Stratford Square Mall: The Right Mall but In The Wrong Location | Retail Documentary & Tour
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- čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
- A full tour and recap of the struggling but beautiful Stratford Square Mall located in Bloomingdale, IL. The mall has been slowly losing stores only for some of them to be replaced by local businesses. The mall originally was built for 6 anchors meanwhile only two remain. With COVID, Stratford is pushing its way into Dead Mall status and this video aims to document that.
Most of this video was filmed in late June of 2020 with a few clips that were supplied from a previous visit in March of 2019.
9:19 Correction: To The Left. (Do directions really matter?)
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It’s sad to see how much this place has changed since I visited it 3 years ago. I remember how much busier it used to be.
It's so sad to see how far it has declined
@@LostDepartments at 10:53 when you mention the movie theater it is marked as closed and is off of the Stratford square mall website.
I remember this mall.it had a certain charm that woodfield mall didn’t.it was well ahead of its time.a food court,a 8 screen theater and room for 6 anchors.at one time they even had stores and restaurants that other area malls didn’t.it was convenient.no complicated mazes to go through.it had the favorites.waldenbooks,gantos,thomacan and foot locker.it had Sanrio,Montgomery Ward,and Marshall Field’s,and Carson Pirie Scott as well.and the restaurants.Molly’s ice cream parlor,Carlos Sweeney’s Mexican Restaurant a favorite of mine and Houlihans where the former Harley Davidson and 25 west brewery now stand.gone but never forgotten.and the food court.one of the first malls with a food court.a new concept back in 1981.makes you think about a different place and time.
finally, a documentary video about this mall!! thank you for making this :]
-the ceilings throughout the mall, the center court pillars and ceiling architecture, and green accented railings I believe are all original. they can be seen in 1980s photos and some footage from 1997.
-the green railings have circular holders that once held potted plants. I remember these being filled when I was a kid, but nowadays they’re empty.
-in the 80s and 90s the center court was filled with magnificent fountains and planters and trees but they’ve since been removed. later (starting in the 2000s sometime I believe) there was a smaller circular fountain, and then in 2011 it was replaced with a carousel in the center court but that’s also been removed.
-the kids town 2 you passed in the old jcpenney wing used to house a Disney store; i used to go there as a kid. the outside of the store had striking colors and certain design aspects so you could tell it used to be a Disney store and then it was just never updated after Disney moved out.
-the painted penguin place you passed in the center court used to be a pacsun.
-in the old walled off Macy’s wing there was once an indoor Arby’s.
Arby's. Ewww
I grew up in this mall. All my clothes, shoes, music, heck, even some of my A/V equipment I have in the home theater (still kicking today BTW...), from my teenage years, was from that mall. We would always go in through the Montgomery Ward and work our way to the other end.
It is truly sad to see what it has become. Same thing with Charlestowne in St. Charles, which I remember when they opened to all the hoopla. It too is now dead.
I been watching you for years and every video got better and better great work!
Thanks!!!
Lost Departments you’re welcome
I was just here yesterday. We had to go to bath and body works. This is a nice mall just dying.
I remember this mall.the classic restaurants including Carlos Sweeney’s,Mollys Ice Cream parlor and Houllihans to name a few.and of course the stores.Gantos,Sanrio which at the time my 10 old sister enjoyed.this was our mall of choice.wopdfield had more stains which were difficult to climb and seemed more crowded.this was closer to my Aunt living in carol stream at the time.i liked the design and seemed to have a little more light to it.i miss those days where I was a teenager.especially in this regard.i guess the first sign of concern was when Abercrombie left the mall due to issues with the rent I learned.then it was Arby’s a nearly 20 year tenant of Stratford.it was a stand alone near the former Marshall Fields/Macy’s.but then it was Charlotte Russe.two stores that were actually drawing patrons into the mall.but later came the anchors.Jcpenney near Easter in 2014.that didn’t help.because their seemed to be a bit of a ripple effect.especially of course in the JCPenney wing of the mall then the former Macy’s wing as well.it seemed like more action should have taken place here after especially after JCPenney closed.but their were rumors that H and M were set to take over the JCPenney.other one’s included Simon being interested in the property or touring it at least.but more tenants that continue to this day.Sears was probably the second biggest because even Baskin Robbins and Famous Footwear walked away.pardon the pun.this mall certainly wasn’t on “ the right foot “.Its a clean and beautiful mall still.but if Namdar won’t present any plans for here and if Burlington,Kohl’s or Cinemark leaves this property that would be the nail in the coffin.
Ryan M Bagby I guess I was referring to the classic places that were there on opening day that I distinctly remember.
Ryan M Bagby no worries.i just have a great long term memory.
Just went there recently.more storefronts gone.25 west brewery and Harley Davidson store.the key to the comeback of Stratford.for there image.such a shame.i wonder if namdar or the village of bloomingdale would take a chance on me being in charge.all I need is a loan and I will work day and night in my creative juices.
As this was the more frequently visited mall for me growing up, it hurts to see how this mall is now. One of my first dates ever was here. I remember hanging out with friends as a teen here. When I had surgery two years ago in the winter and needed to walk for recovery, my parents drove me over here to walk with me around here. I still live five minutes away. I would almost rather them do something like a mall up in RI where half the mall became apartment-style living and left the other half as shopping. With the grocery store moving in, this could work especially if they have a mall entrance (even if its restricted to residents under this concept).
I was thinking that too! I think the apartment idea would work so well. I saw they have done it elsewhere too. This was such a fun walk back in middle and high school. I feel sorry for kids these days that don’t get to experience it like we did. I took my kids the other day not knowing that everything is closed and we took a train ride in there and they loved it. I was sad to see how dead it is.
Looks like a great Mall to have.
@@monkeywkeys3916 it was back in the day
My childhood mall. Idk if they can turn things around but hopefully they can. Another nice docu as usual
I do hope for the best but their lack of current plans don't give me much hope.
@@LostDepartments yeah, it seems like their gonna wait until like the theater closes to start thinking of a real plan for this mall. Probably would mean permanent closure and redevelopment sadly
This mall was still mostly full and was a top of the line mall until I left in 2002. Then when I came back to Illinois in 2008, it had changed drastically. A lot of smaller retailers had moved in and there were a lot more empty spaces. Then it was a slow decline with JCPenney, Macy's and Carson's closing in the 2010s.
Nice little docu, we’ve lived in the Chicago suburbs for over 20 years and would always come to this area for shopping, even when we lived in Romeoville and Wooddale. It’s sad to see it go but the nature of shopping has changed so much.
it's sad how beautiful malls die 😞
Round 1 announced it will be permanently closing the Stratford location on October 11th, 2020. Feel that might be a hit the mall just can't come from since it doesn't have that as an entertainment psuedo-anchor anymore.
I worked at the Funflatables there a couple years back before I moved to Arizona
Stratford Square is one that I've been meaning to swing by at some point. I don't live terribly far, and was planning to make it a day trip some time lol.
Go 4it 👍
One day I'd like to comeback and visit sure it's a dead mall but the memories I had I'll always remember. Keep making videos man I like your content.
Thank you!
Great work on this video of the mall! I know this is a little off topic, but The Kohl’s elevator is completely modernized, it’s now a Kone. I haven’t checked it out yet in person after the mod though. This place was like this when I came in October 2018. It’s sad seeing the mall dying. It really reminded me of Charlestowne during the video.
I certainly miss Charlestowne.
Oh my God this pains me so much! This will always be my favorite mall! I grew up going to this mall! I grew up in the far western suburb of Oswego. Back in the early 2000s Oswego had almost nothing. My family lived up in BLOOMINGDALE at the time. We occasionally went to Fox Valley but I always thought Stratford was nicer. It had a retro vibe that was special to me! Stratford was the pinicl of what a mall should be. It was simple and local. I do agree Woodfeild and Randal Rd corridor killed them. Roselle, Elk Grove Village, Streamwood started going to Woodfeild and Bartlett, Hanover Park, Carol Stream, West Chicago all started going to the Randal Rd Corridor. My personal speculation to why Stratford is no longer a viable shopping destination is because nobody comes to Bloomingdale. It is over looked by the much larger suburbs around it. They should put a destination sign up on 355 in Addison right at the lake st exit. Making a sign for stratford square mall. It's so sad because this mall is so estictly pleasing and beautiful. I STILL HAVE HOPE FOR THIS MALL! #SAVE STRATFORD #BLOOMINGDALE RETAIL
I grew up in Illinois and I remember going there for back to school and Christmas. I lived near Woodfield so I only went to this mall every once in a while.
Lived in the area when Stratford was built. Never shopped there. Still went to Woodfield or Yorktown. Stratford completely screwed up traffic on Army Trail Rd. and Gary Ave. We hated driving anywhere near Stratford. Local traffic there was just awful.
About time for a video of this mall
Re: Kohl's
For a year I worked at a Kohl's (about 15 years ago) and after I left I still had connections with a few employees. One of them told me that the rule at the Stratford Square Kohl's was *supposed* to be that if you came in through the front entrance and made a purchase you were supposed to leave through the front entrance, and if you came in through the mall entrance and made a purchase you were supposed to leave through the mall entrance. This was supposed to be some kind of loss prevention measure. Of course, nobody knew about this or cared except current employees and it would have been impossible to enforce. (As a former employee, for the maybe 1 or 2 times that I shopped there, I ignored it with the same pretend-not-to-know attitude as I use with Walmart receipt checkers) I'm guessing that closing the mall entrance has something to do with that policy.
Nice
It didn’t have to be this way.this mall still has potential.but namdar has to act now because if kohl’s or Burlington or the Cinemark theatre leaves that might be just the nail in the coffin.
This mall appears to be cascading downwards to a slow and painful death. While it technically may not be there yet I give it another year or so in its current form. There is certainly never going to replace the empty anchors. They may as well be demolished. As for the remaining inline stores they all should be moved to the main area with the upper floor closed. It’s kind of like a last ditch effort to save the place. If that doesn’t work the wrecking ball needs to be moved in. I wish I could be more positive but it just the way it is.
Great video man. This mall looks beautiful, definitely a nice place. Sucks that it died, I also live by a mall owned by namdar. That mall is called the midway mall in Ohio. I Appreciate you putting out this video
The work you put here is much better than anyone in dmod would do.
@@ERA_Productions Thank You! I worked really hard on this video.
I agree he made a really nice video production of this beautiful mall that’s going to close its doors for good this weekend on April 21,2024 and watching this video only complements the last days of this awesome mall but I disagree with you Andrew that he can make a video better than anyone on DMOD. Each member of the DMOD community have their own unique gift to contribute in preserving our mall history. Let’s not compete and be divisive here Andrew. Some of us are aware that you are a dead mall content creator yourself. Let’s all unify to preserve a part of American history at a time when most malls were thriving and people were hanging out at these places. You and other creators can be united to continue preserving these moments in history. The next generation will not be able to enjoy seeing these beautiful relics of the past. Peace be with you. Thank you Lost Departments for filming this and sharing your content with us. Just subscribed to your channel Lost Departments and happy to say that You are among the group of talented great dead mall content creators I subscribed to.
Please don't tear that mall down it has so much memories of my childhood.
Thank you so much for posting this. Crossroads Center in Waterloo, Iowa is also owned by Namdar. With the Dillard's up there closing, I think only Gordman's and very few stores remain. Sad.
I worked at the Funflatables and the Burlington coat factory there a couple years back!
My favorite store was fye
love this mall
It's a shame what Namdar has done to Stratford Square. Its biggest problem was too many malls nearby. Charlestowne was never a factor, though.
Charlestowne only is Von Maur who pulled wealthier shoppers away.
@@LostDepartments In it's heyday (early 90's after it was opened), Charlestowne did pull me away. I live in West Chicago. So if I needed something from Sears, Kohls or Carsons, STC is much closer.
Startford was struggling before covid
The theater did close, and on top of it Burlington moved out. Kohl’s and FYE are really the only two stores left. Just crazy as to what has happened with this mall
When you said "They're still there" about the Round 1 at 4:50, it hurt. It's closing next month (October 11), apparently they're bailing because the mall itself is just going kaput. Call me a nerd or just misinformed, but having one of their largest entertainment draws close like that is probably the final nail. (I actually live in the city, but having frequented the mall, I'm thinking of shooting some footage of it soon.)
himokko413 It is sad, this is my local mall and I rather be able to go here then have to go to Woodfield or Fox valley.
It’s a shame that Stratford is dying. A anchor has been closing every year since 2017. Kohl’s or Burlington is next
Sam292929 I don’t think Kohl’s will leave. Burlington I think will.
The movie theater is closed and so is the arcade now. The kohl’s door being closed must have been a covid precaution bc they were open to the mall a few days ago when I went. It was sad to see the state of the mall now.
Wow sad to hear the theater and bowling arcade is gone. I felt like that's what kept the mall going the past few years.
@@turtleislandlac1490 they were....I was talking to one of the employees of the bounce house place they have and she even said that as soon as the arcade and movies closed, that was the end of the mall. I remember how packed it was back in the early 00's. I was there every Friday night with my friends. It was the place to be. It's so sad now.
Well, the movie theater is closed now. Will the last person to leave Stratford Square please turn out the lights?
That Burlington didn’t even do anything to change it. I don’t get why Burlington has such crap stores when they have such nice ones elsewhere. Great vid
Thank You!!!
The Former JCPenney Wing, The Former Macy’s Wing , The Former Carson Pirie Scott Wing, The Former Sears Wing, And The Burlington Wing Are Empty
If you want to keep the format, call it The Former Montgomery Ward Wing.
Kohl’s tried to leave the mall to open up a smaller store in the abandoned Kmart but they couldn’t secure a deal on the property
That place next to Auntie Anne’s also used to be a Mrs. Field’s cookie shop
Yep closed recently.it was one of the last mrs fields in Illinois I believe.
Mark Matuga they still are at Old Orchard, North Riverside Park Mall, Orland Square, and Chicago Ridge Mall and I believe Yorktown Center too
yeah it happened the movie theater closed.
Century theaters is now closed
Right now Golf Mill Mall is probably a dead mall now
Jack Raclaw it is even worse than this mall.
malls, trains, and gaming 555 I know it is
Yes it is.unfortunately when Sears closed in late 2017.you had to go outside to go to the other entrance to get to the other side which was connected back in 1985 when the mall became enclosed.rumour has it Kohl’s is leaving for a new development at Harlem and Waukegan Rd in Morton Grove in fall of 2020 or soon after.and 3 tenants are set to take over as a repurpose for the building.one of them is the Burlington that is currently about 1 mile and a half away further on golf rd.i really feel for the remaining tenants and anchors of this mall.shop and safe is gone and so are most of the major stores that used to be part of the landscape.when LensCrafters left its never a good thing.ulta is brought in to maybe stir traffic in the mall but looks like it wasn’t for long before the mall returned to a high vacancy rate.the very first sign of trouble was when McDonald’s left the food court along with Arby’s.that seemed to create a ripple effect.then once again Sears.unless target which is a main draw here it seems.i don’t know how value city is holding up here.but amc showplace I’m learning is undecided and is not the place it used to be.but the bad news is if they don’t do something quickly there won’t be much time remaining and one just can’t let 60 years of history leave the area just like that.
I’ve been going to Stratford since 1984 and have walked it several times a week for 15 years. In much worse shape now than when this video was shot. Movie theater closed over the winter. Red Robin and a few food court slots still open, but only a handful of locally owned shops left. National brands all gone, except for Kohls. Very sad.
Love the Century Landmark theaters , they’re better than all the rest but sadly both this location and Evanston location closed. Theaters that used real butter on their popcorn.
Unfortunately, this mall is scheduled to permanently close on April 10, 2024
Came there from Oaklawn and preferred it to Woodfield which was too hectic especially in the center area.
it’s worse now. now it’s just old people who use it to walk around for cardio. They’ve added a grocery store to the building but despite being connected to the building it’s seperated
I agree that Woodmans wouldnt affect the mall. People who just picked up meat and ice cream need to go home not go to the mall.I believe the management is using the property as a Tax write off. the sad part is the small ma and pa shops they need every penny.it seems odd to see I believe 4 jewler stores still there. at least at that time.
Is Woodman’s a successful concept? I went to a few when I was in Wisconsin a few years back and just couldn’t understand why anyone would want to shop at such a huge store. It was so cumbersome to navigate and move around. I was kinda wondering if they would be successful or not, but from what it sounds like you are saying, they are. I was trying to figure out the target shopper.
Once you learn where everything is it's like going to a normal grocery store. Its intimidating at first but their prices and selection are what draw people in.
Lost Departments gotchya. So it’s stealing people away from like Walmart and Meijer
Wish Woodman's, Meijer and Menards had stores in Dallas. Everything is not bigger and better in Texas!
Their stores can be intimidating at first but the selection is great. Lots of unique items and locally (WI) made products. Fresh items are hit or miss. When they first opened in our area prices were the lowest but since Meijer opened, Woodmans and Meijer are usually the same (both still better that Pick N Save and Walmart).
One thing is the store decor is a bit basic, and looks run down especially after the stores have been open for years.
I can't stand Woodman's. It's too big and the checkout lines are way too slow. Plus, they are no bargain at all.
I also remember when the Montgomery Ward was in this location.they were at one time looking to sub anchor the upper level of the Burlington .Carsons’s the rumor was they would reopen in the upper part of the former JCPenney.kohl’s has still closed the mall entrance because of COVID 19 concerns.other rumors that we’re going around were that Simon was thinking about purchasing the mall.that they were looking into a concept similar to Yorktown Center.and of course the 60% entertainment and 40% retail idea.but it looks more 20-20 to me now.Stratford Square turns 40 on March 9 th.it would be nice if they released to the public some archives of time gone by.the memories of what it used to be.I think it’s a good idea.and free anniversary cake,coffee,and conversation for everyone who lives in the community.but to be honest it’s days as a mall are well behind it.time for a fresh new concept.
This Mall Is Pretty Much Now Dead. Only Kohl’s And BCF As The Anchors. About 30 Stores In The Interior (FYE Sprint etc.) 3 Vacant Anchor Spots (4th Was Demolished) And Only A Number Of Restaurants In The Food Court. This Mall Has Been Losing 1 Anchor Since 2017. Kohl’s Or BCF Is Next. I Got Told That Woodman’s Isn’t Helping The Mall At All. It’d Really Break My Heart To See It Demolished One Day
Does that literally say no mall walking allowed, active shoppers only? That's literally what malls are about.
I wonder if they needed a way to kick out homeless people congregating there.
For the first few years after graduating college I wasn't making a lot of money and living in an apartment with no air conditioning (but my car had air conditioning) so on hot summer days I would sometimes drive out to that mall or Charleston (from DeKalb) to relax in the air conditioning.
I'm a woodmans shopper and it is not cheaper than walmart . the advantage over walmart is the foods they carry , walmart doesn't have the massive selection .
Its not the mall’s fault. That area has gotten sketchy the past 5 years
While this is a older video now the Burlington store is moving across the street leaving kohls as the only anchor.
yeah I heard about that. Do you know when it's officially moving?
@@LostDepartments I have not heard any dates on when it will move. Although the store is in bad condition at Stratford.
It's 2024 the mall is permanently closed😢 so I believe the city of Bloomingdale bought it and it might be up for demolition if the rumors are right☹️
No that's what's happening
It is funny that they put no mall walking allowed sign … it’s like they are trying to keep people away … if that person goes mall walking every once in a while they’ll buy something .. so why try to keep them away?
Round one is not here anymore so I just go to two cool r1 just got took down And never is there and only 3 stores at the food court
Super interesting
The mall center court is fantastic . Wood fields center nit as nice.
I went here today and it was super dead
Wasn’t the wrong location but online and big box killed it. Went there from 1994-2004 and bustling, after that steadily downhill. Last there before Covid Fauci quack destroyed so much, practically everything.
You should check out Charlestown Mall in St. Charles. Everything is completely closed except for a theater
I was there on its last day. Von Maur is also still open.
czcams.com/video/pAFnSOZeaEg/video.html
I agree with the title
i think you should do a redo of golf mill. it's much deader than the last time you visited in 2018.
I used worked JCPenney at Startford Square Mall it was best store unit they closed the door May 3, 2014 that mall was nice and busy now is dead and empty.
Making our youth even more isolated as depression ruining the young.
Also I remember Walden book store
12:36 The door leads to the abandoned side of the mall
I just left Woodfield yesterday and Lord and Taylor is leaving
Sad.
I’ve been to both
Yes this mall is dead. It had gone out of business very long time. I been coming here for long time now their is nothing here. It’s so empty and ghosted. This mall has nothing it’s a good for waking indoors during cold months that’s about it.
Since this video
Round 1
Sprint
T-mobile lower level
Boost mobile
Stratford newsstand
Harley Davidson
Mang0z
Auntie Anne’s
Cinnabon
China max
Cold stone creamery
Food court Mexican place
Theater
Claire’s
Painted penguin
Omar’s furniture
A-ha rolled ice cream
Bath and body works
Express
Nail love
Children’s place
Metro pcs
The popcorn cart
Sports central
Bovi spa
Wireless planet
The two salons
Oriental gifts
Furry babies
Shoe repair place
Have closed
Yipe.
Nice I sub too