Mall stores get ready for fall

As temperatures soar and shoppers spend more time at the pool and less at the mall, retailers are preparing for fall.

The summer months are traditionally slower at area shopping centers. Retailers often use this time to undergo renovations or expansions.

Some stores are working hard to get the doors open by September and definitely prior to the bustling holiday shopping season.

When heading back to the malls for back-to-school shopping, shoppers will likely notice some new stores and others about to open.

Here's a peek of what you'll find.

Algonquin Commons, Algonquin: Limited Too -- offering apparel, shoes, accessories, cosmetics and even furnishings to trendy "tween" girls ages 7-14 -- recently opened.

Deer Park Town Center, Deer Park: Crate & Barrel will open Aug. 30. The store will carry home furnishings and kitchen gear.

•Harry & David recently relocated to a new store featuring the company's new prototype.

•LensCrafters Optique, selling designer glasses, recently opened.

•Lori's Designer Shoes is coming soon. The store is similar to Payless Shoes with stacks of shoeboxes, only with designer names and prices.

•Sephora, carrying more than 200 brands of cosmetics, skin care, and bath and body products, is set to open Aug. 17. The retailer takes a hands-on approach, allowing customers to sample the merchandise.

•Victoria's Secret is undergoing an expansion and renovation. The retailer is operating in a temporary space until the new shop debuts in October.

•Williams-Sonoma, catering to cooks, is set to open an expanded store Aug. 30 or Sept. 1.

Gurnee Mills, Gurnee: Club Libby Lu, an interactive store for young girls, opened in July.

•Shi By Journey women's shoe store opened last month.

•Treza changed its name to Jones New York Outlet featuring the Jones of New York line.

•VisionWorks opened a couple months ago.

Northbrook Court, Northbrook: Cusp -- featuring handbags, shoes and accessories from top contemporary designers -- is set to open Monday. This is the first store of its kind to open in Illinois. There are three others.

Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook: Popular clothing stores H&M and Iridesse recently joined the lineup at the outdoor center.

•MNG by Mango, a hot European design firm with more than 900 shops worldwide in 85 countries, is coming soon.

•Moon Struck Chocolate Café is also set to open by fall.

Spring Hill Mall, West Dundee: Quickie Mart, a place for a pop and snack, opened recently.

•VisionWorks optical store recently opened.

•Vanity -- featuring teen, trendy clothing -- is now open.

Stratford Square, Bloomingdale: Crocs opened a cart carrying the popular color shoes.

•Making Scents, a store with custom soaps, candles and fragrance oils is now at the mall. Rick Venturi opened the store after running the business from a Web site for 12 years. Customers will find custom soaps in a variety of scents that he hand cuts to order. He also makes 100 percent soy wax candles that burn from 50 to 150 hours each. Lavender and vanilla are popular scents as well as juicy pear, lemon drop candy, bay mist and pink lemonade.

Westfield Fox Valley, Aurora: G By Guess, featuring lower-priced clothing than regular Guess stores and aimed at the teen market, recently opened.

Westfield Hawthorn, Vernon Hills: Gap launched a new store with an updated design on the upper level near Macy's.

•Luv Your Pets, a pet boutique, recently re-opened.

•Raceline Motorworks sports a new look with an improved track with more color, a party room makeover and a new sound system. Young racers can hear burning rubber and screeching tires and utilize a timing system to keep track of race times.

•VisionWorks opened last week.

Westfield Old Orchard, Skokie: American Eagle Outfitters, featuring hot trends for teens, opened in mid-July.

•Hollister, a destination for teens, is set to open this fall.

•Lucy women's clothing store opened in August.

•Martin + Osa, a new concept store from American Eagle Outfitters, is opening this fall. The higher-end apparel store features sportswear.

•McCormick & Schmick's seafood restaurant is slated to open during the winter holiday season.

•White House/Black Market, offering sophisticated women's apparel, opened in late July.

Woodfield Shopping Center, Schaumburg: Coach moved to the second level while undergoing a massive remodeling project.

•Disney's Doorway to Dreams opened an interactive store that sells timeshares. This is the first store of its kind offering shoppers knowledge and the option to sign up for the Disney Vacation Club, Disney's version of a timeshare. The store includes a two-bedroom model home of a villa at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

•Godiva gourmet chocolate store is undergoing a renovation.

•Victoria's Secret is launching its new concept store soon.

•Whitehall Jewelers will soon sport an updated look.