https://www.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/1ig6tf3/great_northern_mall/
created by Single_Statement_712 on 02/02/2025 at 20:29 UTC
162 upvotes, 66 top-level comments (showing 25)
I thought I would give it a try again, what a fucking depressing and disgusting place. Saw a lady changing her baby's diaper on a dining table in the food court. Most of the stores are closed or closing soon. The children area is full of older kids and stinks.
Comment by AechBee at 02/02/2025 at 20:58 UTC
154 upvotes, 0 direct replies
This is so sad. In the 90’s it was a beautiful mall, particularly during the holiday season.
Comment by Local_Statement_8646 at 02/02/2025 at 20:34 UTC
177 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Sounds like it’s well on its way to being Midway Mall
Comment by SixbyFire at 02/02/2025 at 21:04 UTC
38 upvotes, 2 direct replies
We go there quite often. As many stores that have closed, there are also quite a few new stores opening or expanding. Although I did notice yesterday FYE is going out of business and the one place that sold the large dragon statues and other misc. figures was also gone, but it looked like a sports/jersey place was moving into that space. I haven’t gone to the new theater yet myself, but my Sister now says she won’t go anywhere else to see a movie. I actually prefer Great Northern to South Park, it’s usually less crowded and parking seems a lot easier. Both are nearly equidistant to us and we go to Great Northern more often than South Park, at maybe a 3:1 ratio. I also like the painted murals at Great Northern!
Comment by Whole_Preparation_78 at 02/02/2025 at 20:53 UTC
48 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Parma Town was once vibrant too. I do appreciate the Shoppes rebranding
Comment by BearishOyster at 02/02/2025 at 21:01 UTC
95 upvotes, 7 direct replies
Ha. This is one of the nicer ones in the area. Midway and Tower City are ghosts of their former selves. Not sure how Midway is even still there to be honest.
Comment by BrownsFanJCU at 02/02/2025 at 21:16 UTC
119 upvotes, 10 direct replies
Phoenix movie theater is the best movie experience in Cleveland though
Comment by AbundantSatisfaction at 02/02/2025 at 20:46 UTC
59 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Honestly, I frequent this mall. It has it’s downsides for sure, but on a really quiet day it’s quite pleasant. Simple shopping without the burden of a large crowd. On the weekends though, I have seen some pretty off putting things and have endured some irritating crowds. I wish there was a way to revive how it used to be though.
Comment by Whole_Preparation_78 at 02/02/2025 at 20:52 UTC
33 upvotes, 5 direct replies
Malls are dying unfortunately. RIP Randall Park Mall
Comment by Lurker777x at 02/02/2025 at 20:53 UTC
30 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I’ve always wanted to rollerblade thru great northern when it’s empty. Wide open long lanes and that super smooth tile floor. Would be fun to
Comment by strutmac at 02/02/2025 at 20:55 UTC
31 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Used to be the go to place before SouthPark opened up. Spent a lot of time with the kids at the Disney store and Pizzeria Uno. At Christmas the closet parking spot was out by Great Northern Blvd.
Comment by Rootspeachess at 02/02/2025 at 21:18 UTC
11 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I’ve never had a problem there
Comment by POChead at 02/02/2025 at 21:48 UTC
8 upvotes, 1 direct replies
It’s really not bad, not as vibrant was it once was but lots of unique stores. Far from dead.
Comment by Artistic_Bit_4665 at 02/02/2025 at 22:57 UTC
7 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Comment by booksith at 02/02/2025 at 23:05 UTC
7 upvotes, 3 direct replies
I'm so old i remember when Westgate Mall was good...and a mall. It was an easy walk from my house. Great Northern was the fawaway, bigger, exotic mall.
Comment by LLGibb at 02/02/2025 at 21:02 UTC
19 upvotes, 5 direct replies
I live close by I only frequent the mall for the department stores and sometimes BBW. Other than that there’s not one other store I’d even walk into. You have several urban clothing stores (not my thing), some high end furniture store (not my style) next to an extremely cheap fast fashion store Rainbow. There’s been rumors for years that Macy’s is closing and judging by their inventory, it looks bleak. And as much as I hate GN, I hate the Strongsville traffic into Southpark so I rarely visit there. I refuse to go to Crocker Park too. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve almost gotten into accidents in their parking garages.
Comment by jet_heller at 02/02/2025 at 20:39 UTC
23 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Dude, this is how it's been for like 2 decades now.
Comment by ihatemcconaughey at 02/02/2025 at 22:35 UTC
6 upvotes, 1 direct replies
TIL Midway Mall is still open
Comment by elmariachio at 03/02/2025 at 14:00 UTC*
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
If we had any desire to serve customers and not capital, we could have made the big stores compete for space in malls.
Like, there's no reason the old Westgate mall couldn't have stores like Kohl's and Target configured to work in it.
Same with Parmatown.
I think back in the 80s even places like Discount Drug Mart had stores in malls.
Just an absolute waste of land and these places even suck driving around in. Avon Commons, Westgate, just complete shit holes of wasted space and frustrating cars.
Avon Commons is 10 times worse. Just a traffic nightmare. If that place was never built, Great Northern would still be incredible and The Avon part of Lorain wouldn't be a constant traffic jam.
Comment by beam_me_uppp at 03/02/2025 at 00:19 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
🎶Let’s all have another Orange Julius, thick syrup, standing in lines. The malls are soon-to-be ghost towns… well so long, farewell, goodbye.🎶
Comment by TAYREL713 at 03/02/2025 at 00:27 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The movie theater is fantastic, these Japanese snack store is kick ass. Just stay down by the theater and it’s a lovely place to kick it.
Comment by funky_bebop at 02/02/2025 at 22:23 UTC
10 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Great Northern stores are not closing soon where did you get that? It’s not a perfect mall but I do feel like it’s not in decline like people try to make it out to be.
People change their babies diapers sometimes time In places they probably shouldn’t. Have you been out in public before?
Posts like this are just fear mongering rage bait.
Comment by roblash at 02/02/2025 at 21:20 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Yeah, the mall is a nostalgic thing that I’m comfortable letting go, but it still kinda stinks to see die. The only compliment I can solidly give is the Mr. Hero in the food court gives you cheese sauce by default and they are probably the most generous with their waffle fry servings.
Comment by Creative-Beat-720 at 02/02/2025 at 22:56 UTC
3 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Why can’t malls survive in North East Ohio? It’s very unfortunate. I’ve been around to various states with the same restaurants this area used to have, nice malls that have stores in them and seem to be doing well and are busy. Midway Mall and that area is particularly upsetting because I grew up in the area and show when it was amazing and then saw it go down hill. Is there like a curse on this area or something?
Comment by ThatOneGuy216440 at 03/02/2025 at 01:14 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
It was decently busy during Christmas time. I just think with the economy everyone is too broke to go shopping again just yet since the holidays just happened.
Comment by MrLanesLament at 03/02/2025 at 13:03 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Was there recently. FUCK trying to find a bathroom. And what’s the deal with that mile long hallway that leads to two single-stall bathrooms? (that are always occupied.)
I miss Great Northern ten years ago. ChickenWow was the absolute bomb.