Just half an hour south toward downtown Chicago, in the village of Nile, IL, Golf Mill Mall is over 1 million square feet over shopping.
Located at the corner of Illinois RT-58 (Golf Road) and Illinois RT-21 (Milwaukee Avenue), hence the name, Golf Mill, is currently anchored by:
Golf Mill Mall opened October 13, 1960 as an open air mall that included an office tower that's look resembled the surface of a golf ball, another designer detail brought on by the location of the mall and a Sears Department Store.
The mall was mill themed, complete with ponds, bridges, and a functioning water wheel.
A Lord's Department Store opened in the middle 60's.
Not sure when the Lord's really opened or closed, but after Lord's left, JCPenney took over the store.
Renovations came to the mall in 1986, with the north end being demolished and rebuild as an enclosed portion anchored by Mainstreet and enclosing the mall between the Sears and JCPenney. The renovations and new north wing also added a food court.
In 1989, Mainstreet became Kohl's after the chain was bough in 1988 by Kohl's.
A Circuit City was added in the parking lot near JCPenney some point in the late 80's or early 90's.
In 1998, a Target opened near Kohl's.
In 2005, Value City Furniture opened next to Sears.
The mall received more remodeling in 2006, adding new floors, lighting, and entrances and a 12-screen theater opened, and in 2010, AMC bought the theater.
In 2012, with Ross Dress For Less expanding to the Chicago area, Golf Mill was a perfect spot for Ross to come to the Niles area.
Here is what the mall looked like after hours in September 2012:
We get to see much more of the mall in October, where these pictures are of the interior:
June 2013:
April 2014:
Does anyone have any great stories or memories about the mall, or growing up in the area.
Feel free to post below and leave comments or pictures from your own visit's.
