‘Absolutely devastating:’ Decline of Columbus-area mall goes viral

This Ohio mall is going viral for all the wrong reasons.

In April, a video was posted on Instagram by ellierenee, captioned “RIP Tuttle Mall ILY 4EVER.” The reel has over 300,000 views as the user walks through the semi-abandoned mall. The comment section full of anger, confusion, and sadness as users take in the state of the Ohio mall.

The Mall at Tuttle Crossing, located at 5043 Tuttle Crossing Blvd in Dublin, was once a hub for mall rats, holiday shopping, and some solid retail therapy. According to its directory, the mall currently has only 52 total businesses listed; in comparison, Polaris Fashion Place’s directory includes 69 stores in just the apparel category alone.

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Much of the blame for Tuttle’s downfall is being placed on its owners. In 2023, New York investment firms purchased the mall for $19.5 million. According to the Franklin County Auditor’s site, the mall sold for nearly half of its appraised value of $47.9 million.

There have been no official closure announcements, and the anchor stores, JCPenney, Macy’s, and Scene 75, were not a part of the investors’ purchase. The Mall at Tuttle Crossing is still open for business, offering customers a chance to shop and reminisce about the beloved property before it risks becoming another dead mall in America.

“My first job in retail management was at Tuttle back in 2013. I’m glad I got the chance to see her in her glory,” another user reflects.

The poster of the video, @ellierenee, issued a call to action for the mall in the video comments as well.

“Tuttle is still OPEN to the public with only a few stores and restaurants remaining, please support them while they’re hanging on,” they wrote.

The Mall at Tuttle Crossing is open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12-6 p.m. on Sundays.

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