Comments on: Southwyck Mall; Toledo, Ohio

By: John

John — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:34:01 +0000

To Johnson, Kevin, & miblue:

See my post above from June 3, 2008. That’s exactly what I was talking about.

It’s the single biggest reason that enclosed malls are no longer being built, at least around here.

There have been some huge brawls at Westfield Franklin Park in the past couple of years.

What a shame.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:02:11 +0000

So sad….I was a UT student in the early 80s and we would drive out to the mall everynow and then to get away, see a movie etc. Oldetown was different. Does anyone remember the Movie theatre showing adult features after Midnight on weekends at or around that time?

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:24:04 +0000

As of my last visit to Toledo in August, the entire mall was demolished and the site being cleaned up. Haven’t heard of any redevelopment plans either. However, there’s been a major initiative to “green” Reynolds Road from the Turnpike Overpass north to beyond the mall. IMO, the streetscape design is typical…antique looking lights, banners, etc. Another instance of “Anywhere USA” design. The only unique aspect of it is the plantings along the side of the road…supposed bioswales. However, it looks as if the planting are too near the road and will be dealt a lethal blow by the salt and salt spray this winter. Valiant attempt but as a landscape architect not sure it was the right solution (at least in terms of plant selection).

By: miblue1

miblue1 — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:12:22 +0000

I agree with the previous poster– what killed that mall was gang related.We used to live near Toledo and Southwyck was the closest mall.my kids loved the water part of the center court.After being shoved and followed and having food thrown on my and my children by “gangs” of kids it was time to stop going– we ended up the other direction –Defiance had a smaller mall but at least it was safer.
**when we told security about the above things happening we were told that there was nothing they could do but we were welcome to call the Toledo police and file a complaint…and they wonder why no one has anyhting nice to say about Toledo.**

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:22:16 +0000

Johnson was right, remember the guys that were hiding under cars and killing and robbing and raping, that was the problem with Southwyck. I would really like to know what is next after they finish tearing it down. I work across the street and I have been watching them demolish the mall bit by bit and now that most of it is gone besides Montgomery Ward and the frame of Dillard’s and some little part of the regular mall what is next?

Some mentioned a park if they do that won’t we have the same gang problems that plagued the mall? Won’t it be just another hidden area for people to commit crime?

I hope they can get this neighborhood as good if not better than it used to be. The business I work for has been here over 30 years, and buddy of mine from high school grew up around here, so I know it used to be alot nicer around here.

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:32:39 +0000

@christine,
Old Towne began as a small mall of Mom & Pop stores selling jewellry or other small things. The storefronts had a 1890-1920’s type of decoration, and the aisles were labeled for Toledo’s downtown streets. The ceilings were painted black and there were streetlights. When the novelty wore off, and since many folks didn’t like the odd narrow hall to Old Town, arcade machines began to replace the stores until it was virtually all arcade. Then even that began to lose it’s novelty, as arcade machines generally were doing everywhere. Finally closed in the early eighties, the space was repurposed into additional theaters. There was no longer any inside connection to the mall, so that too fizzled. It never reopened after the theaters closed.

By: Johnson

Johnson — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:16:04 +0000

The above article, while interesting, misses the single most important factor that closed down the mall. It wasn’t economics, or location, or any of that. It was quite simply, gang activity. Political correctness won’t allow anyone to say that, but I grew up South Toledo, and Southwyck used to be a haven for nice families and their kids. And then the gangs started hanging out at the movie theatres and the arcade; criminal activity increased (muggings, car theft, even a few rapes in the parking lot), and that was all she wrote for Southwyck. Why in the world would a nice family come to a mall to get harrassed by gang members? Or risk dropping their kids off there for the afternoon? The mall did nothing to stop this (because they were threatened with civil rights lawsuits), and people quit showing up at the doors.

Of course, we’re not allowed to say any of this now. We’re not allowed to speak any kind of uncomfortable truths.

By: Jonah Norason

Jonah Norason — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:12:39 +0000

@Todd, Why would they turn the prime real estate into a park, especially considering there’s one (or at least, undeveloped area) less than a mile away?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=southwyck+mall&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=40.953203,57.480469&ie=UTF8&ll=41.603795,-83.669751&spn=0.009467,0.014033&z=16

By: Todd

Todd — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:18:11 +0000

Our illustrious mayor, Carty, now has said he has been in talks to turn part or all of the Southwyck land into a park with a lake and horse trails. SOunds nice, but if we know one thing about Carty is that he has a lot of promises and few results.

By: Yimitz

Yimitz — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:12:02 +0000

Story from WTVG-13, has a short video showing some demolition underway on what appears to be the main entrance.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/local&id=6797574