Skokie Boulevard / US 41 and Old Orchard Road
Village of Skokie, Illinois
After completing major construction at PARK FOREST COMMERCIAL CENTER, Philip Klutznick's American Community Builders embarked on the development of a second cluster-type Chicagoland shopping center. It would be built in a joint venture with Marshall Field & Company.
OLD ORCHARD CENTER, designed by Richard M. Bennett of Loebl, Schlossman & Bennett, was developed on an 85-acre parcel, located 17.6 miles northwest of The Loop, in suburban Skokie. Original plans called for the mall to be anchored by four department stores; Marshall Field & Company, The Fair, Carson Pirie Scott and Sears. This grandiose proposal was eventually altered...only two anchor stores would be built as part of the original complex.
Construction commenced in March 1955. When completed, the open-air facility encompassed approximately 1,079,000 leasable square feet. It consisted of a main retail level with basements beneath major stores. OLD ORCHARD CENTER was anchored by a 3-level (310,000 square foot) Marshall Field's, which stood at the center of the center. This store held its grand opening on October 22, 1956.
A North Mall included the 7-story Professional Building and twenty-two retail spaces. The South Mall, comprising three store blocks, featured thirty-six stores as well as a second anchor; a 2-level (83,000 square foot) The Fair. This Chicago-based store was dedicated on November 1, 1956. A mall-wide grand opening had been held on October 25, 1956. At that time, the retail roster included Lerner Shops, Baskin apparel, Chandler's Shoes, Baker's Shoes, Kay Howard ladies' wear, Broadstreet's men's wear and Burny Brothers Bakery.
Major inline stores were a (19,200 square foot) S.S. Kresge 5 & 10, (16,100 square foot) Walgreen Drug and (27,000 square foot) Kroger supermarket. An underground concourse, known as The Arcade Shops, contained nine stores and services, including the Arcade Barber Shop, Arcade Currency Exchange and Arcade Easy Travel bureau.
A 3-level (58,000 square foot) Saks Fifth Avenue made its debut on November 10, 1958. The first theatrical venue in -or around- the mall was built on a pad located .24 mile south of the site. The M & R Old Orchard Theatre showed its first feature on September 2, 1960.
Meanwhile, The Fair at OLD ORCHARD CENTER had been rebranded by Montgomery Ward in March 1964. In April, Ward's announced that the store would be expanded into a 3-level (114,000 square foot) operation. At the same time, the existing Marshall Field's was enlarged with a 4th level. With its renovation completed, this store encompassed 385,000 square feet.
A subsequent expansion of OLD ORCHARD CENTER was done in the late 1970s. Two parking structures, the North and West Garages, were completed in September 1977. Saks relocated into a 3-level (114,000 square foot) building, on the mall's northeast corner. The store debuted, with a Preview Opening, on November 10, 1978. The old Saks location re-opened as a Lord & Taylor on July 30, 1979.
By the late 1980s, OLD ORCHARD had been bested by newer, more trendy shopping venues in the region, such as WOODFIELD MALL (1971) {14.4 miles southwest, in Schaumburg} and NORTHBROOK COURT (1976) {6.9 miles northwest, in Northbrook}.
A renovation of OLD ORCHARD, to make it into a more upscale shopping venue, was announced in late 1991. This was to include an expansion of Lord & Taylor into a 3-level (115,000 square foot) structure. The enlarged store was re-dedicated November 10, 1993.
The south end of the mall was demolished and replaced by a 242,000 square foot South Promenade. This extended to a 2-level (199,200 square foot) Nordstrom, which was dedicated on October 7, 1994. The South Promenade included the 10-bay Orchard Food Court and Cineplex Odeon Old Orchard Gardens Cinemas. This 7-screen venue was dedicated on December 16, 1994.
On the north end of the mall, the North Garage was razed. It was replaced by a 154,000 square foot North Promenade, which included a 3-level (206,000 square foot) Bloomingdale's on its west end. This store welcomed its first shoppers on September 2, 1995.
Moreover, two parking structures -the South and (new) North Garages- were constructed. The reconfigured, 1.7 million square foot, OLD ORCHARD CENTER held its official dedication September 1, 1995. New tenants included Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, Barnes & Noble, Cache, FAO Schwarz, The Limited, Record Town, Talbot's and Victoria's Secret.
A second theater complex opened on the west end of the South Promenade in February 2006. Both the old and new multiples were collectively known as Loews Gardens Cinemas 13. The original venue was promoted as Cinemas 1-6, the second as Cinemas 7-13. The multiplexes were rebranded as Regal venues in 2012.
Meanwhile, OLD ORCHARD CENTER was acquired by Australia-based Westfield in January 2002. Its name was changed to WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN OLD ORCHARD in May. This lengthy moniker was truncated to WESTFIELD OLD ORCHARD in June 2005.
Westfield proposed a third major expansion of the property, but eventually decided on a much smaller addition. Work commenced in July 2006. The Saks, and its Off-Fifth basement store, had been shuttered in July 2005. The building was torn down, with 63,000 square feet of new retail and restaurant space built.
One of the first operational tenants in the 20 million dollar addition was Lucy, a ladies clothier. This store began business in July 2007. California Pizza Kitchen relocated into the expansion. McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks welcomed its first diners on December 6, 2007. WESTFIELD OLD ORCHARD now encompassed approximately 1,788,800 leasable square feet and contained 150 stores and services.
The Orchard Food Court was reconfigured as the Wilde & Green Natural Market & Restaurant. This (30,000 square foot) facility housed eighteen food stations, with hot foods, a grill, salad bar, sushi shop and coffee bar. There were also a small green grocer and rooftop restaurant and bar.
Installed and maintained by a Toronto-based company, the culinary complex opened July 25, 2011. Unfortunately, it failed to catch on and was shuttered June 23, 2013. By this time, the mall's two multiplex cinemas had gone through a succession of owners; Loews (1998-2006), AMC (2006-2010) and Regal (2010-2016).
Both houses were shuttered in June 2016 and renovated into state-of-the-art -dine-in- luxury venues. The CMX Cinebistro Old Orchard (the old Cinemas 1-6) had a soft opening on December 15, 2017. On the opposite side of the mall, the CMX Market Cinema Old Orchard (the old Cinemas 7-13) was dedicated on July 27, 2018.
Meanwhile, Westfield's American and European property portfolio was merged into the holdings of Paris-based Unibail-Rodamco. A new company, known as Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield was created. Westfield shopping centers in Australia and New Zealand were not included in the merger.
The Chicago Tribune
preservenet.cornell.edu/publications/Longstreth Branch Store.doc
On the north end of the mall, the North Garage was razed. It was replaced by a 154,000 square foot North Promenade, which included a 3-level (206,000 square foot) Bloomingdale's on its west end. This store welcomed its first shoppers on September 2, 1995.
Moreover, two parking structures -the South and (new) North Garages- were constructed. The reconfigured, 1.7 million square foot, OLD ORCHARD CENTER held its official dedication September 1, 1995. New tenants included Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, Barnes & Noble, Cache, FAO Schwarz, The Limited, Record Town, Talbot's and Victoria's Secret.
A second theater complex opened on the west end of the South Promenade in February 2006. Both the old and new multiples were collectively known as Loews Gardens Cinemas 13. The original venue was promoted as Cinemas 1-6, the second as Cinemas 7-13. The multiplexes were rebranded as Regal venues in 2012.
Meanwhile, OLD ORCHARD CENTER was acquired by Australia-based Westfield in January 2002. Its name was changed to WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN OLD ORCHARD in May. This lengthy moniker was truncated to WESTFIELD OLD ORCHARD in June 2005.
Westfield proposed a third major expansion of the property, but eventually decided on a much smaller addition. Work commenced in July 2006. The Saks, and its Off-Fifth basement store, had been shuttered in July 2005. The building was torn down, with 63,000 square feet of new retail and restaurant space built.
One of the first operational tenants in the 20 million dollar addition was Lucy, a ladies clothier. This store began business in July 2007. California Pizza Kitchen relocated into the expansion. McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks welcomed its first diners on December 6, 2007. WESTFIELD OLD ORCHARD now encompassed approximately 1,788,800 leasable square feet and contained 150 stores and services.
The Orchard Food Court was reconfigured as the Wilde & Green Natural Market & Restaurant. This (30,000 square foot) facility housed eighteen food stations, with hot foods, a grill, salad bar, sushi shop and coffee bar. There were also a small green grocer and rooftop restaurant and bar.
Installed and maintained by a Toronto-based company, the culinary complex opened July 25, 2011. Unfortunately, it failed to catch on and was shuttered June 23, 2013. By this time, the mall's two multiplex cinemas had gone through a succession of owners; Loews (1998-2006), AMC (2006-2010) and Regal (2010-2016).
Both houses were shuttered in June 2016 and renovated into state-of-the-art -dine-in- luxury venues. The CMX Cinebistro Old Orchard (the old Cinemas 1-6) had a soft opening on December 15, 2017. On the opposite side of the mall, the CMX Market Cinema Old Orchard (the old Cinemas 7-13) was dedicated on July 27, 2018.
Meanwhile, Westfield's American and European property portfolio was merged into the holdings of Paris-based Unibail-Rodamco. A new company, known as Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield was created. Westfield shopping centers in Australia and New Zealand were not included in the merger.
Sources:
The Chicago Tribune
preservenet.cornell.edu/publications/Longstreth Branch Store.doc
Michigan Society of Architects Monthly Bulletin / July 1954
http://www.digitalpast.org
http://www.cinematreasuress.com
http://oldorchard.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
Comment post by David J. Hupp
http://www.preservenet.cornell.edu
http://www.skokienet.org
http://www.westfield.com
Cook County, Illinois tax assessor website
http://www.digitalpast.org
http://www.cinematreasuress.com
http://oldorchard.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
Comment post by David J. Hupp
http://www.preservenet.cornell.edu
http://www.skokienet.org
http://www.westfield.com
Cook County, Illinois tax assessor website
www.thepatch.com
www.reuters.com
www.reuters.com
https://b96.radio.com
