Hawthorn Mall held an event Saturday that featured food trucks, booths with local goods and live music meant to offer a peak at what the new upgrades could resemble.
Along with the festivities, officials gave an update on the progress of the mall’s $250 million redevelopment plan that officials expect to be completed in a little more than a year.
Speaking at the event with other officials, Hawthorn Mall General Manager Jeff Rutzen said currently, the project’s residential upgrades, a luxury apartment complex with more than 300 units, are being developed and by Chicago-based real estate developer Focus. Much of the foundation has been constructed, Rutzen said.
“They’re just about ready to begin vertical construction, so people are actually going to start to see it coming out of the ground, which is very exciting,” Rutzen told Pioneer Press.
Once completed, Rutzen said the project will shift over to retail development. The overall project is on time, he added, with the goal being to have the mall’s new look launched by the 2022 holiday season. But other components will continue to be added over time, Rutzen said.
“It is gonna keep growing,” Rutzen said.
While Hawthorn 2.0, as the renovation is referred to, is still more than a year out from completion, Rutzen said hosting the event Saturday gave people a a taste of what they can expect with the upgrades. New restaurants, farmers markets with local goods and an area where people will be able to hang out were all on display in a small way Saturday.
“This is what you’re gonna be able to do,” he said.
While just a taste, the event included booths with vendors selling local goods ranging from honey, Tupperware and fresh produce. There was also an inflatable slide that kids could ride down. Food trucks also lined the out lot where the event was held, and included Lucky Burger and Grill, Stan’s Donuts, Flyin Hawaiian, El Zorro Tacos and Mamma Mia Pizza. Live entertainment and a seating area were also included.
Some people who attended said they didn’t know anything about the event, but saw it while visiting Hawthorn Mall. Others, such as Lyle and Suzanne Meyer, both from Vernon Hills, said they were visiting to see what the progress of the mall renovation is.
“We weren’t sure what to expect, but it turned out nice,” Lyle Meyer said.
Village Trustee Thom Koch spoke at the event and said he’s happy to see the progress with the project. He said once completed, it will bring the mall back to being the area’s “cornerstone” for retail.
“This is something we’ve been working on for a long time,” he said. “The new restaurants are gonna be great, and all the new retail’s gonna be great.”
