University Mall (Carbondale, Illinois)
Encyclopedia
University Mall is an enclosed shopping mall
in Carbondale, Illinois
, USA. Opened in 1974, the mall was expanded between 1989 and 1991. The mall comprises more than sixty tenants, with JCPenney, Macy's
and Bed Bath & Beyond
as its anchor store
s. Three additional anchors, last occupied by Steve & Barry's
, Goody's Family Clothing
, and K's Merchandise, are vacant, while a fourth that was formerly occupied by Elder-Beerman
houses health offices.
in 1989). In November 1988, a $35 million expansion was planned. This expansion, begun in 1990 and opened in 1991, comprised two new anchor stores (Famous-Barr
and the only Venture
in southern Illinois) as well as a food court.
Also in the late 1980s, it was announced that Sears would be moving to Illinois Centre Mall (now Illinois Star Centre
), a new mall being developed in nearby Marion
. Illinois Centre Mall opened in 1990, resulting in the closure of the Sears at University Mall. University Mall sued Illinois Centre Mall's developers over the use of a state financing program to relocate the store, although the suit was later dismissed. Montgomery Ward
opened in 1992 in the former Sears space.
Venture closed its store at University Mall in 1993 and later became K's Merchandise. Elder-Beerman closed in 1997 and became health offices. An Old Navy
was added in May 2002, and later that year, the Montgomery Ward space was demolished for a movie theater
owned by Kerasotes and other small stores, including Bed Bath & Beyond
, Goody's Family Clothing
and Steve & Barry's
. These opened in 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively. The food court was relocated in 2004 to the former Elder-Beerman wing. In 2005, Stoltz Management acquired the mall, and one year later, Famous-Barr was one of several nameplates to be converted to Macy's.
K's Merchandise closed in early 2007, followed in 2008 by Goody's and Steve & Barry's. As of 2009, the mall's remaining anchors are JCPenney, Macy's and Bed Bath & Beyond, with the former Goody's, K's Merchandise, and Steve & Barry's slots remaining vacant.
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
in Carbondale, Illinois
Carbondale, Illinois
Carbondale is a city in Jackson County, in the state of Illinois, within the Southern Illinois region. It is located at the junction of Illinois Route 13 and U.S. Route 51, southeast of St. Louis, Missouri, on the northern edge of the Shawnee National Forest...
, USA. Opened in 1974, the mall was expanded between 1989 and 1991. The mall comprises more than sixty tenants, with JCPenney, Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
and Bed Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. was formed in 1971 and today operates a chain of domestic merchandise retail stores across United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. They feature mostly medium-ranged, but also a limited selection of high quality, domestic merchandise: items for the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen,...
as its anchor store
Anchor store
In retail, an anchor store, draw tenant, anchor tenant, or key tenant is one of the larger stores in a shopping mall, usually a department store or a major retail chain....
s. Three additional anchors, last occupied by Steve & Barry's
Steve & Barry's
Steve & Barry's was an American retail clothing chain, featuring casual apparel. By mid-2008, the chain operated 276 stores in 39 states. The company was headquartered in Port Washington, New York. The company liquidated all of its stores throughout 2008....
, Goody's Family Clothing
Goody's Family Clothing
Goody's is a brand used for some clothing stores operated by Stage Stores, Inc., of Houston, Texas. It is a successor to Goody's Family Clothing, a chain of clothing retailers based in Knoxville, Tennessee...
, and K's Merchandise, are vacant, while a fourth that was formerly occupied by Elder-Beerman
Elder-Beerman
Elder-Beerman is a U.S. chain of department stores founded in 1883 and owned by The Bon-Ton. The chain is based primarily in the United States' Midwest region...
houses health offices.
History
The first store to open at University Mall was JCPenney, which opened in 1971. Three years later, the mall itself was built around the JCPenney store, also including a Sears at the other end. A wing was eventually added to the mall, ending in Meis (which became Elder-BeermanElder-Beerman
Elder-Beerman is a U.S. chain of department stores founded in 1883 and owned by The Bon-Ton. The chain is based primarily in the United States' Midwest region...
in 1989). In November 1988, a $35 million expansion was planned. This expansion, begun in 1990 and opened in 1991, comprised two new anchor stores (Famous-Barr
Famous-Barr
The Famous-Barr Co. , St. Louis, Missouri, was a division of Macy's, Inc. . It was formerly the hometown division of The May Department Stores Company, which was acquired by Federated on August 30, 2005. On February 1, 2006, it was subsumed into the newly created Macy's Midwest division.The...
and the only Venture
Venture Stores
Venture Stores, Inc., was a chain of retail stores that operated in the American Midwest. The company operated over 70 stores with major market share in St. Louis, Chicago and Kansas City, being headquartered in the St. Louis suburb of O'Fallon, Missouri....
in southern Illinois) as well as a food court.
Also in the late 1980s, it was announced that Sears would be moving to Illinois Centre Mall (now Illinois Star Centre
Illinois Star Centre
Illinois Star Centre, formerly Illinois Centre Mall, is an enclosed shopping mall in Marion, Illinois. Opened in 1991, it features more than 60 stores, including Dillard's, Sears and Target as anchor stores.-History:...
), a new mall being developed in nearby Marion
Marion, Illinois
The city of Marion is the county seat of Williamson County, Illinois. The 2010 census counted 17,193 residents, making Marion the 25th most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in Illinois, and the second most populous city in Southern Illinois, outside of the Metro-East, behind...
. Illinois Centre Mall opened in 1990, resulting in the closure of the Sears at University Mall. University Mall sued Illinois Centre Mall's developers over the use of a state financing program to relocate the store, although the suit was later dismissed. Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
opened in 1992 in the former Sears space.
Venture closed its store at University Mall in 1993 and later became K's Merchandise. Elder-Beerman closed in 1997 and became health offices. An Old Navy
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
was added in May 2002, and later that year, the Montgomery Ward space was demolished for a movie theater
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
owned by Kerasotes and other small stores, including Bed Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. was formed in 1971 and today operates a chain of domestic merchandise retail stores across United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. They feature mostly medium-ranged, but also a limited selection of high quality, domestic merchandise: items for the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen,...
, Goody's Family Clothing
Goody's Family Clothing
Goody's is a brand used for some clothing stores operated by Stage Stores, Inc., of Houston, Texas. It is a successor to Goody's Family Clothing, a chain of clothing retailers based in Knoxville, Tennessee...
and Steve & Barry's
Steve & Barry's
Steve & Barry's was an American retail clothing chain, featuring casual apparel. By mid-2008, the chain operated 276 stores in 39 states. The company was headquartered in Port Washington, New York. The company liquidated all of its stores throughout 2008....
. These opened in 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively. The food court was relocated in 2004 to the former Elder-Beerman wing. In 2005, Stoltz Management acquired the mall, and one year later, Famous-Barr was one of several nameplates to be converted to Macy's.
K's Merchandise closed in early 2007, followed in 2008 by Goody's and Steve & Barry's. As of 2009, the mall's remaining anchors are JCPenney, Macy's and Bed Bath & Beyond, with the former Goody's, K's Merchandise, and Steve & Barry's slots remaining vacant.