Forgotten North Park Mall in Villa Park
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- Опубліковано 26 сер 2024
- Unbeknownst to many, inside what today looks like a typical strip mall in western suburban Villa Park, Illinois, once contained an official mall. But unlike Crystal Point or Meadowdale, I remember and walked this mall back in the '90s and early 2000's when it was already well in its dead mall phase. North Park Mall contained a variety of anchors over the years including: JCPenney, Kmart, Dominick's, and the last remaining Ames in the area. And one indoor swap mart has been the key to preserving what is left of this mall's history. From the dark brown floor tiles, brick lined walls, square store signs, and creepy looking ceiling lighting, you can still experience a small piece of mall history today that little know ever existed unless you were at least my age or older.
Due to my fuzzy memories of this mall, I didn't have a firm remembrance of this mall's layout. So I didn't really mention it here. But apparently the brown tiled floor and the rooms in the back of the main swap mart room where the crane machines are, was the original hallways and shops from the mall as well.
Credit to those who have covered this mall and inspired me to finally vlog it as well.
DuramaxRS:
• Deadmall: North Park M...
Mall Aholic Retail Adventures:
• MALL VIDEO North Park ...
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This used to be anchored by Robert Hall Village and J C Penney. I worked briefly at the Radio Shach there. Finley Square Mall a similar but outdoor mall, in Downers Grove opened at about the same time Also with RHV at one end and a Service Merchandise at the othe end. Washington Square Mall in Homewood also had RHV and SM.
@richkurtz6053 thanks for the info! Always appreciate info on the history of this place as I only really remember towards the end of its life.
The orland mills use to be j c pennys, later pennys outlet. The opposite end of the mall was a kmart. They were the anchor stores. The middle was small mall stores. Like shoe stores, jewely, clothing stores etc. lived in lombard. Went there alot
@nadineingram283 thanks for the info! My memory on it as a traditional mall was pretty fuzzy. Probably cause I was so young. But I still think it's cool that little piece remains in the middle. This one has been a hard one to find old photos online.
@@memoriesbywayne I think the Dominick's was at the very end next to Kmart by Addison road. You could get into the mall thru Penny's, Kmart, or the door you went thru. There's early photos on yelp
Growing up the mall was much different. And while it wasn't as nice as going to Yorktown, or Oak Brook, was still a cool place for a kid to hangout. Loving these trips down memory lane.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Based on your comments, we must have grown up around the same area. I have both a DuPage County and Hometown playlist you might find some interest in. Glad some others remember this mall. And perhaps remember it even better than me. I'm working on documenting other area malls as well. I recently filmed HIP. Going back to North Riverside soon. Haven't been there since my 20s. I will eventually cover Yorktown and Oak Brook as well. This place amazes me though how its history is basically hidden in plain sight. Many walking through the swap mart have no idea. Stay tuned. Many more ideas for hometown videos. Including a local food vlog. Lots of mall videos in the works too. Thanks for the support!
@@memoriesbywayne Yes, while most of my younger years were in the western burbs of Dupage county, in my teens I spent plenty of time in suburban cook county as well. Had many friends that I would visit and hang out with towards the city. Now in my rapidly advancing middle age I am in Mchenry county, so watching the videos you are doing up this way brings a smile also, as some areas I know, and others are completely new to me. The riverwalk made me do a double take, as I was not aware those little shops were put in there, yet I drive past them every day. Please continue what you are doing, it is appreciated for sure. 😀
@FrankRizzo-io1kw wait, you're a McHenry transplant from the western burbs also?! I thought I was the only one! lol I got incorporated into the "culture" here by marriage. But I'm trying to feature all parts and locations of my life best I can. Obviously, McHenry playlists. There is a Suburban Cook County playlist now. Changed names over the years. Used to be just Schaumburg. I think I'm middle age? I don't know. I'm a child of 80s. Teen of the 90s. And in 2024 mentally I'm sitting in front of my 13" tube TV with a big bowl of cereal watching TMNT. So I'm whatever you call that lol. Well, welcome to McHenry and my Memories. I think you'll really enjoy what I got here and some stuff coming up.:-)
@@memoriesbywayne Also a child of the 80s, and teen of the 90s, and currently sitting in my easy chair playing Eve online and watching cheeseball movies from the same 80s and 90s. We tend to look back at that time with a longing, and those that came after us will never know how wonderful it was. And as far as Mchenry County goes, I think it is great in many respects. Sadly it is still in IL.
@FrankRizzo-io1kw I still think we experienced life in the best way possible. To know what it was like to ride bikes around the neighborhood with friends, to being pioneers of the Internet age, and still appreciate all the technology of today. McHenry has been a great experience for the most part for sure. A strong sense of community, no doubt. Lots of folks never leave. Wife runs across people she knew back when she was in school every day, whether at our kids' school or out and about. I may not always agree about my neighbors' opinions about certain "topics" lol. But no one is perfect. And yeah, it's not Wisconsin. But darn close! And all it takes is 5 minutes looking through the videos to see I've taken full advantage of that. :-)
I used to buy clothes from a store that used to be in there. I lived walking distance from there. Was like a 3 min walk
That is awesome. Always cool, especially as a youngster, when you could be walking distance to a mall. :-)
You are a very nice guy. When you walk in there i was afraid you were going to be disappointed about all the latino community now shop in that mall a latino owners. But you were very respectful and kind. You are a great human being
@saulluis2 thank you for the sweet comments! Growing up in the area I know well how communities are trending. And I've always embraced and celebrated diversity since my youngest days. :-)
North Park Mall once had a K-Mart in it. When I was cleaning out my dad's house after he passed away a few years ago, I found some storage shelves still new in the box that had been purchased at that K-Mart in 1984. The label on the box showed the address on North Park Rd. There was also a Denny's out front, in the same location where there is now a Taco Bell. The most memorable thing about that mall is that it's where the car battery in my dad's 1984 Chevy Cavalier wagon blew it's vent caps off when my mom tried to start it. We were about 750 miles from home (moved to Virginia in 1988). I still have that 1984 Chevy Cavalier wagon, it was in my dad's garage, sitting undriven for years.
The 1984 Chevy Cavalier wagon was purchased new from Celozzi-Ettleson. I found the window sticker for it in my dad's filing cabinet.
Thank you! I love hearing stories like this. I think I remember the Denny's too. That has to be a pretty cool ride to still have.
@@brianleeper5737 "Where you always save more money!" :-)
@@memoriesbywayne My friends mom worked at that Dennys to make ends meet during the recession of the early 90s. I miss the old White Castle that used to be off of North Ave. And does anyone remember the Chinese buffet and Garibaldis at the mall?
@FrankRizzo-io1kw I think I remember most of that as I drove on North Ave a lot in my youth. Not sure how often I went to them. As like Denny's, White Castle etc. Most of the time family ate in Northlake or Franklin Park.
Are you from the Chicago area?
Yep. Raised pretty much in Northlake in western burbs. Lived briefly in few other places, but I actually go over all that in an upcoming video.
@@memoriesbywayne I have a cousin that still lives in Northlake