1950's

It was the greatest economic boom in America's history and the dawn of the space age. Eisenhower was president, Elvis was king, and Betty Crocker ruled in the kitchen. Blue jeans emerged as the symbol of casual American style, and poodle skirts were the trend for rock'n'roll dance moves. One of Chicagoland's first shopping centers was built to serve the retail needs of the growing community – and so the HIP was born.

HIP Milestones

1954 Land that was once a livestock farm was purchased in order to build one of the first shopping centers in Chicagoland.

1956 Harlem Irving Plaza opened as a 45-store, open-air strip mall. The new mall featured stores such as Wieboldt's, Kroger's, Fannie May, WT Grant, Woolworth and Lerner.

1957 The HIP became the 89th charter member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Fun 50's facts

Charles Schulz created the Peanuts comic strip, with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the gang.
Swanson launched TV dinners in 1954.
Former jazz pianist Ray A. Kroc opened the first McDonald's in Des Plaines in 1955.
Ed Sullivan introduced Elvis Presley to TV viewers in 1956, and a rock'n'roll sensation was born.
Ford Motor Co. rolled out the Edsel automobile in 1957.
The Wham-O Company introduced the Hula Hoop in 1958.
In 1959, Chicago White Sox win their first American League championship in 39 years.
Mattel unveils Barbie in 1959.

1960's

It was a decade of peace, love and rebellion in politics, art and fashion. JFK was elected to the presidency, and college students adopted flower power as their creed. The Beatles touched down in the U.S.A. and Beatlemania swept the nation. Neil Armstrong made a 'giant leap for mankind' by being the first man to walk on the moon. Everything was groovy at the HIP.

HIP Milestones

1964 The HIP initiated Safety Town in cooperation with the Village of Norridge Police and Crossing Guards, Norwood Park Fire Department and Ridgewood High School. This long-running program was designed to teach first-graders the basics of personal safety.

1960-1969 Harlem Irving Plaza kept pace with the styles of the sixties, from pillbox hats, shifts and narrow-lapel suits to bell-bottoms, mini-skirts and fringed vests. The HIP had it all.

Fun 60Ís Facts

New in 1960 were the heart pacemaker, felt tip pens, and soft drinks in aluminum cans.
Everybody was doing the twist in 1960, as Chubby Checker began an international dance craze.
Holly Golightly had Breakfast at Tiffany's in 1961.
Pulitzer Prize winner Carl Sandburg was named the first Poet Laureate of Illinois in 1962.
The Zip Code system was introduced in 1963.
The mini skirt started a hemline revolution in 1965.
Simon and Garfunkel's hit album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, made folk-rock fusion history in 1966.
Chicago's snowman population soared in January 1967 when 23 inches of snow fell within a 29-hour period, the largest snowfall in the areaÍs history.
Figure skater Peggy Fleming emerged as the darling of the 1968 Winter Olympics.
Sesame Street debuted on PBS in 1969, revolutionizing children's TV programming.

1970's

Disco and environmentalism took center stage in the 70's. Nixon presided over the nation, and Hank Aaron rose to baseball fame by breaking Babe Ruth's home-run record. In a decade marked by platform shoes and jogging suits, pet rocks and heavy metal rock, Archie Bunker and Annie Hall, Harlem Irving Plaza expanded to meet the community's growing retail needs.

HIP Milestones

1976 Harlem Irving Plaza added 46,000 square feet of retail store space.

1977 Escalators, upper level parking and 28,000 additional square feet of retail space was added.

1979 Madigan's arrived, and another 60,000 square feet was added to the south end of the HIP, with upper level parking and a new marquee.

fun 70's facts

ABC brought football to prime time TV in 1970 with Monday Night Football.
Mark Spitz won seven Olympic gold medals in Munich in 1971.
The skateboard was invented in 1972.
The Sears Tower opened in Chicago in 1973. At 1,454 feet, it became the world's tallest building.
Stephen King's bestseller Carrie was published in 1974. It became a mega-hit movie in 1976.
Saturday Night Live put a new spin on comedy in 1975.
The first Apple II computer was created in 1976.
Ben & Jerry's ice cream made its debut in 1978.
New in 1979 were the Trivial Pursuit game, the Sony Walkman and the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin.

1980's

Excitement marked the eighties, from the advent of MTV to the pop-culture question, 'Who shot JR?' With Ronald Reagan in the White House, businesses boomed and an electronic revolution hit its stride. Sony Walkman tape players were all the rage and IBM introduced the personal computer. Yuppies made power dressing a fashion statement, and big shoulders, designer labels and running shoes further shaped 80's style. Harlem Irving Plaza kept pace with the decade, with a new look and two new department stores.

HIP Milestones

1987 Main Street (now Kohl's) opened at the north end of Harlem Irving Plaza. Additional upper level parking was added.

1988 The HIP got a face-lift and a brand new Carson Pirie Scott.

fun 80's facts

The spaceship Voyager I sent back the first pictures of Saturn in 1980.
Millions awoke in the wee hours to watch the wedding of the decade between England's Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.
Barney Clarke received the world's first artificial heart in 1982.
Harold Washington became Chicago's first African-American mayor in 1983.
The Chicago Bears' Walter Payton broke Jim Brown's combined yardage record in 1984 by reaching 15,517 yards.
Nintendo video games were introduced in 1985.
The Chicago-based Oprah Winfrey Show went into national syndication in 1986 and became the undisputed champion of daytime TV.
Hit albums in 1987 included Michael Jackson's Bad, U2's The Joshua Tree and Prince's Sign O The Times.
Lights were installed at Wrigley Field in 1988 for nighttime baseball. Its first night game was rained out in the fourth inning.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles made their debut in 1989.

1990's

The final decade of the century was marked by technological breakthroughs and Y2K predictions. Cloning was discovered, the Hubble Telescope was launched, and home video games became a multi-billion dollar industry. With Bill Clinton as president, the Cold War ended, Communism collapsed and Germany reunited. It was a decade of cell phones, the Internet and reality TV. Rap music, grunge and electronica emerged, and fashions became more relaxed. From fleece wear to cell phones, from Lycra to lace, the HIP continued to offer shoppers all the latest styles.

HIP Milestones

1993 The southeast section of Harlem Irving Plaza was reconfigured, and six new stores were added.

1996 A new Food Court was constructed at the HIP, with 7,500 sq. ft. of space, seating for 350, faux skylights and updated décor.

fun 90's facts

The Square Dance was designated the American folk dance of the State of Illinois.
In 1991, the Chicago Bulls won the first of three consecutive NBA championships.
Chicago's Carole Moseley-Braun became the first African-American woman elected to the US Senate.
Seinfeld revolutionized TV by turning a show about nothing into a smash hit.
Major daily newspapers created on-line editions in 1995.
21-year-old golfer Tiger Woods became the youngest to win the Masters Tournament in 1997.
Lance Armstrong won his first Tour de France in 1999, two years after battling testicular cancer.
Generation X gave way to Generation Y.

2000's

At the turn of the new century, communication and globalization are rapidly expanding. Technology continues to boom, with a major increase in Internet and cell phone usage, digital cameras, music downloads, LCD's, DVD's and DVR's. Robotics have emerged in medicine, and hybrid vehicles have become more prevalent on America's roads. The iPod is the hottest accessory, and poker the latest craze. As styles change and fashions evolve with each new decade, the HIP is always on the scene with the latest apparel, accessories, electronics, home furnishings and more.

HIP Milestones

2001 Best Buy relocated to the exterior of the center with a 45,000 square foot store.

2002 Harlem Irving Plaza launched the redevelopment of the center's south end, with a multi-level Target store as the cornerstone of the project.

2004 The HIP's multi-million dollar renovation was completed, including major interior and exterior upgrades. The new multi-level Target opened in August.

2006 - Harlem Irving Plaza turns 50!

fun 00Ís facts

The United Nations named the first decade of the new century 'The International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.'
Friends said goodbye to its faithful viewers in 2004.
Millennium Park opened in downtown Chicago in July 2004.
Reality TV shows have become a big hit, with shows like Survivor, The Apprentice and The Great Race.
The Eastern tiger salamander beat out the gray tree frog and the American toad for the title of Illinois State Amphibian.