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Jefferson Square Mall

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Jefferson Square Mall
1154
Map
LocationJoliet, Illinois United States
Coordinates41°31′11″N 88°08′37″W / 41.51972°N 88.14361°W / 41.51972; -88.14361
Address2450 W Jefferson St, Joliet, IL 60435
Opening dateMarch 1975; 50 years ago (March 1975)
Closing date2002; 24 years ago (2002)
Demolished2004
Previous namesWilderness Mall
DeveloperMelvin Simon and Associates
ManagementMenards Properties
OwnerMenards Properties
Stores and services60 (at peak)
Anchor tenants2 (at peak)
Floor area600,000 square feet (56,000 m2)
Floors1

Jefferson Square Mall, also known as Wilderness Mall, was a 600,000 square feet (56,000 m2) shopping mall in Joliet, Illinois, United States. Opened in 1975, it originally featured Wieboldt's and Montgomery Ward. The mall closed in 2002, and was demolished in 2004 to build a Walmart and Menards.

History

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Jefferson Square Mall was developed by Melvin Simon and Associates, now known as Simon Property Group. Wieboldt's opened in August of 1974, and Montgomery Ward opened in October of 1974.[1][2]

The mall opened in March 1975, consisting of about 600,000 square feet (56,000 m2) of shop space.[3] Jefferson Square Mall was the first enclosed shopping mall in Joliet.[4] Louis Joliet Mall opened nearby in 1978, providing competition to Jefferson Square.[5]

In 1987 Wieboldt's closed the Jefferson Square store along with 7 other stores.[6] Their space was replaced by a Menards home improvement store. In addition, a shooting in 1991 injured two people at the mall.[7]

In 1996, the property was renamed Wilderness Mall. Despite these renovations, the mall continued to decline in tenancy.[8] By 2000 the mall only had 13 tenants out of the over 60 store slots. some included an off-track betting parlor, a paint gun store, a travel agency, a preschool, and a social services agency. Montgomery Ward closed that same year.[9]

In 2002, Wilderness Mall was purchased by Menard Properties. They planned to demolish the mall for a newer, larger Menards as well as a Walmart supercenter.[10] Demolition began in 2004 and was completed in 2006, with construction of Menards beginning in 2007 and Walmart in 2008.

References

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  1. ^ "Oct 02, 1974, page 47 - Chicago Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Aug 16, 1974, page 55 - Chicago Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Jul 30, 1975, page 64 - The Shreveport Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Apr 02, 1975, page 13 - The Edwardsville Intelligencer at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Jun 11, 1978, page 124 - Chicago Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  6. ^ "03-21-87 Wieboldt Closes 8 Stores". Chicago Tribune. 21 March 1987. p. 26. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  7. ^ "JOLIET MALL SHOOTING INJURES 2". Chicago Tribune. 27 December 1991. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Southtown Star from Tinley Park, Illinois". Newspapers.com. 21 November 1996. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Southtown Star from Tinley Park, Illinois". Newspapers.com. 31 December 2000. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Southtown Star from Tinley Park, Illinois". Newspapers.com. 14 April 2002. Retrieved 14 October 2025.