Great Lakes Mall
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGreat Lakes Mall is a regional shopping mall in Mentor, Ohio, serving communities northeast of Cleveland.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Great Lakes Mall is a regional enclosed shopping mall in Mentor, Ohio, located on Mentor Avenue, which is also U.S. Route 20, about 20 miles northeast of Cleveland. The property is a major retail destination for Mentor and the surrounding Lake County and Greater Cleveland markets. Its tenant mix combines department stores, specialty retailers, entertainment, restaurants, and large-format businesses located both inside the mall and in the surrounding parking-lot retail area. The mall's first stores opened on January 17, 1961. Its development was associated with Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. and the Glazer–Marotta Company, placing the property among the early suburban shopping centers developed during the expansion of automobile-oriented retail around Cleveland. During the 1960s, the center expanded and was enclosed, strengthening its role as an all-weather regional mall rather than an open-air shopping complex. Great Lakes Mall has changed substantially over time as department-store retail evolved. Its historically important anchor tenants included Sears, Macy's, JCPenney, Dillard's, and later Dick's Sporting Goods. Dillard's consolidated its North location into another building in 2017, Sears closed in September of that year, and Macy's closed in April 2021 as part of a nationwide store-reduction program. The former Sears and Macy's anchor spaces remained vacant in the reference period, while other anchors continued to operate. The mall's active anchor lineup includes Round 1 Entertainment, Dillard's, JCPenney, and Dick's Sporting Goods. The property contains approximately 1,249,574 square feet, or 116,089 square meters, of retail space. A major renovation began in 1988 and included flooring replacement and the addition of a food court. A later renovation took place in 2011, reflecting continued efforts to update the customer environment and maintain the mall's competitiveness. Entertainment and dining in and around the complex include Round 1 Entertainment, Olive Garden, BJ's Brewhouse, Hobby Lobby, Outback Steakhouse, Barnes & Noble, and Atlas Cinemas Stadium 16. Ownership and corporate affiliation have shifted during the mall's history. In May 2014, Simon Property Group announced that Great Lakes Mall would be transferred to Washington Prime Group, its newly formed retail-property spinoff. Washington Prime Group subsequently used the WP Glimcher name for a period before returning to the Washington Prime Group name. In 2015, Sears Holdings separated ownership of 235 properties, including the Great Lakes Mall Sears location, into Seritage Growth Properties. These transactions illustrate the separation of mall operations, department-store businesses, and real-estate ownership that characterized U.S. retail-property restructuring in the 2010s. In early 2025, the former Sears Auto Center outbuilding was demolished to make way for a relocated city fire station. The station was expected to open in early 2026. Great Lakes Mall therefore remains an active retail and entertainment complex while parts of its former department-store footprint and adjacent property continue to be repurposed.
History
Great Lakes Mall opened its first stores on January 17, 1961, in Mentor, Ohio. The project was associated with Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. and the Glazer–Marotta Company and formed part of the early wave of suburban retail development serving the expanding automobile-based population around Cleveland. During the 1960s, the center was expanded and enclosed, creating a more conventional regional mall format with weather-protected corridors and a broader tenant base. Over the following decades, Great Lakes Mall developed around department-store anchors and a wide range of specialty retailers. A multi-year renovation began in 1988. The work included replacing flooring and adding a food court, improvements intended to modernize the interior and increase the mall's role as a social and dining destination. Another renovation was completed in 2011. The center now encompasses approximately 1,249,574 square feet of space. The mall's corporate history reflects changes in the U.S. retail-property industry. Simon Property Group announced in 2014 that Great Lakes Mall would be transferred to Washington Prime Group, a newly created Simon spinoff. Washington Prime Group later operated under the WP Glimcher name before returning to the Washington Prime Group name. Separately, Sears Holdings placed the Sears property at Great Lakes Mall into Seritage Growth Properties in 2015 as part of a transaction involving 235 Sears properties. The anchor composition changed as department stores reduced their physical footprints. Dillard's North closed in May 2017, with its men's and women's departments consolidated into one building. Sears closed in September 2017. Macy's closed in April 2021 as part of a nationwide plan to close 46 stores. In the reference period, the former Sears and Macy's anchor locations were vacant, while Round 1 Entertainment, Dillard's, JCPenney, and Dick's Sporting Goods served as active anchors. Great Lakes Mall's offer extends beyond its enclosed retail space. Nearby or parking-lot businesses include Olive Garden, BJ's Brewhouse, Hobby Lobby, Outback Steakhouse, Barnes & Noble, and Atlas Cinemas Stadium 16. This combination of shopping, dining, and entertainment supports the center's position as a regional destination rather than solely a department-store mall. In early 2025, the former Sears Auto Center outbuilding was demolished to facilitate construction of a relocated city fire station. The station was expected to open in early 2026. The redevelopment illustrates the ongoing repurposing of portions of the mall's broader site while the main shopping and entertainment complex continues operating.
- 2025
Former Sears Auto Center demolished
[1]The former auto-center outbuilding was demolished for a relocated city fire station project.
- 2021
Macy's closes
[1]Macy's closed its mall store in April under a nationwide closure plan.
- 2017
Dillard's North closes
[1]Dillard's consolidated its operations after closing the North location.
- 2017
Sears closes
[1]The Sears anchor closed in September.
- 2015
Sears property separated into Seritage
[1]The Great Lakes Mall Sears property became part of the 235-property portfolio spun off by Sears Holdings into Seritage Growth Properties.
- 2014
Transferred to Washington Prime Group
[1]Simon Property Group announced the transfer of Great Lakes Mall to its new retail-property spinoff, Washington Prime Group.
- 2011
Later renovation completed
[1]The mall underwent another renovation as part of efforts to update its facilities.
- 1988
Major renovation begins
[1]A multi-year renovation replaced flooring and added a food court.
- 1961
First stores open
[1]Great Lakes Mall's first stores opened on January 17 in Mentor, Ohio.
- 1960
Mall expanded and enclosed
[1]During the 1960s, the center expanded and was converted into an enclosed mall.
Products and positioning
A regional, enclosed shopping and entertainment destination serving Mentor, Lake County, and the northeastern Greater Cleveland area.
Retail destination · 1961
Enclosed regional shopping mall
Great Lakes Mall provides approximately 1,249,574 square feet of enclosed retail space. Its offer is organized around department stores, specialty shops, services, food, and entertainment, with the property serving shoppers from Mentor, Lake County, and nearby Greater Cleveland communities.
Entertainment anchor
Round 1 Entertainment
Round 1 Entertainment is one of the mall's active anchor offerings. It broadens the center's proposition beyond conventional shopping through entertainment-oriented activities and helps support evening and group visits.
Department stores · 1961
Department-store anchors
The active department-store component includes Dillard's and JCPenney. Historically, the mall also included Sears and Macy's, but both locations closed, leaving changes in the property's anchor configuration.
Dining and complementary retail
Dining and surrounding retail
The mall campus and its parking-lot retail area include restaurants and complementary destinations such as Olive Garden, BJ's Brewhouse, Hobby Lobby, Outback Steakhouse, Barnes & Noble, and Atlas Cinemas Stadium 16.
Brand decisions
2025
Former Sears Auto Center site repurposedOtherBackground
The former Sears Auto Center was no longer serving its original automotive-retail function.
Action taken
The outbuilding was demolished to make room for a relocated city fire station.
Aftermath
The fire station was expected to open in early 2026, representing a civic reuse of part of the broader mall site.
2017
Dillard's consolidates its mall operationsStrategyBackground
Dillard's closed its North location in the context of a changing department-store anchor lineup.
Action taken
The men's and women's departments were consolidated into one remaining Dillard's building.
Aftermath
The mall retained Dillard's as an active anchor while eliminating the separate North location.
2014
Transfer to Washington Prime GroupM&ABackground
Simon Property Group created Washington Prime Group as a retail-property spinoff and announced that Great Lakes Mall would be transferred to it.
Action taken
Great Lakes Mall was moved into the Washington Prime Group portfolio.
Aftermath
Washington Prime Group later operated under the WP Glimcher name before returning to the Washington Prime Group name.
Sources1 sources
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