Sears Closing Store in Matteson, Lincoln Mall to be Sold at Auction

Sears is closing its store at Lincoln Mall in Matteson.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Sears is closing its anchor store at Lincoln Mall in Matteson and has begun a store closing sale.

The retailer opened the Matteson store in the mid-1990s after it closed a store in Park Forest. Sears replaced Weiboldt’s, which was an original anchor at the mall when it opened in 1973.

Emails to Sears were not returned, but the SouthtownStar reports the closing is connected to a June 1 judicial auction of Lincoln Mall and is not part of a massive store closing under way by Sears and Kmart.

The store’s shutdown will leave Sears with two stores in the south suburbs, one at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park and another at River Oaks Center in Calumet City.

Sears’ departure also will leave Lincoln Mall with Carson’s as its single anchor store, though JCPenney and Target have stores next to the mall. Those stores moved next to Lincoln Mall as part of a redevelopment effort that cut a new street from Cicero Avenue to U.S. 30 behind the mall.

The mall, which has been on a decline for more than a decade, is scheduled to be sold at auction in Chicago on June 1. The auction was ordered by a judge to satisfy a $44 million judgment against the mall’s owner Realty America, which bought Lincoln Mall in 2003 but filed for bankruptcy in 2009.

“The mall will be sold but it will not be closing,” said Michelle Panovich, a receiver for the mall and a senior vice president with Mid-America Asset Management.

Another retailer – Best Buy – just closed a nearby store.

Despite Lincoln Mall’s troubles, Matteson has had some luck drawing in new businesses. A Ross Dress for Less opened last year in a shopping center northwest of Lincoln Mall and a new strip center across the street from the mall at U.S. 30 and Cicero Avenue recently welcomed a Five Guys burger joint and a Chipotle restaurant.

Oak Lawn Plant Sale

The Oak Lawn Garden Club will hold its annual Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Centennial Park Gazebo at 94th Street and Nashville Avenue. That's a new location this year. The club will also be selling containers, house plants, herbs, baskets, vegetables, garden art, oval planters and Perlite.

Gloria Jean’s Shows Off New Look Coffee Shop

Gloria Jean’s Coffees officially unveiled its first Coffee House of the Future this week at Chicago Ridge Mall.

The new look coffee shop features a barista espresso bar, a whole bean coffee table, a gift area where customers can create their own gift baskets, and seating.

"Our well trained team is very passionate about coffee and providing the highest quality beverages and food to our guests, together with outstanding service and a welcoming environment," said Gloria Jean's Chicago Ridge franchise partner Muddassar Alvi in a release.

The Australian-based company has more than 900 coffee shops throughout the world, with 74 in the United States. The Chicago Ridge location is between Aldi and Sears.

Schilling to Hold Deck Expo

Schilling will hold an outdoor living and deck expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at its Mokena location at 9900 W. 191st St. There will be free food from Hog Haven, a DJ, raffles and free samples. Carol McGowan from country station WCCQ will broadcast from the store from 9-11 a.m.

Schilling also announced that it will be expanding the Mokena location, which opened two years ago.

Marquette Bank Financial Open House

Marquette Wealth Management will host a free “Spring Into Action” financial open house from 2-5 p.m. on Friday at 7560 W. 159th St. in Orland Park. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited. To register, call 708-614-4720.

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at http://www.southlandbusinessnews.blogspot.com/.