Dixie Square Mall

Dixie Square Mall was an enclosed shopping mall located in the Chicago suburb of Harvey, Illinois, United States. It was situated at the junction of 151st Street and the Dixie Highway. Opened in 1966, the mall featured Montgomery Ward, J. C. Penney, Woolworth, Walgreens, and Jewel as its major stores, with discount store Turn Style joining in 1970. The mall was only in operation for twelve years, closing permanently in 1978. After closure, the mall was used for a scene in the film The Blues Brothers and then left abandoned. The mall also achieved notoriety because of a growing internet cult following of urban exploration groups dedicated to covering the mall's deteriorating condition. Like other "dead malls", it was characterized by high vacancy rates and low patronage, which led to its closure. However, while many other dead malls were redeveloped or demolished, Dixie Square became notable for its extensive neglect, vandalism damage, and sordid history.

In the decades after the mall closed, numerous proposals to redevelop the property were announced though none came to fruition. Over the 30-plus years during which these proposals and others were presented and failed, Dixie Square Mall fell into disrepair due to weather, vandalism, and a lack of maintenance funds. Yet another proposal resulted in partial demolition which was halted. Final demolition began in February 2012 and was completed in May of that year.

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