@cjsummers :
I have absolutely no idea how much business from Peoria that Von Maur gets. I am sure they probably do. If they think that by opening a store in Peoria would hurt their store in Bloomington, they won't come to Peoria. On the other hand if they think it would expand their business they might come.
One would think they might be in the drivers seat to negotiate a good deal at the mall to occupy the old Sears space . I am sure the mall is concerned about what could eventually happen to the Penney's store. Certainly the mall doesn't want to have two large spaces empty at the same time. I would think that would doom the mall before management could get one of the spaces filled let alone two.

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@billybob : I would think if any "new" department store would locate in Peoria it would be at the previous Berger's location at Grand Prairie. Wanna see a ghost town of a mall, check out the Peru Mall, no Sears, no JC Penny's, no Bergner's. All three anchors within a fairly short time span.

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It is being reported on business channels today that Simon Properties and Brookfield, the largest mall owners and managers in the country are in advancing stages of talks to buy JC Penney. If the talks are successful it would ensure that Penney remains an anchor store in their malls.

@billybob : Thanks for posting this! Hope this is true for Northwoods.

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@cjsummers : Washington Prime Group may own the mall, but maybe they contract out the day-to-day management to Simon Properties, who would have more expertise in that area?

I think the day of traditional malls and department stores is over.

Soon we will have a ghost town.