Thanks, I've always wanted to do an update but never got around to it. I took a short drone video downtown last year that I was going to use, but never had the time to do anything with it. Maybe I should just upload the video.
Nice historical review of Western Ave. I was born in Muskegon in '58 and am still here (Until I die. I wouldn't rather live anywhere else). I have many memories of Western Ave. ("Downtown"). My oldest memories are of going to Hardy's, riding the escalator, and visiting "Rudolph" for a free gift at Christmastime. During the Christmas season all of the streets were decorated and Christmas music was played over the outside loud speakers along Western. It was absolutely magical. Saw many parades. I used to be a paperboy and mom would take me every week to pay my bill at the Muskegon Chronicle building which was side corner from the Occidental. I was always in awe of looking up at the lion heads sculptured on the building. Mom would tell me stories of people jumping to their death off the roof. I remember the halls being very narrow inside the Occidental. Most of the storefront was already closed down by then. I was sad and furious when they announced the plans to destroy her and had a protest letter printed in the paper. I still have a piece of the building. I resented Sears for a long time as it's parking lot buried the hotel. I do have many good memories of the mall as well and was angry when it, too, was destroyed and it made the sacrifice of The Occidental seem in vain. I do have a brick from the mall, too. Attended many movies at the Michigan Theater. Lived a block from Western in the '80s. It's a lot different now and I'm glad that Western is progressing again. It would be cool to see a sequel to your video. Thanks for the flashbacks!
Yeah, I've thought about doing a follow-up to this video. Hopefully I'll get around to it someday! I was a paperboy for the Chronicle too, back in the 90s.
My mom went to Muskegon High with Bernie Heethuis. In the 70’s, dad and I went to Bernie’s hardware store in East Muskegon on the west end of Apple avenue at least once a week. Bernie (a true gentleman) was on the town council when they made the decision to tear down Western Avenue. Look at the opening sequence of Jean Shepard’s “A Christmas Story.” That’s what it was like at Christmas time. My dad and Bernie argued vehemently about it. Some Muskegonites wanted to lead midnight patrols of Western Avenue with their claw hammers and a sense of raging justice. But, well, watch the video. Then Google images of Benton Harbor. And the new farms of Detroit. .
I'd like to make an update someday. The majority of the old mall site has now been redeveloped or is under active development. I need to get some updated photos though. Hopefully I'll get around to it eventually.
wow...We passed thru Muskegon last year on our vacation, & it was pretty much a mystery to us about what was going on there. Little embarrased I didnt know the history...but it makes sence now.
@Flashygrrl Yes, I'm sure the mall was never renovated because for the longest time it had no major local competition and it managed to stay at near full occupancy. Then the Lakes Mall opened and in months the Muskegon Mall went from being almost full to being a ghost town.
Wasn't the Muskegon Mall a ghostmall BEFORE the Lakes Mall was built? I could be wrong. I miss Circus World with the small arcade, Disc n Tapes, the escalators, the iron-/T-shirt shop upstairs, the Mind Bender head shop downstairs, the fountains, etc. 😕
Anybody remember circus world and the dungeon arcade and used to hang there as a kid in the 80's? I'm looking for someone who seen a kid who beat a pinball game at the arcade and won over a hundred free games off of one quarter. It was incredible and freaky as f()&)k! I was there to witness, anybody remember please comment, thanks.
Do you have a cousin/brother named Richie or Mike and/or related to the Vasquez's that lived on the corner of E. Isabella and Arthur in the 80's, if so I think I know you, I lived at 1324 Peck and used to be known as JC (John now). Anyhow, don't remember the "Pinball Kid".
Boy, I'd forgotten how ugly that old Mall was. Maybe it would have survived better if they'd ever gotten around to renovating it. I'd forgotten that when the new mall was built it was while the old one was still open and probably contributed to its demise. Interesting video.
Muskegon was ruined in a historical way. I was 12 years old when the Muskegon mall was built. Historical buildings were demolished for a failed modern mall. All we have now are old photographs of a once prosperous wonderful community that was lost to a failed vision of the future. Lol!!! What a shame. My family emigrated here from Greece and Germany. My grandparents built businesses that my parents inherited, only to be lost to "progress".My husband and I both worked for Muskegon public schools. That is where we met. Inner city crime destroyed this mall and downtown area. Sad!!!
Not true. In fact, the redevelopment is bringing people back downtown in a way that should last a long time. Great that they are using Brownfield Redevelopment funding to build homes on a lot of the vacant lots, too, stopping the "urban removal" that often happened to the people who stuck it out and stayed in their family homes near many bigger cities. You can also credit the Muskegon Land Bank for ensuring that many of the homes in the core area are being renovated, rather than demolished like we saw in Detroit when we lived in the area for many years. It's good to be back in Muskegon to watch it rise from the ashes of so many problems that related to the industries and jobs moving overseas when I was a kid. If/when we get past this COVID-19 mess, the cruise ships and festivals will help to "import" money and jobs, too. As long as we focus on our natural gifts of the waters, we're the biggest thing going on the west coast of our state.
@@blackbird2839Still not true. Less crime today in Muskegon. Let's not have these old, tired stereotypes applied to the town as it continues to improve.
It's always been great. Fantastic video. Would love a modern update haha
Thanks, I've always wanted to do an update but never got around to it. I took a short drone video downtown last year that I was going to use, but never had the time to do anything with it. Maybe I should just upload the video.
@@eridony Downtown muskegon has changed so much since then. It would be cool to see the new footage
Nice historical review of Western Ave. I was born in Muskegon in '58 and am still here (Until I die. I wouldn't rather live anywhere else). I have many memories of Western Ave. ("Downtown"). My oldest memories are of going to Hardy's, riding the escalator, and visiting "Rudolph" for a free gift at Christmastime. During the Christmas season all of the streets were decorated and Christmas music was played over the outside loud speakers along Western. It was absolutely magical. Saw many parades. I used to be a paperboy and mom would take me every week to pay my bill at the Muskegon Chronicle building which was side corner from the Occidental. I was always in awe of looking up at the lion heads sculptured on the building. Mom would tell me stories of people jumping to their death off the roof. I remember the halls being very narrow inside the Occidental. Most of the storefront was already closed down by then. I was sad and furious when they announced the plans to destroy her and had a protest letter printed in the paper. I still have a piece of the building. I resented Sears for a long time as it's parking lot buried the hotel. I do have many good memories of the mall as well and was angry when it, too, was destroyed and it made the sacrifice of The Occidental seem in vain. I do have a brick from the mall, too. Attended many movies at the Michigan Theater. Lived a block from Western in the '80s. It's a lot different now and I'm glad that Western is progressing again. It would be cool to see a sequel to your video. Thanks for the flashbacks!
I also worked at the Tohado House and Antique Kitchen on Western.
Yeah, I've thought about doing a follow-up to this video. Hopefully I'll get around to it someday!
I was a paperboy for the Chronicle too, back in the 90s.
@@eridony Right on. My route was back in the mid-70s.
I use to live in Fremont Michigan from 1984 to 1990 went Muskegon all the the time.
My mom went to Muskegon High with Bernie Heethuis. In the 70’s, dad and I went to Bernie’s hardware store in East Muskegon on the west end of Apple avenue at least once a week. Bernie (a true gentleman) was on the town council when they made the decision to tear down Western Avenue.
Look at the opening sequence of Jean Shepard’s “A Christmas Story.” That’s what it was like at Christmas time. My dad and Bernie argued vehemently about it. Some Muskegonites wanted to lead midnight patrols of Western Avenue with their claw hammers and a sense of raging justice.
But, well, watch the video. Then Google images of Benton Harbor. And the new farms of Detroit.
.
Thanks for the information. Any chance for an update?
I'd like to make an update someday. The majority of the old mall site has now been redeveloped or is under active development. I need to get some updated photos though. Hopefully I'll get around to it eventually.
eridony Thanks. Can’t wait for the future perception.
I used to go to the Muskegon mall in the 1980's when I lived in Fremont Michigan.
The fountains and Christmas moose where awesome.
Yes, Chris Moose!
Charles occasionally wears a shroud.
wow...We passed thru Muskegon last year on our vacation, & it was pretty much a mystery to us about what was going on there. Little embarrased I didnt know the history...but it makes sence now.
Don't go downtown or Muskegon heights at night time you my get rob a lot of drugs
I was there when it was great.
I use to live in Muskegon... where is the new Mall?
The Lakes Mall is in Fruitport Township. Near US-31 and Sternberg Road. With all the retail closures now that one seems to be struggling.
@Flashygrrl Yes, I'm sure the mall was never renovated because for the longest time it had no major local competition and it managed to stay at near full occupancy. Then the Lakes Mall opened and in months the Muskegon Mall went from being almost full to being a ghost town.
Wasn't the Muskegon Mall a ghostmall BEFORE the Lakes Mall was built? I could be wrong. I miss Circus World with the small arcade, Disc n Tapes, the escalators, the iron-/T-shirt shop upstairs, the Mind Bender head shop downstairs, the fountains, etc. 😕
man. this is depressing
Its so interesting to learn about Muskegon coming from California...
Anybody remember circus world and the dungeon arcade and used to hang there as a kid in the 80's? I'm looking for someone who seen a kid who beat a pinball game at the arcade and won over a hundred free games off of one quarter. It was incredible and freaky as f()&)k! I was there to witness, anybody remember please comment, thanks.
Do you have a cousin/brother named Richie or Mike and/or related to the Vasquez's that lived on the corner of E. Isabella and Arthur in the 80's, if so I think I know you, I lived at 1324 Peck and used to be known as JC (John now). Anyhow, don't remember the "Pinball Kid".
Boy, I'd forgotten how ugly that old Mall was. Maybe it would have survived better if they'd ever gotten around to renovating it. I'd forgotten that when the new mall was built it was while the old one was still open and probably contributed to its demise. Interesting video.
I didn't think it was ugly, just kinda plain the the new mall.
Muskegon was ruined in a historical way. I was 12 years old when the Muskegon mall was built. Historical buildings were demolished for a failed modern mall. All we have now are old photographs of a once prosperous wonderful community that was lost to a failed vision of the future. Lol!!! What a shame. My family emigrated here from Greece and Germany. My grandparents built businesses that my parents inherited, only to be lost to "progress".My husband and I both worked for Muskegon public schools. That is where we met. Inner city crime destroyed this mall and downtown area. Sad!!!
I worked one of my frst jobs at Wag's, the Walgreen's Restaurant.
I miss seeing the old Walgreen's building. Even when it was part of the mall. I also miss the original G&L with the wooden sidewalk.
Lot of scrap iron "art" purchased from "artists " from out of state!
That crap they put in now is annoying
I had much fun there as well good times
good job!
cool~
Getto
Wrong 👎
Muskegon is just dump now
Not true. In fact, the redevelopment is bringing people back downtown in a way that should last a long time. Great that they are using Brownfield Redevelopment funding to build homes on a lot of the vacant lots, too, stopping the "urban removal" that often happened to the people who stuck it out and stayed in their family homes near many bigger cities. You can also credit the Muskegon Land Bank for ensuring that many of the homes in the core area are being renovated, rather than demolished like we saw in Detroit when we lived in the area for many years. It's good to be back in Muskegon to watch it rise from the ashes of so many problems that related to the industries and jobs moving overseas when I was a kid. If/when we get past this COVID-19 mess, the cruise ships and festivals will help to "import" money and jobs, too. As long as we focus on our natural gifts of the waters, we're the biggest thing going on the west coast of our state.
Carim Calkins vert true it was a dump in 70 now a lot wrose very high crime
@@blackbird2839Still not true. Less crime today in Muskegon. Let's not have these old, tired stereotypes applied to the town as it continues to improve.