Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins lived right down the street in his teenage years. 1979 to 1985. This was his local mall as a young man. That's pretty cool.

Thanks for doing a great service to preserving retail history. I’m so glad more and more people are documenting this beautiful architectural gem!! This is by far one of the most beautifully designed, aesthetically appealing malls I’ve seen. Thank you for preserving its history, its architectural significance by documenting it for us and for future generations. It’s a shame they don’t see the benefits of repurposing it instead of demolishing it. It’s stated that it would cost $30 million dollars to demolish it when they could repurpose it. The building is still functional, well maintained with minimal damage. It’s such a waste. We’re a wasteful society. When things get irrelevant, we don’t try to be visionary and reinvent things to make them relevant again. Just subscribed. I appreciate the work you’re doing. Thank you again.

I've seen this mall before here on KZfaq. It's so sad to see it like this. The music you used fits in well with this video. Uploads like these get me into such a horrible mood but when the time comes no one can stop it.😢😭😭😢Also your statement that malls will be dropping like flies this year is obviously bad news. Man does the economy suck. SMH.

I remember my father taking me to Stratford Square just as it opened, and going there many times through the 1980s. I also remember the unique waterfall and water features, which were under the main entrance, roughly there the 'fye' store is currently in the lower courtyard. Wild to see this after more than 40 years, and not having lived in the Chicago area for over 25 years. Thanks for posting this.

The wood tones and natural lighting is super nice. Beautiful mall

Thats one of the nicest malls I've seen . Damn shame there all being torn down.

What an absolutely gorgeous mall. Thank you for allowing us one more visit and preserving it for history. I would have loved to have seen this mall back in the 90s.

I always liked Stratford Mall, it was a nice less chaotic place to shop than Woodfield, especially during the holidays. I shopped there often in the 80’s, and those theaters were a happening place back then too! Sad to see this close, it was a really nice place to shop and go to the movies!

A chaotic evil monk... that's an interesting character to play. Love the wood work on the columns and ceilings. Take out that tile which was awful IMO when new, and that was my era and replace it with something more 80s. I'd love to see the terraced waterfall.

Doing an excellent job, Thanks!

This mall was a pretty mall, way above average.

I just wanted to add one thing, in your description. Crime never really seemed to be an issue here, only some more isolated incidents. I would say there was other issues.

When I was a kid, my dentist was in an outlot in front of this mall (along the Gary Ave side). Whenever my dad would take us for a 6 month cleaning/checkup, we'd finish up and go inside to grab a Cinnabon. Honestly, ruining a dental cleaning with that sugar bomb is probably why I had a lot of cavities. Anyway, thanks for posting this - brings back some solid memories.

The architecture and design of this mall is incredible. I love the ceiling.

Those were the days my friend! I worked at hair performers at Stratford and have the fondest of memories there!

One of your best, yet! Great tribute.

I have been to this mall many times and even several years ago the mall would get busy on the weekends.

Thank you for everything you do Doomie.

As usual you have presented another entertaining and informative video, Keep em Rolling!

I’ve a lot of people were heartbroken once they found out this mall was closing

In its prime it was really unique and beautiful. Shame to see it like this.

This was the deadest mall I've seen you visit. Decent , newer looking place.

Also fun fact: The Tallahssee Mall (or whatever it is known as now) was owned by Feldman while I was a student at Florida State University.

The triangular tree architecture (and more specifically) the dark brown wooden stick pattern at 5:35 made me think of mushroom gills.🌳🍄I think it's such a cool design for that reason. 🤎

Another banger DG. Have you thought about writing a book about your experiences? I t would kick ass :D

I lived in the area when it was opened and hanging out at malls was the thing to do

I literally live 3 min away from this mall, it’s crazy to see it gone, I wish they could’ve done something to keep it alive but otherwise, I’m going to miss this mall a lot!

It certainly has a very unique look, very pleasing and tastefully chosen warm earth tones throughout. One almost gets hints of Frank Lloyd Wright influences in the wood slat ceilings and lanterns. Feels like it should've featured in a John Hughes film that was never made. It'll be a very easy redevelopment project into offices and the like.

Great video!!! 🤗❤️🤗❤️🤗❤️ I don't remember when I lived in Elgin, Illinois if I ever drove down this this mall to visit it. Since I'm in Rockford, Illinois I couldn't get to see this last days/day of this mall because of car problems and my husband's change of is schedule of him working 4 days of the week from 7:00pm to 7:00am but it's so sad to know another well known mall in my home state of Illinois is closing up just so sad. ☹️☹️☹️

A really good looking mall….Such a shame that is all going to waste ….over malling and too much retail space continues to impact

Too many stores from Wal-Mart to Home Depot right off of Army Trail Road to justify shopping here.

This is very strange to see, like... The lilcoln road mall has stores. At south maimi beach .. how can a city let his mall down?

4:20 Are you kidding? I would love to have that guy in my game.

Namdar should be ashamed. They also own both of the malls in my town and they're both empty.

It was closed? The interior reminds me of another defunct suburban mall. Charlestowne of St Charles.

Kind of like Orland Park mall.

Somehow, the inside of Stratford Mall kinda reminds me of Robinsons Galleria's...

1st. I have seen videos on this mall before. All the wood is quite unusual. I remember the guy that made that video kept saying, "NAMDAR, YOU SUCK".