Here is the breakdown of the retail shakeup hitting Illinois in 2026.
The Grocery Earthquake: Jewel & Mariano's on the Block
The biggest story of 2026 is the potential disruption of Chicago's grocery landscape.
- The Divestiture: As part of the massive Kroger (Mariano's) and Albertsons (Jewel-Osco) merger, 35 Illinois stores have been listed for divestiture (sale) to C&S Wholesale Grocers.
- The Targets: The list includes high-profile suburban locations:
- Jewel-Osco: Stores in Alsip (Pulaski Rd), Palos Heights (Harlem Ave), and Joliet (Larkin Ave).
- Mariano's: Locations in Oak Lawn (Cicero Ave) and Orland Park (142nd St).
- The Fear: Residents fear that C&S, primarily a wholesaler, may eventually close these locations or struggle to maintain the "premium" experience Mariano's customers expect, potentially leaving massive vacancies in key suburban intersections.
The Mall Funeral: Stratford & Spring Hill
The "Zombie Mall" era is officially ending in the western suburbs—not with a whimper, but with bulldozers.
- Stratford Square (Bloomingdale): The mall is gone. 2026 marks the start of aggressive construction on "The Grove," a mixed-use village replacing the former retail giant.
- Spring Hill Mall (West Dundee): Similarly, the site is being cleared. The village is moving forward with plans to build a new police station and residential district on the property.
- The Survivor's Hit: While those malls are demolished, White Oaks Mall in Springfield is taking a critical hit. Macy's has confirmed it will close its location there in 2026, leaving the state capital's primary mall without its most recognizable anchor.
The Pharmacy Desert: Walgreens Retreats from Chicago
While the suburbs lose malls, Chicago is losing access to healthcare.
- The Closures: Walgreens is executing a surgical retreat from older urban locations. Confirmed closures include:
- Bronzeville/South Side: Stores at 3405 S King Dr and 1554 E 55th St.
- West Side: The location at 7111 S Western Ave.
- The Crisis: These closures create immediate "pharmacy deserts." For seniors and residents without reliable transportation, the loss of a walkable pharmacy creates significant barriers to obtaining life-saving prescriptions.
The Discount Wipeout: Big Lots & Family Dollar
The collapse of the discount sector is hitting both rural and urban Illinois.
- Big Lots: The retailer is effectively exiting the state, with "Store Closing" signs appearing at remaining locations in Peoria, Springfield, Franklin Park, and Moline.
- Family Dollar: The contraction continues in Peoria, where stores on Sterling Ave and Jefferson St have been flagged for closure.
- GameStop: The video game retailer is also trimming its suburban presence, shuttering stores in Orland Park and Tinley Park in early January 2026.
The massive malls of the 80s are being turned into apartments. The grocery stores you've shopped at for a decade are changing hands. And in Chicago, the corner drugstore is boarding up its windows. A starker reality is replacing the convenience of the past: if you want it, you'll likely have to drive further or order it online.
Walgreens closing hundreds of stores in 2025