Overview of Northfield Square
Northfield Square opened its doors on August 1, 1990, bringing a fresh wave of retail options to Bourbonnais, Illinois.
Located at the busy intersection of Illinois Route 50 and Larry Power Road, the mall was strategically positioned to attract shoppers from the surrounding Kankakee County, which includes Bradley and Kankakee. Edward J. DeBartolo developed the mall, which became a prominent fixture in the local community.
At the time of its grand opening, Northfield Square featured a mix of anchor stores that drew steady traffic—Sears, JCPenney, Carson Pirie Scott, and Venture. However, in its early days, the mall faced challenges, with about 40% of its space still vacant. Despite this, the mall soon began filling up as retailers saw the potential of the growing Bourbonnais area.
Today, Northfield Square is managed and owned by Namdar Realty Group, a company known for managing properties across the U.S. The mall itself spans 530,000 sq ft and is all on one level.
Now, Cinemark Theatres stands as the mall’s only anchor tenant, while the other four anchor stores have remained vacant since their respective closures.
For those looking for things to do in Bourbonnais, Illinois, Northfield Square remains a destination for moviegoers and shoppers alike.
Although its store count has decreased, the mall continues to serve as a hub for local businesses and entertainment. The future holds possibilities for redevelopment as the local community eyes ways to bring new life to the once-thriving retail center.
Growth and Expansion in the 1990s
In the early 1990s, Northfield Square began to hit its stride. After a somewhat slow start, with 40% vacancy when it first opened, the mall quickly gained attention from national retailers.
By the mid-90s, the original anchor stores—Carson Pirie Scott, JCPenney, Sears, and Venture—helped stabilize the mall and increase foot traffic.
During this period, Northfield Square played a critical role in the economic growth of Bourbonnais, Illinois, and the broader Kankakee County area. Local businesses thrived alongside the national chains, benefiting from the steady stream of shoppers.
The mall became a central part of the community’s shopping experience, hosting seasonal events and driving consumer interest with promotional sales.
Several well-known retail brands entered the mall throughout the 1990s, helping fill the remaining vacant spaces. Stores like Victoria’s Secret, The Gap, and Foot Locker all opened during this time, contributing to the overall success of the property.
The steady inflow of popular brands gave the mall a competitive edge in the region, and Northfield Square started to resemble the bustling retail center that it aimed to be from the start.
Challenges and Decline in the 2000s
In the early 2000s, Venture—one of the original anchor tenants—closed its doors. It was replaced by the second Carson Pirie Scott store. By 2012, the mall’s vacancy was about 12%, which is much better compared to when it opened.
Larger stores such as Sears and Carson Pirie Scott started to reduce their presence at malls nationwide, and by 2018, both announced they would close their Northfield Square locations. Sears officially closed in April 2018, followed by Carson Pirie Scott in August of the same year.
By 2020, even JCPenney, the last remaining anchor store, shuttered as part of a nationwide closure of 154 locations.
This left Northfield Square without a traditional retail anchor, fundamentally changing the mall’s character. While the shopping center remained open, its focus began shifting toward smaller businesses and potential redevelopment projects to stay afloat in a rapidly evolving market.
Recent Developments and the Future of Northfield Square (2023-2024)
As Northfield Square entered the 2020s, the landscape looked very different from its bustling early years. Cinemark Theatres remains the largest tenant, providing entertainment for the local community, but most of the large retail spaces sit vacant.
This shift has prompted conversations about what lies ahead for the mall and how to adapt to the changing retail environment.
In 2019, the Village of Bradley took a proactive step by purchasing the former Carson’s Men’s Store. The goal was to kickstart redevelopment efforts and attract new businesses to the mall.
There has been talk of turning some of the empty spaces into mixed-use areas, combining retail with residential and entertainment spaces.
As of 2024, no major construction has begun, but these proposals are still on the table as possible future directions for the property.
Meanwhile, smaller businesses continue to operate within Northfield Square. Just Relax Body Massage, The Ripple Effect Healing Arts, and other local retailers have helped keep foot traffic going.
These businesses cater more to the everyday needs of the community, offering services rather than traditional retail goods.
Though the mall’s larger retail footprint has shrunk, this shift toward service-oriented offerings hints at a possible new identity for Northfield Square moving forward.
Tattoo Convention at Northfield Square
One of the most notable recent events is the announcement of the 2024 Ink’d Arts Fest, taking place at Northfield Square Mall on October 5-6, 2024. This event celebrates tattoo culture and will feature several tattoo artists, live performances, vendors, and more.
This festival reflects a growing trend of malls becoming venues for cultural and niche community events. As traditional retail declines, these types of experiences offer a new way to attract foot traffic and engage the community.
