Forest Fair Village Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Forest Fair Village Mall
Interior photo of main mall corridor, May 2018
Location	Forest Park and Fairfield, Ohio, U.S.
Address	1047 Cincinnati Mills Dr, Fairfield, OH 45014
Opening date	July 11, 1988 (Bigg's and 20 other stores) March 1, 1989 (remainder of mall)
Developer	LJ Hooker
Owner	Cincinnati Holding Company, LLC
No. of stores and services	approx. 3
No. of anchor tenants	2
Total retail floor area	1,500,000 square feet (140,000 m²)
No. of floors	2

Forest Fair Village is a large shopping mall located near Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States. It sits right on the edge of Forest Park and Fairfield, Ohio, where Interstate 275 meets Winton Road.

The mall first opened in parts between 1988 and 1989. It was originally called Forest Fair Mall. Even though it was the second-biggest mall in Ohio and brought many new stores, it faced problems early on. Its first owner had financial difficulties less than a year after it opened.

Over the years, the mall changed its name several times, including Cincinnati Mills and Cincinnati Mall. It also saw many stores come and go. Today, only a few stores remain open, and there are plans to redevelop the property.

History of Forest Fair Village
Images for kids
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History of Forest Fair Village

How the Mall Started

The land where the mall stands was first meant for a large store called Bigg's. But in 1986, a company from Australia named LJ Hooker bought the land. They decided to build a huge shopping mall around Bigg's, calling it Forest Fair Mall.

The plan was for the mall to have about 1.5 million square feet of shops. Most of it would be in Forest Park, and a smaller part in Fairfield. By 1987, other big stores like Higbee's and Bonwit Teller had agreed to open there. When it was built, Forest Fair Mall was the second-largest mall in Ohio.

Opening and Early Challenges (1988–1990)

The first part of the mall, with Bigg's and about 20 other shops, opened on July 11, 1988. Before this, Higbee's decided not to join the mall. So, another store called B. Altman moved into Higbee's spot. This caused delays for the rest of the mall to open.

The rest of the mall finally opened on March 1, 1989. Stores like Bonwit Teller, B. Altman, and Parisian were open, along with the food court. Later that year, Elder-Beerman and Sakowitz also opened. The mall had unique places, too, like Wallaby Bob's, a restaurant that brewed its own drinks. It also had Koala Klubhouse, which was the first licensed day care in an American mall. There was also a big entertainment area called Time Out with a carousel and mini-golf.

Many of the stores were new to Cincinnati and sold more expensive items. This was a bit unusual for the area. Soon after the mall opened, LJ Hooker, the owner, faced financial problems. They tried to sell the mall in 1989. At that time, only about 65% of the shops were rented. The mall also faced competition from other nearby malls.

Because of the financial issues, three of the big department stores (B. Altman, Bonwit Teller, and Sakowitz) had to close. Parisian was sold back to its original owners. In 1990, a group of banks bought the mall.

Changes and New Stores (1990s)

In 1992, the mall's new owners came up with a plan called "The Shops at Forest Fair." Each part of the mall would have a different theme. For example, one area was for fashion, another for home goods and entertainment. New stores like Sam Goody and CompUSA opened.

In 1994, a popular store called Kohl's opened in the space where B. Altman used to be. This was one of the first Kohl's stores in Cincinnati. More businesses opened around the mall, which helped the local area.

In 1996, a company called Gator Investments bought the mall. More changes happened under their ownership. Some stores closed, like Dawahares and Parisian. But new ones opened, like Guitar Center.

Around 1999 and 2000, Gator Investments started another big renovation. Many new stores joined, including Bass Pro Shops (in the old Parisian spot), Burlington Coat Factory, and Stein Mart. Other stores like Media Play and Off 5th (a Saks Fifth Avenue outlet) also opened. The mall also added new fun places like a nightclub and a movie theater with stadium seating.

Becoming Cincinnati Mills (2002–2007)

In 2002, a company called Mills Corporation bought the mall. They decided to change its name to Cincinnati Mills. They also started a big renovation project. This included new paint, floors, and signs. Each part of the mall got a different theme, which was common for Mills properties.

Elder-Beerman, another anchor store, closed in 2003. After a $70 million renovation, the mall officially reopened as Cincinnati Mills in August 2004. New stores like Babies "R" Us opened. The mall focused on discount stores and family-friendly places. By 2005, about 90% of the stores were rented.

However, the mall started to struggle again in 2006. Media Play closed, and Bigg's, the original anchor, also had low sales. The mall still faced a lot of competition from other shopping centers. In 2007, a company called Simon Property Group took over the Mills properties.

Cincinnati Mall and Forest Fair Village (2008–Present)

Bigg's closed in June 2008. Other stores like Berean Christian Stores also closed. In 2009, North Star Realty bought the mall from Simon. They planned to turn parts of the mall into offices or call centers. They also changed the mall's name again to Cincinnati Mall.

More stores left the mall, including Steve & Barry's, Off 5th, and Guess. The mall also had problems with property taxes. In 2010, Cincinnati Holding Company bought the mall, and the Showcase Cinemas movie theater closed.

In 2011, some local business people planned to open ice rinks in the old Bigg's space. There were also ideas for a hotel and a studio. In 2013, the mall was renamed Forest Fair Village. Bass Pro Shops announced plans to move to a new location. Burlington Coat Factory also moved out, and the movie theater closed in 2014.

By 2017, only a few businesses were left, including Kohl's, Bass Pro Shops, an arcade, and a children's entertainment center. The mall was put up for sale again. A Christian media company showed interest in using part of the mall for a studio.

Images for kids

Mall entrance to Bass Pro Shops, whose store was originally Parisian.
The mall's central court in 2013, as seen from the upper level of the Bass Pro Shops wing.
Shot of the desolate center court of Forest Fair Village Mall.
Nautical-themed food court, May 2018.