(Matteson, IL) -- It was once a popular shopping destination for a lot of people in east-central Illinois. Holiday basketball fans spent a lot of time there; next door to high school tournaments. But the once booming mall in Matteson is being shut down by a judge's order.

The Lincoln Mall, right off of I-57, is essentially a ghost town. Many of the stores have left the mall and the structure is deteriorating. It will shut down for good on January 7th. Village officials say that could leave a devastating blow on the local economy and put hundreds of people out of work. They're hoping to find stand-alone retail spaces in the area so the stores that are still operating can move, but stay open.

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