Dead Mall: Stratford Square Mall, Bloomingdale, Il

[@cal6316]

Growing up in the western suburbs of Chicago, my family would go to malls every week on our "family day". Out of Yorktown mall, Oakbrook mall, and Woodfield mall, Stratford was always my favorite. It was hopping from 2002-2009 from when we would frequently go. This video gave me a good dose of nostalgia, and a bit of sadness. I hope the mall can continue to operate and garner new business.

[@SuperBeachbum74]

Sadly it’s closing forever

[@Keithmurray23]

Growing up in Carol Stream Stratford was our “downtown”. It’s such a beautiful mall with the abundance of natural light coming in from the amazing glass ceiling. I’m glad to see it reimagining itself to stay somewhat viable. It’s sad to see the retail locations closing but that’s the times unfortunately. Hopefully Woodmans will be the spark the mall needs to attract future businesses.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

It's been a nice mall for many years. Also checked out the Bloomingdale downtown and that was incredible. So historic.

[@pepperj]

KM Health Coaching do you remember the old movie theatre with all the red walls and old movie imagery?

[@retailadventures6]

It for sure is a nice mall, I still try to support it, but it is harder in a dying mall, we still come here for walking and a couple of stores like express, Kohl’s vision works and a couple other places like children’s place.

[@retailadventures6]

I really want woodmans to revive the mall, but they most likely will have to do something like a remodel to keep it a great place to shop.

[@Keithmurray23]

pepperj Most definitely. I remember seeing Karate Kid 2, Beetlejuice, Batman, Rambo 3, Wayne’s World and Men in Black there. I wish there were some pictures of the old theater online somewhere.

[@whoareyoukittinchronicles6461]

This is by far one of the most beautiful dying malls in the US. I used to go to this mall specifically to avoid the chaos of Woodfield. So sad to see this empty.

[@retailadventures6]

Same, and back when Charlestowne and Stratford were thriving you almost would never have to go to woodfield.

[@SuperBeachbum74]

I liked Woodfield but often found it too hectic so I preferred this mall.

[@LHerd33]

Thank you for shooting this and sharing some history! This was my mall when I was growing up and the mall my friends and I could go to without supervision when we were young tweens/teens. This mall is absolutely GORGEOUS with the glass ceilings and wood accents; it's truly a shame it's dead. I was at Kohls there the other day and decided to check out the mall, and unfortunately it does not seem that Woodman's was the answer to drive more traffic here. There are even less stores open now than in this video. I believe it's just a matter of time now before the city demolishes this building which is a shame due to it's beauty.

[@AlexIAm1415]

I love going to this mall during Christmas time! They always decorate very good!

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Wish to have seen that. :)

[@retailadventures6]

@@UrbexAPeakInside I know a little late but the decorations now are not that good and do not decorate like they used to.

[@ericfresh]

This is definitely one of my all time favorite malls. It used to be jumpin! Even as recently as 5-6 years ago it would be pretty busy round the holidays and Round 1 always seemed to have a decent crowd. I really hope Stratford can make it. There used to be an awesome bowling alley/arcade down the way called Galaxy World aka Gala Lanes. Sadly closed in like 2011 and is now a gas station.

[@ericfresh]

@Matt Oh yeah I practically lived at the Alladins Castle in the old St. Charles Mall (RIP)

[@ericfresh]

@Eric Flapjack Ashley lol hi Eric!

[@denac5222]

We just left the theatre at Charlestowne Mall and looking up an old mall map led me to your channel. I've lived in this area my whole life. Last weekend we decided to do an Escape Room at Stratford Square Mall and we figured we'd go early and grab lunch at the food court. It was such a sad experience. Since the time you made this video, there's nearly nothing open. There are 2 restaurants in the food court, both unknown, not big name. The theatre closed during COVID and never reopened to full capacity. It is since fully closed. There were big entertainment plans, but 2020 hurt. The ice skating rink closed, as well as Round One, which we went to often. I got my ears pierced at that Claire's when I was 18, I'm now 41. All of us who live in the area are still hoping for some kind of revival of both Stratford and Charlestowne. I think they should embrace the retro feel, give us entertainment, and give us known stores with reasonable prices. (Not overpriced boutiques) Us 80s and 90s kids who grew up in the golden age of malls, I think, would embrace a comeback.

[@gotmike]

I grew up and still live in Bloomingdale. I can see this mall from my house. I highly suggest doing a video on Indian lakes golf resort. It is abandoned after a shooting left one dead and six injured. Fascinating story!!

[@turtleislandlac1490]

I miss the big fountains they used to have over where the FYE store is now. Until about 2009 this was one of the few malls that still had an EB Games (all in Canada now I believe) and also had a Gamestop at the same time.

[@heatherdolphin5741]

Turtle Island LAC I loved those fountains so much! I wish I took pictures of them

[@MarkSamurai5]

I miss the big fountains too. I remember they also had a downstairs theater in the same area.

[@paragon_moon8400]

@@MarkSamurai5 I still think about those fountains. And if you saw a movie on the lower level you could see the water fountain like you were underneath it. When they got rid of the big waterfall I think it was a big mistake.

[@tamarakurtz6690]

When we're the fountains here? I don't remember them! I used to haunt this place!

[@h.mandelene3279]

@@tamarakurtz6690 When they first opened, there was a "waterfall"???(not total free fall though...) from the second floor down to the "pond". I recall the "pond" shrank before the waterfall was removed altogether.

[@Baldmaxx]

Your narration and research is excellent. As usual your video skill and style is tops. Keep them coming!

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Havent heard from you in awhile. Thanks for the compliment.

[@joiedierenfield3749]

This breaks my heart. I was at this mall and Charlestowne as a teen and Fox Valley from childhood on until my move to Montana. This mall was packed then.

[@bigcat618]

Watching these cool videos made me realize I haven't been to a mall in over fifteen years. So I guess I'm part of the problem.

[@Faze_Xman]

I use to go to that mall like alot

[@Wings80]

Malls are dead.

[@DjJokerr]

@@Wings80 Not all malls. Hip Mall and Woodfield are doing good..

[@Sam292929]

When this mall closes I might actually cry. I remember going to Kohl’s early morning then getting something to eat at the food court

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Hope it stays open. There are some nice things about the place

[@mikemavin3608]

I cried when Round1 closed and cried again when Cinemark closed. Those were the last two places worth going to.

[@oneworld3503]

Lol same

[@jeee1074]

That mall is really hurting. Some of the chains like Bath and Body Works are now islands in the middle of an empty sea of storefronts.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Agreed it's a sad state.

[@SynchroSk8]

My family had a business in Arlington Heights and lived in Rolling Meadows, so we mostly used Elmhurst and Woodfield (especially after they added the Nordstrom wing in the mid 90s) but I always loved special trips here with my mom, I loved the ceilings and delighted to see that the wood panels are still there. Too bad about all the anchors.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Things will look up there even if it's not wholly as a mall. The Woodman's will be part of different sections of the mall that serve dif. functions. They definitely should keep the ceiling and columns though.

[@wafflesarereallygood7630]

Hey, its Adam! I watched this video and the editing is terrific! Keep it up

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

THANKS!

[@ProspectElevators]

Some nice content here Mind if you do Spring Hill Mall out in West Dundee? That mall is dying as well

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Thanks for watching. Had my eye on that Spring Hill mall for awhile.

[@retailadventures6]

Urbex- A Peak Inside You might also want to check out Louis Joliet Mall. It is not dying but it reminds me of Spring Hill with cool wood aesthetics and I am going to film a video there someday.

[@everyhandletaken]

First watch for your channel & I watch a lot of dead mall content - this is really well done, awesome work! subscribed.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Thank you so much.

[@gpa1989]

I was shocked last week when I came to Stratford Square, two years ago it was thriving, lively mall, now its a ghost town. Great video.

[@bradleymeyer9775]

Woodfield is still vibing. It was busy when I went there last Sunday.

[@chifanpatt]

Back in the late 90s and early 2000s when I was a kid, this place was always hopping. Had that sweet waterfall in the middle area and some great places to eat. Sad to see it decline so much.

[@davereger7879]

I grew up less than a mile from Stratford, 80s and 90s were truly magical there!!

[@CamdenBloke]

That place used to be the closest one to me growing up. The last time I was in Illinois I saw it during Christmas shopping season and noticed it has been purchased by Westfield and was fairly active. I was born in 1980, and I remember going here with my family as a little kid for walks around - and to admire stuff at K B Toys, Radio Shack and B. Dalton. I also did some job hunting here round 2000 or so, putting on a shirt, slacks and tie and going into each shop that looked viable to get an application. I think the T-Mobile shop wanted me, but they wanted me to produce a resume and I had never made one, so I panicked and ghosted them.

[@ham_slam_wich]

That movie theater is still one of the nicest in the entire Chicago area. And it’s so bizarre walking through a dead mall to get to it

[@mathuetax]

I like the use of all the wood in the mall. Gives it a warm feel and probably keeps noise down.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Wood def. does.

[@williampavichevich4877]

Great work on the Video and videos in general. Beautiful Mall, Im Sorry to see it go, And while I never shopped here, but wish I did, or wish I got to at least stroll thru before Closing. 😥 My sympathies to All whom Shopped here and Loved shopping here.

[@tsubasa83_ch]

As someone who's been going to this mall (semi-)frequently for the last 5 years, it's so sad to see how far it's gone down. To be honest, a lot of my memory of it is attached to more geeky interests, mostly because some of the remaining shops cater to that interest (Hot Topic, FYE, TooCool) and due to the Round 1. After seeing the announcement that Round 1 was to close this October, though, I've honestly lost all interest in the mall apart from just seeing its possible death throes. (I've always wanted to do a video on it, actually!)

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Thats a huge loss considering this is one of the places that was part of the plan of converting the mall to more entertainment. Did you go there?

[@tsubasa83_ch]

Urbex- A Peak Inside The arcade was one of the main reasons I kept going to it, actually, and I could say I frequented it!

[@MK_337]

Beautiful mall, funny to see a vintage 90s disney store on screen left 4:16 they looked like this before the disney company took back the rights to their own stores. Steve jobs convinced Bob Iger to do this after the success of the apple stores.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Wow didnt realize Disney and Apple had such a connection.

[@MK_337]

@@UrbexAPeakInside Yes, after the Disney company acquired Pixar animation studios from Steve Jobs he became the largest Disney stock holder for a time and had tremendous power with Disney board of directors.

[@sashizakura9124]

That explains a lot about why the Disney Store went to crap. They used to be amazing - I remember the Woodfield store even had a...I think it was Mickey and Minnie themed diner attached to it at one point!...Didn't last long, but that was when the Disney Stores were full of all kinds of goodies! Now it's just a lot of plushies, and the same thing in every single store. No real character at all...despite the place being ABOUT characters!....What year did Iger get them in a stranglehold? I worked for the maus in CA for a number of years and saw a lot of corporate upheaval, but I don't remember anything about the stores being taken over (and ruined). Only noticed after visiting one one day and thinking, "Wow....what happened to the Disney Store??"

[@tamarakurtz6690]

Wow! When you go? Everything looked closed!

[@WWETHROWBACKWILSON]

Brings back memories. I worked at a place called Funflatables for about 1 yr before I moved to Arizona. I lived in Bloomimgdale for about 4 yrs right near the bloomimgdale library all through high school!

[@billbertjabber5568]

I'm surprised you didnt shownoff the mural between kohls and the food court. That was always one of my favorite things about the mall.

[@Shotgunminister]

Growing up in the area lead meant near weekly visits to Stratford Mall when I was a child and a teenager. It used to be bustling constantly, even with Woodfield Mall being a roughly 20 minute drive away. I still remember walking through the Sears store and browsing the robust electronics section. I even remember the period before they put in the main fountain outside of FYE (Now removed). Stratford would go all-out when they decorated for the holidays. The building itself is in solid shape. Nothing has really fallen into disrepair, but it has been met with decaying interest in the last decade. This mall was part of my youth and teenage years. I ended up stopping at it this weekend and it's all but a ghost town. Nearly all of the anchor-stores have closed up shop. They even walled a wing of the mall semi-recently (You can see it when he passes by the Foot Locker and Too Cool). It seems like a long time coming, but I will still be upset if Stratford Mall finally closes for good.

[@JohnAckerman31]

I remember coming here when my parents and I first moved out to the suburbs from the city. The mall was always packed and had many great stores. It’s just sad as to what has happened to the retail industry. It’s all because of online shopping now. Nowadays all you have to do is go on your computer and buy whatever you need

[@Lazyboy0337]

Round 1 announced recently that they're going to close the Stratford location on Oct 11th, 2020. Really not looking good for Stratford and their entertainment plan if they can't keep that open.

[@MarkSamurai5]

I remember when that mall used to be lively (especially during the weekend) when I was a kid and a teenager.

[@SilentCypress8]

I was just at this mall about a week ago and it’s so sad. It’s so empty. Even when I was in middle school 10 years ago this mall was busy busy

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Hey guys. Happy Friday. Hope you all had a good week. This is been a very interesting Mall to visit with the amount of changes that have been going on to try to keep it relevant yet it still lost 4 department stores. Please subscribe if you like what you see.

[@galechicago325]

One of the prettier malls I’ve seen. The light fixtures on the columns and the wood give it a Frank Lloyd Wright prairie style vibe. On an episode of Mike and Molly, they went shopping at Stratford Square, but it looked like it was filmed somewhere else.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Agreed they should keep it up and keep using it even not as a mall function.

[@retailadventures6]

Urbex- A Peak Inside I remember seeing, they were filming something in the old JCPenney and part of the mall space, I took a couple of pictures of the interior of the JCPenney.

[@retailadventures6]

Urbex- A Peak Inside sorry for coming back to this older video.

[@SuperBeachbum74]

I loved this mall. Took my little son there after from oak lawn cause he liked to ride the elevators. I always saw it busy from 1994 when I first started going there til 2004 , after that I saw the decline start when Montgomery wards store. Loved the theaters, a great eatery featuring Schoops hamburgers .

[@BoratWanksta]

Was there still a toy store, inside the ex-Disney Store storefront you walk by at 4:22? I know when I last visited a few years ago, that there was such a store in that space. Not sure if this store is still in that space, or what today. Also the vacant anchor you see behind the playground area also at 4:22, used to be JCPenney till a few years ago. I do hope this mall can make a comeback. Though the current owner of this mall, Namdar, hasn't always had a good track record with the malls they own. On a side note, I think you'd like visiting River Oaks in Calumet City, and also Northfield Square in Bradley(near Kankakee). Both those malls are in the category of struggling, and I always did like their interior looks. At River Oaks you can see the history of how the Macy's there(former Marshall Field's) looked like from back in the day when River Oaks used to be an outdoor shopping center, till about 1994. As for Northfield, it has that late 80s/early 90s look that's nice, originally was built by DeBartolo, and like Stratford, Northfield has the problem of having several vacant anchor spaces. It lost both a Carson's store and some other sort of Carson's store at the mall(think it was something like a Home or Women's store), Sears, and is now about to lose its last anchor JCPenney. At River Oaks, JCPenney surprisingly did a last minute reprieve on closing that store this year. Probably won't be a reprieve for long, I fear.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

To be honest not sure it didn't really look like a store front but more of a facad for the play area.

[@retailadventures6]

Urbex- A Peak Inside Yeah it does not really look like a storefront now, but you could find pictures on a website with good history is you search “trip to the mall Stratford square mall”

[@paragon_moon8400]

I was there last week. It’s Kids town in the ex-Disney store area. And it’s still operating. It was bad when he filmed this a few years ago and it’s even worse now. Sad to see it go. I don’t see how they can revamp or make place relevant again. ☹️

[@johngalt6929]

I remember this mall totally screwing up traffic on Army Trail Road when it was built.

[@SteveStell]

I am here March 1st 2022 and this mall is dead but still open. I used to go there in the 80s when i was a little kid. So sad to see now. Its like looking at memories that are now a decaying corpse.

[@Mr___f]

I recently moved to the area and visited this mall for fun (even though Woodfield and Oakbrook are closer) and felt so sad walking around. It is beautifully designed and doesn't deserve this slow death. I hope it can get some sort of lifeline. It must suck to see that everything around it is so incredibly busy, but the mall is so dead.

[@Fahad-Syed-Kazmi]

I live a mile from this mall, really sad to see the condition now, 90% is empty now😔

[@Antoinettescloset]

This is/was a great mall! It's honestly a shame that it's dying. I mean, look how clean it looks! I remember the renovation they did by the food court and took out the fountain, that was a sad and exciting thing at the same time.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

It's a shame and has great bones. Hopefully Woodman's can bring it out to become more of a lifestyle center. An indoor mall might be not in its future.

[@Antoinettescloset]

@@UrbexAPeakInside maybe. I guess we'll have to wait and see

[@poopoopower2530]

Ive been going to this mall frequently my whole life, i remember how it was 6 years ago. It was so full of people and gull of joy, now its lucky to seep people inside

[@Nina-fp3jv]

Way back early '90s they used to have two movie theaters one downstairs and one upstairs when I got older I had a job at the one upstairs. But management was bad and that's when they built the new theater. I even worked taking photos of children with the Easter Bunny lots of memories here.

[@bradleymeyer9775]

At 5:14 the white Chevy Tahoe, is no longer there, I was there a few days ago, I guess it was sold.

[@bradleymeyer9775]

At 4:20, there used to be a toy store next to that play area. I have bought model cars from there.

[@joejonas3684]

Fun fact, they filmed an episode of Chicago Fire at this mall this season about a guy that got stuck in an escalator. It was bizarre seeing people in the mall again with all the extras in the background on the episode lol

[@tiffanyribbons]

Sometimes I feel so sad that they closed off the darkest and bleakest part of the mall, to walk into that part felt so sad and scary, a masochistic nostalgic experience. +++ I hope kohl’s stays, I hope woodmans helps to boost it, I miss sears very much. My dad got his stove there, I have two shirts from the closing sale, every time I put one on is a bit of a waterworks starter for me. I remember laying on a serta mattress in the sears when I was younger. I hope this mall survives. It holds many of my precious memories. If it closed I would cry for many many years to come. While I’m still kind of young, that’s yet another reason I wish for it to stay and hold on, so that I can make more memories. I hold on to the mall like a stuffed animal. I hate to see it like this. Ya know, the part where Carson’s used to be, reminds me so much of Charlestowne mall which is in St Charles, about thirty minutes away from it. It feels like being transported into it. But it is only that little chunk. And I remember what used to be a jcpenney is now a dance center or something, it seems so bleak but I can’t help how it would feel to step into there. I miss everything about the mall and hope to be able to visit it again, because I have a friend who’ve I’ve known ever since fifth grade, who works in a small store there, and usually that is the only place where we see each other. I’ve only seen her once outside the store, and that was years ago. I had the chance to see her a few months ago and I didn’t take it. I didn’t step into the store. I feel selfish for that. +++it will be August soon. I pray that god does not take the mall away.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

So many memories when the places were so much more than they are now. Thank you for sharing :)

[@heatherdolphin5741]

Maria Servi same here! Most of my childhood memories are from this mall!

[@goingplaces2274]

I frequently visit DuPage county when I visit my sister. In fact, I lived in the area before moving to the Atlanta area in 2003. First time I saw this mall was in the early 90s. Back then it was very lively and remained full of life until the 2000s. My favorite hangout place was the Food Court with the fountain across it, and Century Cinemas was also a favorite Haunt. I also remember Zany Brany was on the second floor. Fast foward July 2021. I was saddened by the current state of the mall, which is only a shadow of what it was back when I first started visiting it. I hope they will revive this mall although online shopping and perhaps Covid both contributed to slowly killing Stratford Mall.

[@fudy1894]

This mall used to be the bomb back in the day.... as a kid in the early 2000’s

[@KaoZ_Ph4nT0M]

I remember going to this mall as a teen with friends. It certainly was a blast. It's unfortunate due to online shopping the next generations won't get to experience it.

[@JohnAckerman31]

I remember when my family and I moved to the suburbs, everyone told us about this mall. We would go here often since it wasn’t far from our house. The mall was always busy, and there were a ton of great stores. Now, there’s almost nothing. I took a friend of mine here a few months ago to show him the mall, and he was surprised to see how there’s almost nothing in this mall. There needs to be some kind of development to turn this mall into something again.

[@darylmischke3307]

Sad to see such a piece of short history fade away

[@pilotgrrl1]

Kohan has really done a number on Stratford. Granted, it's been 4 years since I left the area. The mall is truly desolate. I hope Woodman's helps revitalize it. Macy's never had much traction, and the Sears was a real dive. Kohl's always seemed to be busy in the later years.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Woodman's definitely well but the mall will be parted out into different sections that serve a different purpose but as a whole one unit.

[@retailadventures6]

Just a side note is is namdar not kohan. Still does not help though.

[@andreawille7541]

I grew up in Glendale Heights. I grew up here! Heck I even worked here as a teen. It makes me sad to see it this way. The owner would be smart to convert some of the stores into apartments or condos. There are a lot of people who would probably buy or rent one just for the nostalgia of it.

[@samantha7384]

Let's not forget Yorktown mall to the south. This is my mall and I've worked in some stores and always they close down after a year..its sad. But this mall used to be awesome..

[@aqb88]

This is the mall of my childhood! I moved away from Bloomingdale 15 years ago, so sad so see this once booming behemoth fall down :(

[@Dotso]

This mall maybe dead but the Round 1 in there is always poppin pulling in crowds

[@ssh_disney]

I was there in maybe 2016 and it was super busy.

[@bigtittyniko3705]

They just closed it last month.

[@undefinition1]

I used to go to this mall all throughout my childhood and teen years in the 80s and 90s. I have vivid memories of when it had an organ store when I was little! As a teenager, it was a great place to hang out for a few hours. The prairie style architecture was--and still is--very classy. Unfortunately, it's clearly dying a long drawn-out death since the mid 2000s. Part of me wishes they would just level it and build homes; just put it out of its misery. I'd rather remember it in its heyday than see it decay like this.

[@SuperBeachbum74]

I walked thru Carson’s as it was reducing product and could see the sad faces of employees who had worked there for years. My heart went out to them. I’ve worked at places twice as they were closing. My skill level a,wats kept me employed but the best job I ever enjoyed most was from 1999-2005 . Seeing it close devastated me. Tho getting a new higher paying job right away, even the money didn’t make me enjoy it as much as the store I left.

[@bradleymeyer9775]

Woodfield Mall, is the largest mall in Illinois and it is one of the largest in the United States. I like Woodfield.

[@avian1971]

I grew up shopping at SS. It’s kinda heartbreaking to think it’s dying.

[@adealesoo]

wouu it's sure is dying ..I hope they do something with the building ..such a nice building design.

[@MorAcro]

I had so many lunches in that food court with my dad and my brother, where is everybody?!

[@MorAcro]

Oh i see it is in the dead mall category...

[@fryguyy]

hey just wondering how u got in there?

[@Shamu-cr8yz]

If you don’t mind me asking, what time of day do you visit these malls?

[@psych0ruins]

i went to this mall today and its not as empty as shown here, probably because at the time this was filmed covid was really bad. but its still really beautiful and kinda gives me vaporwave vibes and i love it

[@cuddr710]

I use to go here alllll the timeeee as a kid, im just hoping theyre able to make a bounce back, but I dont think that'll happen

[@alecm93110]

Things must have gone wrong incredibly fast. Those (former) Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works storefronts are among the newest in the company.

[@candyb2625]

Went to Stratford today had such a nice time .. me and my friends did the escape room then went to round one .. this is a beautiful mall.. but times have changed ...I hope it can be saved

[@garongangi4618]

I live down the street in GH.. I always shopped there..

[@Viggo-Animations]

Grew up always going to this mall, even filmed some stuff here. Now that the theater is closed I feel sad, that was my go-to theater. Saw "The Force Awakens" opening night there and I am sad to see it in this way, at least FYE is still there.

[@tamarakurtz6690]

You should post some of what you filmed!

[@ERA_Productions]

Great job

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Thanks Andrew.

[@coppingtonfarnham7731]

Drove around the perimeter of the mall recently. The mall looked abandoned as I circled the place, then I saw the demolition of old Macy's....looked like a bomb had dropped. Pathetic transformation from what I remember in the 1990's. Hard to believe any smaller retailer or the food court tenants can still be surviving inside. The mall theater was one of the few magnets to the interior before COVID-19 struck. Such a train wreck....the developers have a real uphill climb to make something out of this place now. They'll have to really carve this mall up, getting rid of the many small storefronts to glue a bunch of larger venues together.

[@WhittyPics]

You must be there early before things open or you are there while things are closed because of COVID?

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

I got there around store opening after the mall reopened from Covid a few days ago.

[@ooflalabish4572]

My sister used to work at the JCPenney there in 2011 before it closed 😭 I was like 6 at the time its so interesting to see how much it changed

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

It has changed a lot. Hope it can still stay relevent.

[@bradleymeyer9775]

I hate how they got rid of the water fountain.

[@undefinition1]

Killing me with this waist-height camera angle. It's literally making me feel like I'm a kid again, walking next to my dad. Gah! Too much feels!

[@bradleymeyer9775]

I’m going to miss Stratford, and St Charlestown Mall but I’m glad Woodfield is successful, I like Woodfield.

[@nightswatch8659]

Nice work. Do you happen to have a list of the original stores when it first opened?

[@tamarakurtz6690]

I was wishing for something like that too!

[@dlowfresh]

This deserves a re-visit. It's gotten even more sad as of late. It's not dead but it is definitely on life support.

[@primenuval180]

What happened? Why they shutdown?

[@diorsawaaj]

Woodfield Mall took away their business when they renovated it back in '96, I believe. Then Geneva Commons opened up in 2002 and that did it for Stratford Square Mall.

[@Turnoverwig]

Thank you for this

[@kungfulender8733]

So many good memories there.

[@sroevukasroevuka]

I worked there in the food court in 1984 sad to see its dead.

[@SuperBeachbum74]

All these malls closing are leaving our young people more isolated and going into depression and this ungodly world continues its downward spiral.

[@spagboi1268]

Why are some stores are gone? That’s my question?

[@diorsawaaj]

A lot of them couldn't afford to pay rent/utilities because Woodfield Mall and then Geneva Commons in 2002 took all of their business

[@D2503T]

Sadly - The vision will never happen

[@NEILEAS]

In the 2 years since this video, the mall here looks much better than now. The mall is now worth less than $500K after being worth over 20 million just a decade ago in 2012. There’s also the first plans of demolition which would be awful and destroy me

[@darylmischke3307]

Used to work there as a floor sweeper in the 80,s

[@darylmischke3307]

A fun place to work

[@roycetaylor6529]

I spent so much time as a child in that FYE just looking at all of the cds and movies, wishing my grandparents would buy me all of them (I only scored one every now and then lol) Also the mall had so much more soul and liveliness within it's walls, and I hardly even recognize it while watching this video. For reference I was a child in the late 90s and early 2000s

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

FYE was the main symbol of what Malls used to be like. Same with Sam Goody.

[@roycetaylor6529]

@@UrbexAPeakInside Hell yeah! Sam goody was cool too although even as a child I could tell they were phasing out around the early 2000s

[@Maritza.thebest]

Omg I'ma tell my dad we are going with him tomorrow I'ma tell him if we can go how could I forget about that mall

[@candyb2625]

I live close by I was there about 2weeks ago ... it was pretty dead felt like I had the mall all to myself 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@ArquelCudia_xAMTCx]

By the way, not lots of people knows the mall is open and stores are slowly opening again.

[@UrbexAPeakInside]

Sad that this mall was dying awhile ago. The pandemic might do them in.

[@bradleymeyer9775]

I only go there if I need to go to Kohls, and I went there a few days ago, only like 10 stores were still opened, I’d that. That mall is dying too.

[@arosenweig]

It appears that Chicago area malls are struggling more than the malls in south Florida. I think Florida is at an advantage due to lower taxes.

[@sonicthealien3287]

I went to that mall 2 years ago I think