20 Things You Didn't Know About The Blues Brothers
12. The Mall Was A Real, Closed-Down Mall, Not A Set
The first major action of the film comes after Elwood flees the police, admitting that he is driving with a suspended licence and many violations. The boys end up circling the Dixie Square Mall in Harvey, Illinois (not far from Chicago) before heading inside.
When filming started, the mall had been closed for over a year, with no prospects of reopening. Rumours started to fly in the small community that all the action meant the mall was being refurbished, when, in actuality, it was being destroyed inside.
The stores were dressed and stocked with items, giving the impression of a fully-functioning mall. Stunt performers were brought in to be shoppers and the parking lot was loaded with cars, making it looked as if the mall was packed when Elwood decided to prove a point to Jake about his skill at evading the police.
When all was said and done, the owners of Dixie Square tried to sue Universal for failing to restore the mall to its original condition, a clause in the contract they couldn't prove.
As a result, the mall continued to sit unused and decaying until 2012, when it was demolished.