02-07-2025
Plaza del Lago on Chicago's North Shore gets luxury revamp
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 stucco 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 Even after Prohibition was repealed in 1933, booze was banned by local ordinances," the Tribune reported.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.
