Evergreen Square — Local services in Peoria

I've lived in the area for 26 years and have seen a lot of change around Evergreen Square. While the Square itself provides Kroger and a handful of specialty stores on the block, there is A LOT of room for improvement. The entire parking lot is in need of dire repair, with potholes and damaged pavement in general. In addition to this, to someone who isn't from the Peoria area...the complex looks kind of abandoned/uncared for and mis-managed and or without an owner...

The auto store that used to be on the end of the Square is no longer in business and there is a large area in front of and along side of the store that has a high fence around it to keep people out of it. While I support the "Keep Out" approach, drive path around that area, which is located right off of a 4-way stoplight on Lake Avenue, is extremely limited, damaged and hard to see while driving in the area at night! The lighting in that area of the parking lot needs to be replaced/turned on after dark and the high fence needs to be pulled back in order to allow traffic through the area safely...the fence should also probably have reflectors put on it to alert drivers of its presence, while driving at night. That area promotes an accident waiting to happen.

I feel like there's a possible opportunity to upgrade the area...maybe renovate the old K-Mart building so that it can have multiple stores inside it with their own entrances? Bring new business to the Square....possibly a restaurant or two - that entire area along Sheridan Road is lacking in options for people who live between Sheridan Road and University Street - feels like an opportunity there for the people that own Evergreen Square?

All-in-all, as a mostly native Peorian? I'm not impressed. Do better...

The shopping center has experienced an aesthetic and social decline ever since the recession, and even more so after the closing of Kmart, Office Depot, and a few other moderately priced merchants. From 2017-2018, I was employed by Kroger, which notably closed two Peoria stores after the 2017 Holiday season. Once those store closed, the Ill-mannered, offensive, loss prevention nightmares started shopping/shoplifting at the Kroger at Evergreen Square. Within less than one month, the environment changed from being clean, friendly and family oriented to what it’s become today. It’s a shame, but it’s truthfully not as safe as it once was. I personally don’t go there anymore because of...

Be very careful to lock your car and hide your valuables while shopping in this shopping center. I did not personally have anything stolen from my car, but I have heard many stories of people who have. There are many shady people walking around those parking lots at all hours of the day and night. I have heard some of them are specifically there to be up to no good. The individual shops and stores are a great variety and diversity, but again make sure to lock your car and hide your valuables while inside those...