The decline of this mall will get worse.

sad. . . .

If Jerry Snyder was still alive...he'd be raising hell about this.

If you knew and remember Jerry Snyder..you know what I'm talking about.

Snyder was THE man when it came to the rights of the disabled.

Yuck. I drive the miles to go to Beachwood or South Park Mall. Can't stand Chapel Hill. That whole area needs some serious help.

Mr Dyer, I wish in this article you would have also mentioned the fact that not a single door at Chapel Hill is handicap accessable. While I am not wheelchair bound, I am a mother who brings a stroller. I have yet to find a door with a handicap button for automatic doors. It's very difficult to get in and out of that mall unless there is someone else there to help you. I can only imagine the frustration people have if they come in their own wheelchair (since clearly borrowing one is an issue)

Buchholzer would be turning in his grave if he knew the condition his mall is in now. He was a good man who knew the value of taking care of his employees and customers; He catered to Akron and made Chapel Hill one of its' cornerstones.

The CBL company--whom his widow sold the mall to--is ¢heap, ¢heap, ¢heap. As you can plainly see, the mall is purely a profit vehicle to them, and that's it. They have done almost nothing to fix up the place. CBL doesn't give a s___ about you; they just want your money.

So very sorry to hear this couple (and how many others?) had to chase down a wheelchair. Hey, Ted...there should definitely be a customer service booth at the center of the mall - with chairs that could be made available to the public. How hard could that be ?

@ macjec - I'm with you. Except I've held doors open for people who were trying to manuever to get inside, be it with a child in a stroller or for someone using a wheelchair. Has no one in management up there heard of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and that public facilities are to be made accessible ? I don't know the regulation for malls, but it can be difficult to open those heavy doors at the stores, even if you're not 'disabled.'

Not only this, but the Mall also needs to step up patrols and make the area safer. News reports today said someone was attacked at 3 pm - IN THE AFTERNOON in broad daylight! in the 1800 block of Buchholzer Blvd.

Most people I know will not go up there at night. But now you even have to worry if you go up there in the day, evidentally.

Are you listening, Ted ?

Give it a few more years & it will be Rolling Acres, part 2

you can still buy plenty of airbrushed tupac shirts at the mall

Now that is frackin funny! Step back 30,000 feet and it's even funnier!

That area is now a toilet. The mall is just a part of the overall decline. I hope that the leaders that be look at the failure of Rolling Acres and see what NOT to do when a business district is teetering towards a war zone. Wake up Akron!

I hate it when people think that someone doesn't need a wheelchair, or a handicapped spot for that matter, because they don't "look" sick. I hope that "intellectually challenged reader" doesn't ever find themselves or a loved one in that position, because it sucks.

I hate it when people think that someone doesn't need a wheelchair, or a handicapped spot for that matter, because they don't "look" sick. I hope that "intellectually challenged reader" doesn't ever find themselves or a loved one in that position, because it sucks.

Also, now at JC Penney's where the handicap parking is you cannot get in that door because we were told there was too many muggings. Then move the Handicap parking to the other side - the girl told me they may do that at some point. I told her we would not be back - so if you're handicap you have to go in thru the mall or walk around- for myself that's not a problem for someone who is handicapped that's different. Chapel Hill is rapidly declining. I won't go there any more.

I've always said that Chapel Hill is the next Rolling Acres. The traffic is horrible because of the lighting system and road design. The intersection of Rt 8 and Cuyahoga Falls is atrocious. The only place I go to up there is Giant Eagle and BJ's Wholesale.

Maybe if the owners put any money whatsoever into maintaining the mall, it would not be in a state of decline. The mall is filthy and outdated.

"But what really has Gergely fired up is what he sees as a steady decline in customer service."

What really has me fired up is a steady decline in the clientele.

That mall is the anchor of the businesses in that area. They are doing the same as another mall that now no longer exists.

Bob:
When I first went to mall office for the wheelchair in January, the lady at the desk told me that the reason customer service was closed was because the mall wanted to save money. So, not sure Ted told you the truth about the space being rented out.

Thanks for letting me know there are no wheelchairs available at Chapel Hill Mall: I will not bother shopping there then. And for the general opinionated public at large, not everyone who is issued a handicapped parking placard looks like they have been hit by a bus or are 300 years old: I have a severe spinal problem along with fibromyalgia that makes walking from the car even to the door an exhausting and painful task, yet I keep up my appearance for my own self-esteem. I am not ready for the 4 x 6 hole in the ground. Yes, my next big investment will be to purchase my own take-along wheelchair since my husband would have to walk forever in the Mall just to locate one.
I too, used to judge by appearance alone, whether someone was really handicapped or not....until I was issued my own necessary placard.

I had no idea that it was a requirement for shopping areas to have wheelchairs for their patrons. I always thought it was a courtesy.

I do agree that the mall should have some automatic doors for those handicapped shoppers that want to try and get into the mall.

I don't even remember the last time I was in Chapel Hill Mall! I'll drive the extra few miles and shop at Summit Mall and Belden Village.

I suppose that wheelchairs are no longer available because they were abused by obese welfare cases, who look for ANY reason to SUE the provider of this courtesy service.

Fang - nice avatar!!!
good comment too.

If you need a wheelchair to get around in life, WOULDN'T YOU HAVE ONE YOU COULD BRING? Why does a mall have to provide another one for you?

I don't get it.

All malls are in trouble except for unique locations like Topanga in suburban Los Angeles and possibly South Coast near Disneyland.

Chapel Hill looks to be going the way of Rolling Acres. I was there three months ago and the area surrounding it looks like a toilet.

Akron and NE Ohio in general are going downhill fast.

Last hoodrat out of Chapel Hill Mall turn out the lights. If any still work.

What a disgrace of a place that was indeed once the "friendliest mall of all".

The decline of Akron and Ohio will get even worse. Leave now unless you like getting taken at every turn. Ohio, where politicians take all your money and leave you with not enough to get by on while the politicians and connected live high on the hog. Ohio, 21st century slavery in the making.

Online Shopping sounds great!

Glad we moved from the Greater Akron Area----- sounds like Chapel Hill has gone down or is going down the tubes--- Rolling Acres =gone, State Road= gone. Is Chapel Hill the next victim of the economy - customer service in the Akron area was bad before we left in 2006- only back to visit friends who live there. GOOD LUCK

Dear Mayor Plusquellic: I'd love to make a shopping date with you at Chapel Hill. Do you have any holiday shopping that you need to get done? Get in touch with me via the ABJ and we'll go to the mall and general area and talk about how NOT to let this turn into Rolling Acres II, as so many other commenters have noted. PS We'll need your security detail to do this, so please bring them along. Thanks!

The lady who accused the other one with the recovering injury of abusing the need for a wheelchair is, frankly, ignorant. My husband has Multiple Sclerosis and walks with a cane, but he cannot walk long distances or stand for too long, so we have a portable wheelchair. He can walk for some distance or ride when too tired. People with certain diseases are prone to have good days and bad. You may notice someone parking in a handicapped space with a tag who appears not to require it, yet that person may be legally handicapped and having a rare good day. I applaud their good day, it means less of a struggle for a precious small amount of time. Don't judge a book by it's cover!

ScottH: Bob explained that if you would bother to read the article, it was a temporary situation, and wheelchairs are expensive.

Also: All malls are going to go downhill. I don't know when the last time I was in one, or for what reason. The anchor department stores are too expensive and you can get everything online. The only people who go to the mall are kids so they can hang out away from their parents.

I'm glad in this economy that they can make money renting out every square inch of the mall! Who the heck would rent a space by the door small enough to keep a couple of wheelchairs? Maybe YET ANOTHER cell phone kiosk?

I think they just decided it was too much trouble.

I remember when you could get a scooter or a stroller from the automatic machine at the door - a quarter, and you get your quarter back when you bring the stroller back. Am I hopelessly out of date?

Scotth...if you would ONLY read the article, you would know more of the story. I would not put my name with another initial on here if I were as stu pid as you. Ha ha

Macy's is on a list of companies at significant risk of bankruptcy and Sears Holdings is supposedly very nervous about its ability to pay back bondholders when their loans mature sometime next year.

This is nowhere near being over. The bump we're seeing is due to Bernanke's pump priming. There's no true recovery. You can tell by the unemployment stats.

@ scotth... Let me explain the need for courtesy and customer service. The mall does not HAVE to provide a wheelchair, although it would be a kind thing to do. Many people can drive up to the mall, but if they are by themselves, it is nearly impossible to put a wheelchair in your car, then be able to try to drag it out of your car, pop it out and be able to manuever into the mall...That is why! Obviously you have never had the need...you are very lucky.

They could have a customer service area and have you put a deposit of some kind, or leave your i.d. to ensure the person would bring it back. However, I am aware there are some who would take advantage of this and take the wheelchair home, but why can't they check with the other malls who do this and see what their problems and/or benefits have been?

Diana, I just love your post!! I also have a handycap when it comes to walking any kind of a distance. I don't have a plate or a tag to hang on my rear view mirror so I just deal with it. I could get one but I am kind of bullheaded. I hate to see these kids that borrow a relatives car and use the handycap spots to their advantage because they think they are cool. One of these days I will probably have the dr. sign the necessary papers to get one though. So meanwhile to those who don't really know what the persons problem is don't be so quick to judge people!!!

I can't remember the last time I was at Chapel Hill. Last time I was there I was bombarded by the kiosk people that don't understand "I'M NOT INTERESTED!!!" Its sad when you walk thru a mall pretending your on the phone so that they won't bug you! Also, there are less and less stores there for normal human beings to shop at.

Chapel Hill Mall is very close to Chapel Hill Towers, a huge apartment complex that caters to the 55 crowd. Many residents have limited mobility, but they still have money to spend and things to buy and lives to live.

Very stupid of Chapel Hill Mall to seemingly go out of the way to make things more difficult for their neighbors.

Diana, I just love your post!! I also have a handycap when it comes to walking any kind of a distance. I don't have a plate or a tag to hang on my rear view mirror so I just deal with it. I could get one but I am kind of bullheaded. I hate to see these kids that borrow a relatives car and use the handycap spots to their advantage because they think they are cool. One of these days I will probably have the dr. sign the necessary papers to get one though. So meanwhile to those who don't really know what the persons problem is don't be so quick to judge people!!!

To Voltman: Thank you, it's merely the truth. I will also add that when I drive without my husband, I never abuse the tag. Not only is it illegal it's unethical. I don't know why you are waiting to get one. It's only a prescription from your dr and the tags cost less than 4 bucks! It's especially handy in the winter. The less the distance to manuever over snow and ice to get to the door the better. Good luck!

There is an automatic door with a wheel chair button at the mall entrance doors on the west side (just down from the JC Penney doors that are no longer in use). There are a lot of handicap parking spots there also.

I love the peanut gallery from CA and FL chirping about how NE OH is doomed....two of the most financially insolvent states in the nation.

We'll see how you folks are chirping when you run out of fresh water. LOL

Chapel Hill is a dump....granted. But NE OH will survive and thrive from the Greenspan Depression.
Good farmland, abundant fresh water, good schools and universities, no hurricanes, no earthquakes, no mudslides, no brush fires....etc.

Smile folks....you're in paradise....you just don't know it yet.

If I owned Chapel Hill mall I would not drop a dime in either. The neighborhood is going to seed all around it. They could dump millions in it and it would not matter. It will be a giant empty carcass just like Rolling Acres in under 6 years. Its inevitable in that area. Why spend a dime?

Buchholtzer, is probably turning over in his grave, he would have never allowed something like this to have happened. Shame on the new owners!

ButtoMcFarty,

It's just the manifestation of an inferiority complex. Just like the people who have to comment that they dress better than others, drive a nicer car or live in a more expensive house, etc. I wouldn't put too much stock into it.

That shopping development at the old State Rd plaza will only further hurt Chapel Hill. But, unlike some here, I'm rooting for CH to survive. Maybe I'll go drop some cash there this weekend.

I miss Archie. I remember going there as a kid and talking to Archie and Santa. It's sad that my son can not have the chance to see Archie.On another note, I worked there for 7 years and watched as it slowly began to deteriorate. I had not been there in years and then stopped there this past weekend. I have to say, Chapel Hill needs to make some serious changes if they are going to remain in business. Whatever happened to that pet store? LOLOLOLOL!!!

Chapel Hill is definitly doomed. Steve & Barry's is still empty and who knows what will replace that. There are also teenagers all around the mall who sre scaring people away.

It used to be the friendliest mall of all now it is turing into the Ghettoist mall of all

HOPEFULLY IT DOESNT BECOME ROLLING ACRES!

and i think the petland is gone because some girl drowned a rabbit there... at least thats what i heard.

DLR,

a handicapped person would get killed using those doors next to JC Penney's and also near the bus entrance. Young thugs would take advantage of their disability, beat them and rob them. Did you read this article about a guy getting beat and robbed in broad daylight on sunday at 1800 bucholzer (right next to the mall)?

heres the article.

Man, punched and robbed by 3 people

http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/69567417.html

ButtoMcFarty,

I was just getting ready to post the same thing!

Its the usual 'SoCal is the best' or 'Florida-opinionated' grumpy old folks spouting about how ohio is so terrible and how much better they are than us, because they moved.

Lets see, theres plenty of FRESH water, great schools, no quakes, wildfires, affordable housing (vs. california), no hurricanes, ohio wont be under water, no need for expensive homeowner insurance, flood insurance, blah, blah, blah, etc.

Im happy the rest of the country thinks ohio is a piece of trash, it will keep property prices down so I can enjoy it here.

I also had recent foot surgery and need the use of wheelchairs or a "go cart " when I shop. This small curtesy of a wheelchair does bring more customers to the stores and in this ecomonic slowdown you would think this is a no brainer. In the past I would boil when I would go out in the parking lot to drive my husbands truck with the handicap plackard to the stores door for him so he could drive home. Smartass know it alls could really make mean comments

rent your own wheelchair. Which ammendment in the Constitution says a person is guaranteed free use of a wheelchair to go to the mall? When will the nonsense end?

Last time I was in Chapel Hill,about a year ago ,Christmas,to buy gift cards,and WOW!!
I was shocked,when I lived in the Falls ,we were there all the time,about 17 years ago I guess.Id take the kids to Woolworths for their report cards.It was free for A's and B's.I saw stores Ive never even heard of ,way to many kids,and too many people trying to get me to go to their kiosk..NO thank you! I'll stay at my Belden.You can have CH.

Not everyone who needs a wheelchair owns one. The disability could be short term (broken bones) that dont require the person purchace a wheelchair. While they could hobble around on crutches while shopping, that might become too big of a hassle. If the person had access to a wheelchair for the time they are at the mall, they'd be willing to shop and buy things. It's difficult to do that with crutches.

Butto...it's not paradise if you can't make a living.

I lived there thirty years. One of the problems with the region is that too many people live there who won't allow change. My years of experience growing up in the region tell me you are probably one of them.

We won't run out of fresh water. We'll come steal yours and guess what else? If you don't have population, you don't have political clout and if you don't have political clout you won't be able to stop us if and when that happens.

@macjec: What, you can't stay home and recuperate? I suppose if everyone is limping around on crutches the mall then has to carry their bags through the gauntlet of thugs, out to the car. Come on. Put your foot up on a pillow and go to the mall when you are better.

Interesting! I just talked to the wife and she spent the day at Crocker Park and South Park.

Roundtrip gas to a safe mall up north = $14.00

Knowing your loved one's are safe = Priceless!

For everyone else, there's Chapel Hill.

:0)

macjec, you are exactly right! I have a double stroller for 3 kids 5 and under. I don't even go there anymore.

Poor, poor Sheila. There is coming a day when you will have to choose how to eat your crow. I know this all too well.

I like it baked about 350* with a little rosemary and thyme. Much like a standing rib roast which, by the way, can easily be placed in your lap while wheeling around Acme in a store-provided wheelchair.

LOL

You keep telling yourself that root.

Cali is the nation's example of how NOT to run a state. When Cali defaults in the next year or so it could very well be the trigger that brings the whole mess down. Now there is something to be proud of....

BTW...how's that water thing working out for the Central Valley farmers?? How you planning to "steal" Midwest water when you can't even get it from your neighbors?? LOL

It doesn't matter. You just keep on living that Cali dream....ignorance is indeed bliss.
LOL

The Shoe Department is expanding and moving to where Steve and Barry's used to be in a couple weeks...

take business to the convenient mall

Chapel Hill is becoming the world's biggest quik'e mart. I'll miss the old place.

I used to go to Chapel Hill mall about once a week. At Christmas, I'd take the kids to see Santa, Archie and ride the little train. It's been so long since I've been to Chapel Hill Mall that I can't even remember the last time I shopped there. Besides worrying about safety, I have to try to get those heavy doors open and push my youngest child's stroller through them, get past all the pushy kiosk salesman and find a store than has something I want to buy. The last time my college student son was there, he was kicked out because he didn't have his ID to prove that he wasn't an unattended teen. He hasn't been back since. Chapel Hill has a totally different feel than it used to and I really don't have any reason to go there anymore.

Too much retail space in Akron, and there has been for a long time... this was bound to happen, and with nicer places nearby to go to instead, Chapel Hill is the logical casualty. A shame, since I grew up going there and have many memories, but good riddance if they can't maintain it.

They installed that pretty fountain with the clouds painted above it... the reflection of the water on the ceiling was great... a wonderful spot to rest between shopping...

then they RUINED it when they shut off the water and put the stupid kiosks on the ends of the fountain! Couldn't they find someplace else to stick ANOTHER phone kiosk and a Starbucks? How many phone sellers do we need in a mall?

I miss Archie too. I miss feeling like I am in a friendly mall that cares about it's customers.

the riff raff that ruined rolling acres is doing the same to chapel hill.people didnt feel safe going to rolling acres and was the down fall of a once great mall.even michigan still has 7-eleven stores...lol,where you can still get a slurpee.

For the longest time Chapel Hill supported the stores around it and was the destination. Now, Borders and Five Guys and Sam's Club are the places to go and Chapel Hill is an afterthought. How sad!

I WAS AT CHAPEL HILL LAST NIGHT. I LIVE CLOSE BY AND HAVE BEEN GOING THERE SINCE I WAS A CHILD. I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL BECOME THE NEXT ROLLING ACRES. I WAS SHOCKED BY THE NEW "GHETTO" STORES THERE LIKE (JIMMY JAZZ). I AM TRYING TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT HERE BUT COME ON. THESE TRASHY DOLLAR STORES AND THE STORES LIKE JIMMY JAZZ DO NOT ATTRACT THE CLIENTAL THAT I WANT TO BE SHOPPING WITH. I CAN NOT TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE SAY THAT CHAPEL HILL IS GHETTO AND THAT IT HAS REALLY GONE DOWN HILL AND THAT THEY ARE SCARED TO GO THERE. CHAPEL HILL IS HEADING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS ROLLING ACRES! DON'T LET IT HAPPEN!

@rootvg: Do you see our water supply as your next "Hetch Hetchy"? We would NEVER give the GreatLakes water supply to a bunch of fruity, flakey, nutty Californians.

the ignorance of companies amaze me sometimes. There is nothing in this mall that you cannot get via the internet in the safety of your own home. Without the fear of being mugged or the need to get a wheelchair. the removal of the customer service area shows how much this company cares about service. The only reason people would go there to shop for the holidays would be if they felt they had good service in a SAFE environment with a family-friendly atmosphere. Why is this not obvious to these folks? Increase the amount of security, bring back the snowman, bring back customer service, make shopping an experience or event like it used to be and people will buy.

I conside Chapel Hill the whole shopping area...including Howe Avenue...which is cuyahoga falls. Are you all saying the whole area is going to heck? I really don't feel that way. I feel safe going to that area. Actually I avoid that area in the afternoon and evening because it gets so busy.

sad news...I grew up going to this mall and only have heard negative stuff about it the last 10 years. The decline of Akron continues.

Lorain is sooooooooooo much better. LOL.

Times change. When I was growing up in the '50s downtown was the place to shop. Next came shoping centers which put most downtown merchants out of business. After the shoping centers came the indoor malls which killed the shoping centers. Strip malls are the place to shop now and the malls are dying. Funny how much a new strip mall resembles an old shoping center.

@Onion - I agree with you. I was at Chapel Hill Saturday and left the mall close to the time the incident happened. I didn't feel unsafe or threatened at all. Some of the people posting on here are way too overly dramatic.

It must be sad to be so negative. I agree that malls are not the hot thing anymore but it isn't because of the area.

My favorite is when postsers who don't live in this area or even this STATE bash our area. I bet it makes them feel better inside.

People who comment from out of state most likely are from this area...........

For future reference, not to insult or make light of the people in the article, if you have a temporary condition that requires a wheelchair, walker, bedside commode, or almost any other equipment of the kind you can rent them for any period of time that you need. And a regular, lightweight wheelchair folds up and fits in about any car trunk or back seat.
When I lived there, Miller's would rent you anything short of an operating room. Sometimes you just have to take control of your own special needs. And yes, I do know what I'm talking about. I went from renting to owning not that long ago.

how strange it is that my comments from yesterday never made the post because I mentioned "hoodies" and kids with foul mouths! I have great memories of going to the Mall. Christmas time was always a magical time watching the kids talk to Archie and Santa. Were they removed because of our new politically correct world??? It's a shame. I hate to see this world in another 10 years. Pity!

All these posts have got to make Robart feel better about the money he's sinking in the new State road shopping center.
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

Malls are a thing of the past. Everyone woulld rather shop in their own town at the strip malls where the demographics of the people are to your liking.

I am not from Ohio, I live here now but I was born and raised in Southern VA. We use to come up here in the 1970's when I was just a kid and I loved going to zayers. They had the best toys as we had no stores like that.
I remember going to the mall at seeing the movie,
The Rose. Met a girl during the movie and was holding hands before it was over. I guess we were about 13 or 14. I sure miss those good old days.
And about CA, I was there for 4 years in the Navy back in the 80's. It was a beautiful city. And you could visit Mexico as it is only 12 miles to the south. Oh, to be young again. I haven't been to the mall in over 10 years.

I dont even go to chapel hill and this is exactly why

I personally sold chapel hill mall 10 brand new wheel chairs. With leg lifts in 2000. Had reconstructive knee surgery and they had no wheel chairs that lift your legs up. So at one time they very nice wheel chairs that would accomodate everyone. What a shame to hear that. R.I.P. Chapel Hill because when I was just there it was a ghost town. Hopefully Belden Viallge will make it.

THE FOLKS WHO TOOK OUT ROLLING ACRES HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE - STEADY DEMISE - YEAH - SUBSIDISED HOUSING HAS PICKED UP IN THE AREA - BUT NEWLY ENACTED POLICY OF ADULT ACCOMPANIMENT HAS STRAIGHTENED THINGS UP A BIT - EVERYTHING CHANGES - YOU FIGURE OUT WHY

Absolutely RIDICULOUS!!! Chapel Hill management ought to be ashamed of themselves! What sense does it make to scatter the wheelchairs to stores all through out the mall rather than having them in one centralized location (customer service desk)?!?! How insensitive to those people whom need the assistance of a wheelchair!!! First of all, if someone requires a wheelchair then chances are they're not able walk store to store trying to figure out who has a wheelchair! Thanks for this article Mr.Dyer...I rarely shop at Chapel anyway..only when I'm desperate and do not have time to go to Canton or Beachwood..BUT after reading this...I will no longer shop there AT ALL..not even if I'm desperate! I have a NO TOLERANCE stance when it comes to discrimination of any sort...and this is definitely discrimination against disabled individuals.

The word "Rolling" in the title tells the whole story.

@LuvMyNewf Those kiosk people drive me nuts. My step son and I came up with a fun way to get past them. Since "no thank you" or "I'm not interested" doesn't seem to work, we just answer back with random words when they approach us. So when they ask us how we are or if they could show us something we just say "fish" or "meatballs" or whatever. Works like a charm.

No Scotth. My mother doesn't use a wheelchair in her home - yet. She can get around there pretty good. But shopping in a mall would be impossible for her if she couldn't use a wheelchair. Not everyone is wheelchair bound all the time.

Zayers? You mean Zayre's?

I remember during the holiday season I would love going to the mall every weekend just to hang out, shop, or catch a movie. I now mostly go to shop at Old Navy and I have even limited that. On one of my shopping trips last year I went to ON and tried to find a shopping cart. They only had one and it was one that you put a child in. Not wanting to take away from someone who needed it more than I, I talked with a manager to find out what had happened to all of the shopping carts. I was told that because so many people stole the shopping carts they would not be replacing them. I told the manager at the store that I will be thinking twice before I would shop at that store again. When I shop I like to fill my cart with the items I want to try on & go from there. If I can't shop and be comfrontable than I'm not shopping there.

I wouldn't go to Summit Mall if I lived across the street from it. I don't go inside any mall ... just go in the store I want to shop in and leave! You can get better deals at Kohl's!

I DUNNO MAN - YOU GUYS THINK YOU HAVE THE WHEELCHAIR ANGLE COVERED YET ?

I didn't realize that people still shopped in malls. Seriously. You can often find better deals online and most places have free shipping with certain codes. The horrible service I get in mall stores, as well as having to dig for clothes, makes it inconvenient and unenjoyable.

funny that ABJ runs this article and one of the pop up boxes is for winning a holiday gift card from Chapel Hill Mall.

Removal the customer service desk speaks volumes.

@Danielle,
I agree with ya,I do a helluva lot of shopping online,especially with the free shipping deal.More and more people are shopping that way and for reasons just like this story.No crowds,better prices and usually have it in at least 3 days .I know Sears sends it out next day .

I'm generally not a big fan of Dyer, but I have to say, he's got a point with this one.

Sadly, most businesses no longer care about customer service or want much of a rapport with their customers, they just want the money.

@JustanObserver..LOLOLOL

Wow. Over 65 comments about wheelchair availability.

Who knew?

The comments are more about mall management allowing the dregs of the earth to take over the "turf", than about wheelchairs and the decent, non-threatening people who need them.

That's really the heart of the whole decline of area malls.

Yes, sorry I meant Zayre's. It was a longtime ago
and I wasen't from here. I just remember I loved going there everytime we came up here.

I agree...NE Ohio is on a downward spiral. I lived there for 33 years and visit frequently because all of my family is there. I hope it can be the great thriving place I grew up in once again. I agree with rootvg, change in the area is slooowww. Attitudes and outlooks on life are ancient.
I don't know much about Cali....but I love the Carolinas...nothing could be finer.....

N.E. Ohio has had great intentions on improving America's favorite pastime(s); shopping and eating. We have seen retail "lifestyle" communities such as Legacy Village, Crocker Park, and even First & Main in Hudson pop up over the past 6 years. Other major changes have been a newly renovated Summit Mall, South Park Center Mall, and Great Northern Mall. This is all fine and dandy for the those particular areas. The demographic of the areas that surround those locations are ideal (high disposable income, predominately college educated, and family-oriented).

On the flip side, lower demographic areas are taking an unnecessary beating. Not all of the areas that surround Rolling Acres Mall are poor, ghetto, or dangerous. The same logic applies to Chapel Hill Mall. There has to be a happy medium to support traffic for people that live in areas closer to the "undesirable" mall locations. Maybe if Chapel Hill Mall and the surrounding shopping areas near by continued to offer a variety of retailers that appeal to the wide-array of people in those areas, perhaps people would stop driving FORTY TO FIFTY miles away from where they live just to go shopping.

I live in Fairlawn but sometimes I like to go to Chapel Hill area to switch it up/have variety. People need to have decent choices in their own immediate area (or w/in close proximity). Showing interest and dealing with problems in a positive way will prevent situations like Rolling Acres and Chapel's current situation. Providing good customer service at any store or any restaurant should not be overly complicated.

Boycott the mall.

I've notified both Penneys and the mall mgmt several times about the inaccessibility for people with handicaps, and even the latest closure of the doors by JCP where there were sufficient accessible parking spots. The response is 'we (jcp) are just tenants' and the mall folks say 'park in front of the food court' - which is even farther to wheel yourself into Penneys. ANd which overpaid genius put the handicap parking on the opposite side of the store elevator to starst with?

At least they got it right at Macy's, but who can afford to shop there since dear reasonable Kaufmann's left the Hill?

All we can do is show tough love and boycott the mall, and jcp. Maybe then they will do something about it. They don't seem to to care now. And all this feedback is a wake-up call they will assuredly snooze through.

@imjustsayin -- RIGHT ON!

These owners don't realize that the only reason most people would go to a mall would be for an enjoyable shopping experience & good SERVICE. We can certainly get anything we need online. With the economy and availablility of everything online, they have to offer some unique, quality, SERVICE in a SAFE environment to attract people. If they can't grasp those main points then they'll lose for sure.

Butto...you also don't know how to read a map.

The tag on my mail says Danville, which is almost four hundred miles from Los Angeles. The Bay Area has plenty of water but far too much of it goes south. There's currently a plan to start desalination down there plus pump from currently inaccessible acquifers whose reserves rival Mount Shasta.

People from southern states WILL, eventually come steal your water. It's only a matter of time.

In the 2010 reapportionment, the population of North Carolina will exceed the population of New Jersey. When that sort of thing starts happening in bursts (guaranteed from now on) you'll also see a change with regard to water policy in Congress. You can't avoid it. It'll HAPPEN...just a matter of when.

Did you also know that New York is forecasted to lose as many as three Congressional seats in the next census? Do you know where they're going? Florida, almost all of them. Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois are losing some also. They'll end up in Georgia, the Carolinas or possibly Texas.

i love how some people call a store a "GHETTO STORE" just because it sells clothes that cater to black folks. black folks, i may add with a lot of disposable income. the clothes in there i guarantee sell for more than what you wear on an average, no, even good day.

angry_black
akron, oh

Posted 09:04 PM, 11/11/2009

i love how some people call a store a "GHETTO STORE" just because it sells clothes that cater to black folks. black folks, i may add with a lot of disposable income. the clothes in there i guarantee sell for more than what you wear on an average, no, even good day.


>YAWN<

Chapel Hill Mall,
"The scariest mall of all".

This couple should have called ahead to make sure wheelchairs were still available, and where. If the customer needed a wheelchair that bad, how come she did not bring her own? That is what other
shoppers do!!!

I just hope some good comes from this nice little 'discussion' we've been having on here.

@Diana: Good news? What, here?

Why are folks that are supposedly living the perfect life in Cali always so thin skinned about everything??

LOL

Yes.....Cali life is perfect in every way.
LOL
That's why it's leading the nation in foreclosures, unfunded state debt, and illegal immigration.

Thirsty yet??
LOLOL

How ridiculuos for any business remotely involved to "close" something called "customer service".

I go to the mall occassionally when my daughter [7] wants to ride the escalators, the carousel or visit the now dissapeared pet store. Gee we spent lots there ... LOL

Personally, I have only gone once ... to shop for a cell phone plan ... did not buy one there though. I just knew thats where they all compete. Cant they take one empty store and put the kiosks in it? I feel weird looking at womens stores just to not be hassled by a vendor. I wonder what would happen if those kiosks were by Victoria's Secret. HAHAHA

This is why I will go out of my way to shop in Stow. I'd rather shop in Tijuana than shop at Chapel Hill. Please let good sense prevail when they decide what stores to build at State Road.

Butto, what you and a lot of others there who've never lived anywhere don't understand is that having water doesn't absolve you of the rest of your sins. Your business culture is straight of the 1950s. Most of your physical infrastructure is straight out of the early 1960s at best. The northeastern corner of the state is in a complete stranglehold by people whose only desire in life is to be fed, clothed, medicated and entertained.

THIS is why you don't have a healthy economy. It was that way fifteen years ago when we left and it's even more that way now.

California has problems now but it's had them before and guess what? It always comes roaring back. WHY? Because it's still young (in some areas) and it'll always be a nice place to live and the weather's good.

As to the water question, we have more than enough here in northern Cal but it's just that Los Angeles keeps sucking up so much of it. The state's leaders see the problem and they're working on it. If you live up here or in the Sacramento Valley, there's plenty of wah-wah to go around but if you live down towards Fresno or Bakersfield, it's an issue...but once again, just because you have plenty of fresh water doesn't mean people are gonna beat down your door and simply deal with the old fashioned business culture and overall backwardness of the region. Most people will take the path of least resistance and that's what we've been seeing there since the early seventies.

I'd guess it's safe to say, if you need a temporary wheelchair, your best bet is to "rent" one for awhile, and not depend on everyone else to supply you one.

Not that I am a huge fan of Chapel Hill, but really, does the mall owe one a the use of a wheelchair? Then why not everywhere?

Yes it was a nice feature, but not required. I've not been to many malls that offer this feature, and I have lived in 3 states.

I assume the economy is making it too expensive, not to mention insurance (liability) issues with the mall mgmt offering chairs.

Do I feel sorry for the lady who had foot surgery? Yes I hope she recuperates, however do I feel sorry for her someone did not give her a free wheelchair? No

It's great when Bob Dyer calls someone intellectually challenged. He's a bully and someone should give him a hug.

I was just there today and I have to say it may be going downhill. They opened these obscure stores I've never heard of in Got Graphix and Petland. The Shoe Dept. left there old store empty making another vacant space.