Rolling Acres, Akron, Ohio

Despite warnings by civic leaders and former Mayor Edward O. Erickson that the addition of a third mall in the Akron area would harm downtown department stores, the Rolling Acres area was born with Rolling Acres Mall serving as its anchor.

Pulling from a diverse population of blue collar workers in Barberton, Ohio and Kenmore, and inner city neighborhoods such as West Akron and Lane-Wooster, the Rolling Acres shopping district blossomed.

Today, Rolling Acres stands as a skeleton of what it once was, mirroring many other parts of the Midwest that have suffered from stagnant economic conditions, saturated markets, and unprofitable foot traffic.

It had a number of large big box retailers including: Several of the buildings have been condemned, while other are taking transient uses such as fronts for flea markets, and mattress liquidators.

The Target closed in February 2006, with a new store being opened in the western suburb of Wadsworth, Ohio.