Spring Hill Mall McDonald’s closes after 21 years

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Updated: February 14, 2012 10:12AM

WEST DUNDEE — Those frequenting the food court at Spring Hill Mall may have noticed a new vacancy.

After more than two decades, the McDonald’s restaurant has shut down.

David Bear, of Bearco Management Co. which operated the Spring Hill Mall McDonald’s, said the Dec. 30 closing was due to lease negotiations.

“For us it was pretty simple. Our lease had come to term and we were not able to come to terms on the conditions, so we didn’t sign a new lease,” he said.

Bearco Management Co. operates McDonald’s franchises in several neighboring towns including Elgin, South Elgin, and Streamwood. It operated the Spring Hill Mall McDonald’s for 21 years.

West Dundee resident Marissa Bruno was surprised by the restaurant’s closing. As a child, she said her mother would buy her and her sister a Happy Meal whenever she took them shopping at the mall.

“With a lot of stores leaving Spring Hill, and now with McDonald’s closing, the mall has lost most of its appeal,” Bruno said. “I really don’t even shop there that often even though I live in the area. I’d rather drive to Algonquin or the Barrington Arboretum to do my shopping.”

While Bear would not comment specifically on the Spring Hill Mall restaurant’s financials, he did say business had not been “as good as we hoped it to be.”

“If business was really good, we would’ve been able to come to an agreement on new terms,” he said. “The mall is going through a transition period. It’s lost some major anchors. I’m not sure what their strategy is for the future.”

Spring Hill Mall General Manager Amy Prew said the mall currently offers eight food options including in the food court and throughout the center. Some of the restaurants include Sbarro, Manchu Wok, Subway and Jameson’s Charhouse. She said opening soon is Charley’s Grilled Subs.

Prew said she could not comment on the negotiations with Bearco Management Co. and its decision to leave the mall.

“What I can tell you is that we see any departure as an opportunity to bring something fresh and new to our center and to our customers,” she said.