Stratford Square Closing in Days - Final Virtual Walk - Bloomingdale, IL

[@jacklowe3429]

I worked in this mall 20 years ago. I was a frequent visitor in the 1980s and 1990s. It was beautiful then. By the time I worked there, it was in decline. Sad.

[@LordSlayer001]

My Mom was hired into Carson Pririe Scott back when the mall opened. She worked there till we moved in 87. For years, I remember going there in the evening with my Dad and sister walking the mall until it closed and Mom got off work. The one thing I remember about the mall was the large amount of water features and the gnomes. At each sitting area was a planter that had gnome statues in it. There was also a large reflecting pool in the area were the single elevator was and the large waterfall near the food court. During the Christmas season, the reflecting pool was drained and covered with 'snow' and 'ice' with elves all over. For stores, on the second floor near Carson's I can remember a TV store that sold large tv sets and projection screen TVs. We are talking the old 80s giant furniture sized Projection TVs. There was also a KB Toy store, and at one point a Sanrio/Hello Kitty store. I remember in the Food Court, we usually ate at the Charlie Chan's. Across from the food court, there was a section that was open and had a deli and bakery in it. I remember 'meat' hanging from the ceiling and getting croissants in a corner painted to look 'French'. The large open area in front of the waterfall was used for various events. There was a traveling Disney show that had not only the full sized characters, but also puppets singing and dancing to various Disney tunes. There was also a large model event of various buildings with interiors. It may have been Lego but I don't quite remember. Watching the video, I tried placing areas with those childhood memories. While much is as I remember from the 80s, the ribbed wooden columns, the wooden slat ceiling areas and the sky lights, alot is different. The big difference is the missing reflecting pool and the missing roar of the waterfall.

[@lindagoreham2238]

This was so beautifully captured by you! I enjoyed the tour here from Massachusetts. I lived not far from the mall when I was little in Glen Ellyn, IL We moved from Illinois and now I reside in Massachusetts. If we would have stayed. I would have gone to this mall. 😮

[@markmatuga2595]

Actually the last day for Stratford Square is Monday April 22nd.the kohl’s is remaining according to me being a mall insider.Lids is closing February 24 th.anas the last remaining tenant in the food court is closing February 10 th.the alterations place is relocating and is closing around March 17 th.the other remaining businesses have been given 30 days prior to the closing of Stratford Square.

[@minichris11]

I need to go visit before the final day. It really is a beautiful mall. Very sad to see it go. 😢

[@smrzzy]

I went today. I felt like I was in a time warp when I stepped inside.

[@JimPetykowski]

Wonderful memories of visiting this mall back in the 90s

[@lauriesmith5008]

Mall is beautiful

[@DDLCRAILFAN92]

Too bad its going away 😢

[@400FootTrek]

Shopping habits have changed. People are sitting on a couch with Amazon or going to Costco.

[@400FootTrek]

Great video and memories

[@map3384]

As a GenX guy it very sad to see malls being torn down. Since I was a kid the mall in my county provided everything one needed. You didn’t have to go to several locations. Malls were a very logical concept especially during cold winters. Not to mention the social aspect. There’s nothing like shopping at Christmas time. You would always run into someone and maybe have a coffee.

[@400FootTrek]

Same here. I have lots of memories of going to the mall back in the 80s and 90s to cruise around and meet up with friends.

[@williampavichevich4877]

Same Here as well. At 47, I am sad to see these well intentioned Plazas, and Centers being dismissed and were living in a time where BIG Brother wants our Future generations to have no social skills, no sense of Tradition, Cultural values, and would love nothing more than to civilization turn into ROBOTS. Online Shopping, Way to much time on the Cell phone, and worse off, Corporate greed, Stubbornness on the part of Business owners is why we are currently at this stage of time. Sadly.😥

[@dannyelrod9607]

Such a beautiful place to bad it has to go so sad

[@williampavichevich4877]

By far, one of the most Beautiful Indoor Meccas Ive ever seen. Unfortunately, never seen in person. I currently moved back to the West Coast, but when i lived in the Outer Burbs of Chicago., IL, I did from time to time, attend and shop or stroll thru All Oakbrook, Old Orchard, Woodfield, Golf Mill, Riverside,and the HIP (Harlem Irving Plaza). Back on the West Coast, in Southern California, just East of Los Angeles, ive got Santa Anita, Montebello Town Center (Just a 10 min ride away, and a shopping district is Pasadena. However, not even Woodfield can compare to the Beautiful decor of this Mall in Stratfort.

[@nole8923]

You can always tell an 80s mall from the entrance with that iconic slanted glass ceiling entrance. It’s an absolutely beautiful classic 80s mall. Very sad.

[@Royal-le1ib]

I remember the UPS man James Krabek was working this route in the 80's for years. It's sad to see it closing.

[@Gordon_2000]

Cool mall

[@williampavichevich4877]

How close was this Shopping Center in terms of access to major Freeways❓️🤔 Shopping Centers such as this one suffer when they are noy Openly visible to the Public, and am wondering if this also could have contributed to its downfall. Woodfield has been ahead of its time, due to its Centralized Location and is directly off of Interstate I-90, and nestled nicely in where it is visible and Accessible to Traffic in all directions. It has also withstood a Pandemic, Online Shopping, and for Losing Sears, Lord & Taylor, they can escape such a grind or setback easier than where Stratfot is Located. Or so seems.

[@geekmega7527]

The cinema was very beautiful and cool; parts of it were boarded up. Take a picture with a loved one standing in front as you will be immortalized as an important part of human history. 😂

[@juliesmith8153]

Thank you for this. I was hoping to have one final walkthrough, but I am not sure if it is still open, I heard someone say last weekend was the final 😢

[@400FootTrek]

It's still open until April so you can still go visit the mall.

[@juliesmith8153]

@@400FootTrek thank you, I will probably go, it’s so sad 😢

[@400FootTrek]

Times change unfortunately but Woodfield is very busy and alive if you want a mall.

[@juliesmith8153]

@@400FootTrek yes I live near there so thankfully I can go there 👍😊

[@dieseljimmy6495]

I feel like I have to the last day. My mom brought me as a toddler on opening day.

[@allaccessshogun]

I’m willing to buy the mall for 3.5 million. I tried reaching out to the center, but no one gets back to me . I’d love to rebuild and make this a premier shopping center . Lots of potential.

[@400FootTrek]

Send me the money and I'll see what I can do.

[@briangill3419]

If you do I will invest with you

[@Nene-GoCubs]

$3.5M? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

I went to this mall in October 2018 and March 2019 respectively.

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

Good vid!

[@400FootTrek]

Thanks. I did my best until mall cop kicked me out. "Sorry you can't video in here". Not sure why

[@rayjames7702]

I did read an article about how the town of Bloomington has purchased the mall and keep it open.

[@400FootTrek]

I believe they are going to redevelop the property. Costing too much to keep running and less traffice.

[@codyvon.]

I'm kind of sad that this mall will closed for good in springtime.

[@400FootTrek]

Yes I agree. Spent a lot of time there with my young boys but times have changed

[@nixieknox7181]

(Gasp) Oh no Stratford square mall is closing in days😮

[@Spiritofthewild-d9o]

i want to take one old mall like this after it closes and lease the whole thing...then turn the entire inside into a thick simulated jungle and open a giant mega airsoft indoor place...people would probably come there from all over the world...people would probably need survival stuff to play in it and get lost🤣another cool use for old malls IF they have an auto center would be for automotive youtubers, they could lease the whole garage and also a large portion of the parking lot and do a sweet automotive show from inside the garage and test out the cars on the skid track, put up like cement barricades around the perimeter

[@400FootTrek]

problem is that there are a lot of costs to run the mall, not to mention the taxes.

[@DM-3000]

This is SAD

[@arthurtomczak8474]

Things are booming in Chicago area . Just a miner set. back . But it’s FREE. Pay your taxes and shut up . .

[@KawaiiEvoMii]

You don't seem to understand how taxes work LOL I was a wealthy individual living in the area in 2012 and there was nothing there of interest for me. I moved out of state. You could say I'm a contributing factor to this malls closure. Enjoy paying your IL taxes lol

[@andrewr.2507]

This is why, I should've been in this video in real life, I'm Andrew Rocha! The Famous Person! Of billions of humans and the whole planet earth. 🌎