Dixie Square Mall
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA former enclosed shopping mall in Harvey, Illinois, best known for its rapid decline, prolonged abandonment, appearance in The Blues Brothers, and eventual demolition.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Dixie Square Mall, formally known as the Dixie Square Shopping Center, was an enclosed shopping mall at the intersection of 151st Street and Dixie Highway in Harvey, a southern suburb of Chicago, Illinois. It opened in 1966 on land formerly occupied by the Dixie Hi nine-hole golf course. Developed by the Robert Meyer Corporation together with Meyer C. Weiner, Robert E. Fryling, and T. C. MacDonald, the center was designed as a regional shopping destination for the surrounding south-suburban market. The mall opened in stages. Montgomery Ward began operating before the formal dedication, and a soft opening in August 1966 featured 36 stores. The official dedication and grand-opening events took place in November, when approximately 50 stores were operating. By 1968, the center had expanded to about 64 shops and included major tenants such as Montgomery Ward, JCPenney, Woolworth, Walgreens, and Jewel. Turn Style joined the property as an additional anchor in 1970. In its early years, Dixie Square represented the suburban enclosed-mall model: a climate-controlled retail complex designed to concentrate department stores, specialty shops, groceries, and services in one location. The mall's fortunes deteriorated in the early 1970s. Harvey was experiencing increasing poverty, blight, and crime, and several violent incidents at or near the property received substantial publicity. The opening of the larger Lincoln Mall in nearby Matteson in 1973 also intensified competition for shoppers and department-store tenants. Turn Style departed in December 1973, and Montgomery Ward closed in October 1976. In an attempt to revive the center, the property was renamed Dixie Mall in 1975 and underwent a reported renovation costing approximately $500,000. The mall reopened in October of that year, but the refurbishment did not reverse its declining patronage. By 1977, Dixie Mall had largely ceased functioning as a regional shopping center and was increasingly described as a community retail facility or a nearly empty property. The remaining tenant base fell to roughly 20 stores, and the mall officially closed in November 1978. JCPenney remained until January 1979, while the Jewel supermarket continued until July of that year. Contemporary reporting attributed the decline in part to shoplifting and employee theft, alongside broader socioeconomic problems and competition from newer retail developments. After retail operations ended, the property acquired an unusual cultural afterlife. In 1979, the Harvey-Dixmoor School District temporarily used part of the mall as a school site while a replacement building was constructed. During the same year, director John Landis rented the vacant property for filming The Blues Brothers. The film's climactic chase sequence sent vehicles through the mall's storefronts and interior spaces, leaving additional physical damage after production ended. A subsequent dispute led the school district to seek compensation from the film's distributor for unrepaired damage, although the school use soon ended. The building then entered a prolonged period of abandonment. Openings in the structure allowed rain and snow inside, while vandalism, theft, dumping, arson, structural deterioration, and insufficient maintenance funds progressively damaged the complex. Harvey took possession of the property from the school district in 1985. Various redevelopment schemes were proposed during the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, but none successfully restored the site. A 2005 plan involving American Kitchen Delights, the YMCA, and prospective big-box retailers collapsed amid permit, asbestos, demolition, and ownership problems. The remains became a well-known example of an early dead mall and attracted urban explorers, photographers, and internet communities interested in abandoned places. Federal and state-supported demolition efforts eventually moved forward after years of delay. A federal grant announced in 2010 supported the removal of the deteriorated structure, although regulatory and asbestos-abatement issues postponed the work. Permits were obtained in early 2012, demolition began in February, and the mall was completely demolished by May 17, 2012. The former property was subsequently cleared and treated as a brownfield. Harvey obtained possession of the site in 2016 and later considered industrial, logistics, and cold-storage redevelopment possibilities. Dixie Square Mall therefore survives primarily as a case study in suburban retail decline, municipal redevelopment difficulty, and the cultural significance of abandoned commercial architecture.
History
Dixie Square Mall was constructed on the former Dixie Hi golf course site along Dixie Highway in Harvey, Illinois. The project was developed by the Robert Meyer Corporation, Meyer C. Weiner, Robert E. Fryling, and T. C. MacDonald, with architectural work by Hornbach, Steenwyk, and Thrall. Construction started in late 1964. Montgomery Ward opened on October 21, 1965, ahead of the center's full completion. A soft opening on August 31, 1966, introduced the mall with 36 stores and included the sealing of a time capsule associated with entertainers Mel Tormé and Carmelita Pope. The mall was dedicated on November 9, 1966, followed by grand-opening events from November 10 through 12. Entertainment included Homer and Jethro, Art Hodes, Sid Sakowicz, the Art Van Damme Quintet, and Ned Locke of Bozo's Circus. The center reached approximately 64 stores by 1968. Its principal tenants included Montgomery Ward, JCPenney, Woolworth, Walgreens, and Jewel, while Turn Style was added as an anchor in 1970. The commercial environment changed sharply in the 1970s. Crime and economic distress in Harvey damaged the mall's reputation, while violent incidents in 1972 and 1973 received attention and contributed to declining patronage. The opening of Lincoln Mall in Matteson in August 1973 created a stronger nearby competitor. Turn Style left in December of that year, and Montgomery Ward closed in 1976. Management attempted a repositioning in 1975 by shortening the name to Dixie Mall and undertaking a reported $500,000 renovation. The refreshed center reopened on October 9, but the effort did not restore its former regional role. By early 1977, the property was functioning mainly as a local convenience center. It was characterized by severe vacancy and weak traffic, and by 1978 only about 20 stores remained. The mall closed in November 1978. JCPenney shut its location in January 1979 and Jewel followed in July. Reported causes included crime, shoplifting, employee theft, poverty, and competition from newer shopping centers. The vacant building was temporarily reused. In January 1979, the Harvey-Dixmoor School District occupied portions of the mall while a new school was being prepared; the former Turn Style space was adapted as a gymnasium. That same year, The Blues Brothers was filmed inside the mall. The production's chase scene substantially damaged the interior, and the school district later sought $87,000 from Universal Pictures over alleged failure to restore the property. The school district subsequently left the site. The mall remained vacant for decades. Residents used portions of the property for dumping, the building was repeatedly breached, and vandals stripped fixtures and signs. Weather entered through damaged or removed coverings, accelerating decay. Harvey acquired the property from the school district on August 27, 1985. A police station was built on part of the surrounding property, but the mall itself remained unused. During the 1990s it became associated with gang activity, drug activity, homelessness, and further vandalism. A fatal assault occurred in the former JCPenney building in 1993. Fires in the former Woolworth space and a former lounge caused additional structural damage in the 2000s. Redevelopment proposals were announced in 1985, 1989, and 1997 without result. A more ambitious plan emerged in 2005, involving American Kitchen Delights, YMCA senior housing, and potential big-box tenants such as Costco, Kohl's, and Old Navy. The project deteriorated after inspectors found asbestos and determined that demolition activity had occurred without required permits. Work was halted, and further unauthorized activity damaged the prospects of renovating the Montgomery Ward building. The property changed hands in 2006, but demolition and redevelopment still failed to advance. Legal action concerning asbestos compliance followed, and liens were placed against the property. The remaining structure suffered another fire in July 2009. A public demolition program was announced in 2010 with federal support, but regulatory complications delayed execution. Contractors received permits in January 2012, asbestos abatement was completed in early February, and demolition began on February 15. The final remnants were removed by May 17, 2012. Harvey later took possession of the cleared property and explored new commercial or industrial uses, including logistics and cold storage. The mall's abandoned condition, its role in The Blues Brothers, and its long-running failed redevelopment efforts made it a prominent example of a dead mall in popular culture.
- 2016
City obtains former mall site
[1]Harvey obtained possession of the cleared property for possible future redevelopment.
- 2012
Final demolition
[1]The mall was demolished between February and May after asbestos abatement and permitting delays.
- 2005
Redevelopment attempt collapses
[1]A redevelopment and partial-demolition project was halted after asbestos and permit problems were identified.
- 1985
Harvey assumes possession
[1]The city took control of the mall property from the Harvey-Dixmoor School District.
- 1979
School reuse and film production
[1]The site temporarily housed a school and was used for The Blues Brothers chase sequence.
- 1978
Retail operations end
[1]The mall closed in November after years of vacancy and declining traffic.
- 1975
Mall rebrands and renovates
[1]The property adopted the shorter name Dixie Mall and underwent a reported $500,000 renovation.
- 1973
Competitive and social pressures intensify
[1]Lincoln Mall opened nearby, while crime publicity and tenant departures began accelerating Dixie Square's decline.
- 1970
Turn Style becomes an anchor
[1]Discount retailer Turn Style joined the mall as an additional anchor tenant.
- 1966
Mall formally opens
[1]The mall held its dedication on November 9 and grand-opening celebrations from November 10 to 12.
Products and positioning
Originally positioned as a suburban regional shopping center serving Harvey and Chicago's southern suburbs; after its decline, it became notable as an abandoned dead mall and filming location.
Retail real estate · 1966
Enclosed shopping center
Dixie Square's principal offering was a climate-controlled enclosed retail environment combining department stores, discount retail, grocery, pharmacy, variety goods, and smaller specialty shops. At its height, the complex contained approximately 64 stores and served as a regional shopping destination for Harvey and nearby south-suburban communities.
Department store · 1965
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward was the first store to open at the project and one of its principal anchor tenants. Its presence helped establish Dixie Square as a regional shopping center. The store closed in October 1976, two years before the mall's official closure.
Department store · 1966
JCPenney
JCPenney served as one of the mall's major department-store anchors and remained after the center's official November 1978 closure. Its location finally closed in January 1979.
Supermarket · 1966
Jewel
Jewel provided grocery retail within the mall's tenant mix and was the last major retailer to leave the property. The supermarket closed in July 1979.
Controversies
2008
Developer pleads guilty to weapons offense linked to property dispute
During disputes involving liens and companies connected with the stalled redevelopment, developer John Deneen threatened an investor with brass knuckles and a firearm. He pleaded guilty in 2008 to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
2005
Unauthorized demolition and asbestos controversy
A redevelopment effort was halted after inspectors identified asbestos and found that demolition work had proceeded without the required permit. Additional unauthorized work later damaged the Montgomery Ward structure, and the Illinois Attorney General pursued litigation concerning asbestos-removal obligations.
Brand decisions
2010
Approve publicly supported demolitionOtherBackground
After decades of failed reuse proposals, the deteriorated structure posed an ongoing maintenance and safety problem.
Action taken
Illinois officials announced a federal grant of approximately $4 million, supplemented by other public recovery funds, to support demolition.
Aftermath
Regulatory delays postponed the work until 2012, when asbestos abatement and demolition were completed.
Demolition grant. Approximately $4 million in federal grant support (2010)
2005
Pursue big-box redevelopmentStrategyBackground
Developers sought to replace the abandoned mall with new retail, employment, and community uses.
Action taken
Plans proposed demolishing most of the mall, renovating the Montgomery Ward building for American Kitchen Delights, adding YMCA senior housing, and attracting retailers including Costco, Kohl's, and Old Navy.
Aftermath
The project stalled because of asbestos, permit violations, ownership complications, liens, and legal disputes; the remaining mall was ultimately demolished in 2012.
1979
Permit temporary school useOtherBackground
The mall had closed, but the local school district needed temporary space while a replacement building was under construction.
Action taken
Harvey allowed the Harvey-Dixmoor School District to use mall space, including the former Turn Style area as a gymnasium.
Aftermath
The school use lasted approximately two years and ended after the property also sustained damage during film production.
1975
Rebrand and renovate the shopping centerStrategyBackground
The mall was losing tenants and shoppers amid crime publicity, local economic distress, and competition from Lincoln Mall.
Action taken
Management shortened the name to Dixie Mall and carried out a reported $500,000 renovation before reopening in October.
Aftermath
The repositioning failed to restore regional traffic, and the mall continued losing stores until its 1978 closure.
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