Westfield Old Orchard

Westfield Old Orchard is an open-air shopping center in Skokie, Illinois, in the northern Chicago metropolitan area. Originally called Old Orchard Shopping Center, it opened in October 1956 with Marshall Field & Company, later converted to Macy’s, as its first major department-store anchor. The center was designed around a central anchor location because prospective specialty tenants wanted to be close to Marshall Field’s, an arrangement that helped establish the property as a destination retail complex rather than a conventional strip center. The original development opened in stages. Marshall Field & Company began operating on October 22, 1956; the wider shopping center opened three days later; and The Fair department store opened on November 1. Saks Fifth Avenue joined the property in 1958. The Fair became Montgomery Ward in 1964. During the late 1970s, Old Orchard added North and West parking garages, while Saks moved to a larger location and its former store was taken over by Lord & Taylor. The property underwent a major transformation during the 1990s. Montgomery Ward had closed in 1988, and in 1991 Nordstrom announced plans for a large store at Old Orchard. The resulting expansion added approximately 100,000 square feet and space for dozens of additional stores, alongside a 200,000-square-foot Nordstrom. Bloomingdale’s was also added as an anchor. The redevelopment introduced or expanded retailers and restaurants including Crate & Barrel, The Limited, Lord & Taylor, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Barnes & Noble, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, FAO Schwarz, Talbots, Victoria’s Secret and Pottery Barn. Nordstrom opened in October 1994, followed by Bloomingdale’s and numerous specialty stores in 1995. A food court, cinema and five-story parking garage were added, but the center retained its open-air format rather than becoming an enclosed mall. Westfield Group acquired the shopping center in 2002 and renamed it Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard. The “Shoppingtown” wording was dropped in 2005, producing the current Westfield Old Orchard name. A further $50 million renovation and expansion was completed in the late 2000s. The center continued to refresh its tenant mix with retailers, restaurants and entertainment venues, including Zara, Uncle Julio’s, Buffalo Wild Wings and Shake Shack. In the 2010s and 2020s, the property moved toward a mixed-use, experience-oriented model. Lord & Taylor announced its closure in 2017, and plans were developed to reuse the former anchor location. Barnes & Noble left its original store in 2021 after its lease was not renewed, later returning to a different space. Bloomingdale’s announced in 2022 that its large anchor would be replaced by a smaller Bloomie’s format, with the former anchor site planned for apartments and a town square. By 2023 and 2024, Westfield Old Orchard had announced or opened additions such as Arhaus, Puttshack, Psycho Bunny, Tory Burch, Rodd & Gunn, Louis Vuitton and Fabletics, as well as medical and wellness uses. Further residential, restaurant, office, medical and outdoor improvements were reported as beginning in 2024, with completion expected in 2026. The center’s present positioning combines department stores, luxury and contemporary specialty retail, restaurants, entertainment, services and public outdoor space.

Old Orchard Shopping Center was developed in Skokie, Illinois, as a large open-air retail destination for Chicago’s North Shore. Its first anchor, Marshall Field & Company, opened on October 22, 1956. The center itself opened on October 25, followed by The Fair on November 1. Saks Fifth Avenue opened in 1958, giving the property a department-store-led tenant structure from its earliest years. The Fair was renamed Montgomery Ward in 1964. The center expanded its infrastructure in 1978 with North and West parking garages. That year Saks moved into a larger building, and Lord & Taylor took over the former Saks location. Montgomery Ward closed in 1988, prompting a later effort to replace the lost anchor and modernize the property. In 1991, Nordstrom selected Old Orchard for its second Chicago-area store. The project included a 200,000-square-foot Nordstrom and an approximately 100,000-square-foot expansion that created room for 62 additional stores. Bloomingdale’s was also planned as another major anchor. The redevelopment reshaped Old Orchard during the mid-1990s. Lord & Taylor relocated and expanded, while Crate & Barrel, The Limited and other existing tenants renovated their stores. Maggiano’s Little Italy and Barnes & Noble opened in 1994. Nordstrom opened on October 7, 1994. Bloomingdale’s and a broad group of specialty retailers opened or were added in September 1995, followed by Pottery Barn later that year. A food court, movie theater and five-story parking garage were added. Despite these changes, Old Orchard remained an open-air center, distinguishing it from many enclosed suburban malls. Westfield Group acquired the property in 2002 and initially renamed it Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard. The name was shortened to Westfield Old Orchard in June 2005. Saks closed in 2005 and its former building was demolished in 2006. Marshall Field’s became Macy’s on September 9, 2006. A $50 million renovation and expansion was completed in the late 2000s, and Zara opened in 2008. The tenant mix continued to evolve through the 2010s. Uncle Julio’s opened in 2014, Buffalo Wild Wings in 2015 and Shake Shack in 2015. Lord & Taylor announced its closure in December 2017. Its former anchor site became the focus of longer-term redevelopment planning. Barnes & Noble announced in 2021 that its original store would close after its lease was not renewed, but the bookseller returned in 2022 to a space formerly occupied by Toms Price Furniture. In August 2022, Bloomingdale’s announced plans to replace its large anchor with a smaller Bloomie’s concept. The former Bloomingdale’s location was designated for a planned residential and public-space project involving approximately 350 apartments and a town square. In 2023, the center announced additional luxury, fashion, dining, entertainment and medical uses. Arhaus, Puttshack and a relocated Zara opened in 2024. Further development involving residences, restaurants, offices, medical space, wellness facilities and outdoor amenities began in 2024 and was expected to continue through 2026. The property is operated within the Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield portfolio and remains an active open-air shopping and mixed-use destination.

• 2024

  New mixed-use phase begins

  [1]Westfield Old Orcharden.wikipedia.org

  Arhaus, Puttshack and a relocated Zara opened, while broader residential, office, medical, wellness and outdoor development began.

• 2008

  Zara opens

  [1]Westfield Old Orcharden.wikipedia.org

  Zara opened its Old Orchard store on October 4.

• 2007

  Renovation and expansion completed

  [1]Westfield Old Orcharden.wikipedia.org

  A reported $50 million renovation and expansion reopened the center in the late 2000s.

• 2002

  Westfield acquisition

  [1]Westfield Old Orcharden.wikipedia.org

  Westfield Group acquired the shopping center.

• 1995

  Major 1990s redevelopment completed

  [1]Westfield Old Orcharden.wikipedia.org

  Bloomingdale’s and numerous specialty retailers opened, alongside new parking, food-service and cinema facilities.

• 1994

  Nordstrom opens

  [1]Westfield Old Orcharden.wikipedia.org

  Nordstrom opened on October 7 as part of a major expansion and repositioning of the center.

• 1988

  Montgomery Ward closes

  [1]Westfield Old Orcharden.wikipedia.org

  The former Fair department-store anchor ceased operations.

• 1978

  Parking expansion and Saks relocation

  [1]Westfield Old Orcharden.wikipedia.org

  North and West parking garages were built, and Saks moved to a larger location later occupied by Lord & Taylor.

• 1958

  Saks Fifth Avenue joins the center

  [1]Westfield Old Orcharden.wikipedia.org

  Saks Fifth Avenue opened as a major department-store anchor.

• 1956

  Old Orchard opens

  [1]Westfield Old Orcharden.wikipedia.org

  Marshall Field & Company opened on October 22, the shopping center opened on October 25, and The Fair followed on November 1.

An open-air, upscale shopping and mixed-use destination serving Chicago’s North Shore, combining department stores, premium specialty retail, dining, cinema, entertainment and planned residential, office, medical and public-space uses.

• Retail anchors · 1956

  Department stores

  The center’s department-store history began with Marshall Field & Company and The Fair, followed by Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s. Current anchor retail is represented by Macy’s and Nordstrom, with a smaller Bloomie’s format planned or introduced as part of the center’s repositioning.

• Fashion retail

  Specialty fashion and luxury retail

  Westfield Old Orchard’s specialty mix includes contemporary, premium and luxury brands. Reported tenants and additions include Vineyard Vines, Madewell, Anthropologie, Fabletics, Kendra Scott, Tory Burch, Warby Parker, Psycho Bunny, Rodd & Gunn and Louis Vuitton.

• Experiential retail · 1994

  Dining and entertainment

  Dining and leisure uses form an important part of the center’s destination strategy. The property has included Maggiano’s Little Italy, Uncle Julio’s, Buffalo Wild Wings and Shake Shack, as well as a cinema and the later addition of Puttshack.

• Home furnishings

  Home and lifestyle retail

  Home-oriented offerings have included Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn and, in the newer redevelopment program, Arhaus. These tenants broaden the center beyond apparel and department-store merchandise.

• 2024

  Experience-led mixed-use redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The center continued to diversify beyond traditional retail and department stores.

  Action taken

  Arhaus, Puttshack and a relocated Zara opened, while residential, restaurant, office, medical, wellness and outdoor projects began.

  Aftermath

  The development program was expected to continue through 2026 and reinforce Old Orchard as a mixed-use destination.

  Source

• 2022

  Bloomie’s and residential redevelopment planStrategy

  Background

  Westfield sought to reuse a large department-store footprint as consumer demand shifted toward smaller formats and mixed-use destinations.

  Action taken

  Bloomingdale’s announced a smaller Bloomie’s store, while the former anchor site was designated for approximately 350 apartments and a town square.

  Aftermath

  The proposal marked a move toward a mixed-use center combining retail, housing and public events space.

  Source

• 2006

  Anchor and site reconfigurationGeneration change

  Background

  Saks Fifth Avenue had closed and its former building was demolished, while the Marshall Field’s brand was being converted nationally.

  Action taken

  The former Saks site was removed from the center, and Marshall Field’s became Macy’s on September 9.

  Aftermath

  The changes were incorporated into a wider renovation and expansion program completed in the late 2000s.

  Source

• 2002

  Acquisition by Westfield GroupM&A

  Background

  Old Orchard was acquired as part of Westfield Group’s shopping-center portfolio.

  Action taken

  Westfield Group purchased the property and introduced the Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard branding.

  Aftermath

  The name was later shortened to Westfield Old Orchard, and the property continued through further renovation and tenant changes.

  Source

• 1991

  Nordstrom-led expansionStrategy

  Background

  After the loss of Montgomery Ward, Old Orchard sought a major replacement anchor and broader tenant base.

  Action taken

  The center announced a 200,000-square-foot Nordstrom and approximately 100,000 square feet of additional retail space for new stores.

  Aftermath

  The project supported the center’s extensive 1990s redesign and helped attract Bloomingdale’s and numerous specialty retailers.

  Source

1. 1Westfield Old Orcharden.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Westfield Old Orchard websitewestfield.com