Woodfield Mall: 7/2017 Updates and Major Changes.

     The dust has not yet settled as Woodfield Mall prepares to endure more renovations. Woodfield is the largest and most popular mall in the Chicago area, built in 1971, the nearly 50 year old mall continues to change. Renovations to the mall first began nearly three years ago as Level 257, a gaming venue opened in a portion of Sears in Spring 2015. The malls center court was refreshed to offer more seating and a more free flow design for easier shopping and customer flow. For the first time now, a food court will be added, but not to be called a food court. As plans to open by fall 2018, the new 820 seat Dining Pavilion will offer several local and regional dining options.

     Woodfield mall, unlike many typical malls, does not have a formal food court, as several eating choices all together in one area. For the last 20 years or more, McDonald's and A&W, plus several snack vendor's have been the only choice for eating, aside from full service restaurants like Rain Forest Cafe and P.F. Chang's. There is more than 30 snack and dining options found throughout the mall, and the dining pavilion will add over a dozen more.

Here is an article from the Daily Herald covering the multi-million dollar project of Woodfield's new dining pavilion.

When I visited the mall in May, Pink was still open, although Pink and Victoria's Secret are relocating to be next to each other in a different part of the mall.

The White Barn candle store also closed, as Bath & Body Works relocated to the upper deck from there recently opened store. Strange they already moved out, as both stores opened this year. If Pink and White Barn are closed, and Bachrach is closing, I predict something big is going to take this major portion of the wing.

Bachrach will be gone shortly as there up to 80% off.

 

Welcome to Woodfield Superdry.

I love to say that Superdry clothing is officially open, the Japanese clothing retailer, similar only to UNIQLO, provides some very unique options for all ages. Its a mix of athletic/physical wear and casual wear. Now Woodfield only needs UNIQLO and Primark and Bench next!

 

New Expansion... The Dining Pavilion.

     I took several shots of the Sears wing from both the ground floor and second floor, as this will be the location for the new dining pavilion. As this new source for dining is predicted to be complete in over a year, preparation began by relocating the current tenants of the space. O'Shoes and F.Y.E where relocated to other spots in the mall. O'Shoes was open already, as F.Y.E has not yet reopened in the former Ragstock store.

A photo I took of Sears in 2015 before the sculpture was taken down. To the far left corner, the O'Shoe's can be seen.

 

To the far left corner of the photo above, you can see Dunkin Donuts, above Dunkin was the F.Y.E.

     This will truly be spectacular once complete as it makes Woodfield just so much better to shop at and spend time with. From Simon's point of view, this is a tactic to keep the mall consumer's from leaving the mall to find elsewhere to eat. Basically keep people in the mall any way possible, malls need to adapt to consumer trends. I love to spend time at Woodfield, and I sure hope the pavilion will cause me to never leave.

I could not think of what restaurant was here, so glad I take so many pictures for quick reference.

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