Ford City Mall

Before you stand Ford City Mall. It’s a place that’s seen a lot in its lifetime. Just imagine the stories that these walls could tell. This mall was once a defense plant during World War II. Engineers tested airplane engines for B-29 bombers in these very buildings. After the war, the plant sat empty until Preston Tucker bought it to make automobiles. Tucker only made 51 cars before his company went bankrupt. Ford Motor Company took over the plant and used it to build airplane engines during the Korean War. But then, after the Korean War, the plant closed down again in 1959.
In 1961, developer Harry F Chaddick bought the site and turned it into an amazing shopping center. The mall opened its doors in 1965 and was the largest indoor mall in Chicago outside of the city center. It had anchor stores like Wieboldt’s and Montgomery Ward. Ford City Mall used an underground tunnel connecting both sides of the mall called Peacock Alley. It was a pretty cool place, even having its own Transit Center planned. But, the Orange Line extension never happened due to lack of funding.
The mall kept changing hands until 2012. Zell, who owned the mall, took out a huge mortgage. iStar Financial ended up seizing the property and then sold it to a New York company called Namdar Realty Group. They also own other malls in the area. This company brought in new stores like H&M and remodeled the food court.
Today, Ford City Mall is still going strong and serves as a very important part of the Southwest Side. It’s a place where people can shop, eat, and enjoy themselves. So you can see that Ford City Mall is more than just a shopping center. It’s a place that’s full of history. It’s a place that’s been through a lot. And it’s a place that’s still going strong.