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Gurnee Mills facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Gurnee Mills is a huge shopping mall and outlet mall located in Gurnee, Illinois. Gurnee is a town north of Chicago, close to Waukegan. It's a very big place, with over 1.9 million square feet (about 179,000 square meters) of space for stores! This makes it the third largest mall in Illinois. It's also the biggest enclosed shopping center in Lake County.

Gurnee Mills is owned and run by a company called the Simon Property Group. It was one of the first malls built by the Mills Corporation, which created a special type of shopping center called "Landmark Mills."

It used to be known as the "world's largest outlet mall." Lots of people visit Gurnee Mills every year, with more than 20 million visitors coming to shop and have fun!

What is Gurnee Mills?

Gurnee Mills is a unique shopping center because it combines two types of malls: a regular shopping mall and an outlet mall.

  • A shopping mall has many different stores, often including big department stores, clothing shops, restaurants, and entertainment like movie theaters.
  • An outlet mall specializes in stores that sell products directly from the manufacturer, often at lower prices than regular retail stores. This means you can find great deals on your favorite brands!

Size and Layout

Gurnee Mills is a very large, single-story building shaped like a "Z." This design helps shoppers easily move from one section to another. It has ten main "anchor stores." Anchor stores are usually very large stores, like department stores, that attract many shoppers and help bring people into the mall.

Location and Importance

Gurnee Mills is an important place for shopping and entertainment in northern Illinois. Its location near Chicago and other towns makes it a popular spot for both local residents and tourists. It's also very close to the Six Flags Great America amusement park, making it a great stop for families visiting the area.

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