I surmise the mall began its downward spiral when Woolworth’s closed in late 1993. Also, they discontinued the use of the fountains around that time. As a result, Spencer’s closed in 1997, but returned in 2001. The ground started to sink in a certain wing of the mall, causing the stores to either relocate to other parts of the mall or simply close altogether. Der Dog Haus and Baskin Robbins, which were next door to each other, closed sometime in early 1990. There was even The Gap, which lasted until circa 1995. I noticed a whole plethora of the stores/tenants packed up and left. When the 1990s rolled around, things started to change, but not for the better. Kaufmann’s was the only store that had escalators (prior to the new Sears) and one of my favorite pastimes in my childhood was riding them! Going to that mall made me blessed to be a child of the 1980s. Despite the food court being in the east wing, most of the mall’s eateries were located in the north wing, save Elby’s (Big Boy) and Long John Silvers.
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However, a small video arcade called Pocket Change was added in the back of the food court region sometime later. It had spots for potentially more food vendors, but never caught on. During the holiday seasons, said fountain would always be converted into a stage and my older brother’s fourth grade honor choir performed its Christmas concert there in 1989, and my family recorded footage of it! Also, during the holiday seasons, there would be a kiddie train set up Circa 1989, a food court was added with food vendors such as Sbarro Pizza, Cinnabon, A & W Hot Dogs and More, and a locally owned Yorgo’s Gyros and Potatoes. Then, as you proceeded to the center court, there was the grand fountain which was absolutely breathtaking to watch the waters squirt up about 10 feet high almost into the skylight above. Across from that fountain was a musical instrument store, which I referred to as “the organ store” as my grandparents purchased theirs at that store.
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When we exited Sears, we were greeted by a lagoonish fountain painted in a dark blue color with dim orange lighting, and would always cross the bridge above it and toss coins in. We always walked through Sears whenever we would go to the mall during that time. Somewhere in the middle of east wing, stood a Gertrude Lee Candy Kiosk that always smelled sweet when you would walk past it. The 1980s was the peak time for the mall as it boasted two toy stores: Circus World (later became Kay Bee Toys) and Playland, an Aladdin’s Castle video arcade (later to become Tilt), Baskin Robbin’s Ice Cream (yes, we actually did have a Baskin Robbins!), York Steak House, Der Dog Haus, Scotto’s Pizza, The High Hat Café (now known as The Ville), and Elby’s (Big Boy) Restaurant to name a few. I grew up not too far from there, so it was always convenient for me and my family. Being a child of the 1980s, that was a time I have the fondest memories of FSM, and was one of my favorite local places to visit at the time. Throughout the decades, the mall has seen various stores come and go.
#THE VILLE STEUBENVILLE OHIO MOVIE#
The Mall also had a movie theater initially called “Cinemas 3” which literally doubled in size circa 1990 changing the name to Cinemas 6. It boasted two fountains a large one in the center court and a smaller one in front of the Sears entry way. Woolworth store caddy cornered from the Carlisle’s/JC Penney, which remained in that spot until 2001. In addition to the aforementioned stores, it also had an F.W.
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The Fort Steuben Mall first opened its doors in 1974 with three anchor stores such as Kaufmann’s (later Macy’s), Carlisle’s (later became JC Penney), and Sears. John Reed's Commentary User submitted April 20, 2017