Former Sears Site At Louis Joliet Mall To Be Demolished
The owner plans to raze the vacant 17-acre property as the city weighs future housing developments.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Commercial
Live Poll
Should your local government prioritize converting underused shopping malls into residential apartments?
The owner of the former Sears department store at Louis Joliet Mall has announced plans to demolish the building, citing high ongoing maintenance costs. The 17-acre site stands empty after the retailer closed its doors in January 2019.
Why it matters
The demolition clears the way for potential redevelopment, as Joliet officials are actively crafting a comprehensive plan that may introduce new apartment living to the mall area. This transition reflects the city's effort to modernize retail centers into mixed-use spaces.
The Sears property covers nearly 17 acres, a footprint larger than the 14-acre site utilized for the recent development of 1,000 apartments at Aurora's Fox Valley Mall. Current efforts focus on securing necessary demolition permits before any construction begins.
The players
Joe Ghaban
The private property owner who purchased the former Sears site in 2023 and is currently managing the demolition process.
Namdar Realty Group
A real estate investment firm that acts as one of the multiple current owners of the broader Louis Joliet Mall property.
Joliet City Council
The local legislative body responsible for final approval of the city's comprehensive development plan.
The details
Owner Joe Ghaban has sought demolition permits to remove the structure, which has remained vacant for years after the store closed in 2019. Meanwhile, the city is engaging the public to shape a new comprehensive plan for the mall grounds. These planning sessions aim to determine if the site should transition from commercial-only to a residential-integrated district.
Timeline
The Sears store at Louis Joliet Mall closed in January 2019.
Joe Ghaban purchased the Sears property in January 2023.
The Joliet Comprehensive Plan Committee met on October 13, 2026.
Public input on the comprehensive plan begins in late October 2026.
The City Council is expected to vote on the plan in early 2027.
The Home Front
Joliet is following a growing trend of converting underutilized anchor-store footprints into multi-family housing zones to revitalize regional shopping centers. This effort aligns with the pattern set by the apartment redevelopment at Aurora's Fox Valley Mall.
Residents living near Louis Joliet Mall should prepare for potential site activity and traffic changes as the demolition process moves forward. You can participate in the city's future vision by attending upcoming public workshops scheduled for late October to provide feedback on local development.
The takeaway
The demolition of the Sears store marks a significant shift in the utility of the Louis Joliet Mall footprint. Homeowners should track upcoming city planning meetings to see how future residential zoning may impact the character and density of the surrounding neighborhood.
What happens next
The city will hold a public input period for the comprehensive plan in late October 2026, followed by a final City Council vote expected between January and February 2027.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving usage of retail spaces in the region, explore the Commercial section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Shaw Local.
Live Poll
Should your local government prioritize converting underused shopping malls into residential apartments?
