Developer: Meijer, other stores to open by Fall 2024 in Alliance

Benjamin Duer, The Repository
·3 min read

ALLIANCE – From demolition to completion, new details about the redevelopment of the former Carnation City Mall property were revealed Thursday night.

The entire project should be done by fall 2024.

Randy Ruttenberg of Fairmount Properties, which owns the property, offered a timeline of events – and more – to area business leaders at the 23rd annual Alliance Area Development dinner. About 80 people attended Thursday's event at Alliance Country Club.

More:Carnation Mall didn't just sell goods, it also made memories

Fairmount Properties, based in Orange Village, took ownership of the mall property at 2500 W. State St. in early August. The mall closed permanently later that month. Dunham's Sports remains open.

The company plans to redevelop the property into a new retail plaza with a Meijer superstore and other retailers, including Dunham's. The sporting goods chain will relocate elsewhere on the premises.

"We look forward to being a part of this community," Ruttenberg said.

The work begins soon on the former Carnation City Mall property

Here are other new details, he shared:

  • Demolition work and site preparation on the mall property will start in mid-October.

  • Meijer expects to break ground on a standalone, 160,000-square-foot store in or near March. It will be similar in size and scope to one that opened in May in Jackson Township.

  • Space for up to six other retailers will be built adjacent, but not attached, to Meijer. Dunham's will be in that area.

  • Dunham's will close for several months until the new location is ready.

  • The existing Comfort Inn hotel will remain on the premises and be part of the redevelopment project. There are plans to remodel the hotel.

  • The new plaza will get a name, but it has yet to be decided. The developer wants community input on a name.

The current plans do not call for a new movie theater to replace Cinemark Carnation 5, but Ruttenberg said he would be open to one. He said a chain, such as Cinemark, would have to join the project.

More:Salem Twin Cinema seeks to fill the movie theater void left by Cinemark Carnation 5

He said Cinemark, which they work with regularly, is evaluating the situation to determine if they want to return to Alliance. "But we'd love to bring a theater back into the market," Ruttenberg said.

Ruttenberg said he could not discuss other potential tenants – none are under contract – but he confirmed a restaurant is possible. The site plans also call for a gas station on the premises, but Ruttenberg said that might not happen.

He told city officials and business leaders, who were in attendance, that he welcomed any of their input or suggestions for tenants. He also expressed gratitude for support received from city and schools officials on the project.

Other development news

There was a cocktail hour and dinner for guests before the presentation.

"This event is really our only night event that we hold," said Rick Baxter, president of Alliance Area Development. "What we try to do is give an update some things we're doing in the community, things that are happening."

He continued, saying before the presentation: "With the big project at the mall, we wanted them to come in and give people a chance to talk and see the plans for the development."

One of the updates, Baxter told guests that Alliance Area Development with Stark Education Partnership plan to launch a career exploration program for Alliance and Marlington middle school students.

He said the program involves an aptitude survey to match students with area businesses for mentorship and on-site experience. Baxter said AAD would contribute $5,000 toward the start-up costs.

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @bduerREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Developer of Carnation City Mall property outlines future, timeline