Lincolnwood Town Center
Lincolnwood Town Center is an enclosed shopping mall in Lincolnwood, Illinois, whose retail format and site are undergoing major redevelopment.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Lincolnwood Town Center was an enclosed shopping mall in Lincolnwood, Illinois, serving communities on Chicago's North Side and nearby suburbs. The mall opened in March 1990 after a multi-year planning process on the former site of Bell & Howell headquarters. Its development reflected an effort to bring a substantial retail center into an urbanizing, relatively dense setting rather than relying exclusively on traditional suburban locations. The original proposal, submitted in 1985 by Melvin Simon & Associates, the predecessor of Simon Property Group, together with Chicago-based Hawthorn Realty, called for a roughly 1.2-million-square-foot shopping mall. Lincolnwood village trustees rejected that initial plan. A smaller proposal combining retail and office space received approval in 1987 after then-mayor Frank Chulay cast the deciding vote. The completed center contained approximately 430,000 square feet of retail space and was designed to accommodate as many as 90 mall shops. At opening, Lincolnwood Town Center had two Chicago-area department-store anchors: Madigan's and Carson Pirie Scott, later generally known as Carson's. Madigan's closed after approximately one year and was replaced by J. C. Penney in 1991. J. C. Penney left the center in 2001, and its former space was converted for Kohl's in 2002. Carson's remained an important anchor until 2018, when its parent company, The Bon-Ton Stores, entered bankruptcy and closed the location. The former Carson's premises later gained a new retail use when TheRoomPlace opened there in August 2019. The mall's later history was shaped by changing department-store economics, vacancies, competition among Chicago-area retail properties, and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical shopping traffic. Washington Prime Group, which was associated with the property's management and ownership structure before later changes, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2021. The filing occurred during a period when pandemic-related restrictions and consumer behavior had reduced visits to many shopping centers. Lincolnwood's comparatively modest size and loss of a major department-store anchor increased concerns about long-term tenancy. Beginning in 2022, Lincolnwood's village government considered a broad redevelopment of the mall and adjacent land. The concept contemplated a mixed-use commercial, residential, and entertainment district, responding to rising vacancies and the need to reposition the site. The village also explored whether eminent domain could be used to obtain control of the property, although that possibility did not become the basis of the eventual ownership transition described in the available material. In December 2025, Prairie Ridge Development and Xroads Real Estate Advisors acquired the property for a reported $12.3 million. In April 2026, the village board approved a redevelopment framework involving a large retail store, an automobile dealership, and additional commercial or retail uses. The announced plan called for demolition of the enclosed mall in phases. Most smaller businesses and the food court were expected to close by May 1, while Old Navy was expected to continue operating until demolition reached the mall's middle section and Kohl's was expected to remain until the final phase. Demolition was initially anticipated to begin in May 2026 but was subsequently delayed, with partial demolition expected in June and most of the mall projected to shut by the end of July 2026, apart from Kohl's. These plans indicate that Lincolnwood Town Center is transitioning from a conventional enclosed mall into a substantially different commercial site rather than simply undergoing a cosmetic renovation.
History
The Lincolnwood Town Center site was formerly occupied by the headquarters of Bell & Howell. In 1985, Melvin Simon & Associates, now associated with Simon Property Group, and Hawthorn Realty proposed constructing a 1.2-million-square-foot mall. Lincolnwood trustees rejected that first proposal. A revised plan for a smaller shopping center combined with office development was approved in 1987 after Mayor Frank Chulay cast a tie-breaking vote. Lincolnwood Town Center opened in March 1990 with approximately 430,000 square feet of retail space and room for up to 90 stores. Its initial anchor tenants were Madigan's and Carson Pirie Scott, a Chicago department store later known as Carson's. The project was presented as an example of the trend toward building sizable shopping centers in urban environments rather than exclusively in conventional suburban locations. Madigan's lasted only about one year and closed in 1991. J. C. Penney replaced it in the same year, but the department store closed in 2001. Its space was converted into a Kohl's location in 2002. Carson's continued as the other principal anchor until 2018, when it shut down after the bankruptcy of parent company The Bon-Ton Stores. The loss was significant because Lincolnwood was smaller than some competing Chicago-area malls and therefore had less capacity to absorb a major vacancy. TheRoomPlace subsequently occupied the former Carson's premises, opening in August 2019. The property later faced the wider structural challenges affecting enclosed malls, including department-store contraction, changing shopping habits, vacancies, and weaker traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Washington Prime Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2021. In 2022, Lincolnwood officials began promoting a redevelopment concept for the mall and surrounding land. The proposal envisioned a combination of commercial, residential, and entertainment uses. The village also considered whether eminent domain might be used to gain control of the site, reflecting the public importance attached to redeveloping a large, increasingly underoccupied property. Ownership changed in December 2025, when Prairie Ridge Development and Xroads Real Estate Advisors acquired the property for a reported $12.3 million. The available reference material identifies Friedman Real Estate as the mall manager and the two acquiring firms as property owners. In April 2026, the village board approved a redevelopment plan centered on a large retail store, an automobile dealer, and other commercial or retail space. The associated announcement described demolition in three phases, with the food court and most smaller tenants closing by May 1. Old Navy was expected to remain open until demolition reached the central portion of the mall, while Kohl's was expected to continue through the final phase. Demolition was initially expected to begin in May 2026 but was delayed, with partial demolition later anticipated in June. The mall was expected to be largely shut by the end of July 2026, except for Kohl's. Old Navy management reportedly raised concerns about access because the store had not received a notice to vacate while surrounding portions of the mall were being removed. The redevelopment marks a transition from Lincolnwood Town Center's original enclosed-mall format toward a lower-density or mixed commercial arrangement.
- 2026
Redevelopment and phased demolition approved
[1]The village approved a commercial redevelopment plan and announced a phased demolition of the enclosed mall.
- 2025
Property changes ownership
[1]Prairie Ridge Development and Xroads Real Estate Advisors acquired the property in December.
- 2022
Redevelopment planning begins
[1]Lincolnwood officials proposed a mixed-use redevelopment of the mall and adjacent land.
- 2021
Washington Prime Group enters Chapter 11
[1]Washington Prime Group filed for bankruptcy protection amid pandemic-related retail pressure.
- 2019
TheRoomPlace opens
[1]TheRoomPlace opened in the former Carson's anchor space in August.
- 2018
Carson's closes
[1]Carson's shut after The Bon-Ton Stores entered bankruptcy.
- 2002
Kohl's occupies former J. C. Penney space
[1]The former J. C. Penney location was converted for Kohl's after J. C. Penney's 2001 closure.
- 1991
J. C. Penney replaces Madigan's
[1]Madigan's closed after about one year, and J. C. Penney replaced it as an anchor.
- 1990
Mall opens
[1]Lincolnwood Town Center opened in March with Madigan's and Carson Pirie Scott as its department-store anchors.
- 1987
Reduced retail and office plan approved
[1]A smaller shopping-center and office proposal received approval after Mayor Frank Chulay cast the deciding vote.
Products and positioning
A neighborhood and regional enclosed shopping center serving Lincolnwood and northern Chicago, historically positioned around department-store anchors and specialty retailers. Its current identity is increasingly associated with the repositioning of an aging mall property into a broader commercial redevelopment.
Retail real estate · 1990
Enclosed shopping mall
The core offering was an enclosed retail environment of approximately 430,000 square feet, designed for department stores, specialty shops, services, and food-court operations. At its planned peak, the center could accommodate about 90 mall stores and served as a concentrated shopping destination for Lincolnwood and nearby Chicago communities.
Department stores · 1990
Department-store anchors
Lincolnwood Town Center's anchor strategy evolved through Madigan's, Carson Pirie Scott or Carson's, J. C. Penney, and Kohl's. The changing roster reflects the broader contraction and replacement of department stores in American enclosed malls.
Home furnishings · 2019
TheRoomPlace
TheRoomPlace took over the former Carson's premises in August 2019, converting a department-store anchor location into a home-furnishings retail use.
Brand decisions
2026
Approve phased demolition and commercial redevelopmentStrategyBackground
After the property changed ownership, the village sought to replace the aging enclosed-mall format.
Action taken
The village approved a plan for a large retail store, an automobile dealer, and other commercial or retail uses, with demolition planned in phases.
Aftermath
Most smaller tenants and the food court were expected to close first. Old Navy and Kohl's were expected to operate during portions of the demolition, although access and vacancy timing remained operational concerns.
2022
Plan mixed-use redevelopmentStrategyBackground
Rising vacancies and weaker mall traffic prompted the village to consider a new use for the mall and adjacent land.
Action taken
The village proposed a combination of commercial, residential, and entertainment uses and explored possible eminent-domain involvement.
Aftermath
The planning process preceded the property's later sale and the approval of a more specifically commercial redevelopment framework.
2019
Reuse the former Carson's spaceProduct launchBackground
Carson's closed in 2018 following the bankruptcy of The Bon-Ton Stores.
Action taken
TheRoomPlace opened in the former Carson's premises.
Aftermath
The anchor box was repositioned for home-furnishings retail rather than another traditional department-store tenant.
2002
Convert the former J. C. Penney anchorGeneration changeBackground
J. C. Penney closed its Lincolnwood location in 2001.
Action taken
The former department-store space was converted for Kohl's.
Aftermath
Kohl's became a continuing anchor tenant and was expected to remain open through the final phase of the later demolition plan.
1987
Adopt a smaller urban shopping-center planStrategyBackground
The original proposal for a much larger mall had been rejected by Lincolnwood trustees.
Action taken
Developers pursued a reduced-scale shopping center combined with office space, which the village approved.
Aftermath
The revised plan led to the mall that opened in 1990 with approximately 430,000 square feet of retail space.
Recent events
- 2026
Village approves redevelopment and phased demolition plan[1]
Other
The village board approved a plan involving a large retail store, an automobile dealership, and other commercial uses. The enclosed mall was scheduled for phased demolition, with Old Navy and Kohl's expected to remain open during portions of the work.
- 2025
Prairie Ridge Development and Xroads acquire the property[1]
M&A
The two real-estate firms acquired the property in December 2025 for a reported $12.3 million.
- 2022
Village proposes mixed-use redevelopment[1]
Other
Lincolnwood's village board proposed transforming the mall and adjacent land into a mixed-use commercial, residential, and entertainment district in response to rising vacancies.
- 2021
Washington Prime Group files for Chapter 11[1]
Bankruptcy
Washington Prime Group filed for Chapter 11 protection during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by reduced shopping-center traffic and pressure on mall tenancy.
- 2019
TheRoomPlace opens in the former Carson's location[1]
Product launch
TheRoomPlace opened in the former Carson's premises in August, giving the vacant anchor space a new home-furnishings use.
- 2018
Carson's closes following The Bon-Ton bankruptcy[1]
Bankruptcy
The Carson's anchor closed after The Bon-Ton Stores entered bankruptcy, leaving the mall exposed to a significant tenancy gap.
- 2002
J. C. Penney space is converted for Kohl's[1]
Other
After J. C. Penney departed in 2001, its former space was converted into a Kohl's store.
- 1991
Madigan's closes and is replaced by J. C. Penney[1]
Other
Madigan's closed roughly a year after the mall opened, and J. C. Penney took over the anchor location.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/lincolnwood-town-center · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled