Cincinnati's Early Shopping Malls:

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Mid Century Mod

Cincinnati's Early Shopping Malls:

Post by Mid Century Mod »

Hello Everyone,

This is my first-ever post to GROCETERIA. I hope that I am placing this post onto the appropriate message board.

I am currently researching mid-20th century shopping malls in the United States, this for a blogsite that I have created [I am not sure whether it would be using proper "internet etiquette" to mention the name of said blog here on Groceteria........so I will refrain from doing so).

Anyway, it can be very difficult to find out details on the early days of certain shopping centers, or establish facts about a particular one. I am hoping that some of the subscribers to Groceteria may be able to answer a few of my "vintage mall-related" questions. Any info provided will be GREATLY appreciated. Moreover, I will be more than glad to credit anyone providing info to my blog.

With this said, I will add that -on this particular go-round- I would like to get information about some of Cincinnati's early shopping malls, such as......

SWIFTON CENTER [now JORDAN CROSSING]. Opened in 1956. Cinti's first (quote/unquote) "shopping mall". There were two anchor stores in the original mall. Was one of them a Mabley & Carew (in the SWIFTON COMMONS days, this store was an Elder-Beerman)? What was the other anchor in the 1950's-1960's shopping center? Also, there was a supermarket in the early mall. Could it have been a Kroger?

TRI-COUNTY SHOPPING CENTER. Opened in 1960. Cinti's second "mall". Originally open-air (enclosed in 1969 or 1970?). Was its supermarket originally a Kroger?

WESTERN WOODS MALL [site now occupied by WEST TOWN CENTER]. Opened in 1963. Was it originally an open-air shopping mall...or was it enclosed from the start? Also, its original anchors were Shillito's, and J.C. Penney? Was the Thiftway supermarket operating in the circa-1963 mall?

BEECHMONT MALL [site now occupied by ANDERSON TOWNE CENTRE]. Opened in 1969. Always enclosed. One original anchor was Shillito's. Second anchor was a ???....but eventually became a Parisian. Third anchor was originally a ???.....eventually a K-Mart.

ANY other details and/or musings about the early years of these centers would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all.

Mid Century Mod
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runchadrun
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Post by runchadrun »

You should check out lottaliving.com, which also has message boards. Most of the information is about Southern California (we have a lot of MCM here) but the people there are very knowledgeable about MCM.
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tesg
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Post by tesg »

I don't think your blog link would be a problem so long as it is truly dedicated to retail history. I for one would like to see it.
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Re: Cincinnati's Early Shopping Malls:

Post by Groceteria »

Mid Century Mod wrote:I am not sure whether it would be using proper "internet etiquette" to mention the name of said blog here on Groceteria........so I will refrain from doing so
Please go right ahead. I'm sure we'd all love to see it.
Mid Century Mod

Thanks everyone:

Post by Mid Century Mod »

First off, I really liked the LottaLiving site, Runchadrun...thanks for the link-up.

To the Webmaster and Tesg, thanks so much for the gracious invite. I posted a link to the Mall Hall Of Fame under a new topic.

I hope you all dig the newly-grand-opened MHOF blog. As time goes on, I will be trying to improve on its basic concept, and make it inclusive of classic era malls around the nation.

Any comments will be GREATLY appreciated.

Cheers,

Mid Century Mod
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Post by rich »

Western Hills opened in the 50s, and was almost next door to Western Woods. I believe that McAlpin's was an anchor. There porbably was a second anchor. The center had an Albers.

You're also missing the Kenwoods, which predate Beechmont. Kenwood Plaza, I believe, had a McAlpin's. Kenwood Mall had Shillito's and Pogue's. The Plaza had an Albers. One or the other had a Kroger.

Cherry Grove Plaza predated Beechmont and had a McAlpin's and an Albers.

Newport Plaza and Turfway in Kentucky are other 50s/60s era centers.
Mid Century Mod

Cincinnati's Centers:

Post by Mid Century Mod »

Rich,

Thanks for the reply.

I will certainly consider adding WESTERN HILLS PLAZA to my Mall Hall Of Fame. I've read that it was Cincinnati's very first regional shopping center....and I like to include such innovative retail complexes on the MHOF blog.

Alber's...now there's a supermarket that I haven't thought of in eons.

As for "The Kenwoods", I posted articles for both centers on the Mall Hall Of Fame. Here is a site plan that I drew...

Image

I would like to do an article about WESTERN WOODS MALL. However, I haven't been able to find enough info to do this, yet. I am wondering if the mall was open-air when built (1963), or was it enclosed from day one?

Here is a "mallmanac" drawing I did, using an old (circa-1984) US Geological Survey map. I don't, as yet, know the corridor configuration of the mall.......maybe you or someone else on here might recall.......

Image

Cheers,

Mid Century Mod
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