Ford City Mall
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA former shopping mall on Chicago's Southwest Side in the West Lawn neighborhood.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Ford City Mall was a shopping center in Chicago's West Lawn neighborhood, at the intersection of 76th Street and Cicero Avenue. It opened in 1965 after a large former wartime and industrial complex was converted into retail space. At its height, the mall was one of the largest shopping destinations in Chicago outside the downtown area, with more than 135 stores, three major anchors, a combination of enclosed and open-air retail areas, restaurants, entertainment venues, and extensive parking. The site's commercial history began during World War II. In 1942, the federal government constructed a large aircraft-engine manufacturing facility known as the Dodge Chicago Plant. The plant employed thousands of workers and contributed to the rapid growth of Chicago's Southwest Side. After World War II, the complex became difficult to reuse. Parts of the property were subsequently adapted for automobile-related manufacturing, including operations associated with Tucker Corporation and Ford Motor Company. During the Korean War period, the facility was modernized for aircraft-engine production under a Ford contract and again employed a large industrial workforce. Manufacturing ended in 1959, leaving the site available for redevelopment. In 1961, the government sold the property to Harry F. Chaddick and other investors. The developers demolished or altered portions of the industrial complex, retained and remodeled other structures, and created a shopping center divided into a northern strip-mall section and a southern enclosed mall. The two parts were connected by an underground passage known initially as Peacock Alley and later as The Connection. This unusual layout reflected the site's industrial origins rather than a purpose-built retail design. Ford City developed through several retail cycles. Its tenants and anchors included Wieboldt's, Carson Pirie Scott and later Carson's, Montgomery Ward, JCPenney, Turn Style, Venture, Sears, General Cinema, and AMC Theatres. The property also contained restaurants, a bowling alley, furniture retail, specialty stores, and later discount and fast-casual concepts. An adjacent expansion called Ford City East was developed in 1981 near 76th Street and Pulaski Road. A 14-screen AMC cinema opened near the southeast corner in 1990, replacing the earlier smaller theater operation. Ownership and management changed over time. General Growth Properties managed the mall for a private investment company until February 2008. In subsequent years, the property was managed by Namdar Realty Group. Between 2009 and 2011, the mall underwent capital work involving infrastructure, parking, frontage improvements, signage, and redevelopment of selected outparcels. Later renovations included updated corridors, seating, lighting, flooring, food-court improvements, remodeled anchor stores, and new tenants such as Five Below, Chipotle, Mattress Firm, and H&M. The mall faced the broader pressures affecting traditional enclosed shopping centers, including anchor bankruptcies, store closures, changing consumer habits, and the redevelopment of large retail sites. Carson's closed in 2018 after the bankruptcy of its parent company, The Bon-Ton Stores. Additional space was repurposed over time, including the former Sears area, which later housed a discount toy retailer. A Chick-fil-A opened in 2020 on the former site of a Firestone Auto Care facility. Reference material identifies a later plan to replace the mall site with a warehouse complex, subject to approvals and redevelopment conditions. The same material states that the mall ultimately closed in June 2026 following concerns involving structural deterioration and its fire-suppression system.
History
Ford City's site was created as an industrial property rather than a retail development. In 1942, the federal government began building the Dodge Chicago Plant, a major defense facility intended to support wartime aircraft-engine production. Construction proceeded rapidly, and the complex eventually covered millions of square feet across numerous steel, concrete, and wood buildings. Its workforce, estimated in the tens of thousands at different points, helped stimulate residential and commercial growth on Chicago's Southwest Side. Following the end of World War II, the plant became vacant. Government efforts to sell the property initially failed, and the complex was later adapted for automobile production associated with Tucker Corporation and Ford Motor Company. During the Korean War era, the buildings were brought back into industrial use for aircraft-engine work under a Ford contract. Ford modernized the facility and employed a substantial workforce, but the operation closed again in 1959. Other portions of the former complex later acquired separate uses, including a site associated with Tootsie Roll Industries. In 1961, the government sold the property to Harry F. Chaddick and other investors. The redevelopment team converted the surviving buildings into a shopping center, removing some structures to create parking and remodeling others for retail occupancy. Ford City opened in 1965. Its design consisted of a northern strip-mall component and a southern enclosed mall, separated by the property's inherited industrial configuration. An underground pedestrian passage connected the two areas. This passage was called Peacock Alley during the 1970s and 1980s and was later known as The Connection. The center grew into a major regional retail destination. Its historical anchors included Wieboldt's, Carson Pirie Scott, Montgomery Ward, JCPenney, Turn Style, Venture, and Sears. Department-store changes reflected broader consolidation in American retail: Wieboldt's was replaced by Carson Pirie Scott in 1987, while Montgomery Ward's purpose-built space eventually disappeared after that chain's bankruptcy. The former Turn Style space passed through Venture and Sears before Sears closed in 2010. Entertainment uses included a General Cinema theater that expanded from three to five screens and a larger 14-screen AMC complex built off the southeast corner in 1990. The property also contained a bowling alley, furniture stores, restaurants, and specialty retailers. Ford City East, a separate strip-mall development, was added in 1981 near 76th Street and Pulaski Road, south of Richard J. Daley College. The mall's position at a busy intersection and its access to Chicago Transit Authority and Pace bus routes made it an important retail node for surrounding neighborhoods and nearby suburbs. The Orange Line was originally considered for extension to Ford City, but federal funding was unavailable. The CTA later analyzed the extension and approved planning activity in 2009, although the extension was subsequently canceled. Management was provided by General Growth Properties for a private investment company until February 2008. Later management was associated with Namdar Realty Group. From 2009 through the early 2010s, the property pursued a multiyear capital program covering North Mall infrastructure, the Cicero Avenue frontage, parking, and pylon signage. New or replacement tenants included Conway, later Fallas, as well as U.S. Cellular, GNC, Sprint, China Max, jewelry retailers, restaurants, and other local or national operators. In 2012, part of The Connection was closed and retailers were moved upstairs. A further renovation began in 2016. Plans called for updated interior finishes, seating, lighting, flooring, food-court facilities, and remodeling of Carson's and JCPenney. Five Below opened in the North Mall section in September 2016. New outparcel construction followed, including a building occupied by Chipotle Mexican Grill and Mattress Firm in 2017. H&M opened in August 2018, but the same year brought the closure of Carson's after the bankruptcy of its parent, The Bon-Ton Stores. A Chick-fil-A opened in 2020 on the former Firestone Auto Care site, while a discount toy retailer later occupied the former Sears premises. The supplied reference material describes a proposed $150 million warehouse redevelopment announced in 2025. It also reports later municipal concerns involving structural deterioration and a defective fire-suppression system, followed by an order requiring closure in June 2026. On that account, Ford City Mall is treated here as defunct, although redevelopment and site ownership remained subject to approvals and other conditions in the cited material.
- 2025
Warehouse redevelopment proposed
[1]A proposed plan called for redevelopment of the mall property into a warehouse complex.
- 2020
Chick-fil-A opens
[1]A Chick-fil-A restaurant opened on a former automotive-service outparcel.
- 2018
Carson's closes
[1]The Carson's anchor closed following the bankruptcy of The Bon-Ton Stores.
- 2016
Major renovation begins
[1]Interior improvements, anchor remodeling, food-court work, and new tenant recruitment were announced.
- 2009
Capital redevelopment begins
[1]Infrastructure, parking, and frontage improvements began under a long-term capital program.
- 2008
General Growth management ends
[1]General Growth Properties ceased managing the mall for its private investment owner.
- 1990
AMC multiplex opens
[1]A 14-screen AMC theater opened near the mall's southeast corner.
- 1981
Ford City East opens
[1]An additional strip-mall development was built near 76th Street and Pulaski Road.
- 1975
Montgomery Ward space is added
[1]A south-facing anchor space was constructed for Montgomery Ward.
- 1965
Ford City opens
[1]The converted industrial complex opened as Ford City, with enclosed and strip-mall sections.
Products and positioning
A large, convenience-oriented regional shopping center serving Chicago's Southwest Side and nearby suburban communities, combining department stores, specialty retail, food, entertainment, and roadside outparcels.
Shopping center · 1965
Ford City enclosed mall
The southern portion of Ford City was an enclosed retail mall containing department stores, specialty shops, services, dining, and an internal food court. It was connected to the northern strip-mall section by an underground pedestrian passage called The Connection. The enclosed portion served as the property's principal regional-shopping component and underwent interior renovation plans during the 2010s.
Open-air retail · 1965
Ford City North Mall
The northern section was configured as a strip mall with storefronts facing open-air pedestrian and parking areas. It housed a changing mix of department-store successors, specialty retailers, restaurants, services, and discount operators. Five Below opened in this section in 2016 as part of the property's renovation and tenant-repositioning effort.
Strip mall · 1981
Ford City East
Ford City East was an associated strip-mall development built near 76th Street and Pulaski Road in 1981. For a period, it included additional movie theaters and extended the retail footprint beyond the principal mall complex.
Cinema · 1990
AMC Ford City 14
The 14-screen AMC theater was an outparcel entertainment facility built off the mall's southeast corner in 1990. It expanded the site's entertainment offer beyond the earlier General Cinema operation, which had begun with three screens and later grew to five.
Brand decisions
2025
Proposal to redevelop the mall site as a warehouse complexStrategyBackground
The proposal reflected the long-term decline and changing use of the retail property.
Action taken
A warehouse redevelopment plan was proposed, with rezoning and other approvals identified as necessary steps.
Aftermath
The cited material states that the mall sale had not been completed and that construction was tentatively planned for a later date.
Proposed redevelopment value. $150 million (2025 proposal)
2016
Interior renovation and tenant repositioningStrategyBackground
Ford City pursued modernization as enclosed malls faced changing shopping patterns and pressure on department-store anchors.
Action taken
Plans included new corridor seating, lighting, flooring, a remodeled food court, updated Carson's and JCPenney stores, new outparcels, and additional tenants.
Aftermath
Five Below, Chipotle, Mattress Firm, and H&M were among the later additions, while Carson's nevertheless closed in 2018 after its parent company's bankruptcy.
2009
Launch of long-term capital improvement programStrategyBackground
The mall sought to improve its physical infrastructure and maintain tenant visibility in a competitive retail environment.
Action taken
Management undertook North Mall infrastructure work, Cicero Avenue frontage improvements, parking-lot resurfacing, and later pylon-sign refurbishment.
Aftermath
The program supported additional tenant openings and later renovation phases, although the property continued to experience anchor closures and retail turnover.
Sources2 sources
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