Trevor Ng
The Sears store at the Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles, Illinois, closed permanently in December 2018. The closure was part of a plan to close 12 Sears stores nationwide, with over 160 Sears and Kmart locations closing over the previous year. The Sears store at Golf Mill was unique in that an indoor shopping mall was built around it, requiring shoppers to walk through the store to access other parts of the mall.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of closure | December 2018 |
| Reason for closure | Change in business circumstances, net loss of $424 million in the first quarter of 2018 and $508 million in the second quarter |
| Number of employees laid off | 75 |
| Future plans for the space | Unknown, but the village plans to work with the property owner to consider future tenants and economic development tools |
| Other changes at the mall | A Chase Bank and a Chick-fil-A restaurant have been built, and a Burlington store opened in the former Kohl's space in October 2021 |
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What You'll Learn
The Sears store at Golf Mill closed in December 2018
The Sears store at Golf Mill, one of the shopping center's primary anchor tenants, closed in December 2018. The announcement of the closure was made on October 4, 2018, as part of a plan to close 12 Sears stores across the nation. The decision to close the store came after Sears reported a net loss of $424 million in the first quarter of 2018 and $508 million in the second quarter. The company's goal was to ""right-size" its number of locations and increase online sales.
The liquidation sale at the Golf Mill Sears store began in October 2018, ahead of its permanent closure in December. The store's closing impacted the accessibility of the shopping center, as the mall's two wings were connected through the Sears store. After the closure, customers could no longer walk between the north and south wings without leaving the building.
The Sears store at Golf Mill had a unique characteristic in that an indoor shopping mall was built around it, making it a distinctive location. The store's closure resulted in layoffs for 75 workers, according to a notice submitted to the Illinois Department of Commerce.
The former Sears location at Golf Mill remains abandoned as of 2024, with plans for renovation and redevelopment yet to be realized. The village of Niles intends to collaborate with the property owner to identify future tenants for the space and explore economic development opportunities for the area.
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The closure was due to a net loss of $424 million in Q1 2018
The Sears store at the Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles, Illinois, closed in December 2018. The closure was due to a net loss of $424 million in the first quarter of 2018. Sears Holdings CEO Edward Lampert stated that the company aimed to "right-size" its number of locations and increase online sales. The decision to close the Sears store at Golf Mill was part of a broader trend of Sears store closures across the country, with over 160 locations shutting down in the previous year.
The Golf Mill Shopping Center, which opened in the 1960s, featured a unique design with an indoor mall built around the Sears store. The Sears store served as a connector between the mall's two wings, and its closure had a significant impact on the mall's layout and accessibility. The liquidation sale for the store began in October 2018, and the closure resulted in the layoff of 75 workers.
The closure of the Sears store at Golf Mill Shopping Center was not an isolated incident. In fact, Sears had been facing significant financial losses and challenges for some time. The net loss of $424 million in the first quarter of 2018 was followed by an even larger loss of $508 million in the second quarter. The company's revenues continued to decline, with second-quarter revenues down by $1.1 billion compared to the previous year.
In light of these financial struggles, Sears took steps to optimize its operations. This included closing unprofitable stores and focusing on increasing online sales. The closure of the Golf Mill location was part of this strategic decision-making process, as Sears worked to "right-size" its number of physical locations. However, the closure had a notable impact on the community and the mall's functionality.
The closure of Sears at Golf Mill Shopping Center not only resulted in job losses but also affected the mall's layout and accessibility. With the Sears store serving as a connector between the two wings of the mall, its closure meant that customers could no longer easily move between the north and south sections of the mall. This physical separation impacted the foot traffic and overall flow of the shopping center, requiring customers to leave the mall and walk or drive to access the other side's entrance and stores.
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75 workers were laid off as a result
The Sears store at the Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles, Illinois, closed in December 2018. The closure of the store resulted in the layoff of 75 workers. The decision to close the store was likely due to Sears' financial troubles, as the company had reported significant net losses in the first and second quarters of 2018. In addition, Sears Holdings CEO Edward Lampert stated their goal was to "right-size" the number of store locations and increase online sales.
The Golf Mill Sears location was unique in that it was one of the original anchor tenants of the mall, with the indoor shopping center being built around the store. After the closure, the mall felt like it was cut in half, and customers could no longer walk between the north and south sections without exiting and re-entering the building. This likely contributed to the overall sense of decay and abandonment felt by visitors to the mall.
The liquidation sale at the Golf Mill Sears location began in October 2018, with the store officially closing its doors in December. This particular Sears location had a long history, dating back to the 1960s when the mall first opened. Over the years, the mall underwent various renovations and changes, but the Sears store remained a constant until its eventual closure.
The loss of 75 jobs due to the Sears closure at Golf Mill Shopping Center is a significant impact on the local community. It is unknown whether these workers found alternative employment or were able to transfer to other Sears locations. However, given the financial troubles Sears was facing, it is possible that other locations may have also been at risk of closure, limiting the options for transferred employees.
The village of Niles acknowledged the upcoming closure and stated its intention to collaborate with the property owner to find future tenants for the space. They also expressed excitement for the area's future, including plans to transform the nearby Golf Mill Park into a regional destination while also reducing the risk of flooding. While the closure of Sears resulted in job losses, the village's proactive approach may help mitigate the economic impact and create new opportunities for the community.
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The mall has since been split in two
The Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles, Illinois, opened in the 1960s as an open-air mall with a unique mill theme, featuring ponds, bridges, and a working waterwheel. The mall underwent major renovations in 1986, with the north end being completely rebuilt as an enclosed portion anchored by MainStreet, enclosing the mall between Sears and JCPenney, and adding a food court.
In October 2018, it was announced that Sears would be closing as part of a plan to close 12 stores nationwide. The store officially closed in December 2018, resulting in the layoff of 75 workers. The closure of Sears had a significant impact on the mall's layout. Previously, the mall consisted of two wings connected by the Sears store, allowing customers to move between the north and south sections without having to exit the building.
With the closure of Sears, the mall has since been split in two. Visitors now have to leave the mall and walk or drive around to access the entrance and stores of the other wing. This has created a sense of separation and inaccessibility between the two halves of the mall. The closure of Sears also impacted the surrounding area, as it was one of the primary anchor tenants of the shopping center.
Plans for renovation and redevelopment have been proposed over the years to revitalise the mall. In 2022, a new plan was announced with a projected opening in 2025 and a budget of $440 million for the project, which will be called the Golf Mill Town Center. The village of Niles is also working to transform the nearby Golf Mill Park into a regional destination to enhance the area's appeal.
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The store was unique as an indoor mall was built around it
The Sears store at the Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles, Illinois, was unique in that an indoor shopping mall was built around it years after it first opened. The shopping center opened in October 1960 as an open-air mall featuring an office tower designed to look like the top of a golf ball. The Sears store was one of the mall's primary anchor tenants.
In 1986, the mall underwent major renovations, with the north end being completely rebuilt as an enclosed portion anchored by MainStreet and enclosing the mall between the Sears and JCPenney stores. This addition also included a food court. The 1960s wing was enclosed in the 1980s, transitioning the mall from its original outdoor layout to the enclosed shopping center that exists today.
The Sears store at the Golf Mill Shopping Center closed in December 2018. The closure was part of a plan to close 12 Sears stores nationwide due to financial losses and a shift towards increasing online sales. The store's closure had a significant impact on the mall's layout and accessibility. Previously, the Sears store connected the older 1960s wing of the mall to the newer sections, and after its closure, the mall felt like it was cut in half. Visitors now had to leave the mall and walk or drive around to access the other side and its stores.
The unique aspect of the Sears store being enclosed by the mall highlights the evolution of the shopping center's design and the integral role Sears played within it. The closure of the store, along with the decline of other anchor tenants, has led to plans for renovation and redevelopment to revitalise the mall and adapt to changing retail landscapes.
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Frequently asked questions
The Sears store at the Golf Mill Shopping Center closed in December 2018.
The Sears store closed due to a "change in business circumstances". The company reported a net loss of $424 million during the first quarter of 2018 and $508 million in the second quarter.
The closure of the Sears store cut the mall in half, making it impossible to move between the wings without leaving the building. A Chase Bank has been built next to the Panera Bread and a Chick-fil-A restaurant has been built on the northwest corner of the parking lot.
