INTHE KNOW
DID YOU KNOW
Most of the stores in
the Village Square
grand opening
aren’t there today
Did You Know? We are looking for little-known facts, history or
other interesting stories about your community. Please send your
ideas to [email protected].
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R
emember Hills Department Store? If you do,
do you recall the one located in Village Square
Mall? How about Animal Krackers? Hit or Miss?
This End Up Furniture Co.? If these stores bring back
fond memories, you may have spent an hour in the
food court talking about the previous night’s episode
of “Alice,” “Dallas” or “Three’s Company.” It was
March 1982 when Village Square opened its doors
to the public. At the time, the economy was limping
along and consumers were looking for more for less.
Owned by Oxford Development Company – which
still is around today – the 63 mall stores each had to
agree to give consumers a place where a dollar went
farther if they wanted a space in the mall. The grand
opening festivities included celebrity appearances
by Vasili Bogazianos and Clint Ritchie, a pair of soap
opera stars from “All My Children,” and “One Life
to Live,” respectively. One survivor over the decades
has been Giant Eagle, which no longer occupies the
mall itself, but has one of its upscale Market District
locations across the parking lot. Hills Department
Store, which was touted as the anchor store of the
mall, went public in 1987, 30 years after its founding
in Youngstown, Ohio. However, straddled with debt,
the chain was bought out by competitor Ames in 1999,
eliminating the familiar red and white logo from the
retail landscape forever. Today, Village Square is home
to Half Price Books, Kohls and Toys ‘R’ Us, in addition
to Home Depot and other retailers. ■