Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale, once a bustling hub for shopping and entertainment, is set for a major transformation following its purchase by the city in January 2024. After years of decline and a pandemic-driven economic slump, Bloomingdale officials unveiled plans in October to demolish the mall and redevelop the site as “The Grove at Bloomingdale Commons”—a mixed-use community space that aims to breathe new life into the area.
Stratford’s economy was sky-high in the 1980s and 90s, but started to decline after many renovations, and even more so after COVID-19, as many remaining stores shut down and went out of business.
“Especially with COVID, everyone can buy everything online and on Amazon, so I think a lot of in-person stores have started to struggle,” local resident Elizabeth Mastroianni said.
In January 2024, the City of Bloomingdale purchased Stratford Square Mall from Namdar Realty Group for $8,750,000. All remaining stores were vacated, and in October of this year, Bloomingdale officials revealed a demolition plan with hopes to redevelop the property. Village President Franco Coladipietro described the project as “a legacy for our community,” emphasizing the importance of creating a lasting impact beyond financial gains.
The redevelopment will take place in multiple phases, with the following plans:
- Demolition Phases: The project will begin with water cannon use to control dust and debris, minimizing impact on surrounding businesses.
- Funding Approach: The village is financing the demolition through a line of credit, repaid with property tax revenue, followed by bonds to fund the redevelopment.
- New Development Name: The redeveloped site will be called “The Grove at Bloomingdale Commons.”
- New Features:
- Outdoor spaces
- Entertainment venues
- Retail shops
- Apartments
- Community gathering areas
- Neighboring Businesses: Stores like Kohl’s and Woodman’s will continue to operate with minimal disruption throughout the redevelopment process.
“We do not anticipate that any of the previous big-box retailers will return to this development,” Coladipietro said.
The mall originally opened in 1981, anchored by Main Street, Carson’s, JCPenney, and Montgomery Ward. Over the years, it expanded to 1.3 million square feet of retail space, including a movie theater, becoming one of the region’s few remaining indoor malls until its recent decline. Similar to other malls like Charlestowne Mall, Stratford Square faced challenges that couldn’t be overcome even by attempts at revival this past spring.
For many students at West Chicago Community High School, Stratford Square Mall was not just a place to shop and get food, but also a spot to create memories with friends and family. According to the village of Bloomingdale, the goal is not to erase these memories, but to create a new space for the community to build future ones.
“My favorite thing to do was probably the carousel, and also getting Auntie Anne’s Pretzels with my grandparents,” high school senior Elina Velasco said.
Note: the Wildcat Chronicle reached out twice to Bloomingdale Village President Franco Coladipietro for more information and/or an interview; Coladipietro did not respond. All quotes reprinted here are from previous interviews.
