Lincoln Mall; Freeport, Illinois
So here we have possibly one of the smallest, worse-for-wear malls this side of the mighty Mississippi. We’re actually surprised it’s still open for business at all; in fact, a website trying to sell Lincoln Mall indicates it has been “recently de-malled” and “recently rehabbed”. In fact, the whole thing can be yours for the low, low price of $3.5 million. More on this in a bit…
Freeport, Illinois is a small city of just over 26,000 in northwestern Illinois. Because Freeport is only 30 minutes from Rockford, its retail offerings are eclipsed by the better variety and volume found in Rockford. The retail strip which does exist is mostly on IL 26 (West Ave) on the southwest side of town. Here a shopper will find strip malls and chain restaurants galore, including a JCPenney and a Sears. This area would have been a great site for an enclosed mall at some point, especially considering Freeport’s population has been steady at 25,000 since 1930.
But that never happened.
Instead, developers did build Freeport a small, enclosed mall of 186,000 square feet along West Galena Ave (US 20 Business), in 1965 and named it Lincoln Mall, which is appropriate enough as the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates took place downtown. And it has not changed since…well, the structure anyway. Certainly, the anchors and in-line stores have come and gone. Unfortunately, though, they’ve mostly ‘gone’ – away, that is; the last store open inside the mall is locally-owned Degrote TV and it’s right by the main entrance. Earlier in 2008, the mall’s east anchor Menard’s moved to bigger, brand new digs with all the rest of the strip fodder down on S. West Ave. The very large west anchor is currently vacant. It was most recently a Big Lots, but what was it before? Also, a small Dollar General is appended onto the mall structure on the west end, past the former west anchor.
The indoor portion of the mall is bleak at best, and the smell can only be described as a wet, musty basement. The small corridor featured a fair amount of store spaces, 18 to be exact, between Menards and Big Lots, all of which are dark. From labelscars and stickers I could tell that one of the largest spaces back here was Ben Franklin, and another store had cedar shingles. This place has clearly not been touched since 1965, and that’s amazing. I think Mr. Lincoln might be a little upset, though.
So, back to where we started. This website, which indicated the mall has been de-malled and recently rehabbed is apparently ill-informed. I certainly hope they’re not marketing the mall under false pretenses, and that there really is a TIF district established to “help this center grow”. I hate to be skeptical, but there are some really blatant lies there. Anyway, let us know more about this mall. What were the original anchors? What were some of the stores over the years? We visited Freeport’s Lincoln Mall in Summer 2008 and took the pictures featured here. We thought we’d immortalize it before it disappeared without a trace after 40 years.
Mr.D
October 15th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
mmm 3.5 mil for my own mall!*Goes and smashes piggy bank*
Anyway this thing is creepy*Goes to shoot remake of Micheal Jackson Thriller*
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Brandon
October 15th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
It is my understanding that there used to be a Charles V. Weise (Bergner’s) in Freeport. The Big Lots looks like that may have been it. It looks similar to the Bergner’s at Northland in Sterling, IL, which was a Charles V. Weise. The former Menards at the other end of the mall reminds me of a small-format Montgomery Ward.
Thinking of which, anyone know what the JCPenney at Northland in Sterling used to be? Looks like some sort of discouter at one time (~100,000SF max).
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danroman
October 15th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
That’s a pretty miserable looking “mall. I don’t think the asking price is worth it unless it includes the entire surrounding area. I’m thinking that there has’nt been too many modern chain stores in this mall (like GNC or anything like that) at all. The facades are too old looking to have housed any recent stores like that.
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pamida
October 16th, 2008 at 12:06 am
this place could easily be a set location for a horror movie. by the looks of it they would not need much set prep to inspire a gloomy location. another great post, prangeway!
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dan-onymous
October 16th, 2008 at 11:45 am
According to that link, poor Degrote is on a month to month lease. While somewhat-struggling malls seem to be getting turned into mixed-use residential/retail locations, would it be that far-fetched to imagine a virtually dead center like this being converted into strictly residential (with each former store becoming an apartment), but maintaining a mall aesthetic, with planters, fountains, etc.? I think that would appeal to younger people with a sense of irony. At least parking would be ample.
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Prange Way
October 16th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
It would make sense if it was Weise’s/Bergner’s. However, Wikipedia says that the Weise’s was downtown and closed in the late 1970s. Hmm. Anyone know for sure?
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Former Freeporter
October 16th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Previous poster is correect that the Weise’s was in downtown Freeport and closed in the 70’s.
Lincoln Mall was never a rousing success. In the 1967-71 era, the anchor tennants were Sears and JC Penney’s at either end of the mall, with Garrity’s Rexall Drugs as the major tennant in the middle. Because Garrity was a local franchise, they stuck it out longer than most would have.
In the late 1960’s, the “West Galena” site on US Hwy 20 where Lincoln Mall was built was definitely a hotter real estate location than the area along Illinios 26 (S. West Avenue) where the strip malls have since located. At that time, there was a discount retailer (Zayre’s, at one time, although it changed hands a couple of times), and a couple of grocery stores. Then “Farm and Fleet” opened closer to Yellow Creek, and Eagle Foods on the corner of South Street and Illinois 26. But retailing in Freeport has suffered since the 1960’s, when an ill-conceived attempt to revitalize downtown shopping led to the creation of an “outdoor” plaza on Stephenson Street that made it impossible to park, cold in winter and hot in the summer. Competition from Rockford was never the cause of Freeport’s retail failures — the Hwy 20 bypass, the downtown plaza, and Freeport’s resistance to anything new share that blame. Besides, the best shopping in Rockford since the 1960s continues to move to the far east side of Rockford, too far for “daily” excursions from Freeport, and never enticing enough for major purchases. Why stop in Rockford for major purchases when the suburban Chicago malls (Northbrook, OakBrook, Schaumburg) aren’t that much further away. Even Madison, Wisconsin is an easier drive, than the east side of Rockford. .
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Bobby
October 16th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Brandon, I have the JCPenney at Northland Mall as being a JCPenney since at least 1985. My first guess would be Woolco. If you could get a pic maybe I could tell for sure, Woolco buildings are pretty easy to spot.
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Jonah Norason
October 16th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
It’s a desolate, dismal place. I think this is worse than the Tri-County Mall in Delaware, don’t you think?
At least it stores, chain stores at that!
Oh, wow, two posts in two days! Keep ‘em coming!
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Matt from WI
October 16th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
The overall size of the mall interior reminds me a lot of the old Westfair Mall (which was in West Bend WI), which ‘was’ de-malled way back in 1993.
I’m usually a fan of vintage appearances, but this one’s in need a total top-to-bottom remodel. No, more like an outright tear-down. I wouldn’t want to think of all the nasty junk between the walls and in the ceilings. Not to forget leaky roofs, possibly faltering electrical and HVAC setup.
And I looked at that document.
I tell you, Lakeshore Mall in Manitowoc is just as empty as this mall, and it’s in MUCH better shape, and when it last sold to new ownership for $2.9 million (last I checked)….not only is that a better deal than this mall is, it’s also more structurally sound, while THIS mall looks like it’s about to fall over.
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Jonah Norason
October 16th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
There’s also an unrelated mall in Matteson, IL called Lincoln Mall….don’t get the two confused!!
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Bobby
October 16th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Former Freeporter, which was Penney’s and which was Sears? I’m guessing Sears was Menards and JCPenney was Big Lots, judging from the size.
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Brandon
October 16th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Bobby, judging from the compararive bulidings, the former Menards was definately the Sears, and the former Big Lots was the JCPenney. JCPenney tended to have a false second level toward the front of the store until the 1980s. And this Sears looks to have had an attached auto center on the side away from the mall. Not uncommon for Sears of the period. My guess is that Penney’s either had a very small detached auto center or it was a dry-goods only store.
Never would’ve guessed at it being a JCPenney as they have a store on the south sode of town along IL-26.
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Panda
October 16th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Yikes!!! Look at the floor in this dump! And everything else! I’m surprised there hasn’t been a lot of criminal activity going on in there…or has there? Anyone know?
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Matt from WI
October 16th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I’ve always wondered what a ‘dry goods only’ JCPenney was? My guess is that it only had the ‘hardline’ stuff, no apparel or anything.
Wards and Sears did the same thing in some markets, putting only so-called ‘catalog stores’ inline.
Penney’s used that ‘false second floor’ heavily, especially during the time they used their ‘new look’ “Penneys” banner.
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john gallo
October 17th, 2008 at 2:34 am
matt a dry goods only penneys was a small store that only sold apperel and domestic items no hard lines at all teh stores were small and crampt the one that stand out in my mind is there store in kennimer wy. it is the first store and is still open other wise almost all of them have been closed or moved
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Chip
October 17th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Just as ugly and desolete as Irongate Mall in Hibbing MN. Didn’t know Freeport had a mall at all
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another freeporter
October 20th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
This was a nice thriving mall at one time…thru the mid to late 70’s. The JCPenney’s was not a dry goods store. Previous posters were correct – the Sears was in the Menards location. The JCP at the big lots location. The JCP simply moved to it’s current location. Menards also moved to a new location in town. This is true for several of the stores that were there at one time.
The parking lot is risky to drive your car in it is so full of huge potholes. I recently (2 weeks ago) went into the remaining DeGrote store and when we walked into the building, the smell of must/mold literally made you step back. Truthfully I am surprised it is not condemned. And as far as a recent rehab??? I can’t imagine what they are referring to.
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Steven Swain
October 20th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
The building with the Dollar General carved into the side was most definitely a JCPenney. It’s a little watered down with the cheap looking front canopy, but it has the classic mid ’60s facade massing.
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jayv
October 21st, 2008 at 12:59 pm
hey danonymous
i would TOTALLY live in an apartment built out of a mall store, as long as it had its own bathroom and kitchen
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Charles
October 21st, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Another charming feature of this mall is the abandoned upper level parking lot behind the former Menard’s building. Its accessable via a ramp up from the main parking lot, but it evidently has seen no use for a LONG time and is choked with weeds.
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Mark
October 21st, 2008 at 9:14 pm
depressing.
I like the parking lot lights though, good catch on the lesser known defunct Ben Franklin store.
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Mark
October 21st, 2008 at 9:16 pm
STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!!!
this mall had wooden shingled roofing over the stores????? THAT’S RARE!
5th picture reminds me a bit of the Naugatuck Valley Mall in Waterbury,CT.
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Bobby
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Steven Swain, Dollar General isn’t in part of the old JCP according to the lease plan.
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will
November 6th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
hi all,
i was just going over the interior shots of this mall and it highly resembles the interior of the former CROSS COUNTY 8 mall in West Palm Beach, Florida. the only piece of the original mall that remains is the ross department store. the new structure was built around it after the demolition took place in 1996 or 97 i do believe. just thought i’d throw that in fo r you all. thanks, will
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Bertrand Granger III
November 26th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
I visited this mall on November 25, 2008, with my friend and business partner. We did indeed observe that the musty smell was evident near the entranceway, but not throughout the entire mall. The mall is still basically in the same condition it was in the pictures posted here. The DeGrote appliance store remains open, amazingly. Another former store is being used as a storage area for cleaning supplies and whatnot. We were unable to determine what store used to exist in the space that features a tacky facade adorned with wooden shingles.
One item of note is that one of the former stores now has a banner hung above it that reads “Pretzel City Horseshoe League.” From the signs posted on the steel gate, we gathered that there is indeed a horseshoe league that meets in that spot one weekend per month.
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Bob Nickels
November 29th, 2008 at 1:22 am
It’s amazing how the internet works – I was looking for something unrelated and this site happened to come up in my search. Since I’ve lived in Freeport for over 20 years I thought I would try to fill in a few gaps.
The Lincoln Mall was mostly occupied when I came here in 1986, in fact is was THE major retail area outside of downtown. Sears and JC Penney were the anchors, along with the locally-owned Garrity Drug and Gift store, Radio Shack, Ben Franklin Crafts, several clothing and shoe stores, a travel agency, beauty salon, and a small cafe. I can’t recall the entire list of stores, but as you can see, there was a pretty decent selection and it was quite busy. Back then certain retail locations were set up to handle payment of utility bills, and Garrity saw a lot of traffic for that reason. The interior mall area was often used for community events like bake sales, fund-raisers, exhibitions, kids performances, etc. When the Meadows Shopping Center was built on south Rte 26, Penneys moved, and Sears was basically coming apart at the seams around that time, so they closed the full-line Lincoln Mall store, but opened a small catalog-tool-appliance outlet in the Meadows center. The arrival of Menards was much welcomed, even though it only carried a subset of merchandise and limited lumber and building materials. The first occupant of the old Penneys site was a Heilig-Meyers furniture store – they also sub-divided the space but closed after a few years when that chain went out of business. The space was empty for some time before Big Lots came in, and after a few years, left as well. I remember when Menards first opened, they maintained both a separate entrance and the one opening on the mall, but as mall tenants left that was closed off. That’s what I can remember – I’ve made hundreds of trips there and when it was full of stores and people, I never really noticed it being especially tacky or outdated, but then I’m more on function than style. The owners have maintained a local caretaker-manager (a neighbor of mine) who I’m sure would be able to answer any questions.
For $64,000 – I can’t recall which store(s) had the hokey wood shingling, but it might have been a Thom McAn shoestore and Radio Shack.
With that said – I’d like to pose a question to the retail gurus here. I’m a business development consultant (industrial, B2B, not retail) and have pondered what could be done to re-purpose the Lincoln Mall. Remember, this is a city of 26,000, not Chicago or LA, so the possibilities are limited, but perhaps more creativity is possible. As I see it, the owner will have to pay the property tax and other expenses ad infinitum, whilst the place continually declines in condition (and value). What options might exist other than plunking down $3.5 million, or a significant fraction thereof? What legal structures might enable creative re-use through perhaps through public-private parternship? To my mind, the value lies in what it could become next, not in trying to return it to the retail mall it once was. And while it’s easy to poke fun at the Lincoln Mall (and I’m not here to defend it) – look at the list of former tenants who are either dead and gone, or have gone through their own tribulations. This tells me that retail is a tough biz no matter where you play.
A very interesting blog. Truly a study of “modern history”!
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M
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:27 am
The shingled area was Garrity Gifts
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Former Employee
December 29th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
The shingled area was the former Radio Shack on the left and a beauty salon on the right.
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hm
December 30th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I grew up in Freeport in the 80s within walking distance of the Lincoln Mall. I spent lots of time in Garrity Drug reading pop magazines and buying candy. My friend’s mom was a pharmacist there. When I was much younger there was a candy store across from Garrity’s. The diner was called “The Lincolnette.” The Penney’s store became a Spurgeon’s for a while, which used to be downtown. There was once a Hallmark near the entrance of Menard’s. Every year for Easter there was a large egg-shaped incubator in the mall walkway with live chicks. I remember thinking of the Ben Franklin as new, but I can’t remember what was there before it. Thanks for the opportunity to reminisce!
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hm
February 5th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
I was back in Freeport recently and learned that a favorite lunch destination, The Garden Deli, is moving (or has moved) across the street to the Lincoln Mall. They have enough of a dedicated clientele (me included) that I think they will be successful. Maybe their success will revitalize the dying mall?
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kt
February 21st, 2009 at 12:36 pm
I lived in Freeport from 1978-1990 from the ages of 5 to 16. I have many wonderful memories of Lincoln Mall. Back to school shopping, hanging out with friends, running errands with Mom, etc. Probably my fondest memory was a kindergarten program I was in. We sang and danced in the middle of the mall for all to see….it was great! I have not been back to Freeport since 1993 and was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon this site and see that the mall is still standing. I think that although it is extremely outdated and in desperate need of some major revamping, it has been a major part of Freeport history and memories. I know that I speak for many when I say that what some of you see now as professionals, we as Freeporters and former Freeporters see is a place that needs some TLC, attention to detail, and creativity to bridge the gap from yesterday to today. I would mean a lot to many of us. Thank to whomever takes on the task. If this great place happens to meet its demise, I would like to take this time to say “Goodbye and you will be greatly missed. Thanks for the memories.”
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Oscar
April 15th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
I have grown up in Freeport and I would like to add my two cents in by saying that with Garden Deli as well as Degrote there the Lincoln “Mall” might survive as long as people are willing to give it a second chance. I would LOVE it if it was up and going again. The musty smell was not evident when I went through about a month ago, or I may not have paid attention to it.
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Jeff C
June 6th, 2009 at 3:49 am
Worked at Scotts 5&dime which was straight to the back of the center main entrance which then became Ben Franklins, Worked also at The Yum Yum Shop a small food place which also had home made donuts, straight in the center entrance left inside corner. Garrity’s Drug was owned by Bill Garrity and was family run. Yes I worked there as well. What can a local neighborhood kid do. Also there was a Hallmark store in the mall at one time. Piggly Wiggly (then Eagles) was a seperate building to the West of the Mall which also had The Sugar N Spice and Yes I spent time working at both of those places as well. Some places at the same time
Now the East End of the Mall or should I say parking lot. Huge Tall wall at the end of the mall where the ramp went up to the upper level. Property above the wall towards Harlem Street was the long gone King Daughters Home.
Back to the wall. Has some sad history, Late one night a guy on a motorcycle stopped and folded his leather jacket, placed it n the ground, got back on his bike then full speed ahead and hit the wall. Back then hardly anyone worn helmets so needless to say he killed himself.
It would be nice to see something done with it but will all the moving to the south side of town and the bypass around the North end of town the traffic just isnt there anymore. I can also remember walking down to the mall while it was being built with the guys and playing in the construction site.
Man those were the days. Mahalo (thanks) for the pictures
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Jeff C
June 6th, 2009 at 3:54 am
anyone know what ever happened to the scale modle of the Lincoln Mermorial that used to be palced center court of the mall??
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Jason
July 19th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Where is this at in freeport? Is it still open?
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Lynn
November 1st, 2009 at 2:26 am
If we all supported the mom and pops, this wouldn’t have happened. Now, many people live a lower standard of living because of shopping at multi-national corporate entities that owe no allegiance to any community much less country. It wouldn’t take that many of us to buy U.S. and support U.S. businesses to make a change where Main St. rules instead of Wall St. Sorry to say, but shopping at Walmart is only going to keep the status quo, sending jobs and money out of our country. Vote with your dollars folks. They may not seem like much on their own, but added up, it can make a huge difference. We can have community again like we used to and decent pay along with it.
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Bill
November 5th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
I was manager of the downtown Woolworths in Freeport back in the late ’80s when the downtown was a walking plaza.The downtown was quite viable then with a Jupiters variety store,Walgreens,Spurgeons,and many other stores in a very full downtown.Lincoln Mall seemed small back then but was full.Freeport definitely grew away from the mall and the downtown is a shadow of its former self.I live in Sterling where I grew up.Penneys was the original tenant in Northland Mall when it opened in 1972 but it was a new concept back then thus its unusual look,it now looks pretty much like any other JCP.Northland Mall also had a large Woolworth in its center.
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