Lincolnwood Town Center closing prompts wave of nostalgia
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Lincolnwood Town Center. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios
The Lincolnwood Town Center is closing Friday as demolition and redevelopment plans move forward.
Why it matters: The closure underscores how changing shopping habits continue to reshape suburban retail.
The latest: Demolition is set to begin next month.
- The former Harlem Furniture store will be torn down first, while some stores like Old Navy and Victoria's Secret will remain open.
- The middle section of the mall will follow, with the final phase targeting the area near Kohl's.
- The site will be redeveloped into a 150,000–175,000-square-foot project featuring a large retail store, a car dealership and other commercial space.
Flashback: The mall, on the border of Chicago and Skokie, opened in 1990 and served generations of shoppers.
- It featured anchor department stores like Carson Pirie Scott and Madigan's, which closed just a year later.
What's happening: Nostalgia is drawing visitors back for a final look at the largely vacant mall.
What they're saying: "I have so many fond memories. It was one of the first places my friends and I went without our parents," Chicago area resident Kate Alpert said on social media.
- "It's where we bought concert tickets and I got my ears pierced there."
Zoom out: Lincolnwood's closure comes amid a wave of mall-related news across the Chicago area.
- The city recently filed an emergency lawsuit to shut down Ford City Mall, citing an "imminent health and safety risk," including a malfunctioning fire suppression system.
- A judge delayed a ruling after the owners said repairs had been made, but another hearing is set for May 15.
Yes, but: Not all struggling malls are shutting down. Investors are pouring $170 million into the redevelopment of Water Tower Place as it marks its 50th anniversary.
- Plans focus on new retail and restaurants on the lower floors, with upper levels repurposed for other uses. Construction is expected to begin next spring.
- Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg added new stores in March.
- Similar plans are underway at Old Orchard (Skokie), Oakbrook Center and Hawthorn Mall (Vernon Hills).
The bottom line: As shopping habits evolve, it's unclear whether the next retail era has room for traditional malls.