What's the Future of the Mall at Tuttle Crossing?
Once a bustling retail destination for Dublin residents and Central Ohio shoppers alike, the Mall at Tuttle Crossing now tells a quieter story. With vacancy rates exceeding 50% and a growing number of darkened storefronts lining its corridors, many in the community are asking: is there a path back to relevance — or is a wholesale transformation on the horizon?
A Mall in Decline
The Mall at Tuttle Crossing, located off Tuttle Crossing Boulevard in Dublin, Ohio, was a regional retail powerhouse when it opened in 1997. Anchored by major department stores and packed with national retailers, it drew shoppers from across Franklin County and beyond. But like hundreds of enclosed malls across the United States, Tuttle has struggled to adapt to shifting consumer habits, the rise of e-commerce, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, the mall's vacancy rate has climbed past the 50% mark, with former anchor spaces and inline storefronts sitting empty. The foot traffic that once defined weekend afternoons has noticeably thinned, leaving a hollow echo in spaces that once hummed with activity.
New Ownership — A Fresh Start or More of the Same?
In 2023, the Mall at Tuttle Crossing changed hands. Previous owner Washington Prime Group — a real estate investment trust that had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2021 — sold the property to Kohan Retail Investment Group, a New York-based private equity firm that specializes in acquiring distressed and underperforming malls across the United States.
Kohan has built a portfolio of struggling malls nationwide, positioning itself as a turnaround specialist in the challenged regional mall sector. However, the firm's track record has been decidedly mixed. While some properties under Kohan's ownership have seen renewed activity and new tenant signings, others have continued to deteriorate, raising questions about the company's long-term redevelopment commitments.
Whether Kohan has concrete plans for Tuttle Crossing — including the mixed-use redevelopment that many community members and urban planners have championed — has not been publicly confirmed. The company has not made any formal announcements regarding the Dublin property's future.
The Case for Mixed-Use Redevelopment
Mixed-use redevelopment has emerged as the most frequently discussed option for struggling malls of this type. Across the country, similar properties have been reimagined as live-work-play environments, incorporating apartments, offices, hotels, restaurants, medical facilities, and entertainment venues in place of traditional retail.
The Mall at Tuttle Crossing's location makes it a compelling candidate for such a transformation. Situated along the I-270 outerbelt with strong road visibility, ample acreage, and existing infrastructure, the site has the bones to support a significant reinvention. The City of Dublin has not announced any formal redevelopment agreements related to the mall, though city officials have previously expressed openness to exploring new uses for the site.
What the Community Wants
For many Dublin residents, the mall's decline is more than an economic footnote — it represents the loss of a shared community space. Local shoppers have voiced frustration at the dwindling options, while business owners in surrounding areas watch the ripple effects on nearby retail corridors.
Some community members have called for a mixed-use transformation that would bring housing, dining, and entertainment to the site, while others hold out hope for a retail revival anchored by new tenants.
What Comes Next
The future of the Mall at Tuttle Crossing now rests largely in the hands of Kohan Retail Investment Group, in partnership with the City of Dublin and Franklin County. Redevelopment of a property this size is a complex, multi-year undertaking — but with the right vision and investment, the site's prime location and existing infrastructure could make it an attractive candidate for reinvention.
For now, Dublin residents are left watching and waiting — hoping that Kohan's ownership marks a turning point, and that the next chapter for Tuttle Crossing is one worth shopping for.