Ford City Mall will stay open for another three weeks after a Cook County judge last week postponed until May 15 a hearing on a city order to vacate the Southwest Side mall over health and safety concerns.
Cook County Circuit Judge Leonard Murray was scheduled to rule April 23 on an order to vacate the mall, but the hearing was delayed after the building’s fire suppression system was restored April 17.
Chicago’s Department of Law filed an emergency motion on April 10 to vacate the mall at 7601 S. Cicero Ave. due to health and safety concerns for mall tenants and visitors. The request followed a failed test on April 6 of the fire suppression system.
Adding to the situation, in a statement to media outlets Thursday afternoon, JCPenney’s media relations department indicated the business would close in the next two months.
“Despite our best efforts to remain at Ford City Mall, we have been required by the city of Chicago to close this location along with all other remaining tenants at the property, and will be exiting the property in the next 30-60 days,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “We are actively exploring opportunities for a new store location in the surrounding Chicago area and look forward to sharing updates as plans develop.”
The statement directed shoppers to the company’s Chicago Ridge Mall location.
But hours later, the store’s media relations department recanted its previous statement and indicated the Ford City Mall location would remain open.
“We are closely monitoring the situation at Ford City Mall and will evaluate options pending any legal proceedings. We hope to continue serving our loyal customers in the community,” according to the updated statement.
JC Penney is one of 16 stores remaining at the mall. It has had a store at the mall since it opened in 1965. The Ford City location is the retailer’s last store within the city limits.
Kurve Industrial (formerly Bridge Industrial) last July proposed buying the mall with an eye toward turning the site into a complex of four warehouses totaling more than 900,000 square feet.
The developer, who has broken ground on two smaller but similar projects in nearby Bedford Park and Summit, would spend more than $150 million on the project, according to Ald. Derrick Curtis (18th)./
The project would require city approval, which has been delayed because of health and safety concerns at the site.
The mall was purchased in 2019 for $16.6 million by New York-based Namdar Realty Group. Mason Asset Management manages Namdar’s shopping centers.
The site was a defense plant during World War II and tested engines for B-29 bombers.
The plant closed at the end of the war in 1945 and was idle until it was acquired in 1948 by Preston Tucker and turned into an auto plant.
Tucker produced only 51 cars before it closed.
Ford took over the plant, and it was used to build airplane engines during the Korean War, but it closed in 1959.
In 1961, the site was acquired by developer Harry Chaddick and investors who opened it in 1965 as Ford City shopping center.
In its heyday, the mall was anchored by major retailers including Montgomery Ward, Sears and Carsons. It had a popular arcade area known as Peacock Alley.
According to reports, Namdar would retain some retail space along Cicero Avenue and the AMC Ford City 14 movie theater at Kostner Avenue and 77th Street.