Dillard's has said it will close one of its last stores in an area soon. The store, part of a big chain, will close its Ohio location for good in the next few weeks.
Final Dillard's in Mahoning Valley to Close
The Dillard's store in Eastwood Mall in Niles, about 60 miles east of Cleveland, is the last one left in the Mahoning Valley.
A spokesperson from the Cafaro Company, which owns the mall, mentioned that they haven't picked a specific day to close the store yet, but they expect it to happen by the end of July, the Tribune Chronicle reported.
This means people have until this summer to shop at this department store and buy what they like in person.
After this store closes, customers who want to shop at Dillard's must travel to the next closest store in Akron, Ohio, about 50 miles west of Niles.
Joe Bell, a spokesperson for Cafaro Company, said, "Their lease was ending, and we're sad to see a longtime tenant of the mall go."
Bell also mentioned that the space wouldn't stay empty for long.
Dillard's will not renew its lease at the mall this year.
Bell explained that the decision was part of a plan to refresh the Eastwood Complex. "We're aiming to introduce new and exciting services to the mall. With a high demand for entertainment and leisure, bringing in Dave & Buster's seemed like the perfect fit," Bell stated.
Since opening in 1996, the Dillard's store has been a fixture in the mall. Around 2016, it converted into a Dillard's Clearance Center.
The exact number of employees at the store remains uncertain. Requests for comments on the store's closure have been made to Dillard's.
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Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's is a major fashion retailer in the United States. It operates 247 stores and 27 clearance centers across 29 states, offering clothes, beauty products, and items for the home.
The Niles location was the only Dillard's left in the Mahoning Valley after the Southern Park Mall location shut down in 2019.
"One person said, "If this is just an April Fools' joke, I'm leaving."
Another shopper was surprised and said, "Dillard's is closing? I just bought clothes and shoes there."
"I love that store," they added.
"What am I going to do without it?" they wondered.
Dave & Buster's to Replace Dillard's in Mahoning Valley
Dave & Buster's, the popular arcade and restaurant chain, is set to open its first location in the Mahoning Valley. It will take over the space currently held by Dillard's.
The new venue will be 23,000 square feet near Firebird's Wood Fired Grill and have entrances both inside and outside the mall.
Visitors can look forward to arcade games, virtual reality experiences, and watching their favorite sports teams on numerous HD screens. Dave & Buster's will offer a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, meals, and appetizers.
This addition is part of the Eastwood Mall Complex's efforts to keep investing in and reinventing itself.
Anthony Cafaro, Jr., Co-President of Cafaro Company, expressed excitement about bringing Dave & Buster's to the community, highlighting the Eastwood Mall Complex as a prime location for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Dave & Buster's will be the first in the Mahoning Valley, with the nearest one in the Belden Village Mall in Canton.
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