Lincoln Mall in Matteson: What Happened
Lincoln Mall opened in 1973 with Carson's, Wards, Wieboldt's and JCPenney. Four decades later a judge ordered it closed for safety violations. The rise and fall of a south suburban mall.
For a generation of south suburban kids, Lincoln Mall in Matteson was where you went: back-to-school clothes, the arcade, a first job. Here's how it went from busy to boarded up.
Opening day, 1973
Lincoln Mall opened on August 9, 1973, on Lincoln Highway (U.S. 30) in Matteson. Its anchors read like a list of Chicagoland retail history:
- Carson Pirie Scott
- Montgomery Ward
- Wieboldt's
- JCPenney
It was an enclosed mall in a growing part of the south suburbs, and for years it did well.
The slow decline
Like a lot of malls of its era, Lincoln Mall lost its anchors one by one. Wieboldt's went out of business in the 1980s. Montgomery Ward closed all its stores in 2001. Other stores followed as newer shopping centers opened and shoppers moved online.
By the 2010s, much of the mall was empty.
Closed by a judge
In 2013, the village of Matteson went to court over the mall's condition. The problems listed included exposed wiring, a sprinkler system that didn't work, blocked fire exits, a failing roof and foundation damage.
In November 2014, a Cook County judge ordered the mall closed as of January 7, 2015. The Carson's store, in a separately owned building, was allowed to stay open.
Demolition
Demolition followed in 2017 and 2018, and the site was cleared for redevelopment.
Part of a pattern
Lincoln Mall's story is a lot like Dixie Square in Harvey, Evergreen Plaza, Spring Hill and Charlestowne: a great run in the '70s and '80s, lost anchors, and a long slide.
We're building a map of Chicagoland's dead malls, from opening year to the last day. Got Lincoln Mall memories or photos? Send them in.
Sources (2)
Wikipedia: Lincoln Mall ยท Labelscar: Lincoln Mall, Matteson