Blues Brothers Mall Demolished

By Scott Smith in News on Mar 1, 2006 8:36PM

The building that housed one of the most famous movie chase scenes ever, has been demolished. Again. For the last time.

On Tuesday, the site of the former Dixie Square Shopping Mall was razed to make way for some long-promised commercial development. The mall was closed in 1979 just prior to its star-making turn as…a mall in The Blues Brothers. Set dressers for the film filled it with stores and merchandise, which led to memorable quotes including “Pier 1 Imports. This mall’s got everything” and “The new Oldsmobiles are in early this year.”

Moviegoers watched as Jake and Elwood led members of Illinois’ law enforcement community on a high-speed chase through the mall, accompanied by the sounds of Donald “Duck” Dunn’s bass line and Allen Rubin’s horns.

After the cameras finished rolling, the city of Harvey bought the land with an eye on developing the area. Several proposals came and went including a new White Sox stadium and a mausoleum. Plans now include two big box retailers, some smaller stores and a supermarket to open by October 2007.

We’re not sure if anyone took a spin through the mall for old time’s sake or not. But click here to see Bluesmobile replica owner Travis Bell risk arrest as he retraces the route taken by the Blues Brothers through Dixie Square and other Chicago landmarks (thanks to NSH for the link).