About this mall
University Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Carbondale, Illinois, USA. Opened in 1974, the mall was expanded between 1989 and 1991. The mall comprises more than sixty tenants, including JCPenney, Macy’s and Bed Bath & Beyond as its anchor stores.
The first store to open at University Mall was JCPenney, which opened in 1971. Three years later, the mall itself was built around the JCPenney store, also including a Sears at the other end. A wing was eventually added to the mall, ending in Meis (which became Elder-Beerman in 1989). In November 1988, a $35 million expansion was planned. This expansion, begun in 1990 and opened in 1991, comprised two new anchor stores (Famous-Barr and the only Venture in southern Illinois) as well as a food court.
