Lakehurst in the 1970s
Lakehurst Mall opened for business on August 19,
1971. Its inauguration was celebrated with a festive
grand opening ceremony staged in the mall’s center
court at 9:30 a.m. An estimated 5,000 attendees
gathered to hear opening remarks, and looked on in
awe as Waukegan Mayor Robert Sabonjian, Miss
America, and Miss Illinois pulled a lever which unfurled
a large Lakehurst flag and illuminated the shining
silver mobile sculpture suspended from the ceiling.
Hundreds of balloons were set free, and the
Waukegan public school bands burst into song.
Clowns roamed the mall corridors, gifting youngsters
with Lakehurst balloons, and women were presented
with roses. The shops of Lakehurst Mall opened for
business at 10:00, some of them holding their own
individual opening ceremonies.
1971. Its inauguration was celebrated with a festive
grand opening ceremony staged in the mall’s center
court at 9:30 a.m. An estimated 5,000 attendees
gathered to hear opening remarks, and looked on in
awe as Waukegan Mayor Robert Sabonjian, Miss
America, and Miss Illinois pulled a lever which unfurled
a large Lakehurst flag and illuminated the shining
silver mobile sculpture suspended from the ceiling.
Hundreds of balloons were set free, and the
Waukegan public school bands burst into song.
Clowns roamed the mall corridors, gifting youngsters
with Lakehurst balloons, and women were presented
with roses. The shops of Lakehurst Mall opened for
business at 10:00, some of them holding their own
individual opening ceremonies.
This historic moment in Waukegan and Lake County history was not without its share of dissent. Though largely viewed by
the community as a boost for the area’s economic well-being, concerns were voiced regarding the mall’s potential impact on
the prosperity of existing local merchants and established shopping destinations, such as downtown Waukegan and the
nearby, significantly smaller Belvidere Mall. The large initial investment and high operation costs involved in setting up shop
in Lakehurst made moving to the mall too large of a risk for many long-time Waukegan retailers, and only a handful of the
100-some shops occupying Lakehurst upon its opening were Waukegan-based businesses.
Supporters maintained that the Lakehurst development would strengthen the community as a whole, creating thousands of
jobs and rapidly increasing sales tax revenue to the benefit of the city and its school districts. By offering the most expansive
retail experience north of Chicago, proponents argued that the influx of shoppers to the area would help local businesses to
reach a larger market than previously possible.
Lakehurst enjoyed a thriving and successful first decade of operation. The 1970s saw the steady development of the
complex with the opening of Lakehurst Cinemas in 1974, and freestanding restaurants began to dot the ring road
surrounding the shopping mall. By the mid-1970s, a complete residential area housed nearly 200 apartments, complete with
a large lake, swimming pool, and tennis courts. Continuing enhancements to surrounding highways improved traffic flow to
the area. A multi-million dollar road improvement plan provided for the installation of several access roads from Routes 43
and 120, as well as extensive upgrading to Route 120, including the addition of a bi-level diamond interchange.
Lakehurst Mall became a focal point for community events and entertainment. The Lakehurst News was published monthly
for the Lakehurst Merchants Association, and was included as a supplement in area newspapers, providing information on
upcoming mall events, store openings, and announcements. Center court was the stage for hundreds of activities ranging
from the traditional to the bizarre. Free public concerts, meet-and-greets with popular entertainers and athletes, and annual
events such as the Waukegan auto show and midwest antique show offered the community a venue to satisfy their
entertainment and hobby needs. Those with a taste for the outlandish could witness such displays as a team of trampolinists
attempting to set a world record for continuous trampoline bouncing, and cavort with the likes of TV/film veteran Zippy, the
chimpanzee.
Community events and operations also found a home at Lakehurst, as the Lakehurst Community Room provided space for
regular meetings and large affairs. Girl Scout and Boy Scout expositions were staged for the youth, and the annual visits of
the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus brought children to the mall in droves. Teenagers could become part of Lakehurst’s
modeling group, “The Trendsetters,” and participate in fashion shows and as mannequin models.
Though business continued to thrive throughout the 1970s, Lakehurst found itself the source of numerous issues. In 1972,
Lakehurst faced claims of illegal annexation in a debate over whether the property was actually located in Waukegan. Two
years later, critics charged that Lakehurst’s payoff to the community was lacking when road improvement projects cost the
city an estimated $2 million more than anticipated. And Waukegan taxpayers expressed disapproval over the allocation of a
large percentage of its real estate tax revenue to Warren Township.
Despite its share of controversy, the mall continued to report gross sales increases in each of its first 10 years of operation,
with sales peaking at $134 million in 1981, the last year in which these figures were made public.
As the decade closed, the mall underwent an extensive interior remodeling which transformed the flashy shopping center into
a cozy environment of muted warmth. Bright colors and reflective adornments were replaced by subdued earth tones and
heavy use of oak. Two new square fountains were constructed to flank the existing circular fountain, and carpeting was
installed throughout the center court.
the community as a boost for the area’s economic well-being, concerns were voiced regarding the mall’s potential impact on
the prosperity of existing local merchants and established shopping destinations, such as downtown Waukegan and the
nearby, significantly smaller Belvidere Mall. The large initial investment and high operation costs involved in setting up shop
in Lakehurst made moving to the mall too large of a risk for many long-time Waukegan retailers, and only a handful of the
100-some shops occupying Lakehurst upon its opening were Waukegan-based businesses.
Supporters maintained that the Lakehurst development would strengthen the community as a whole, creating thousands of
jobs and rapidly increasing sales tax revenue to the benefit of the city and its school districts. By offering the most expansive
retail experience north of Chicago, proponents argued that the influx of shoppers to the area would help local businesses to
reach a larger market than previously possible.
Lakehurst enjoyed a thriving and successful first decade of operation. The 1970s saw the steady development of the
complex with the opening of Lakehurst Cinemas in 1974, and freestanding restaurants began to dot the ring road
surrounding the shopping mall. By the mid-1970s, a complete residential area housed nearly 200 apartments, complete with
a large lake, swimming pool, and tennis courts. Continuing enhancements to surrounding highways improved traffic flow to
the area. A multi-million dollar road improvement plan provided for the installation of several access roads from Routes 43
and 120, as well as extensive upgrading to Route 120, including the addition of a bi-level diamond interchange.
Lakehurst Mall became a focal point for community events and entertainment. The Lakehurst News was published monthly
for the Lakehurst Merchants Association, and was included as a supplement in area newspapers, providing information on
upcoming mall events, store openings, and announcements. Center court was the stage for hundreds of activities ranging
from the traditional to the bizarre. Free public concerts, meet-and-greets with popular entertainers and athletes, and annual
events such as the Waukegan auto show and midwest antique show offered the community a venue to satisfy their
entertainment and hobby needs. Those with a taste for the outlandish could witness such displays as a team of trampolinists
attempting to set a world record for continuous trampoline bouncing, and cavort with the likes of TV/film veteran Zippy, the
chimpanzee.
Community events and operations also found a home at Lakehurst, as the Lakehurst Community Room provided space for
regular meetings and large affairs. Girl Scout and Boy Scout expositions were staged for the youth, and the annual visits of
the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus brought children to the mall in droves. Teenagers could become part of Lakehurst’s
modeling group, “The Trendsetters,” and participate in fashion shows and as mannequin models.
Though business continued to thrive throughout the 1970s, Lakehurst found itself the source of numerous issues. In 1972,
Lakehurst faced claims of illegal annexation in a debate over whether the property was actually located in Waukegan. Two
years later, critics charged that Lakehurst’s payoff to the community was lacking when road improvement projects cost the
city an estimated $2 million more than anticipated. And Waukegan taxpayers expressed disapproval over the allocation of a
large percentage of its real estate tax revenue to Warren Township.
Despite its share of controversy, the mall continued to report gross sales increases in each of its first 10 years of operation,
with sales peaking at $134 million in 1981, the last year in which these figures were made public.
As the decade closed, the mall underwent an extensive interior remodeling which transformed the flashy shopping center into
a cozy environment of muted warmth. Bright colors and reflective adornments were replaced by subdued earth tones and
heavy use of oak. Two new square fountains were constructed to flank the existing circular fountain, and carpeting was
installed throughout the center court.
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