Dead Mall: Pt. 1 Oak Mill Plaza - Niles, IL

[@lawrencepavia5261]

I see this little mall as a gem. The layout, cleanliness and niceties such as the plants and waterfall make it stand out. Built in 1972, it's a near pristine example of late - mid-century contemporary design, somewhat minimalist yet classy. The carpet tiles and their geometric shapes enhance its original style.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Agreed. It's nice that they preserved the inside

[@sz5876]

That's a very good point the other mall he did a few miles up the street this is on Golf Mill Mall looks completely different but this place looks like it did almost 40 years ago with the exception of the upstairs.

[@clairelfhs02]

Cool video, but I don't think Oak Mill can be defined as a dead mall because it's always been this way. It's not like they had major anchors that left. It's really just an office complex with a Jewel.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+Claire Osada It was so quiet that day. It was a cool visit though.

[@sz5876]

It wasn't much busier when I was a kid in the mid 80s.

[@SynchroSk8]

I have fond memories of buying my grandma a music box at this mall. Last time I was there was early 1990s. Great video, thank you for taking the time to post it.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+SynchroSk8 Thanks for watching. What store?

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Nevermind that's stupid question ;)

[@SynchroSk8]

I am pretty sure there was a little European Import type store on the first floor. It was early 1990's but I remember picking it out among so many other lovely nick-knacks.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+SynchroSk8 That's interesting. I think I know what store you mean because there is a place by the consignment store that sells things similar to. To be honest that was the first time I've ever visited that place. It was really neat and super unique.

[@Kevin-mq8sm]

SynchroSk8 there is, still there. European imports

[@huntrrams]

Dan Bell will love this

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+moviemagic it's a nice small. His network is more out east.

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

Love Dan Bell's channel's! :)

[@sz5876]

We used to ride our bikes here from Park Ridge, the town next door in the mid 80s. The two towns were (and still are) wildly different. Niles had always been lower middle class, blue collar, more immigrant families, etc. and this place is very fitting. PR next door was middle to upper middle class with large old homes and lots of shady streets while Niles was like this, more barren and all built in the 60s. This also borders on the NW corner of Chicago.

[@zeroxlulu]

Nice video man! The whole 2nd floor doesn't feel like a mall at all, makes me feel like I'm in a office building more than anything lol. Nice to see another fellow small KZbinr making dead mall videos, keep it up!

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+zeroxlulu the medical offices was added when the stores on the second level went out of business. Thanks for viewing.

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

:) zeroxlulu :)

[@fionaanimates8692]

I used to drive past that thing all the time. I’ve always wondered what it looked like on the inside

[@gregkarris6869]

Thanks for doing the Chicago area (where I'm from) - seems like there's mostly Dead Mall videos of malls in the Northeast US. Smart of the owners that they can fill the spaces with medical use if a retail store leaves. You plan on doing large store closings? The KMart and Sears in my area are closing...

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

:)

[@sz5876]

Medical offices get (and can pay) higher rent.

[@EliteLegendToysandCollectibles]

Great video. I had thought about doing something like this, and found you.

[@marklck]

I lived by there when i was in my teens used to hang out there from 1975-1983, the mall was built in late 1974 was called "Candlight courte" and changed it's name in 1977 to Oak Mill Mall, Before 1975 it was a open field with a few stores steinburg bawn and green stamps on the west wing, rest was open field, i was 12 at that time.

[@laurastr1]

I beliece that mall was always enclosed. In High School the record store there was very popular and they sold LOOP merchandise. I think it was Flip Side.

[@josephdelap8293]

This was always an enclosed mall. Also, when the mall was first built, the 2nd floor were also retail shops.

[@sz5876]

They were retail in the 80s for sure

[@chgojoearchivist]

I agree, this isn't really a dead mall. We lived just behind this mall on Mulford and this place was "dead" since the early 1990s. It was normally always occupied by professional offices and small boutique stores. I used to go to European Imports back then for gifts and the State Farm agent here was ours. Minelli's used to be in the Cardinal Liquor location on Milwaukee. I always thought this was a cool, more obscure "mini-mall".

[@WhittyPics]

I seen a video on this mall before. It may not have started out with all the medical in there but was re-purposed as retailers moved out.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+Dennis W The medical offices are really neat. Good the empty stores are put to good use.

[@pilotgrrl1]

I suspect the medical offices are there because it's close to Lutheran General and North Shore hospitals.

[@davinp]

When you look to the windows at the 4:00 minute mark, it reminds of my old high school which has a similar design at the front , but has a longer set of stairs then this mall

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+Davin Peterson wow what high school did you go to. This building is super unique

[@davinp]

Woodbridge High in Woodbridge, VA. Yes, that mall is unique as you don't see malls with that design

[@neildbarker]

There must be some co-relation between ugly flooring & dying malls. Haha, some of these dying malls have the oddest geometric patterns on the floors.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+Neil Barker LOL you're right. I think this flooring looks pretty cool though I'd keep it.

[@DylanPierceCrowley]

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[@DylanPierceCrowley]

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[@DylanPierceCrowley]

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[@DylanPierceCrowley]

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[@CompletelyDisinterested]

Cool. A couple of friends of mine own some of that mall. She had her dental office there for years. I haven’t been in there in twenty years myself. Originally it was supposed to have an out lot on a Milwaukee and Oakton with a McDonalds but I think Niles killed that idea.

[@a.r.s.schaerli3086]

I remember being in this mall many times in 80s as a kid.. Somehow I remember a gym or sometype of fitness aerobics place on second floor.

[@sz5876]

It was the closest "mall" to Park Ridge, but more of an enclosed shopping center than a proper mall.

[@naurm.a4686]

I have been driving by this plaza for over 15 years, this is the first time I found out that a mall type shopping exists here.

[@Jude74]

It was dying the last time I went there in 2000. It was never that hot save the Jewel/ Osco. The interior was dated before they even completed construction. It was always a weird cross between a nursing home and shitty cruise ship stores.

[@KoubuPilot]

Christown in Phoenix has a mezzanine. It's not as large as this one. I know there are military recruitment offices up there. The mall was AZ's first indoor mall in 1962 and expanded with a wing to Diamond's (Dillard's Clearance when I first visited. It was redeveloped in the 2000s. The center mezzanine survives but everything west including the 70s wing was demolished except for Ward's, which got divided. Costco at center court HAS A MALL ENTRANCE as does Wal-Mart at the east end! 1962 features were removed from the courts long ago and the slipper staircases were reduced to normal looking stairs.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Enrique Cortez wow that's a really cool mall. I looked it up. Does it still exist?

[@KoubuPilot]

Urbex- A Peak Inside Part of it does. It was a dumbbell then gained a wing in the 70s. It also extended south from where Wal-Mart is today to a little food court with 3 or 4 spaces and a United Artist Theater above it. That part was replaced by a brand new Harkins Theater that sits just outside mall doors. Wal-Mart replaced an old Korrick's/The Broadway. Costco replaced JC Penney. Funny thing about the prodigal JCP is that it moved to Metrocenter into a 3 level anchor, but closed after a couple of years. Their new Christown store is where the mall portion ends. The place died as a mall, but is successful in its current mall/power center combo. The mall has a lot local businesses anchored by Wal-Mart, Costco and JCP, each connected to the mall. Then there's big box stores like Ross and Target arranges as such. Movies attract the additional weekend crowds. You can still see the original Ward's facade as it had two floors. This isn't the only redeveloped mall like tgis. Camelback Colonnade is in Phoenix and still has a piece of the old Colonnade Mall and repurposed anchors. Part of Maryvale Mall was demolished but a lot of it is there and used for the public schools. The outdoor Park Central's anchors are valuable Uptown office space by a hospital. United Health-care is operating out of a new look Penney! Fiesta Mall is next and Metrocenter will probably be next in line. Both Retail Archaeology and I have videos and Instagram posts of the malls around here.

[@misterhot9163]

@@KoubuPilot unfortunately Costco and Penney’s has since closed at Crisstown. It’s uncertain what will replace those vacant spots.

[@KoubuPilot]

@@misterhot9163 Since September. I'm aware.

[@TheWeilaphobia]

That's so vintage!

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+Emma Leishman indeed. The balcony and staircase make it super unique.

[@amandaelizabeth8095]

Unmmm...you need to go back when someone plays the grand piano (keyboard on top of it!) for the customers going to that deli! That deli is a Chicago suburb treasure!

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+Amanda Camann I heard about it I plan on going a second time. Thanks for the word.

[@amandaelizabeth8095]

Urbex- A Peak Inside Awesome!! I was so shocked walking in like it was 1966!! But the people smiling my own age with their kids was amazing! Take a look at the pics in the deli. I think the workers could tell you a millions stories!

[@amandaelizabeth8095]

When you capture the ‘pianist’, you’ll understand.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+Amanda Camann haha

[@pilotgrrl1]

I passed this place every weekday on my way to and from work for four years, but never went there. I shopped at REI which is on the other side of Dempster

[@firstlast8481]

As a kid i remember mfs were in the parking lot racing with RCs

[@Hopeguz3]

The floors are kinda weird, but I like the design of the mall though. Keep up the good work you have a subscriber.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+CeCe W thanks for checking it out. I like the mall the best.

[@cesarmedina8848]

I like the old style floor's

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+Cesar Medina Me too.

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

Same here

[@itzbender948]

Holy shit I never knew this was a mall. I thought it was just main anchor stores and Oak Mill Plaza was just another giant weirdly named anchor.

[@misterhat5823]

Didn't you already upload this?

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+Mister Hat Yes. My videos in the beginning were silent. I realized that I need to have some upgrades to them so I'm upgrading all of them and including new videos also I just revised it to add sound and made it more to what my new videos are like.

[@SynchroSk8]

Really enjoying them!

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+SynchroSk8 Thanks.

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

Love the channel name... Mister Hat! :)

[@ZyllAvatar]

Wow a fur coat store, I have never seen one in my life.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+Matthew Urban fur coats are really popular in France. I also saw some when I was in Quebec City and Montreal which are high for speaking areas.

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

:)

[@HairPlugsJoe]

New subscriber. Thanks!

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+Arcademonster1 Thanks a lot I appreciate that.

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

:) Hey Arcademonster1

[@chrissyc7840]

Never knew there was an inclosed portion to this. Always just thought it was a strip mall

[@storm9685]

1:53-1:56 my Dr. This mall is really shit though nothing terrific!

[@thrillington2008]

looking great but sobering with prince playing in the background early on.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+prince millington indeed. Trying to stay away from vaporwave and stick with some of the tunes the mall has which can really help.

[@thrillington2008]

figure out it's raspberry beret

[@Kevin-mq8sm]

That mall has always been like that. When did u go, early sun morning? No it was NEVER a open mall. Your reader was a liar.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

+Kevin Lehning I know he's not a liar he just made an observation and made a guess based off of what the mall looked like.

[@NVC1019]

i go to minelli's deli great italian sandwiches!!

[@jcp012000]

Your voice sounds like this mall looks. Empty and depressed

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Sorry about the late reply but I take that as a compliment because I do that to add flavor to the mall. My live mall videos are spoken differently.

[@MikeyBAAZ]

Oak mill is a joke