Westfield Old Orchard, the open-air shopping center in Skokie, is marking 70 years as one of the Chicago area’s most enduring retail destinations, having adapted through decades of consumer trends and e-commerce disruption that have felled many of its peers.
The mall opened on October 22, 1956, with Marshall Field & Company as its anchor tenant. Developed by Chicago-based developer Phillip Klutznick on a former apple orchard, Old Orchard was designed as an open-air commercial center at a time when suburban shopping was reshaping the American retail landscape.
Over seven decades, the center has survived the decline of department stores, the rise of e-commerce, and the closure of competing malls across the Chicago area. While destinations like Ford City and Northbrook Court have struggled with declining revenue and foot traffic, Old Orchard has maintained its position through continuous adaptation.
‘Westfield Old Orchard has succeeded for 70 years because it’s never been just a shopping center,’ said General Manager Maegen Akers. ‘It has been where the North Shore comes together. My hope is that 70 years from now, people will still be making memories here, just as generations of families have done since 1956.’
The center, now owned by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, generates approximately $11.45 million in annual sales tax revenue for Skokie and attracts nearly 10 million visitors per year. Year-to-date foot traffic has grown by about 5%, with new tenants including Pop Mart, Blue Bottle Coffee, and Puttshack.
A major $100 million redevelopment project is slated to begin in early 2027, adding 400 rental units on the shopping center’s northwest corner. A second phase will add more residential units and a hotel, transforming the property into a mixed-use destination.
The center’s ability to reconfigure spaces has been key to its longevity. When Lord & Taylor closed in 2018, the space was divided into four new tenants. When Bloomingdale’s downsized to a Bloomie’s concept, the remaining space was earmarked for the residential redevelopment.
‘The retail landscape will keep changing, but the key is evolving without losing your identity,’ Akers said.
Sources: Chicago Tribune
