Harlem Irving Plaza facts for kids
Harlem Irving Plaza (often called "The HIP") is a large shopping mall located in Norridge, Illinois. Norridge is a suburb near Chicago. The mall has over 100 stores and a food court. Some of its main stores are Carson's, Kohl's, Best Buy, and Target. It is one of the oldest shopping malls in the Chicago area.
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A Look Back: The Mall's History
From Farm to Shopping Spot
Before it was a mall, the land where Harlem Irving Plaza now stands was a farm. The mall first opened its doors in 1956. Back then, it wasn't an enclosed mall like today. It was a 337,000-square-foot (31,300 m2) strip mall. This means it was an outdoor shopping area. It had about 45 different shops.
Growing and Changing
Over the years, the mall changed a lot. Between 1975 and 1979, the outdoor strip mall was changed. Workers built a roof and walls to enclose it. This made it a comfortable place to shop in any weather. A parking garage was also added. In 1979, a new department store called Madigan's joined the mall.
New Stores and Updates
More changes came in 1988. The Kohl's store opened after buying other stores. Also in 1988, Carson Pirie Scott opened its doors. In 1996, a new food court was added. This gave shoppers many choices for meals and snacks. Best Buy also opened in the old Madigan's spot. In 2001, Best Buy moved to a new building in the mall's parking lot. Its old spot was then turned into a second parking garage. The mall had another big update and expansion in 2013.
