FOREST PARK, Ohio — In March 2025, both Fairfield and Forest Park city councils approved zoning changes needed to move forward on the redevelopment of the former Forest Fair Mall, which straddles the border of the two localities.
Here's what to know about the redevelopment.
Tenant
- The Hillman Group signed a lease for a new multipurpose facility on the site
- It consolidates operations from multiple Cincinnati-area locations and is the anchor for the redevelopment
Current action
- Demolition has been happening, with all of it planned to be finished as warmer weather approaches
- Summer 2026 has been the completion date on the demolition timeline
- O’Rourke Wrecking Co. is handling the demolition
Nick Graham/Journal-News
Development plans
- The land will include a business and industrial park. There will be warehouses, offices, other commercial uses and The Hillman Group as the lead tenant
- Hillwood’s plans have included “Project Tetris,” which supports consolidated office/industrial operations for large employers, including Hillman Group
- Hillwood Investment Properties (a Perot company) owns 55 acres of the site and has contracted to purchase that land from World Properties Inc. It paid off $10.5 million in bonds tied to the mall’s 2004 renovation
- It also secured a $7.9 million state demolition grant via the Butler County Land Bank
Mall history
- Most locals refer to the property as “Forest Fair Mall,” which opened in 1988‑1989 and completely closed in 2022
- Major tenants including Kohl’s and Bass Pro Shops closed in 2024 and 2025. The mall has had other names in its time, including Cincinnati Mills and Cincinnati Mall.
- A nightclub existed at the mall; most remember it as Bourbon Street and Metropolis.
- City leaders conducted a final walkthrough in August 2025. It was more of a memory walk, with folks sharing their experiences throughout the years.
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