Location is everything in retail, and Rock Run Collection has a compelling location — anchored by a new interchange that opened in August 2024, connecting the 310-acre Joliet site to I-55 and I-80, two of Illinois’ busiest expressways. The project, which Cullinan describes as the largest super-regional development currently underway in the Midwest, will encompass more than 1 million square feet of retail, dining, entertainment, hospitality, multifamily and office uses.
In this Retail Insight interview from ICSC Las Vegas, reporter Nellie Day sits down with Maria Toliopoulos, chief strategy officer for Cullinan Properties, to explore what it takes to bring a project of this scale to life. With Hollywood Casino at one end and a first-of-its-kind-in-Illinois Dick’s House of Sport at the other, Rock Run Collection is built to draw from more than 30 counties. A Drury Hotel is under construction and 250+ residential units are already delivering, making it a destination for everyone from daily local shoppers to out-of-town visitors.
Watch the video to hear Toliopoulos discuss the development challenges that come with so many moving parts running in parallel — and what she hopes families feel when they finally walk through the finished product.
Retail Insight is a sponsored video series produced by Shopping Center Business, capturing insights from leading retail real estate firms at ICSC Las Vegas 2026. Click here to subscribe.