Urbana-Lincoln Hotel-Lincoln Square Mall

The Urbana-Lincoln Hotel-Lincoln Square Mall is a mixed-use complex at 300 South Broadway Avenue that began as a hotel building in 1923 and expanded with an indoor shopping mall in 1964. Today it houses retail shops, law offices, and a weekly farmers market that operates in its parking area during the growing season.

The Urbana Hotel Company financed construction of the hotel building in 1923, which welcomed its first guests that November. About four decades later, the property expanded with the indoor shopping mall addition during the 1960s.

The shopping mall's opening was a major event that attracted state leaders and marked it as Illinois' first enclosed mall beyond Chicago, establishing its identity as a regional hub. This status shaped how the community viewed the complex for decades.

You can find the building easily in downtown Urbana at South Broadway Avenue and explore its different levels and retail areas at your own pace. The weekly farmers market runs seasonally, so check ahead if that activity interests you.

Local architect Joseph Royer designed the hotel building with extensive half-timbered details on its stucco exterior, giving it a distinctive look on the streetscape. This Tudor Revival treatment makes it stand out visually from the surrounding downtown area.