Charlestowne Mall has shut its doors as of December 1st, 2017. The remaining businesses are a gym accessed through a rear service door, the cinemas, Von Maur, and until July 2018, Carson Pirie Scott. The future of the mall remains in doubt, but talks of redevelopment from the owners continue.
Rich's Commentary
Posted May 2, 2008 (user submitted)
Charlestowne Mall opened in 1991 at the corner of IL 64 and Kirk Rd on the very eastern edge of St. Charles. It was constructed as a full two-level mall with space for five anchors, and in its prime it had over 100 active stores and many of the nationally known chains that you'd expect. Sears anchored the far west end, Carson Pirie Scott the far east end, and JC Penney on the south side. The north side was intended for two more anchors; Kohl's initially took up the easternmost slot on the north side. Several years later, a multi-theater structure was built on the westernmost slot on the north side and continues to be operated by Regal Cinemas to this very day.
Architecturally speaking, Charlestowne bears strong resemblances to other indoor malls built in the area at about the same time (One Schaumburg Place, Lincolnwood Town Center, and even Gurnee Mills come to mind). Like Lincolnwood Town Center, the food court at Charlestowne is located on the upper level on the north side, dead center. It even has a merry-go-round like its smaller brethren.
I used to visit the mall somewhat regularly during the latter half of the 1990's and into the early 2000's when I worked nearby. One blow to the mall came in 2000 when JC Penney shuttered their location here as a part of their store closings at the time. However, Von Maur took over the space within a couple years afterward, and the mall didn't seem to skip a beat. Relevant chains had been and were present at the mall for some years - ie Sam Goody, Walden Books, Victoria's Secret, American Eagle Outfitters, Hollister, etc. Simply put, Charlestowne had the breadth and selection of a good regional mall.
Fast forward to a recent Saturday afternoon in 2008, I decided to stop by some of my old haunts after a five year hiatus, only to be stunned by what now appears to be an 80-90% vacancy rate within the mall itself. While a few chains such as AE and Victoria's Secret are still there (for the time being anyway), the rest is either boarded up or gated. This time, not even independent retailers took up any of the slack from the fleeing tenants. In sum, the four department stores, the food court, and the theater structure continue to function as of 2008, but the rest of the mall itself is now appallingly empty. When you walk between the anchor stores there are mostly vast rows of empty spaces on both sides. It's quite surreal to be able to walk from Sears toward the center of the mall and not see one functioning tenant in sight. Even the water fountain in the center court is no longer in operation.
For such a large and relatively-new mall in such sad shape, I was surprised not to be able to locate any news article mentioning its decline, let alone any type of redevelopment. It remains to be seen if and/or what St. Charles or the property management intend to do with this shell of a mall.
I was out there recently on some buisness and saw the old place so I stopped in. It's empty. On both floors there was maybe 4 people total. There was a 3d printing place somewhere in the middle of the second floor and that's the one buisness in the mall proper. The movie theater is open but who knows for how long.
The Sears anchor store is gone. Von Maur, Kohls and Carsons are still there as is the huge movie multi-plex. The interior of the mall (the small stores) are all 100% empty now. the food court has just two businesses still operating; both Chinese style buffet - I don't know how they make any money at all. They can't possibly even be breaking even.
I spoke to the owner of one last year and he said he still had 3 years to go on his lease. ouch.
A couple years ago two large sections of the lower floor were boarded up and signs put up heralding the coming of a sushi buffet and an indoor skating rink/entertainment center... then nothing. I never heard any work going on behind those boards. Just last month I was in the mall and noticed the "coming soon!" signs were both torn down. I guess that is that.
Since the entry from 2008, the mall has continued to decline. Most notably, the anchor store Sears has been shuttered as a result of Sears' recent financial difficulties. A number of mainstream retailers have also left the mail, including American Eagle, Express, Victoria's Secret, and Bath and Body Works.
The food court is also ceasing to function. There are only three businesses open in the food court currently, all of dubious quality and at least one with reduced hours. The merry-go-continues to operate, but nobody rides it.
There are 22 operating retailers, food vendors, and kiosks listed on the mall's website, which seems up-to-date. The cinema, run by Classic Cinemas, continues to operate quite successfully and is still a very well-kept and modern cinema complex.
An investment firm in California bought the mall in 2010 and announced its intentions to build an indoor ice rink and a large-scale seafood and sushi buffet, but has failed to act. The city government is currently conducting a study to ascertain the best course of action for the mall. The city is openly considering using eminent domain to demolish the mall.
Julie Nelson’s Commentary:
User submitted Jul 2012
The Sears store has closed; the vacancy rate is probably 90% on the interior.
Charlestowne Mall has been in a state of decline for about 5 years now, but nothing could have prepared me for going in there yesterday (May of 2008). The mall originally opened in the early 1990's and while it never had the selection or size of nearby Woodfield Mall (in Schaumburg), it was far enough away that it maintained its own customers and traffic.
Prior to yesterday, the last time I had been in the mall was around 2003-2004. It appeared to be on its way downhill, as there were a number of closed stores and just as many "Mom & Pop"-type independent stores as there were national or regional retailers. However, the anchor stores (Kohl's, Sears, Von Maur, & Carson Pierie Scott) were all doing well and the 18-screen movie theatre was doing impressive business and still attracting shoppers to the mall.
Located on North Avenue (Route 64) at the edge of St. Charles, I drove up there recently and was appalled. This most certainly qualifies as a "dead mall". The incredible quickness in its decline, I'm sure, has a lot to do with the Geneva Commons Shopping Center opening in about 2004 just ten minutes up North Avenue. Geneva Commons is one of the ever-popular new outdoor lifestyle centers, featuring high-end stores, a mix of restaurants, and I believe even a spa. Surprisingly, the inclimate Chicago-area weather hasn't deterred shoppers away from the outdoor lifestyle centers; many continue to be built in the area and gain more traffic and shoppers than most of the local regional indoor malls.
However, back to Charlestowne: While the anchors are still there, as well as the movie theatre, the shops lining the hallways between anchors are few and far between. The vacancy rate is at at least 75%, with many of the current stores posting signs saying they are closing. Famous Footwear, Charlotte Russe, Carlton Cards, Aeropostale, Deb, American Eagle, RadioShack, Zumiez, The Limited, and Sunglasses Hut are all that remain. There is a Bargain Books that is in the process of selling off all of their merchandise as they are going out of business in Charlestowne. When I was there, the childrens' play area in the center area of the mall had the most people. The food court, located in the center of the second level, had a functioning McDonald's, La Tostada, Great Steak & Potato Company, Gateway Newsstands, Sbarro, and a Japanese fast-food joint. The carousel, located at the very back of the food court and framed by big glass windows at the end of the hallway, was f
unctioning but since nobody was there, no one was riding it.
In every store that I browsed, the salespeople all seemed very understandably bored --- In the Deb store, I browsed for about 20 minutes without a sign of a single salesperson anywhere!
Which mall is pictured for December 2007 on your calendar? The mall looks identical, except for the pattern in the floor tile, to the Charlestowne Mall in St. Charles, IL.
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Seth Motha Nelson’s Commentary:
User submitted in 2019I was out there recently on some buisness and saw the old place so I stopped in. It's empty. On both floors there was maybe 4 people total. There was a 3d printing place somewhere in the middle of the second floor and that's the one buisness in the mall proper. The movie theater is open but who knows for how long.
Dan Glatt’s Commentary:
User submitted in 2018http://www.kcchronicle.com/.../interior-space-at.../abshpor/