Midwest Style, National Spotlight

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Oakbrook Center Named Top U.S. Destination

Oakbrook Center has earned national recognition, ranking No. 4 in USA TODAY’s 2025 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best U.S. Shopping Centers. As the only Illinois destination to make the top 10, Oakbrook stands out for its unique blend of retail, dining, and community-driven experiences.

USA TODAY’s 10Best program is a reader-driven awards platform that celebrates the best in American travel, food, and lifestyle. Each year, a panel of travel and retail experts nominates 20 standout locations in each category. Final rankings are determined entirely by public vote, combining expert insight with enthusiastic community support.

“Being nominated by USA TODAY was already an honor, and to rank fourth on top of that shows how special Oakbrook Center is,” said Serge Khalimsky, Sr. General Manager. “As soon as we found out about the nomination, the whole community came together—tenants, vendors, shoppers, even local leaders. Everyone rallied around Oakbrook Center, and that support made all the difference.”

“Oakbrook Center has emerged as a premier regional destination for tourism, drawing visitors from across the Midwest with its world-class shopping, dining, and entertainment experiences—all set within a safe, accessible, and beautifully maintained environment,” said Village President Larry Herman. ”Their success is the result of a strong partnership between the Village of Oak Brook and Brookfield Properties, which owns the property. We are committed to supporting Oakbrook Center as a key driver of tourism and as the region’s leading place to shop, dine, work, and play.”

For more than 60 years, Oakbrook Center has grown with the community, offering a carefully curated mix of over 170 retailers and restaurants. From luxury icons like Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. to beloved favorites like Apple, Zara, and Peloton, Oakbrook Center balances upscale sophistication with broad appeal. Recent additions include J.Crew, Anine Bing, Ichiddo Ramen, and Pop Mart, with exciting openings on the horizon like Skims, Canada Goose, The Purple Pig, and Tecovas.

But Oakbrook Center is more than a shopping destination. Its open-air, park-like setting—accented by interactive art, seasonal events, and al fresco dining—invites guests to linger and enjoy. Family-friendly programming, from Movies on the Lawn to the Father’s Day Car Show and holiday favorites like photos with Santa, makes Oakbrook Center a vibrant gathering place for the entire community year-round. 

Author

Ahmed will graduate from HCHS this spring and hopes to study law.

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