The French house joins Wilmette’s revitalized retail hub with an 8,000-square-foot boutique
Hermès is set to expand its mid-western reach by opening a store in the reinvigorated historical luxury retail location of Plaza Del Lago.
The French luxury house has secured a lease with WS Development for an 8,000-square-foot boutique, signaling its continued expansion in Illinois becoming its second outpost in the state; the Maison currently operates a location on East Oak Street in Chicago. The move not only reflects Hermès’ own retail momentum, but may also hint at a wider industry resurgence—where luxury’s next chapter unfolds not just across the U.S., but within the storied architecture and legacy spaces that once defined retail’s golden age.
The comprehensive transformation of Plaza del Lago; a Spanish‑Court style open‑air shopping center dating to 1928, is undergoing a thoughtful restoration that bridges past and future. By preserving its iconic architectural character while reimagining the space to meet the evolving needs of modern retail and dining, Wilmette ensures its relevance for the next century as it so elegantly intended for the last. The French luxury house has signed on for a substantial two‑story, boutique set to open in 2026 following the all-encompassing renovation that includes restored façades, modernized infrastructure, outdoor spaces, and more. Occupying a key position on Sheridan Road in Wilmette—widely regarded as Illinois’ second‑oldest automobile‑oriented shopping plaza, the choice of Plaza del Lago as the newest addition to Hermes’s luxury brick-and-mortar portfolio signals not just retail growth, but thoughtful brand placement within a carefully curated heritage environment.
Joining its flagship on East Oak Street in Chicago, the expansion reflects a broader strategic pivot among luxury brands toward affluent, architecturally significant suburban markets. By securing Plaza del Lago, a center that has already hosted 13 new lease agreements since March and is scheduled for a “grand reopening” in summer 2025, Hermes positions itself to capture both local and regional shoppers drawn to exclusive, design‑forward experiences in within the following year.
Hermès’ move dovetails with a global trend: the adaptive reuse of grand retail heritage. Take London’s recent revival of former department‑store landmarks such as Whiteleys (£1.1 billion conversion into residences and a Six Senses hotel) and Clapham Junction’s Arding & Hobbs building, now a mixed‑use office with preserved indoor escalators and rooftop space. These restorations underscore how luxury commercial ventures are increasingly anchoring themselves in spaces that combine archival architecture with modern lifestyle programming, inviting consumers into immersive environments, not just storefronts.
Looking ahead, Hermès’ Plaza del Lago boutique may very well signal the next wave of luxury real estate: a renewed willingness among brands to stake their identities in nodes that balance heritage, community, and prestige. As brands like Hermès expand outside core urban locations—abstaining from traditional settings in favor of treasured mid‑century and vintage‑retail landscapes—they’re fueling both aesthetic and commercial momentum. If successful, this could inspire a new blueprint for elevated luxury, where illustrious venues would transform retail experiences past mere shopping, but become cultural destinations for the next generation.