Hickory Point Mall

Hickory Point Mall is a shopping mall in Forsyth, Illinois, United States. The mall opened in 1978. The anchor stores are Kohl's, Von Maur, TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, Ulta Beauty, Ross Dress for Less, and Shoe Dept. Encore.[1] The mall is managed by Namdar Realty Group. There are 3 vacant anchor stores that were once JCPenney, Sears, and Bergner's.

Hickory Point Mall
LocationForsyth, Illinois, United States
Coordinates39.91805°N 88.96006°W / 39.91805; -88.96006
Address1146 Hickory Point Mall
Opening date1978[1]
DeveloperCopaken, White & Blitt
OwnerNamdar Realty Group
No. of stores and services49 (37 inside the mall, 12 outside the mall)[1]
No. of anchor tenants10 (7 open, 3 vacant)[1]
Total retail floor area826,347 square feet (77,000 m2)[1]
No. of floors1
Public transit accessDecatur Public Transit System
Websitehickorypoint.com

History

In the early 1970s, developers Copaken, White & Blitt proposed building a mall in Decatur, Illinois. The city spent a year negotiating with the developers, but downtown merchants heavily lobbied against it, and in a July 1974 vote, the Decatur City Council rejected the mall by one vote.[2] The developers instead built the mall in Forsyth, a village just north of Decatur, and it opened in October 1978. The mall's original anchors included JCPenney, Bergner's, and Carson Pirie Scott (later rebranded as Carson's), all of which relocated from downtown Decatur.[3] Kohl's was added in 1983 as a fourth anchor, and expanded in 2003.[4] Carson Pirie Scott sold its store and another at College Hills Mall (now The Shoppes at College Hills) in Normal to Von Maur in 1989.[5] MC Sports and Sears were added in 1998,[6] with the latter relocating from a store in downtown Decatur. [7] A year later, Gap Inc. announced plans to open Gap, GapKids, and Old Navy stores.[8]

In 2000, Copaken, White & Blitt renovated the interior.[9] CBL & Associates Properties bought the mall in 2005.[10]

Steve & Barry's opened in late 2007,[11] and closed less than a year later.[12] MC Sports moved its store across the hallway in late 2008.[13] Old Navy closed in 2010[14] and was re-tenanted by Cohn Furniture later that same year. Shoe Show opened a Shoe Dept. Encore in the space vacated by Steve & Barry's.[15]

Some scenes from the 2009 film The Informant! were filmed at the mall.[16]

In January 2014, it was announced that JCPenney would be closing its store by May 2014,[17] followed by Sears in November.[18] In September 2014 the mall opened Ross Dress for Less and Ulta Beauty. In October 2014, CBL Properties announced that Hobby Lobby had executed a lease for 60,000 square feet in the space formerly occupied by JCPenney and that it would relocate into the mall from its former location on Pershing Road. [19] The mall announced on October 21, 2016, that T.J. Maxx would be relocating to this mall. Hibbett Sports opened a store in the fall of 2017.

Knockerball MAX, an affiliate of Knockerball USA, opened in October 2017. Knockerball MAX offers open play and private parties for Bubbleball in the United States, which is a recent growing trend nationwide. Taking over the spot previously held by the former Kirlin's Hallmark, Knockerball MAX boasts the largest arena of its kind in America.[20]

Wisconsin-based Book World closed its doors in 2017 after filing for bankruptcy and liquidating all stock. Its previous tenant was Waldenbooks. The company had 20 stores in Wisconsin and also had stores in Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa and North Dakota.[21]

On August 29, 2018, anchor tenant Bergner's permanently closed its doors after 40 years of business at Hickory Point, following the bankruptcy and liquidation of parent company Bon-Ton Stores.[22]

In August 2020, CBL & Associates sold the mall to Namdar Realty Group.[23]

References
  1. "Mall information". CBL & Associates Properties. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  2. Reid, Tony (28 April 2017). "History of Hickory Point Mall turns on one fateful 'no'". Herald & Review. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  3. The middle-size cities of Illinois: their people, politics, and quality of life. Sangamon State University. Center for the Study of Middle-Size Cities. 1980. p. 77. ISBN 9789991730585.
  4. "Hickory Point Mall property growth in high gear Coziahr Harley-Davidson to open at new location; Kohl's plans expansion". Herald & Review. 5 February 2003. p. C8. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  5. "Caron's sale of Petersen's complete". The Pantagraph. 18 January 1989. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  6. "MC Sports works on mall site". Herald & Review. 19 December 1997. p. B6. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  7. "Sears breaks ground at mall Opening of 101,000-square-foot stored scheduled for fall of 1998". Herald & Review. 10 October 1997. p. D8. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  8. "The Gap has plans for Hickory Point Mall stores Old Navy is among three likely to open, although no leases have been signed". Herald & review. 8 October 1999. p. A1. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  9. "Mall to remodel interior Hickory Point officials believe new look will spur business". Herald & Review. 4 May 2000. p. A1. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  10. Reid, Tony; Mike Frazier (18 October 2005). "Hickory Point Mall sold to investment group; deal includes Bloomington mall". Herald & Review. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  11. "Timely opening Officials hope Steve and Barry's opening just before the holiday season will keep more shoppers in the area". Herald & Review. 14 November 2007. p. C1. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  12. "Steve & Barry's closing at Forsyth mall No date set for final day of operation". Herald & Review. 3 September 2008. p. C1. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  13. Reid, Tony; Chris Luvardi (3 October 2008). "Hobby grows into downtown business". Herald & Review. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  14. Lusvardi, Chris (17 February 2010). "Old Navy leaving Hickory Point Mall". Herald & Review. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  15. "Making merry New stores, seasonal shops spice up mall's offering for holiday shoppers". Herald & Review. 19 November 2010. p. A1. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  16. Albright, Jayson (7 May 2008). "On set with 'The Informant:' A long Tuesday, with extras". The Herald-Review. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  17. Davidson, Paul. "J.C. Penney closing 33 stores, laying off 2,000". USA TODAY.
  18. "Sears in Hickory Point Mall to close in December". WSOY-AM. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  19. Transcripts, S. A. (October 30, 2014). "CBL & Associates Properties' (CBL) CEO Stephen Lebovitz on Q3 2014 Results - Earnings Call Transcript". Seeking Alpha.
  20. Reid, Tony. "Knockerball knockout fun in Forsyth". Herald& Review.
  21. "Hickory Point Mall losing book store: Book World closing all stores". Associated Press via Herald & Review. November 1, 2017.
  22. "Bon-Ton Stores expected to close; Younkers, Boston Store and Carson's included". Associated Press via WGN-TV. April 18, 2018.
  23. Beckett, Donnette (7 October 2020). "New York firm buys Hickory Point Mall". Herald & Review. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
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