Are local malls dying? Checking in on 5 Cincinnati shopping malls

How are Cincinnati’s malls doing? Let us know what you think. Rate our malls here.

To find out, The Enquirer dispatched reporters to the remaining local enclosed malls on one Saturday in August. The reporters evaluated the conditions, crowd levels, vacancies and general vibe at five regional malls.

The result: The Enquirer’s first mall health report card.

Here’s how they compared:

Eastgate Mall

Between corridors of closed storefronts and locked doors, thousands of customers lingered in the halls of Eastgate Mall during a monthly pop-up sports card show.

This is unusual for a Saturday, according to Jeff Bruce of Baby Boomer Rebellion, a new vendor at the show and frequent Eastgate shopper. With more than 25 vacancies and closures, Eastgate’s shopping options have grown sparse, but it still has a J. C. Penney and Kohl’s. The massive, empty storefront of Sears and others reminds customers that Eastgate Mall isn’t what it used to be.

Report Card:

• Crowd size: Thousands.
• Crowd demographics: Mostly white with a diverse range of ages.
• Food court: Five stalls.
• Number of vacancies: Around 25.
• Parking capacity: Roughly one-third full.
• General vibe: Outdated, but family-friendly and a convenient option for locals. Plenty of room for events like the monthly sports card show.

Florence Mall

Florence Mall may look busy on a typical Saturday afternoon if you enter through the doors leading directly to the food court. But the rest of the 963,700-square-foot shopping center sits eerily quiet.

Youthful brands like Victoria’s Secret, PINK, Foot Locker, Forever 21, Aerie and American Eagle sit just outside the dining area on the second level, along with Macy’s. These stores appear to draw in most of the daytime shoppers compared to the rest of the mall, which includes boarded-up or gated storefronts. Many of the larger lease options on the lower level are vacant.