The mall drew many other retail construction projects to the area, the first of which was Sherwood Plaza built in 1959.

They say the current mall draws 17 million visitors a year and is bursting at the seams.

The mall itself draws sparse crowds these days.

Mike Rana, 35, the manager of Gold Italia, a booth selling jewelry, said the mall just was not drawing the crowds it used to.

"Because of its central location, the mall will draw from both the immediate areas and surrounding North Shore communities."

Some conventional malls also draw millions of shoppers.

In its first year of business, the mall drew more than 14 million customers and comprised 175 stores.

But newer malls and big-box retailers in other suburbs eventual drew Park Forest shoppers away.

But some malls in the area drew big crowds.

Because of its proximinty to the Michigan border, the mall drew customers from southeastern Michigan as well.