Wilderness Mall
Wilderness Mall, formerly Jefferson Square Mall, was an enclosed shopping mall in Joliet, Illinois, that operated from 1975 until its closure in 2002.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Wilderness Mall was the later name of Jefferson Square Mall, an enclosed shopping center in Joliet, Illinois. Developed by Melvin Simon and Associates, the property opened on February 28, 1975, as Joliet's first enclosed shopping mall. It contained approximately 553,295 square feet of retail space and initially anchored its tenant mix with department stores Wieboldt's and Montgomery Ward. Wieboldt's opened before the mall itself, in August 1974, while Montgomery Ward opened in October 1974. The mall entered a more competitive environment after Louis Joliet Mall opened nearby in 1978. Its retail position weakened further as department-store and shopping-center economics changed. Wieboldt's closed its Jefferson Square location in 1987 along with seven other stores, and the vacated space was subsequently used by Menards, a home-improvement retailer. In 1996, the property was renamed Wilderness Mall as part of an effort associated with renovations and repositioning. The new identity did not reverse the center's decline. By 2000, only 13 tenants occupied a property designed for more than 60 store spaces. The remaining occupants reportedly included an off-track betting parlor, a paintball-related store, a travel agency, a preschool, and a social-services agency. Montgomery Ward also closed in 2000. Menard Properties purchased the property in 2002 with plans to replace the declining mall with a larger Menards store and a Walmart supercenter. The mall was closed and demolition began in 2004. Demolition was completed in 2006, followed by construction of Menards beginning in 2007 and Walmart beginning in 2008. As a result, Wilderness Mall is a defunct local retail property rather than an operating consumer brand. Its historical significance lies primarily in its role as Joliet's first enclosed mall and in the broader pattern of aging regional shopping centers being converted to big-box retail sites.
History
Jefferson Square Mall was developed in Joliet, Illinois, by Melvin Simon and Associates, the predecessor of Simon Property Group. The development formed part of the expansion of enclosed suburban shopping centers in the United States during the 1970s. Its principal department-store tenants opened before the center's formal inauguration: Wieboldt's began operating in August 1974 and Montgomery Ward followed in October 1974. The mall officially opened on February 28, 1975, with approximately 553,295 square feet of leasable shopping space. The center was notable locally because it was Joliet's first enclosed shopping mall. Its early tenant structure followed the conventional regional-mall model, with department stores serving as anchors and smaller specialty retailers occupying the interior corridors. The opening of Louis Joliet Mall nearby in 1978 introduced a significant competitor and divided the area's enclosed-mall traffic. Over time, changing consumer habits, competition, and difficulties affecting traditional department stores weakened Jefferson Square Mall's commercial position. A major setback came in 1987, when Wieboldt's closed its store at the mall as part of a broader closure of eight locations. The former department-store space was replaced by Menards, shifting part of the property toward home-improvement retail. In 1996, the shopping center was renamed Wilderness Mall during an effort to refresh the property and improve its market position. The rebranding and associated renovations did not restore sustained occupancy. By 2000, only 13 tenants remained in a center designed for more than 60 store spaces. The remaining businesses were increasingly nontraditional for a regional enclosed mall and included an off-track betting parlor, a paintball-related shop, a travel agency, a preschool, and a social-services agency. Montgomery Ward closed that year, eliminating the other original anchor. The mall's decline also produced several notable incidents, including a December 26, 1991, shooting near the south parking-lot entrance. Two teenagers were wounded after an argument near the movie theater, and both were reported to be in stable condition the following day. The incident was described as possibly gang-related, although the available reference material does not establish a broader institutional scandal involving the mall. In 2002, Menard Properties acquired Wilderness Mall and chose redevelopment rather than continued operation. The proposed replacement consisted of a larger Menards home-improvement store and a Walmart supercenter. The mall closed, demolition began in 2004, and the demolition work was completed in 2006. Construction of the Menards facility began in 2007, followed by construction of Walmart in 2008. The former mall therefore ended not through a corporate reorganization or brand sale, but through the conversion of an aging enclosed shopping center into a big-box retail site.
- 2008
Walmart construction begins
[1]Construction begins on the planned Walmart supercenter at the former mall site.
- 2007
Menards construction begins
[1]Construction begins on the replacement Menards store.
- 2006
Demolition is completed
[1]The former mall is fully demolished.
- 2004
Demolition begins
[1]Demolition of the former shopping mall begins as part of the redevelopment plan.
- 2002
Menard Properties acquires the property
[1]The owner plans to replace the mall with a larger Menards store and a Walmart supercenter.
- 2000
Occupancy reaches a low point
[1]Only 13 tenants remain in a property built for more than 60 store spaces, and Montgomery Ward closes.
- 1996
Property renamed Wilderness Mall
[1]The mall adopts the Wilderness Mall name during an attempted renovation and repositioning.
- 1987
Wieboldt's closes
[1]Wieboldt's closes the mall location along with seven other stores; the space is later occupied by Menards.
- 1978
Louis Joliet Mall opens nearby
[1]A nearby competing shopping mall opens, increasing competitive pressure on Jefferson Square Mall.
- 1975
Jefferson Square Mall opens
[1]The enclosed mall officially opens on February 28 with approximately 553,295 square feet of retail space.
Products and positioning
A local enclosed shopping mall serving Joliet-area consumers, later repositioned under the Wilderness Mall name before declining into a low-occupancy retail property.
Shopping mall · 1975
Enclosed shopping-center retail space
The core offering was leased enclosed retail space organized around department-store anchors and smaller specialty shops. The property provided a conventional regional-mall environment for general merchandise, apparel, services, entertainment, and other consumer-facing businesses. As occupancy declined, the tenant mix broadened to include nontraditional users such as a preschool and a social-services agency.
Department store · 1974
Wieboldt's
Wieboldt's was one of the original department-store anchors associated with the property and opened before the mall's formal inauguration. Its presence helped establish the center's initial regional-shopping proposition, but the store closed in 1987 as part of a wider group of Wieboldt's closures.
Department store · 1974
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward was the second original department-store anchor. It opened in October 1974 and remained associated with the mall until closing in 2000, by which time the center had experienced severe tenant attrition.
Brand decisions
2002
Replacement of the enclosed mall with big-box retailStrategyBackground
The property had become a low-occupancy shopping center, with its original department-store anchors gone or closing.
Action taken
Menard Properties purchased the site and planned to demolish the mall for a larger Menards store and a Walmart supercenter.
Aftermath
The mall closed, demolition was completed by 2006, and the site was converted to big-box retail development.
1996
Rebranding as Wilderness MallStrategyBackground
The original Jefferson Square Mall identity was associated with a property facing increased competition and declining occupancy.
Action taken
The property was renamed Wilderness Mall during an attempted renovation and repositioning.
Aftermath
The rebranding did not prevent further deterioration in occupancy, and only 13 tenants remained by 2000.
Sources1 sources
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