Chicagoland's Brickyard 

A downtown for the Northwest Side. The first section of Chicago's BRICKYARD complex opened for business in March 1977. A second segment was completed 2 years later. 
Graphic from E.N. Maisel Associates 

As there are no vintage store directories available on the internet, this provisional BRICKYARD layout will need to suffice. A Phase I section is shown in gray. Known as the Convenience Mall, it covered around 250,000 leasable square feet and was anchored by Kmart and a Jewel Grand Bazaar. A second fully-enclosed structure was added, which housed two levels of inline stores. This Phase II structure was anchored by "Monkey Wards" and J.C. Penney. 

A north-south cut-away view of THE BRICKYARD. The new Phase II mall increased the total area of the shopping hub to approximately 920,800 leasable square feet. Phase II was connected -via escalator- with the original Convenience Mall section below. The escalator ascended to -and descended from- the first level of the Wards store. 

A BRICKYARD logo montage recalls stores that were operating in the mall in 1981.

A freestanding strip center, BRICKTOWN SQUARE, was added to the mall site in 1988. The combined leasable areas of both complexes now stood at around 1,198,200 square feet. The mall proper housed 119 stores and provided free parking for 4,000 autos.

BRICKYARD MALL TENANTS 1989:

MONTGOMERY WARD (with Buffeteria Snack Bar, Beauty Salon, Travel Center, Optical Center and attached Auto Center) / J.C. PENNEY (with Coffee Shop, Beauty Salon and attached Auto Center) / KMART / JEWEL-OSCO / 16 Plus ladies' wear / A.S. Beck Shoes / Albert K. ladies' wear / American Eagle Outfitters / American Girl Uniform / Ashley & Sutton Jewelers / Baker's Shoes / Berman's Leather & Accessories / Boston Shirt Yard / Bresler's 33 Flavors ice cream / Brickyard Bank / Brooks ladies' wear / Burger King / Burt's Shoes / Busch Jewelers / Caren Charles ladies' wear / Career Image ladies' wear / Casual Corner ladies' wear / Chandler's Shoes / Chess King men's wear /  Chez Chocolate / Circus World / Claire's Boutique / Deck the Walls / Earring Tree / Fanny Farmer Candies / Fashion Conspiracy ladies' wear / Fayva Shoes / Florsheim Shoes / Flowerama / Foot Locker / Gallop men's wear / GNC / Gift Horse / Gifts, Etcetera / Gingiss Formalwear / Gladan Jewelers / Hair Performers / Hanover Cards / Hanover Shoes / Hardy Shoes / Heaken Research / Hickory Farms of Ohio / Hit or Miss ladies' wear / Hot Pretzel / Hush Puppies shoes / Italian U-Boat / J.B. Robinson jewelers / J. Riggings men's wear / Jarman Shoes / Jean Nicole ladies' wear / Jeans West / Jewel Box / Joan Bari / Just Pants / Kay-Bee Toy & Hobby / Kinney Shoes / Kennedy's men's wear / Lane Bryant ladies' wear / Lechter's housewares / Lerner Shops ladies' wear / Lowry Organ Studio / Malings Shoes / Mazzone's restaurant / Merry-Go-Round ladies' wear / Motherhood Maternity / Musicland / Nobil Shoes / Oak Tree men's wear / Ole jewelers / Parklane Hosiery / Pearle Vision Center / Petite Street ladies' wear / Radio Shack / Rave ladies' wear / Record Town / Red Cross Shoes / Richman Brothers men's wear / Ricky's West restaurant / Rightime Clock / Rollands Jewelers / Rothchild's men's wear / Shaver's World / Silverman's men's wear / So-Fro Fabrics / Spencer Gifts / Sports Arena unisex clothing / Street Beat men's wear / Stuarts ladies' Ready-to-Wear / Susie's Casuals ladies' wear / The Bottom Half / The Children's Place / The Cookie Factory / The Gap unisex clothing / The Leather Loft / The Orange Bowl snack bar / The Limited ladies' wear / The Whistestop snack bar / The Wild Pair shoes / Things Remembered / Thom McAn Family  Shoes / Thom McAn men's & boy's shoes / Ups & Downs ladies' wear / Waldenbooks / Wick's 'n Sticks / Winston's Bakery / Whitehall jewelers / Woman's World Shops ladies' wear / York Steak House

The complex was given an indoor-outdoor face lift in the early 1990s, with entrances rebuilt, a food court installed and new name instituted; BRICKYARD MALL. A new logo was also commissioned. This trademark was recreated by -and for- the Mall Hall of Fame.

BRICKYARD MALL fared well enough through mid-1990s. The discount department store was upgraded to a Big Kmart in early 1997. Then, things began to unravel. An anchor exodus played out between 2000 and 2001, with J.C. Penney Outlet, Montgomery Ward and Big Kmart stores all pulling up stakes. The "obsolete" mall was given a wrecking ball renovation in late 2002.

Photo from http://www.labelscar.com / "Prange Way"

During the demolition of BRICKYARD MALL, the BRICKTOWN SQUARE strip complex was left standing. It was given an exterior face lift and expanded with new Target and Lowe's stores. 
Drawing from www.loopnet.com

Mass-based Marshalls also opened a BRICKTOWN SQUARE store.
Photo from http://www.shopthebrickyard.com

This Jewel / Osco replaced a larger location, which had been an anchor of the 1970s mall.
Photo from http://www.shopthebrickyard.com

THE BRICKYARD
North Narragansett and West Diversey Avenues
City of Chicago, Illinois

The thirty-fourth major mall in Chicagoland was developed by Southfield, Michigan's E.N. Maisel Associates and the Windy City's Harry F. Chaddick. The complex was situated on a 50-acre site, located 7.9 miles northwest of The Loop, in the Belmont-Cragin section of Chicago.

For several years, the land parcel had been undeveloped. Due to subterranean clay deposits, it was deemed unfit for any type of use for residential or commercial construction. In the meantime, the Carey Brick Company (a brick manufacturing plant) thrived there. Eventually, the clay deposits were used up and the brickyard closed. 

By the early '70s, a ski slope had been built on the property, using rubble and soil removed from the construction of a new expressway. Two large pits remained from the brick factory. These were filled with garbage and refuse and served as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. 

In April 1975, plans for a Brickyard site shopping complex were announced. Ground was broken on September 17th, with Mayor Richard Daley turning the first shovel of earth. A (250,000 square foot) Convenience Mall was built. This was anchored by a 1-level (90,400 square foot) Jewel Grand Bazaar and Osco Drug Center on the north and 1-level (118,700 square foot) Kmart on the southeast.

Phases I and II of THE BRICKYARD were designed by New York City's Edward M. Cohen and E.N. Maisel Associates. Phase I (a.k.a the Convenience Mall) was officially dedicated on March 16, 1977. Twelve inline stores lined a single-sided, enclosed shopping concourse. These included Bresler's 33 Flavors ice cream, Page Two Card & Gift, Gladan Jewelers, Ricky's West Restaurant, Fayva Shoes, Radio Shack and Fashion Action.

A 2-level, fully-enclosed mall was built to the southwest -and on top of- the Convenience Mall.  This Phase II mall was anchored by a 2-level (180,000 square foot) Montgomery Ward on the north and 2-level (190,800 square foot) J.C. Penney on the south. The Wards store -and the new enclosed mall- opened on March 1, 1979. J.C. Penney began business on July 11th.

THE BRICKYARD cost 50 million dollars to construct. The 3-level complex housed approximately 920,800 leasable square feet. Among its 117 stores were Richman Brothers, Claire's Boutique, Woman's World Shops, Susie's Casuals, The Orange Bowl snack bar, Joe Singer Shoes and Legion Magnavox.

There were several major retail centers in the vicinity. These included the Belmont-Central business district {.5 of a miles northeast, in Chicago}, HARLEM IRVING PLAZA (1956) {1.8 miles northwest, in Norridge}, NORTH RIVERSIDE PARK MALL (1976) {4.3 miles southwest, in North Riverside} and LINCOLNWOOD TOWN CENTER (1990) {6.7 miles northeast, in Lincolnwood}. In spite of all of the competition, THE BRICKYARD was an astounding success in its early years.

In 1983, the southwestern and southern sectors of THE BRICKYARD site were still undeveloped. They were acquired by the owner of the mall and cleared and graded. In December 1986, E.N. Maisel Associates sold THE BRICKYARD to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. The newly-cleared land was developed with BRICKTOWN SQUARE, a 277,400 square foot strip plaza. The open-air complex housed tenants such as Toys "R" Us, SportMart, a Fretter SuperStore and 6-screen Cineplex Odeon Bricktown Square Cinema. This venue showed its first features on May 14, 1989. 

THE BRICKYARD was given an indoor-outdoor face lift in the early 1990's. Mall entrances were rebuilt and a food court installed. A new name was bestowed; BRICKYARD MALL. As part of the renovation and renaming, a new logo was commissioned, which was used on banners and mall entries.

A refurbished Kmart re-opened, as a Big Mart, on April 23, 1997. This was the Michigan-based chain's first Big Kmart conversion. Unfortunately, this store remodeling was not enough to stave off the impending decline of the mall. By 1998, it was in a downward spiral; this exacerbated by an anchor store exodus. 

Big Kmart closed in the summer of 2000. Montgomery Ward went dark in February 2001. J.C. Penney, which had been demoted to an Outlet Store in April 1999, was shuttered in April 2001. These three anchor boxes were never retenanted. Jewel-Osco remained as the mall's only major operational store.

By late 2002, New York City's Whitehall Street Real Estate had acquired the "functionally obsolete" shopping mall. It was decided that total demolition was in order. A joint venture was formed with the Illinois-based Mid-America Real Estate Corporation. A wrecking ball was brought in in December 2002. The mall was leveled, with the Jewel-Osco structure temporarily left standing until a new store could be built. The BRICKTOWN SQUARE strip center was also left intact.

A 40 million dollar power plaza -known as THE BRICKYARD- was built. Its first phase, including a new (64,200 square foot) Jewel-Osco, opened for business in March 2004. Phase II of the 551,000 square foot complex featured Target and Lowe's stores. Target's grand opening was held on October 10, 2004. At the same time, the new and improved BRICKYARD was acquired by the Illinois-based Inland Real Estate Investment Group.

Sources:

The Chicago Tribune
http://www.labelscar.com / "Prange Way"
Cooke County, Illinois property tax assessor website
http://www.shopthebrickyard.com
http://chucksphotospot.com

https://www.nreionline.com

Chicagoland's Oakbrook Center

DuPage County's OAKBROOK CENTER opened, with an initial thirty-seven stores, in March 1962. The complex, which spanned around 1,300,000 leasable square feet, was reputedly the largest shopping center in the Midwest.

Graphic from the Urban Investment & Development Company

The OAKBROOK CENTER Sears, which covered 285,000 square feet. The store included a freestanding Auto Center.
Drawing from Sears, Roebuck & Company Annual Report 1961

Co-anchoring the OAKBROOK mall was a gargantuan (365,000 square foot) Marshall Field's; the chain's seventh suburban branch. One of the store's many features was The Oak Room, an upscale restaurant.
Photo from Curteichcolor

Maurice L. Rothschild & Company was a Chicago-based apparel retailer. The OAKBROOK CENTER location encompassed 24,000 square feet. It opened in conjunction with a store at RANDHURST CENTER.
Drawing from Loebl, Schlossman & Bennett Architects

Chi-Town-based Baskin also sold ladies' and men's apparel. Their OAKBROOK CENTER location was the sixth in the chain.
Drawing from Loebl, Schlossman & Bennett Architects

A site plan of the original facility. When fully-leased, it housed fifty-six stores and services. The surrounding parking area could accommodate 6,900 autos. One of the mall's many features was its Professional Building, an 8-story office tower.

OAKBROOK CENTER TENANTS 1962:

MARSHALL FIELD & COMPANY (with Beauty Salon and Oak Room Restaurant) / SEARS (with Coffee Shop and freestanding Auto Center) / BONWIT TELLER / S.S. KRESGE 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / JEWEL TEA COMPANY supermarket / A.C. Allyn Company stock brokers / Almer Coe Optical / Arcade Barber Shop / Baker's Qualicraft Shoes / Bank of Oakbrook / Baskin Clothing / Benson-Rixon men's wear / Best & Company / Blunt, Ellis & Simons stock brokers / Broadstreets men's wear / Burny Brothers Bakery / C.D. Peacock Jewelers / Chandler's Shoes / Dutch Mill Candies / Edward's Restaurant / Fabric Mart / Famous Beauty Salons / Fannie May Candies / Flagg Brothers Shoes / Guilded Cage / Henrici's restaurant / House of Organs / Household Finance Corporation / John P. Daleiden Company religious items / Dutch Mill Candies / Edwards Restaurant / Fabric Mart / Famous Beauty Salon / Fannie May Candies / Flagg Brothers Shoes / Gilded Cage fashion accessories / Henrici's Restaurant / House of Organs / Household Finance Corporation / Joseph Salon Shoes / Kay Howard Shops ladies' wear / Kroch's & Brentano's Books / Lane Bryant ladies' wear / Lyon & Healy music / Maurice L. Rothschild & Company / Oakbrook Barber Shop / Oakbrook Center Professional Building & Concourse / O'Connor & Goldberg Shoes / Peck & Peck ladies' sports wear / Phillip's Flowers & Gifts / Professional Arts Pharmacy / R & R Shoes / Slocum's Children's Shop / John M. Smyth & Company home furnishings / Stuarts Ready-To-Wear For Ladies / Thayer McNeil Shoes / Victor's sports wear / Walgreen Drug (with luncheonette) / Youthful Shoes

This snapshot, and the two that follow, show the open-air complex as it appeared in the early 1960s. In this view, the aforementioned Sears store is seen on the left.

Photo from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries

The lush landscaping at OAKBROOK CENTER was designed by San Francisco's Lawrence Halprin.

Photo from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries

A view of the mall's North Court area. Sears appears on the right of this image.

Photo from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries

The original mall's Jewel Food Stores supermarket.
Photo from http://pleasantfamilyshopping.blogspot.com

Graphic from the Jewel Tea Company

A view of the interior of the C.D. Peacock Jewelers store at OAKBROOK CENTER.
Photo from https://cdpeacock.com

Three separate cinematic complexes have operated at OAKBROOK CENTER over the years. The first opened, in December 1964, as the freestanding Oakbrook Theatre.
Drawing from http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice

Lord & Taylor joined the mall, taking the place of Maurice L. Rothschild & Company. In 1981, a new Southeast Wing was completed. This addition (in dark gray) added Saks Fifth Avenue, I. Magnin and Neiman-Marcus. This circa-1987 layout includes the new Oakbrook Center Cinemas 1-4. The original venue (now a 3-plex) has been rebranded as the Oakbrook Center Cinemas 5-7.

OAKBROOK CENTER was expanded again between 1989 and 1991. This addition brought the midwest's first Nordstrom and four parking garages. With this remodeling, the mall's gross leasable area stood at 2,090,000 square feet.

An exterior face lift, done in 2012 and 2013, was designed by the renowned Omniplan firm, of Dallas, Texas.
Photo from http://www.omniplan.com

The first level of the old I. Magnin had been subdivided in the mid-'90s, with newer stores opening in 2008. As part of the mall's 2012-2013 refurbishment, a vacant Saks / Bloomingdale's Home building was sectioned into six inline spaces. Moreover, a portion of the middle floor of Sears was partitioned into PB Kids and West Elm stores.

In late 2016, a renovation of the northeast store block was completed. It installed The District at Oakbrook Center, an upscale food court, in Level 2 space. A new megaplex, the Oakbrook Center 12, was also built. Sears downsized into its basement floor and then closed for good in early 2019. Lord & Taylor also pulled up stakes at this time. By 2022, the Sears and L & T buildings had been divided into inline store spaces.

OAKBROOK CENTER
West 22nd Street (Cermak Road) and Kingery Highway
Village of Oak Brook, Illinois

The tenth major shopping mall in Chicagoland was developed by a joint venture of the Windy City's Marshall Field & Company and Philip Klutznick (under the auspices of the the Urban Investment & Development Company). Klutznick had been instrumental in the creation of the PARK FOREST PLAZA (1949) and OLD ORCHARD CENTER (1956) shopping complexes.

Construction began on OAKBROOK CENTER in 1960. The 25 million dollar facility was built on a 160-acre parcel, located 16.3 miles west of The Loop, in suburban Oak Brook. Open-air in format, the complex was designed by Richard Marsh Bennett, of the Loebl, Schlossman & Bennett firm. Buildings were configured with Ground (or Mall) Levels and basements.

Thirty-seven stores and services were dedicated on March 5, 1962. Speaking at the inauguration was Illinois Senator Paul Douglas (D). Although US Senator Everett P. Dirksen (R) was scheduled to appear, he never arrived.

Anchoring the mall were a 4-level (365,000 square foot) Marshall Field & Company and 3-level (285,000 square foot) Sears. The fully-leased shopping hub housed fifty-six stores and services. These included Walgreen Drug, Stuarts Ready-To-Wear For Ladies, Maurice L. Rothschild, Fabric Mart, an S.S. Kresge 5 & 10, Jewel Supermarket and 3-level (66,000 square foot), New York City-based Bonwit Teller.

In its original incarnation, OAKBROOK CENTER encompassed approximately 1,300,000 leasable square feet, making it the second-largest shopping center in the United States (New Jersey's GARDEN STATE PLAZA being the largest).

The first motion picture venue at the mall, the Balaban & Klatz Oakbrook Theatre, opened December 25, 1964. This freestanding venue was twinned in 1983 and reconfigured as a tri-plex in 1984.

Meanwhile, commercial competitors had entered the marketplace. YORKTOWN CENTER {2.8 miles west, in Lombard} was completed in 1968. WOODFIELD MALL {13.8 miles northwest, in Schaumburg} opened in 1971. There was also NORTH RIVERSIDE PARK MALL {7.1 miles east, in North Riverside}, dedicated in 1975.

A third anchor department store was added to OAKBROOK CENTER in the early 1970s. A structure housing Maurice L. Rothschild was demolished and replaced by a 2-level (101,900 square foot), New York City-based Lord & Taylor. This store was dedicated on February 20, 1973.

A larger expansion got underway in 1980. The southeast corner of the mall was expanded with a 2-level -twenty tenant- store block and three anchor department stores. Dallas-based Neiman Marcus dedicated their 3-level (113,000 square foot) unit on August 28, 1981. A 3-level (91,000 square foot), New York City-based Saks Fifth Avenue began business on September 11, 1981. San Francisco's I. Magnin also completed a 2-level (81,000 square foot) store in the same year. OAKBROOK CENTER now encompassed approximately 1,660,000 leasable square feet.

In the fall of 1987, another 2-level store block and a parking garage were completed. These were adjacent to a new Southeast Wing. This housed the Cineplex Odeon Oakbrook Center Cinemas 1-4, which showed its first features on December 25, 1987. The original 3-screen venue was rebranded as the Cineplex Odeon Oakbrook Center Cinemas 5-7.

A subsequent expansion of OAKBROOK CENTER was announced in July 1989. This was to include a 2-level (248,000 square foot) Northeast Wing, 3-level (220,000 square foot) Nordstrom and three parking garages. A full enclosure of mall courts and concourses was considered but not carried out.

Nordstrom's store, the sixty-fourth in the chain and first in the Midwest, held its official grand opening on April 5, 1991. Anchor changes were underway in other areas of the mall. The first involved Bonwit Teller, a 1962 charter tenant. It was shuttered in June 1990. Crate & Barrel, which had opened their very first shopping mall store at OAKBROOK CENTER in 1971, relocated into the Bonwit Teller space.

I. Magnin closed on February 16, 1991, with its space divided into four inline stores. These included Eddie Bauer and Tiffany & Company. Saks shut down in December 2002. New York City-based Bloomingdale's renovated the building and opened its third Home & Furniture Store on September 12, 2003.

The two Oakbrook Cinema complexes had been shuttered early in the 21st century. The in-mall 1-4 showed its final features on February 19, 2001 and was refitted as additional retail area. The 5-7 was in operation until 2003. It was demolished and replaced by The Cheesecake Factory, which opened in August 2004.

Between 2001 and 2004, OAKBROOK CENTER changed hands three times. The first buyer, Chicago-based Urban Retail Properties, sold to Holland-based Rodamco in June 2001. In turn, the Maryland-based Rouse Company acquired the property in May 2002. When Chicago-based General Growth Properties acquired the portfolio of the Rouse Company, in November 2004, OAKBROOK CENTER became a GGP holding. By this time, the mall encompassed around 2,090,000 leasable square feet.

Marshall Field's was engulfed by Macy's on September 9, 2006. The shuttering of the Bloomingdale's Home & Furniture Store created a major vacancy in early 2012. The next 2 years were spent remodeling common areas, downsizing stores and finding new tenants for empty spaces.

A two-phase court and concourse redesign added new landscaping, outdoor seating, fountains, entertainment venues and Fire Totems (to provide heat for wintertime shoppers). The court fronting on Crate & Barrel became a Village Green, whose centerpiece was a year-round Vortex Fountain. An Amenities Pavilion was installed near Sears.

The vacant Saks / Bloomingdale's Home building was divided into six tenant spaces. On Level 1 were new Lululemon Athletica, Tommy Bahama, Boss Hugo Boss and Artizia stores. Level 2 was occupied by a (30,400 square feet) Pirch, which sold high-end fixtures for kitchen, bath & outdoors. The Lower Level became a (27,000 square foot) Container Store. 

Sears also began downsizing their 3-level store in 2013. The initial project partitioned a section of Level 1 space, with new PB Kids and West Elm stores created. These opened in September and October 2013. The revitalized OAKBROOK mall was officially re-dedicated on November 22nd.

The northeast store block was reconfigured between 2015 and 2016. Four Level 2 store spaces were gutted and rebuilt as The District At Oakbrook Center, a 9-bay food court. Motion pictures also returned to the mall, following a 13-year hiatus. The American Multi-Cinema Oakbrook Center 12 showed first features on October 13, 2016.

Sears closed (temporarily) in September 2017. The Lower Level was reconfigured into a smaller (62,000 square foot) store. Level 1 space was subdivided further. The existing PB Kids and West Elm stores were joined by L.L. Bean, Ballard Designs and other tenants. KidZania, a children's "experiential learning", interactive mini-city facility, was installed on Level 2.

The freestanding Sears Auto Center, which was shuttered in March 2018, was demolished and replaced by a new fitness club. The Sears reconfiguration culminated in the store's grand re-opening, which was held on October 4, 2018. It would remain in business until April 28, 2019.

Meanwhile, Brookfield Property Partners, based in Hamilton, Bermuda, had acquired a share of General Growth Properties in 2016. In August 2018, Brookfield established 100 percent ownership of the corporation. Hence, OAKBROOK CENTER became part of the Brookfield retail center portfolio.

Sources:

The Chicago Tribune
"Dual Anchor Shopping Centers 1952-1965" / Richard Longstreth
http://www.labelscar.com
http://www.oakbrookcenter.com
http://pleasantfamilyshopping.blogspot.com
www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.ggp.com (General Growth Properties)
"Oakbrook Center" article on Wikipedia 

Chicagoland's Ford City Center

The FORD CITY CENTER structure was originally part of the world's largest industrial manufacturing complex. An enclosed shopping venue was fashioned out a portion of an abandoned aircraft factory.
Drawing from Chicago Industrial District

The 1948 Tucker Torpedo, manufactured on the site of the present-day FORD CITY MALL. The complex that -in part- became the shopping center was used by Preston Tucker's company, before he was cut off at the knees by Detroit's automotive aristocracy.
Photos from Wikipedia / Sean O'Flaherty

The mall's original front facade and Main Entrance. A Woolworth 5 & 10 and Harvest House Cafeteria are in the immediate foreground, with a National Food grocery and J.C. Penney off in the distance.
Photo from Cameo Greeting Cards, Incorporated

The Grand Mall at FORD CITY is decorated for the Yuletide season. The entry of the Wieboldt's ["Wee-bolts"] department store, which anchored the west end of the complex, appears in the background.
Photo from http://pleasantfamilyshopping.blogspot.com / Rick Drew

An exterior view of the FORD CITY Wieboldt's. Reputedly the nation's largest single-level department store, it encompassed 219,300 square feet.
Photo from Wie‪boldts Stores, Incorporated Annual Report 1986

J.C. Penney built one of their "New Generation" stores at FORD CITY CENTER. It was the chain's largest single-level location. A freestanding Penneys Auto Center is seen on the right.
Drawing from J.C. Penney Company 

In 1966, the Southwest Side shopping hub spanned approximately 1 million leasable square feet, with free parking provided for 8,000 autos. The complex was promoted as the largest mall in Chicagoland, although RANDHURST CENTER -in Mount Prospect- was larger. 

 

Peacock Alley, an underground mall within a mall, opened in late 1970. The first big renovation was completed in late 1975, with Montgomery Ward joining the complex as a third anchor. With these improvements, FORD CITY CENTER encompassed approximately 1.6 million leasable square feet and featured seventy-five stores and services.

FORD CITY MALL TENANTS 1975:

CENTRAL MALL:
WIEBOLDT'S (with Prairie House and Snack Shop restaurants, Hillman' s Fine Foods grocery section and attached Auto Center) / J.C. PENNEY (with Snack Shop, Beauty Salon and freestanding Auto Center) / MONTGOMERY WARD (with Buffeteria snack bar and freestanding Auto Center) / NATIONAL FOOD STORES supermarket / F.W. WOOLWORTH 5 & 10 (with Harvest House Cafeteria and Ford City Grill) / Allen Shoes / Bond Clothes / Bresler's 33 Flavors Ice Cream / Burton's Store For Men / Buster Brown Shoes / Candy's Casuals / Dunkin' Donuts / Draperie Fair / Fanny Farmer Candies / Firestone Car Care (outparcel) / Flagg Brothers Shoes / Ford City Restaurant / Foxmoor Casuals / Frank's Shoes / Gift Studio / Goldberg's Fashion Forum / Hallmark Cards / Herman's World Of Sporting Goods / Hickory Farms of Ohio / Karoll's men's wear/ Kopps Jewelers / Lafayette Radio Electronics / Lerner Shops ladies' wear / Maling Shoes / Marc Alan / Minnesota Fabrics / Musicland / O'Connor & Goldberg Shoes / Orange Julius / Pam's Young Folks children's apparel / Pet Ranch / Playback The Electronic Playground / Polk Brothers / Printers Ink Stationers / R & R Crossing apparel / Ronn Jewelers / Saint Anne's Shop / Singer Sewing Center / So-Fro Fabrics / SupeRx Drugs / Tally-Ho Restaurant /  The Gap / The Gift Studio / The Knot Shop / Thom McAn Shoes / Tobacco Teepee / Wally O'Keefe's men's wear / Wurlitzer Organs

NORTH MALL:
TURN-STYLE FAMILY CENTER / Fayva Shoes / Ford City Bowling Center / Ford City Cinema I-II-III / John M. Smythe home furnishings / Print King / Talley's Pub 

PEACOCK ALLEY:
Allsport Sporting Goods / Charisma Fashions / City Arts Center / Ford City Catholic Center / Ford City Karate Studio / Ford City Key & Lock / Gingiss Formalwear / House Of Lewis / John Charles ladies' wear / Nickleodeon Pizza / O'Keefe's II men's wear / Pagoda House Gifts / Park Magnavox TV & Stereo / The Loft apparel / The Shelf Shop / Toby's Bridal / Tricks -N- Toys / Village Records & Tapes

A mall-wide refurbishment was done between January 1988 and October 1989. An abandoned Wieboldt's was sectioned into stores; the largest being Carson Pirie Scott. Sears set up shop in the North Mall. Two separate cinema operations were consolidated into the new Ford City 14 megaplex, which opened in August 1990.

A 2010s snapshot of the mall's Main Entrance, which leads into the Food City Food Court.
Photo from http://farm4.static.flickr.com

The North Mall strip center is promoted with signage. Stores such as Sears, Anna's Linens and Office Depot have been shuttered since this image was taken. Conway (Fashion Discount) and Fallas have also come and gone.

Photo from Wikipedia / "One Home Sapiens"