Officials: Kohl's closure in St. Charles offers opportunity for mall revitalization

ST. CHARLES – The announcement that Kohl's plans to close its St. Charles store by mid-June didn't come as a surprise to those working to revitalize Charlestowne Mall.

Rather, it came as a relief.

Chuck May, the project director for The Quad St. Charles, said Kohl's has been "the elephant in the room" for a while, as those behind the mall's redevelopment efforts have known the retailer's performance has been unacceptable.

There is relief in knowing Kohl’s future so plans for The Quad can be adjusted accordingly, May said.

The Quad is the new identity for Charlestowne Mall, which features four anchor tenants: Kohl’s, Carson Pirie Scott, Von Maur and Charlestowne 18.

In a press release issued Wednesday, Kohl’s stated its store at 3840 E. Main St. is one of 18 “underperforming” locations set to close.

It will be closed as of June 19, the release states.

The release indicated that every eligible store associate will be offered the chance to work at a nearby Kohl’s or may accept a severance package. On average, the release states, stores employ about 80 to 100 associates.

St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina described Kohl’s as a valuable retailer in the community and said its closure is “certainly a loss.”

But, he said, he is “still very optimistic” about the site’s future, as “with loss comes opportunity” for the Krausz Companies Inc. – the mall’s owner – to restructure the site in a way that works to its advantage.

Although the Krausz Companies purchased the mall in November 2013, it doesn’t own the Kohl’s site – Kohl’s does. May said it is “our hope to own that building” and develop options for that space.

"We've struggled with the leasing of this as an enclosed regional shopping center," May said of the mall. "We've put it out there that we've had to rethink what we can do here."

As for progress with The Quad, May said he expects an announcement within the next 30 days about a “major tenant” for another out lot on the mall campus.

This would be the second such announcement in a matter of months. In February, Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants announced plans to build its 28th location at The Quad. It aims to open in 2017.