The Launch of Stratford Square Mall – A Retail Boom in Bloomingdale
Stratford Square Mall officially opened its doors on March 9, 1981, in Bloomingdale, Illinois, a fast-growing suburb northwest of Chicago.
Urban Retail Properties Co. developed the mall, which was designed by RTKL Associates and constructed by Graycor. At 1.3 million sq ft, it was one of the largest shopping centers in the region at the time.
The layout featured a two-level design with a spacious Festival Court, which occupied 330,000 square feet—nearly half of the mall space.
Stratford Square Mall opened with four major department stores as its anchors: Montgomery Ward, Marshall Field’s, Carson Pirie Scott, and Wieboldt’s.
These stores took up huge spaces and brought in shoppers from nearby towns.
The rest of the mall was packed with a mix of national chains and local businesses, selling everything from clothing to electronics.
The food court, located near Festival Court, included fast-food chains and independent eateries that served shoppers looking for a quick bite between stores.
Bloomingdale’s local government viewed Stratford Square as an economic driver. Newspapers at the time reported that tax revenue from the mall could reduce reliance on residential property taxes.
Local officials believed that with the right financial planning, the mall’s tax revenue could one day make the village tax levy unnecessary.
It was an ambitious claim, but it reflected the optimism surrounding Stratford Square’s opening.
For the first decade, the mall was a success. Department stores, specialty shops, and entertainment venues stayed busy, drawing steady crowds and keeping business strong.
Families came for weekend outings, and teenagers treated it like a second home, hanging out, shopping, and grabbing food.
If you were looking for things to do in Bloomingdale, Illinois, Stratford Square was the spot.
But the retail world was already shifting, and competition was coming.
Growth, Renovation, and Market Challenges
In 1988, JCPenney took over the former Wieboldt’s space after the retailer declared bankruptcy in 1987.
In 1991, the Stratford Square Mall expanded with the addition of Sears, strengthening its lineup of department stores.
The mall’s roster of tenants remained strong, but it was clear that changes were on the way.
Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, less than 10 miles away, became a direct threat.
In 1996, Woodfield completed a major expansion, adding a two-level wing with Nordstrom and a variety of upscale brands.
Shoppers in the region had more choices, and Stratford Square had to work harder to keep traffic high.
In 1999, Stratford Square got a major facelift without shutting its doors.
Shoppers walked past construction as crews installed new flooring, added escalators, upgraded entrances with better lighting, and even put in an elevator.
The centerpiece of the refresh was a brand-new water display in the center court, replacing the old fountains that had been leaking for years.
The updates gave the mall a modern feel, but staying competitive was getting harder as other shopping centers stepped up their game.
Ownership also changed hands. In early 2005, Feldman Mall Properties, a New York-based firm, acquired Stratford Square with plans to modernize it further.
Around the same time, a Steve & Barry’s opened in the mall, drawing budget-conscious shoppers.
In 2007, the company invested in a complete overhaul of the old four-screen movie theater, turning it into a 16-screen Cinemark Century Theater.
The revamped theater introduced stadium seating, marble floors, and even a cappuccino bar, an attempt to make Stratford Square more of an entertainment hotspot.
Store Closures and Declining Foot Traffic
By the late 2000s and early 2010s, store closures at Stratford Square Mall were becoming more common.
Steve & Barry’s shut down in 2009 when the entire chain went under, and other retailers followed, reflecting the bigger struggles happening in malls across the country.
By 2014, the mall’s struggles became more obvious. In January, JCPenney announced it was closing 33 locations nationwide, including the Stratford Square store, which shut its doors on May 3, 2014.
Around the same time, the mall was acquired by StreetMac LLC, a real estate investment firm that attempted to stabilize operations.
Anchor stores continued to disappear. Macy’s, which had replaced Marshall Field’s in 2006, closed on March 26, 2017, as part of a company-wide downsizing plan.
The next year, Carson’s shut down when its parent company, The Bon-Ton, went out of business.
The store officially closed on August 29, 2018. These closures left Stratford Square with empty anchor spaces that had once been key traffic drivers.
To keep shoppers coming back, the mall leaned into entertainment and dining. Round One opened in 2015 in the lower level of the old Carson’s wing, offering bowling, arcade games, and karaoke.
25 West Brewery followed in 2018, and Red Robin had already joined in 2008. But even with these additions, retail was still on the decline.
In 2019, Namdar Realty Group, a New York company known for buying struggling malls, took over Stratford Square.
That same year, Sears closed on November 10, leaving Kohl’s and Burlington as the only anchor stores still standing.
Property values had crashed, reflecting the mall’s decline.
A few businesses stayed open, but the atmosphere had changed. By the end of the decade, with more empty storefronts and fewer shoppers, it was clear that Stratford Square was running on borrowed time.
Ownership Changes, Legal Battles, and Final Days
By 2020, Stratford Square Mall was struggling to attract tenants. Many retailers had already left, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic made matters worse.
Victoria’s Secret, Express, Scooby’s Hot Dogs, and Oriental Gifts were among the stores that closed during this period.
The Round One arcade shut down permanently on October 11, 2020, and the mall’s Cinemark Century Theater moved out shortly after.
The mall’s property value collapsed. In 2012, Stratford Square had been valued at $20.3 million. By 2021, that number had dropped to $466,000—a steep decline that reflected its empty storefronts and lack of business.
Around this time, the Village of Bloomingdale started looking for ways to take control of the property.
In May 2023, the village sued Namdar Realty Group, accusing the company of neglecting the mall and failing to market its spaces to potential tenants.
The legal battle centered around whether Namdar had allowed the property to deteriorate while making no real effort to revive it.
To gain leverage in its redevelopment plans, Bloomingdale purchased two former anchor spaces: the Carson Pirie Scott building for $2.4 million and the Burlington (Montgomery Ward) building for $1.1 million.
The village then acquired the former Sears anchor in September 2023 for $2.8 million.
In January 2024, Bloomingdale settled the lawsuit with Namdar, agreeing to buy the entire mall for $8.75 million.
This effectively ended Stratford Square’s time as a retail center.
With ownership transferred, the village gave the remaining tenants 90 days to vacate.
Some left immediately, while others, like Lids and FYE, stayed open until early 2024.
The mall officially closed on April 21, 2024. A few businesses, such as Bull & Bear Axe Throwing and Challenge Accepted Escape Rooms, stayed open until April 13.
Kids Town 2 and Alterations U.S.A. relocated to other shopping centers before the final shutdown.
By October 2024, demolition work had begun, starting with the Burlington (Montgomery Ward) building.
Redevelopment Plans and the Future of the Stratford Square Mall Site
With Stratford Square Mall officially closed and demolition underway, the focus has shifted to what will happen to the 45-acre property in Bloomingdale, Illinois.
The Village of Bloomingdale has been working with developers to transform the site into a mixed-use commercial and residential district that better fits modern retail and real estate trends.
On August 13, 2024, real estate firm Segovia Partners unveiled redevelopment plans for the mall property.
The Grove at Bloomingdale Commons’s plan brings together retail, dining, entertainment, and residential spaces in one walkable area.
The old enclosed mall design will be replaced by a new layout featuring open-air storefronts, green spaces, and pedestrian-friendly pathways.
Plans include street-level retail and restaurant spaces designed to attract national and local businesses.
The project also incorporates entertainment venues, fitness centers, and recreational facilities.
The development will include a new luxury apartment complex, offering residential units close to the shopping and dining areas.
The plan includes a central park with walking trails, fountains, and space for events.
The village has said the final design isn’t set in stone—public feedback sessions in 2025 will help shape the details.
Roads and parking areas are also set to be upgraded to handle future crowds and new residents.
While exact construction timelines are still being finalized, demolition is expected to continue through early 2025, with site preparation beginning later in the year.
The first phase of the new development is projected to open by 2027, though delays could push that timeline back.
Incidents and Unusual Events at Stratford Square Mall
On February 8, 1984, a Roman Catholic priest from Carpentersville went on a burglary spree that lasted more than four hours.
He stole items from seven stores at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg before making his way to Stratford Square.
There, he and a 60-year-old woman stole over 100 items from Marshall Field’s before getting caught.
Security officers detained them inside the store, and both were later charged with felony retail theft and possession of stolen property.
Another serious incident occurred on June 1, 1990, when a 220-gallon carboy of industrial chemicals spilled outside the mall during a delivery.
The container held a mixture of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and other chemicals.
About 100 gallons leaked into the mall’s sewer system, and some fumes were sucked into Marshall Field’s air intake system, exposing employees to toxic air.
Fifteen workers were hospitalized, though all were released the same day.
On June 12, 2018, a shooting took place in the Burlington parking lot. A 23-year-old man named Keonte Griffin opened fire after an altercation. The mall’s loss prevention officer was shot in the shoulder, while Griffin was hit in his hand and thigh.
He was arrested and later sentenced to six years in prison for aggravated battery with a firearm and possession of a weapon by a felon.
One of the last criminal incidents before the mall closed happened on April 22, 2023, when two armed suspects robbed a jewelry store.
One carried a gun, while the other used a hammer to break display cases. They stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise before escaping in a black Jeep Grand Cherokee.
While Stratford Square Mall was primarily known for shopping and entertainment, these events added a different kind of history to its legacy.