There is no reason to believe businesses that defy demands of Natural Law: what Mother Nature, God, or Whatever Power decreed to be the reality of the real world, democracy, capitalism, the US Constitution, and free, fair, and affordable commerce?
Demanding every corporation, farmer, business, outsourcer sweatshop, and nonprofit, tax-exempt, organization and Church markets the cost in the wholesale and retail price of his or her product and service; Of every workers, consumers, and taxpayers living (including pension and health care). Enabling parents to love, nurse, nurture, discipline, protect, and provide, for every child (job) they conceive and fund schools, infrastructure, national security, government services, and etc.; with money derived from wages or independent business profit.
Can move to a property tax abated enterprise zone and collect without compensation; the more stock dividends (money) Chinese, Foreign and Domestic Investors and Stockholders (money marketers) market quarterly; in the wholesale and retail price of EVERY product and service Human Beings use for life!

Rick Diamond has some very nice, classy cloths. You guys should shop there (really, some of you guys need a change in style). I bought my hubby a very nice suit and some other items. Good luck Rick in your new place.

It's a disgrace to have allowed that showcase, beautiful mall to decay into a ghost town.

This is what happens when decent people fear being called "racist" for correcting offensive behavior or expelling those who took over the hallways by intimidating.

black people did it

white people did it

Whenever I went up to that mall I saw black people acting stupid. and I saw white people acting just as stupid! So why dose everything in Akron all ways boil down to (RACE) anyways? Why couldn't we just say the TRUTH.
The People that ran the place down were
people with no (HOME TRAINING) that is why they respond the wrong way in public. They are ludicrous irresponsible unintelligent and brainless people. who do not think before they act. just like some of the people who post comments to try to abuse and offend other readers.To create anger resentment or annoyance is what you do when you have NO HOME TRAINING!!!

What is HOME TRAINING?

Loren Eberly strikes again. I'd like one time to be able to understand his post....

Rowdy is right. As Jesse Jackson himself stated: "If I were walking down a dark street with someone following me, I would feel relieved if I turned and saw he was white"

that mall was run down for one reason. chapel hill will be next. akron public schools went to hell after the bright idea of open enrollment. its pretty bad we have to keep moving farther away from city limits to get away from all the B.S

The same thing was on its way to happening to Chapel Hill, but finally someone said "we are gonna be another Rolling Acres" and implemented rules to keep the people who have money to spend safe..The problem was gangs of under 18, black thugs sprinkled with a few little white wanna be's walking up and down the mall trying to intimidate and act ignorant...don't act like you all havent seen it. Some people are their own worst enemies and all we can do is pray for change.

the only good mall left is in canton. you no when the stores are selling purple n red {zoot suits} with matching alligator shoes its time to move on

The thugs can ruin anything. Give them housing, food stamps, and any benefit for being stupid and lazy and it will be turned into a slum or abused in another way.When South High was built back in the 50's, During the first year the drop ceilings had to be repaired and sinks and toilets were torn off the walls.KILL EVERYTHING GOOD.

Malls aren't dying because of race issues. They are dying because people can buy 99% of what they need at the Super Wal Mart or other big box stores. I grew up in the Akron area and moved to the south several years ago and now live in a city that is 60% black/40% white. It is much nicer than Akron, so maybe it isn't a race thing, but an Ohio thing.

Chapel Hill Mall is next to go. Been there lately? Not any place your typical suburbanite would want to be except after 4pm on the weekends when they aren't allowed to be there without an adult with them and there are more security officers then people. Normally the mall is all but empty during the week nights. Malls are dying and we all know why.

No Kevin - I believe Rolling Afros was a race thing!

wow!! i wonder why after every article people like to play the race game. i personally think it was the owners fault for charging the store owner's high rent. slowly all of my favorite stores left that mall. it had nothing to do with thugs. the akron police department was located right inside the mall. if the owner hadnt let things get out of hand and had done some remodeling i think the mall would have been savable. if someone does buy the mall and just put the same stores back in there i definetly would shop there again its close and right on the west side. that area was a nice shopping area but sadly that was a long time ago i hate to see it go. we dont even have a good grocery store up there. give us a giant eagle or acme bring the toy store back open up a some nice restaurants it would attract people//dont give up on rolling acres..

Rolling Acres didn't die, it was killed. Chapel Hill is still packed and busy, so it should be alright. The last time I went to RA, I was carrying so we didn't get robbed going in or leaving. I don't carry at CH..yet. Any bus stop, convienent store or bad corner can get overrun by thugs of all colors and the same thing that killed RA happens to the neighborhood.

Yea ok, how many people can say with any degree of honesty that black thugs are not the real reason that the mall lost more and more shoppers as time went on? Come on, keep it real. As a society we have become so sensitive to race issues that we are losing our grip on communicating our true message.

the same thing is happenning at summit mall now. it's completely depressing to shop there. you can tell it's going downhill by the "lower grade" stores they are willing to lease to. there is no goood mall left in akron. maybe malls are dying...

yankee - Maybe race related from the perspective of paranoid suburbanites being afraid of anyone with a different skin color. I remember hearing all of the stories about the rapes/murders/slit achilles tendons happening at Rolling Acres. People from the surrounding areas acted as if Rolling Acres was like the killing fields in Rwanda. Wholesale murder and genocide and no safety for anyone.

Based on the final days of Rolling Acres (reported on this article) it seems there may have been some management issues.

Malls are dying across the nation. Combination of economic factors and changing consumer habits. Why go fight the crowd at the mall when you get 99% of what you need at Target or Wal Mart? They even have food courts, now. There is nothing offered at a traditional mall (apart from higher end clothing) that isn't available at the box stores. You can also knock out your grocery shopping on the same trip.

hotmom - They bring race into it because it fits simply with their theories and requires no real thought or analysis. Your point, that store rents were too high, may be the real reason the mall went out of business. You could present referenced facts showing Rolling Acres charged 300% more than comparable malls for rent, that they spent 80% less on security and infrastructure improvements, and these people would still blame minorities.

I disagree with your belief that Rolling Acres could ever be viable again. Not because of race or anything, but simply based on the fact that malls are going the way of downtown department stores. Shopping patterns are changing and people don't need to go to the mall anymore.

I blame the mall walkers. All of those old people scared young shoppers away. Besides, those old people would spend 3 hours there and only spend one dollar on a cup of coffee. They also took all of the good parking spots and ran over anyone walking in front of them.

I think we all know where the real blame lies...with the elderly mall walkers.

Actually the reality of it is nobody wants their wives and kids around that mall because its not safe. Their is a reason for that. That area is rough anyway. I cant believe anyone is shocked about it. Most of the kids that take the bus their are low lifes like their parents.

Low lifes take the bus??? People trying to get to work and using public transportation are low-lifes? I always took the bus to work when I worked at Rolling Acres. I would also take it to downtown Akron to go to the library and wander around the city. I have typically found that hardened criminals and gang-bangers find other modes of transportation rather than sinking to the public transport level.

Responding to:
"Malls are dying across the nation. Combination of economic factors and changing consumer habits. Why go fight the crowd at the mall when you get 99% of what you need at Target or Wal Mart?"

"Why go FIGHT" is the core of the problem.

Malls cannot be compared to Target and WalMart--Malls are a community gathering place in addition to shopping, as downtowns once were. When the downtowns became unsafe to walk around in and weather hampered shopping leisurely from store to store, malls became the solution.

Malls were designed for people to not only shop, but to SOCIALIZE in peace, safety, and without weather factors.

But then the packs of dropouts and career criminals were ALLOWED to loiter and PROWL like predators in the indoor "sidewalks" of Rolling Acres.

I could care less what race of people are the majority of shoppers around me, as long as they do not PROWL and intimidate in groups!!!

As for WalMart and Target pricing taking over mall shopping, that's not a factor at all, because there were always decent discount stores like Gold Circle across the street from RA, and K-Mart down the street, and both of those closed long before RA was dead. Those type of stores are for "in and out, get what you need and leave", but malls are for spending more time, shopping at a huge VARIETY of stores without weather problems and with having to find parking only once.

The problem with the mall was PREDATORS handed multi-million-dollar TURF because nobody had the guts to boot them out because low lifes would scream "racist".

Throwing that bomb into reasonable discipline done is destroying MANY aspects of our society.

Have you ever noticed how well malls do when there are hotels nearby? I think Rolling Acres would have had a different customer base if it had Hotels in the vacinity. Summit Mall seems to do well and there are a lot of hotels in the area.

Believegod - Although you bring up some valid points (about the social and entertainment aspects of the mall), I believe all malls will be dead regardless of their location/clientele.

Granted a large segment of society used the mall for "hanging out", but most of us are too busy to just "hang out and wander around the mall socializing". Between work, kid's activities, etc., most families have very little leisure time.

Malls are in the business of making money by selling products to people.

Because of their layout, shoppers would have to walk a great distance to get a tool at Sears, clothing at the Gap, a corn dog at the food court, play a video game at the arcade, and see a movie. Then they would have to stop at the grocery store on the way home to get food for the week.

Today's consumer would rather zip into Walmart, buy the tool and clothing there. Buy an Xbox game and a DVD. Pickup groceries, and be back home after one, short trip. We tend to socialize in online environments now and don't really need the malls as a site for social gatherings.

Rolling acres died because of thugs. The area sucks, it is scary!
The last time i was there was Winter 03 and I ran in and ran out with my son and when i say RAN thats exactly what I mean. I told my son there were car jackers everywhere so we had to run.
He just wanted to see Santa. The next night the
news ran a story about a carjacker at rolling acres mall. I never went back.

Khen, well said. I agree with what you said although you can't deny the crowds of roving thugs had a negative impact. Have you driven around Akron lately in some of the low-income neighborhoods? Groups of kids mean-mugging you, flagging you down to sell dope...its ridiculous. People need to take charge and get their city back.

people also rember the new owners also charged more rent than could be aforded..you make 3,000 then your rent is like 2,500.00 there is no way you could pay pluse keep yor over head..then the thugs move in and chase the people out all around sad...just sad i went to that mall as a kid and it was a great hang out..is truly missed here.

Khen,

You make some good points about the mall, and people just not using them as the social places they once were. Other than teens and maybe parents that don't work, I don't see who has the time to just hang out at the mall, or wander from store to store.

As far as socializing, some people still do that in person. With coworkers, friends, people at church etc. Thankfully the entire world isn't just a bunch of people sitting on their computer catching up with that long lost friend that happened to find them on the internet.

Rolling Acres died due to various reasons. One reason was the location of the mall. The mall was in the backyard of one of the poorest area of Akron. What a dumb idea, and a waste of money.

Steve -

Hey - are you making fun of my Internet habits???:)

I agree that there are still in-person social activities and I also agree they are important. But we really have become an on-the-go society and a leisurely shopping trip is not something that many have the time (or inclination) to do anymore.

Grubby - I moved away from Akron 20 years ago when I joined the Navy and only return about twice a year. I agree it is worse than what I remember, but it is still a lot nicer than some places I have lived. Crime (especially violent crime) benefits nobody. It just seems there is a common, "let's blame the black thugs" for everything theme on this site.

I guess it is not much different than Alexandria, VA - they just blame the Latinos for all of the businesses failing and crime. There are two malls (once premier shopping centers in the Alexandria/Springfield area) and both are run down shells. Thugs? Gangs? Blacks? Latinos? Economy? Shopping habits? Economy?

I guess everyone picks a target for the root of all their problems. I guess when we pick that target, we select one we are comfortable with scapegoating and are already convinced that they are to blame.

My question would be, if I could prove to you (empirically) that the mall failed because of:

High priced rents
High cost infrastructure upkeep
Excessively high utilities
High taxes
Poor plumbing
Decline in disposable income in the area
Shoddy book keeping

Would you still blame the thugs?

Belden Village Mall is not dying! Gee I wonder why? Maybe it's because it's in a high class area, they throw anyone out who even thinks of starting trouble, and it's surrounded by dozens of hotels,business buildings,high class condos,hotels,and most of all the surrounding areas keep their taxs' high to keep out all the thugs.

so, the thugs aren't to blame? thugs will inhabit a location until all decency is gone, until there is nothing left for them. they then move on to the next spot.the fact that mall management chose to do nothing about the situation only hastened the malls demise. they need to cough up the money and employ police officers to patrol the malls. they won't even fix a leaking roof, let alone hire real security for their patrons though.

Loren, do you just copy and paste your postings? You always use the same silly phrases and word groupings and it never makes any sense at all. No idea what you're trying to say but it would be nice if you could make it clearer without all the crazy man language.

"Rolling Acres didn't die, it was killed. Chapel Hill is still packed and busy, so it should be alright. The last time I went to RA, I was carrying so we didn't get robbed going in or leaving. I don't carry at CH..yet. Any bus stop, convienent store or bad corner can get overrun by thugs of all colors and the same thing that killed RA happens to the neighborhood."

"Carrying?" I've shopped at Rolling Acres ever since it opened and never once, been bothered by anyone. And it wasn't because I was "carrying" anything other than my purse and my packages. Cute. "Carrying". Sounds like you're one of the bad ones.

I hate it when black people throw in the race card on most all topics...I love it that I got to you Khen...I had to do it...it was irresistible! If they can do it...I can have fun and throw it in there too...;o)

People, stop reading and trying to understand Loren. I did a long time ago and it makes these forums easier to follow. She used to post more frequently so it was even worse.

They should have kept Rolling Acres open at any cost, just to take the hit so that other malls can survive. In a depressed area like this, There is always one mall that it targeted. Once that mall dies, the next one is targeted. Chapel Hill is next, then Summit, then Akron looks like Youngstown/Ghost town. There is no way to stop this cycle, as long as the city keeps encouraging section 8 housing.

Chapel Hill is fine.

From Khen: My question would be, if I could prove to you (empirically) that the mall failed because of:

High priced rents
High cost infrastructure upkeep
Excessively high utilities
High taxes
Poor plumbing
Decline in disposable income in the area
Shoddy book keeping

Would you still blame the thugs?

Yes they would because that's all they can do. I, like Just Mein B, have never been bothered at that mall in the 9 years I've lived here. I shop there, have a very nice car, and take my kid to the dentist there. The only time I've been afraid is when the ceiling started caving in. However, I think both the problems with the bad apples AND mall mismanagement are both to blame. I would love to see the mall come alive again but with the mentality of the people on this board that will never happen.

Thugs ruined it.

Having been in the bar business and witnessing first hand EMPIRICALLY what happens when the hip hop crowd starts to favor your business I can assure you it it the fault of thugs.


And I will change my mentality when they change theirs. When I can turn on the radio and here a nice R&B song with a good beat and positive uplifting lyrics rather than listen to some idiot mumble ( cause of the grill)

How much money he has
How big his rims are
How good he is in bed
How fast he will kill someone for looking at him wrong

(just summed up the message of 98% of the rap songs out there for you)

THEN AND ONLY THEN will I change my mentality.

Until then I will keep the Thugs out of any business I own or operate and everyone else should to.

When the black "community" can shake off affirmative action and stand on it own two feet AND not commit 50% of the crime in this country. I will change my mentality. Until then I will call it like I see it and act accordingly.

REality, maybe you should start by changing the radio station you listen to.WNWV plays a lot of nice R & B, WMJI plays old school R&B. Leave the other ones alone. (I can't stand them either!) But don't put all of us into one category.
But, live and let live. Thankfully, I'll be in a new area soon instead of moving into Akron like I wanted to.

I actually listen to 89.7. And I try not to put you all in one category. There are plenty of wonderful black people in the world. And thugs come in all races.

I'm not dumb only slightly crazy.

@ Loren...What? I so agree with johnnyoutback

This photos tells exactly why Rolling Acres closed. The same reason will soon close Chapel Hill too.

karrove hasn't been at CH in quite some time.

"This photos tells exactly why Rolling Acres closed."

What, exactly, is that supposed to mean? So what if he sells value-priced suits? Not everyone likes cowboy boots and tuffskins.

ll, I'll let you figure that one out on your own. You can DO it!

Akron is really turning into a ghost-town...sorta sad ya know.

what it comes down to is colored people think we owe them something, therefore they see no problem in running the streets, causing crime, and running people out of neighborhoods. things would be fine if we put them on a boat and sent them back to where they belong.

Johnnyoutback: people like Loren just spew out a bunch of words and hope somewhere down the line they show some sort of intelligence never realizing that they are just a whackjob.

Careful Krystal Renee, your sheet is showing.
Put us on a boat and send us back where we belong? Are you serious? A "boat ride" is what got us here in the first place but as Americans, this is where we belong!

TwoKids9194:

You are right. a boat ride is what brought us here.

Krystal Renee:

Coloreds? the accepted vernacular is African American
Stop listening to your brother aka husband's Lynyrd Skynrd tapes and go back to Lifeskills Maybe you can get your GED and one day be half as educated as me.

Better Yet

I'll pull my new Volkswagen up to your Wendy's window so that you and Bobby Lee and Billy Bob can see what a successful (Black) person looks like.

You are a prime specimen for research. I'd love to organize a study of brain waves in poor white trash like yourself that can bring some clarity or reasoning as to why you date your brother, why you park 27 cars in your yard, and how you can manage to eat steak with only 4 teeth!

That would be a most satisfying experiment.

Until you know all blacks. do not judge all blacks.

@Krystal Renee aka "KKK"....you're disgusting! Hope you're not raising kids...you pathetic racist!