Westfield Old Orchard shopping mall in Skokie, Illinois has announced a comprehensive redevelopment which will boast new stores, luxury residences, and a host of amenities, according to a statement obtained by WGN-TV. The former Lord & Taylor spot, defunct since 2017, will witness a resurgence as home to new-to-market flagship brands and an indoor mini-golf experience, officials said.

Pottery Barn, currently residing on the mall's west side, will move to the revamped area in fall 2024, ZARA will also haul their flagship store to the same location this spring, said a spokesperson. Meanwhile, a bloom of new retail stores and restaurants are sprouting at the Skokie mall including Amour Vert, böhme, and Goyol Cashmere, joining the ranks of recent re-openings like Victoria's Secret/Pink and Barnes & Noble. The Gap and Gap Kids, however, have recently shuttered their doors in early 2023, following a series of high-profile closures over the years.

The reimagined space is part of a "multi-phase development plan" announced back in 2022. It includes a sprawling 400-unit luxury apartment complex and is said to reshape Westfield Old Orchard into the leading "live, work, shop, and play destination on the North Shore," according to an NBC Chicago report.

New facilities are expected to break ground in 2024, and will open in phases beginning in 2026, featuring chef-led dining options, gourmet markets, upscale health, and wellness amenities, and a public park envisioned as a cultural hub akin to Chicago Botanical Garden. Skokie Mayor George VanDusen touted the project as a catalyst for economic growth and a stride in the village's partnership with the property's stakeholders.

With community feedback sought for the finer details of the mall's ambitiously green blueprint, residents and shoppers are being invited to have their say in shaping the future of this North Shore mainstay. The full scope of the redevelopment is to be laid bare in early 2024, promising a new lease of life for the area and reinforcing Skokie's position as a shopping and lifestyle destination.