Hi everyone -- I'm once again involved with the Belvidere Mall in Waukegan, Illinois halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee! Belvidere is a small, 120,000 square-foot mall that opened November 18th 1965 as Lake County's first enclosed shopping center; anchored by Montgomery Ward, National Foods, Walgreen's, 25 shops, services, restaurants, and by the year's turn: a single-screen Cinema. The Mall peaked in the early 1980s with 45 stores, until Wards moved to Lakehurst Mall in 1988 and triggered a near-fatal exodus. Nearly-empty, Belvidere Mall survived as a swap meet and event space into the 90s, then revived itself as a discounter, small business, and cultural hub as it exists, today. Much of it, remarkably unchanged since the 1960s.
On Saturday, November 22nd the mall will celebrate its 60th anniversary; and we want to extend the invite to all mall and retail enthusiasts to explore our history, support our small businesses, and celebrate with our community! The mall opens at noon with a ceremony honoring its merchants new and old - many have been with the mall 15, 20, some 30+ years - culminating in a ribbon cutting.
From there, family entertainment and vendors can be found on the mall throughout the day. On the west side of the mall: friends and I are once again running Belvidere Cinema Gallery - the last 1960s-vintage General Cinema theater in existence, now functioning as a DIY space - where we'll feature mall history and photography exhibits in our lobby, and screenings of 1982's E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial at 1:00 and 4:30pm. The shows are free and we'll have pop & popcorn at 1980s prices to support our restoration efforts within the theater.
This is our first show at the Cinema in nearly two years -- I will be slinging both popcorn and photo prints. Drop by and let's geek out about this incredible survivor space, and nook in dead mall history!
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I wish I lived within a reasonable driving distance. What a great event to engage with this space!! Major props regarding your use of the cinema space too!!
Holy crap I grew up in Waukegan and spent a lot of time at that mall before it semi closed and got turned into swap meet. I had no idea the mall structure was still standing.
I 100% saw a few movies at that cinema back in rhe day. It was so tiny lol
When the Cinema opened it seated 1,000 and had the largest screen in the area! General Cinema twinned it in early-1980. When the mall reopened it themselves as a dollar house in 1991, they carved it into a quad. We currently use the two smaller theaters; one for film screenings (mostly revival and independent films), the other we took half the seats out and use it as an all-ages music venue.
We'd love to hear and share your memories as part of our celebration: BelvidereMall60.com
Same here. But spent more time at Lakehurst. Still miss Quonset Hut pizza!
It looks like the mall the Blues Brothers drove through.
Funny enough that's what actually drew me to the place in the late-aughts. The design is extremely similar despite different architects -- Belvidere was the work of Sidney Finck and Harold Stowell; Dixie Square by Hornbach and Steenwyk.
The doomed Dixie Square, also in Illinois.
The new Oldsmobiles are in early this year.
Disco pants and haircuts.
That mall had everything.
BYO refreshments is such a good idea for encouraging people to show up! I think leaning into the nostalgia aspect will really help with revitalizing some malls.
u/jonrev cross post to the chicago suburbs sub as well.
This mall looks awesome and reminds me of a mid-century mall in Bethlehem PA named Westgate Mall.
I hope you have a great turn out for your anniversary event! Keep us posted on how it goes.
I would def come if i lived in the area
I think I saw some Saturday morning movies there ages ago. Love Bug, Three Stooges. Thanks for the memories Belvidere. Good luck with whatever is next!
Would absolutely go to that if I lived nearby. E.T. was my favorite movie going experience when I was a kid in Augusta GA. Saw it in the now dead Regency Mall. :(
Glad that it still looks a bit lively there
I wish I lived out this way. Would love to come and take some photographs of this neat mall!
Wow! What an incredible mall. I love the 1960s decor and the vintage-looking theater. Wish I could go. I hope there's a huge turnout. What a great way to celebrate your mall. Congratulations on 60 years!