Joliet, Illinois - circa late '70s
Family shopping trip... late-seventies style! Welcome to Louis Joliet Mall, or Westfield Louis Joliet, as it's officially known these days (naturally). This photo is from a print ad dating to around the late 1970s or so. Here's the ad copy:
"Whatever you have in mind, we have in store. Explore Louis Joliet Mall and find more of what you're looking for. More choices. More variety. More of the latest fashions in over 100 fine stores. Plus a mouth-watering variety of foods to suit every taste. Convenient services that put an end to driving all over town. And exciting special events. So when you're looking for more, discover... Louis Joliet Mall
More than 100 fine shops and services including Sears, Marshall Field's, Bergner's, and J.C. Penney"
Here's some excerpted history from its Wikipedia page:"The mall opened in 1978 (August 2) with Sears and Marshall Field & Company. Bergner's opened in September 1979, and JCPenney would move from downtown to the mall one month later. In the beginning, Louis Joliet Mall had stiff competition from the slightly older mall a few miles away on Jefferson Street, Jefferson Square Mall.Mall history: 1978 - present
The Westfield Group acquired the shopping center in 2003, and renamed it 'Westfield Shoppingtown Louis Joliet', dropping the 'Shoppingtown' name in June 2005. However, most locals do not use the Westfield name for the mall. Many call it 'Joliet Mall', or 'Louie Mall'."
Developer: Homart Development
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Info from Wikipedia
Reference links: 1, 2
Previous entries: none
By the way, I plan to go to a nearby Westfield property tomorrow once I get paid (first time in months). Might see a film there as they're playing "Meet the Robinsons" in that "Disney Digital 3D" format. Wish me luck!
ReplyDeleteThat movie is almost 16 years old
DeleteNaturally, who the hell would want to call it Westfield Mall when Westfield already owns a bunch of malls that they stuck their name in?
ReplyDeleteHow is this mall doing nowadays? Anyone out there know? Is it still delightfully 70s looking?
Yes! This mall is delightfully 70's looking. I went to this mall right after the Marshall Field's/Macy's conversion to buy any remaining Field's stuff I could find and the picture for this post looks exactly like present day. The signs above each wing that go to an anchor store are still there (oddly enough, the Times style font that Sears used back in the day is still displayed on the interior overhang).
ReplyDeleteThe interior of this mall has a very woodsy style...maybe it's all the beams up towards the ceiling. As far as stores, it's all the typical stuff you see in every other mall. Except there is quite a bit of urban stuff for sale. Not a bad mall...but certainly not worth going out of your way to visit.
Just read online in the Herald Times that the mall is being revamped. They will add an outdoor part between Sears and Macys to compete with other lifestyle malls.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great picture, man I miss the earth-tone-y look. Even the wood paneling of the Foot Locker. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteJoliet was just like many other greats, just like my favorite seen here. Once you read the MOA blog, see what they did to my girl here.
westfield and simon need to get it through their thick skulls that their "brand names" do nothing but irritate locals.
ReplyDeletethey'd like to imagine there is something special about their collection of chain retail stores, and having this homogenisation rubbed in their face with this mall "branding" is really the final insult.
I used to frequent this mall regularly during my teenage years, but I left for college in 2002 and have probably only visited a handful of times since then, but definitely not since it was last updated. What I can say is that I don't recall those brick-like floors, but then again, I was just there to shop, not study the aesthetics (which I now regret). Wonder what it looks like now?
ReplyDeleteDoes ANYONE have a picture of the sequined Bergner's sign from the parking lot entrance? If so please leave a comment here and I'll be notified.
ReplyDeleteThey’re tearing this mall down in the next few years
ReplyDelete