Old Chicago - Bolingbrook, Illinois

June

Jaycees have to defend themselves against citizen complaints about holding the annual fireworks display at Old Chicago. It’s not comfortable say residents, who also indicate that they don’t care to do anything that might also benefit the park. Jaycee President Tom Delaney answers that since Old Chicago picks up part of the tab, the Jaycees can put on a bigger fireworks show at the amusement park.

August

First of the shutdowns. Old Chicago is closed to the general public on Mondays and Tuesdays, though it can open for large groups such as company outings that rent the park for the day.

October

"Contrary to rumors, Old Chicago is not evicting its merchants or converting the facility into a sports complex." Says Dick Evans (Another new management person).

 

The Year Of 1979

February

A fire in the Old Chicago Tobacco Company is doused quickly after tobacco goes up in smoke as it is being dried by electric heaters. There are no sprinklers in the storage area where the tobacco is dried.

March

The management team rethinks the shopping mall. Namely all the stores are shifted to the front area near the entrance.

Meanwhile, management also denies low attendance during winter months, claiming that the concerts and discos keep bringing in the customers.

May

Another new game plan for Old Chicago, this time the suggestion that a bowling alley and theatres be added.

A management spokesman admits for the first time that amusement rides and shopping might not be compatible – thus the notion of adding more recreational kinds of facilities to the mall area.

July

The professional fireworks display that Old Chicago hires in lieu of the Jaycees blows up in their faces literally when a spark ignites all the bombs and bursts prematurely. Only one technician suffers first and second degree burns, in addition to minor injuries to a 6-year-old, but most of the crowd is safe behind barricades.

Admission to the Fun Factory is no longer cheaper. People have to pay the full freight to get into the park even if they just want to take their 5-year-old to the Kiddy Fun Factory.

 

The Year Of 1980

January

Old Chicago announces plans to construct new concert stage with a new three-way sound system for its "Live at Old Chicago" concert series. They want to "create a more acoustically-perfect sound system…" as if the concerts would go on forever.

March

OLD CHICAGO SHUT FOREVER

Work begins to dismantle the amusement rides. Shops can remain open for some time. Some will. Most won’t.

Foreclosure proceedings are filed by IC Industries actually against itself as a general partner of Old Chicago Towne Partners.

Officials say that the foreclosure and shutdown is a move to help sell the property for another use. In fact, negotiations with potential buyers have started, officials report.

An IC spokesman states that IC might be willing to take a loss of as much as $13 million to sell off Old Chicago.

May

"Largest Indoor Park Becomes Largest Discount Mall"

A contract to buy Old Chicago is signed to turn the world’s largest indoor park into America’s largest factory outlet mall.

Outlet mall investors, headed by Roy Cohn, board chairman of Webber Cohn and Riley advertising and public relations firm, promises 100 outlets of brand name goods. Sixteen companies have already requested leases, he says.

July

Former merchants of Old Chicago’s mall sue for $5 million in a 300-age lawsuit for money they will lose in sales during the time left on their leases at the mall and for the cost of relocating.

Some merchants had as much as 3 ½ years left on leases before being pushed out the door once the amusement park folded. Only four businesses remain in the hollowed mall halls: House of Jade, Super T’s Inc, Biergarten and Olde Chicago Styling Salon.

The village opposes suggestions to board up Old Chicago