Rosemont mall keeps parking fees despite shopper decline

Fashion Outlets of Chicago officials and Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens don’t appear to be budging from their positions about paid parking at the indoor mall.

A May 16 Daily Herald story detailing Stephens’ frustration with, and opposition to, the mall’s new pay-to-park policy was enough to spur executives from Santa Monica, California-based mall owner Macerich to fly in to meet Stephens in recent weeks.

The mayor described the meeting as a “catch up on everything” get-together, but where paid parking was a major topic of discussion.

“They feel they’re turning the corner,” Stephens said Monday. “I hear contrary (from) the retailers and other folks.”

He cited the mall’s statistics that track foot traffic year over year. The number of shoppers walking into the mall was steadily increasing until the paid parking policy started in February. Then it was down 17% in March — compared with the same period last year — 14% in April, 12% in May and 14% in June.

“They think that’s turning the corner? I think that’s not good business,” Stephens said.

Macerich corporate spokespeople did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

But company executives indicated to Stephens they think “they’ll be OK” since they’re still inking leases with new retailers, he said.

The two-level, 530,000-square-foot shopping center is believed to be the only mall in the suburbs that charges all drivers to park, though some offer spaces closer to the entrance for a fee.

Under the new policy, parking is free for the first hour, then $13 for 1-3 hours, $20 for 3-12 hours, and $50 for 12-24 hours.

Shoppers can get up to three hours free if they make at least $100 in same-day purchases then visit the mall’s guest services desk to get validated.

To deter drivers from parking for free at the village hall parking garage across the street, crews recently installed gate arms at both entrances and exits.

The disagreement didn’t hold up the village board’s approval Monday of zoning variations sought by Macerich for new building signs fronting the Tri-State Tollway.

But Stephens couldn’t avoid a passing reference to the dispute.

“I thought with all that money from parking revenue they got they’d pull back on some of the signage,” he quipped.