Byline: Kim Mikus Daily Herald Business Writer
Charlestowne Mall officials are hoping the center will have a new look for next year's holiday season.
For now, the folks at the mall have only sketches of how the newest anchor, Von Maur, will look when it takes over the J.C. Penney space at the St. Charles center.
The 102,500-square-foot anchor store is expected to open by the spring of 2002, but community and mall officials are hoping it could open in time for the holidays later this year.
Officials also hope the upscale anchor will continue to bring in additional upscale shops, such as Abercrombie & Fitch and other names.
Eddie Bauer opened a store in the mall this year. That deal was negotiated after officials announced they were in negotiation with Davenport, Iowa-based Von Maur.
More on Von Maur: Here are a few facts about upscale retailer Von Maur:
- Von Maur Inc. is a fourth-generation, family owned company.
- The retailer has annual sales of more than $300 million.
- It's the largest privately held department store in Iowa.
- In 1994, the retailer expanded outside Iowa when it opened a store at Yorktown Center in Lombard.
- In the near future, the retailer plans to open stores in Minnesota and Kansas.
Bargain hunting: Now that the holidays are over, many Spring Hill Mall stores are beginning to thin their winter and seasonal merchandise.
An annual five-day sidewalk sale begins Thursday.
Participating stores will have special values on a wide variety of merchandise. Shoppers can expect to see up to 75 percent off on favorite seasonal merchandise such as sportswear, shoes and outdoor gear.
Wiggle it: Children should have fun at Barnes & Noble in Deer Park on Jan. 13.
Children's entertainer Michelle Hunter will perform 'Wiggle, Jiggle & Sing' with young children at 11 a.m. at the store on Rand Road in Deer Park.
Hunter plans to introduce the joy of music to the very young during the event.
Rubies are red: Mark Valentine's Day as the next big spending holiday.
For the shopper working ahead, Tiffany & Co. has something new this year. Elsa Peretti, exclusive designer for Tiffany, has incorporated rubies onto one of her most celebrated designs, Diamonds By the Yard.
The motif gives rubies a fashionable edge, according to company officials. The set includes a necklace with rubies and diamonds, bracelet with rubies set in 18-karat gold and earrings in 18-karat gold and platinum.
If you're looking for the gift for your sweetheart, Tiffany stores are located at Oakbrook Center and Old Orchard Center in Skokie.
Quite a collection: Collectors of baseball cards and memorabilia can find thousands of collectibles at the 21st annual Sports Card and Memorabilia Show that starts Friday at Charlestowne Mall.
More than 100 vendor tables will hold treasures ranging from game-used and team approved baseball jerseys to autographed bats, hats, ticket stubs and pins of favorite long ago players.
Baseball cards dating from 1900 to the present will allow hobbyists to add new and unusual pieces to their collections.
In addition to sports, other hot items at the show include Pokeman trading cards and Coca-Cola and McDonald's memorabilia.
Ghost town: Lakehurst Mall in Waukegan is looking pretty deserted.
Things should get worse by the end of the month.
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. will be the sole business at the long- struggling mall by then.
About six remaining businesses including a hair salon and optical shop received certified letters stating they must vacate the property. City officials are looking for other uses for the property.
Kim Mikus covers retail for the Daily Herald. She welcomes comments at (847) 427-4567 or at Kmikus@@dailyherald.com.
