 The opening of Montgomery Ward at the mall had resulted in that chain demoting its existing Akron-area store at Akron Square Plaza into an outlet store which sold damaged, returned, or overstocked items from other stores.By 1980, the chain had decided to convert all of its eastern Ohio stores, including both Akron locations, to its discount division Jefferson Ward.Under this format, the stores were to include a greater emphasis on self-service shopping, with cash registers located solely at the exits instead of in each department.