Westfield Old Orchard mall set to undergo third renovation, new retailers arriving
A multi-phase redevelopment of Westfield Old Orchard will bring apartments and a long list of new uses to the 1.5 million-sq.-ft. mall that debuted in Skokie, Ill. in 1956.
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield announced that Arhaus home furnishings and high-tech mini golf experience Puttshack would be the two incoming tenants to open in the mall’s Lord & Taylor space. The European fashion brand Zara will be relocated to the space, as well, from its current spot on the north end of the mall.
Old Orchard previously underwent a wholesale renovation in the 1990s. The new tenants are expected to open in 2024 along with a fourth new tenant to be announced at a later date.
Wellness centers and outdoor amenities including green and park spaces will open in phases ahead of the planned 2026 completion date.
“Our bold new vision for the center will dramatically enhance its offerings and further establish it as the preeminent live-work-shop-and-play destination on the North Shore,” said Geoff Mason, executive VP of operating management and development for URW at the time of announced renovations late last year. “By creatively unlocking the potential of the center, this development will bring new life, energy and choices to Old Orchard.”
Another notable tenant is Bloomies, a scaled-down version of Bloomingdale's, which closed at Old Orchard in 2022. First debuted in 2021, Bloomie’s opened at Westfield Old Orchard Mall in late 2022. The third location is set to open in Seattle next month.
Bloomie’s is part of Macy’s Inc.’s “Polaris” strategy that includes closing about 125 Macy’s stores and expanding its off-price, smaller-scale and off-mall retail concepts.
Also new will be a re-opening of a Victoria's Secret/Pink, which was recently named a top-five specialty retailer, according to the 6th annual American Innovation Index (Aii). The re-opening comes as the company continues to navigate a challenging retail environment. Its second quarter revenue of $1.42 billion missed the estimated $1.43 billion projection, and profit declined 6.2% on a year-over-year basis.
Other new tenants that have opened at Westfield Old Orchard Mall include:
● Amour Vert
● Böhme
● Goyol Cashmere
● Barnes & Noble (re-opening)
● Pac Sun (relocation/expansion)
● Express (remodel)
● Alo Yoga
● Louis Vuitton
● Capital Grille
● Bar Siena
● Levi's
● Molly'sCupcakes
● Psycho Bunny
● Marine Layer
● Rodd & Gunn
● Tory Burch
● Pie Five
●Peloton
URW operates 80 shopping centers in 12 countries, including 45 which carry the Westfield brand. The France-based retail center owner-operator that in the process of disposing of its U.S. malls recently acquired new financing for its Century City center in Los Angeles, with indications that it might hold on to some American properties.