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| Old Orchard Mall | |
|---|---|
| Name | Old Orchard Mall |
| Location | Skokie, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 42.0460°N 87.7614°W |
| Opening date | 1956 |
| Developer | Taubman Centers; Melvin Simon and Associates |
| Manager | CBRE Group |
| Owner | Brookfield Properties; Pacific Retail Capital Partners |
| Number of stores | 150 |
| Floor area | 1,100,000 sq ft |
| Publictransit | Chicago Transit Authority; Metra |
Old Orchard Mall Old Orchard Mall is a regional shopping center in Skokie, Illinois, serving the Chicago metropolitan area since the mid-20th century. It functions as a retail, dining, and entertainment hub linking suburban communities such as Evanston, Wilmette, and Niles to national chains and local businesses. The center has undergone multiple renovations and ownership changes involving firms like Taubman Centers and Brookfield Properties to adapt to shifting patterns exemplified by the rise of e-commerce and changing consumer behavior.
The site's commercial origins trace to postwar suburban expansion near Interstate 94 and Dempster Street, reflecting the broader suburbanization studied alongside developments like Northgate Mall and Roosevelt Field Mall. Initial anchors included regional versions of Marshall Field and Company and Sears, Roebuck and Company, while early development strategies paralleled projects by Victor Gruen and investment models used by Taubman Centers. Through the 1970s and 1980s the center expanded amid competition from properties managed by Simon Property Group and redevelopment efforts similar to Woodfield Mall. Corporate restructurings involved transactions with firms such as Melvin Simon and Associates and later asset managers like CBRE Group and Brookfield Properties. The 21st century brought tenant turnovers reminiscent of closures at Montgomery Ward and national shifts led by entrants like Amazon (company) and retailers including Macy's and Nordstrom.
The mall's architecture blends mid-century enclosed mall aesthetics with later open-air and mixed-use additions, drawing comparisons to projects by architects like Victor Gruen and firms such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Original design emphasized climate-controlled corridors and anchor-focused circulation comparable to Southdale Center and King of Prussia Mall. Subsequent renovations incorporated glass atria, landscape designs referencing Olmsted Brothers precedents, and façade work akin to suburban retrofit schemes observed at Mall of America and Bridgestone Arena renovations. Parking structures interface with transit nodes similar to Metra stations, and site planning considers zoning ordinances from Cook County and municipal guidelines used in Skokie, Illinois urban projects.
Anchors through time have included national department stores such as Macy's, Nordstrom Rack, and Sears (before its national contractions), with specialty tenants from chains like Apple Inc., The Cheesecake Factory, Nordstrom, H&M, and Barnes & Noble. The tenant mix reflects national retail strategies employed by companies including Simon Property Group and Taubman Centers, alongside local entrepreneurs and boutique operators similar to those found in Andersonville and Lincoln Park. Food and beverage operators have ranged from regional concepts to franchisees of Starbucks, Shake Shack, and Chipotle Mexican Grill. Entertainment offerings have included cinemas operated by companies like Regal Cinemas and event pop-ups modeled after programs by Live Nation.
As a major property in the Chicago metropolitan area retail landscape, the mall has influenced municipal tax revenues for Skokie, Illinois and commercial districts in Cook County. Redevelopment initiatives have been driven by capital from institutional owners such as Brookfield Properties and investment trends tracked by analysts at Moody's Investors Service and S&P Global. Redevelopment phases mirrored adaptive reuse projects seen at locales like Rolling Acres Mall and Belden Village Mall, converting retail space to mixed-use office, residential, and logistics functions promoted by firms including CBRE Group and JLL. Public-private partnerships with entities modeled after Metropolitan Planning Council frameworks supported infrastructure upgrades and streetscape improvements.
The center is served by regional transit services including the Chicago Transit Authority bus network and nearby Metra lines, connecting to corridors like Interstate 94 and arterial routes such as Dempster Street. Parking and circulation planning reference standards set by American Planning Association case studies and incorporate multimodal access similar to transit-oriented developments along Metra corridors. Road improvements and traffic management have involved coordination with Illinois Department of Transportation and county agencies akin to projects at Randhurst Village.
Over its history the mall has experienced incidents and disputes similar to broader retail controversies, including legal actions over lease terms paralleling cases involving Simon Property Group and tenant litigations seen at malls like Oakbrook Center. Security incidents have prompted policies aligned with practices used by National Retail Federation members and collaboration with local law enforcement such as the Skokie Police Department; these responses echoed protocols adopted after high-profile events at locations like Westfield Century City and Tysons Corner Center. Community debates have arisen around redevelopment proposals, echoing controversies faced by projects like Lincoln Mall and participation by civic organizations such as the Skokie Chamber of Commerce.
The mall has hosted community events, seasonal festivals, and promotional activations similar to programming by Mall of America and event promoters like Live Nation and Aventus Group. It has functioned as a suburban social space comparable to historic centers such as Southdale Center and has been cited in local media outlets including the Chicago Tribune, Crain's Chicago Business, and Chicago Sun-Times. Cultural uses have included pop-up galleries and markets similar to initiatives by Arts Council of Chicago and collaborations with institutions like Northwestern University and Illinois Institute of Technology student groups.
Category:Shopping malls in Illinois Category:Buildings and structures in Cook County, Illinois Category:Shopping malls established in 1956