Walk into the south side of Adrian today and you’ll see a massive, sprawling skeleton of a building that looks more like a movie set for a post-apocalyptic thriller than a shopping center. It’s weird. For decades, the Adrian Mall Adrian MI was the undisputed heartbeat of Lenawee County commerce, but if you visit now, you’re greeted by a strange mix of thriving big-box stores and a central core that is literally falling apart.
Honestly, it’s a mess. But it's a fascinating one.
The story of the mall isn't just about retail dying; it’s about a specific kind of local resilience and some pretty questionable management decisions that led to a 2020 condemnation. While most people in town have moved on to the newer strip malls or online shopping, the physical footprint of the Adrian Mall remains a major topic of debate at city commission meetings. As of early 2026, the wrecking balls are finally scheduled to finish what years of neglect started.
The Rise and Sudden Stall of the 1970s Dream
When the mall opened its doors on September 3, 1970, it was a huge deal. You had Sears and F.W. Woolworth anchoring the ends, and JCPenney joined the party shortly after in 1971. It was the place to be. You’d grab a Julius, walk the carpeted halls, and maybe hit the Sam Goody or Waldenbooks. In 1985, they even dumped $1.5 million into a renovation to add Elder-Beerman.
Then the 2000s hit.
The decline wasn't a sudden crash but a slow, painful leak. Sears bailed in 2012. JCPenney followed in 2015. By the time Kohan Retail Investment Group bought the property in 2019, the roof was already in shambles. If you visited back then, you might remember the literal buckets on the floor catching rainwater. It wasn't just a "bad look"—it was dangerous.
💡 You might also like: Fred Meyer Market Street Salem Oregon: What Most People Get Wrong
Why the Adrian Mall Adrian MI Actually Closed
In March 2020, just as the world was locking down for other reasons, the City of Adrian almost condemned the building. They gave the owners a choice: fix the roof or shut it down. They pulled a permit, but the work never really happened. On June 16, 2020, the city officially condemned the interior of the mall.
The center part of the mall—that hollow core where the small shops used to be—has been a ghost town ever since.
It’s important to clarify one thing: the whole site isn't dead. This is the part that confuses people who aren't from the area. Because the mall was built in sections with different structural footprints, certain stores managed to survive the "death" of the interior.
- Hobby Lobby and Ollie's Bargain Outlet now occupy the old Sears footprint. They are doing fine.
- Dunham’s Sports took over the old JCPenney wing and remains open.
- NewLife Church actually moved into part of the property, proving that "mall" doesn't always have to mean "retail."
The Demolition Drama of 2025 and 2026
If you’ve driven by recently, you’ve probably noticed the orange fencing. The city finally got tired of waiting for the Kohan group to fix things. In early 2025, a demolition order was issued for the most dangerous parts of the building—the section between Ollie’s and Dunham’s.
Jay Marks, the director of Adrian’s Main Street program, has been vocal about this. The city originally gave the owners until June 2025 to tear it down. They missed that deadline. Then it was August 2025. Now, in 2026, we are finally seeing the physical removal of the central corridor. The plan is to build a new wall for the remaining tenants and basically erase the "enclosed" part of the mall from the map.
What’s Next for the Site?
The "Adrian Mall" name is likely going away. City officials, including community development director Lisa Hewitt-Cruz, have hinted at a rebranding. The 2022 Comprehensive Plan for the city suggests a shift toward a more "boulevard" style layout. Think less "giant box with no windows" and more "walkable retail with green space."
💡 You might also like: Nutex Health Stock Price: Why Most Investors Are Missing the Real Narrative
The transition is slow. It’s frustrating for locals who remember the mall's glory days, but the reality is that the era of the 373,000-square-foot enclosed mall in a town of 20,000 people is over.
Actionable Insights for Locals and Visitors
- Check Store Entrances: If you’re heading to Dunham’s or Hobby Lobby, remember you cannot enter through the mall. You have to use their specific exterior doors.
- Stay Clear of the Fencing: The central demolition zone is structurally unstable and heavily monitored; don't try to go "urban exploring" here.
- Watch the City Commission: If you care about what replaces the mall, the Adrian Planning Commission meetings are where the site plans for the proposed "Boulevard" and new restaurant spaces are actually approved.
- Support the Remaining Tenants: Shops like Ollie’s and the nearby Buffalo Wild Wings are still operational despite the construction chaos next door.
The Adrian Mall Adrian MI is a case study in how retail has to evolve to survive. It’s no longer about being the biggest building in town; it’s about being the most useful one. As the center of the mall disappears this year, it clears the way for a version of Adrian that looks more like a modern community and less like a relic of 1970.