That mall looks like someone puts a lot of love into it.

I grew up in nearby hanover park and this was the mall I always went to. I remember the old multilevel fountians having a bunch of coins at the bottom. The benches were right next to them. The fountians were massive in person, the bottom level was like a deep swimming pool. From what i remember the original theaters were behind the fountians or atleast the entrance was. I remember alot of brown concrete that was smooth and not rough. I forgot about the red and concrete elevator until i saw it in the video and this was all back in the 90's. Was so disappointed when they did the renovation and got rid of the fountians and the whole ascetic i loved as a kid. They did keep the wood work on the ceiling though. I remember pennys, kaybee toys, sears, kohl's and in recent years an asian decor shop as well as a disney store. Hot topic was there too. Last time i was there was sometime around 2018-19 and it still had some life left in it. The food court had sabarro's and a Chinese restaurant amongst others. Used to get dvds from FYE. I'm really sad to see the state it's in. This was my favorite mall next to woodfield. Thank you for the walk through, I may take a trip out to see it one last time. Creepy guy following you around was worrisome though.

Here’s what’s sad…… kids nowadays don’t get to experience the joy that came with hanging out in a mall. Such great memories. It’s was such a better time back in the 80’s.

I’m originally from the Chicagoland area, and this was so well done. We saw A Christmas Story in that theatre in 1983. The original building was designed by a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright. I hope to God they can repurpose it somehow. With Bloomys pulling out of downtown Chicago and San Francisco, maybe they can reinvent the retail space. Thank you.

I went here 3 weeks ago, about a month before its permanent closure. There were only about 6 stores left and one of them was closing the day after I visited, and only one restaurant was left in the food court, which was Ana's Kitchen. The whole place had such an amazing atmosphere despite being on its last legs, and if it had still been busy, it would have been such an amazing place to be. Something also worth noting is that an old directory still exists by the Sears wing that displays the map before the demolition of Macy's, which highlights a fourth mall entrance, and I saw that not realizing it was outdated and was so confused when that entrance didn't exist... 😅 It truly is a shame that this mall is closing down in a week. I would have loved to spend much more time here, especially in its more active days.

I really love the before and after photos from the same shot, thank you for what you do and please keep it up

Love the ceilings and lines in this mall. Absolutely beautiful. It looks pristine, very well maintained. I would love to go 25-30 years back in time amd see this place with high occupancy and decorated for the Christmas season. I bet it was fantastic.

I’ve been coming to Stratford Mall since 1984. Pushed my kids in strollers in late ‘80s/early’90s. Booming place back then. That sea of parking lots would be full all during Christmas shopping season. I still walk the mall weekly. Sad to see it’s decline, but hope it hangs on. Great place for senior walkers. Thanks for your video!

I worked for the original mall developer, Urban Investment and Development (JMB Realty purchased Urban from Aetna in late 1984), starting within a few weeks after the mall opened in March 1981. Urban was very proud of this project. It was part of planned development that was to include a community of homes to be built by Urban's residential affiliate. It was not easy to get too and probably should not have been built. It was part of strategy that the anchor stores, particularly, Marshall Fields, Sears and Carson's had with Urban and Homart (Sears' development company) as to the placement of malls circling the Chicago metro area. The original malls being Old Orchard, Oakbrook and River Oaks. The later malls being from north to south - Hawthorn, Stratford Sq, Fox Valley Mall and Orland Square (being Urban's). Woodfield was developed by Taubman. Homart had a few, one being near Hoffman Estates and the other Louis Joliet.

In my opinion this is one of the most beautiful malls. I've never been there but I love the design with all the geometric design and skylights. So sad because it is a beautiful looking place.

I wouldn't even know where to begin sharing my memories of this mall so I'll just drop one. Back in 2013 it was a rainy Halloween and we decided to take my son trick r treating in the mall and we were not the only ones with that idea. It was PACKED. I mean like Times Square NYC packed. It breaks my heart to see the place the way it is now but thank you for preserving it anyway.

I worked at Woodfield Mall (JCP) and they would send us to Stratford for training. I loved that mall, it reminded me of a city with it's architecture. PS - it is prounounced WEE-boldts - that store was fun. :)

It was great to see a video about this mall; it is so sad that it is nearly empty. I used to go to this mall all the time as a kid in the 80's (and still continued going to it until about a year ago), it looked very different then. I remember the giant cascading fountain that was there before the remodel that replaced it with the FYE. That was the coolest fountain I've ever seen in a mall. it had walls like a cheese grater, so as the water came down off the top part it would hit the parts sticking out and spread the water around as it fell. The FYE used to have an arcade in it. Did you notice that small entrance to FYE on the Left side near the bathrooms? that used to be the entrance to the arcade, there was also an entrance in the back of the store near the T-shirt section. But that arcade lasted maybe a year before they closed it; it wasn't a very good arcade. It was mostly redemption games. It was definitely a poor replacement for the arcade that used to be there. Before the remodel everything had a very late 60's or 70's aesthetic, as you can still see in the celling. Very much that tan pottery look that was popular in the 70's. I remember the floors were a dark brown ceramic tile, with a very glossy finish. and at either ends of the mall were small fountains, that had ceramic elf's or Gnomes in them (also very tan and very 70's looking). If I remember right one Gnome/elf was riding a frog/or turtle and the frog/turtle was the fountain, with the water coming out of its mouth. I think they might have kept one of the elf/gnome fountains when they remodeled, but I can't remember; I believe it's gone now, though. The remodel is ok, I still like the old look, and of course the old main fountain, but it needed to be updated to survive as long as it did. It has been going down hill for a while now, but I've only just stopped going to it. I think the theatre kept it alive though these later years. The foyer is the best part of the theatre, I don't remember the hallways or actual screened rooms being that memorable, but I didn't see many movies there either. But the Art Deco design was really cool, and the really high ceilings in the foyer was impressive as well. Did you notice that recessed area with the glass covering it? It is to left of the theatre; it's right out side the theatre sandwiched between the entrance and the area for the movie posters? That was a really cool feature. it was a series of 9 tubes laid out, in the recessed area, and every 10 seconds or so a puff of flame would come out of one of those tubes (hence why the glass was there). It was a really cool feature, and you could feel the heat as the fire blasted out. The last time I've been there was last year 2021, actually the day after black friday, and the mall had maybe 100 people in it (including employees) and that's when I noticed that the theatre had closed. When I saw that I knew Stratford mall was done.

Great video. I currently live across the street from Stratford Square Mall since 2003, but I have lived elsewhere in the area and visited this mall 100's of times since the late 80's. I have a couple of interesting things to point out to you in your video: You will notice that the 2nd floor railings were only partially renovated. The ones with the glass panels are the latest and were to replace all the iron bar ones, but they gave up halfway through. Also you caught in your video where the renovators were testing out 3 new stain colors for the wood handrails on the 2nd floor. Go to 22:18 of the video and see that they never picked a color and just left the test section of stain like that... hahahah. I originally saw that stain sample section years ago when I was talking to The Kitchen Store manager about what was happening at the mall with renovations and she showed me that railing outside of her store on the 2nd floor where they came and painted the 3 different stain colors on the railing. The Kitchen Store is long gone, but the section of test stain on the habdrail is still there! 😂 Unfortunately this mall will never come back. It is too far gone.

I went here as a kid so many times. Thanks for capturing this place before it's gone. There used to a big water fountain inside, and the movie theaters in the corner were a great touch.

I was a northwest suburbs kid in the 80s so spent most of my mall time at Woodfield in Schaumburg and Hawthorne in Vernon Hills. I only got down to Stratford Square a couple times. I was always shocked as how out in the middle of nowhere it was. These malls were always the place to be during the holiday shopping season to see the Santa displays and just always jam packed with people. Like others have said, like absolutely packed and you could barely walk. I miss those days.

I think it’s so cool you travel around to document all these malls

I worked at Sears for 9yrs from 17-26 yrs old. It was an awesome time in my life. That mall was awesome. The friends that were made, that hanging out with friends after we got off whether it was to go to a movie or go out afterwards. Or hanging out at someone's job waiting for them to get off. Christmas season was enjoyable there. Sad to see what it came to.

Stratford Square Mall just closed its doors yesterday 4-21-24. So sad by this. I’ve been a bit depressed the entire day. I just appreciate beautiful things. I’m glad you’re preserving a part of retail history at a time when most of us lived through the 80s,90s, early 2000s and even before my time in the 60s and 70s have cherished these places to gather and hang out. In my opinion, this mall is by far one of the most beautifully designed and aesthetically appealing I’ve seen on the internet. The wood paneled ceilings, the high columns and wooden pillars. So impressively beautiful. The aesthetics are phenomenal. The wooden work all around its architecture is just absolutely impressive. I’m hoping they preserve the architecture & aesthetics of this mall for the planned redevelopment instead of demolishing it completely. This mall was an architectural masterpiece. Why not revitalize the mall as part of the redevelopment plan? Repurpose instead of demolishing it. I’ve heard of malls that perished but repurposed as a community college, a multi purpose facility without the thought of demolition. Can it be revitalized to attract retail stores back and bring back the awesome Century Theater? There are more visionary ideas to revitalize the structure rather than demolishing it. They can put a museum to store artwork by local artists throughout the Chicago area. Add indoor park & recreation, medical offices, business offices, retail, events center, gyms, restaurants, a bank. A mini city inside the building. Stratford Square Mall deserves better than this. The community deserves better than letting them take away a beautiful part of its history. I’m praying that they don’t demolish this mall. Just subscribed because I appreciate your work and support in preserving retail history. 🙏

I'm so glad you got to share your adventures with us, because there's something strangely surreal and yet calming when watching dead malls vids like this one. I remember finding your channel and watching all the episodes in one afternoon-night and then being sad the season was over. And then season 3 came out, and then season 4 came out shortly after! Well, keep it up for sure; we'll be watching your future seasons when it comes out, while also watching episodes from the past too. Well, I will anyway lol

I guess one would call this mall the diamond in the rough that got ignored. It is a shame that they did come when they built it, but that this mall didn't stand a chance outside the better times precisely because of its location. Too bad that Feldman had to let it go to Namco or whatever that mall slum lord's company name is. Please don't say that the next one is the finale! I hope your seasons are closer together than today's unpredictable tv programs. I know that there are only so many dead malls to cover in relatively close proximity to you, but this almost weekly look into the dead mall documentary world is something I honestly look forward to. Thanks again for all the effort that goes into these videos, especially with ones like this.

I don't understand the downfall of malls. It's so relaxing just being able to walk-around indoors and not worry about traffic and weather. If these places had a better mix of stores it might work better. I lived in Kuwait and they had a mall that was a mile long. Place was large enough to support two multiscreen cineplexes, two IHOP restaurants, and 8 Starbucks locations. It was the most insane thing I saw. And that was just on of the three major malls in the city. Yet there are places in the US like this video.

I used to work at this mall in the 90’s. I also used to work at Charlestowne before here. Stratford was a great mall, I was sent there because it was so busy and the store I worked for wanted a strong manager at that location. It was crazy busy, especially during the holidays. So sad to see it go from that to this. Charlestowne I was not surprised when it closed, it was ok on weekends but the rest of the time it was a ghost town. Thanks for the great video!

This mall is really great looking. It looks fairly modern even though the ceilings still have the original wood panels. Removing the fountains and conversation pits was a bad idea for the mall. Unfortunately it seems like the mall will shut down in the near future. Excellent video as always.

I love how the pillars look like you're walking under giant mushrooms! Love the modern almost cabin-like feel of the place!

I remember when it was thriving throughout the 90's and 2000's... even a decade ago it was still experiencing traffic. Going there and the plazas near it was fun and lively then. They were always packed and Christmas was always decked out for sure. It was great while all of it lasted. Best times were way back before they lost Sears, near customer service I would go and always find myself playing the gaming consoles like Sega or an old school PC with games. Thanks for the content!

I've always loved the look of malls like this. While the majority of people think of bright neon when it comes to retro 80s and 90s malls, I feel like wood paneling is just and retro and boy, do I love it.

I'm glad I got to visit this one some years ago, when it was still fairly active. I really enjoyed the look of it. Shame to see it's a ghost town now.

Spring Hill Mall in West dundee!!!!! Amazing video as always! I have always had have an interest with this mall as it is just incredibly beautiful and it just amazes me that such a nice super regional dies off like this.

Thanks for doing a video of the mall I grew up going to! I've been going there every year since 1982. Sad to see the mall in it's current shape. Burlington Coat Factory just closed this weekend. I remember going to the restaurants on the lower floor years ago with my wife & family. There used to be a travel store on the first floor near the restaurants where me & my family made travel arrangements. I also miss the old waterfall & water fountains they used to have there. Thanks for doing a video of my favorite local mall!

I worked at Carson Pirie Scott not long after Stratford opened. What a beautiful mall. Had every store you could want and was nice because it wasn’t too big like Woodfield mall. Movie theater, restaurants, stores, Gloria Jeans coffee (Starbucks wasn’t around then), toys stores, shoe stores, Mario Tricocci hair salon, record and book stores. It was always busy. Christmas time was wonderful. The hustle and bustle of people shopping, Christmas music playing, restaurants were filled and let’s not forget Santa Claus and long lines of kids waiting to see him. Such wonderful memories!

Thank you for taking the time to go through and make this amazing video. I live in nearby Wheaton and work even closer in Carol Stream, Bloomingdale, Roselle, and Hanover Park. I've been to this mall a handful of times, only a few of those times being when the mall was still somewhat active. As I've watched the decline of this mall, I've made efforts to come here more often and just enjoy it (I got to do the same a couple times at Charlestowne right before it shut down). As of just a couple weeks ago (January 2024), Bloomingdale successfully purchased the remainder of the mall, and I guess the plan is to officially close it in April. The remaining tenants were given a 90-day notice to vacate. From what I understand, there are several proposals for the use of the property. They've made clear the only remaining anchor store, Kohl's, will be kept as a standalone store. If it is not completely demolished, I think they want to at least partially demolish it to allow for outdoor community green space. This truly is the end for this beautiful mall, and it's so sad. As you noted, the architecture is so amazing and unique, but it won't be enjoyed for much longer. I'm going to try to find a way to get a walkthrough video at least half as decent as this one (maybe spy glasses or something). Security has been hardcore cracking down on photography and filming, so that makes me appreciate this video so much more.

Your videos just keep on getting better and better. The true Dead Mall King

Fantastic, well-researched video! I wish you could have seen it in its heyday as well. I went here often as a child with my parents in the mid-80s. either to shop or to just kill time. The fountains were huge and really impressive. At least one of the anchors had internal escalators connecting the levels. There was a prototype LEGO store for a short time. For the holidays, they’d drain the inner pond/fountain (not the one near the entrance; the one where that orange elevator used to be), fill it with cotton, and set up the whole Mall Santa operation.

One of my favorites. I had been to this one in the early 1990s a few times when my mom was a big mall shopper. You can’t forget this amazing and beautiful mall. Thank you for covering it.

That mall is so crazy, its such a shame to see a badass looking theater just sitting there. It looks so cool. I can imagine back in the 2000s it was the place to be. Imagine the sights, sounds, and smells that mall had when it was at it's peak with all tenants occupied and food court at full operation. It would have surely been spectacular. Some serious mall culture existed there at some point.

Stratford used to be the best mall in the suburbs. I grew up going to that mall and it was ALWAYS filled with people.

So crazy to see. I use to love going there as a kid in the 90s. Loved all the waterfalls and fountains they originally had. They use to have an awesome Christmas display and decorations there. Good times when that place was booming

That is the most amazing Disney Store exterior that I've ever seen! I grew up with a 90s Disney Store, but I've never seen one with THAT elaborate of an exterior. Great video!

Good vid! Going through these malls is like going through a time capsule a interesting feeling! These malls should be lively like they were back in the day!

What an absolutely beautiful looking mall the architecture and aesthetics are an absolute wow! That layout sure seems strange to me too. I think I would have gotten lost in it quite easily. I would love to go in that theater I bet it looks beautiful inside. I also don’t quite understand why it was built where it’s at but its location sure doesn’t seem to have helped any and its current owner based upon track record isn’t going to do it much good either. These dead malls keep happening all over the country. I read somewhere that there used to be well over 2,000 malls at one time in America and now we are at around 700 or so left and in the next five years they think there will only be around 100-150 left. That’s like 2 or 3 per state! So sad to see this trend occurring. Too bad you couldn’t see the malls in their heyday hustling and bustling but at least you can now see them before they are completely gone. Great content as always and will look forward to you next video.

Stratford was a good mall. I didn't think it's location was all that bad. It served quite a few surrounding cities and I thought the perfect location. I lived maybe 20 minutes from Stratford. It was convenient and had some key stores and was never as crowded as Woodfield. My sister and I went to Stratford quite a bit mostly because there weren't a zillion people around and traffic was tolerable. Several easy ways to get there too. I always loved Carsons, I was sad to hear they closed. I moved to to out of Illinois in 2007. I also enjoyed Yorktown in Lombard and OakBrook outdoor mall. Glad you did the video, it brings back such good memories.

Another amazing video. I’ve truly just started noticing it. The American mall is truly becoming…..forgotten. Nobody even talks about malls anymore. It’s such an odd and different world now. I’ve commented on your videos many many times before but now I’m really starting to realize. The old world is truly gone and I’m afraid to say it but it’s too far gone to save. At least we have you to document the final years of what made our country and us who we are… thanks man.

Wow, this mall is so stunning and unique! Thanks for sharing these little treasures with those of us who will never get to visit them for ourselves

The super slowed down lofi version of lights definitely hittin different in this one! Haha 👌🏻

This mall is really beautiful! It’s a shame that it’s so empty. I would get nervous being alone in a dead mall this empty. It looks taken care of, no leaking roof or mold. It also looks clean.

Years ago when the village of Scaumburg, was but a dot on the map, my grandfather had a friend who farmed a large piece of what is now Woodfield Mall, and we would go there to hunt pheasants and rabbits, and fish in his pond one day we went out to hunt ( I think I was in seventh grade at the time) and the farmer, informed us that it would be our last season to hunt there as he had sold the place to developers, that were " going to build the largest shopping center in the world".

Wow has this place gone down hill fast. I can remember visiting the mall in 2018 or 2019 around Christmas and it was full of people shopping. I still have my footage that I have unreleased. I need to return before it’s gone to document it in the day as I believe I was there at nite.

It says "1 view" so I am assuming my early walk made me the gold medalist this week.

I “grew up” here. I worked at JC Penney as a teen. I felt so bomb being a middle schooler and buying a vanilla bean frappe from Gloria Jean’s (it was inside a store instead of the kiosk shown in the video) and a pretzel from Auntie Anne’s while browsing for cds at FYE. I bought almost all my school dance dresses from DEB. Anchor Blue, Gadzooks, Coconuts Music, Too Cool (can’t believe it has survived until now), countless furniture stores, Rainbow, Wet Seal, Marshall Field’s, Montgomery Ward, Manchu Wok, Afterthoughts, Icing, Cinderella (a gift shop that was popular during the beanie baby era), Scooby’s with Green River soda, Fannie May Chocolates, Gymboree, Steve and Barry’s, Natural Wonders, Kidoodles, man…all the brands that have come and gone. I can point to you which storefronts what they used to be. I notice that some have moved around since I last lived near there. There used to be more trees and plants as well as fountains. I think there was a rock wall or bungee jumper-like thing at one point. The movie theatre was on the quiet side and I tended to go there as a young adult because parking was easy and the theatre wasn’t usually full. I was lucky to really be so close to a mall that had so much and a place to go hang out. It really shouldn’t have been where it is at because it was not really near any major roads and like you pointed out, it was plopped into an area with a bunch of houses around it. Thanks for making this video; it brought back a lot of good memories.

I went to this mall growing up and in my teens. I have so many memories there. Sad to see it go 😢

I grew up 10 minutes from Stratford, I was 10 when it opened. The mall was always jam packed. The waterfall and little fountains throughout the mall were peaceful and relaxing. Always something to do there. Good food, video games, the movie theater. It had a great restaurant called Carlos Sweeney's, a Mexican cantina. It was a place to go with family and friends to shop or just hang out. It's a shame what happened to it. So strange to see it so empty. In the 80s you'd have trouble finding a decent parking spot it was so busy. I disagree with the people who say I was in a bad spot. Again it was always the busiest place around.

The design is perfect for taking in the aesthetics and the sunlight...then the photos remind one of how alive the corridors should be.

If anyone challenges you, don't tell them you're an urbexer, tell them you're an architectural historian documenting America's historic retail centers.

It was such a thrill when this mall opened.

When Bath & Body Works leaves you just know a mall is circling the drain.

this mall is gorgeous I can't believe the locals aren't flooded in it just to walk around during winter with all the natural lighting. my small town has a ton of older walkers that at least keep the mall looking lively but its drab and hardly any sun

Great video and tour. I live just north of the mall in Roselle. I grew up with Stratford, but right as the mall went downhill. I have great memories here shopping at Kohl’s, watching movies in the theater, eating a pretzel at Auntie Anne’s. It’s just sad to see everything close one by one. Once Burlington finally goes, that will likely be the start of demolition. They have already done some work on the future Burlington location at the old former Big Kmart. Stratford will be remembered for its wonderful design and building up this whole area that ended up killing the mall. Also since this recording, Red Robin and some other smaller stores closed, can’t believe FYE is still there. I hope you can return in 2023 after Burlington closes for an update. I know I’m coming to the mall any chance I get just to see it get worse and enjoy the scenery.

This is a gorgeous mall. Hate to see it dead.

This was a beautiful all when it opened.

I want this mall not dead! Revive Stratford Mall!!

These truly are the ultimate lineal spaces. I’ve never been to these malls yet feel so familiar and nostalgic it’s almost painful

This mall was once home to the first Round 1 I’d ever been to. Seeing that space empty kinda breaks my heart.

Plus the ideas can show us where was the mini stores where was it before and after it was gone. I love that how Malls from there history can show how was a lot of more information back in the old days with deal's with clothes wow. Northcdogg22 keep up the amazing work doing history documentary about Malls.

I grew up going to this mall as a kid! So many water fountains. Glad I got to see it at or near it’s prime.

Fantastic episode!

I grew up going here. I remember loving the fountain!

Great video, as always. Please get some quality time with your friends and family over the coming holidays, you earned it. Looking forward to the next Season.

I just love your videos, Im watching all day while working, sometimes I replay bc I didn't pay enough attention. Makes me go back in time, maybe thats why I love so much this series, the nostalgia, the music in malls was so relaxing before, now they play some pop rap loud tunes (cant hardly call it music) is so stressful you just wanna get out fast. And is very interesting that management keeps them open for "mall walkers" , you guys invent some of the strangest coolest concepts.. Im not from the US, but I spent my life shopping in Texas malls (also very empty now).

they just announced this place is gonna get shut down by the end of april 2024, it's honestly really sad. my nanny took me and my brother here all the time when we were little, i remember having my 10th birthday at round one (the arcade) not long after it opened and then we ate at red robin. haven't been here in years, we stopped going around 2015/2016 because things were starting to close at stratford and there were better malls closer to where we lived, but i'm gonna have to go give it one final farewell before it closes for good. such a shame really.

I just went to Stratford Mall last week on its final day. It was extremely sad to be there. Staying and remembering what was once a busy mall and all the memories that I had there with my friends as well as family. It's a real shame that these new owners and investors let this mall die. Such a beautiful mall.

Last time i went was in 2016-2017 when Sears was closing down really nice mall and design they could defiantly revamp

The pink and green Disney store with the same carpet! I miss the pink and green Disney stores with the anamatronics up above and the fun window displays.

Thanks for the enjoyable video. It looks as if there is an abandoned golf course right next to this mall as well. This mall would have made for a great college if converted.

If Stratford Square Mall can't survive, no mall can. This was arguably the best and most beloved mall in the Chicagoland area.

I just found this video! Namdar is definitely a slumlord outfit! That Disney Store looks huge. :)

It's stunning to think this mall at one time had the national Big 3 (Sears, Montgomery Wards, JCPenney) *and* the local Big 3 (Marshall Field's, Carson Pirie Scott, Kohl's). Now, only a worn Kohl's remains. It lost a lot of character when they removed the conversation pits outside the anchors and the huge water feature by the food court/movie theaters.

I lived near there over in Carol Stream, I loved roaming through the mall. Mid to late eighties, small enough to remember where you parked your car. Not like Woodfield mall, that was way larger. Good times................except for now, how depressing

So sad. I used to go to this mall with my mother as a kid. It was always very clean and in nice condition. Then, as an adult I worked close by and would come to the mall during lunch sometimes. Such a shame it closed but it was too close to Woodfield Mall

you know the mall is in a bad state when the Bath and Body works of all store's closes. Great Video

That mall in particular went downhill fast, even just 5 years ago it was fairly busy still. Now I go there to walk occasionally when it’s cold out and sometimes they don’t even have the heat on in certain wings that are empty along with having the escalators turned off which I don’t blame them for. One thing to mention, the mall obviously looks incredibly modern for being developed/constructed in the late 1970’s/early 1980’s but it received a thorough updating I would say around the mid 2000’s or even a bit later. That being said, it always was a nice mall but I’d be surprised if it remained open past 2023, last I heard was at around 22% capacity 😳

Reminds me of Somerset Mall in Michigan which is still an alive mall

Love this mall! Thank you for sharing. A crying shame to demolish it! 😟

The last time I was at Stratford Square was in 2009 and even then it was surprisingly still alive but nowhere near Woodfield Mall status. Honestly I think it's because Stratford Square is a local mall and still has the esthetics of the 80's and 90's even though it seems like Stratford did a little remodeling by painting but that's about it. Whereas Woodfield Mall is very visible from a major highway and also did some major remodeling within the last five years or so which gave it more life than what it did before. And at least in my opinion I believe Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, IL is heading in the same direction as Stratford Square but I would give it about another few years.

Wow I had no idea that mall was so dead! I worked at this mall in the late 80’s at Montgomery Wards Auto Express - It was my first job as a mechanic, I went on to work at a couple of car dealerships and just recently I retired from a municipal fleet department. It’s shocking to see this mall so empty! I ate lunch at that food court every work day for five years and got to know some of the people who worked there. The head of mall maintenance at that time was quite the character, short and stout with a long white beard - his night job was playing the king at Medieval Times. In contrast to how empty the mall is now the busiest I had ever seen it was on the day Tim Burtons Batman opened, there was line of people that snaked back and forth completely filling that half of the mall. I’ll have to make one more visit to Stratford before they board it up.

I loved this mall when I was little..

My daughter and I miss this mall so much. I shopped for her at Gymboree when she was just a toddler around 08-09. Mrs. Fields, and sad to see Hot Topic go. Shopped there with my now teen daughter. Carsons was great. VS was a hot spot for Black Friday shopping back in the day too. 😢 Stratford’s about 10 minutes from me. Charlestown is the same. Charlestown 18 movie theater is still going strong but the mall is locked up. The Carson’s parking lot is spooky with old dead weeds growing all over the parking lot. I doubt you can get inside anymore with clearance. It’s not in the best shape anymore. If you do, that’ll be huge views. Good luck! 👍🏼

It's a nice looking place.

Also just a few corrections, round one closed in 2020, fieldman earlier in 2014 sold the mall to streetmac which streetmac then sold the mall to namdar which happened in 2019. The town is also working on a redevelopment plan for the mall currently.

Good evening northcdogg22 hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family. I realized that looking back from seeing your videos from history documentary on Malls and the storyline. They are telling me that I can imagine back in the operation of the year's it was something different. Imagine traveling back and realizing from this year the Malls u visit and seeing it in person can help writing a story about this ideas.

Very unexpected find this morning! Don’t think I’ve been there since before I left northern illinois in the early nineties. Used to go there a lot as a kid. Another mall I used to go to the most was Spring Hill mall in west Dundee. Was my main go to back in the day. Also was where my old toys r us used to be.

Little tidbit... off of Gary right behind Stratford Square is the location where the dvd mail in service for Netflix was located, servicing the illinois and wisconsin areas. (I used to work there back in '11)

I revisited Stratford yesterday, and you're totally right about the nice jazzy music playing in the background while I walked through the hallways! I didn't notice it so much in the Burlington or ex-JCPenney wing, but in the center court I could hear the music very well! Also I counted(within the mall hallways) 24 operational places in all the storefronts(including an art gallery, and also a Christmas seasonal store), and 2 operational kiosks inside. Of course not all businesses were open, since I went on a Sunday. I also had a bizarre experience(which one only can have in a dead mall) walking inside of Lids and walking out of that store, not seeing a single employee inside that store! Reason I did that, was to ask when Hot Topic closed. I finally did look it up online(besides an axe throwing employee said she noticed they were closing a few months back), and saw per the Stratford Hot Topic Instagram that they closed in July of this year. I guess your visit was in July 2022, or before?

This is a really nice looking mall. Especially the wood designs. It's a shame it's dead. They just demolished a debartolo mall here in Tampa FL.

I'm from that area, but I haven't been home for a few years. Last I remember, Straford Square Mall was doing well enough, not many stores had opened recently but the ones still around we doing fine. Really sucks to see it empty now, especially since I'll be going home in a month...

True story, this mall is my polling place and I was just there in November 2022. It was very unsettling, and you captured it very well!

I was the security director here from 95-99. This mall was packed with shoppers. It’s sad to see it go. The female employees from the Gap would date anyone who asked them for a date. It was prime pickings in those days. Goodbye blond Lebanese girl. You were a great last minute date on a Saturday night.

I worked in the cosmetics department of Carson Pirie Scott when the store opened in 1981. I remember it with much fondness. Coworkers were wonderful.

Did you notice the patches of old brown tiles randomly throughout the mall? At 7:00 and 8:05 are good examples. I remember when the whole mall was this tile rather than the blah white and pastel tiles.

This mall reminds me of Beachwood place here in Beachwood Ohio. Similar architecture. Lots of wood branching walk ways a tile.