A once-popular shopping center in suburban Chicago became the latest to permanently close its doors this weekend.
Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale, the once-bustling mall from the ’90s, closed for good on Sunday, nearly a month after plans to close the mall were initially announced.
Opened in 1981, the mall was previously run by Sears, Marshall Fields and Carson Pirie Scott. It has faced many challenges, like other malls across the country, trying to keep up with the changing retail landscape, the rise of online shopping and the economy.
“Stratford Square Mall, a product of the shopping center building craze of the 1980s, has faced challenges as other enclosed malls have adapted to the changing shopping landscape,” said a Facebook message from the village. “Despite efforts by the mayor and village board to work with mall owner Namdar, negotiations failed. Therefore, the Village of Bloomingdale took the initiative to acquire the mall and its anchor stores independently. After consolidating the property earlier this year, the village is now ready to embark on a transformative mixed-use development.
Those who work there, however, say the mall has seen better days.
“If I ever wrote a book about working here, no one would believe me,” said Stephen Miller, the mall’s longtime janitor. “This mall was totally different. We had completely different stores and at Christmas we couldn’t park in the lot because we had too many cars.
Miller has been a janitor at the mall for nearly 40 years and told NBC Chicago he’s seen everything from new stores and movie theater openings to renovations and accidents on the escalator .
“It’s amazing to watch all this unfold,” he said. “Sad, if they really wanted to, they could save this mall.”
The Village of Bloomingdale acquired the property and consolidated it earlier this year. The village administrator told NBC Chicago that they are working to finalize a redevelopment plan for the property, including a mix of restaurants, entertainment venues, housing and public open spaces.
Last month, the Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee and Carpentersville closed permanently after 40 years in business.
NBC Chicago
