The Former World’s Largest Mall Sat Crumbling Just Outside Of Cleveland And It’s Heartbreaking

In Greater Cleveland, the effects of change and population growth are evident on our landscape. Take, for example, Erie Street Cemetery. It was once on the outskirts of a respectable town but, since its founding, the city has expanded to engulf it. The Metroparks also offer a bit of commentary on our past. Many hide evidence of the mill towns that once boomed on their campus, while others reveal scars left by quarrying. The city is always changing, but the site one of the saddest decaying features in the history of the region actually lies just a short drive from Cleveland's limits.

Welcome to Randall Park Mall.

This once-spectacular structure opened in 1976, and for a short time it was known as the world's largest shopping center.

Randall Park Mall, at just over 2 million square feet in size, was practically a city itself.

The incredible structure cost a whopping $175 million to build. Its impressive size attracted an impressive crowd to its grand opening; actress Dina Merrill even made an appearance!

When they first saw daylight, these crumbling ruins boasted an employee population of 5,000...

...A remarkable number, considering that only 1,500 people lived in the village of North Randall.

Its two stories once held 200 businesses, and its campus even had a three-screen cinema.

Sadly, business began to decline in the early 1990s.

The first true sign of trouble came when business occupancy fell to a mere 73%, notably below the national average of 85% occupancy.

By 2005, the mall rarely saw crowds. It officially closed in 2009.

The interior of the mall was demolished in 2014 and 2015, and only the anchor department store buildings remained.

The sad site sat decaying until 2017, when Amazon announced that they intended to demolish the remaining buildings to construct a warehouse...

Now, little is left of this tiny town's claim to fame.

The new site is planned to open in late 2018, and the new space is expected to encompass an 855,000-square-foot campus.

Randall Park Mall was once a stunning structure, but its decline was heartbreaking to watch. Its decaying remains were even sadder, and each time a video or photos of its dilapidated campus emerged, locals shared fond memories of shopping at Higbee's or grabbing a snack in the food court in its glory days. What do you remember most about this once-great mall?

For another local structure that once sat in ruin but has since found new life, check out this incredible Cleveland factory.