The once-bustling Spring Hall Mall, located in the suburban village of West Dundee, has officially closed its doors. After years of struggling to keep up with the changing retail landscape, the mall has been deemed “obsolete” by village officials. However, this closure marks a new beginning for the area, as demolition is set to begin this summer, paving the way for a revitalized and modern space.
Last month, the mall closed its doors, with all stores except for a Cinemark movie theater and a Kohl’s department store shutting down. It was announced on Thursday that the village has completed its acquisition of the mall from Kohan Retail Investment Group for $7 million. While approximately 15% of the property is in neighboring Carpentersville, the majority of the mall is now in the hands of the village.
West Dundee officials have stated that they have no specific plans for the acquired properties at the moment, but it is expected that the buildings will be demolished. “The mall facilities were constructed 43 years ago and were purpose-built for a retail environment that no longer exists outside of select suburban markets,” said Mayor Chris Nelson. “More to the point, the buildings are obsolete and will require demolition.”
Fencing is set to go up around the mall and its parking lots in late spring, with the exception of access to Cinemark and Kohl’s, which will remain open. Demolition is expected to begin this summer and is projected to be completed by fall, according to the village.
It is important to note that while the Cinemark movie theater was part of the acquisition, the Kohl’s location was not. The village has reassured residents that there are no plans for the mall to reopen, but Cinemark and Kohl’s are expected to maintain business operations for the foreseeable future.
Mayor Nelson emphasized the significance of the village’s acquisition of the mall, stating that it is essential for the long-term redevelopment of the area. “The complex nature of mall real estate all but requires the village’s involvement to make the property attractive for substantial reinvestment by the private sector,” he said.
The closure of Spring Hall Mall is not an isolated incident. Just a few weeks prior, another large suburban mall, Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale, also closed its doors for good. The mall, which was built in the 1980s, faced challenges in adapting to the changing retail landscape. However, the village of Bloomingdale saw this as an opportunity for transformation and 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. “Despite efforts by the Mayor and Village Board to collaborate with the mall’s owner, negotiations faltered,” stated a Facebook post from the village. “Consequently, 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 poised to embark on a transformative mixed-use development.”
This acquisition by the village is a positive step towards revitalizing the area and attracting reliable developers with established track records. Mayor Nelson believes that without municipal intervention, this transformation would not be possible. “Almost uniformly, each developer with whom we spoke stated that the site has too many complications – too many owners, too many covenants, too many uncertainties,” he said. “The village’s aim is to bring simplicity to the process so reliable developers with established track records will be interested in partnering to reformat the area. Without municipal intervention, that simply won’t happen.”
The closure of Spring Hall Mall may be the end of an era, but it marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for the village of West Dundee. With the demolition of the obsolete buildings and the village’s plans for redevelopment, the area is set to become a modern and vibrant space once again. This is a positive and promising development for the community, and we look forward to seeing the transformation take place.
