‘Coming full circle’: Shopping center pro returns to area as general manager of Hawthorn mall in Vernon Hills

In a multifaceted 30-year real estate career, Sarah Williams has worked with more than 100 shopping centers across the U.S. and internationally. But the new general manager of Hawthorn mall in Vernon Hills is not starting from scratch in her latest endeavor.

“This mall was where our kids grew up — they absolutely loved this place,” said Williams, who raised her family in Libertyville. “Rebuilding the brand, it’s exciting for me.”

Mall owner Centennial, powered by Lincoln, in partnership with Affinius Capital, announced Williams’ appointment Oct. 13. She returns to the area as the 1970-era mall and surrounding property is in the sixth year of an extensive, $491.5 million ongoing reboot dubbed Hawthorn 2.0.

“At this important point in Hawthorn’s transformation, her experience across operations, merchandising, and community engagement will be invaluable as we move into this next chapter,” Stephen White, Centennial’s executive vice president of property management, said in the announcement of Williams’ hiring.

For many years, Williams has lived and worked in Connecticut, Colorado, California and Florida and recently returned to the area from Tampa.

“We absolutely love being back at Hawthorn,” she said. “It’s coming full circle for me.”

As general manager, Williams oversees day-to-day operations, tenant relations, and customer experience and works with leasing, development and ownership teams as work associated with Hawthorn 2.0 accelerates.

Williams said she was drawn to the position to build on 50-plus years of Hawthorn history while helping to shape what comes next.

“The significant investment the owners have made in the property shows we’re confident in the long-term,” she said.

So is the village, which in late 2020 created a special financing district as an incentive for the redevelopment. In September, the village’s stake increased from $43 million to a maximum of $64 million as original project cost estimate jumped from $252 million to $491.5 million.

“The partnership is very strong. Hawthorn 2.0 is one of our top priorities,” said Mayor Thom Koch.

The vision since the initial introduction to the community in 2019 at an open house inside the since-demolished Carson’ anchor store, has been to transform the original mall and property in response to a changing retail landscape.

The plan calls for a mix of uses including about 600 luxury apartments and new stores, attractions, restaurants and other features.

The first phases of residential and retail space are completed and restaurants have opened on the perimeter. But much more is in progress or pending.

A $5 million interior refresh to modernize the look and feel of common areas inside the mall with new flooring, furniture and other improvements is ongoing.

“We’ve had an enormous amount of interest from the retail community,” Williams said.

Koch noted that significant investments have and are being made to the mall interior. A number of ribbon cuttings, including for entertainment-themed businesses, have been held this year, he added.

Interior work will introduce a “hospitality-inspired design, modern gathering spaces, enhanced dining environments, and upgraded guest amenities,” according to Centennial.

The refresh is a complement to the broader property redevelopment now in its sixth year of construction.

Phase 2 work to start later this year includes the introduction of exterior-facing storefronts to portions of the existing mall while maintaining interior access and new main entrances on the south and east sides to better connect with the surroundings, according to Centennial.

This will be happening as an extension of the Hawthorn Row residential and retail outside the mall property gets underway.

“It’s a huge passion for me,” Williams explained of her long-term career. “I love the strategic thinking that goes into a shopping center.”

Williams said connecting Hawthorn to the community is an important element in the big picture. This season Hawthorn will host the village’s Holiday Light Celebration and is proposing to install the village’s tree, menorah and kinara in an open-air outdoor event space.

mzawislak@dailyherald.com