The Opening of Woodfield Shopping Mall in Schaumburg, Illiniois.

Woodfield Mall was built by the Taubman Company under the leadership of Al Taubman from Southfield Michigan. Al was the industry leader in indoor regional shopping centers at that time. Woodfield Mall is named after former Sears board chairman General Robert E. Wood and Marshall Field and Company founder Marshall Field. Woodfield opened on September 9, 1971, in Schaumburg, Illinois. The mall was over 2,000,000 square feet and had 160 stores when it was completed.

Woodfield Mall 1971

The three anchor stores were Sears, Roebuck and Co., Marshall Field and Company, and J.C. Penney Company, Inc. The mall was named for General Wood, chairman of the Sears board at the time, and Marshall Field of Marshall Field and Co.

Woodfield Mall 1971

When the doors opened, and for a number of years afterward, the mall was the world's largest indoor shopping center.

Woodfield Mall 1973

Some of the first non-anchor stores mentioned in early articles on the mall were the Plum Tree (novelty shop), Fanny May Candies, Mirette (any idea what was this?) Musicland (record chain), Bressler's 33 Flavors Ice Cream, Peck & Peck (women's specialty shop), Paddor's (fashion store), and Madigan's (women's clothing store.) 

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.