Hawthorn Mall Begins Build-Out of Luxury Apartments, New Street-Level Retail
22 July 2021
Shopping Center Turns TranSFormative Mixed-Use Project Over to Development Partners
VERNON HILLS, Ill. – July 22, 2021 – With the demolition of the former Sears building now complete, Hawthorn Mall, a super-regional shopping center in the suburb of Vernon Hills, just north of Chicago (www.ShopHawthornMall.com), is forging ahead with its plans for a complete tranSFormation of the property, including the addition of 311 luxury apartments and an open-air “Main Street”-style retail center. This summer, Focus and Atlantic Residential, the center’s development partners, will begin vertical construction of “The Domaine,” the new luxury apartments, and “Hawthorn Row,” a lively street-level retail, dining and public gathering space. For a brief video, click here: https://vimeo.com/573194546 and for downloadable renderings of The Domaine and Hawthorn Row, visit http://ow.ly/rx5M30rLCsH.
“As we begin construction on The Domaine and Hawthorn Row, Centennial is proudly living up to its word in terms of timing and investment in the redevelopment effort and creating something that is uniquely tailored to the Vernon Hills community,” says Steven Levin, founder and CEO of Centennial, the real estate investment firm that owns and operates Hawthorn Mall. “And as Hawthorn Mall’s tranSFormation from a suburban shopping center to a sophisticated mixed-use development gets underway, we want everyone to know that this is just the beginning, with so much more to come.”
Construction on Hawthorn Row and The Domaine will begin simultaneously in July 2021, creating the foundation for the center’s mixed-use development. The 47,000-square-foot Hawthorn Row will form the ground level of the luxury apartments and will include best-in-class retail stores expected to open in time for the 2022 holiday season, a variety of outdoor dining options, and a beautifully landscaped and pedestrian-friendly pocket park where guests can work or relax with friends. The Domaine luxury apartments are also slated to begin vertical construction in July. While the project is expected to be completed in early 2023, apartments will be opened in phases beginning in the third quarter of 2022.
“The significant changes coming to Hawthorn Mall will create an unrivaled live-work-play environment that delivers the absolute best in mixed-use design,” says Tim Anderson, CEO, Focus. “We’re proud to be a part of this creative effort and excited to get the work ahead of us underway.”
“As we begin work on Hawthorn Mall’s new luxury apartments and its new outdoor retail, dining and entertainment plaza, we are re-imagining what the future of retail and residential living can be, and turning that vision into a wonderful brand-new reality,” says Richard Aaronson, CEO and Founding Partner, Atlantic Residential. “We’re building more than new structures at Hawthorn Mall; we’re building a bridge between the past and the future that will showcase the best of what a master-planned development can be.”
The shopping center will showcase its comprehensive redevelopment plans and progress in Hawthorn Mall’s TranSFormation Suite, located on the upper level of the mall near Center Park. The TranSFormation Suite is open to the public and will serve as an information hub for consumers as well as current and prospective tenants throughout the center’s redevelopment.
For more information on Hawthorn Mall’s re-development, explore these press releases:
About Focus
Focus is a Chicago-based developer and general contractor that uses an integrated delivery model to produce a diverse portfolio of distinctive real estate. The places + spaces Focus brings to life reflect a dedication to impact lives, enhance communities and build value, all while controlling the risk of innovation. Founded in 1993, Focus exists at the intersection of development and construction, offering a wide portfolio of services from real estate management and development services to residential and commercial building and general contracting services. The exemplary collaboration between its vertically integrated, multi-disciplinary teams has enabled Focus to consistently deliver high-quality, beautiful buildings that blend seamlessly into the context of existing architecture. As a result, Focus has an extensive portfolio of completed work that has earned it an exceptional reputation for credibility and competency in Chicago, Evanston, Forest Park, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Oak Park, Wheaton and more. To learn more, visit https://workwithfocus.com.
About Atlantic Residential
Atlantic Residential is a private commercial real estate firm based in Atlanta, Georgia with regional offices in Chicago, Illinois and Ft Lauderdale, Florida. It was formed by Richard & Andrew Aaronson in 1995 to develop residential and mixed-use projects. Since its inception, the firm has been responsible for the construction of over $2.5 billion of institutional quality properties containing over 9,000 residential units. The firm is focused on developing luxury apartment communities and for-sale condominiumminiums and townhouses. It has over 100 full-time employees engaged in property management, sales and leasing, construction, and development activities in the Southeast and the Midwest. Atlantic Residential pursues a dual strategy in housing development: (i) develop and manage a portfolio of luxury apartment communities under various proprietary brands and (ii) provide superior entry-level townhomes and condominiumminiums, many within larger mixed-use communities. To learn more, visit https://atlanticresi.com.
About Centennial
Centennial is a national owner of major shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations. Rooted in retail since 1997, the company is focused on shaping the evolution of American retail by creating a superior multi-faceted shopping experience. Centennial properties serve not only as a place of commerce, but a place of community. For more information, visit CentennialREC.com.
About Hawthorn Mall
Located in Vernon Hills, Illinois, Hawthorn Mall has been the preferred shopping and dining destination in Lake County since 1973. While the center currently boasts more than 120 specialty retailers, including Lake County’s only Maggiano’s and a state-of-the-art AMC Hawthorn 12 theater, Hawthorn has recently embarked on a comprehensive redevelopment that will tranSForm the property from a traditional shopping center into a master-planned mixed-use development. This redevelopment, which represents the largest capital investment in the property since its grand opening nearly half a century ago, will redefine the customer experience and expand the center’s trade area by creating a new and distinctive sense of place that will continue to evolve with the community for generations to come. To learn more, visit the Hawthorn Mall website at www.ShopHawthornMall.com and follow the center on Facebook and Instagram.
Media Contacts:
Deborah Blackford
Blackford & Associates
blkfrd@earthlink.net
714-280-8765
Karen Franse
Blackford & Associates
karenfranse@gmail.com
386-649-1887
Carmen Herlihy
Blackford & Associates
cherlihypr@gmail.com
646-770-2623