White Oaks Mall (Springfield, Illinois)

White Oaks Mall is a shopping center in Springfield, Illinois, United States. It is located at the junction of Illinois Route 4 (Veterans Parkway) and Wabash Avenue. With 928,772 square feet (86,285.7 m2) of retail space, it is the largest enclosed shopping center in Central Illinois.[1] The mall's anchor stores are Macy's, Michaels, LA Fitness, and Dick's Sporting Goods. There are 2 vacant anchor stores that were once Bergner's and Sears.

White Oaks Mall
White Oaks Mall from the southeast
LocationSpringfield, Illinois
Coordinates39.76723°N 89.70358°W / 39.76723; -89.70358
Opening date1977
OwnerSimon Property Group (80.7%)
No. of stores and services77
No. of anchor tenants6 (4 open, 2 vacant)
Total retail floor area928,772 square feet (86,285.7 m2)
No. of floors2
Websitesimon.com/mall/white-oaks-mall

The mall is located on the southwest side of Springfield, approximately five miles (8 km) southwest of the traditional city center. Construction started in 1974[2] and opened in 1977.[3][4] In the early 1990s, it underwent a $14 million renovation which included the addition of a new food court.[5] A carousel was installed in 1997.

White Oaks Mall houses over 100 stores.[6] Its operator, the Simon Property Group, which owns 80.7% of the mall, describes White Oaks Mall as a "super-regional shopping mall".[3] The mall shares its name with the White Oak, the state tree of Illinois.

The original planned name of the mall was Westroads Mall. Ed McMahon and Billy Carter attended the grand opening held on August 24, 1977.[4][7]

White Oaks Mall has a children's play area. Children's Place and Carter's specialize in juvenile clothing.[2]

In April 2018, it was announced that Bergner's would be closing around July 2018 as part of a plan to close all stores. After Bergner's closed, Macy's and Sears became the only traditional anchor stores left.

In May 2018, it was announced that Sears would be closing in September 2018 as part of a plan to close 78 stores nationwide. After Sears closed, Macy's became the only traditional anchor store left.

Anchors
  • Bergner's (originally Myers Brothers, became Bergner's in 1982) Closed in 2018[8]
  • Macy's (originally Famous-Barr, became Macy's in 2006) Still open
  • Sears, Roebuck and Company closed in 2018, last original anchor to close[9]

An original anchor, Montgomery Ward, ceased operations in 2001. The former anchor space was later split among Dick's Sporting Goods, Cost Plus World Market, and Linens 'n Things. After the latter two closed in 2008, the Linens 'n Things space became occupied by hhgregg,[10], and later Michaels, while the Cost Plus space became occupied by LA Fitness.

References
  1. "Springfield: Shopping". Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
  2. White Oaks Mall. OutletStoresMalls.com. Retrieved: 9 February 2015.
  3. "White Oaks Mall: Springfield, IL". Simon Property Group. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
  4. "White Oaks Mall (1993)". SpringfieldRewind.com. December 11, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  5. Bill Ward (October 17, 1993). "White Oaks Mall a travel adventure: Just when you think you've shopped it all... whoomp, there it is!". Herald & Review (Decatur, Illinois). Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  6. Simon Property Group, L.P. "About White Oaks Mall - A Shopping Center in Springfield, IL - A Simon Property". Retrieved 2020-01-29. White Oaks Mall offers more than 100 specialty stores
  7. "History of White Oaks Mall". The State Journal-Register (Springfield, Illinois). February 1, 2009. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  8. http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180418/bergners-parent-company-planning-to-close-all-stores-including-springfield
  9. https://chicago.suntimes.com/business/sears-stores-close-sales-plunge/
  10. http://www.sj-r.com/x1782335952/New-electronics-store-opens-in-White-Oaks-mall
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