Lincoln Mall

Lincoln Mall was a shopping mall located at the corner of U.S. Route 30 and Cicero Avenue in Matteson, Illinois, United States.

Lincoln Mall
LocationMatteson, Illinois, United States
Coordinates41°30′8″N 87°43′41″W
Opening date1973 (1973)[1]
Closing dateJanuary 7, 2015 (2015-01-07) (Inside) March 4, 2018 (2018-03-04) (Carson Pirie Scott)
DeveloperRandhurst Corp.
ManagementFreehold Management
OwnerFreehold Management
No. of stores and services10+
No. of anchor tenants1 (0 in original mall Jcpenney outside of former mall sight)
Total retail floor area~225,000 sq ft (20,900 m2)[2]
No. of floors2
Websitewww.lincoln-mall.com

History

Lincoln Mall opened in 1973[1] with anchors Carson Pirie Scott, Montgomery Ward, Wieboldt's, and JCPenney. The center was developed by Randhurst Corp, the same developer consisting of Wieboldt's and Carson's executives who developed Randhurst Mall and Lakehurst Mall. Wieboldt's closed in the 1980s. In 1991, Walmart and Sam's Club opened across the street from the mall. Walmart moved to Olympia Fields in 2016, while Sam's Club officially closed on January 26, 2018. A year later in 1992, Best Buy opened in the surrounding area of the mall. It closed in 2012. The mall underwent a renovation in 1993. In 1995, Sears opened in the former Wieboldt's location. Montgomery Ward closed their store in 1999 and went bankrupt soon after. In 2000, JCPenney closed their location in Lincoln Mall. Due to the loss of two anchors, mall traffic declined and many stores began to vacate Lincoln Mall.

In 2006, Lincoln Mall started the process of a $115-million redevelopment in hopes of attracting more retailers to the mall. The plan included a multi-screen movie theater and a four-lane road to connect Cicero Avenue and Lincoln Highway. However, it include demolitions of existing out-parcels and a section of the mall where Montgomery Ward and JCPenney was. In 2007, two new stores opened at the site. Target, with a 126,000-square-foot (11,700 m2) store built on an outparcel, opened in July and JCPenney returned to Lincoln Mall with a 104,000-square-foot (9,700 m2) store in October also on an outparcel.

On Friday, May 11, 2012, Sears began a store-closing sale.[3] On June 1, 2012, Lincoln Mall was scheduled for a court ordered sale by auction. Lincoln Mall had been in the process of undergoing a $115-million redevelopment in hopes of attracting more retailers to Lincoln Mall. The plan included a multi-screen movie theater and a four-lane road to connect Cicero Avenue and Lincoln Highway. To make room for the new plans some parts of the mall were demolished, including the former JCPenney and Montgomery Ward stores.

In August 2013, representatives of Matteson attempted to sue the mall owners and order that it be closed, due to fire, safety, and building code violations, including exposed electrical wiring, an inoperative fire sprinkler system, blocked fire exits, a crumbling roof, and a damaged foundation.[4]

On November 11, 2014, Cook County Judge Thomas Condon ordered that the mall be closed permanently as of January 7, 2015, with the exception of Carson's (whose building is owned separately by its parent company), which will remain open. Operating funds that owner Michael Kohan initially provided for the mall's upkeep had been depleted and nothing remained to keep the mall operating after December. Kohan has provided a court-appointed receiver with only $100,000 in the preceding 15 months to pay for the mall's repairs, maintenance, and staffing, while the number of remaining tenants paying rent was insufficient to sustain daily operations. The mall would have needed to replace several exits and repair its electrical and air conditioning systems in order to be brought up to code.[5]

In late 2016, photos of the abandoned mall surfaced, as part of a photo project by photographer Seph Lawless.[6][7]

In February, 2017, a Cook County Circuit Judge ordered immediate demolition of the mall. On March 17, 2017, news outlets reported the Village of Matteson had agreed with the court-appointed receiver on final demolition costs, with demolition projected to begin shortly after it received the judge's approval.[8][9] Demolition began May 8, 2017.[10] Demolition was completed by the end of summer 2017.

On November 7, 2017, it was announced that Target would be closing as part of a plan to close 12 stores nationwide. The store closed in February 2018.[11]

On March 4, 2018, Carson's abruptly closed leaving JCPenney the only remaining tenant of the mall.[12] In November 2019, demolition of the former Carson's building commenced. When demolition is finished, there will be no remaining structure of the former mall.[13] On January 30, 2020, The city of Matteson OKed a casino to take place of the former mall, which is proposed by South Suburban Development LLC.[14]

On July 31, 2020, JCPenney put 21 stores for sale as part of their bankruptcy, this location included.[15]

References
  1. "History of Matteson, Illinois". Archived from the original on 2005-12-12. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
  2. "lincolnweb.swf". Retrieved 2008-01-29.
  3. "Sears to leave Lincoln Mall". Chicago Sun-Times. 2012-05-15. Archived from the original on 2012-05-20. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  4. Shropshire, Corilyn; Grimm, Andy (2013-08-07). "Matteson sues to shut down Lincoln Mall". Chicago Tribune.
  5. Tejeda, Gregory (12 November 2014). "Lincoln Mall to close after holidays". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  6. http://www.nbcchicago.com/multimedia/Shocking-Photos-Show-Inside-Abandoned-Lincoln-Mall-402466166.html
  7. https://www.flickr.com/photos/25165196@N08/albums/72157685915508996
  8. Koeske, Zak. "Demolition of Matteson's Lincoln Mall ordered". Daily Southtown. Retrieved 2017-03-18.
  9. admin (2017-03-17). "Demolition of Matteson's Lincoln Mall ordered". Reviews-and-news.com. Retrieved 2017-03-18.
  10. Nolan, Mike. "Demolition of Matteson's Lincoln Mall gets underway". Daily Southtown. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
  11. http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-matteson-target-to-close-st-1108-20171107-story.html
  12. http://abc7chicago.com/finance/carsons-location-in-matteson-abruptly-closes/3174163/
  13. https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/ct-sta-matteson-carsons-demolish-st-1119-20191118-ahi3o42tj5ebzkzde3s7uukmhe-story.html
  14. https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/1/30/21115990/matteson-casino-location-change-lincoln-mall-gaming-board
  15. http://www.jcpenneyportfolio.com/uploads/1/3/2/3/132304625/jcpenney_-_phase_i-surplus_stores_for_sale.pdf

Lincoln Mall abandoned and Demolition Pictures https://www.flickr.com/photos/25165196@N08/albums/72157685915508996

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