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Fashion Outlets of Chicago

Coordinates: 41°58′30″N 87°52′00″W / 41.97500°N 87.86667°W / 41.97500; -87.86667
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Fashion Outlets of Chicago
Fashion Outlets of Chicago logo
Fashion Outlets of Chicago mall with LED screens on the walls seen from Interstate 294
A view of the mall from Interstate 294
Map
LocationRosemont, Illinois, United States
Coordinates41°58′30″N 87°52′00″W / 41.97500°N 87.86667°W / 41.97500; -87.86667
Address5220 Fashion Outlets Way
Opening dateAugust 1, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-08-01)
DeveloperMacerich
AWE Talisman
OwnerMacerich
No. of stores and services140+
No. of anchor tenants5
Total retail floor area530,000 square feet (49,000 m2; 12 acres; 4.9 ha)
No. of floors2
Public transit accessRailway Train Metra Rosemont station

Railway Train Rosemont station

Bus transport 303, 330, 332, 811
WebsiteOfficial website

Fashion Outlets of Chicago is a shopping mall located in Rosemont, Illinois, United States. Located within the Chicago metropolitan area, the mall lies east of Interstate 294 and O'Hare International Airport and is adjacent to Rosemont Theatre. Opening on August 1, 2013, the mall is owned by Macerich, and was co-developed by AWE Talisman. Featuring more than 140 stores, the mall was noted for its differences from a regular outlet mall.

The mall totals 530,000 sq ft (49,000 m2), with anchor stores Bloomingdale's Outlet, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Forever 21 and Nordstrom Rack along with other retailers such as Gucci and Giorgio Armani. Because of its close proximity to O'Hare International Airport, the mall was self-touted as "the perfect layover destination", and by 2018, 57.6 million tourists had visited the mall.

History

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2009–2014: Development and opening

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Plans for a new mall in Rosemont, Illinois, east of Interstate 294, were announced on March 4, 2009, and 14 acres (5.7 ha) of land were sold to a joint venture between AWE Talisman and American mall operator Macerich at a cost of US$10.4 million. Named Fashion Outlets of Chicago, the mall was planned to feature over 140[1] stores ranging from luxury to casual,[2] and would feature outlets of upscale retailers such as Gucci and Giorgio Armani.[3] Construction would start in November 2011,[4] costing around US$250 million[5] with a planned opening date of 2012.[1] The concept differentiated from a regular outlet mall, as it was enclosed, compared to other outlet malls, and was not after a regular "outlet model" concept.[6]

Grand opening ceremonies were held on August 1 through 4, 2013.[7] Due to the influx of shoppers that would be visiting in its opening weeks, Rosemont officials agreed to pay tolls for shoppers traveling on Interstate 294.[8] The mall opened as the first fully enclosed mall to open in the Chicago metropolitan area in over 20 years. At its opening, the mall comprised 530,000 square feet, with Bloomingdale's Outlet, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, and Forever 21 as the anchor stores when it opened.[5] Macerich chairman Arthur Weiner touted the mall as "the perfect layover destination," as amenities for travelers from O'Hare International Airport ranged from transportation from the airport to the mall via shuttle buses and early check-in and baggage check.[9] Following the initial opening, the mall had won the MAPIC award for "Best Outlet Center in the World" and was a recipient of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) U.S. Design and Development Gold award in 2014.[10]

2014–present: Operation and failed expansion

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Macerich proposed an expansion plan to extend the Fashion Outlets of Chicago in May 2015. Demolition for Rosemont Theatre and rebuilding it would be a possibility for the expansion plan due to the economic impact the mall had on the village of Rosemont, and the theater had struggled to compete with venues in Chicago.[11] By 2018, 57.6 million tourists had visited the mall.[12] Rosemont gave approval for the expansion on May 10, 2018, though, at the time, specific plans for the mall could not be shared as it was "too early in the process,"[13] though the expansion would increase size of the mall by 50% at a leasable retailer space of 225,000 square feet (20,900 m2).[14] The expansion was called off in late 2020 due to multiple factors, including the economic consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]

At around 7pm, a shooting occurred on March 25, 2022, which killed one man and a wounded one person. Rosemont police referred to the incident as a targeted incident rather than a mass shooting, and said the suspect had fled and fled in a car with "other unknown suspects."[16] The shooter was later arrested on March 30, 2022, and it was identified that the shooting had started as a conflict between two parties, which had involved both the shooter and the victim; the other person injured was an innocent bystander.[17]

Architecture

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refer to caption
An aerial view of the mall (left) in 2014.

Fashion Outlets of Chicago has a gross leasable area of 530,000 sq ft (49,000 m2).[5] With two levels, the mall features touches of granite, marble and other high-end stones throughout the mall. Unlike most outlet malls, the mall is one of few to be an enclosed mall and is also climate controlled.[6] Throughout the mall, large scale interactive art-pieces can be seen in concourses, as the mall had commissioned 10 contemporary artists from The Art Initiative.[9][18] From the exterior of the mall, 18,500 square feet (1,720 m2) of digital LED displays are placed used for advertising, with a total of 11 displays covering the mall in total.[19]

Tenants

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Upon its opening in 2013, Bloomingdale's Outlet, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, and Forever 21 served as anchor stores within the mall.[5] The 28,000 sq ft (2,600 m2) Nordstrom Rack soon followed as another anchor store, opening in fall 2016 as the 10th Nordstrom Rack within the Chicago metropolitan area.[20] In addition to anchor stores, the mall features around more than 140 stores[1] and dining options, including sit-down restaurants anchored by Prasino and Villagio, along with a food court on the first level.[21] Since opening, new stores have opened throughout the mall, including a Lindt store on July 17, 2015,[22] and the first Aritzia store in the Midwest on December 16, 2022.[23] Notable store closures in the mall include the anchor store Neiman Marcus Last Call following announcements that it would close in 2020,[24] along with a Disney Store which closed on March 23, 2021.[25]

Transportation

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Public transportation to Fashion Outlets of Chicago via bus is provided by Pace, and includes the following bus routes:[26]

  • 303 Forest Park/Rosemont
  • 330 Mannheim/LaGrange Roads
  • 332 River Road/York Road
  • 811 Rosemont Entertainment Circulator

Shuttle buses are accessible to travelers from the nearby O'Hare International Airport and typically offers 30 shuttles per day.[9] In addition to bus transportation, public transportation by rail is accessible via Metra's Rosemont station and Chicago Transit Authority's Rosemont station.[26] Motorists can use an exit ramp on Interstate 294 close to the mall that opened in late 2011 and access the six-story parking garage connected to the mall.[1][8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Owens-Schiele, Elizabeth (March 16, 2011). "Rosemont ramping up entertainment". Chicago Tribune. p. 2. Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Wronski, Richard (March 5, 2009). "Rosemont paves way for mall". Chicago Tribune. p. 22. Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Sharoff, Robert (April 23, 2013). "Outlet Mall With Fashion Ambition Rises Near Chicago". The New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  4. ^ Tekippe, Abraham (February 27, 2013). "Retailers packing into new Rosemont outlet mall". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d Riley, Marcus (August 1, 2013). "Chicago Fashion Outlet Mall Opens its Doors". NBC 5 Chicago. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Shropshire, Corilyn (July 26, 2013). "Rosemont mall adds polish to outlet idea". Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  7. ^ "Guide to Chicago's newest outlet mall". CBS Chicago. July 30, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Bullington, Jonathan (August 8, 2013). "Tolls paid for those traveling on day outlet mall opened". Chicago Tribune. p. 7. Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c Shropshire, Corilyn (July 26, 2013). "Adding shine to outlet concept". Chicago Tribune. p. 3. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "Macerich's Fashion Outlets of Chicago Earns Prestigious MAPIC Award as Best Outlet Centre in the World in 2014". PR Newswire. Macerich. March 19, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  11. ^ Ori, Ryan (May 5, 2015). "Big Rosemont outlet mall mulls expansion". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  12. ^ "Fashion Outlets of Chicago". Macerich. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Channick, Robert (May 10, 2018). "Fashion Outlets expansion may require demolition of Rosemont Theatre". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  14. ^ Urbanski, Al (May 10, 2018). "Fashion Outlets of Chicago gets green light to expand". Chain Store Age. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  15. ^ Placek, Christopher (August 12, 2020). "Rosemont mall expansion called off, meaning theater stays put". Daily Herald. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  16. ^ "Shooting at Suburban Chicago Shopping Mall Kills 1, Wounds 2". WTTW. Associated Press. March 26, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  17. ^ "Fashion Outlets of Chicago shooting suspect taken into custody". Fox 32 Chicago. March 30, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  18. ^ "Newly-Formed The Arts Initiative Announces Inaugural Installation At Fashion Outlets Of Chicago". PR Newswire. June 27, 2013.
  19. ^ Clark, Daniel (October 7, 2013). "Fashion Outlets of Chicago Choose Daktronics Outdoor Technology". Sign Builder Illustrated. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  20. ^ "Nordstrom Rack will open fall 2016 at Rosemont mall". Daily Herald. December 4, 2015.
  21. ^ Bomkamp, Samantha (March 4, 2013). "Rosemont outlet mall adds Bloomie's, Neiman's, Saks stores". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  22. ^ Gerzina, Daniel (July 17, 2015). "Lokal Expands to Lakeview Today; Kuma's Opens in Burbs; More". Eater Chicago. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  23. ^ "Aritzia women's fashion boutique opens Friday at Rosemont mall". Daily Herald. December 15, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  24. ^ Biron, Bethany (August 24, 2020). "Neiman Marcus Is 22 Closing Store Locations for Good". Business Insider. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  25. ^ Zumbach, Lauren (March 12, 2021). "Disney Stores on State Street, in Rosemont to close this month". Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b "Fashion Outlets of Chicago - Visit Us". Fashion Outlets of Chicago. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
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