Cross Country Mall
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedCross County Mall is a shopping center in Mattoon, Illinois, anchored by Rural King, Marshalls, Jo-Ann Fabrics, and Dunham's Sports.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Cross County Mall is a shopping center in Mattoon, Illinois, United States. It was developed after Chahanie Development announced the project in 1967 and began construction in 1969. The mall formally opened in October 1971, initially combining national and regional retailers including JCPenney, G. C. Murphy, Arlan's, IGA, Walgreens, Kinney Shoes, and Myers Brothers. Sears joined the tenant lineup in 1972. At its opening, the center was positioned as a broad regional shopping destination serving Mattoon and surrounding communities in east-central Illinois. The mall's tenant mix changed repeatedly as department-store, discount-retail, and grocery concepts evolved. Arlan's entered bankruptcy in 1973, and its space became a Kmart in 1974. G. C. Murphy closed in 1976; its premises were later redeveloped for Meis, which opened in 1978 and was subsequently acquired by Elder-Beerman. Myers Brothers was acquired by Bergner's in 1978, resulting in a rebranding of that store. These changes gave Cross County Mall a succession of department-store identities while preserving its role as a multi-anchor shopping center. The center also experimented with different uses for underperforming space. The former IGA area was converted into a mall corridor in the early 1980s. When that configuration did not attract sufficient activity, the area was remodeled as a proposed food court in the late 1980s. The food-court concept failed to attract enough restaurants, and the space became an antique mall in 1990. Other former anchor and large-store spaces were reused for smaller retailers, furniture, training, and office functions as the local retail market changed. Kmart moved to a larger freestanding location outside the mall in 1993. Sears then relocated into the former Kmart premises in 1994, while the original Sears building was reused first by Wolf Furniture and later for other non-retail purposes. Walgreens left the mall in 2003. Elder-Beerman was rebranded as Carson's in 2011, and Carson's later closed in 2018 when its parent company, The Bon-Ton Stores, ceased operations. JCPenney remained the last traditional department-store anchor until its announced closure in 2020 and departure in 2021. Rural King acquired Cross County Mall in 2017. The agricultural-supply retailer subsequently planned to move a store support center into the former Sears location and opened a Rural King store there in January 2019. This ownership and tenant transition shifted the mall's identity away from a conventional department-store format toward a combination of value retail, specialty retail, apparel, crafts, sporting goods, and agricultural merchandise. Marshalls opened in November 2019, and Glik's returned in March 2020. Dunham's Sports later occupied the former JCPenney space. The mall's principal anchors are Rural King, Marshalls, Jo-Ann Fabrics, and Dunham's Sports. Its broader tenant history includes apparel, accessories, beauty, health, footwear, books, electronics, restaurants, and specialty services. Cross County Mall therefore functions as both a retail destination and a flexible commercial property whose tenant composition has been repeatedly adapted to changes in national retail chains, local demand, and available anchor space.
History
The Cross County Mall project was announced by Chahanie Development in 1967, with construction beginning in 1969. The shopping center opened in October 1971 in Mattoon, Illinois. Its initial tenant plan included JCPenney, G. C. Murphy, Arlan's, Walgreens, IGA, Kinney Shoes, and Myers Brothers. IGA and Myers Brothers began operations on October 27, 1971, and Sears joined the center the following year. The first major tenant change occurred after Arlan's entered bankruptcy in 1973. Its premises were converted into a Kmart in 1974. This arrangement was notable because the mall was promoted as having JCPenney, Sears, and Kmart, the three major national retail names of that period. G. C. Murphy closed in 1976, and the space was redeveloped for Meis, a department store that opened in 1978. In the same year, Bergner's acquired Myers Brothers and converted the store to the Bergner's name. The former IGA space was vacated by 1981 and transformed into a new mall corridor. That layout did not perform as intended, leading the owners to attempt a food-court conversion in the late 1980s. Because the food court could not attract enough restaurant operators, the area was converted into an antique mall in 1990. The history reflects the mall's continuing efforts to repurpose large or underused areas rather than leave them vacant. Meis was acquired by Elder-Beerman in 1989. Bergner's closed after the 1989 Christmas season because its store was considered too small for a full-line department-store format. Its former space was divided or reused by Maurices and other retailers. Kmart relocated to a larger store outside the mall in 1993. Sears moved into the former Kmart location in 1994, leaving the original Sears building available for later uses including Wolf Furniture, a medical training center, and newspaper offices. Walgreens left the center in 2003. Elder-Beerman became Carson's in 2011, while Borders closed its store in September of that year. Sears closed its mall location in late 2014. The mall continued to host specialty tenants such as Jo-Ann Fabrics, Bath & Body Works, Maurices, Christopher & Banks, Claire's, rue21, GNC, and Shoe Dept. RadioShack closed in March 2016. Rural King acquired the mall in 2017. The company announced plans to place a store support center in the former Sears building and later opened a Rural King store there on January 16, 2019. Carson's closed on August 31, 2018, following the collapse of The Bon-Ton Stores. Other short-lived or changing tenants included 11 for $10, Scotty's Brewhouse, and Payless ShoeSource. McQuarter's Pub subsequently occupied the restaurant space associated with Scotty's Brewhouse. Marshalls opened on November 24, 2019, and Glik's returned in March 2020. JCPenney announced in December 2020 that its mall store would close in March 2021 as part of a nationwide closure plan. The former JCPenney space was subsequently associated with Dunham's Sports. The current anchor configuration is centered on Rural King, Marshalls, Jo-Ann Fabrics, and Dunham's Sports, giving the property a value-focused and specialty-retail profile rather than the traditional department-store lineup with which it opened.
- 2021
JCPenney closure and anchor transition
[1]JCPenney departed after being included in a nationwide store-closing program; the former space later became associated with Dunham's Sports.
- 2019
Rural King opens in former Sears space
[1]A Rural King store opened in the former Sears location on January 16.
- 2019
Marshalls opens
[1]Marshalls opened at the mall on November 24.
- 2017
Rural King acquires the mall
[1]Rural King acquired Cross County Mall and began planning new uses for former anchor space.
- 1994
Sears relocates within the property
[1]Sears moved into the former Kmart location.
- 1993
Kmart relocates
[1]Kmart moved from the mall to a larger store outside the property.
- 1978
Meis and Bergner's changes
[1]Meis opened in the former G. C. Murphy space, while Myers Brothers stores were converted to Bergner's after acquisition.
- 1974
Arlan's space becomes Kmart
[1]The former Arlan's location was converted into a Kmart after Arlan's bankruptcy.
- 1972
Sears joins the tenant lineup
[1]Sears opened at the mall, adding a major national department-store anchor.
- 1971
Mall opens
[1]Cross County Mall held its official opening ceremonies in October, with multiple retailers already operating.
Products and positioning
A regional shopping center serving Mattoon and surrounding east-central Illinois communities, with a value-oriented tenant mix and a large agricultural-retail anchor following Rural King's acquisition of the property.
Agricultural and general merchandise retail · 2019
Rural King
Rural King is the mall's ownership-linked anchor and occupies the former Sears location. Its merchandise profile centers on farm and agricultural supplies, outdoor equipment, workwear, hardware, tools, household goods, and related value-oriented general merchandise. Its presence gives Cross County Mall a distinctive agricultural-retail identity in addition to conventional mall shopping.
Off-price apparel and home retail · 2019
Marshalls
Marshalls provides off-price apparel, footwear, accessories, and home merchandise. The store broadened the mall's value-oriented offer after opening in November 2019 and added a national discount-retail draw distinct from Rural King's agricultural and general-merchandise focus.
Crafts and fabric retail
Jo-Ann Fabrics
Jo-Ann Fabrics represents the mall's craft and sewing category. Its assortment is associated with fabric, yarn, notions, seasonal craft materials, home-decor projects, and related creative supplies, serving both hobbyists and practical sewing customers.
Sporting-goods retail
Dunham's Sports
Dunham's Sports occupies the former JCPenney space and supplies sporting goods, athletic apparel, footwear, outdoor equipment, and related recreational merchandise. Its large-format presence continues the property's historical use of major anchor spaces for broad-category retail.
Brand decisions
2020
JCPenney closure announcedStrategyBackground
JCPenney announced a nationwide store-closing program during a period of severe pressure on traditional department stores.
Action taken
The company announced that its Cross County Mall store would close in March 2021.
Aftermath
The departure removed the mall's last traditional department-store anchor; the former space later became associated with Dunham's Sports.
2019
Former Sears anchor converted to Rural KingGeneration changeBackground
Sears had closed its mall location in late 2014, leaving a large anchor property available for redevelopment.
Action taken
Rural King opened a store in the former Sears location on January 16, 2019.
Aftermath
The conversion restored a large-format anchor and tied the mall's future more closely to its new owner.
2017
Rural King purchases Cross County MallM&ABackground
The mall had experienced the departure or contraction of several traditional department-store anchors and needed new uses for large-format space.
Action taken
Rural King acquired the property and announced plans involving the former Sears building, including a store support center and a retail store.
Aftermath
The acquisition made Rural King both the mall's owner and a major anchor, shifting the center toward agricultural, value, and specialty retail.
Sources1 sources
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