ultimately now that AVITA has purchased the old Sears building, I think we'll eventually see the anchors become the hospital and the inner mall become more like the mall at Cleveland Clinic.

[@markstrouse3101]

I am here as promised to watch my favorite KZbinr. Great video as always Andrew, my really good friend

[@ERA_Productions]

Wow, thank you man!

[@ClumsyCatgirl]

Ah. This was my mall as a kid. Didn't go that often, but this is still painful to see.

[@Optopolis]

Ahhhh the infamous Chuck E Cheese replaced by Spirit. That one anyway.

[@ERA_Productions]

Yeah, I’ve noticed they went in there a lot over the past few years

[@ladykay1068]

Spent my teen years there. I'm 55 now.

[@billsmith2217]

Nice work Andrew

[@DGTelevsionNetwork]

I really dont understand why the food court was as empty as it was, especially knowing the hospital is literally in walking distance. In terms of competition, polaris is about an hour away as well as the Tanger outlet 30 to 45 minutes away in Delaware, both of which are very much alive.

[@orangeblueandlavenda]

Wow look at that. Such potential

[@RayOutThere]

Looking pretty sad in here. That old school anchor is really sweet looking though

[@ERA_Productions]

Indeed! Love those old O’Neil’s facades! The past few years really haven’t been kind to this mall

[@MMBaus]

Great vid, you have an amazing channel. I love the music choices in your videos too. I've subbed 👍

[@ERA_Productions]

Thank you so much!

[@mr.p438]

I grew up going to this mall in the late 90s and early 2000s. I wonder what will happen to the hospital if the mall did close?

[@milk_duds_on_yt7569]

Local here, every year we all wonder "How TF is this place still open"

[@HkSniper]

I worked in the mall for a while. One ownership you sort of slipped on was that the mall was owned by Centro-Watt for a time, they then dropped the Watt and went to Centro, before shifting to the other owners down the road.

[@amandaburns726]

I grew up walking that mall.... but it was nothing like now. Zales, Alladins Castle, Spencer's, Kay's. Sbarros, steak escape, Auntie Anne's. Oh the memories here.

[@kmanalpha453]

Hey, Spencer's is still here XD but it's just them and Hot Topic

[@cuddlesthetiger-mallsnmore]

I hope they can turn things around. I actually really like the Avita's facade. Loved the video as always, Andrew

[@ERA_Productions]

Agreed! However the Lazarus facade from before is just so much better in my opinion.

[@Tackyonetwo]

The shopping center on Park Avenue West where Kroger is, as I recall, began as an outdoor shopping area and then became a closed-in mall and then reverted back to an outdoor shopping area, when Kroger opened up there.

[@1976smb]

Kingsgate

[@SuperBuickregal]

Another great video!

[@ERA_Productions]

Thank you!

[@nolanrueckert8061]

They're mostly turning it into a medical center now

[@Lola_the_Cavapoo]

I live in Mansfield currently. It's a retail black hole.

[@floydsemlow8253]

I used to come from Chardon to Mansfield to the flying machine as concert venue back in the day, that's a really depressed area these days. Was thriving then, God bless from Chardon Ohio

[@jonnyfavors7585]

@@Lola_the_Cavapoo I live here too

[@cxryptonic]

It seems like they have more businesses opening there just from doing a quick google search!

[@neohelevators]

is the JCP becoming a clearance center or already is? bc last time i was there, everything was like 20-30% off

[@ERA_Productions]

I don’t think it is, but I feel like it will probably close down soon.

[@TheCoasterSerpent]

This place is depressing, and my hometown mall. Occasionally, something interesting will set up shop here for a bit. A couple of years ago, it had a pretty good used PC parts shop where you could get cases, used cards, CPUs and other used electronics. Right now it has a decent retro videogame store that is worth checking out once every little while. The only reason this mall is surviving though is because of the hospital. That food court really sucked in its hayday, and was in my opinion the start of the decline. This mall had a Burger King and a Little Caesars and they were replaced by a Sbarros and a few other pretty bad food court choices.

[@msbeautifulchaos]

The mall recently was sold, supposedly the new owners are going to bring in more stores

[@ERA_Productions]

Do you by chance know who bought it?

[@RestInPeaceParanormal-Ohio]

@@ERA_Productions last I heard was Avita was trying to buy the whole mall and try to breathe some life back into it - haven't heard where it stands right now. If you think it was good on your first visit you should have seen it when it was new. I can remember being 7-8 years old in the early 70's going there with my grandma and shopping with her then getting something to eat at either O'Niells or Lazarus. They both had really good restaurants in them!

[@anthonyh2884]

Malls peaked in 1995! Last 30 years they have slowly declined into nothingness! Gone are the days spending hours going from store to store! 😮😢

[@nicknoltski1845]

What song is that? I like it

[@ERA_Productions]

All music used in the video is Linked in the description!

[@mid-ohioguardian6927]

I remember there use to be a Burger King and a Toys R Us plus a arcade and you could smoke inside