Comments on: Alton Square Mall; Alton, Illinois

By: Chip

Chip — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:49:06 +0000

This mall is in serious trouble. Most of the upper level is now vacant. Only Champs and Vitamin World open in the middle section. about 7 stores total (Olga’s is open). Most of the lower level by Macy’s is vacant too. There are still some national chains by Penneys/Sears end. Sears and Penneys look fairly modern and clean, Macys is extremely dated with its wood panel walls and cobblestone tile, probably 1978 F-B original. The lighting inside is TERRIBLE!! Walking down the mall corridor at dusk is very, very dark. The retail area around the mall still looks, healthy, the Kohl’s nearby looks like it opened recently. But there are some abandon buildings too. A long gone cinema is close by

By: Natasha

Natasha — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:58:49 +0000

@Brandon,
Sears was added in the late 90s, that is why it is in an odd location.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:20:33 +0000

IMO, Alton Square is moving in the right direction.

In the past year; they’ve carpeted the second floor, the’ve retiled the first floor, they’ve done something to make the place seem less dark and drab and they’ve changed all the outdoor signage to a new logo.

The new Hayner Library is also open. It spans from Gamestop all the way to Sears, and it looks great. It’s a much bigger and nicer location. Of course, the old location sits vacant. ;\ For more info: http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/library-24923-hayner-people.html

There is a deal with the city to build a movie theater on the property. This isn’t just a big deal for the mall, but the city. For more info: http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/alton-24135-theater-movie.html and http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/tax-24474-alton-amusement.html

The new owners are moving things in the right direction. It still remains to be seen how the movie theater deal will shake out. I’m also not sure how a mall rebounds in this age with the city being what it is and the economy. If anything; things are progressing there instead of regressing further.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:57:14 +0000

@CarlosTheDwarf, Sears was opened in 1998, or 1999. I started working there in 1999, which was a year before I got married in 2000.

By: CarlosTheDwarf

CarlosTheDwarf — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:06:23 +0000

I grew up in Alton (moved away when I turned 18). “The Square” is dinosaur that’s been circling the drain for 10 years. It’s not apparent from the photos, but at least 1/4 of all the stores are vacant at any given time.

To answer some specific questions, the Sears was added on much later. I think around 2003 or so.

The Olga’s hasn’t been moved. It’s in the same place it’s been since I can remember.

Yes, there is a public library branch in the mall.

By: Jarrod

Jarrod — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:04:18 +0000

I just visited this mall in Aug 2008. It now appears as if Olga’s Kitchen has moved as it was next to the Cookie Factory near Macy’s. There did appears to be some re-tiling work going on at the mall and they are still in the process of updating it. There were several vacancies however.

By: Raymie

Raymie — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:49:56 +0000

Apparently, there’s been a shooting at Jamestown Mall, which is in this area.

By: Kymberley

Kymberley — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:04:57 +0000

Prang way- I have emailed you before and after renderings of Alton Square Mall for the site.

CoryTJ- Alton Square Mall is in the middle of an extensive renovation and have a lot of exciting things going on. We would be more than happy to discuss leasing opportunities at Alton Square Mall for your Elements concept . Please contact our Coyote Management Leasing Director, Susan Scott at 972-248-9375.

By: CoryTJ

CoryTJ — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:40:28 +0000

John, noted. I just got the impression that this particular mall was at a crossroads. And I kind of like the area and location of this center. It seems to have retained a lot of its character, which I find fascinating.

On another note, in this forum I haven’t heard anyone really speak of the potential rold of a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in helping any of the dead malls. We had a real loser mall here in Milwaukee called Capitol Court. They tore it down years ago. Then enters Oakbrook, IL-based Inland Real Estate and turns the property into town center concept with open big box stores and it really caught on. The stores are so close together, and the layout so appealing to shoppers, the place in essence has turned itself back into a mall, for all intents and purposes. Inland also recently bought Milwaukee’s now closed Northridge Mall for $4 million (once valued at over $100 million in 1995) and they have begun to turn that into a mixed use space called Granville Station, with a Menard’s Home Improvement and a supermarket. It will be interesting to see if Inland can work with a developer and work some of their magic.

By: Jonah Norason

Jonah Norason — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:04:48 +0000

Kymberly: Email “Prange Way” (listed in the link “About Labelscar and it’s authors” to submit stuff.

CoryTJ: Not every mall on Labelscar is dead or dated. Huge, successful malls have been profiled, like Mall of America, Woodfield Mall, Riverchase Galleria, The Galleria, Natick Collection, and more.