Yes, the iconic mall scene in The Blues Brothers was filmed in a real, abandoned shopping mall.
The Reality Behind the Destruction
The memorable car chase sequence, where Jake and Elwood Blues drive through a shopping mall, causing extensive damage, was not filmed on a purpose-built set. Instead, it took place within a genuine, albeit defunct, retail establishment: the Dixie Square Mall in Harvey, Illinois.
Key details about the mall scene:
- Location: Dixie Square Mall, Harvey, Illinois.
- Status at Filming: The mall had already closed down in 1979, the year before the movie was filmed. Its abandonment made it an ideal location for the filmmakers to execute the destructive stunts without needing to build elaborate sets.
- Impact of Filming: The extensive car stunts performed for the film contributed to further damage of the already neglected structure.
- Post-Filming Fate: After its brief moment of cinematic glory, Dixie Square Mall was left abandoned for decades, becoming a notorious example of a "dead mall" due to its widespread vandalism and neglect, before finally being demolished.
This use of a real, pre-existing, and already closed mall added an authentic, gritty layer to the film's over-the-top action, cementing the scene's place in movie history.
