(This is a reupload from last weekend. I briefly had this video out until I realized that I should probably blur out the faces of any kids I inadvertently included in the video. Can't sue me now! Also, there are several shorter and longer periods of silence throughout the video. I intentionally edited out that audio for different reasons, like unnecessary commentary and rambling, coughing, and other stuff.)

Hello, everyone. Through the lens of my new amazing pair of camera sunglasses (to eliminate the risk of being pointlessly yelled at by security for filming), enjoy this first-person, detailed, pretty close to full walkthrough of Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale, IL as seen yesterday, Saturday, April 6th, 2024, with just over two weeks to go before the mall closes permanently. Enjoy the beautiful architecture of this thoughtfully-constructed 1981 masterpiece of a building on a beautiful spring day with the sun shining through the skylights.

It really was a treat to be here filming this yesterday. The mall surprisingly had a lot of visitors, many of whom enjoying the last day of Challenge Accepted Escape Rooms, throwing an axe at the Axe Throwing place, visiting the jewelry repair shop, and eating at Ana's Kitchen. Others were people just enjoying the mall. Parents brought their kids to play, local teenagers came to mess around and pay to punch the punching bag of the Boxer game at the entrance to the mall, a couple girls who looked about my age were walking around taking pictures of the beautiful atrium, an older group of guys were walking around sharing details and memories of the mall, a couple guys were sitting in the food court playing cards, and many more just enjoying the mall the way it was meant to be. Off camera, I actually caught an escalator ride with two other groups of people on the escalator at the same time, probably a sight that hasn't been seen here in a while and will never be seen again. In just a couple weeks, all of that beauty will be gone forever. While I hope to return next weekend and maybe closing weekend, I'm super grateful to have been able to be there yesterday and capture the mall in this state.

Some background:

Over the past few years, I have watched the slow decline of one of my local shopping malls, Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale. This mall was built in 1981, and for many years, it was the place to be. I was here a few times in my life, especially in the early 2010s, when the mall was still doing pretty decent. I came and filmed a lot of the elevators in the anchor stores that have since closed.

Unfortunately, due to rise in online shopping, greedy corporations, COVID, and other reasons, Stratford has been a dead mall for a little while now, with the Kohl's being the only remaining anchor store. Stratford is just another Chicagoland (and really American) mall on the list that has been facing tragedy. We have already lost Charlestowne Mall, and just last month, Spring Hill Mall. Ford City Mall in Chicago might be another next on the list. Thankfully, three of our Chicagoland area malls, Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, Yorktown Center in Lombard, and Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, are still doing well.

Just in the past few months, there have been major developments with the Stratford property which I have been following closely on Facebook and elsewhere online. With the $8 million+ purchase of the property by the Village of Bloomingdale for the purpose of redevelopment, this beautiful old mall is doomed. It's closing on Sunday, April 21st with ultimate plans for partial if not full demolition for repurposing into possible community green space with Kohl's remaining as a standalone store.