Photo: Block 37 opens

While legal wrangling continued, the “Block 37” mall opened its doors to the public for the first time on Monday. Some stores will open this week, others not until after Thanksgiving. Some, not until fall of 2010.

According to CBS 2, which is located next door to Block 37, a food court is expected to open on the third floor in the next several weeks. Eventually, 70 shops and three theaters will occupy the mall. Plans for a CTA “superstation,” however, are on hold.

On Friday, a receiver was appointed to take over the project. The developer, Joseph Freed & Associates, is said to owe $128 million to lenders.

Block 37 is located about three blocks south of Marina City, on both State and Dearborn Streets.