tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post1396118337499431179..comments2024-03-05T04:03:13.851-05:00Comments on Dead and Dying retail: University Mall in Carbondale, IllinoisNickEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16204643187244801996noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-84795296799702768072016-10-01T22:50:36.080-04:002016-10-01T22:50:36.080-04:00I used to work in this mall back in 2000 & 200...I used to work in this mall back in 2000 & 2001. First at Babbage's, then a Record Store, then Famous-Barr (now known as Macy's) This mall had alot of energy & to see how far downhill it has fallen is just sad!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06802221502367842206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-58322080853392385182016-10-01T22:48:10.380-04:002016-10-01T22:48:10.380-04:00I used to work in this mall back in 2000 at Babbag...I used to work in this mall back in 2000 at Babbage's then Famous Barr (now Macy's) & to see how for downhill this mall has fallen is just sad! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06802221502367842206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-74355936632087523352016-07-01T11:59:10.229-04:002016-07-01T11:59:10.229-04:00Does anyone know when the Woolworth store opened a...Does anyone know when the Woolworth store opened and closed in the Mall? Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10387675781887790637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-7245448171162579772016-06-30T22:42:13.530-04:002016-06-30T22:42:13.530-04:00I miss the water fountain that used to be in this ...I miss the water fountain that used to be in this mall. You could hear it all through the mall. Had a soothing sound and the fountain was a great meeting place. I guess the thing became to expensive to maintain.<br /><br />I think JC Penny and Kirlins are the only stores still open that were in the mall when it opened in 1974. I might be wrong about Kirlins though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-14868406364358460112016-05-26T04:23:23.584-04:002016-05-26T04:23:23.584-04:00Another former large tenant in the University Mall...Another former large tenant in the University Mall was Alongi's Italian Restaurant. It operated in the area across from the main entrance of JC Penney into the mall (what is now Maurices and part of Rue 21, sections 45, 46, and 47 on the directory map), in the general area of the old food court. The restaurant was owned by a local family, who also own the Alongi's restaurant in Duquoin, IL. If I remember correctly, the restaurant had two floors and an open design (so that people walking through the mall could see into the restaurant). The University Mall location opened in late 2004 and closed in December of 2007, though the Duquoin, IL location still remains.<br /><br />The old Garfield's Pub, which occupied section 55, closed June 22 2014 and became S&B’s Burger Joint. <br /><br />Also, the current large tenants include: Macy's (in section 56 on the map from May 19, 2012 seen towards the top of the page), JCPenny (section 67), Old Navy (section 39), Shoe Dept (Section 10, the old Steve and Barry's), Showplace 8 Theatre (section 21), Bed Bath and Beyond (section 22), Ross Dress for Less (section 23, the old Micheal's), the Breast Cancer Center (the new section 85, combination of the old sections 87, 88, 89 and 91), the Science Center (section 62), and Southern Illinois Healthcare (section 89, the old Elder Beerman). <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16307688745547533080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-71981763169412615492015-09-26T22:41:21.524-04:002015-09-26T22:41:21.524-04:00When there are no food places, its a dead Mall.When there are no food places, its a dead Mall.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-57076519410190221492015-02-20T14:40:00.691-05:002015-02-20T14:40:00.691-05:00I just visited a great place for my kids to play i...I just visited a great place for my kids to play in the mall that just opened called Kidz Play Zone. Great Place!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-46165775964146799832015-02-10T15:39:26.910-05:002015-02-10T15:39:26.910-05:00Okay, so move back to Chicago. I am from Chicag...Okay, so move back to Chicago. I am from Chicago too and am happy to be away from it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-90856254325601523142015-02-10T15:37:55.360-05:002015-02-10T15:37:55.360-05:00This is false information. The mall is not dead,...This is false information. The mall is not dead, nor dying. There are no food places, but the mall has plenty to offer, such as a theater, cookie place and a Gloria Jeans. There are many businesses operating and it is very busy on weekends. Recently added a huge wing for The Shoe Department Encore, a large Ulta and a Ross. Bed Bath and Beyond is a huge anchor, as well as Macy's and Penney's. This mall is not going anywhere anytime soon. Not sure how this false information was submitted.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-42701967049283946102014-07-24T15:52:32.331-04:002014-07-24T15:52:32.331-04:00It has seen better days but I don't get why it...It has seen better days but I don't get why its on dead and dying retail. There are still a lot of stores.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-41656352360064264032014-04-13T13:30:52.009-04:002014-04-13T13:30:52.009-04:00I'm sure many of us also will be a lot happier...I'm sure many of us also will be a lot happier when you move back to Chicago. Be sure and take the negative attitude with you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-15831258414704688332014-03-06T20:34:30.151-05:002014-03-06T20:34:30.151-05:00To Anonymous; This mall in NOT a joke and maybe yo...To Anonymous; This mall in NOT a joke and maybe you should go back to Chicago. Comparing a mall in a smaller town of only about 25,000 plus college students(when they are in town) is not the same as Chicago!! I have lived in southern Illinois all my life and we DO NOT shut down everything with only a 1 inch snow on the ground. To bad you are not non-existent! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-75233939622547298682014-03-03T23:57:48.805-05:002014-03-03T23:57:48.805-05:00Well living in this town for almost one year, this...Well living in this town for almost one year, this "mall" is a joke. I'll be allot happier when I move back to Chicago! You know a mall/town is bad when you only get 1 inch of snow on ground and everything shuts down. If it was not for the collage this God forsaken town would be non existent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-44702579957544762132013-08-02T18:45:55.067-04:002013-08-02T18:45:55.067-04:00It was a great mall for a couple of brief periods ...It was a great mall for a couple of brief periods of time. I remember the escalator!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-27084681485934726042013-05-11T20:56:14.464-04:002013-05-11T20:56:14.464-04:00You said it yourself. Stores leaving for "wha...You said it yourself. Stores leaving for "whatever reason" despite it being a college town. This shouldnt be happening. A complete joke of a food court doesnt help either. Foot Locker is usually the last one in dead malls, so when its one of the first to leave, thats a BAD sign.Mike Kazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12454800834122639276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-18517373891929504642013-05-11T18:54:57.543-04:002013-05-11T18:54:57.543-04:00I still can't help but wonder why they moved t...I still can't help but wonder why they moved the food court to the former Elder-Beerman wing. It did so much better there on the north side of the mall by the main entrance (the entrance facing Highway 13). They just couldn't leave well enough alone! So who knows what will become of the food court at this point...I think there's a vacant area across from Shoe Department Encore (previously Steve & Barry's) and next to Ross Dress For Less. The food court could be moved here, since it's just down from the movie theater...<br /><br />It was also disappointing when Gap left, since Carbondale is a college town and that's the type of market where Gap often prefers to locate. Doesn't make much (if any) sense. Now the nearest Gap store is an hour south in Paducah! New York & Company and Foot Locker both seemed to be doing pretty well too, yet they folded. I remember when there was also Spencer Gifts years ago...<br /><br />I guess now there is some hope; I've read plenty (on this page and other sources) of many new stores that are either at or on their way to University Mall. Whenever I've gone there it's been quite busy, so how could this mall be "dead or dying"? That's still rather silly. The mall in Marion (Illinois Star Centre) is the real definition of "dead or dying"; that place is a ghost town.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-25717811989791931062013-02-12T15:09:38.576-05:002013-02-12T15:09:38.576-05:00I heard that they have other plans for the food co...I heard that they have other plans for the food court area.....also was told that two new stores are going in the old Goodys location this year. There is no Elder Beerman in the mall but a new computer lounge or something opened by the food court area. The old Steve and Barrys is a hugh shoe store now. Sounds to me like things turned around and still are. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-14603564535792737052013-01-08T18:26:20.257-05:002013-01-08T18:26:20.257-05:00Do they actually have tenants in the food court? C...Do they actually have tenants in the food court? Clearly there werent any when I visited. They filled an anchor with a medical building, and the venture space is still empty. The Goodys was sitting empty, and the Elder Beermen wing was 100% empty, as was the old Steve and Barrys. So did things suddenly turn around?Mike Kazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12454800834122639276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-55918394866153872792013-01-08T17:13:35.729-05:002013-01-08T17:13:35.729-05:00Just got back from visiting the mall about 3 days ...Just got back from visiting the mall about 3 days ago.. Quite good celection of shops. major anchor tenants like Jc Penny n Macys..Dont believe wat they say of a dying mall.. Seeing is believing...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-7500498707715497182013-01-08T17:09:37.098-05:002013-01-08T17:09:37.098-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-22469394730357142242013-01-07T12:44:53.324-05:002013-01-07T12:44:53.324-05:00Why is this on the dead and dying retail??? So man...Why is this on the dead and dying retail??? So many new stores and from what I heard more are coming this year. AMC Showplace is an AMC movie theater....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-73602881037107526252013-01-03T12:52:36.506-05:002013-01-03T12:52:36.506-05:00What is AMC Showplace? Is it just another name for...What is AMC Showplace? Is it just another name for the movie theater or did it have other stuff there. DPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10681843704586456622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-36819443475473692242013-01-03T01:17:46.096-05:002013-01-03T01:17:46.096-05:00Rogers & Holland's opened there. They are ...Rogers & Holland's opened there. They are amazing and definitely better than Kay Jewelry. Their customer service, selection and pricing was so much better than Kay. And they are fan icky owned, based out of the Midwest rather than London England<br />..So glad there is finally someone to give those Sterling company stores (Jared, Kay, JB Robinson, all the same company..same products at different price points) a run for their money!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-20808991004590348132012-12-24T02:41:43.355-05:002012-12-24T02:41:43.355-05:00They have a ross now its amazing! Wetseal holliste...They have a ross now its amazing! Wetseal hollister buckle journeys kays macys bath and body works bed bath beyond rue 21 romancing the stonw.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638967203750102584.post-32190099461165194402012-12-05T08:56:27.466-05:002012-12-05T08:56:27.466-05:00I remember when I was a kid I for some reason love...I remember when I was a kid I for some reason loved the escalator that was in the Sears when it was there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com