Huntley’s once-vibrant outlet center is steadily disappearing, and its future remains a big mystery.
Rumors are flying around and about the nearly empty center. Fewer and fewer vehicles occupy the parking lots, and the main activity appears to be the efforts by the few remaining tenants to leave and relocate. Some expiring leases are not being renewed, and other tenants have opted to go elsewhere when their lease expires.
The mall is frequently empty, containing less than a half-dozen shoppers on recent days. The food court is also empty, except for Eyebrows Threading, a cosmetic service for women. Reebok, Bose, and The Gap have all left in the last few weeks.
As of September 29, the businesses remaining open, with no known or announced future plans, are Corningware-Corelle, SAS Factory Shoes, Carter’s, Oshkosh B’Gosh, Jazzercise, Wilson’s Leather, Skechers, Bass Outlet, L’Eggs Haines Playtex, Gusto’s Fun House, Darna Furniture (liquidating everything, signs in the store say), Eddie Bauer, and Huntley Antique Mall-Estate. At Christopher & Banks, one of the most recent stores to come to the center, a spokesperson said the store is closing on October 25. Che Boutique’s store was closed, and a sign on the door said, “Appointments only.”
That’s 17 businesses in a center with space for almost 75. Many stores display signs saying 50% off.
The Sun Day spent several recent days talking to the few remaining tenants, tracking down distant managers and owners, and speaking with Village of Huntley officials.
One compelling question is: What is going to happen to the mall?
Answers are inconclusive.
The mall is currently co-owned by three partnering organizations: Craig Realty Group, a Los Angeles-based outlet mall management firm that owns and operates 13 factory shop centers in eight states and is building four others; Capital Realty and Development, an Elgin, Illinois-based development and real estate investment company; and The Prime Group, a Chicago-area development organization that built the original Huntley outlet center about 25 years ago.
Laura Rowell, property manager at the mall, referred the Sun Day to Chelsea Hartwell, director of public relations for Craig in Los Angeles. She emailed back: “We do not have information to report at this time. I appreciate your questions and will connect with you directly once we have details to share.”
Richard Turasky, CEO of Capital in Elgin, said, “We are working with the village to explore options. We are partnering with two other enterprises and we are taking our time.”
Most remaining tenants all said they have been told nothing about future plans for the mall, and most declined to reveal their own intentions. They all agreed on one thing: the mall is no longer a pleasant and financially viable place to do business.
A few stores did speak out, however.
Sweet Repeats Thrift Shoppe, a popular resale store, plans to relocate this month to 10514 Route 47 in Huntley, one block north of Algonquin Road, next to Papa G’s Restaurant. This is a property that once was a furniture store and has been vacant for about two years. Sweet Repeats occupied this building from 2010-2013. The business was purchased by Journey Church in Huntley in 2014.
“We are grateful to the Village of Huntley for helping us make the arrangements to do this,” said Cindy Howver, shop manager. “We are grateful to be leaving the mall, which has so many problems, especially because of the shoppers that have been injured there.”
At Hearing Help Express, a manager said its lease is expiring in December and they are exploring two possible new locations in Huntley, one of them in the Village Green strip mall next to the Jewel-Osco anchor and the other in the Huntley Commons building on Oak Creek Parkway north of Jewel.
Dolores Matousek, who owns the Huntley Antique & Jewelry Mall, which is a mall within the larger mall, says she is staying put until she finds out what the new owners are going to do.
“That may take until some time next year,” she said. “I’m disappointed that the I-90 interchange didn’t help us when it was expanded. Instead of helping us, the lengthy construction period killed us.”
Several other tenants echoed that sentiment.
Lisa Armour, assistant Huntley village manager, said the village’s legal action against mall owners regarding the physical deterioration of the center’s parking lot and sidewalks is still active, but its future is also uncertain. “We have had minimal communication with the center’s new owners, but we have been told nothing about their plans,” she said.
