Your memories of Woodfield at 50
Since it opened in 1971, Woodfield Mall has transformed some former farmland in the Northwest suburbs into a destination for countless shoppers and even a long list of celebrities and politicians who've paid visits through the years.
As Woodfield Mall turns 50, we wanted your memories of the suburban shopping mecca. So we solicited them on Facebook, and boy did you ever respond — with more than 100 comments and counting.
Here are some of your recollections.
I remember flocking to Woodfield Mall on opening day to see my very favorite actor, Mr. Vincent Price, when he inaugurated what was then America's largest indoors shopping mall! Woodfield Mall's John's Garage restaurant and awesome sound bar is sadly missed, and fondly remembered! Good times!
— Wesley Jacob Astor Paul of Schaumburg
We lived in Roselle. Woodfield was such a huge deal! We had a place to go! We had a place to shop! To eat! There was nothing around back then. Loved the orange bowl! When I was 16, I worked at Penny's and my sister worked at Sears. Remembering Farrell's and Magic Pan. Hot Sams!
— Mary Beth Davis
So many good times. I was there the first day it opened! First so-called group date because in my family you had to be 16 to go on an actual date, first kiss under the waterfall and first job at John's Garage as a bus girl. Schaumburg was an awesome place to grow up!
— Ellen Powers McSherry
I will always remember that waterfall in the central court area. My kids loved walking underneath it. Of course, the floor was always wet — an accident waiting to happen. So, I was not surprised when it was gone after all the remodeling was done!!
— Bobby Xhilone of Elgin
I grew up in Chenoa, Illinois, located two hours south of Schaumburg. During high school, the Future Homemaker's of America (FHA), which I was a member of, would host a shopping trip once a year to Woodfield Mall. Moms and daughters boarded a Greyhound bus early in the morning to arrive when the mall opened. We'd shop, grab lunch at the Rainforest Cafe and board the bus later that afternoon. We'd all fill the bus with shopping bags and share stories of the deals we found. My mom and I looked forward to that shopping trip every year. We shopped 'til we dropped and then rewarded ourselves afterward with cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. Great memories.
— Johnna Kelly of Roselle
The big slide our parents would leave us at while they shopped, the fish tanks, the ice skating rink by John's Garage, Contempo Casuals, that giant creepy mannequin in Madigan Jr's, taking Dial-a-Ride and hanging out every Friday night in high school, and spending hours in the music stores.
— Taryn Becker of Schaumburg
I remember the wing with Nordstrom being built and how the middle center used to look with the water fountain and the little fishes. I also remember the movie theater as well. I wish I kept the brochure from back then. Lots of great memories.
— Heather McVeen of Palatine
My mom would always take me to the Tall Girls store, which I hated since I was at an age when I was so self conscious of my height.
— Carol DeReu of Park Ridge
The first time I went to Woodfield shortly after it opened, I could not help but wonder why anyone put that great mall in the middle of cornfields. Little did I know that it would become the thriving and bustling area that it is today. I enjoyed living in Schaumburg 1977 through 2013. We have moved to Burr Ridge. While Oak Brook is now my local mall, I will always miss Woodfield when I lived 10 minutes away.
— Barb Davis
The Woodfield 1&2 (and 3&4) theaters on the perimeter were the best movie houses around. Seeing “Independence Day” on opening night, July 2, 1996, was an incredible experience. A thousand people all laughing, clapping and cheering. Even the previews were great — when the teaser trailer for “Star Trek: First Contact” ended, someone near the back yelled, “Star Trek sucks!,” drawing the first huge laugh of the night. Later, “Star Trek: The Next Generation” actor Brent Spiner showed up in the movie as an Area 51 scientist, and someone else yelled “Data!,” allowing the fans to cheer their revenge.
— Sean Stangland
I remember the ice rink.
— Jeanne Moeller Chybik of Roselle
I remember the excitement of Woodfield opening. So many stores to explore and have right in our backyard. Spent many hours and too much money there over the years.
— Louise Basgall
The part I liked the best was when we would go to Farrell's Ice Cream shop on your birthday you could order a zoo and they would put it in a stretcher and run up and down the aisles and sing Happy Birthday to you.
— Paulette Brown
I remember working at naturalized shoes and miss eating French onion soup at John's Garage!
— RoseAnn Wiatr Volk
My daughter's second birthday was at Farrell's. My younger daughter slept through the whole thing in a prop-a-chair, not a car seat. Didn't require them back in March of '74. When older, left them slide on a small slide by A&W, while we window shopped close by. Much more relaxed, innocent time.
— Mavis Freeman of Schaumburg
I was hired to set up the Kresge store by Sears. I thought I was going to be in the women's department, but when it came time to open I was moved to the center deli because I was 18 and I could run the slicer. I became an expert sliced ham catcher. And caramel corn maker and sub sandwiches assembler. Then we went to Farrell's Ice Cream shoppe on a weekend night to eat a trough (big enough to share). So fun. Can't believe it's been 50 years.
— Debbie Newmann of Hoffman Estates
I was around 5 years old when we went to the mall to see Darth Vader. My parents bought me a small “Star Wars” book and I was reading that through the mall and got lost. Obviously the most amazing part of that day was looking up at Darth Vader and shaking his hand.
— Delta Lemus of Crystal Lake
My husband and I used to go there all the time when we started dating 43 years ago. We still go every so often and reminisce how everything has changed. My mother used to work at Jean Nicole.
— Carmen Miranda
I remember my elderly great aunt and uncle visiting us from a small (Wisconsin) town and we took them to Woodfield. There in the open lobby was a kissing contest. People stuck together kissing for hours! The relatives were in shock, I think … lol.
— Kris Kranz Waldenmeyer
I remember the house that was built in the grand court and decorated from stores in the mall. I also remember when the Soaps Alive tour was there, I got to meet Ruth Warrick from (“All My Children”) and several others. Oh, and the time John Travolta was there and everyone went nuts. Happy Anniversary Woodfield!!
— Linda Factor
I worked at Hot Sam's pretzels near JCPenney the summer of 1985. I remember waiting in a long line with all my other friends to get ears pierced at Passing Fancy. The kissing contest in the grand (Center) Court with Kiss the band. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing in the grand court. So many memories of my high school years there.
— Nicky Jaeger Seymour
I was 11 years old when Woodfield Mall opened. My friend and I rode our bikes there when it opened. I, also worked at Marshall Fields and the 5-7-9 shop during my teenage years and early 20s.
— Patty Sawtell-Fisher of Hanover Park
I was born in Arlington Heights in the early 70s and my best childhood memories were Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour, the slide, the fountain/waterfall and round bubble-looking fish tanks, and I seem to remember being creeped out by some giant (I think white) mannequin that had no face in one of the stores, but I can't remember what the store was.
— Mindy Cerretti Murray
When I turned 17, my mom started taking me shopping for my birthday. We did this until she passed a couple years ago. Woodfield was always our first choice!!!
— Jessica Zeeck
Best memories of eating at Farrell's ice cream and John's Garage growing up. Miss them both and wish that I could share them with my children.
— Jennifer Mick-Peterson
I remember going in the early 1980s, The Alley was always curious. We'd ask mom what all the glass pipes and tubes were for when we were shopping for break dancing clothes.
— Jerry Walker
Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour that could play drums and cymbals and the piano when it was your birthday.
— Mary Ann Marzec Belmonte of Schaumburg
I grew up in Des Plaines in the '80s (I now live in Lake Zurich). I have fond memories of walking through the fish tank tunnel at Woodfield as a kid (and begging my mom to do that every time we went there!).
— Katie Levin
My first job was at Sears in customer service. Loved the fountain and John's Garage watching folks ice skating.
— Jeanine Larson of Barrington
My mom used to take us to the mall to take out our energy! She'd let us run up and down the inclines by Macy's on a cold day so we could stay warm indoors. Suburban ingenuity!
— Amanda Khan
John's Garage, Farrell's Ice Cream, the skating rink, Vie D'France, Wimpys, The Merry Go Round clothing store, Gantos, Marshall Fields, Bakers Shoes, 5-7-9 shop, two movie theaters on the outer drive of the mall — saw “Jaws” and “Rocky” at those theaters.
— Lisa Heath Colby
I remember our school being down the road and having to use Woodfield (parking lot) as our test driving for driver's ed. Scary during Christmas season.
— Julie Vanacora
Moved from Chicago to Palatine in 1976. We would go ice skating or see movies there. Loved all the restaurants through the years like John's Garage, Magic Pan, Farrell's, Lucky's Diner and so many more. Worked as a manager at Musicland back in the record/cassette/CD days! I feel like I lived there then! Great memories!
— Kristin Welz
I can remember going there in about 1976 to see Gerald Ford campaigning for the White House. I remember ice skating, having some of my artwork displayed in the mall and winning an award (still have it) and eating at John's Garage, and the first indoor McDonald's. It was so huge as a kid.
— Steve Merrill