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Gurnee Mills celebrated its fully redesigned high-end fashion wing July 24, including anticipated anchor store Macy's.
Exploring the new department store, Donna Ladin of Gurnee said "It's lovely. I can't believe I'm in a Macy's in Gurnee and it's not an outlet. I like the layout. It's easy to manuever around, and everyone is very helpful. I think [the store] will bring more people from Lake County here, and hopefully our taxes will go down a little. This definitely makes Gurnee Mills more of a destination."
About 500 people lined up at the ribbon-cutting to see Macy's location in a hybrid outlet and high-end mall, likely the first in the country.
Chelsie Petereit, marketing director for Gurnee Mills, said "No other outlet mall in the country has a full price wing, so it's really hybrid because we're combining value, quality and entertainment."
A Lake County drumline, Nuclear Reaction, brought energy and entertainment to the opening, said Tonja Hudson, executive director of Nuclear Reaction.
"I think we brought enthusiasm to the event and entertained the customers in line," said Hudson.
Vianey Rosa, of Waukegan, was waiting to get inside the store to shop.
"We usually have to go so far for Macy's, and now this will be the closest one," Rosa said. "This will bring a lot of publicity to Gurnee.
Most people are used to going to Vernon Hills. We really wanted to see the opening because it's a big deal."
Karen Thorstenson said she already spent too much at the new store, and gave her mother Terry Bunk two Macy's gift cards. "It's the petite style of clothing [that we like about Macy's.] When you're short, you look for a variety in petite size," she said.
Gregg Goodman, president of The Mills, said he lived in Buffalo Grove for some time and knows the local market well. "Macy's is your quintessential anchor," he said. "Gurnee Mills was already a successful property, but we added something that doesn't exist anywhere else. For years, our consumer research has shown Macy's as the No. 1 requested store."
Goodman said the layout of the new Macy's is unlike other Macy's locations, easier to navigate because it is on one level with no escalators.
Improvements to the new wing include new restrooms, chandelier lighting, new floors, redesigned stores such as Bath & Body Works and GUESS and new trash bins.
Macy's has attracted other retailers such as Z Fine Jewelry, Bachrach, RUUM, LOFT, PINK and Charming Charlie's. Other new stores, including Red Mango and LEGO, will open in the wing later this year.
John Terrell, of Lindenhurst, said he came to check out the new Macy's with his wife and daughter. Terrell was lounging in one of the wing's new sitting areas as they shopped. "It's nice to have more upscale shopping here," he said.
"I can already see they're upgrading the quality level in the mall so hopefully it will bring more quality shopping here." Terrell said his family will shop at Gurnee Mills more often.
At a new fashion-forward children's clothing store, RUUM, Kate Minnick, store manager, said "Off and on I've worked at Gurnee Mills since 1996. This new wing is beautiful and it's going to have an amazing impact on business. It's great to be part of bringing a fabulous new brand to the area."