Forest Fair Mall

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Forest Fair Village
Cincinnati Mills Logo.svg
Forest Fair Village interior.jpg
Center court overlook
Forest Fair Mall
Location Forest Park and Fairfield, Ohio, U.S.
Address1047 Cincinnati Mills Drive
Opening dateJuly 11, 1988;37 years ago (1988-07-11)
Closing dateDecember 2, 2022;3 years ago (2022-12-02)
DemolishedSeptember 16, 2025
Previous names
  • The Shops at Forest Fair
  • Cincinnati Mills
  • Cincinnati Mall
  • Forest Fair Village
Developer George Herscu
OwnerHillwood Investment Group
Architect Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum
Stores and services0 (200+ at peak)
Anchor tenants 0 (5 at peak)
Floor area 1,500,000 square feet (140,000 m2)
Floors2
Parking6,000
Public transit Bus-logo.svg Metro

Forest Fair Village (also known as The Malls at Forest Fair, Cincinnati Mills, Cincinnati Mall, and Forest Fair Village) [1] was an enclosed shopping mall in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. Demolition began in September 2025, it was located on the border between Forest Park and Fairfield, at the junction of Interstate 275 and Winton Road.

Contents

The mall opened in two phases between 1988 with the Bigg´s wing and 1989 with the center court anchor and other 2 fashion wings, the mall become known for its troubled history, a fire in the food court and gangwars within the malls left the public with an uneasy eye. Despite being the second-biggest mall in the state of Ohio and bringing many new retailers to the Cincinnati market, it lost three anchor stores (B. Altman and Company, Bonwit Teller, and Sakowitz) and its original owner LJ Hooker to bankruptcy less than a year after opening.

The mall underwent renovations throughout the mid 1990s under its second owner, Gator Investments, attracting new big-box stores such as Kohl's, Burlington Coat Factory, and Bass Pro Shops. Mills Corporation renamed the property Cincinnati Mills in 2002 and renovated the mall once more in August 2004. Following the sale of Mills's portfolio to Simon Property Group, the mall was sold several times, while continuing to lose many of its key tenants due to a combination of retailer bankruptcies and increased competition from newer shopping centers.

After having been renamed Cincinnati Mall and again Forest Fair Village in the 2010s, the property became a dead mall. It also received a number of proposals for renovation, none of which were realized. Around this time numerous code violations were found on the property in 2020 including busted pipes, broken out lights, sealed off emergency exits, graffiti and vandalism, several skylights that were leaking heavily and a decaying abandoned parking structure that was still open to the public. Later in 2020, Butler County Land Bank would apply for a 9.5 million dollar loan to demolish the mall, at that time the only tenants left were Kohl's and Bass Pro Shops both having no Mall entrance and an arcade which was the last tenant left in the mall. Arcade Legacy closed on August 28th 2022 leaving the mall 100% vacant. Following years of losing tenants, it closed to the public on December 2, 2022, with the exception of Kohl's and Bass Pro Shops. Those stores closed in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Demolition of the entire complex began in September 2025.

History

Background

In 1985, real estate developer Amega selected the site at the northeast corner of the Interstate 275 beltway's interchange with Winton Road in suburban Cincinnati, Ohio, for the development of a retail property. Initially, the site was to consist solely of Bigg's, a local hypermarket chain. [2]

Billionaire George Herscu, chairman of the Australian Hooker Corporation, acquired the property from Amega in 1986 and chose to make Bigg's an anchor store to an ambitious $200 million "supermall" with 1.5 million square feet (140,000 m2) of retail space. [3] [4] About 70% of the proposed building was located in Forest Park and the rest in Fairfield. [5]

In July 1987, herscu announced that two department stores had committed to the project: Higbee's and Bonwit Teller. Overall, Forest Fair Mall would be the second-biggest mall in the state of Ohio at the time of construction, behind only the now-demolished Randall Park Mall in the Cleveland suburb of North Randall. Architectural plans called for a two-story structure with space for up to 200 stores. Decor was to feature "soaring, cathedral type ceilings, supported by steel beams and covered with curved glass." [6]

Also in 1987, Hooker bought a controlling interest in Bonwit Teller and three other department stores: B. Altman and Company, Parisian, and Sakowitz. B. Altman was confirmed as a tenant in November 1987 and Parisian in March 1988, [7] [8] while negotiations with Sakowitz began in October 1988. [9]

1988–1990: Early years

The developers plan from the get-go was setting the massive mall up for failure. Developer George Herscu wanted the mall to be a very high end shopping space which would of been brand new to the city, except the mall was wedged into the middle of two blue-collar neighborhoods (Forest Park and Fairfield) so all the upscale brands Herscu wanted (Parisian, B.Altman, Bonwitt Teller, and Sakowitz) already didn't want locations there. [10]

The mall would cost $200 million dollars to build, but due to complications it would nearly $50 million over budget. The reason for this was because Herscu was massively in debt and would force the already not wanting location stores to move in by buying controlling shares of each company and then forcing them to open a store in the mall hoping for success which would put him into even more debt.

In June 1988, a month before the mall's scheduled opening, Higbee's withdrew from the project right before opening. [11] As a result, B. Altman was relocated from its original location to the space vacated by Higbee's, leaving a vacant anchor store and delaying the opening of the rest of the mall. [12]

The first phase of the mall, featuring Bigg's and approximately 20 other stores, opened on July 11, 1988. Immediately after that wing opened, Elder-Beerman was confirmed for the vacated anchor. [13] The opening of the remainder of the mall was delayed until March 1989. [12] [11] [14] About one-third of the mall tenants were open then, including Bonwit Teller, B. Altman, Parisian, and a food court. By mid-year, Elder-Beerman and Sakowitz had also opened. Other tenants included an Australian restaurant called Wallaby Bob's, a 1950s-styled diner, Oshman's Sporting Goods, [15] and an eight-screen movie theater called Super Saver. [16] Many of the tenants were unique at the time: Wallaby Bob's was "the first brewery-restaurant in the nation that operates in a suburban shopping mall", [17] while another tenant, Koala Klubhouse, was the first licensed day care in an American shopping mall. [18] Another major tenant present at opening day was a 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) entertainment complex called Time Out, featuring a carousel and miniature golf course. [18] The inclusion of such entertainment venues was cited by The New York Times as an example of shopping malls staying competitive by offering options besides retail stores. The Times compared it to the inclusion of entertainment at West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. [19] A 1989 article in The Cincinnati Enquirer described the mall as "entering uncharted waters" due to Sakowitz, B. Altman, Parisian, and Bonwit Teller all being not only new to the Cincinnati market but offering higher-priced merchandise available at those stores, in comparison to the area's more blue-collar demographics. [20]

The Enquirer estimated Forest Fair cost $200 million ($439 million in 2024 [21] ) to build. The concourses between Bigg's and Parisian were about 1,740 feet (530 m) long, using over 80,000 feet (24,000 m) of wood. [22] It had two stories, with three wings forming into a Y shape. The Dallas, Texas, firm Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum (now called HOK) was the architect. [23] Original decor of the mall included peach and teal tones, brass handrails along the concourses, lighting mounted on poles, and barrel-vaulted ceilings that alternated between brass linings and skylights. [24] [23] Decor within the mall concourses included a number of fountains and sculptures, including mechanical fish and hangings that resembled sails. [23] Diane Heilenman of the Courier Journal noted that the heavy use of skylights, mirrors, and ceramic tile gave the mall a strong usage of light, and compared it to being "inside a pinball machine." [23] The B. Altman store also featured brass as a primary decorative element, along with parquet floors and a color scheme of rose and mauve. Bonwit Teller also employed brass and a color scheme of peach and teal, while Parisian's store mostly used mahogany wood and softer shades of blue, such as periwinkle. [24]

The mall was a lot to take in by residents and at the time of opening the mall only received very mild success, nothing like Herscu planned. The overly posh mall was way out of place for where it was built.

The mall entrance of Bass Pro Shops Bass Pro Shops - Cincinnati Mills Mall (9762522494).jpg
The mall entrance of Bass Pro Shops

Just 3 months after opening, LJ Hooker filed for bankruptcy due to debt accrued by the company's expansion in the United States. [25] Just after that Herscu would be put in jail after filing for ¨shady business practices¨ The company put Forest Fair up for sale for $200 million in June 1989. During this time nearly every upscale store Herscu had forced in left. The mall sat at a despressing 50% occupancy. [14] and the mall was described as "struggling" due to the many vacancies, primarily in the B. Altman wing. The proximity to both Northgate Mall and Tri-County Mall was also cited as a factor in the mall's struggles, compounded by the latter's expansion not long after Forest Fair opened. [26] Despite the mall's troubles, the owners of Parisian noted that the store's sales were strong enough for the company to consider expansion in the Cincinnati market. [27] As part of LJ Hooker's bankruptcy filing, the company put all four of the department stores it had acquired on the market. Parisian was sold back to its previous ownership, while the other three were to be liquidated. [28] [25] [29] The other six B. Altman stores began that process in November 1989, although the Forest Fair store was kept open to prevent its closure from lowering the mall's value. [30] Liquidation sales began in August 1990 at the Forest Fair locations of all three department stores. [31] All of the other Sakowitz stores were also liquidated at this point, along with all but two locations of Bonwit Teller. These locations, both in Upstate New York, were sold to The Pyramid Companies. [32] In October 1990, the mall was sold to FFM Limited, a partnership headed by a group of banks which had loaned Hooker most of the $250 million in construction costs. [33] [28]

1990s-early 2000s: The first efforts to re-brand the Mall

In 1993, Forest Fair would re-brand itself as “The Malls at Forest Fair” each wing would focus on a different theme of shopping. The southwestern wing, featuring Parisian and Elder-Beerman, became "The Fashions at Forest Fair", featuring apparel and traditional department stores. The northwestern wing, vacated by B. Altman, became "The Lifestyles at Forest Fair", with stores focused on home decor, entertainment, and sporting goods. Surrounding Bigg's, the eastern wing became "The Markets at Forest Fair", which featured tenants centered on "value, services, and convenience". Finally, the massive center court and the former location of Bonwit Teller became "The Festival at Forest Fair", focused on entertainment and new restaurants. [34] [33] Lexington, Kentucky-based clothing store Dawahares opened its first Ohio store in the vacated Sakowitz space, while Subway and Hot Dog on a Stick joined the food court. [34] By June 1993, further new tenants had opened, including a Sam Goody/Suncoast Motion Picture Company music and video superstore in the Lifestyle wing and a CompUSA electronics store in the Markets wing. At the time, each of the other wings was about 90% leased except for the Lifestyle wing, which was only 25% leased. Due to the increased traffic brought on by the new stores, many new retail developments were constructed at the I-275 interchange, while the increase in businesses also boosted tax revenues in Forest Park. [35] The Altman's space remained vacant until late 1994 when Kohl's opened there. This was the first of three stores it opened that year as it entered the Cincinnati market. [36]

The mall was put on sale again in 1995, with FFM representatives noting that the partnership had never intended to maintain ownership for more than five years. [33] Miami, Florida-based Gator Investments ultimately bought the mall in January 1996. [26] Several anchor stores in the mall changed under Gator's ownership: Dawahares closed in late 1996 due to poor sales, [37] Berean Christian Stores signed a 10-year lease for a 21,250 square feet (1,974 m2) Christian bookstore at the mall in late 1997, [38] while Parisian closed in June 1998 [39] and Guitar Center replaced CompUSA in August 1998 after that store moved to a larger location across from Tri-County Mall. [40] A gym called Moore's Fitness also opened during this time which replaced the old food court that had caught fire a few years prior [41]

In late 1999 and early 2000, Gator Investments began a second renovation which attracted several new tenants. Under these plans, they worked with Glimcher Realty Trust as leasing agent. [42] The mall underwent a myriad of changes soon afterward, including three anchor stores that opened in October 2000: Bass Pro Shops opened in the former Parisian, [43] Burlington Coat Factory (now known as just Burlington) replaced the former "Festival" wing, [41] [44] and Stein Mart entered Ohio with a temporary outlet store in the space Dawahares left. [45] Also joining the mall in 2000-01 were Media Play, [46] Off 5th (an outlet division of Saks Fifth Avenue), [47] and the first Steve & Barry's sports clothing store in Ohio. [48] These stores were part of a reconceptualization of the mall as "a value retail center with new-to-the-market merchants". [46] This reconceptualization included\ new entertainment venues, like a nightclub called Metropolis, [49] a new Showcase Cinemas theater complex with stadium seating, [41] and a new children's playplace called Wonderpark. [48]

2002–03- The Dark Era for Forest Fair

The mall's central court in 2013, as seen from the upper level of the Bass Pro Shops wing Cincinnati Mills Mall (9762327281).jpg
The mall's central court in 2013, as seen from the upper level of the Bass Pro Shops wing

After a drawn out dispute with Polaris Fashion Place, Gator Investments lost all interest in the mall and sold it to the Mills Corporation in 2002. the Mills announced that the property would undergo further redevelopment, along with a name change to Cincinnati Mills. [50] As part of the redevelopment, Mills forced out many small independent businesses. [51] Renovations began in January 2003, which included new paint, floors, and signage throughout, along with differently-themed decor for each wing of the mall, typical of properties developed by Mills at the time. [52] and only exterior anchor stores would remain open. Elder-Beerman announced the closure of its store in 2003, as the chain wanted to focus on smaller stores in markets with lower populations. [53]


2004-2006 The Golden Era for Forest Fair

On August 19, 2004 the mall would reopen as a truly re-imagined shopping destination after a $70 million dollar renovation. [54] This was the most positive reception of the mall as it was now over 75% occupancy, nearly every mistake made during the previous mis- managements had been corrected. As part of Mills' development, Babies "R" Us replaced Stein Mart, and Johnny's Toys had opened in the upper level of the former Elder-Beerman, [55] while the older Super Saver theater was sold to the local theater chain Danbarry and renamed the Dollar Saver. [56] Inline tenants at this point were focused mainly on discount stores and amenities suitable for families, as was typical of other properties developed by Mills. [54] By January 2005, the mall had a 95 percent occupancy. [57] The redesign of the mall features what you see today. However outdated tenants would hamper growth, new dress code rules were enacted and groups of more than 3 would be banned from the mall. While the Mills did save the mall for a short time, as 2006 began Cincinnati Mills would start to fall under once again. [58]

2006-2010 The Recession of Forest Fair

Trouble would begin starting with the closing of Media Play, which went out of business entirely with every one of their stores shuttered by 2006, and Johnny's Toys, which was closed so that Steve & Barry's could create a larger store using the entirety of the former Elder-Beerman store. In addition, Bigg's was rumored to be leaving as the president of Bigg's reported that their store in the mall had constantly struggled in sales due to it being located at the back of the property. [59] Also contributing to the decline were continued competition with Northgate and Tri-County malls, along with a newer outdoor mall called Bridgewater Falls in nearby Hamilton; lower-class demographics surrounding the mall; shopper unfamiliarity with the specialty tenants within; bankruptcy filings of key tenants; and complications from an accounting scandal in which the Mills corporation was involved. [60] Simon Property Group acquired the Mills portfolio in 2007. [61]

in June 2008, Bigg's (which was the last original anchor tenet) left, shortly after Berean Christian Stores and Wonderpark in March of that same year. [62] North Star Realty acquired the mall from Simon in January 2009. [61] It proposed converting portions of the mall to office space, call centers, or other non-retail uses, [63] and renamed the property Cincinnati Mall in March. [64] [65] Under North Star's ownership, Steve & Barry's vacated due to the chain going out of business, [63] Guitar Center, Urban Behavior, Steve and Berry's, Saks Off 5th, and many others left. Saks Off 5th, Guess, Lane Bryant, and Dress Barn relocated to a newly built outlet mall in Monroe. [66] [67] Despite the loss of these stores and other inline tenants such as MasterCuts and GNC, Totes Isotoner operated a temporary 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m2) warehouse store in a vacated slot near the food court. [68] In addition, the owners had not been paying their property taxes. [67] Cincinnati Holding Company, a subsidiary of World Properties, purchased the mall in 2010, [69] right as Showcase Cinemas closed. [67]

2011-2019- The Quiet years

Nautical-themed food court, May 2018. Forest Fair Village Food Court.jpg
Nautical-themed food court, May 2018.

Three local business owners announced plans in 2011 to open ice skating rinks in the vacated Bigg's, and a hotel was slated for the space originally occupied by Elder-Beerman. [70] Bass Pro Shops announced it would relocate to West Chester Township in 2013 but would ultimately pull out staying at the mall. That year, the mall was again renamed Forest Fair Village with hopes of bringing some life back. [71] Burlington Coat Factory moved out in 2013, [72] and Danbarry Dollar Saver closed in 2014. [73] The proposed relocation of Bass Pro Shops, combined with the ongoing tax delinquency, delayed any further redevelopment. [74] A plan to redevelop with Prudential Commercial Real Estate fell through in 2014 when that company's listing agreement expired. [75] By 2017, only Kohl's, Bass Pro Shops, an arcade, and a children's entertainment complex remained in operation. [76] A brokerage team put the mall up for sale in 2017 with the asking price of $50 million, the mall was clearly not of that value as mold and decay had come to set in, and later [77] In mid-2017, a Christian media company expressed interest in using part of the property as a studio. [78]

2020-2025- The End of Forest Fair

Inspectors from the city of Forest Park cited the building for a number of code violations throughout 2020, including sealed emergency exits and graffiti. At the same time, Cincinnati news station WCPO-TV began investigating the mall after viewers noted that Amazon Prime delivery trucks were using the structure's parking lot to stage deliveries. [79] Officials of both Butler and Hamilton counties submitted plans to the state in 2022, requesting $9.5 million to demolish the mall. They also began redevelopment negotiations with Kohl's and Bass Pro Shops. The Butler County Journal News reported that any demolition plans would be contingent on the availability of state funds. One plan would convert the property to light industrial use. [80]

Arcade Legacy, one of the last remaining tenants, moved out in September 2022. [81] A month later, WLWT reported that the mall was slated for demolition along with 825 other buildings across Ohio, as part of Governor Mike DeWine's Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program. [82] The mall was closed on December 2, 2022, after the City of Forest Park Fire Department shuttered all remaining businesses (except Bass Pro Shops and Kohl's) due to a number of fire code violations. [83] Bass Pro Shops closed its Forest Fair Village location in January 2024 as it relocated to a larger store off I-75 in West Chester. [84] In January 2025, Kohl's announced it would close 27 underperforming stores in April, including their Forest Fair store, leaving the mall with no tenants. [85]

On May 21, the city of Forest Park approved Hillwood Investment Group's proposal to redevelop Forest Fair Village as an industrial park. [86] Hillwood acquired 55 acres of the Forest Fair Village area in August, while World Properties kept the remainder of the site. Hillwood will demolish the mall's structure between September 2025 and summer 2026. Forest Park-based company Hillman Group is slated to occupy a distribution center being built on the site afterwards. [87]

See also

References

  1. ↑ NorthCdogg22 (September 17, 2022). Dead Malls Season 4 Episode 9 - Forest Fair Village . Retrieved December 13, 2025– via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ Wetzel, Janet C. (April 5, 1985). "Biggs deal fails to excite Fairfield". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C2. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  3. ↑ Green, Richard (February 27, 1989). "Interview with George Herscu". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 38.
  4. ↑ Schaefer, Walt (April 23, 1986). "Larger Bigg's mall planned in Fairfield". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. D1. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  5. ↑ Schaefer, Walt (November 21, 1986). "Developers optimistic about five mall stores". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C10. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  6. ↑ Josten, Margaret (July 13, 1987). "Mall promises glitter and glitz". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C1. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  7. ↑ Josten, Margaret (November 13, 1987). "B. Altman to be a Forest Fair Mall anchor". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B7. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  8. ↑ Josten, Margaret (March 17, 1988). "Forest Fair adds new anchor". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B8. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  9. ↑ Green, Richard (October 5, 1988). "Sakowitz talking to Forest Fair". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. D1. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  10. ↑ NorthCdogg22 (September 17, 2022). Dead Malls Season 4 Episode 9 - Forest Fair Village . Retrieved December 12, 2025– via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. 1 2 Green, Richard (June 10, 1988). "Forest Fair Mall's full opening delayed". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. A-1, A-8. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  12. 1 2 Green, Richard (June 11, 1988). "Forest Fair tenants slow in opening stores". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B7. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  13. ↑ Agnew, Ronnie (July 15, 1988). "Beerman fills void in Forest Fair Mall". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C7. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  14. 1 2 Green, Richard (June 1, 1990). "Hooker shops for mall takers". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B7. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  15. ↑ Green, Richard (February 18, 1989). "Many Forest Fair stores delay opening". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. A7. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  16. ↑ Gallagher, Patricia. "Smaller screens mean bigger profits". The Cincinnati Enquirer. June 29, 1989. pp. D1, D2. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  17. ↑ Newberry, John (July 10, 1989). "Beer down under: Pub opens at Forest Fair". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. D1, D5. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  18. 1 2 Green, Richard (January 12, 1989). "Forest Fair presents new choices". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B11. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  19. ↑ "The mall—not just shopping". Santa Barbara News Press. New York Times News Service. August 14, 1988. pp. F1, F5. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  20. ↑ Green, Richard (February 27, 1989). "Success of Forest Fair Mall isn't assured". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. D4. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  21. ↑ Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth . Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  22. ↑ Gayle Harden-Renfro (February 28, 1989). "Making of a mall". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. 4B. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  23. 1 2 3 4 Diane Heilenman (December 16, 1989). "Marketecture". Courier Journal . pp. 4–6. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  24. 1 2 Gayle Harden Renfro (January 24, 1989). "Forest Fair: Sneak preview of newest shopping mecca". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. 3B, 4B. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  25. 1 2 Green, Richard (August 8, 1990). "Doors ajar at Forest Fair Mall". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. E6. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  26. 1 2 Henterly, Meghan (January 3, 1996). "Forest Fair Mall finds buyer". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B7. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  27. ↑ Green, Richard (March 4, 1990). "Forest Fair Mall: can it succeed?". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. I1, I2. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  28. 1 2 Byczkowski, John J. (October 20, 1990). "Bank to buy Forest Fair". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A1, A10. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  29. ↑ Josten, Margaret (August 4, 1990). "Hooker wants OK to close 3 Forest Fair Mall stores". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A1, A4. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  30. ↑ Green, Richard (April 23, 1990). "Last B. Altman's changes focus to stay in business". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. D1, D3. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  31. ↑ Bermudez, Frederick (August 20, 1990). "Bargain hunters drawn to 1st-day sales". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A1, A10. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  32. ↑ Green, Richard (April 6, 1990). "Sale clouds future of local Bonwit". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B10. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  33. 1 2 3 Reese, Shelly (February 24, 1995). "Forest Fair for sale". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A1, A8. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  34. 1 2 Byczkowski, John J. (May 22, 1992). "Mega-mall gets 2nd life". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A1, A10. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  35. ↑ Kiesewetter, Sue (June 20, 1993). "Cities count on Forest Fair's full recovery". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. Extra 5. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  36. ↑ Reese, Shelly (April 21, 1994). "Kohl's Department Stores to open at Forest Fair Mall". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B5. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Tristate business summary". The Cincinnati Enquirer. January 20, 1996. p. B16. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  38. ↑ Brothers, Perry (October 9, 1997). "Forest Fair gets Christian bookstore". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C12. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  39. ↑ Sutel, Seth (July 6, 1998). "Saks bought by Proffitt's in $2.1B deal". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A1, A5. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  40. ↑ Fasig, Lisa Biank (August 8, 1998). "Industry notes: retail". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B15. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  41. 1 2 3 Fasig, Lisa Biank (August 15, 1999). "Forest Fair Mall redefines itself". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A1, A16. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Tristate summary". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 4, 1999. p. C1. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  43. ↑ Fasig, Lisa Biank (July 13, 2000). "Bass Pro should reel in shoppers". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. C16, C15. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  44. ↑ Fasig, Lisa Biank (October 29, 2000). "Mall on the mend". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. D1, D2. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  45. ↑ Fasig, Lisa Biank (October 13, 2000). "Mall adds bargain retailer". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. B14, B10. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  46. 1 2 Fasig, Lisa Biank (November 17, 2000). "Media Play helps jazz up renewed Forest Fair Mall". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B1. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  47. ↑ Callison, Jenny (March 16, 2001). "Shoppers check opening of Saks discount outlet". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. D1, D6. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  48. 1 2 McNair, James (December 9, 2001). "Forest Fair finally finds its niche". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. D1, D2. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  49. ↑ "Nightlife returns to Forest Fair Mall". Cincinnati Business Journal. September 1, 2000. Archived from the original on May 5, 2003. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  50. ↑ Tucker, Randy (September 28, 2002). "New owners, new theme give hope to Forest Fair". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A1, A10. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  51. ↑ Tucker, Randy (January 4, 2003). "Forest Fair Mall tenants upset by operator's timing". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. D1, D2. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  52. ↑ Tucker, Randy (January 23, 2003). "'Neighborhoods' developer's theme for Forest Fair Mall". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. C1, C11. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  53. ↑ Tucker, Randy (January 8, 2003). "Elder-Beerman quits Forest Fair". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. D1, D6. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  54. 1 2 Tucker, Randy (August 18, 2004). "Mall to reopen with focus on families, discounters". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. D1, D2. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  55. ↑ Tucker, Randy (August 13, 2004). "Johnny's Toys opens in Cincinnati Mills". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. D5. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  56. ↑ "Business digest". The Cincinnati Enquirer. December 23, 2004. p. D3. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  57. ↑ Alltucker, Ken (January 23, 2005). "Battle of the malls". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A1, A10. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  58. ↑ NorthCdogg22 (September 17, 2022). Dead Malls Season 4 Episode 9 - Forest Fair Village . Retrieved December 12, 2025– via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  59. ↑ Boyer, Mike (July 12, 2006). "Two years after makeover, mall struggles to find niche". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A1, A10. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  60. ↑ Boyer, Mike (February 4, 2007). "Can this mall work?". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A1, A12. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  61. 1 2 Boyer, Mike (January 3, 2009). "Cincinnati Mills sold again". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C1. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  62. ↑ Boyer, Mike (May 15, 2008). "Bigg's closing Mills store". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A9, A10. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  63. 1 2 Boyer, Mike (January 10, 2009). "Mall's new owner: Hmm, now what?". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. C1, C3. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
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  65. ↑ Baverman, Laura (March 5, 2009). "Cincinnati Mills drops 'Mills' for 'Mall' in name". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. A9 – via Newspapers.com.
  66. ↑ Baverman, Laura (August 4, 2009). "Outlet malls have own kind of pull". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A5, A6. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  67. 1 2 3 Baverman, Laura (March 3, 2010). "Shopping site loses theater". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A1, A10. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
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  69. ↑ Levingston, Chelsey (December 21, 2015). "Development of former Cincinnati Mall still in 'holding pattern'". Journal-News.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
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  71. ↑ Andrews, Cindi (October 24, 2013). "Bass Pro moving to West Chester, adding eatery". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. S3, S4. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
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  77. ↑ Monk, Dan (August 11, 2017). "For sale: One big and mostly empty Forest Fair Mall". WCPO. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
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  80. ↑ "Former Forest Fair Mall, other buildings will be demolished if funds come through". Journal-News. Denise G. Callahan. February 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  81. ↑ "Arcade Legacy closing 2 locations, opening new Sharonville location". Cincinnati.com. May 4, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  82. ↑ "Former Forest Fair mall to be demolished along with 825 other vacant, blighted buildings". WLWT. October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  83. ↑ "Former Forest Fair Mall closed due to fire, safety hazards". Cincinnati Business Journal. December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  84. ↑ "Opening date set for Bass Pro Shops' new mega store in West Chester". Cincinnati.com. January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  85. ↑ "Kohl's Announces Select Real Estate Changes" (Press release). Kohl's. January 9, 2025.
  86. ↑ "Forest Park approves development agreement for Forest Fair Mall". Cincinnati Business Courier. May 21, 2025. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  87. ↑ Monk, Dan (August 22, 2025). "One last look | Demolition of Forest Fair Mall triggers nostalgia, hope for economic revival". WCPO 9 Cincinnati.

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