‘End of an era’: Once a staple of the holidays — and middle class life — the last Sears department store in Illinois closes Sunday at Woodfield Mall

Gordon Beu takes photos inside Sears at Woodfield Mall, Nov. 11, 2021, before it permanently closes this weekend in Schaumburg. Beu, who worked in this store for 25 years as a customer convenience manager, needed to get one last look at the store where he spent a quarter century. “Sears had big plans when they built this place. It was an amazing place and I still get together with people I worked with here.” (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)