South Suburban Retail News

[pvande55]

Originally Posted by nealtaylor

Carsons has now closed their Matteson location

The worst part is they gave no notice. Customers arrived having no idea the store was closed until they got there.

[leroy217]

Originally Posted by Dr. Blish

Carson’s probably owns that building so they may sell it to the village of Matteson.

Which means its going to be turned into an urban greenhouse!

[chet everett]

Typically the mall developer "gives" the anchors a extremely long "land lease" for the "pad". If the retailer is unable to profitably operate their store the "pad" and the "improvements" revert to the mall owner and the trend for such developers is to try to get other retailers to use the space. In some cases the developer will attempt to get more of an "entertainment" oriented tenant like a bowling alley, laser tag, movie theater, skating rink, or similar business operating in the space for the obvious positive impact on "traffic" of potential shoppers...

[leroy217]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Typically the mall developer "gives" the anchors a extremely long "land lease" for the "pad". If the retailer is unable to profitably operate their store the "pad" and the "improvements" revert to the mall owner and the trend for such developers is to try to get other retailers to use the space. In some cases the developer will attempt to get more of an "entertainment" oriented tenant like a bowling alley, laser tag, movie theater, skating rink, or similar business operating in the space for the obvious positive impact on "traffic" of potential shoppers...

It's just going to be hard to generate any traffic in that area. The only thing back there now is a JcPenney which probably is not doing the best. The movie theater idea might work.

[Dr. Blish]

JCPenney announces closure of Calumet City store.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usa...amp/3135608001

[Army_Guy]

I was really surprised the Matteson location survived. The village must have cut JCP a huge tax break of sorts to stay. It's tucked back there and difficult to see from Cicero or Lincoln Highway.

[Curly Q. Bobalink]

The last time I drove through Ford City Mall (in 2019, pre-Covid), it was looking pretty rundown and sparsely-populated. I read a new owner bought it in about 2017. Did Covid shut down indoor malls, as I believe it did? If so, maybe they got some Federal dollars, but it's hard to imagine that thing being profitable anymore, I haven't been inside for twenty years. I always wanted to get a job in there as a low-level security or maintenance guy, just for the opportunity to get into the lower levels and photograph them URBEX style for posterity's sake (for those unaware, that facility was built in the early 1940's to make aircraft engines for the war, rumor has it there are tunnels that lead all the way to Midway). From what I hear, just like any other building from that era, it's filled with asbestos, PCB's, etc., I can imagine it would be a nightmare to tear down, and would probably become a Superfund site if it can no longer make it as a mall. Might make a good place for a casino, though.

[Dr. Blish]

Originally Posted by Army_Guy

I was really surprised the Matteson location survived. The village must have cut JCP a huge tax break of sorts to stay. It's tucked back there and difficult to see from Cicero or Lincoln Highway.

Possibly because the Bourbonnais store is closing. Those from that area (Kankakee) will now have to shop at the Matteson store. Also, this was just the first round of closures. The Matteson location might make a future list.