Top 10 Retail Center Experiences: No. 10 Woodfield Mall
Daybreaker continues its countdown of the Top 10 Retail Center Experiences named in the July-August edition of Chain Store Age.
Simon’s outpost in the Chicagoland suburb of Schaumburg is a prime example of an enclosed mall that’s withstanding the challenge of e-coms and town centers. Indeed, Woodfield is Schaumburg’s claim to fame — one of America’s largest malls at 2.3 million sq. ft. and the town’s largest employer with more than 4,000 earning paychecks at its 300-plus stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Sears, Macy’s, and JC Penney still thrive at Woodfield, which also houses Lord & Taylor and Nordstrom. “In our department stores, it’s all about the shopper experience. All of them offer buy-online and try on or pick up at the store service,” said general manager Laurie Van Dalen, a Simon veteran for whom Woodfield is her 10th posting.
The mall added a new dining pavilion with Blaze Pizza and Stan’s Donuts to complement destination eateries like Rainforest Café, Cheesecake Factory, and Texas de Brazil. Its Improv Comedy Club is a popular local nightspot, and it recently welcomed Pac-Man Entertainment (whose national marketing manager nominated Woodfield for this honor).
Shoppers are equally taken with Woodfield. It ranked No. 1 in a Yelp survey of the Top 25 malls in Illinois. Remarked one reviewer: “Seems while all the local malls are closing stores down, Woodfield continues thriving with customers. You can find almost any store and item you need at Woodfield.”
No. 1 Easton Town Center
No. 2 Northpark Center
No. 3 Avalon
No. 4 Westfield Garden State Plaza
No. 5 Mall of America
No. 6 Destiny USA
No. 7 Chestnut Hill Square
No. 8 Eton Chagrin Boulevard
No. 9 West Edmonton Mall
Simon’s outpost in the Chicagoland suburb of Schaumburg is a prime example of an enclosed mall that’s withstanding the challenge of e-coms and town centers. Indeed, Woodfield is Schaumburg’s claim to fame — one of America’s largest malls at 2.3 million sq. ft. and the town’s largest employer with more than 4,000 earning paychecks at its 300-plus stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Sears, Macy’s, and JC Penney still thrive at Woodfield, which also houses Lord & Taylor and Nordstrom. “In our department stores, it’s all about the shopper experience. All of them offer buy-online and try on or pick up at the store service,” said general manager Laurie Van Dalen, a Simon veteran for whom Woodfield is her 10th posting.
The mall added a new dining pavilion with Blaze Pizza and Stan’s Donuts to complement destination eateries like Rainforest Café, Cheesecake Factory, and Texas de Brazil. Its Improv Comedy Club is a popular local nightspot, and it recently welcomed Pac-Man Entertainment (whose national marketing manager nominated Woodfield for this honor).
Shoppers are equally taken with Woodfield. It ranked No. 1 in a Yelp survey of the Top 25 malls in Illinois. Remarked one reviewer: “Seems while all the local malls are closing stores down, Woodfield continues thriving with customers. You can find almost any store and item you need at Woodfield.”
Thank you for following the daily profiles of CSA's 2019 Top 10 Retail Center Experiences. If you missed any, catch up now:
No. 1 Easton Town Center
No. 2 Northpark Center
No. 3 Avalon
No. 4 Westfield Garden State Plaza
No. 5 Mall of America
No. 6 Destiny USA
No. 7 Chestnut Hill Square
No. 8 Eton Chagrin Boulevard
No. 9 West Edmonton Mall