Lincoln Mall
A defunct enclosed shopping mall formerly located in Matteson, Illinois, south of Chicago.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Lincoln Mall was an enclosed shopping mall at the intersection of U.S. Route 30, also known as Lincoln Highway, and Cicero Avenue in Matteson, Illinois. It served communities in Chicago's southern suburbs from its opening in 1973 until the mall was permanently closed in January 2015 and subsequently demolished. The center was developed by the Randhurst Corporation, an organization associated with executives of Wieboldt's and Carson Pirie Scott that had also been involved in developing Randhurst Mall and Lakehurst Mall. The mall opened on August 9, 1973, with Carson Pirie Scott, Montgomery Ward, Wieboldt's, and JCPenney as its principal department-store anchors. Its early tenant mix reflected the traditional regional-mall model of the period: large department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, and services organized around an enclosed pedestrian concourse. Wieboldt's left the center in 1987, weakening the original anchor lineup. External retail competition increased in the early 1990s when Walmart and Sam's Club opened across the street in 1991, followed by Best Buy in the surrounding area in 1992. Lincoln Mall received a renovation in 1993, including a new glass elevator, but the improvements did not reverse the longer-term effects of anchor departures and changing suburban shopping patterns. Sears occupied the former Wieboldt's space beginning in 1995. Montgomery Ward closed in 1999 and entered bankruptcy soon afterward, while JCPenney left the mall in 2000. The loss of two major anchors contributed to declining traffic and increasing vacancies. In an effort to reposition the property, a redevelopment program reported at approximately $115 million began in 2006. The plan called for demolition of portions of the existing mall and former anchor areas, construction of a connecting four-lane road, and the addition of a multiplex cinema and new retail development. Target opened a 126,000-square-foot outparcel store in July 2007, and JCPenney returned in October 2007 in a newly built 104,000-square-foot outparcel location. The redevelopment did not produce a durable recovery. Sears began a closing sale in May 2012, and the property was scheduled for a court-ordered auction the following month. By 2013, Matteson officials were pursuing legal action over alleged building and safety-code problems, including exposed wiring, blocked fire exits, an inoperative sprinkler system, roof deterioration, and foundation damage. In November 2014, a Cook County judge ordered the enclosed mall to close permanently on January 7, 2015. Carson's was excluded from the closure order because its building was separately owned by its parent company, allowing it to operate for several more years. After closure, the abandoned structure became a subject of urban-exploration photography, including images published by photographer Seph Lawless in 2016. A Cook County judge ordered demolition in February 2017. Demolition began in May 2017 and was completed by the end of that summer, although the separately situated Carson's building remained until demolition began in late 2019. Target closed its former Lincoln Mall store in February 2018, and Carson's abruptly closed its location on March 4, 2018, leaving JCPenney as the last major tenant associated with the site. JCPenney later included the location among stores offered for sale during its 2020 bankruptcy proceedings. In January 2020, Matteson approved a casino proposal for the former mall site from South Suburban Development LLC, marking a possible transition from traditional enclosed retail toward a different form of commercial redevelopment.
History
Lincoln Mall opened on August 9, 1973, at U.S. Route 30 and Cicero Avenue in Matteson, Illinois. The project was developed by the Randhurst Corporation, which was associated with executives of Wieboldt's and Carson Pirie Scott. Its original anchor lineup consisted of Carson Pirie Scott, Montgomery Ward, Wieboldt's, and JCPenney. The center represented the conventional enclosed regional-mall format that dominated suburban American retail in the 1970s, combining department stores with smaller specialty shops, restaurants, and services. The first major anchor change occurred in 1987, when Wieboldt's closed. The mall subsequently faced growing competition from large-format retailers in the surrounding area. Walmart and Sam's Club opened across the street in 1991, and Best Buy opened nearby in 1992. Lincoln Mall underwent a renovation in 1993 that included a new glass elevator, but the modernization did not prevent further deterioration in its anchor base. Sears opened in the former Wieboldt's location in 1995. Montgomery Ward closed in 1999 and later entered bankruptcy, while JCPenney closed its original mall store in 2000. The departure of these anchors reduced customer traffic and contributed to store vacancies. A major redevelopment effort began in 2006. The reported $115 million plan called for removing the portions of the center associated with the former Montgomery Ward and JCPenney spaces, demolishing existing outparcels, building a four-lane connection between Cicero Avenue and Lincoln Highway, and adding a multiplex cinema. Rather than restoring the original enclosed-mall anchor configuration, the redevelopment emphasized new standalone retail. Target opened a 126,000-square-foot outparcel store in July 2007, and JCPenney returned in October 2007 in a new 104,000-square-foot outparcel building. The property continued to decline. Sears began a closing sale in May 2012, and the mall faced a court-ordered auction the next month. In 2013, Matteson representatives attempted to compel the owners to close the property because of alleged safety and building-code deficiencies. Reported problems included exposed electrical wiring, blocked fire exits, an inoperative sprinkler system, roof deterioration, and foundation damage. In November 2014, Cook County Judge Thomas Condon ordered the enclosed mall to close permanently on January 7, 2015. Carson's remained open because its building was owned separately by its parent company. The court-related proceedings also described inadequate operating funds and insufficient rental income to cover maintenance, repairs, staffing, and other daily costs. Following closure, Lincoln Mall became an example of an abandoned American shopping center and was photographed as part of an urban-decay project by Seph Lawless. In February 2017, a Cook County Circuit Court judge ordered immediate demolition. The village and the court-appointed receiver reached an agreement on final demolition costs in March, and demolition began on May 8. The main mall was removed by the end of summer 2017. Target closed its store in February 2018, after being included in a nationwide store-closing plan. Carson's closed abruptly on March 4, 2018, and demolition of its former building began in November 2019. JCPenney was the last major tenant associated with the site and later included the location among stores offered for sale during its 2020 bankruptcy proceedings. In January 2020, Matteson approved a casino proposal for the former mall site, indicating that redevelopment discussions had shifted away from conventional enclosed retail.
- 2020
Casino proposal approved for the site
[1]Matteson approved a casino proposal from South Suburban Development LLC for the former mall site.
- 2019
Former Carson's building demolition begins
[1]Demolition of the separately owned former Carson's building began in November.
- 2018
Target and Carson's close
[1]Target closed in February and Carson's closed on March 4, ending the principal remaining retail presence connected with the mall.
- 2017
Main mall demolished
[1]Demolition began on May 8 after court action and was completed by the end of summer.
- 2015
Enclosed mall closes
[1]Lincoln Mall ceased operating as an enclosed shopping center, although separately owned Carson's remained open temporarily.
- 2014
Permanent closure ordered
[1]A Cook County judge ordered the enclosed mall to close permanently on January 7, 2015.
- 2012
Sears closing sale and auction proceedings
[1]Sears began a closing sale, while the mall faced a scheduled court-ordered auction.
- 2007
Target opens and JCPenney returns
[1]Target opened a large outparcel store in July, followed by JCPenney's return in a new outparcel store in October.
- 2006
Redevelopment program begins
[1]A reported $115 million redevelopment plan introduced new roads, proposed entertainment facilities, demolition, and standalone retail construction.
- 2000
JCPenney leaves the original mall
[1]JCPenney closed its original Lincoln Mall location, contributing to declining traffic.
Products and positioning
A suburban regional shopping center serving Chicago's south suburbs, initially anchored by several traditional department stores and later repositioned through outparcel development and big-box retail.
Retail property · 1973
Enclosed shopping mall
Lincoln Mall's core offering was an enclosed regional shopping environment with department-store anchors, specialty retail units, food and service tenants, and shared customer amenities. The center initially followed the traditional suburban mall model, later supplemented by standalone outparcel stores as anchor performance weakened.
Department stores · 1973
Department-store anchor program
The mall opened with Carson Pirie Scott, Montgomery Ward, Wieboldt's, and JCPenney. Sears later replaced Wieboldt's, while JCPenney returned in a separate outparcel building during the 2006–2007 redevelopment. These anchors supplied apparel, home goods, consumer merchandise, and general department-store retail.
Standalone retail · 2007
Big-box outparcel retail
The redevelopment shifted part of the property's retail strategy toward standalone stores outside the enclosed mall. Target opened a 126,000-square-foot store in 2007, and JCPenney opened a 104,000-square-foot replacement location that same year. The outparcel approach was intended to attract larger-format retailers and renew the site after anchor losses.
Controversies
2013
Safety and building-code dispute
Matteson representatives pursued legal action concerning alleged safety and building-code violations at the mall. Reported issues included exposed electrical wiring, blocked fire exits, a malfunctioning sprinkler system, roof deterioration, and foundation damage. The dispute ultimately contributed to the court-ordered permanent closure of the enclosed mall.
Brand decisions
2020
Casino redevelopment proposal approvedStrategyBackground
After demolition of the mall and the remaining former Carson's structure, the former retail site required a new redevelopment concept.
Action taken
The City of Matteson approved a casino proposal submitted by South Suburban Development LLC.
Aftermath
The approval represented a proposed transition from an obsolete enclosed mall site to gaming and broader commercial redevelopment.
2017
Demolition approved and initiatedOtherBackground
The abandoned mall remained after its 2015 closure, and court proceedings addressed the cost and execution of removing the deteriorated structure.
Action taken
A Cook County Circuit Court judge ordered immediate demolition. Work began on May 8 after the village and court-appointed receiver agreed on projected final costs.
Aftermath
The main mall was demolished by the end of summer 2017; the former Carson's building was demolished separately beginning in 2019.
2014
Permanent closure orderedOtherBackground
The property faced alleged building and safety-code deficiencies, while operating funds and rental income were reportedly insufficient to support required repairs, staffing, and maintenance.
Action taken
Cook County Judge Thomas Condon ordered the enclosed mall to close permanently on January 7, 2015, while allowing separately owned Carson's to remain open.
Aftermath
The mall became vacant, was later ordered demolished, and the main structure was removed in 2017.
2006
Shift toward redevelopment and outparcel retailStrategyBackground
The mall had lost major anchors and experienced declining traffic and tenant vacancies. A reported $115 million plan sought to restructure the property rather than rely solely on the existing enclosed center.
Action taken
The plan proposed demolition of portions of the mall, a new four-lane road, a multiplex cinema, and new standalone retail construction.
Aftermath
Target and JCPenney opened new outparcel stores in 2007, but the broader property continued to decline and ultimately closed in 2015.
Reported redevelopment investment. (2006 redevelopment plan)
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/lincoln-mall · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled