Lakehurst Mall
Lakehurst Mall was a major shopping center in Waukegan, Illinois, that operated from 1971 until its closure in 2001 and demolition in 2004.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Lakehurst Mall was a regional shopping mall in Waukegan, Illinois, a suburb north of Chicago. It was developed on approximately 200 acres of former farmland near the Tri-State Tollway and was conceived during a period when demographic and economic research forecast rapid growth in Lake County. The site was purchased in December 1968 from Thomas E. Wilson and Edellyn Farms for $2 million and was subsequently annexed to Waukegan. Construction began in September 1969. The approximately 1.1-million-square-foot mall was designed by Sidney H. Morris and Associates of Chicago together with Gruen Associates of Los Angeles. Arthur Rubloff & Co. initially handled management and leasing. By 1970, about 85 percent of the center had been leased, indicating strong expectations for the project before its opening. Lakehurst Mall officially opened on August 19, 1971. More than 5,000 people attended the opening-day ceremonies, which included the participation of Waukegan's mayor. Its original department-store anchors were JCPenney, Carson Pirie Scott, and Wieboldt's. The center also included regional and local department-store tenants such as Henry C. Lytton & Co., Chas. A. Stevens, and Hein's. Smaller retailers and service-oriented tenants included The Plum Tree, Orange Julius, Hallmark, and Kinney Shoes. The combination of department stores, specialty shops, food service, and a location close to major road infrastructure made Lakehurst an important retail destination for the surrounding area during its strongest years. The mall's tenant mix changed as department-store chains experienced financial and competitive pressure. Wieboldt's closed its Lakehurst location in 1986, after which the former anchor space was divided between Montgomery Ward and Dunham's Sports. This conversion reflected an effort to reuse a large vacant department-store footprint and maintain customer traffic. Despite such changes, Lakehurst Mall weakened during the 1990s as retail patterns shifted and competition from other shopping destinations increased. By 2000, fewer than five tenants remained. The surviving occupants included Gift Tree and Barbary Coast, while Carson Pirie Scott remained the only operating anchor. When the leases of the two remaining in-line stores expired on January 31, 2001, most of the mall was closed, leaving Carson's in operation for a short period during the center's final phase. Part of the film 5-25-77 was shot inside the former KB Toys location during this period. Lakehurst Mall ultimately ceased operating in 2001 and was demolished in 2004. It is therefore remembered as a large but ultimately unsuccessful suburban retail development that reflected both the expansion of automobile-oriented shopping in the early 1970s and the vulnerability of enclosed malls to later market changes.
History
Lakehurst Mall developed from the expansion of suburban retail infrastructure in northern Illinois during the late 1960s. In December 1968, approximately 200 acres of farmland near the Tri-State Tollway were acquired from Thomas E. Wilson and Edellyn Farms for $2 million. The property was then annexed into Waukegan. The project was supported by a five-year Lake County research program that identified the area as one of the Midwest's fastest-growing regions, creating expectations for a substantial regional retail center. Construction began in September 1969. The architectural work was carried out by Sidney H. Morris and Associates of Chicago and Gruen Associates of Los Angeles, while Arthur Rubloff & Co. initially served as the mall's management and leasing agent. The development reached a high level of pre-opening leasing, with approximately 85 percent of its space committed by 1970. This early leasing performance indicated that the project was expected to draw customers from Waukegan and surrounding communities rather than function only as a neighborhood center. Lakehurst Mall officially opened on August 19, 1971. The approximately 1.1-million-square-foot enclosed complex attracted more than 5,000 people to its opening-day events. Its original anchors were JCPenney, Carson Pirie Scott, and Wieboldt's. The mall also hosted Henry C. Lytton & Co., Chas. A. Stevens, Hein's, The Plum Tree, Orange Julius, Hallmark, and Kinney Shoes. These tenants gave the center a broad department-store and specialty-retail mix typical of major enclosed malls of the period. Hein's was particularly connected to the local market because it also operated a store in downtown Waukegan. The center's first major structural change followed the departure of Wieboldt's in 1986. Rather than leave the entire anchor building vacant, the former space was divided between Montgomery Ward and Dunham's Sports. This represented an attempt to preserve the commercial value of the large anchor footprint by introducing different retail formats. The change also illustrated the continuing need for enclosed malls to adapt as traditional department-store operators contracted or disappeared. Lakehurst's position deteriorated during the 1990s. The available historical account identifies a general decline during that decade, followed by a severe reduction in occupancy. By 2000, fewer than five tenants were still present. Gift Tree and Barbary Coast were among the remaining mall stores, and Carson Pirie Scott was the only surviving anchor. The former KB Toys building was also used as a filming location for part of the movie 5-25-77 during the mall's final period. The leases of the two remaining smaller stores ended on January 31, 2001. After that date, most of the mall was shuttered, although Carson Pirie Scott continued operating temporarily. Lakehurst Mall ultimately closed in 2001 and was demolished in 2004. Its history follows a recognizable pattern in American retail: rapid development and strong initial leasing, anchor replacement as department-store conditions changed, long-term occupancy decline, closure, and eventual removal of the physical complex.
- 2004
Mall demolished
[1]The former Lakehurst Mall complex was demolished.
- 2001
Mall closes
[1]Most of the center closed after the final small-store leases expired on January 31; Carson Pirie Scott continued briefly.
- 2000
Occupancy reaches a late-stage low
[1]Fewer than five tenants remained, including Gift Tree, Barbary Coast, and Carson Pirie Scott.
- 1986
Wieboldt's space is divided
[1]The former Wieboldt's location was split between Montgomery Ward and Dunham's Sports after Wieboldt's closed.
- 1971
Official opening
[1]Lakehurst Mall opened on August 19 with JCPenney, Carson Pirie Scott, and Wieboldt's as its principal anchors.
- 1970
Pre-opening leasing reaches approximately 85 percent
[1]Most of the center had been leased before opening, reflecting strong expectations for the Waukegan regional retail market.
- 1969
Construction begins
[1]Construction of Lakehurst Mall began in September under designs by Sidney H. Morris and Associates and Gruen Associates.
- 1968
Land acquired for the mall project
[1]Approximately 200 acres near the Tri-State Tollway were purchased from Thomas E. Wilson and Edellyn Farms for $2 million and annexed into Waukegan.
Products and positioning
A large, automobile-accessible regional shopping mall serving Waukegan and the wider Lake County market during the era of enclosed suburban retail growth.
Enclosed shopping mall · 1971
Lakehurst Mall regional shopping center
Lakehurst Mall offered approximately 1.1 million square feet of enclosed retail space serving Waukegan and surrounding Lake County communities. Its retail proposition combined large department-store anchors with smaller apparel, footwear, gift, greeting-card, food-service, and specialty retailers. The center's tenant roster changed over time as department stores closed or were replaced, but its core function remained that of a regional, automobile-oriented shopping destination.
Brand decisions
2001
Closure following tenant attritionOtherBackground
By 2000, fewer than five tenants remained, and Carson Pirie Scott was the only operating anchor.
Action taken
After the leases of the remaining smaller stores expired on January 31, most of the mall was shuttered while Carson Pirie Scott operated during the final phase.
Aftermath
Lakehurst Mall ceased operating in 2001 and was demolished in 2004.
1986
Redevelopment of the former Wieboldt's anchorStrategyBackground
Wieboldt's closed its Lakehurst Mall location, leaving a large department-store space without its original occupant.
Action taken
The former anchor area was divided between Montgomery Ward and Dunham's Sports to accommodate replacement retail uses.
Aftermath
The change temporarily preserved retail use of the anchor footprint, but the mall later experienced significant decline during the 1990s and closed in 2001.
Recent events
- 2004
Former Lakehurst Mall site is demolished[1]
Other
The former shopping center was demolished three years after its closure.
- 2001
Lakehurst Mall closes after prolonged decline[1]
Other
Most of the mall shut after the leases of its final small tenants expired on January 31, 2001. Carson Pirie Scott was the last anchor to continue operating during the mall's final period.
- 1986
Wieboldt's closes and its anchor space is redeveloped[1]
Other
After Wieboldt's left Lakehurst Mall, its former department-store space was divided between Montgomery Ward and Dunham's Sports.
- 1971
Lakehurst Mall opens in Waukegan[1]
Other
The approximately 1.1-million-square-foot shopping mall held its official opening on August 19, 1971, with more than 5,000 people attending the ceremonies.
Sources2 sources
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