Remembering Randhurst

Photos from Randhurst Shopping Mall's closing day on September 30, 2008.

AS OF JANUARY 2009 RANDHURST HAS STARTED COMING DOWN.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• randhurst
• mall
• shopping
• center
• mount
• prospect
• il
• illinois
• dead
• urban
• decline
• abandoned
• carsons
• wieboldts
• penneys
• wards

[CGaquamarine3]

The thing I liked most about Randhurst was the original architecture. Remember when the dome was white and the windows were stained glass? That was what I liked best of all- looking up and seeing that. Wish I could find a photo of that! Also, the malls used to have waterfalls-ART. With Chicago's weather, it was a nice way to get out of the elements and enjoy a day.

[jonrev]

@CGaquamarine3 Agreed. The remodel in the 80s really downgraded the mall's aesthetics, and unfortunately it's still a trend today (look at modern Walmarts with open ceilings and a "warehouse" atmosphere). Furthermore, malls being run by chains are losing any sort of individuality year after year... Westfield has done a great job of neutering nearby Hawthorn Center and Old Orchard over the last decade.

Check out the Randhurst book that was just published... lots of cool pics there

[656LEGOGUY]

same thing happend with lakehurst in waukegan

[jonrev]

@656LEGOGUY Yep, they were actually very similar... corporate-wise at least. Both designed by Victor Gruen, too. Got the sign from that place: /watch?v=7D2l1PIsHLQ&

[Livinggreen100]

It's, really, horrible.

Glass, cement, and steel.

Those ridiculous, unfinished ceilings and that the round tower thing? ugghh.

good riddance.

It was probably nice, once upon a time, in 70s style.

I can't believe that we, as a nation, once thought BIGger was better, and cement and glass were, cool?

It will join the fast growing list of similar dying malls, by the 100s and 1000s.

Nice production job, thanks for sharing.

[jonrev]

@Livinggreen100 Oh, the place was phenomenal in the 60s... check out the blog "Pleasant Family Shopping", they've been doing alot of Randhurst coverage as of late...

[sugarbear522]

I was there in 2005 to see a movie in its theater: "Crash". I also liked the escalator.

Well, you can blame Woodfield Mall, a dead economy (see "Capitalism: A Love Story"), and big boxes like Wal-Mart for the closing.

[HattieLovesCattie]

@jonrev I think Monty Ward's closing started the end of the malls.I didn't believe the malls dying story in the NY Times in the 1980's.Two malls near me have been torn down but replaced by a fancy outdoor shopping center and a mega-mall which is doing well.The new mall is by the interstate as the old ones were on smaller local four lane roads.The blame also goes to Wally-Marts and the internet too.

[MissMaddy881]

@Yesterdays92 sorry your mall's dying. the mall where i'm from is doing good.

[656LEGOGUY]

@656LEGOGUY look for lake hurst . com

[5papa]

People still long for old fashioned traditions. Most cities abandoned their downtown shopping areas for malls in the 70's because of high crime. The malls were only slightly better as we found out. Now cities are renovating their downtown areas in hopes of attracting businesses and hope that shoppers return to downtown areas. Old areas of cities are being converted to loft apartments also. Another fad that I think will backfire someday. People are paying a fortune to live in these things.