Chicago Ridge Mall
Chicago Ridge Mall is a shopping center in Chicago Ridge, Illinois, serving communities in the southwest Chicago metropolitan area.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Chicago Ridge Mall is an enclosed shopping center in the village of Chicago Ridge, Illinois, southwest of Chicago. The property opened in 1981 on the site of the former Starlite Drive-In Theatre, which had operated for more than three decades before closing in 1979. An expansion followed in 1986, helping establish the center as a significant suburban retail destination. The mall has undergone several ownership and operating changes. The Lenhdorff Group acquired the property in 1986 and sold it to JMB Realty the following year. Westfield later became associated with the center and operated it under the Westfield Chicago Ridge name from 2004 through 2012. In April 2012, Westfield sold the mall to Starwood Capital Group, with Jones Lang LaSalle responsible for management at that time. Starwood Capital sold the property to Second Horizon Capital in 2024. Chicago Ridge Mall's tenant mix has changed substantially over its history. Current or recently identified major tenants include Kohl's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Burlington, and a Bargain Discounts store operating in the former Sears building. Junior-anchor and major-format tenants have included Aldi, Old Navy, Michaels, and AMC Theatres. The property also offers a food court and standalone restaurants such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Chili's, and Chick-fil-A. Its tenant base combines department-store and discount retail, sporting goods, grocery, arts and crafts, apparel, entertainment, and casual dining. The center has repeatedly adapted vacant anchor space to changing retail conditions. A former Carson Pirie Scott store was used by Dick's Sporting Goods after Carson's parent company, The Bon-Ton Stores, entered liquidation in 2018. The former Bed Bath & Beyond space was subsequently repositioned for Burlington, which opened in 2024. Sears closed in 2021, and its former building was later renovated for Bargain Discounts, a discount retailer offering closeout merchandise. Other notable historical tenants and transitions include Montgomery Ward, Bed Bath & Beyond, Steve & Barry's, Disney Store, H&M, Red Robin, and the mall's cinema, which passed through several operators before becoming an AMC location. The mall is connected to the surrounding area by Pace bus service, including routes 381, 384, and limited weekday service on route 395. Its identity is primarily local and regional: unlike a national retail chain, Chicago Ridge Mall is a place-based commercial property whose brand is expressed through its location, tenant assortment, accessibility, and role as a shopping and dining destination.
History
Chicago Ridge Mall was developed on the site of the Starlite Drive-In Theatre in Chicago Ridge, Illinois. The drive-in closed in 1979 after a 31-year operating history, and construction of the shopping center began in 1980. The mall opened in 1981, with an expansion completed in 1986. Entertainment was part of the property from its early years. Essaness Theatres opened a triplex at the mall in July 1981. The cinema later expanded to six screens and changed operators several times, becoming associated with Cineplex Odeon and Loews before ultimately operating as AMC Theatres. Ownership changed during the mall's formative period. The Lenhdorff Group acquired the property in 1986 and sold it to JMB Realty in 1987. A two-story Carson Pirie Scott department store opened in 1987. In 1993, Montgomery Ward was added as an anchor in space previously occupied by Madigan's. The Montgomery Ward premises later housed Bed Bath & Beyond and Steve & Barry's; Steve & Barry's closed in 2008. Westfield became the mall's operating identity from 2004 until 2012, when the property was known as Westfield Chicago Ridge. In April 2012, Westfield sold the center to Starwood Capital Group. Jones Lang LaSalle handled management following that transaction. During the late 2000s and early 2010s, the property continued to adjust its tenant mix. Westfield announced that Aldi would open in 2011 in space vacated by Steve & Barry's. The 2010s brought additional tenant activity. H&M opened a two-story store in August 2015, and Red Robin opened on November 21, 2016. The center then experienced several anchor and major-store closures. Carson's closed on August 29, 2018, after The Bon-Ton Stores failed and liquidated its stores. In 2020, plans were announced to bring Dick's Sporting Goods to the lower level of the former Carson's space; the store opened on August 6, 2021. Sears was included in a nationwide closure announcement in February 2021 and closed its Chicago Ridge location on May 2 of that year. The Disney Store closed on August 18, 2021, as part of Disney's plan to reduce its physical store network. The location was notable as the final Disney Store to retain the company's original 1990s pink-and-green design. Bed Bath & Beyond was announced for closure in January 2023, and the store subsequently vacated its space. The property continued to be repositioned through replacement tenants. Burlington announced in March 2024 that it would open in the former Bed Bath & Beyond space, with the store opening on May 31, 2024. During the 2020s, the former Sears building was renovated for Bargain Discounts, a discount store operating across the former department-store footprint and promoting closeout merchandise at substantial reductions. In 2024, Starwood Capital sold Chicago Ridge Mall to Second Horizon Capital. Today, Chicago Ridge Mall remains an active suburban retail property. Its publicly identified anchors and major tenants include Kohl's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Burlington, Aldi, Old Navy, Michaels, and AMC Theatres, complemented by dining venues and a food court. Pace routes 381, 384, and limited weekday route 395 provide public-transit connections to the mall and surrounding region.
- 2024
Burlington opens and ownership changes
[1]Burlington opened in the former Bed Bath & Beyond space, and Starwood Capital sold the property to Second Horizon Capital.
- 2021
Several major stores close; Dick's opens
[1]Sears and Disney Store closed, while Dick's Sporting Goods opened in the former Carson's complex.
- 2018
Carson's closes
[1]The Carson's department store closed following the collapse of parent company The Bon-Ton Stores.
- 2015
H&M opens
[1]A two-story H&M store opened at the mall.
- 2012
Starwood Capital acquisition
[1]Westfield sold the property to Starwood Capital Group, with JLL managing the mall at the time.
- 2011
Aldi planned for former Steve & Barry's space
[1]Aldi was announced for space vacated by Steve & Barry's.
- 2004
Westfield Chicago Ridge identity begins
[1]The property began operating under the Westfield Chicago Ridge name.
- 1993
Montgomery Ward becomes an anchor
[1]Montgomery Ward was added as an anchor in space previously occupied by Madigan's.
- 1987
JMB Realty acquisition and Carson Pirie Scott opening
[1]The Lenhdorff Group sold the mall to JMB Realty, and a two-story Carson Pirie Scott store opened.
- 1986
Expansion and ownership change
[1]The mall expanded, and the Lenhdorff Group acquired the property.
Products and positioning
A community-oriented suburban shopping mall serving Chicago Ridge and the southwest Chicago metropolitan area, with a practical mix of value retail, department-store merchandise, sporting goods, grocery, entertainment, and dining.
Department-store retail
Kohl's
Kohl's is a major department-store tenant offering apparel, footwear, accessories, home merchandise, beauty products, and other general retail goods. At Chicago Ridge Mall it functions as one of the property's principal anchor-format stores.
Sporting-goods retail · 2021
Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods provides sporting equipment, athletic apparel, footwear, and related outdoor and fitness merchandise. Its Chicago Ridge store opened in 2021 in the lower level of the former Carson's space.
Off-price retail · 2024
Burlington
Burlington is an off-price retailer selling discounted apparel, footwear, home goods, and related merchandise. Its Chicago Ridge location opened in 2024 in space formerly occupied by Bed Bath & Beyond.
Cinema and entertainment · 1981
AMC Theatres
AMC Theatres operates the mall's cinema, whose history began with an Essaness triplex opened in 1981. The venue later changed operators and expanded to six screens before becoming an AMC location.
Discount retail
Bargain Discounts
Bargain Discounts occupies the former Sears building after renovation during the 2020s. The store focuses on closeout and discount merchandise and has promoted reductions of up to 75 percent on selected items.
Food service
Dining and food court
Chicago Ridge Mall includes a food court and standalone restaurant tenants, including Buffalo Wild Wings, Chili's, and Chick-fil-A. These offerings extend the property beyond shopping and support its role as a local gathering and dining destination.
Brand decisions
2024
Burlington replaces Bed Bath & BeyondProduct launchBackground
Bed Bath & Beyond was announced for closure in 2023, leaving a large retail space available for reuse.
Action taken
Burlington opened in the former Bed Bath & Beyond space on May 31, 2024.
Aftermath
The move added an off-price retail anchor and continued the mall's shift toward value-oriented tenants.
2024
Sale from Starwood Capital Group to Second Horizon CapitalM&ABackground
Starwood Capital Group owned the property after acquiring it from Westfield in 2012.
Action taken
Starwood Capital sold Chicago Ridge Mall to Second Horizon Capital.
Aftermath
Second Horizon Capital became the identified owner of the active shopping-center property.
2021
Repositioning of former Carson's space for Dick's Sporting GoodsGeneration changeBackground
Carson's closed in 2018 after the bankruptcy and liquidation of its parent company, The Bon-Ton Stores.
Action taken
The mall announced plans to convert the lower level of the former Carson's space for Dick's Sporting Goods, which opened on August 6, 2021.
Aftermath
The project replaced part of a vacant department-store footprint with a large-format sporting-goods tenant.
2012
Sale from Westfield to Starwood Capital GroupM&ABackground
Westfield had operated the property under the Westfield Chicago Ridge name since 2004.
Action taken
Westfield sold the mall to Starwood Capital Group, with JLL responsible for management at the time.
Aftermath
The property returned to the Chicago Ridge Mall name and continued operating as a multi-tenant suburban shopping center.
Sources2 sources
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