Machesney Park Mall
A former enclosed shopping mall in Machesney Park, Illinois, later redeveloped as an open-air retail site.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Machesney Park Mall was a shopping mall in Machesney Park, Illinois, within the Rockford metropolitan area. It was developed by Melvin Simon and Associates, the predecessor of Simon Property Group, on land formerly occupied by Machesney Airport, which closed in 1974. The mall opened in 1978 with JCPenney and H. C. Prange as its principal anchors, and additional anchor tenants including Kohl's and Prange Way joined during the early years of operation. The property reflected the conventional enclosed-mall model of the late 1970s and 1980s, serving the communities north of Rockford. Its tenant roster changed repeatedly as department-store chains consolidated or failed. Prange Way was replaced by Phar-Mor around 1990, and H. C. Prange was acquired by Younkers in 1992. Younkers subsequently withdrew from the Rockford market, allowing Bergner's to occupy the former Younkers locations from 1996. Other anchors, including Kohl's and Seventh Avenue Direct, also eventually closed. Kohl's later opened a separate location several miles away, reducing the former mall's competitive position. The property entered a prolonged decline in the 1990s and 2000s. Rubloff Development Group acquired the mall in December 2003 and began internal demolition and redevelopment preparations. By 2008, the enclosed mall portion had closed, although some anchor operations continued in separate or partially independent spaces. The site was gradually converted into an open-air commercial property rather than restored as a traditional enclosed mall. Burlington Coat Factory opened a newly constructed store on the former mall site in September 2009 without an interior mall entrance. Big Lots later opened next door, creating a small retail concentration that replaced the original mall's broader tenant mix. The remaining former anchors also disappeared: the JCPenney Outlet Store closed in December 2013 as part of JCPenney's nationwide outlet-store closures, and Bergner's announced its closure in 2016 before leaving the property in January 2017. The former Bergner's space was later used by Nestory Park Self Storage, which relocated there in 2023. Practice Velocity occupied the former Kohl's space in late 2013, and PCI Pharma Services was announced as a future occupant of the former JCPenney building in 2018. The later open-air redevelopment also failed to establish a durable retail center. Big Lots closed in 2024 when the company shut its stores during bankruptcy proceedings. In January 2025, Burlington announced that it would relocate to a nearby shopping center at 1524 West Lane Road, leaving the former mall site without retailers and largely vacant. Machesney Park Mall is therefore best understood as a defunct enclosed mall whose former buildings and parcels underwent partial commercial, office, industrial, and self-storage reuse.
History
Machesney Park Mall was built on a portion of the former Machesney Airport in Machesney Park, Illinois. The airport closed in 1974, and Melvin Simon and Associates developed the property as an enclosed shopping mall. The mall opened in 1978 with JCPenney and H. C. Prange as its original anchor stores. Kohl's and Prange Way were added shortly afterward, expanding the center's department-store and general-merchandise offering. The anchor lineup changed substantially over the following decades. Prange Way closed around 1990 and was replaced by Phar-Mor, which was later succeeded by Seventh Avenue Direct. H. C. Prange was acquired by Younkers in 1992. After Younkers withdrew from the Rockford area at the end of 1996, the former store was replaced by Bergner's. Kohl's and Seventh Avenue Direct eventually closed during the property's decline, while Kohl's established another store a few miles away in 2007. The mall's long-term deterioration accelerated in the 1990s and 2000s as anchor stores disappeared and shoppers increasingly favored newer retail formats and competing locations. Rubloff Development Group acquired the property in December 2003 and began demolishing interior areas in preparation for redevelopment. By 2008, the enclosed mall had closed, although several anchor buildings continued to operate independently or remained available for reuse. Redevelopment focused on standalone stores and alternative commercial uses. Burlington Coat Factory opened a separately built store in September 2009, and Big Lots later opened next door. The JCPenney Outlet Store closed in December 2013 as JCPenney discontinued its outlet-store program. Also in 2013, Practice Velocity moved into the former Kohl's building, demonstrating the conversion of retail space to office use. The Bergner's store closed after The Bon-Ton Stores announced the closure in 2016, with the store leaving the property in January 2017. In 2018, PCI Pharma Services was announced as a planned occupant of the former JCPenney space. The former Bergner's building later became associated with Nestory Park Self Storage, which relocated there in 2023. The open-air retail strategy did not produce a lasting tenant base. Big Lots closed in 2024 during the company's bankruptcy-related nationwide store shutdowns. Burlington remained the last identified retailer at the former mall site until its announced relocation in January 2025 to a nearby shopping center at 1524 West Lane Road. With Burlington's departure, the property was left without retailers and was described as mostly vacant. The history of Machesney Park Mall therefore spans a late-1970s enclosed-mall opening, repeated department-store turnover, closure of the enclosed retail structure, and an incomplete transition to mixed commercial reuse.
- 2025
Burlington announces relocation
[1]Burlington announces a move to a nearby shopping center, leaving the former mall site without retailers.
- 2024
Big Lots closes
[1]Big Lots closes during the company's bankruptcy-related nationwide shutdowns.
- 2023
Former Bergner's space becomes self-storage
[1]Nestory Park Self Storage relocates to the former Bergner's building.
- 2017
Bergner's leaves the site
[1]The Bergner's store closes following the 2016 announcement by its parent company.
- 2013
JCPenney Outlet Store closes
[1]The JCPenney outlet location closes as the chain ends its outlet-store program.
- 2009
Burlington opens
[1]Burlington Coat Factory opens a new standalone store at the former mall site.
- 2008
Enclosed portion closes
[1]The interior mall space is closed and the property moves toward open-air and alternative-use redevelopment.
- 2003
Rubloff acquires the property
[1]Rubloff Development Group acquires the mall and begins preparations for redevelopment.
- 1996
Bergner's replaces Younkers
[1]After Younkers exits the Rockford market, Bergner's replaces it at the property.
- 1992
H. C. Prange becomes Younkers
[1]Younkers acquires H. C. Prange, changing the identity of one of the mall's principal anchors.
Products and positioning
A community and regional shopping destination that operated as a conventional enclosed mall before declining and being partially redeveloped for standalone retail and non-retail uses.
Shopping center · 1978
Enclosed shopping mall
The original Machesney Park Mall was a conventional enclosed shopping center serving Machesney Park and the wider Rockford-area market. Its principal offer consisted of department stores, apparel, footwear, home merchandise, general merchandise, and smaller specialty tenants. The enclosed portion was closed by 2008 as the property entered redevelopment.
Retail property · 2009
Open-air redevelopment site
After the enclosed mall closed, portions of the property were reused for standalone retail and non-retail occupants. Burlington Coat Factory and Big Lots formed the principal later retail presence, while former anchor buildings were also associated with office, pharmaceutical-services, and self-storage uses.
Brand decisions
2009
Standalone Burlington store opensProduct launchBackground
Redevelopment sought to replace the former mall's retail activity with independent stores.
Action taken
Burlington Coat Factory opened a newly constructed store on the former mall property without an interior mall entrance.
Aftermath
Burlington became one of the principal remaining retail occupants and ultimately the site's last retailer before relocating in 2025.
2008
Closure of enclosed retail spaceStrategyBackground
Anchor closures and broader mall decline made continued operation of the enclosed portion impractical.
Action taken
The enclosed portion was closed and the site was made available for redevelopment, while some anchor operations continued independently.
Aftermath
The property shifted from an enclosed regional mall to a fragmented open-air and mixed-use site.
2003
Redevelopment after Rubloff acquisitionStrategyBackground
The mall had experienced long-term tenant losses and declining relevance as a traditional enclosed shopping center. Rubloff Development Group acquired the property in December 2003.
Action taken
Internal demolition and redevelopment preparations were undertaken, eventually leading to closure of the enclosed portion and conversion toward standalone and alternative commercial uses.
Aftermath
The property gained several replacement occupants but did not regain a substantial enclosed-mall tenant base.
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