Stratford Square Mall
A former enclosed shopping mall in Bloomingdale, Illinois, that operated from 1981 until its closure in 2024.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Stratford Square Mall was an enclosed regional shopping center in Bloomingdale, a northwestern suburb of Chicago, Illinois. It opened on March 9, 1981, during a period of rapid residential and commercial growth in Chicago’s northwest suburbs. Developed as a large indoor center of approximately 1.3 million square feet, it was designed by RTKL Associates and built by Graycor. Urban Retail Properties Co. was the mall’s original owner. At opening, Stratford Square was anchored by four department stores: Marshall Field’s, Carson Pirie Scott, Montgomery Ward, and Wieboldt’s. Its Festival Court, a large central area occupying roughly 330,000 square feet, was promoted as a distinctive internal destination within the mall. MainStreet joined the tenant mix in 1985, later becoming Kohl’s after Kohl’s acquired the chain. Wieboldt’s was replaced by JCPenney after Wieboldt’s entered bankruptcy, and Sears added another anchor in 1991. The mall benefited from the population growth of the surrounding suburbs but faced increasing competition from Woodfield Mall in nearby Schaumburg. Woodfield’s major expansion and renovation in the 1990s, including the addition of Nordstrom and a broad new retail wing, strengthened its position as the dominant regional shopping destination. Stratford Square nevertheless invested in a substantial renovation completed in 1999. The work included new flooring, escalators, an elevator, larger restrooms, improved entrances, additional seating, expanded lower-level retail space, and a redesigned water feature in Festival Court. Anchor turnover became increasingly important to the property’s history. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001, with Burlington Coat Factory taking over much of the former space in 2002. Feldman Mall Properties acquired the center in 2005 and renovated its movie theater into a 16-screen Century/Cinemark venue that opened in 2007. Red Robin followed in 2008, while Round One opened an entertainment center in 2015. Later efforts sought to shift the tenant mix away from conventional retail and toward restaurants, entertainment, and experiential uses. Beginning in 2014, the mall lost several traditional anchors. JCPenney closed in 2014, Macy’s in 2017, Carson’s in 2018, and Sears in 2019. The former Macy’s building was demolished to make way for a freestanding Woodman’s Markets grocery store, which opened in 2021. Namdar Realty Group acquired the mall in 2019, but vacancy and deferred maintenance continued. The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted operations, and the theater, Round One, and numerous smaller tenants closed. By the early 2020s, Stratford Square had become a redevelopment rather than a conventional retail asset. The Village of Bloomingdale acquired several former anchor buildings, sued Namdar over maintenance and leasing issues, and ultimately purchased the remaining mall property in 2024. The enclosed mall closed on April 21, 2024, although Kohl’s continued as a standalone business. Demolition began in October 2024 and was completed in 2025. The site was subsequently rebranded as The Grove at Bloomingdale, a planned mixed-use development intended to combine housing, retail, recreation, events, and public-oriented amenities.
History
Groundbreaking took place around 1979, and Stratford Square Mall opened on March 9, 1981, in response to the rapid development of Bloomingdale and neighboring northwest suburbs. The original 1.3-million-square-foot indoor center was designed by RTKL Associates and constructed by Graycor. Its initial anchors were Marshall Field’s, Carson Pirie Scott, Montgomery Ward, and Wieboldt’s. Festival Court served as the mall’s central architectural and commercial feature, incorporating a large portion of the interior area and a prominent water display. The tenant structure changed during the 1980s and 1990s. MainStreet opened an anchor in 1985 and was converted to Kohl’s after Kohl’s acquired MainStreet in 1989. Wieboldt’s became JCPenney in 1988 after Wieboldt’s bankruptcy, while Sears added a new anchor in 1991. During the same period, Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg expanded substantially and became the stronger regional draw because of its location near major expressways and its broader store offering. Stratford Square responded with a renovation completed in November 1999. The project improved flooring, vertical circulation, restrooms, entrances, seating, lighting, signage, and lower-level retail areas. The central water feature was redesigned, although parts of the original fountain system were later removed because of leakage and repair costs. Montgomery Ward announced a nationwide closure in 2000, and its Stratford Square store closed in March 2001. Burlington Coat Factory occupied much of the former anchor space beginning in 2002. Feldman Mall Properties bought the center in early 2005. Under Feldman, the movie theater was rebuilt as a 16-screen, all-digital Century Theatres complex, opening on July 4, 2007. Red Robin opened next to the theater in 2008. Other tenants included Steve & Barry’s, FYE, Round One, and a variety of apparel, food, and entertainment businesses. Macy’s assumed the former Marshall Field’s anchor after its parent company was acquired in 2006. A carousel replaced the central computerized fountain in 2011, although it was later moved and eventually removed. StreetMac LLC acquired the mall in early 2014. The company pursued incremental improvements and explored ways to compensate for anchor departures. JCPenney closed in May 2014, Round One opened in 2015, and Macy’s closed in March 2017. Carson’s closed in August 2018 when its parent company, Bon-Ton, liquidated. In 2018, management announced that Woodman’s Markets would replace the former Macy’s building with a new store without an interior mall entrance. The store opened in August 2021. Sears closed in November 2019, leaving Kohl’s and Burlington as the principal traditional anchors. Namdar Realty Group acquired the mall in October 2019. The property’s condition and occupancy deteriorated during the following years. A brewery opened in 2018 but closed in 2020 after a contract dispute with Namdar. Round One also closed in October 2020, and the movie theater was no longer operating by that autumn. COVID-19 restrictions temporarily limited interior access to Kohl’s. Woodman’s opened in 2021, but it operated separately from the declining enclosed mall. The mall also became a filming location. Portions of The Righteous Gemstones, Somebody Somewhere, Chicago Fire, and an Illinois State Lottery commercial were filmed in or around the center. These productions provided occasional non-retail activity while the property’s conventional shopping role weakened. By 2022, local officials and residents were calling for comprehensive redevelopment. The Village of Bloomingdale advocated replacing the vacant or underused mall with street-level commercial space, restaurants, housing, and public amenities. In 2023, the village sued Namdar, alleging inadequate maintenance and insufficient leasing activity. The village separately acquired the former Carson Pirie Scott, former Montgomery Ward/Burlington, and Sears buildings, then settled with Namdar and purchased the remaining portions of the property in 2024. The final closure process extended into spring 2024. FYE closed in January, other tenants departed during February and April, and the mall officially shut on April 21. Kohl’s remained open independently. The village announced redevelopment plans under the name The Grove, and demolition began in October 2024. The demolition was completed in 2025, marking the end of Stratford Square Mall as a physical enclosed shopping center.
- 2025
Demolition completed
[1]Demolition of the former mall was completed as the site transitioned to The Grove at Bloomingdale plans.
- 2024
Mall closes
[1]The enclosed mall closed on April 21 after the village completed its acquisition and prepared the site for redevelopment.
- 2023
Village files redevelopment-related lawsuit
[1]Bloomingdale sued Namdar over alleged maintenance and leasing problems while acquiring former anchor properties.
- 2021
Woodman’s opens
[1]Woodman’s Food Market opened on August 11 in a new freestanding building on part of the former Macy’s area.
- 2020
Pandemic disruption and entertainment closures
[1]COVID-19 restrictions affected access and operations; Round One closed, and the movie theater ceased operating.
- 2019
Sears closes; Namdar acquires mall
[1]Sears closed in November, and Namdar Realty Group acquired the mall in October.
- 2018
Carson’s closes and Woodman’s redevelopment announced
[1]Carson’s closed after Bon-Ton’s liquidation, and plans were announced to replace the former Macy’s building with a Woodman’s grocery store.
- 2017
Macy’s closes
[1]Macy’s closed its Stratford Square anchor on March 26 as part of a nationwide store-reduction program.
- 2015
Round One opens
[1]Round One opened an entertainment center featuring bowling, karaoke, arcade games, billiards, darts, and table tennis.
- 2014
StreetMac acquisition and JCPenney closure
[1]StreetMac acquired the mall, while JCPenney announced and completed the closure of its anchor.
Products and positioning
Originally positioned as a large suburban regional mall serving Chicago’s northwest suburbs, Stratford Square later attempted to reposition itself around dining, entertainment, experiential tenants, and redevelopment-oriented uses as traditional department-store retail declined.
Mall amenity and retail district · 1981
Festival Court
Festival Court was Stratford Square’s defining central interior space. It was conceived as a large destination within the mall, incorporating retail circulation, public gathering areas, food-service activity, and a prominent water display. The feature was renovated in 1999, but portions of the original fountain system were later removed because of maintenance and leakage issues.
Entertainment · 2007
Century Theatres Stratford Square
The mall’s original four-screen theater was extensively renovated under Feldman Mall Properties and reopened in 2007 as a 16-screen all-digital Century Theatres complex. The venue included stadium seating, marble flooring, and a cappuccino bar. It was no longer operating by October 2020.
Entertainment · 2015
Round One
Round One operated as an entertainment center in the former Carson’s wing. Its offering combined bowling, karaoke, arcade games, billiards, darts, and table tennis, reflecting the mall’s later attempt to emphasize experiential uses. The location closed in October 2020.
Grocery retail · 2021
Woodman’s Food Market
Woodman’s Markets replaced the former Macy’s building with a new freestanding grocery store. The project removed the old anchor and part of the mall and was designed without an interior mall entrance, making it a separate destination on the redeveloping property.
Department store · 1989
Kohl’s Stratford Square
Kohl’s originated at the site through the conversion of a MainStreet anchor opened in 1985. After the enclosed mall closed, Kohl’s remained open as a standalone business rather than as an interior mall tenant.
Controversies
2023
Village lawsuit over property maintenance and leasing
Bloomingdale filed suit against Namdar Realty Group, alleging that the mall was not adequately maintained and that the owner was not actively leasing space. The dispute was settled as the village acquired the remaining property for redevelopment.
Brand decisions
2024
Municipal acquisition for redevelopmentM&ABackground
After acquiring several former anchor buildings and litigating with Namdar, the Village of Bloomingdale sought control of the entire property.
Action taken
The village settled the dispute and acquired the remaining mall portions, then extended the closure process through April 21, 2024.
Aftermath
The mall closed, demolition began later that year, and the site was rebranded for The Grove at Bloomingdale mixed-use project.
Acquisition payment for remaining mall portions. 8750000 (2024)
2021
Redevelopment of former Macy’s site for Woodman’sStrategyBackground
The former Macy’s anchor had become obsolete after Macy’s closure in 2017.
Action taken
The anchor building and part of the mall were demolished to create a separate Woodman’s grocery store building without an interior mall connection.
Aftermath
Woodman’s opened in August 2021, while the enclosed mall continued to lose tenants and anchors.
2018
Shift toward dining and entertainmentStrategyBackground
Declining department-store traffic and anchor vacancies weakened the traditional enclosed-mall model.
Action taken
Management announced an intended tenant mix of approximately 40 percent retail and 60 percent entertainment and dining, including a brewery and other experiential operators.
Aftermath
The repositioning did not reverse the broader decline; several entertainment and restaurant tenants later closed.
Recent events
- 2025
Demolition and redevelopment follow mall closure[1]
Other
Demolition of the former mall was completed in 2025 as the property transitioned toward The Grove at Bloomingdale mixed-use redevelopment.
- 2024
Village of Bloomingdale acquires Stratford Square Mall[1]
M&A · Lawsuit
The municipality completed its acquisition of the remaining mall property after purchasing former anchor buildings and settling litigation with Namdar Realty Group.
- 2024
Enclosed mall closes[1]
Other
Stratford Square Mall permanently closed its interior on April 21, while Kohl’s remained open as a standalone business.
- 2021
Woodman’s Markets replaces former Macy’s building[1]
Product launch
A freestanding Woodman’s grocery store opened after the former Macy’s structure and part of the mall were removed.
- 2007
Feldman renovates theater into Century complex[1]
Product generation · Product launch
The former four-screen theater reopened as a 16-screen digital Century Theatres venue with stadium seating and upgraded amenities.
- 1999
Stratford Square completes major renovation[1]
Other
The center upgraded its circulation, flooring, restrooms, entrances, seating, escalators, elevator, and Festival Court water feature while remaining open.
- 1981
Stratford Square Mall opens in Bloomingdale[1]
Other
The enclosed regional mall opened with four department-store anchors and a large Festival Court central area.
Sources1 sources
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