Louis Joliet Mall
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA regional shopping mall in Joliet, Illinois, anchored by JCPenney, Macy's, and a Cinemark cinema.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Louis Joliet Mall is a shopping mall in Joliet, Illinois, serving the city and surrounding communities in Will County. The mall opened in 1978 with Sears and Marshall Field's as its original department-store anchors. Bergner's and JCPenney were added in 1979, expanding the center's role as a regional retail destination. The project was financed by Homart Development Company, a Sears subsidiary, and designed by Architectonics, Inc. Its original single-level design used cathedral ceilings and atriums to create a more spacious interior than a conventional strip-style retail complex. The mall's tenant mix has changed substantially over time. Marshall Field's became Macy's in September 2006, while Cinemark opened at the property in May 2009 and became one of the center's principal entertainment offerings. H&M and Pandora joined the tenant roster in December 2014. Several large-format and restaurant spaces have experienced repeated turnover, reflecting broader changes in American department-store retail and casual dining. Carson's closed in 2018 after the Bon-Ton Stores bankruptcy, and Sears closed in January 2019. Those departures left JCPenney, Macy's, and Cinemark as the principal remaining anchor occupants, while the former Carson's and Sears spaces became vacant or subject to redevelopment discussions. The surrounding commercial area has also evolved through a series of freestanding businesses and hospitality developments. Circuit City opened near the mall in 1991, later giving way to hhgregg and then Binny's Beverage Depot after both earlier chains encountered financial difficulties. Restaurants including Texas Roadhouse, Panera Bread, Hooters, Tilted Kilt, and Cajun Boil & Bar have operated in or around the mall at different times. Panera closed in 2022, and Cajun Boil & Bar closed in February 2023. A Home2 Suites by Hilton was developed outside the mall in 2017, and a Tru by Hilton hotel opened in the surrounding area in June 2025. Louis Joliet Mall narrowly avoided direct destruction during the 1990 Plainfield Tornado, which passed close to the property's southwest entrance. In 2015, Sears Holdings transferred the Sears property into Seritage Growth Properties as part of a broader real-estate separation involving Sears locations. In July 2023, the mall was sold to Namdar Realty Group. In February 2023, the former Carson's location reportedly reopened under BrandX.com ownership, although the space's long-term retail role remains part of the property's continuing transition. The mall remains an active retail and entertainment destination, but its current identity is shaped by anchor vacancies, tenant replacement, and efforts to revitalize the wider Louis Joliet Mall corridor. In May 2025, Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy discussed a broader corridor strategy involving potential housing, a health clinic, a new Starbucks, Burlington, and a proposed Jack in the Box. These proposals indicate an attempt to supplement traditional enclosed-mall retail with services, hospitality, food, and mixed-use activity.
History
Louis Joliet Mall opened in Joliet, Illinois, in 1978. Homart Development Company, a Sears subsidiary, financed the project, while Architectonics, Inc. designed the building. The original mall was a single-story enclosed center characterized by cathedral ceilings and atriums. Sears and Marshall Field's opened as the initial anchor stores, establishing the mall as a regional department-store destination. Bergner's and JCPenney joined the property in 1979. Over the following decades, the mall developed a mix of department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, and entertainment venues. A Circuit City location opened outside the mall in 1991. After Circuit City entered bankruptcy and closed its stores in 2009, the building was replaced by hhgregg in 2011. hhgregg itself later filed for bankruptcy, and the site was replaced by Binny's Beverage Depot in fall 2018. The property was threatened indirectly by the Plainfield Tornado in 1990, which passed within several hundred yards of the southwest entrance. The mall survived the event without being destroyed. In the surrounding commercial area, Texas Roadhouse opened in 2000, Panera Bread opened in December of that year, and Hooters opened outside the mall in 2006. Marshall Field's was rebranded as Macy's on September 9, 2006. Cinemark opened on May 8, 2009, adding a major entertainment component to the center. Restaurant and specialty-retail turnover continued in the 2010s. Tilted Kilt opened in 2011 and closed in early 2017; Cajun Boil & Bar later occupied the space from October 2019 until its closure on February 7, 2023. H&M and Pandora opened in December 2014. In 2015, Sears Holdings separated ownership interests in 235 properties, including the Louis Joliet Mall Sears location, into Seritage Growth Properties. The mall was affected by the contraction of traditional department-store retail. MC Sports announced in February 2017 that all of its stores would close. A Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel was constructed outside the mall the same year. Carson's closed on August 29, 2018 after Bon-Ton Stores went out of business. Sears subsequently announced its own closure at the property, and the store shut on January 6, 2019. These departures left JCPenney, Macy's, and Cinemark as the principal surviving anchor occupants. The former Carson's space was discussed as a possible location for Senior Services of Will County, and later reportedly reopened under BrandX.com in February 2023. Panera Bread closed its mall location on August 30, 2022, while Cajun Boil & Bar had already vacated its former restaurant space earlier in 2023. In July 2023, ownership transferred to Namdar Realty Group. TGI Fridays, another restaurant associated with the mall, closed on December 23, 2024. In 2025, local officials discussed corridor revitalization proposals that could add housing, a VNA clinic, Starbucks, Burlington, and a proposed Jack in the Box. A Tru by Hilton hotel opened in the surrounding area in June 2025. The mall therefore remains active, but its development story increasingly involves repositioning, replacement tenants, hospitality, services, and possible mixed-use investment alongside conventional retail.
- 2025
Corridor revitalization proposals discussed
[1]Local officials discuss adding housing, health services, restaurants, and new retail to the surrounding corridor.
- 2023
Ownership changes to Namdar Realty Group
[1]Namdar Realty Group acquires the mall in July.
- 2019
Sears closes
[1]The Sears anchor closes on January 6 as part of a nationwide store-closing program.
- 2018
Carson's closes
[1]Carson's closes on August 29 after the liquidation of its parent company, Bon-Ton Stores.
- 2017
Home2 Suites is built near the mall
[1]A Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel is developed outside the mall.
- 2014
H&M and Pandora open
[1]H&M and Pandora join the mall's specialty-retail mix in December.
- 2009
Cinemark opens
[1]Cinemark begins operating at the mall on May 8.
- 2006
Marshall Field's becomes Macy's
[1]The Marshall Field's anchor is converted to Macy's on September 9.
- 1991
Circuit City opens nearby
[1]Circuit City opens in the commercial area outside the enclosed mall.
- 1990
Plainfield Tornado passes near the mall
[1]The Plainfield Tornado passes close to the southwest entrance, but the mall avoids destruction.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping center combining department stores, specialty retail, dining, and cinema entertainment for Joliet and the surrounding Will County market.
Department store · 1979
JCPenney
JCPenney is one of the mall's remaining department-store anchors, offering apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty products, home merchandise, and seasonal goods.
Department store · 2006
Macy's
Macy's occupies the former Marshall Field's anchor location. Its department-store assortment includes clothing, cosmetics, accessories, household products, and related merchandise.
Cinema and entertainment · 2009
Cinemark
Cinemark provides the mall's principal cinema and entertainment offering. The theater opened at Louis Joliet Mall in May 2009 and remains identified as an anchor use.
Brand decisions
2023
Mall sold to Namdar Realty GroupM&ABackground
The property changed ownership during a period of anchor vacancies and tenant turnover.
Action taken
Namdar Realty Group acquired Louis Joliet Mall in July 2023.
Aftermath
The mall entered a new ownership period focused on operating and potentially repositioning the property.
2015
Sears property transferred to SeritageM&ABackground
Sears Holdings separated a portfolio of real-estate interests from its retail operations.
Action taken
The Sears property at Louis Joliet Mall was included among 235 properties spun off into Seritage Growth Properties.
Aftermath
The transaction separated the real-estate ownership interest from Sears Holdings' store operations before the store later closed.
2006
Rebrand Marshall Field's as Macy'sStrategyBackground
The mall's Marshall Field's department-store anchor was affected by the broader conversion of Marshall Field's locations to Macy's.
Action taken
The store was officially renamed Macy's on September 9, 2006.
Aftermath
Macy's became one of the mall's principal continuing anchor stores.
Sources1 sources
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