ALL QUIET ON THE MIDWESTERN FRONT…read more
The Bolingbrook Promenade is pretty sleepy, as outdoor malls go.
It's one thing for a shopping center to feel chill, but if walking around elicits a few yawns, maybe it's time to invest in some Nugenix. Yes, I'm suggesting that The Promenade is suffering from "low T", which happens to lots of mall in their later years. You can access the mall from Boughton Rd or Janes Ave.
The Promenade is missing several things that are synonymous with most malls: food courts, escalators, an Auntie Anne's (or a Wetzel's Pretzels), Cinnabon, Hot Topic or Spencers. I'm glad to have Prince Arcades, though the $20 entry fee is discouraging (I'd rather pay-per-game instead, ain't nobody got time for an all day pass).
The space formerly occupied by Mora Asian Kitchen has been vacant for several years despite signage still being present, not a good look for the mall. Danny's Pizza & Burger Bar closed (*was evicted) back in April due to $163K in unpaid rent. Bar Louie, a stalwart of the Promenade for more than 17 years, recently shut their doors due to bankruptcy.
The annual Taste of Bolingbrook is held here, but the 2025 edition relied more on food trucks than local businesses. They have a nice big Christmas tree during the holidays, trick or treating around Halloween, and other events throughout the year that attract a decent crowd of people.
* TL;DR *
The Promenade just can't compete with the fountains, vibes, and variety of stores at Oakbrook Center (a superior outdoor mall half an hour northeast of here).
Part of me wishes the Promenade would get converted into a downtown area, since Bolingbrook is lacking one. The handful of empty storefronts and sporadic foot traffic gives off the energy of a ghost town, and on more than one occasion I found myself wondering aloud "where IS everyone??"
This laid-back mall could benefit from an infusion of new businesses. I'll come here to shop for specific items, but if I'm just interested in browsing, walking around, or casual people-watching, I'll go somewhere that feels more alive (Fox Valley, Yorktown, etc).