Eastland Mall — Local services in Columbus

I'm going to disagree with posters who say this is a dead mall. It isn't dead, but it isn't the same kind of mall that it was when I was a kid in the 1980s and 1990s. Back then, it was a traditional mall with anchor stores Lazarus, Sears, and JC Penny and there was a sizable Woolworth as a quasi anchor store that closed in 1997. This was the place where you could buy anything you wanted, have dinner, and see a movie without leaving the mall.

Malls are closing everywhere due to online shopping. Northland and Westland are no more. There are still a few national stores at Eastland like Spencer Gifts and Foot Locker, but all of the anchor stores are gone and not likely to return. Instead, the mall now appears to have many small businesses that are locally owned. The owners are able to do this due to low rents and have their hopes and dreams with these businesses. Some of these owners are first generation immigrants who bring their skills and talents from their homelands. T and M perfumes is the only place I like to buy cologne because the owner is so knowledgeable and personable and his selection is better than Sax and Nordstrom....so are his prices. Spencer gifts is just a fun store and has been at that mall ever since I remember. The Tropico Caribbean Grill in the food court is the only Dominican restaurant in the city...and I will say its the best food of any food court I have ever eaten! There are plenty of other businesses that I have no interest in, but others do and were shopping there.

Will Eastland survive? I doubt that it will be a traditional mall again, but it may became a model as a mall for small independently owned businesses.

I give two stars for the places I like here...Tropico Caribbean Grill, T and M perfumes, and the long time Spencer Gifts. I give an additional star because the mall is still clean and well maintained, including the restrooms. The final star is that small business owners are here and I hope that the mall becomes a destination...

My favorite mall to shop at!! I love the capability of being to shop without the large crowds on a regular basis. However, I understand that this is why they are slowly fading away. Revenue definitely matters. I truly hate to see it go!

UPDATE: I can see someone new is working extremely hard behind the scenes to bring this beautiful mall back to life!! I’m extremely excited to see what happens!! I definitely have faith that it can be brought back to life! I posted Sue’s Massage prices fir you guys. It’s the butt cheek massage for me. The best hands on the city as far as I’m concerned! I have to gather myself after every massage because they have me feeling like jello after every session. Thank you Sue’s Massage! Cudos to you for hanging on through it all as well. I’ll be back again and again! To the man and team working behind the scenes I see you all the way down to the gentleman refreshing the parking space lines outside. Thank you so much for giving my favorite mall a second chance!!

Separate Update on Sue’s Relax Station in this Mall: Just go guys. They will put majority of your life back together through their massage techniques!! Head to toe just go and support. I have no complaints about this place. My only fear is passing gas during my massage because it’s that relaxing. Other than that the entire experience is amazing. You really do have to gather yourself and remember where you are once the massage is over. Across from The Oil Bar just go. Whoever that is in the middle of the mall with the loud music please turn it down so we can enjoy our massages in peace- respectfully or play some slow jams...

Eastland Mall is the last of the Big 3 malls in Columbus, Ohio that were built mid-century. Westland and Northland Malls are closed now. With a heavy heart, I have to admit this one doesn't have long before it suffers the same demise.

Eastland held a special place in my heart. Every Christmas, we went downstairs in Lazarus to look at the Trim A Tree display when I was a kid & purchased an ornament before heading upstairs to eat at the fancy cafe, and I passed that tradition on to my son. The big fat decked out trees in the Lazarus basement were the most beautiful trees I'd ever seen.

I had a job downtown when I was 17, and instead of going to the City Center Mall, I decided to save money and purchase my prom dress in Marianne's inside Eastland. That dress still hangs in my old closet in my mother's house.

All the books I ever bought were from that bookstore near Sears. All my eye appointments were at Sears optical. All my pictures as a kid that weren't Olan Mills pictures were taken inside one of the flagship stores inside that mall. My first date was at the movie theater inside that mall.

Now, all of that is gone. Nothing is there except a carcass of days gone by, with a few local merchants, sneaker spots and a food court inside.

I'm sorry this review is so much longer than it should be. I just wish, if the owners are reading, that they'd consider bringing in a flagship store or two, repaving the lot, and renewing the old charm I remember. Even adding a Walmart would be better than...