ALL QUIET ON THE MIDWESTERN FRONT…read more The Bolingbrook Promenade is pretty sleepy, as outdoor malls go. It's one thing for a shopping center to feel chill, but if walking around elicits a few yawns, maybe it's time to invest in some Nugenix. Yes, I'm suggesting that The Promenade is suffering from "low T", which happens to lots of mall in their later years. You can access the mall from Boughton Rd or Janes Ave. The Promenade is missing several things that are synonymous with most malls: food courts, escalators, an Auntie Anne's (or a Wetzel's Pretzels), Cinnabon, Hot Topic or Spencers. I'm glad to have Prince Arcades, though the $20 entry fee is discouraging (I'd rather pay-per-game instead, ain't nobody got time for an all day pass). The space formerly occupied by Mora Asian Kitchen has been vacant for several years despite signage still being present, not a good look for the mall. Danny's Pizza & Burger Bar closed (*was evicted) back in April due to $163K in unpaid rent. Bar Louie, a stalwart of the Promenade for more than 17 years, recently shut their doors due to bankruptcy. The annual Taste of Bolingbrook is held here, but the 2025 edition relied more on food trucks than local businesses. They have a nice big Christmas tree during the holidays, trick or treating around Halloween, and other events throughout the year that attract a decent crowd of people. * TL;DR * The Promenade just can't compete with the fountains, vibes, and variety of stores at Oakbrook Center (a superior outdoor mall half an hour northeast of here). Part of me wishes the Promenade would get converted into a downtown area, since Bolingbrook is lacking one. The handful of empty storefronts and sporadic foot traffic gives off the energy of a ghost town, and on more than one occasion I found myself wondering aloud "where IS everyone??" This laid-back mall could benefit from an infusion of new businesses. I'll come here to shop for specific items, but if I'm just interested in browsing, walking around, or casual people-watching, I'll go somewhere that feels more alive (Fox Valley, Yorktown, etc).

Nice outdoor mall. It's a shame so many stores are closing. They decorate nice during the holidays…read more They also have several restaurants attached to the mall.

I enjoyed Fox Valley Mall a lot. It was spacious and good for walking around. They had a store…read morewhere you could pet dogs, which stood out as unique from other malls. I knew someone who really enjoyed this. The mall had a family-oriented aura. One of the most pleasant encounters I have had in years was at this mall. The food court had good food options. There was a plethora of stores. I liked that they had a bookstore that looked solid. I wish everyone all the best in Yeshua's Name.

We came out to Aurora on September 4th because we hadn't traveled since our big trip out to…read moreYellowstone at the beginning of August. This was just a day trip compared to a full week vacation, but it was still something I had been looking forward to since the idea was first mentioned about a week ago. We ended up spending most of our day here at the Fox Valley Mall. My husband, as well as myself, enjoyed some eats at the food court and being able to visit loads of stores under one roof. There are 2 shopping floors and the bottom floor (labeled FC on the elevator) is the food court, although there is some food on the shopping floors like the 2 different Auntie Anne's storefronts, one on the upper level and one on the lower level. Bathrooms were abundant and clean. The floors were also well kept up without being slippery. If I lived nearby I could see myself being a mall walker here because there is tons of space.

Their Coach store is very nice‼ What a great shopping experience I had with a really exceptional…read moreassociate by the name of Jazmin Maturin‼ I was really browsing, looking for something in particular. While I didn't find what I was looking for Jazmin, turned a browse into a regular customer‼ I will be back to this particular store to shop because of Jazmin, who ended up blessing me immediately pointing out some shoes that I didn't even know I wanted & in my favorite color‼ She is a consummate professional who anticipates the needs of others and will wow you at every turn‼ Also, this store has amazing values for your money‼ You won't be disappointed but, you might be pleasantly surprised at what you find. I highly recommend you shop here‼ Thx Coach for employing such an awesome staff member‼

My favorite outlet mall in the Chicago suburbs (Aurora). Great selection of stores including many…read morename brand hard to find companies. My tip is to check out the Simons app for extra savings.

Aurora mall is my go to place for shopping. It has so many brands and it has everything from…read moreperfume, clothing, shoes bags brand. The cafeteria is good too. I love to have meal there and eat ice cream when shopping in mall. I usually go on weekends so sometime parking is difficult to get but no impossible. This place is valuable. It adds value to your wardrobe and collection. Everywhere it is self service there. Enjoy the shopping at mall!

Great place to visit and it's a place to be with the entire and friends. It's a place we go often…read moreto get the best variety of selection all in one spot.

ここのショッピングモールはシカゴで1番好き。 用もないけど行く場所。…read more 土曜日にシカゴダウンタウンの宿をチェックアウト。 近くのハーツにレンタカーを取りに行く。 返しは2日後の月曜日に空港で。 ダウンタウンから空港に近い郊外宿に移動。 数年前から中心地は異常に高くなり避けてた。 今回は好きなお店、好きな場所でゆっくり過ごすのが目的。 それでダウンタウンにしたが正解だった。 郊外宿に移って2日目。 行ったのはミツワで歌舞伎揚購入と名物ピザ屋さん。 何もせず宿の部屋で映画見て、ジムで運動して、 後は部屋でぼーっと過ごして、 16時に宿を出てショッピングセンターへ、 ここでトラブルが発生。 今回、トラブルに遭ったのでは無く、 私がトラブルを起こした張本人。 駐車場の止まれの停止から動き出した時に、 カーブで感覚が掴めず、隣のラインに入って隣の車とぶつかってしまった。 私の車線超えミス。 18才で免許を取って事故を起こしたのは初めて。 あーやってしまった。。、私何やってんだろ。 相手の女性ドライバーが凄く良い人だった。 心配しないでと私の手を両手で握ってきた。 よっぽど私が不安そうな顔だったのだろう。 彼女はパトカーを呼んで、私はハーツに連絡し、 警官が入って3者で事故検分が始まる。 停止からの1メートルもない数秒の動きなので、 互いに歩く速度。 傷は擦り傷が互いに30センチくらい。 2台ともこのまま運転しても問題ない。 別れ際も大丈夫、心配しないでと言って、 最後に手を出して握手を求められた。 私がごめんなさいと最初に謝った事が、 アメリカ人にはかなり新鮮だったのかもしれない。 こう見えて私とても素直です。 夫婦で互いにノミのが心臓と認定してます。 自分が悪い時には最初にすぐに謝ります。 相手が悪い時には一歩も引きませんけど。 現場で彼女の優しさに救われた。 私も彼女の様に余裕のある人間になろうと強く思った。 車を傷つけられたのに、微塵も怒っていない。 それどころか相手に優しい気遣いができる。 多分40代くらい、かなり年下、 冷静で大人の女性だと強く感じました。 ハーツは数年前から本土でも国際免許がいらなくなった。 雛形に自分で打ち込んだ英語文を印刷すれば良い。 借りる時は日本の免許証の写真をデータに収めそれで終わり。悪い事が重なり事故時英語文を所持しておらず、 日本の免許証のみ。 宿に帰って警察官にメール添付で英語文の写真を送る。 警察からレポート番号が出たら、 ハーツにオンラインで事故届出書を提出する必要がある。 バックナンバーの写真、オドメーターの写真、 傷の写真の３枚の添付が必要。 午前2時、宿の駐車場で暗い中、 外灯を工夫して写真を撮る。 もう不審者である。 提出書類は英文でいろんな質問事項が次から次に出てくる。 書きながら彼女の名前、住所を知った。 朝の車の返却前に仕上げたくて寝ずにやった。 本当に疲れた。 朝8時発でロスに向かう。 宿を4時前に出た。 好きな場所を巡り癒され楽しくもあり、 苦い経験となったシカゴ滞在。 人を傷つけず、不幸中の幸いだったと思う。 それに安堵した。 そして出会った女性の対応に感動した。 　　 海外旅の大昔は必ず日本手ぬぐいを２本常備してた。 優しい人達にたくさん出会って助けられた。 田舎道でガソリンが心細くなった時、 先導して数キロ先のスタンドへ連れてってくれた 2人組の女の子。彼女の車はスポーツカー。 手ぬぐいをお礼に渡すと声を出して、 飛び跳ねてメチャクチャ喜んでくれた。 ただなぜか、その場所をまったく覚えてない。 20世紀末頃。 ＄をほぼ使い果たして街で銀行を探した。 ビジネスマンに聞くと、 彼は5分位の徒歩で連れてってくれた。 服はバリッとした仕立てのいいスーツ、 髪も決まってる。でも足元はビーサン。 このパターンはニューヨークでよく見かける。 この時も手ぬぐいがお礼。 これははっきり覚えてる。 場所はコロラドスプリングスだった。 この時は夫と一緒だった。楽しかったな〜。 Googleマップも無い、ネットも脆弱の時代。 もちろんWi-Fiもない。 未知の世界にワクワク。本当に楽しかった。 ハーツの保険で対応できるのでひとまず安心。 でも落ちついて考えると、 これが年というモノかと過ぎった。 高齢ドライバーが問題になってる。 私もいつまで運転出来るか。 少なくとも海外都市部での運転は60代までかも。 あと数年の一桁しかない。70代までできたら本望。 すでに都内に車で出るのが億劫になってる。 昔は小田厚をバックミラー見ながらかっ飛ばしてた。 若気の至り。すみません。 次のロスではいつも以上に慎重に運転しました。 野球観戦はやっぱり面白い。 ひとりでも充分に楽しい。 自分が時に監督、時に審判員と化してる。 流石にヤジは飛ばさん。 ダグアウト観客にヤジは似合わない。 今年はこれが最初で最後の野球観戦になりそう。 8月のボブルヘッドデーにも行きたいけど この円安物価高のご時世じゃ考える。 ちょっと食事するにも円換算すると驚く値段。 けど、来年も必ず1度は応援に行きます。 日本帰国。 家はやっぱりいいなー。夫が居る。 私の最高の居場所。 早速。夜が明けたら丸亀に口直しに行こう。 帰りにセリアで次の旅の手ぬぐい調達だ。 おしまい。

I honestly really like going to Oakbrook Center in Oak Brook, it doesn't feel like your typical…read moremall at all. It's actually a nice place to just walk around, especially when the weather's good. The whole area is clean, well-kept. There's a really good mix of stores too. You've got higher-end spots like Louis Vuitton and Gucci, but also everyday places like Apple and Zara, so it doesn't feel too exclusive or overwhelming. I've had good experiences at The Cheesecake Factory, and there are plenty of other options depending on what you're in the mood for. It's easy to spend a few hours here just shopping, grabbing a meal, and hanging out. I'd definitely recommend it if you want something a little more enjoyable than the average mall.

Decent amount of restaurants and shops. Some parking right in front, or there is a parking deck…read more They sometimes have free events on the green which is nice. Check their website for offerings.

Burr Ridge has a large shopping center. It has tons of stores, most of which are fancy. Many…read morerestaurants too, also most of which are fancy, so be ready to drop serious cash here. Also it's an outdoor mall so you have to deal with the elements. There's little available parking but usually there's some that's far away from any stores. A lot of fancy ass places are here. It makes sense because it's in Burr Ridge, and those rich people need to go shopping. The mall has most of the popular trendy stores, and some others to help make it more unique. Among these are Barbara's Books. However there's a lot of clothing stores for women. About all there is almost. There's places like Bath & Body Works and Topaz. It has a pretty nice outdoor area. There's a greenway with a fireplace and seating around it. Getting here by car is about the only way, and it makes for headaches. It sucks parking. There's never any open spaces in front of the stores, so you have to go far away to find these.

While staying at the nearby Westin, which is walking distance, I popped into Yorktown Center for…read morenothing more than wandering around a mall and maybe grabbing a quick bite from a mall food court. I was able to achieve both here! Yorktown Center and mall are the anchor of this area and have all the classic vibes of an interior mall while being surrounded by open-air shopping and eateries. Additionally, this complex also has a movie theater an a gym. So, multi-faceted and mixed used for sure. The mall has a lot of the standard mall store you expect, but they also have a good variety of smaller branded stores and even some local shops. Like any other mall right now, there were serval empty store fronts. While the shops were cool to wander through and by, I came for the food court, which is huge! Featured a solid selection of chain and local spots. The mall was clean and well kept. Worn in some places, but for the most part in good shape. Overall, solid spot to spend some time at, with or without purpose.

Another location I was torn between giving 4 or 5 stars…read more "Malls" in 2025 are hard to review as we're in such a weird space between in-person and online shopping but for what a traditional mall to me should be, I had to give 4 stars. Firstly, I appreciated that this mall is located walking distance from a big store-front shopping center, including a hotel and stores like Target and a bus stop. A circus was on tour in the parking lot the same weekend I arrived here, which I would assume would've brought more business to the mall. It seems to be a good spot for pop-up events like that. And secondly, service dogs are welcomed for those that need them. Overall I had a great experience with the stores that this mall does have, including the biggest highlight being at Victoria Secret's where the staff greeted me, gave me a post-weight loss bra fitting and great service when checking out with my new items! Vacancies are plenty-full in this mall unfortunately and specifically I want to mention Barbra's Bookstore - a small owned bookstore in the mall that I 1000000% wanted to support, mostly because they fullllllly advertised their banned book section and had tote bags for sale around the store branded with those same banned books *see pictures* , BUT - no one acknowledged me in the store & I don't appreciate that. Decent mall, decent stores, great food court (Burning Mouth being the best place) - with lounging, sitting area. There's also a family bathroom in this mall, located by the food court that is HUGE - and I'm sure helpful to mothers nursing. A family, small-oriented mall indeed!

I quite enjoyed this mall! It seemed to have a great selection of clothing and specialty stores…read more The food court was smaller than I expected, but it did have a good variety of food. My friend tried the chinese restaurant, and for what she paid, the helping was generous! I highly recommend you look up the store directory in advance and try to park close to the ones you want to visit the most. There's multiple entrances, and if you're a first time visitor, it can get overwhelming.

Checked out this big yet empty older mall in Joliet. It has a pretty good location close to the…read moreinterstate and still gets quite a bit of business but not as much as in the past. Louis Joliet Mall is the biggest place to shop in this big suburb. Has a lot of places to go inside even with many being closed. The quality of the stuff isn't is good as it once was and there's not much good other than seeing a movie. Better malls are certainly around but this one has a lot of interesting history about it. It's been around here since 1978 with it being one of two malls that had opened recently. The other was Jefferson Square Mall, which opened a few years earlier and closed in 2002 and was demolished pretty soon after that. Has gone through a few anchors. There's a Cinemark movie theater, JCPenney's, and Macy's. Basically the theater opened in 2009, and has since brought in the most business. There also used to be a Bergner's and Sears. A Sears subsidiary actually financed the mall's construction. There's been many instances of vacancies. The Carson's closed in 2018, but reopened later. Panera Bread, T.G.I. Friday's, and Tilted Kilt have closed. The Sears closed in 2019 and has not been replaced. Got to say it's been around for awhiles. It's not like it once was but it's still hanging on. There's still lots open but there's also tons of vacancies.