Lakehurst Mall

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Lakehurst Mall in Waukegan, Illinois before demolition

Lakehurst Mall was the first sign in the northern Chicago suburb county of Lake County of a mall that could service the growing town of Waukegan, the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, and eventually the suburban sprawl of Chicago. Although the lasting tradition of the mall is not currently present, anyone who has lived in Lake County for over three decades has found it useful.

The beginning

A large plot of farmland was annexed into Waukegan, Illinois in December of 1968. It was located at Illinois State Route 120 (Belvidere Road), Illinois State Route 43 (Waukegan Road), and close to the popular Tri-State Tollway. The farmland was purchased from a developer from Thomas E. Wilson Edellyn Farms for $2 million dollars with over 200 acres (0.8 km²) of land. The plan in mind was to build a shopping mall named Lakehurst. The idea to do this was planned around a five-year research project of Lake County. The project concluded that Lake County's population was expanding as well as industry to the area. It was also concluded that Lake County was going to be one of the fastest developing areas of the midwest. It turned out that thirty years later, this proved to be true. This Lakehurst site was to serve this new population. The site also included office and residential areas that surrounded the complex.

The Arthur Rubloff & Co. Firm of Chicago was the management and leasing agent for Lakehurst. The architecture of the mall was to be built by Sidney H. Morris and Associates of Chicago and Gruen Associates of Los Angeles. The construction of the building became reality about one year later in September 1969. The grand opening of the new Lakehurst mall was in August 1971. With the grand opening came new, higher end stores that other malls within the area did not offer. The new size of 1.1 million square feet (102,000 m²) was also a bonus, being bigger than most of the area malls and shopping centers did not offer.

The first phase of the development included the actual mall which included three major department stores and about 100 smaller stores. The mall included a large center court and four wings, each leading to a major department store. A fourth store was planned to open about five years later but never occurred. Each entrance to the store had a color-coded entrance with every entrance either being green, red, yellow, or blue. In the time to come, probably when the mall's renovation occurred, the colors were taken down except for the blue. The blue stood as a lasting reminder of the old mall and the color blue was also in the logo of Lakehurst Mall.

A convenience center, which included the Chicago-native grocery store Jewel-Osco, along with over 6,000 parking spaces were added as well with the original plans. To get customers to their destination, the two major roads around the mall were widened and fitted with signs directing traffic to the new mall and to the newly developed area.

The 1970's

The mall officially opened on August 19, 1971 with a large celebration, celebrating the coming of the new mall to the Lake County and the Waukegan area. Over 5,000 people attended the opening day, including the mayor of Waukegan. Skeptics were also placed on the mall before and when it first opened with views to economics and the loss of downtown Waukegan shops and smaller Belvidere Mall. Very few Waukegan-based shops were ever in the store because of the high operation costs.

The 1970's was the most beneficial decade of the mall's history. A movie theater was opened in 1974 along with restaurants such as Olive Garden, which started appearing a couple of years later. An apartment complex with over 200 apartment buildings was completed by the mid-1970's. Access roads were added on the two major roads as well as a multi-level interchange between Route 120 and Route 43.

Mall events were common throughout the 1970's. A monthly newsletter published for the mall's merchants association was created, called The Lakehurst News. It was also included in neighborhood newspapers and acted as the mall's calendar of events. The center court of the mall was a hotspot, with events such as the Waukegan auto show, the Midwest antique show, and free public concerts. A world record was trying to be set when a team of trampolinists would try continuous trampoline bouncing.

Problems were aroused in the beginning when debates over the annexation were started. Critics wondered if the mall was actually in Waukegan or not. The new road improvements also cost more than the original price, and debates were also brought up about that. Throughout these allegations, the mall reported to the public their annual earnings for the first decade, which peaked a high at $134 million in 1981. This would be the last year the mall reported the earnings.

The flashy shopping center was converted into softer tones after eight years of existence in 1979. The bright colors were replaced by the use of oak, visible in the mall until its closing. Two fountains were added to the shopping center. Carpet was also installed throughout the center court.

The 1980's

The 1980's brought several new stores and a Courtyard hotel to the area. Pier 1 Imports and Silo Electronics were part of the outparcels. More improvements were added, including the repaving of Lakehurst Road (and rebuilding) and the parking lots. The older stores were remodeled.

October 1982 brought new management. Jacobs, Visconsi, and Jacobs Company, a company out of Cleveland, bought the actual mall and the convenience shops. Some older anchors that had stayed in the store since the opening had started to leave, such as JCPenny's auto shop. Although this was due to the corporation eliminating all of their auto shops, a company called Globe also went out of business. The Globe company was a local Lake County company founded in 1898.

In August 1986, the Wieboldt's anchor went out of business. This was because of the long distance from the distribution center, which created growing expenses. The company sold their location to the Jacobs Group. The location being vacant came as a blessing when 1986 brought floods to Gurnee, Illinois and their schools. The elementary school was severely damaged. The kindergarten class through the fourth grade class moved into the other schools in Gurnee, but where to put the fifth grade class? The empty space of Wieboldt's was turned into a temporary school, also called “Wieboldt U.” The shelving units for the former store were used for textbook and supply storage.

After the school was renovated and the “Wieboldt U” students left, Dunham's Sports became an anchor on the lower level and a couple of months later, Montgomery Ward moved into the upper level. The Ward store had previously been located in the Belvidere Mall. With the major anchor at Belvidere Mall gone, most thought that Belvidere Mall would close soon. It soon turned out that Lakehurst would leave before Belvidere would.

The 1990's

On August 8, 1991, Gurnee Mills opened four miles away and spelled the end for Lakehurst. Most people had predicted that the two shopping centers would create a better relationship. The developer of Gurnee Mills said in a report that the impact of Gurnee Mills would be beneficial to Lakehurst. The first years of the decade sounded promising, with 100 tenants still leasing. But by 1997, about 50 businesses were in the mall, and the number decreasing by the month.

The Montgomery Ward store pulled out of Lakehurst, as well as JCPenny's in early 1998. The Carson's store held in the Lakehurst Mall even after its closing. The shopping center was going to be sold by Jacobs in the summer of 1998. The price was $30 million, a little less than that of the sale price in 1982.

Less than five tenants were remaining by 2000. These included the Gift Tree and Barbary Coast stores, as well as the Carson Pirie Scott tenant. When the leases on the two stores ended on January 31, 2001, the “Lakehurst era ended.” Carson's was the lone tenant in the 200-acre shopping center area.

Demolition and building

Demolition for the mall began when Carson's closed in 2004 and when the ownership changed from Jacobs to the Shaw Company of Oak Brook, Illinois. The demolition began in November 2003. The JCPenny's section of the mall was destroyed in February 2004, the Montgomery Ward section was next, and finally the Carson's section was razed. The gazebo of the Wieboldt store was not destroyed and may be worked into the new building that will be built after Lakehurst. Plans call for a new shopping center called Fountain Square of Waukegan to be built in its place. The project is to be built by the Shaw Company.

Stores and anchors

Here are all of the stores and anchors that were at Lakehurst throughout the years. (Courtesy of www.lakehurstmall.net).

Anchors

Carson Pirie Scott and Company, JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, Wieboldts.

Clothing

Albert K., Baskin, Belvidere Blues, Betty's of Winnetka, Bottom Half, Brooks, Casual Corner, Chas A. Stevens, Chess King, County Seat, Cowboys & Indians, Custom House For Men, Custom Tailor, Deb, Don Di Menswear, Foxmoor, Fredrick's, The Gap, Gigi, Globe, Hein's, Henry's Formalwear, ID, J. Riggings, Jacqueline's, Jean Nicole, Jody Dress Shop, Just Pants, Kay Campbell's, Lane Bryant, Leader, Leather Connection, Lerner, The Limited, Lytton's, Marianne, Maternity Modes, Merry Go Round, Mothercare, Northern Reflections, On Stage, Posner's Menswear, Pro-Image Sportswear, Randall's Formalwear, Richman Brothers, Sixteen Plus, Storey's Menswear, Susie's Casuals, T-Shirts +, The Top Shop, Webster's Menswear, Whitney.

Food and restaurant

Athens Gyros, Beer, Brats, and Spuds, Bresler's 33 Flavors Ice Cream, Cinnabon, Cookie Factory, Confectionery, Corn Dog, Egg-n-Pizza Roll, Egg Roll, Fannie May Candies, Fanny Farmer, The Heather Room - Carson's, Hickory Farms, Honey Bear Farm Shop, Hot Sam's Pretzel Shop, J.C. Penney Restaurant, The Instant Chef - Carson's, Italian Way Restaurant, Karmelkorn, Morrow's Nut Shop, Mrs. Stover's Candies, Obiala Restaurant, Orange Julius, Original Cookie, Peddler's Beer and Brat, Peddler's Haymarket, Pono's Pizza, R.R. Radish's, Slice of Italy Pizzeria, Slicers, Tally's Pub, Wimpy Grills, Winston Bakery.

Shoes

A.S. Beck, Bakers, Father and Son, The Finish Line, Florsheim, Footlocker, Gallenkamp, Hanover, Hardy, Kaplan, Kinney, Lady Foot Locker, Mailing, Mary Jane, Miles, Naturalizer, O'Connor & Goldberg, Payless Shoe Source, Regal, Stride Rite, The Sole Hole, Thayer McNeil, Thom McAn.

Kiosks

Can-Do Shop, Candy Shack, Children's Photographer, Earring Tree, Piercing Pagoda, Things Remembered, Tomorrow's Memories, Touchdown Sports.

Furniture and home

Daken Gallery & Frame Shop, Fabric Mart Draperies, Grand Gardens, JoAnn Fabrics, Julie Ann Fabrics, Linens Plus, Mary Lester Fabrics, Prints Unlimited, Scandinavian Design, Singer Co., The Gallery.

Entertainment

Alan's, B. Dalton Bookseller, Camelot Music, Conn Music, Lakehurst Music, Music Land, Radio Shack, Record Town, Suncoast, Tape World, Tyndale Book Shop, Video Concept, Waldenbooks, Wolf Camera & Video.

Gift and hobby

Africentric-Roots, American Handicrafts, Arcadia, Cardamerica, Cards Plus, Champs Sports, Charge, Circus World, Corner Hallmark, Cyber Station, Dunham's Sporting Goods, Evenson's Hallmark, Gift Tree, Hein's Gift Shop, Helen Gallagher, Jokers Wild, Just Gifts, Kirlin's Hallmark, Lakehurst Greeting Cards, Loving Creations, Pagoda House, The Plum Tree, Software, Etc., Spencer, Toys by Rizzi, Xia.

Jewelry and accessories

Afterthoughts Boutique, Armond's Keepsake Diamonds, Beau Monde Boutique, Claire's Boutique, Erwin Jewelers, Harem Hosiery, Rogers & Holland, Kay Jewelers, Kossy Jewelers, Mirette, Neumode Hosiery, Page Jewelers, Parklane Hosiery, Phoenix Jewelers, The Jewel Box, Sunglass Company, Sunglass Hut, The Tie Knot, Topkapi, Waldin Jewelers, Whitehall Jewelers, Wigs de Paris, Zales Jewelers.

Service shops

All For One, Almer Coe Opticians, American Vision Center, Bank of Lakehurst, Barbary Coast, Bon Voyage Travel Agency, Command Performance, Continental Shoe Repair, Lake County Literacy Center, Lee Nails, Lens Crafters, Marvel Travel, Merle Norman, Miracle Vision, The Money Store, Ombudsman Schools, One Hour Photo, Pearle Vision Center, Sears Portrait Studio, United States Testing.

Perimeter

Ace Hardware, Bank of Lakehurst, Ben Franklin Savings & Loan, Brunswick Recreational Center, Case and Bottle Liquor Store, Cervantes Restaurant, Child World, Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Denny's Restaurant, Family Pride Cleaners and Laundry, Foremost Liquors, Fun Harbor, Golden Bear Restaurant, Household Finance, J.C. Penney Automotive Center, Jewel Osco, La-Z-Boy Furniture Gallery, Lakehurst Apartments, Lakehurst Car Wash, Lakehurst Cinema, Lakehurst Liquors, Mary Lester Fabrics, Montgomery Ward Auto Express, Mr. Steak, Olive Garden, Olympic Flame Family Restaurant, Paragon West Restaurant, Pier One Imports, Pizza Hut, Playback, Plywood Minnesota, Powerhouse Gym, Red Lobster, Service Merchandise, Silo Electronics, Yan's Hunan Inn.

External links

• DeadMalls.com has a brief history of the mall, links, as well as memories from contributing editors.
• LakehurstMall.net has an in-depth history of the mall as well as old photos and demolition photos.
• The Shaw Company describes what Fountain Square, the new development in Lakehurst's place, will be like.