Established malls face challenges in retail boom

Established malls face challenges in retail boom

Shopping centers across the southwest suburban region, whether new, old or proposed, have one thing in common. Each is looking for ways to attract customers and to keep them coming back.

Orland Square Mall, at 151st Street and LaGrange Road, opened in 1976 as one of the first regional shopping centers in the southwest suburbs. With anchor stores such as JC Penney’s, Carson Pirie Scott and Marshall Field’s, another major draw proximate to it was the now-shuttered Orland Theater complex. And, of course, a Macys replaced the Field’s store last year.

“We are continually evaluating ways in which to improve the center, said Greg Saunders, vice president of marketing and business development—Midwest for the Simon Property Group, which purchased the mall in 1997. “Our ongoing effort includes upgrading the tenant mix with what consumers in the area want to see.”

Saunders said recent store openings and additions include Apple, AX Armani Exchange, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Swarovski, Teavania, Bare Escenutals, PINK, Gilly Hicks, and Sephora.

While acknowledging the recent growth of free-standing big box stores such as Super Wal-Mart and Target in the area, Saunders said these additions only serve to create more synergy around the Orland Square Mall. He noted that there has been no discernable difference in the shopping habits of customers.

“The customer continues to expect the quality retailers and services that Orland Square offers today,” he said.

Interestingly, while a theater complex was closed at the Orland Square Mall, the Promenade of Bolingbrook, a brand new open-air shopping center which opened in April 2007, at I-355 and Boughton Road in Bolingbrook, is planning an eight-screen movie complex to attract new customers.

Forest City Commercial Development, the developer of The Promenade, has announced that Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinema will open on the second level of the lifestyle center and will be one of the first cinemas of its kind in the country.

The Gold Class Cinema will feature approximately 40 custom reclining seats, providing a luxuriously intimate setting with state-of-the-art cinema technology, super-wide screens, a full-service bar and lounge with gourmet food served by personal waiters during each screening. Completion is expected by the fall of 2009.

The cinema complex will join a 155-room aloft hotel planned at the site. Construction is expected to begin this year, also with a 2009 completion date. The facility is expected to become one of the premier lodging options for visitors to Bolingbrook and Chicago’s southwest suburbs.

The Promenade Bolingbrook is a pedestrian-friendly gathering place for shopping, dining and entertainment. The concept, with inner center streets open to traffic, is designed to remind customers of a main street town center shopping experience where one can pull up and park in front of a store without having to walk through an entire mall to reach a desired store.

The 736,000 square-foot center is the second in a four-phase development planned by Forest City. Currently, there are 68 stores open in the Center. Anchored by Macy’s and a Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World and Barnes & Noble, the center also includes The Body Shop, Payless ShoeSource and Cold Stone Creamery.

Just a few miles from The Promenade of Bolingbrook is the Westfield Louis Joliet Mall, a traditional enclosed shopping center with more than 100 stores located in Joliet near I-80.

Anchored by JC Penney, Carson Pirie Scott, Sears and Macy’s the center also is home to major retailers such as Victoria’s Secret, Bath and Body Works, The Disney Store, Express and New York and Company. Open since 1978, it is the second oldest shopping center in the region. The mall underwent a renovation in 1995 and was acquired by Westfield Development Group in 2003.

In addition to the major anchors and retailers, the center is planning a new state-of-the-art, 14-screen, all-digital, stadium seating Cinemark Theater, with an anticipated opening in 2009. With the addition of the theater, Westfield officials believe the center, which draws more than 7 million visitors a year, will continue to grow.

However, all of the above shopping centers may face major competition from the planned mega-center at I-55 and I-80 in Joliet by developer O&S Holding, LLC.

The Bridge Street Town Center Project, with a projected groundbreaking date in spring 2009, is proposing 1.5 million square-feet of retail stores and restaurants; approximately 800 multi and single-family residential units; and 200,000 square-feet of office space.

The project is described as a regional mixed-use lifestyle center with specialty and big box retail, movie theatre, restaurants, entertainment, office, hotel and residential components totaling more than 3 million square-feet.

Sharon Filkins Jenrich, Contributing Writer

Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 (Archive on Wednesday, June 18, 2008)
Posted by jstoltz Contributed by jstoltz

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