Lincoln Mall opened on August 9th, 1973[1] with anchors Carson Pirie Scott, Montgomery Ward, Wieboldt's, and JCPenney.

In August of 2013, representatives of Matteson attempted to sue the mall owners and order that the mall be closed, due to safety and building code violations including exposed electrical wiring, an inoperative sprinkler system, blocked fire exits, a crumbling roof, and a damaged foundation.

[4] On November 11, 2014, Cook County Judge Thomas Condon ordered that the mall be closed permanently as of January 7, 2015, with the exception of Carson's (whose building is owned separately by its parent company), which was to remain open.

Kohan provided a court-appointed receiver with only $100,000 in the preceding 15 months to pay for repairs, maintenance, and staffing, while the number of remaining tenants' rent was insufficient to sustain daily operations.

The mall would have needed to replace several exits and repair electrical and air conditioning systems in order to be brought up to code.

[12] On March 4, 2018, Carson Pirie Scott abruptly closed its Lincoln Mall store, leaving JCPenney the only remaining tenant.

[14] On January 30, 2020, The City of Matteson approved a casino on the mall site, proposed by South Suburban Development LLC.