RETAIL RENOVATION

Westfield Old Orchard, a fixture on the North Shore for decades and one of the busiest and most successful malls in America, is constantly evolving. Conveniently located off the Edens Expressway, it has become the perfect meeting spot for Chicagoans and suburbanites alike. Whether meeting with friends, relaxing in a beautiful park setting, letting your kids explore the mall’s state-of-the-art playground, or eating at some of the best restaurants in the Chicagoland area—and oh yes, shopping—Westfield Old Orchard has it all and then some.

In fact, with a bevy of first-class retailers and more on the way, the shopping is hard to beat. A host of upscale retailers including Louis Vuitton, the reimagined Bloomie’s, Alo Yoga, Tory Burch, Psycho Bunny, and more have joined Westfield Old Orchard’s flagship stores of Nordstrom and Macy’s.

Always attuned to the needs of its customers, Westfield Old Orchard kicked off an extensive redevelopment plan this year, promising to combine the best in luxury retail, upscale dining, entertainment, health and wellness options, and luxury amenities— all nestled in their beautiful open green space and outdoor lounges.

Some of the highlights underway, according to Serge Khalimsky, the senior general manager of Westfield Old Orchard, include the redevelopment of the old Lord & Taylor building, which will be divided into four new concepts offering new luxury home furnishings, top fashion, and entertainment options and the addition of more high-end retailers and eateries. The goal is to make Old Orchard a community gathering place for locals and visitors alike offering everything from outdoor concerts to farmers markets to festivals.

Business is booming and customers and retailers could not be happier. Khalimsky shares, “We have an incredible team that has relationships with some of the best tenants and some of the best retailers in the world. We continue to bring that to the North Shore of Chicago.”

These strong relationships have led to a veritable explosion in dining options. Some of the newer restaurants include city favorites like Capital Grille, Bar Siena, Hampton Social, Shake Shack, and Molly’s Cupcakes, to name a few.

Big changes have been made to Westfield Old Orchard’s outdoor spaces as well. Inspired by the nearby, world-renowned Chicago Botanic Garden, Westfield Old Orchard has focused on improving and enhancing its outdoor spaces, investing in landscaping to make everything as beautiful and inviting as possible. “It’s like walking through a park on a sunny day,” Khalimsky observes.

“I think a part of our success is due to our location between Chicago and the North Shore,” Khalimsky says. “On top of that, I think there’s a big trend, especially after COVID, of people being drawn to outdoor spaces. Living in Chicago, all of us really celebrate, especially when it’s nice out, being outdoors. That’s why we have so many festivals and so many things to do outside during the spring, summer, and fall months of the year. We really want to capitalize on that.”

Khalimsky encourages visitors to not only come to the mall to eat and shop but to “come and read a book next to some of our flower installations or even conduct a meeting outside. Or spend an afternoon working on your laptops when it’s really nice out and just enjoy the fresh air, and grab a cup of coffee. And really, just enjoy the nature of it.”

“We have a gem on the north side of the city.” With summer’s warm days and soft nights ahead, what better time to take advantage of all that Westfield Old Orchard has to offer?

For more information, visit westfield.com.