The Sears Tower is gone

**Hospitalitygirl** · 03-12-2009, 08:21 PM

It will be renamed...into something called The Willis Tower.

Say it ain't so, Joe.

Chicago's Sears Tower to get new tenant, new name | AP | 03/12/2009

CHICAGO - For Chicagoans it may be the architectural equivalent of having to watch Michael Jordan finish his career in a Washington Wizards uniform: The Sears Tower is turning into something called the Willis Tower.

That's right, the tallest building in the United States is getting a new name later this year, building management said Thursday.

It's all part of a deal with London-based Willis Group Holdings. Along with moving 500 employees into 140,000 square feet on multiple floors of the 110-story building this summer, the Willis Group gets the naming rights as part of its lease agreement with the real estate investment group that owns Sears Tower.

The name change isn't the first in recent years for Chicago. In 2006, the city's State Street shopping district saw Marshall Field's department store become Macy's and in 2003 the White Sox stopped playing baseball at U.S. Cellular Field instead of Comiskey Park.

"We certainly appreciate and understand the sentimental attraction to the Sears Tower name, and it's certainly a Chicago icon," said Will Thoretz, a spokesman in New York for Willis Holdings Group. "Our move into Chicago is a good thing for the city. We're bringing hundreds of jobs into the city."

The company is not paying extra for naming rights to the tower, Thoretz said.

"We asked for the naming rights," Thoretz said. "There was no additional cost to us."

The insurance broker will occupy more than 140,000 square feet at $14.50 a square foot. Willis is moving five local offices into the building. The move is expected to be completed by late summer.

Sears Tower first opened in 1973 with the building's original occupant, Sears Roebuck and Co. Sears moved its headquarters to the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates in 1992...

**ArcticSplash** · 03-12-2009, 10:01 PM

Even the Woolworth's Building is still called the Woolworth's Building.

$10 says this name change doesn't last. WTF is gonna call that the... what was the name again?

Pfft.

**RussDiamond** · 03-12-2009, 10:22 PM

Whatchootalkinbout Willis?

**Illiniwek** · 03-12-2009, 10:46 PM

You would rather put ketchup on a Chicago hot dog than call the Sears Tower the Willis Tower. And, believe me, you do not want to put ketchup on a Chicago hot dog.

**billy ross** · 03-13-2009, 09:54 AM

Nota Bena that we 'backwards' Philadelphians still have our PSFS building. If this were Chicago would it be the Loew's building?

I think that the Duke and Duke building should be restored to South Broad Street, now that ridiculous Wachovia is no more. What an arrogant company!

**Illiniwek** · 03-13-2009, 09:57 AM

Don't stick Chicago with this one; it's a deal between a couple real estate folks.

It will never stick. Before long, Willis employees will be telling people they work at Sears Tower.

**Seanibus** · 03-13-2009, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by Hospitalitygirl

It will be renamed...into something called The Willis Tower.

Say it ain't so, Joe.

Chicago's Sears Tower to get new tenant, new name | AP | 03/12/2009

It will always be the Sears Tower to me, just as Reagan Airport will always be National Airport and CVS will always be Peoples Drug Store

**Tobias** · 03-13-2009, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by billy ross

Nota Bena that we 'backwards' Philadelphians still have our PSFS building. If this were Chicago would it be the Loew's building?

I think that the Duke and Duke building should be restored to South Broad Street, now that ridiculous Wachovia is no more. What an arrogant company!

The Red Rooster and I could see the red PSFS sign from our bedroom window growing up and I must have asked my mom dozens of times what it stands for. What does PSFS stand for? I forget.

**Litter Box** · 03-13-2009, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by Tobias

The Red Rooster and I could see the red PSFS sign from our bedroom window growing up and I must have asked my mom dozens of times what it stands for. What does PSFS stand for? I forget.

Philadelphia Savings Fund Society = They survived the great depression.

**Tobias** · 03-13-2009, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by Litter Box

Philadelphia Savings Fund Society = They survived the great depression.

I hope they never remove that sign.

**Scoats** · 03-14-2009, 10:37 AM

Cool. Sears moved to the burbs years ago. Why keep the iconic building named after them after they abandoned it?

**Brooke** · 03-14-2009, 11:30 AM

Yeah, imagine my disappointment when I'm sent to defend Sears my first few days of practicing law and arrive in the burbs at Hoffman Estates and not downtown Chicago. Ugh.

But I agree, the name change will never stick. I drive down Delaware Ave daily. And apparently, now I can go back to the TLA.

**raider.adam** · 03-14-2009, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by Tobias

The Red Rooster and I could see the red PSFS sign from our bedroom window growing up and I must have asked my mom dozens of times what it stands for. What does PSFS stand for? I forget.

Ah so you are brothers?

**Tobias** · 03-14-2009, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by raider.adam

Ah so you are brothers?

Where have you been? Twin brothers.

**Illiniwek** · 03-14-2009, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Scoats

Cool. Sears moved to the burbs years ago. Why keep the iconic building named after them after they abandoned it?

The river that runs through the Grand Canyon -- after which it was named -- is no longer called the Grand River. No Chrysler execs are slaving away in the Chrysler building. And, of course, no Penn is proprietor of -- you know -- his woods.

**Brooke** · 03-14-2009, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Tobias

Where have you been? Twin brothers.

Apparently I too have been in the same place as Raider.adam (and Arlee, on one of our dates) because I had no idea.

**arlee** · 03-14-2009, 09:13 PM

But that isn't so, Brooke. Because while I didn't know that they were twins, I did know that they were brothers, courtesy of the last HH.

It was probably the only thing I could hear in that joint. I think you were talking to Dave and Adam was talking to Billy.

**arlee** · 03-14-2009, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by Illiniwek

And, believe me, you do not want to eat a Chicago hot dog.

Fixed that for ya.

**Tobias** · 03-14-2009, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by arlee

But that isn't so, Brooke. Because while I didn't know that they were twins, I did know that they were brothers, courtesy of the last HH.

It was probably the only thing I could hear in that joint. I think you were talking to Dave and Adam was talking to Billy.

We're twins, but not identical. He's five years older, five inces taller, sixty, maybe ninety pounds heavier, has redder hair and is more handsome. And more intelligent. And wittier. And funnier.

**NE19149** · 03-14-2009, 10:18 PM

The title of this thread is misleading.... The Sears Tower is not gone.... just renamed.. stop trying to scare people thinking that it may have been demolished by a couple of low-flying 747's with an Iraqy flight crew.