Skokie's Westfield Old Orchard mall is lining up a new anchor that is more bubblegum pink than big box. A Hello Kitty Cafe is officially "coming soon," according to the shopping center, which slipped the tease into a broader summer programming announcement. The mall has not yet named the exact storefront or given a firm opening date, but the move fits Sanrio's shift from trucks and pop-ups to permanent cafes that tend to pull fans from well beyond the neighborhood.
NBC Chicago reports that Old Orchard bundled the Hello Kitty news with other incoming tenants like Squishable and COS, along with a slate of free summer events. The outlet also noted that mall representatives did not immediately respond to follow-up questions, so details on timing and the exact in-mall location are still under wraps. In the press materials, the additions were framed as part of a broader effort to bring fresh brands and experiences to the center.
What to Expect at the Cafe
Sanrio's Hello Kitty Cafe sites typically lean hard into both merch and sugar. Fans can usually expect shelves of branded gear alongside a menu built around sweets: freshly baked cookies, cakes, donuts, seasonal treats, and a lineup of handmade hot and iced drinks. Some locations in the United States also offer reservation-only afternoon tea and evening "Evening Delights" programs that feature cocktails or multi-course bites, according to Sanrio. Permanent cafes already operate in cities like Santa Clara and Las Vegas, while Hello Kitty Cafe trucks continue to make the rounds at malls and events around the country.
Old Orchard's Summer Push
Old Orchard folded the Hello Kitty teaser into a packed summer calendar that includes kids' club gatherings and an outdoor concert series. The mall's events page lists a Summer of Sound date featuring Smash Mouth, according to Westfield Old Orchard. In the same release, general manager Maegen Akers said, "Old Orchard has always been a place where people come together, and summer brings a new energy to the center," as quoted by NBC Chicago. The announcement also highlighted incoming retailers like Squishable and COS, signaling that the mall is still actively refreshing its tenant mix as redevelopment moves along.
Local Context
The Old Orchard news arrives as Sanrio ramps up its regional presence. Earlier this month, local outlets spotted new Hello Kitty signage on the Magnificent Mile, with the brand poised to paint Chicago's Mag Mile pink. The cafe truck schedule has also been stacking up with frequent stops around the area, according to the same coverage. Together, the city storefront activity and mall cafes suggest that Sanrio is chasing both high-foot-traffic urban corners and suburban shopping centers rather than betting on just one kind of location.
For now, neither Westfield Old Orchard nor Sanrio has shared an opening date or revealed where inside the mall the cafe will land. Fans will have to keep an eye on the mall's events page and Sanrio's official channels for updates. Once the companies lock in a layout and launch date, those leasing notes and event notices are likely to be the first place the specifics show up.
