Sports Cars Race In Charlestowne Mall In Toyota Commercial

ST. CHARLES, IL — Sports cars racing in the nearly vacant Charlestowne Mall is not the type of excitement typically seen in the desolate space, which closed its interior to the public in 2019.

But Toyota decided to change all that when the company picked the mall as the backdrop for a four-minute commercial released in recent weeks on YouTube. Touting its new GR Supra, Toyota's Gazoo Racing team was let loose in Charlestowne Mall, as they performed stunts, tore up carpet and left tire marks on tiles, the Daily Herald is reporting.

Property manager Joe Meneghini said initially there was some concern that the cars would not have enough space to pull off the stunts, according to the article.

"The vehicles were inches from each other, and they never touched," he said. "They knew exactly where all the edges of the vehicles were at all times."

The YouTube video pokes fun at the process of developing a car advertisement, with executives requesting more mundane features, like the GR86's parking and back-up cameras, be the focus of the video. Members in a focus group express their disdain over the dull footage, which included a display of the car inside the mall, but perks up and cheers as a pitch by junior executives, showing the cars racing around the mall, clearing jumps and tearing around corners, is presented.

Only two anchors, Von Maur and Classic Cinemas, remain at the mall. Several strategies to develop the mall have fallen short over the years, and village officials are hoping a developer will come forward with plans to add more entertainment options and residential space at the mall.

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