Hawthorn Mall — Attraction in Vernon Hills

Mall management does not care about what I’m about to say…..I’m going to be very candid and public about my concerns at Hawthorn Center Mall.

So the mall refuses to spend money to invest in their waste management system. The dumpsters around the mall do not get emptied more than 1x per month on avg. The dumpsters are emptied when they met a weight capacity and due to all the vacancies, that rolls around maybe once a month. Food waste of all varieties sits in those dumpsters for a month. I’m not going to even touch on the nastiness that I don’t have to deal with….what I do have to deal with every day I work is GNATS. Big, fat, larger than normal gnats. They bite, they attack and they are a general nuisance. I have had employees swallow them more than once 🤢 Most employees refuse to even stay in the store on their lunch break…they would rather sit in their car and enjoy peace away from Gnats. We have to put tape over our drink slits just to avoid gnats dying in them.

I refuse to eat in the food court because what may look like a spice spec could actually be a gnat…dead in the food.

The solution is so simple too. It does involve the mall spending a little more money in the area of waste management. They just don’t want to though, obviously 🙄 I know this because the dumpsters are a literal breeding ground for gnats and god only knows what else. I mean 1000’s of gnats swarm both the general waste dumpster and the recycling dumpster. Dumping food into the recycling dumpster is a whole other frustration…Anyway….The mall hired Terminix last month to investigate the issue that has been ongoing for years. The mall sent them to our store at the end of the overall inspection because of all our complaining from us. Terminix was very clear in saying that the issue was ‘not coming from our store. There was not any reason our store should have any pest issue.’ Terminix confirmed the issue is the dumpsters and that the mall needs to have them emptied more than they do. According to Terminix, Hawthorn Mall does not want to spend the additional money it will cost to have garbage dumpsters emptied or replaced more frequently.

So in the end….tenants have to deal with this nasty and disgusting problem AND when clients notice the issue we have to apologize and let them know that it’s a Hawthorn Mall Management issue.

The management team really should be embarrassed and disgusted that they allow the infestation to...

We stopped at Hawthorne just to burn a little bit of time since we were in the area. I have to say Hawthorne Mall is extremely family friendly with lots of attractions for young children. With ample playspots throughout the mall, a family lounge for mothers who are nursing and even a toilet for very young children. I had originally thought that Hawthorne was slowing down, and while that may be true to an extent as I didn't see a great deal of people during my visit, which was on a Sunday. The vacant storefronts were cleverly disguised so it didn't look like a ghosttown JC Penney, Macys, Maggianos, Dave and Busters and AMC Theatres are the anchor stores here. A modestly sized food court similar to Harlem Irving Plaza in size and stature. However, just 4 legit dining (non snack) options to choose from. Sbarro, Charleys, Angelas Carribean, and Memo's Tacos Definitely doing better than other nearby malls like Northbrook Court, Golf Mill and Lincolnwood, but not on the same success levels as Gurnee, Woodfield or the aftermentioned Harlem...

Hawthorn Mall is wonderful. When Ever Me and my husband Gary visit, we always feel happy and at home there. All of the staff are very friendly and helpful and courteous and so kind. We love shopping at JCPenney and bath and body works and Victoria secret. And the employees in all 3 of these stores are very nice and helpful as well. And now we especially love visiting Orphans Of The Storm Animal Shelter. It’s absolutely the best place to go to in the mall and it’s also so much fun as well, the staff at Orphans of The Storm Animal Shelter are super friendly, helpful and courteous and so very kind. And plus the animals are so so so adorable and so cute there, and lovable and friendly. And you can buy a really cute shirt and sweaters there as well. If you ever go to hawthorn Mall make sure you visit Orphans Of the Storm Animal Shelter. You will walk in there happy and you will walk out of there happy. It’s so wonderful and such a great atmosphere. Your heart will be bursting with so much joy...