Megan’s Commentary:

The mall was built in the late 80s. I believe the only part that's not "original" is the little bump-out added by Sears. Interior design may have changed slightly in some areas, but for the most part, it's been unchanged. Store fronts have changed and openings for stores have changed.

Dunham's is not an original anchor. That used to be a JCPenney (I worked there for 2 and a half years). Again, this wing is not an addition. All 3 wings are original to the mall. Elder Beerman and Hills were the other 2 original anchors. Hills left in the early 90s.

Before Steve and Barry's moved in, the space was used for haunted houses. Steve and Barry's is long gone now. Maybe 2008 or 2009?

Also, a shopping center was built about 10 minutes north a few years ago. This didn't help. Another one was built a few minutes west of that one, also a few years ago.

Lori Lenzer’s Commentary:

In regard to the construction of Woodland Mall in Bowling Green, Ohio, you may be surprised to learn that this mall actually dates from the late 1980s.  I was a student living in Bowling Green in 1987/88 and distinctly remember taking a bus from campus over to this 'brand new mall'.

I believe the Lion store (?) was an anchor at that point.  (I was not familiar with this chain in my native Cleveland area.)  I also believe that Elder Bierman was there at the time.  Most of the smaller stores, even when the mall was new, were not national chains.  It seemed like a very small mall at the time (the heyday of mall culture).  We actually called it "The Woodland S(mall)"

It has probably been used and kept afloat by a very similar customer base over the past 20 + years -- students who are in need of certain items they do not want to drive home (or further into Toledo) to purchase.  I imagine that some parents also stop in for apartment/dorm furnishings when students are moving in at the beginning of the semester.

Adam’s Commentary:

The original Anchor store that is now occupied by Dunham's was JCpenny. Dunhams has only been in place for about 2 years or so.

The mall originally had quite a few chain stores. There was a Walden Books, a Foot Locker, a Maurice's, and several other recognizable venues. Around the mid 90's was when most of them started pulling out or moving to different locations.

Where Steve and Barry's is currently located (the old Hills store) was vaccant for quite some time. A few years actually. It was various rented out for various things from time to time, like haunted house at halloween time, or hosted gun shows or other things, but was mostly empty.

The mall has also changed ownership several times in the past few years. It is more full now than it has been recently, but if you live in town you know it is just temporary. Nothing stays there for too long.

There are just too many nicer places to shop within a short 10-20 minute drive.

Also, Im not 100% on this, but Im think the mall was built in the 80's and the movie theater was added in the late 80's.

I dont know how I found this site, or why I felt compelled to contribute, but there you go.

Joe Schroeder’s Commentary:

The Woodland Mall in Bowling Green Ohio has indeed many times been on the verge of collapse. Constructed in 1987, the store featured two wings with achors Elder-Beerman, JCPenney, and the Cinemark 5-Screen theater. Upon opening, the mall featured several chain stores including Fashion Bug, Fashion Bug Plus, Deb, Waldenbooks, Payless Shoes, El-Bee Shoes, Shoe Sensation, Radio Shack, Dollar Tree, Clairs, Maurices and Kay-Bee Toys. The mall continued growing, even while serving a very rural area, when the third wing was expanded to include a Hills Department Store. The Hills Store, at one time the #1 store in the chain (according to the sign that was on the floor when you walked in the front), was very popular with entrances through the mall and exterior. Hills closed its Bowling Green store when it merged with Ames and the anchor sat empty for many years. Upon sale of the mall in 1993 and the closing of Hi
lls, a slow decline began. Retail chains began to drop from the facade quickly, eventually leaving very few stores. Between 1993-2000, Deb, Payless, El-Bee, and K-B left.

Sale of the mall from THF Woodland Development to Green & Prephan, a local real estate developer, in 2001 promised a redevelopment and a new name - Woodland Town Center. The initial thought was to add a "Commons" feel to the mall by adding plush furniture throughout, new outdoor entrances to stores, updating the interior, focusing on the community, and getting new stores. A plan was also developed to turn the former Hills into a community center. Plans for that were scrapped later. Unfortunately, shortly after the sale to Green & Prephan, JCPenney announced it was leaving the mall and the south anchor stood empty. Fashion Bug, Dollar Tree, Sam Goody, Shoe Sensation and Maurices also left. The mall sold again in 2004, was recristened "Woodland Mall" and soon afterward founds a home for Steve & Barry's in the Hills wing, Dunham's Sports in the JCPenney anchor, and a Sears Hardware in the Elder-Beerman wing. Today, very few chain
stores remain, with Waldenbooks closing earlier this year. In an article in the local newspaper after the 2004 sale, the manager boasted the mall was at 90% capacity. Of that 90%, most of the stores are mom&pop operations, a hair salon, ladies gym, men's gym, dance studio, numerous martial arts studio, and a sports novelty shop. Radio Shack, however, has remained consisten through the years.

Woodland Mall's one saving grace has been its very popular, but small, food court. Subway, Luca Pizza, and The China are all three original tenants. A coffee shop, Coney Island, and pretzel stand have all changed hands several times but managed to keep in business. A very nice sports bar and restaurant, Quarter's Bar, and Silver Dollar Steakhouse round out the food court near the Steve & Barry's wing. Woodland has also been fortunate to retain the Cinemark 5 screen throughout the years.

John Pryba’s Commentary:

I was a student at Bowling Green State University from 1996 to 2000. We would always refer to the Woodland Mall as the "small", since it wasn't much compared to larger malls in the area (like in Toledo or Findlay). The small was definitely not doing too well around 99/2000, but things appear to have picked up a little from what I saw during my last few visits to BG.

I'll have to explore your site and see what other malls you are featuring. This should make for some interesting reading. Keep up the good work!

Aaron Blanchard’s Commentary:

I have lived in Bowling Green All my life and my mother was one of the people who helped open the mall. It is true that Dunham's did open recently and that JC Penny Occupied that space before that.

Hills went out of business in the 90's and made that end look like a dead zone for a long time with the space being used most often as a site for exhibitions but it had been revived when Steve & Barry's opened up there. yes while most of the restaurants are originals that may not be found otherwise this mall is still as much booming as it has been. with Elder-Beermans still remaining as one of the original anchor stores. This mall is reaching its 25th anniversary and has gone through many changes but is still booming with the only movie theater around with cheap prices and lots of good things to do. also in front of the mall there are stores that are developing.

so I ask you if this mall is considered a dead mall I'd like to think otherwise.

Myriah’s Commentary:

The anchor store that Dunham is in now, used to be a JC Penny until about 2000-2001. I first moved to BG in 1996 and most of the stores that were in there were shoe stores, footlocker, a local owned one I think and famous footwear, etc. The mall was pretty dead in the last half of the 90s until about a year or two ago when stores started coming back in. It has lost a couple of big names but because of the southward push from Toledo we have seen many new places. There has also been a problem with ownership with the mall. In the 10+ years I have been here it has gone through at least 3 if not more owners. I would have to say the ones that owned it before the owner now, had to be the worst as far as looks for the mall. They are the ones that put in the circus tent awnings on the front and odd hangings from the ceilings. I do not ever think it will be "the" place to shop again, but at least it has picked up and it not quiet the black hole it was when I moved to
BG.

Bryan Bird’s Commentary:

I see there is already a submission about Woodland Mall in Bowling Green, Ohio, but I did not see a link to their website. If you'd like to add it, it's
www.woodlandtc.com.

I attended the university from 1998-2002, and I have only been to the mall once since then, but it pretty well epitomized that vacant, creepy "dead mall" vibe. 2001 or 2002 saw the loss of JCPenney as an anchor (I'm not sure if this is where Dunham's or Steve & Barry's is now, since they were not there last I visited). This left Elder Beerman as the only department store. Even on weekends the mall was eerily empty.

At one time, the mall was home to the local theatre group, the Black Swamp Players, which performed in the Michael Staenberg Theatre, a space then-owner Staenberg had allowed for their use. Once the mall was under new management (around 2003 or 2004), they kicked out the theatre group, as the mall apparently had other redevelopment plans. Because, you know, there wasn't already enough empty space in the mall. This left a sour taste with many in the community.

In my limited shopping experience at Woodland Mall, it seemed most of the patrons were locals. Most college students shopped at Wal*Mart and Meijer, especially since the latter was open 24 hours a day. The mall is also very much toward the edge of town, on the opposite side from the university.

----- he sent this too-----

I forgot to mention in my last note that Woodland Mall's website states it was built in 1987:

The
Woodland Mall opened in May of 1987 and was expanded in November of
1988. The Mall currently contains 270,502 square feet of gross leasable
area.

Also, for a few years it was known as Woodland Towne Centre (hence woodlandtc.com),
but new ownership has reverted the name back to the more familiar
Woodland Mall, perhaps to distinguish it from the management that
ousted the theatre group and saw other stores leave.

Blake Hutchison’s Commentary:

The Woodland Mall in Bowling Green, Ohio, isn't really a dead mall anymore, but it looks like at least half of the mall was pretty dead for a short while.

It is hard to say when this mall was built, as I am not from the town and just happened across the mall when I took an alternate route to my hometown for the weekend, passed by it, and decided to walk in.

Anchors are Elder Beerman's, Sears, Dunham's Sports (which I seriously DOUBT is an original anchor), and Steve and Barry's, which used to be Hills, according to the nice lady who was working at the information desk that day. There is also a 5-screen Cinemark movie theater in the Steve and Barry's wing, as well as a kiddie play park (both in the wing and one in what looks like a former anchor space, though the latter never seems to be open when I'm in the mall. It may be out of business)

There are several interesting things about this mall right off the bat:

1) It looks like parts of the mall were built at completely different times. Some have the classic 1960s earth tones, while the Dunhams wing has the mirrored tiles that look like early 70s, and it feels a little like being in a royal chamber for some reason. I would guess this wing was added on to house whatever store anchored this wing before Dunhams.

2) Sears and Elder Beerman are right next door to each other in the same wing. Usually anchors do not occupy the same wings in most malls. Sears actually occupies an anchor-size space (though it is NOT a full-sized Sears store, but one of the regional varieties that sells tools and appliances) and a small storefront space across from the anchor space where they keep lawnmowers. They also have appliances on display in the wing between the two Sears storefronts.

3) Although it's not really that uncommon for malls in Ohio, particularly older malls, and especially malls in regional areas rather than cities, there are very few chain stores in this mall aside from the anchors, especially in the Steve and Barry's wing. Most of the non-anchors are mom-and-pop operations or small businesses.

The Steve and Barry's wing has no stores, but the spaces are occupied by food venues, including some local place called the Silver Dollar Grill, a Christian outreach center, the movie theatre, and the mall office and restrooms (which are in SERIOUS need of fixing up - the sink handles have MOLD inside them! Disgusting!)

All of the chain stores are located in the Sears/Elder Beerman wing with the exception of Famous Footwear, which is technically in the Dunhams wing. This leads me to believe that the Steve and Barry's wing and the Dunhams wing experienced massive death sometime around the late 1990s, early 2000s, as this was when Hills pulled out, and probably when whatever store occupied the Dunhams space (I don't know but I'm guessing K-Mart) pulled out. The Dunhams wing appears to have recovered nicely, although a bridal shop was having a going out of business sale when I was there, and there were maybe three abandoned storefronts.

This mall is very fortunate to be in a college town, where stores like Steve and Barry's and Dunhams can pass off as anchor stores. There were lots of students heading back and forth from these stores when I was there. If it wasn't for Bowling Green State University being half a mile away from this mall, allowing sports-themed anchors to be a viable option, this mall would probably be very dead in the south and east wings today.