River Oaks Center
Encyclopedia
River Oaks Center is located at the southeast corner of River Oaks Drive and Torrence Avenue in Calumet City, Illinois
. River Oaks Center originally opened in 1966 and was a development of KLC Ventures, a firm that included pioneering developer Philip M. Klutznick and his son Tom. The elder Klutznick had developed Park Forest, Illinois
after World War II, as well as Oakbrook Center
in Oak Brook in 1959 and Old Orchard Shopping Center
in Skokie in 1956. River Oaks Center is the largest enclosed shopping mall in the south suburbs of Chicago, and the seventh largest in the metropolitan area totaling 1379824 square feet (128,190 m²). Today, there are over 140 stores and 4 anchors include Carson Pirie Scott
, JCPenney, Macy's
, and Sears. Simon Property Group
manages and owns River Oaks Center.
, which built a 275000 square feet (25,548.3 m²) store, Sears
, and a branch of Edward C. Minas Company, which was based in nearby Hammond, Indiana
. Other major stores included a Jewel
supermarket at the south end, and a S. S. Kresge dime store next to Sears. Kresge closed in 1987 and became a movie theater
, while the closure of Jewel made way for a McDonald's
restaurant and a second theater complex. Many of the stores in the mall in its first 20 years were outposts of Chicago retailers, including Chas A Stevens, Kroch's and Brentano's, and C.D. Peacock. Carson Pirie Scott
eventually took over the Edward C. Minas store.
In 1985, the mall was expanded when J. C. Penney
moved its store from downtown Hammond, Indiana
to the northwest portion of the mall's parking lot. A new wing was also built to connect JCPenney to the mall, and a food court
was added on the enclosed lower level.
In 1994 the redevelopment was completed. The mall was enclosed and 80000 square feet (7,432.2 m²) of gross leasable area
was added. New retailers opened at the mall and the tenant mix became more upscale bringing in some retailers who had not yet located in the Southern Suburbs. The mall's size was brought up to 1380000 square feet (128,206.2 m²) making it the largest mall in the South Suburbs. A new food court was added on the main mall level, with the former food court being vacated.
The mall was sold in 1997 to Simon Property Group
of Indianapolis, which has managed it ever since and a large office building with Westwood College as its major tenant in both the office building and in the former Tower Cafe space. Steve & Barry's
opened in the JCPenney wing replacing what had originally been Evans and later Maple Mysel's/Weiss Furs, but closed in 2008. Sonic America's Drive-In opened June 20th, 2011.
(later Kohl's
) built a store on the southern end of the mall, taking out a row of smaller shops and restaurants.
Just to the north, but in the same parking lot was a Venture
and an A&P supermarket which later became Marshalls
. Venture eventually went out of business as well in 1998 and became a Big Kmart
and operated until 2002. Several stores such as Bed Bath & Beyond
, Old Navy
and Michaels
have all filled in the former Venture/Kmart space.
Today River Oaks West has evolved into a more traditional "power center" featuring mostly big box stores facing Torrence. As of December 2007 the movie theatre has been demolished, leaving only the smaller retailers. In early 2008 the former Kohl's Department store was demolished in order to make way for Sam's Club
.
. However, it was built as a "power center" with several large "big box" stores with smaller shops and restaurants. The original anchors of this center were Zayre
, Highland Appliances, Service Merchandise
, Cub Foods
(Now a Ultra Foods), Toys R Us, Handy Andy, and Designer Depot. In 2009, the center received a face lift and now has an orange, red, and yellow tropical design. In March of 2011, TJ Maxx has returned to The Landings in the former AJ Wright store.
Calumet City, Illinois
Calumet City is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 39,072 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 60409.Calumet City was founded in 1892 when the villages of Schrumville and Sobieski Park merged under the name of West Hammond, since it lies on the west side of the...
. River Oaks Center originally opened in 1966 and was a development of KLC Ventures, a firm that included pioneering developer Philip M. Klutznick and his son Tom. The elder Klutznick had developed Park Forest, Illinois
Park Forest, Illinois
Park Forest is a village located south of Chicago in Cook County and Will County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 23,462...
after World War II, as well as Oakbrook Center
Oakbrook Center
Oakbrook Center is an upscale super-regional shopping center located near Interstate 88 in Oak Brook, Illinois. It was originally opened in 1962 and has become the largest open-air center in the contiguous United States with over 160 stores and restaurants...
in Oak Brook in 1959 and Old Orchard Shopping Center
Westfield Old Orchard
Westfield Old Orchard, formerly Old Orchard Shopping Center, is an open-air upscale shopping center in Skokie, Illinois. It is the third largest mall by total square footage in Illinois. Its anchor stores are Bloomingdale's, Macy's , Lord & Taylor, L.L. Bean and Nordstrom...
in Skokie in 1956. River Oaks Center is the largest enclosed shopping mall in the south suburbs of Chicago, and the seventh largest in the metropolitan area totaling 1379824 square feet (128,190 m²). Today, there are over 140 stores and 4 anchors include Carson Pirie Scott
Carson Pirie Scott
Carson Pirie Scott & Co., known informally as Carson's, is an upscale chain of department stores that have been in business for over 150 years. Their product price points are targeted to the moderate-to-upscale shopper...
, JCPenney, Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, and Sears. Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group, Inc. is an American commercial real estate company, ranked #1 in the United States as the largest real estate investment trust. Simon is a fully integrated real estate company which operates from five retail real estate platforms: regional malls, Premium Outlet Centers, The...
manages and owns River Oaks Center.
History
River Oaks originally opened as an outdoor mall with one minor and two major department stores. The original anchors were Marshall Field'sMarshall Field's
Marshall Field & Company was a department store in Chicago, Illinois that grew to become a major chain before being acquired by Macy's Inc...
, which built a 275000 square feet (25,548.3 m²) store, Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
, and a branch of Edward C. Minas Company, which was based in nearby Hammond, Indiana
Hammond, Indiana
Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 80,830 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hammond is located at ....
. Other major stores included a Jewel
Jewel (supermarket)
Jewel-Osco is a supermarket chain headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. Jewel-Osco has 182 stores across northern, central, and western Illinois; eastern Iowa; and portions of northwest Indiana.Jewel-Osco and Jewel are currently wholly owned subsidiaries of Eden Prairie,...
supermarket at the south end, and a S. S. Kresge dime store next to Sears. Kresge closed in 1987 and became a movie theater
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
, while the closure of Jewel made way for a McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
restaurant and a second theater complex. Many of the stores in the mall in its first 20 years were outposts of Chicago retailers, including Chas A Stevens, Kroch's and Brentano's, and C.D. Peacock. Carson Pirie Scott
Carson Pirie Scott
Carson Pirie Scott & Co., known informally as Carson's, is an upscale chain of department stores that have been in business for over 150 years. Their product price points are targeted to the moderate-to-upscale shopper...
eventually took over the Edward C. Minas store.
In 1985, the mall was expanded when J. C. Penney
J. C. Penney
-External links:*...
moved its store from downtown Hammond, Indiana
Hammond, Indiana
Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 80,830 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hammond is located at ....
to the northwest portion of the mall's parking lot. A new wing was also built to connect JCPenney to the mall, and a food court
Food court
A food court is generally an indoor plaza or common area within a facility that is contiguous with the counters of multiple food vendors and provides a common area for self-serve dining. Food courts may be found in shopping malls and airports, and in various regions may be a standalone development...
was added on the enclosed lower level.
Expansion
In the late 1980s and early 1990s then owner JMB Corp. of Chicago had several plans to expand and enclose the outdoor mall. These plans included adding a second level and possibly a fifth department store at the end of the southeastern wing of the mall. These plans coincided with Chicago's Lake Calumet Airport which would have been just a few miles north of the mall and would have transformed the area around the mall into an office and business hub. However, these plans never materialized and finally in 1993 JMB began a smaller version of the redevelopment which included additional retail space and enclosing the common areas mall. The reconfiguration also modernized the layout of the mall putting stores closer together.In 1994 the redevelopment was completed. The mall was enclosed and 80000 square feet (7,432.2 m²) of gross leasable area
Gross leasable area
Gross leasable area in the retail development industry is a term applied to shopping malls, lifestyle centers, outlet malls and other retail centers to indicate the amount of floor space available to be rented...
was added. New retailers opened at the mall and the tenant mix became more upscale bringing in some retailers who had not yet located in the Southern Suburbs. The mall's size was brought up to 1380000 square feet (128,206.2 m²) making it the largest mall in the South Suburbs. A new food court was added on the main mall level, with the former food court being vacated.
The mall was sold in 1997 to Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group, Inc. is an American commercial real estate company, ranked #1 in the United States as the largest real estate investment trust. Simon is a fully integrated real estate company which operates from five retail real estate platforms: regional malls, Premium Outlet Centers, The...
of Indianapolis, which has managed it ever since and a large office building with Westwood College as its major tenant in both the office building and in the former Tower Cafe space. Steve & Barry's
Steve & Barry's
Steve & Barry's was an American retail clothing chain, featuring casual apparel. By mid-2008, the chain operated 276 stores in 39 states. The company was headquartered in Port Washington, New York. The company liquidated all of its stores throughout 2008....
opened in the JCPenney wing replacing what had originally been Evans and later Maple Mysel's/Weiss Furs, but closed in 2008. Sonic America's Drive-In opened June 20th, 2011.
Anchors
- Carson Pirie ScottCarson Pirie ScottCarson Pirie Scott & Co., known informally as Carson's, is an upscale chain of department stores that have been in business for over 150 years. Their product price points are targeted to the moderate-to-upscale shopper...
(opened 1986) - JCPenney (opened 1985)
- Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
(opened 2006 after they bought Marshall Fields) - Sears (opened 1966)
River Oaks West
On the western side of Torrence Avenue is River Oaks West. This was a smaller cousin of River Oaks Center built in the early 1970s also as an outdoor mall. Originally there were no anchor stores here, just a collection of smaller shops, many facing an interior courtyard, while others faced Torrence. There was also a movie theatre in the back of the mall and another on an outlot. TJ Maxx was the largest store here until 1986 when a MainStreetMainStreet
MainStreet was a department store chain based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The chain was launched in November 1983 by Federated Department Stores . Throughout the 1980s, the chain expanded to twenty-nine stores in Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota...
(later Kohl's
Kohl's
Kohl's Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating , 1,089 stores in 49 states. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500...
) built a store on the southern end of the mall, taking out a row of smaller shops and restaurants.
Just to the north, but in the same parking lot was a Venture
Venture Stores
Venture Stores, Inc., was a chain of retail stores that operated in the American Midwest. The company operated over 70 stores with major market share in St. Louis, Chicago and Kansas City, being headquartered in the St. Louis suburb of O'Fallon, Missouri....
and an A&P supermarket which later became Marshalls
Marshalls
Marshalls, Inc., is a chain of American department stores owned by TJX Companies. Marshalls has over 750 conventional stores, as well as larger stores named Marshalls Mega Store, covering 42 states and Puerto Rico. Marshalls expanded into Canada in March 2011...
. Venture eventually went out of business as well in 1998 and became a Big Kmart
Kmart
Kmart, sometimes styled as "K-Mart," is a chain of discount department stores. The chain acquired Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Wal-Mart and...
and operated until 2002. Several stores such as Bed Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. was formed in 1971 and today operates a chain of domestic merchandise retail stores across United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. They feature mostly medium-ranged, but also a limited selection of high quality, domestic merchandise: items for the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen,...
, Old Navy
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
and Michaels
Michaels
Michaels is an arts and crafts retail chain. It currently operates more than 1040 Michaels Arts and Crafts Stores located in 49 U.S. states and in Canada. The company owns and operates the Aaron Brothers retail chain which consists of more than 140 stores...
have all filled in the former Venture/Kmart space.
Today River Oaks West has evolved into a more traditional "power center" featuring mostly big box stores facing Torrence. As of December 2007 the movie theatre has been demolished, leaving only the smaller retailers. In early 2008 the former Kohl's Department store was demolished in order to make way for Sam's Club
Sam's Club
Sam's Club is a chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., founded in 1983 and named after Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. , the Sam's Club chain serves more than 47 million U.S. members...
.
Junior Anchors
- Bed Bath and Beyond (third of former Venture/Kmart space)
- MichaelsMichaelsMichaels is an arts and crafts retail chain. It currently operates more than 1040 Michaels Arts and Crafts Stores located in 49 U.S. states and in Canada. The company owns and operates the Aaron Brothers retail chain which consists of more than 140 stores...
(third of former Venture/Kmart space) - Old NavyOld NavyOld Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
(third of former Venture/Kmart space)
The Landings
On the south side of the Little Calumet River is another large shopping center called The Landings. The Landings is just across the border from Calumet City in the village of Lansing. Built on a former driving range and mini-golf course, The Landings opened in 1987. This mall was at one time planned as an enclosed mall with a similar design as Orland Park Place in Orland Park, IllinoisOrland Park, Illinois
Orland Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States; it also extends slightly into Will County. The population was 56,767 at the 2010 census. The office of the Assistant Village Manager, Ellen Baer, states that the Will County section of Orland Park is industrial while the Cook County...
. However, it was built as a "power center" with several large "big box" stores with smaller shops and restaurants. The original anchors of this center were Zayre
Zayre
Zayre was a chain of discount stores that operated in the Northeastern, Southern and Midwestern United States from 1956 to 1990. The company's headquarters was in Framingham, Massachusetts. In 1988, the Zayre department stores were sold to the parent company of the competing Ames chain, and Zayre's...
, Highland Appliances, Service Merchandise
Service Merchandise
Service Merchandise is an online retailer and former retailer chain of catalog showroom stores carrying fine jewelry, toys, sporting goods, and electronics that existed for 68 years...
, Cub Foods
Cub Foods
Cub Foods is a supermarket chain with seventy-three stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based SuperValu...
(Now a Ultra Foods), Toys R Us, Handy Andy, and Designer Depot. In 2009, the center received a face lift and now has an orange, red, and yellow tropical design. In March of 2011, TJ Maxx has returned to The Landings in the former AJ Wright store.
Anchors
- Anna's Linens
- Barefeet Shoes
- Ultra Foods
- Walmart
- Forman MillsForman MillsForman Mills, Inc., is a Pennsauken, NJ, -based retail chain and department store with 28 stores, located in Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, Delaware, New Jersey, Washington DC, Chicago, New York and their suburbs. They also operate a store at the Iverson Mall in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland...
- Pay/Half
- Pier 1 ImportsPier 1 ImportsPier 1 Imports Inc. is a Fort Worth, Texas based retailer specializing in imported home furnishings and decor, particularly furniture, table-top items, decorative accessories and seasonal decor. The chain operates over 1,000 stores under the name Pier 1 Imports in the United States, Canada, Mexico...
- TJ Maxx
- Burlington Coat FactoryBurlington Coat FactoryBurlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
- Dollar TreeDollar TreeDollar Tree, Inc. is an American chain of discount variety stores that sells every item for $1.00 or less. A Fortune 500 company, Dollar Tree is headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia and operates 4,010 stores throughout the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Its stores are supported by a nationwide...
- Party CityParty CityParty City is the largest retail party supply store in the United States, including Puerto Rico, with more than 500 corporate and franchised locations...