Machesney Park Mall was a shopping mall in Machesney Park, Illinois, a village in the Rockford, Illinoismetropolitan area. Since its opening, the mall has greatly declined. The entire enclosed portion of the mall was closed, with the space being open to redevelopment. A large portion of the mall was transformed into two stores, Burlington Coat Factory and Big Lots, in an effort to transform the mall into a shopping plaza. This plan has not gone very well though, as Big Lots ended up closing in 2024 due to bankruptcy, while Burlington Coat Factory ended up moving in 2025. With this in mind, the mall is left with no retailers.
The mall was built on part of the site of the former Machesney Airport, which closed in 1974, by Melvin Simon and Associates (now Simon Property Group). It opened in 1978 with the original anchor stores being: JCPenney (which later became a JCPenney Outlet Store) and H. C. Prange. Shortly after the mall's opening, Kohl's and Prange Way were added as anchor stores.
In 1990, Prange Way closed, and was replaced by Phar-Mor. Phar-Mor later became another store known as Seventh Avenue Direct.
In 1992, H. C. Prange was acquired by Iowa-based Younkers. At the end of 1996, following its acquisition, Younkers closed both of its stores in the Rockford area, as they were both replaced by Bergner's.
Kohl's and Seventh Avenue Direct closed at some point in time in the 2000's decade, though the exact year of their closures is unknown.
By 2008, the enclosed portion of the mall was closed and became open for redevelopment. All anchor tenants continued operation.
A Burlington Coat Factory store opened at the site of the former mall in September 2009. This store had no mall entrance and was constructed as a whole separate store at the former mall site. A few years later, a Big Lots store opened next door to join Burlington Coat Factory.
In December 2013, the JCPenney Outlet Store closed as part of a plan to close all Outlet Stores.
On October 11, 2016, The Bon-Ton Stores announced that the Bergner's location would be closing on January 31, 2017.
In 2024, the Big Lots store at the former mall closed along with all other Big Lots stores as a result of bankruptcy, stemming from declining sales, high inflation, and increased competition. With Big Lots' closure, Burlington Coat Factory remained as the mall's only retailer. In January 2025, it was announced that the Burlington store would be moving out of the mall site to a nearby shopping center, moving to 1524 W. Lane Road in a space formerly occupied by an Office Depot store. This move left the former mall with no retailers, leaving it mostly vacant.
Stores
Former Anchor Stores
JCPenney (1978–2013; closed as part of a plan to close all Outlet Stores)
H. C. Prange (1978–1992; acquired by Younkers)
Prange Way (1980's–1990; replaced by Phar-Mor)
Kohl's (1980's–2000's; closed for redevelopment)
Phar-Mor (1990's–1990's; replaced by Seventh Avenue Direct)
Seventh Avenue Direct (1990's–2000's; closed for redevelopment)
Younkers (1992–1996; replaced by Bergner's)
Bergner's (1996–2017; closed for redevelopment)
Other Former Stores
Burlington Coat Factory (2009–2025; moved to a nearby shopping center)
Big Lots (2010–2024; closed due to bankruptcy)
Renovations
Since being acquired by Rubloff Development Group in December 2003, the mall has been undergoing internal demolition in preparation for redevelopment.[1] Practice Velocity, a medical software and billing company, moved into the former Kohl's in late 2013.[2] On July 18, 2018, it was announced that PCI Pharma Services would move into the vacant JCPenney store.
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