Plaza del Lago on Chicago's North Shore gets luxury revamp
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Rendering of the new Plaza del Lago. Courtesy of Michael Abbott & Associates
A North Shore mall is getting a major facelift with new stores slated to open soon.
Why it matters: Plaza del Lago in Wilmette is upping its retail game with new luxury brands and local favorites, which could likely lure shoppers from Old Orchard, another North Shore open-air mall where major renovations have been underway in recent years.
Driving the news: Mall owner WS Development announced it's adding 13 new stores, and at least one Chicago spot making its suburban debut — Streeterville boutique and cafe Space 519 is slated to open there next month.
Flashback: Plaza del Lago was originally built in the 1920s off Sheridan Road and retains its original Spanish-style architecture, with its red tile roof and white stucco exterior.
- It's one of the oldest open-air shopping centers in the U.S.
- The Teatro del Lago was a major draw in those early days, described as "a grand movie palace that brought a touch of Hollywood to the North Shore."
State of play: As construction is underway, Plaza del Lago is operational with stores such as Big City Optical, Starbucks and Stretch Lab.
- A Jewel now sits where the theater was.
Fun fact: Plaza del Lago sits on a strip of land once known as "No Man's Land" before it was incorporated into Wilmette — a hot spot for suburbanites looking for a drink and a good time.
- "No Man's Land became an enclave of uninhibited capitalism amid suburbanites who were an untapped customer base thirsting for a discreet night out. Along the rest of the North Shore, going to a movie on Sunday was considered shameful. Even after Prohibition was repealed in 1933, booze was banned by local ordinances," the Tribune reported.
Zoom out: Open-air malls are a hot ticket, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year, as more flexible work-from-home schedules make it easier for shoppers to run to the market, pick up a coffee, buy a new dress and go to yoga all in one place.
- WS Development purchased Plaza del Lago in 2022, shortly after purchasing Edens Plaza, now anchored by the country's first Wayfair store.
What's next: James Perse and rag & bone are slated to open on July 9 and Space 519 is scheduled to open Aug. 1.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to note that Plaza del Lago has a red tile roof (not a red stucco roof).