Florida Mall in 2008 would be so packed, you could not get a open parking spot! 2018 it was about a 40% drop in holiday consumer shops, mall traffic. Orlando Florida
@@ijustdidahugeshit that's ok. Just don't stop doing things like Dancing with Poop. 💩 Don't stop watching awesome things like The Dead Mall Series. Don't stop watching the kind of things I love to watch like this. Don't stop commenting and replying. Love and light from Oklahoma.♏
I think it's because all malls are dying, and have been for at least five years. The only exceptions are really the ultra elite malls that cater to high income people. Almost every "outlet"/discount mall is suffering massively, *except* the ones that cater to international tourists. I know of plenty of Europeans and Chinese who flock to them for the discounts, and usually the main purpose of their trips is that shopping. Americans buy from Amazon and eBay sellers these days.
Well you have people who don't like the religion that holidays come from and the people who complain that they have a hoilday that the US does not celebrate. Also the easily offended people who will sue the mall for some dumb reason of the imagination.
You've never worked retail, have you? When it's slow and nothing to do, it's worse because space-time contium some how drags like it's been Armstrong. When you're busy and have a lot to do then you don't even know your shift is over.
@@SockyNoob Busy retail employees thought at 10 pm after getting home after busy day......"I think I forgot to eat anything today" or look down at watch on a slow day and see how long you have left and see you've only been there for barely two hours.
My young daughter learned to walk at a dead mall. It had clean floors, a few three-step stairs to practice, and the sparse population meant we had huge swaths of the place to ourselves. The guy at the Pretzelmaker was always happy to see us and gave us extra food. Broke my heart when it finally closed and they started demolishing it.
You know what Arizona mall isn’t dead? Arrowhead! I had to go there yesterday to get a pizza I’d ordered, and it was insanely busy. It was like I’d traveled back in time to the 1990s.
I live in Long Island NY. We have a dead “mall” called the Sunvet Mall. It was a dying mall in the 90’s and it’s still open. They have the funniest Twitter ever. You should check it out.
I'm not too far from Sunvet and it's definitely in bad shape. Though it's better off than the former Kmart plaza in Sayville. That's depressing just to look at. At least Smith Haven Mall is doing well.
I went to superstition springs mall recently for the first time in a long while and I am very surprised at how nice it actually looks. Its not that extreme modern look a lot of places go for these days but it feels more cozy tbh. Also it was super busy especially the food court. The japanese place had a line with like 20+ people in it.
I have fond memories of going to the mall with my Mom when I was a kid and Christmas was coming. She would take each of my siblings on a different day to buy gifts for the other family members. Mall's are actually doing well where I live in Canada, and every time I go in one of ours I get that same nostalgic feeling. It always feels like I'm back in the 90's when I'm in a mall, lol. They just have that same timeless quality, does anyone agree? I hope we never entirely lose physical shopping (as opposed to online shopping). It's important that we as a society retain some traditions and social interaction I believe.
I feel the same way, when I visit malls it feels like I'm back in the 90s. It doesn't feel good to me though, as I remember the 90s to be a time of hope and prosperity and good fortune and I used to feel so excited going shopping there with my mum. Now I remember that I'm an adult and that society is going through some very dark times. It's good that malls are still doing well in Canada. I agree that it would be tragic to lose physical shopping.
great video! One difference with Paradise Valley Mall is that Macerich has purposely been killing it for the past decade. Not that it was what it used to be or would be, but it would be on par today with Superstition- moderately busy with a decent amount of national retail and some mom and pops. They had started planning a redevelopment and de-leasing of the mall, as in not leasing long term to any new tenants or renewing the existing ones by more than a year at a time. That would allow them to do their new plan of an outdoor mall like Kierland, Scottsdale Quarter, etc. Can't do that with retailers with long term leases in the way. The problem though is they started focusing on the high performing malls and PV was kind of forgotten about and deteriorated quickly with no new retail coming in, and the existing retailers didn't update their stores if they were still open. It looks like finally that plan will be starting in the next year. Getting Dillards and Chompies out of the way will allow them to start on the east phase and work from there. I have seen the plan and it looks pretty neat, will be exciting to see some progress finally there.
As a European, I already think these meet and greet-santa-photo-things are kinda weird, but seeing it in a dead mall during a pandemic takes it to a whole new level of weird American consumerist culture. Thanks for covering this, I've kinda been binging your channel the last few days. American retail is really fascinating to me.
You have feel sorry for those mall Santas. One on hand, no shrieking, restless, crying children, but on the other hand...when that's part of the job... I honestly feel this might be the last Christmas for a lot of malls across the country.
I really like how you're periodically covering Paradise Valley Mall! It's like something of a case study of dead malls, with having video of it every year or two.
Major props to the employees who are setting up decorations in that first mall. I mean like why bother if nobody is coming in? But they still clearly put a lot of effort into it.
I remembered you cover the Prescott gate way mall not too long ago. I was just in that mall the other day. And was surprised to see it decorated for Christmas. They even had the big fireplace going. A few people in the food court and shopping.
I used to work as a mall security guard for a macerich owned mall in Modesto CA . Back in the mid to late 90's It was called Vintage Faire Mall its also dying . Paradise valley has that macerich look just like vintage faire the tile and the poinsettias.
I just recently moved to TN from Mesa. I too grew up in Superstion Springs Mall. Every black Friday and Christmas season I have shopped here for 32 years. This of course is the first one I cant now having moved out of state. It truly is sad to me to miss the decor. Thanks for posting this as it some how oddly made my Christmas a little better and more complete even though I still miss it so much.
It’s sad to see so many dead malls. I live near Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento and surprisingly it’s still always busy, despite the pandemic, multiple shootings, and online shopping taking over. With that being said, 5 minutes in the other direction you have Country Club Mall which has been slowly dying for the last 20 years.
@@cornstar1253 sadly is our reality i don't know where are we going with this changes, nothing remains thats for sure. In the future something completly different will come for Amazon style of shopping. Because i don't think anything makes a come back, i don't see horse charriots on the streets anymore for example, i can't see what will be but even online shopping is a temporary thing. Newer generations socialice different now, in a way older can't understand at all.
Back in the early 1990's, I worked two different jobs, at one of our local malls - Radio Shack (1991) & Bergner's (1993). The mall scene was so different then. More families, busy stores, & people smiling... More than 25-years have passed, and both of my former employers are history. Well, Radio Shack seems to still exist through a few Dealership/Franchise stores which remain, as well as the 'Express' Stores inside select HobbyTown locations - still a shadow of their former self. Bergner's was a seasonal job, during the Christmas Holiday. I 'wore' several hats, while working there. I worked Floor Sales (Domestics & Housewares, China/Bridal Registry, & Children's Wear), Customer Service... as in the guy that carried-out the 6-10-piece Samsonite Luggage sets to the customer's car in the parking lot, Building Maintenance (changing-out light bulbs, cleaning-out the trash compactor, etc...), and my favorite.... dressing-up as Tyler Ted - a big Teddy Bear, with glasses & blue bib overalls. As Tyler Ted, my job was to greet parents & kids in our store, give-out candy, and occasionally give a big (but gentle) bear hug or too - just no talking. We had a mall entrance, directly across from Santa’s Little Village & his line of patiently waiting children. During one interesting occasion, I was walking by our mall entrance, and a number of little kids saw me. They left Santa's line, and ran over to get candy & hugs from Tyler Ted. One little girl (probably 3 or 4 years-old) hung-on tight, and her mom decided it was a good opportunity to take a picture. Apparently, Santa was more than curious, why some of his ‘customers’ were leaving his line in haste. He actually got out of his big chair & looked over just to see what the big ‘draw’ was. Who knew kids loved a big soft teddy bear (with candy), over a bearded guy in a red suit? My only complaint was how hot the bear suit was to walk around in. About every 20-30 minutes, I had to take a break, if nothing else than to take the bear head off in our break room, so I could breathe & get some fresh air. Oh, and I found it safer to take the elevator over the escalator, when going between floors. Furry paws tend to get caught at the base of the escalator, or so I was told! :o
LED Christmas lights have fuses in the plug head. New strings usually come with a couple extra fuses. Look for a sliding panel or some such thing on the plug, open it up and easily swap the burned out fuse.
So happy not only did you start with PV Mall, but at the old Luby's entrance on the east side facing Tatum. This was the entrance we almost always came in from unless we were seeing a movie or coming in with friends and hitting the food court first. Christmas in the 90s was an event at this place, and the decorations now are a shadow of what they once were some 20-30 years ago. They would hang lush pine garlands across the corridors with red and silver (likely plastic) bells and ornaments along with wreaths and giant ponderosa pine cones as big as footballs. The photos with Santa setup was at the JCPenny's side well across the mall, and the donations tree was in the atrium where you'd split off between Sears and the Food Court, then head west for Penny's. Of all the shops, I think Dillard's went the most all out for their in store holiday decor. The two book stores, Kay Bee's and Hobby Bench were regular stops back then.
I would love to have all the playing card decorations and the Santa chair. That would just be awesome. I was trying to find when they were going up for sale online. I did find result of the fixture auction from December 4. That was when they sold the cave he signs and the Cinnabon along with benches and trash cans and track lighting from the spencers. Stuff like that. I just can’t find any listings for the Christmas decorations.
Approximately 1/2 of a mall in a neighboring town was converted into a charter school last year. Other ideas:. Senior living center with attached doctor offices and hospital annex or a community recreation center.
They're on the third auction for Metrocenter and they haven't put any of the Christmas stuff up yet!?!? I might score the Santa playing card or the giant viewmaster if they put them up. Thanks for making the vid and reminding me!
Erik Thank You the fantastic content this year, your channel and many UA-camr have help me though during this awful year when I have been mostly at home, So I wish you and Your Family A Safe and Healthy Christmas, and I can't wait for More Retail Archaeology Content in 2021.
My local mall didn't put up their big tree out front this year. They used the same red and silver Santa photo set that they have used the last couple years, but they didn't hang the moon, stars, or twinkly green lights from the ceiling. They didn't hang any of the other ceiling greenery or lights this year either. I went over a couple weeks ago just to get out of the house, and there was not a line to see Santa at all.
I found your channel randomly yesterday and have been watching your videos nonstop! Your voice is great and calming and it’s great to watch at work as background noise and learning fun and cool things. Wish you’d come to the east coast more! We have tons of abandoned malls especially in New York and tri-state area
Metro City Mall hosted a large airsoft event recently. Likely they'll do it again. I've been to Metro City and shop at the Paradise Valley mall occasionally still. So feel free to ask me anything about them from a local.
Things change. Suburban malls killed downtown department stores. Walmart pushed malls out the door and Amazon kicked them to the curb. We don't have a mall or Walmart in our little town. The last department store closed this year. Although we still have a hardware, pharmacy and movie theater, DT is mostly antiques, boutiques and restaurants now. We do have 5 dollar stores in the county!
It’s all so surreal. The trees for sale at the Metrocenter Liquidation is something we would like at PTV. It would be an awesome addition to our Christmas Forest.
2:31 “Perhaps The Croods 2 or Freaky has dollar tickets or something.” Lol King of Wishful Thinking. And don’t even get me started on HBO Max Wonder Woman.
These were the de facto town squares of their day. Twenty or thirty years ago it wasn't difficult to spend many hours at the mall. I miss those times as do many who remember.
It’s so sad to see these malls dying. Maybe they just built too many of them. In my area outside of Philadelphia, Pa, a few of the largest malls will survive. Thank you for sharing such great videos. I wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday.
Does every little store have a restroom? If so they could covert them into condos with residential interior upgrades. In Phoenix having an indoor jogging road, air conditioned in summer, would be a killer condo selling point!
I remember when Wallace and Ladmo would make weekly appearances at Meteo Center back in the 80s. I am suprised that Superstition Springs is dying out. When did Westcor sell the mall?
Thanks for making the time and filming all the footage on the Malls, however it is so very sad seeing how most Malls are decaying! Earlier in my life I will wonder how and abandoned ruin got to that point but watching all these gives you some kind of perspective. It will be interesting to see what the Retail Landscape is going to look like a decade from now. Great job with all the videos Mister!
I remember going into the Macys at my local mall as a kid. And the decorations were always so cool. Sadly Macys left and the mall only has about 6 stores left in a two story mall.
when i was growing up 80 & 90's Even crap malls would have ppl jammed in them and working fountains till mid 90's. You walked into a more magical xmas experience and it just looked top shelf and magically lit. Now Your lucky to see Santa with an elf taking polaroid shots for $20.00 And personally shopping online for xmas gift fucking blows and its been a shit show this year which follows 2020's theme in general.
there are waaay more than 3 Malls in Maricopa County. They have too many malls is part of the problem. Most people in Paradise Valley probably go to Scotsdale Fashion Square or Biltmore which are other malls in the area.
My local malls are still doing pretty good but the one mall I go to has more "experiences" than stores in it, there's a mini library, VR lab, movie theater, yoga space, etc. The other mall near me is going with high end/upscale stores and even has an amazon store in it, however the sears in it looks dead as hell for obvious reasons. I hope this pandemic doesn't kill malls more than they already were, I'd rather go to a mall than online shop any day.
Hey, if they close the Chompie's in PV Mall, you can always come on over to 92nd Street and Shea (very close to where I live). It is still going strong. I remember having to travel to get to one in 1981, but was thrilled when they decided to open one near me. Actually, I was in there yesterday with a friend who needed to pick up some bakery delicacies for his wife. What is really strange to me is that malls tend to fail regardless of location or demographics. Looking over the ones I remember which closed (Tri-City, Thomas, Los Arcos), those which are failing (PV, Metrocenter, Papago Plaza, Fiesta, Superstition Springs, etc.) and the only one which has not failed, but has had difficult times is Scottsdale Fashion Square. Even the Borgata couldn't make it and it wasn't that far away from SFS. The only thing different is that over the years, SFS has been home to Sax Fifth Ave., Nordstrom's and Neiman Marcus. With the exorbitant prices, you would think it would have killed the mall, but it didn't. You definitely bring to light some very interesting subjects regarding shopping tendencies in the metropolitan Phoenix area. Thank you very much.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas too! I used to live in Phoenix back in the 80's but I still have memories of Metro Center. My wife and I watched Tootsie at their movie theater back in 1982. Enjoy your videos.
I can remember back around Christmas time in the 80s and even the 90s when my local mall would be so crowded you could barely move through it
Florida Mall in 2008 would be so packed, you could not get a open parking spot! 2018 it was about a 40% drop in holiday consumer shops, mall traffic. Orlando Florida
@@DavidLLambertmobile I am an alcoholic
@@ijustdidahugeshit that's ok. Just don't stop doing things like Dancing with Poop. 💩 Don't stop watching awesome things like The Dead Mall Series. Don't stop watching the kind of things I love to watch like this. Don't stop commenting and replying. Love and light from Oklahoma.♏
@@nicholasshade Thank you. I plan to.
And people would be smoking on the concourse.....
At least in Michigan.
Even non-dead malls don’t seem to decorate like they use to.
I agree
I think it's because all malls are dying, and have been for at least five years. The only exceptions are really the ultra elite malls that cater to high income people. Almost every "outlet"/discount mall is suffering massively, *except* the ones that cater to international tourists. I know of plenty of Europeans and Chinese who flock to them for the discounts, and usually the main purpose of their trips is that shopping. Americans buy from Amazon and eBay sellers these days.
Well you have people who don't like the religion that holidays come from and the people who complain that they have a hoilday that the US does not celebrate. Also the easily offended people who will sue the mall for some dumb reason of the imagination.
Doesn't help when they're putting up decorations earlier and earlier every year.
After ten years of dead malls phenomenon, they finally gave up the fight.
Santa Claus is like “this is the easiest shift I’ve ever had”
But when you’re not busy, time passes so slowly
You've never worked retail, have you? When it's slow and nothing to do, it's worse because space-time contium some how drags like it's been Armstrong. When you're busy and have a lot to do then you don't even know your shift is over.
@@nickmoney yup!
@@SockyNoob Busy retail employees thought at 10 pm after getting home after busy day......"I think I forgot to eat anything today" or look down at watch on a slow day and see how long you have left and see you've only been there for barely two hours.
@@pedanticmrpender
Bad Santa
My young daughter learned to walk at a dead mall. It had clean floors, a few three-step stairs to practice, and the sparse population meant we had huge swaths of the place to ourselves. The guy at the Pretzelmaker was always happy to see us and gave us extra food. Broke my heart when it finally closed and they started demolishing it.
It is crazy to see how much decorating time got put into that last mall and yet nobody is visiting Santa. Kinda sad... :(
I know. Trying so hard to make something possible when it's all a fantasy in the end
Probably due to covid
The amount of dedication of decorating such a place
I think malls are decorated by special decorators hired by the mall management.
You know what Arizona mall isn’t dead? Arrowhead! I had to go there yesterday to get a pizza I’d ordered, and it was insanely busy. It was like I’d traveled back in time to the 1990s.
Nypd?
Sbarros?
Arrowhead is probably one of the best of the ones in the area.
@@jaubuchon28 Nope, they have a Fired Pie there now.
@@DeanStrickson well shoot I live 5 minutes away and had no idea lol
Its crazy to think that when I was younger, I had to wait hours to meet Santa at Superstition Springs Mall!
I like that you gave them props for their decorations. They do look nice
For everyone reading this, have a merry Christmas and a great 2021
thanks, you too. 2020 has been a tough year.
Thanks! You too!
Back at you, I’m so glad to be home for a change
Woo! It's gonna get worse!
Thank you! You too!
I live in Long Island NY. We have a dead “mall” called the Sunvet Mall. It was a dying mall in the 90’s and it’s still open. They have the funniest Twitter ever. You should check it out.
It’s hilarious! Thanks for that!😆
@@TheRalphie2020 agreed
@@TheRalphie2020
I doubt that it's a official account. Nonetheless it's still funny as frick!😁
I'm not too far from Sunvet and it's definitely in bad shape. Though it's better off than the former Kmart plaza in Sayville. That's depressing just to look at. At least Smith Haven Mall is doing well.
@@Menaceblue3 I know right! 🤣
i swear it doesn't seem that long since Paradise Valley was a bustling mall, and there's tons of stores around it that are doing well.
I went to superstition springs mall recently for the first time in a long while and I am very surprised at how nice it actually looks. Its not that extreme modern look a lot of places go for these days but it feels more cozy tbh. Also it was super busy especially the food court. The japanese place had a line with like 20+ people in it.
I have fond memories of going to the mall with my Mom when I was a kid and Christmas was coming. She would take each of my siblings on a different day to buy gifts for the other family members.
Mall's are actually doing well where I live in Canada, and every time I go in one of ours I get that same nostalgic feeling. It always feels like I'm back in the 90's when I'm in a mall, lol. They just have that same timeless quality, does anyone agree?
I hope we never entirely lose physical shopping (as opposed to online shopping). It's important that we as a society retain some traditions and social interaction I believe.
I feel the same way, when I visit malls it feels like I'm back in the 90s. It doesn't feel good to me though, as I remember the 90s to be a time of hope and prosperity and good fortune and I used to feel so excited going shopping there with my mum. Now I remember that I'm an adult and that society is going through some very dark times. It's good that malls are still doing well in Canada. I agree that it would be tragic to lose physical shopping.
These vids are like a train wreck, it's kind of depressing and yet I can't take my eyes off of it.
the one thing i def enjoyed about malls was the christmas decorations esp the big treee
Bro who decorated this I feel upset for them
They better at least got they paycheck in time
The one mall near me is rather sad when it comes to decorating. The little they've put up is so old and sunbleached.
great video!
One difference with Paradise Valley Mall is that Macerich has purposely been killing it for the past decade. Not that it was what it used to be or would be, but it would be on par today with Superstition- moderately busy with a decent amount of national retail and some mom and pops.
They had started planning a redevelopment and de-leasing of the mall, as in not leasing long term to any new tenants or renewing the existing ones by more than a year at a time. That would allow them to do their new plan of an outdoor mall like Kierland, Scottsdale Quarter, etc. Can't do that with retailers with long term leases in the way.
The problem though is they started focusing on the high performing malls and PV was kind of forgotten about and deteriorated quickly with no new retail coming in, and the existing retailers didn't update their stores if they were still open.
It looks like finally that plan will be starting in the next year. Getting Dillards and Chompies out of the way will allow them to start on the east phase and work from there. I have seen the plan and it looks pretty neat, will be exciting to see some progress finally there.
As a European, I already think these meet and greet-santa-photo-things are kinda weird, but seeing it in a dead mall during a pandemic takes it to a whole new level of weird American consumerist culture.
Thanks for covering this, I've kinda been binging your channel the last few days. American retail is really fascinating to me.
As an American, I'm fascinated with European consumerism. The US is a weird, confusing place.
I visited the Mall in my town yesterday. Our mall Santa was wearing a full plexiglass face shield. A whole new level of weirdness.
Apparently it's a thing in Canada as well according to my partner.
I wish there was a European mall version of this, I’d definitely watch that.
America is pretty much most early 2000s dystopian movies by now. NGL
You have feel sorry for those mall Santas. One on hand, no shrieking, restless, crying children, but on the other hand...when that's part of the job...
I honestly feel this might be the last Christmas for a lot of malls across the country.
Mall Santas are going to be an endangered species soon, no two ways about it.
I would love to buy some of those Christmas decorations from Metrocenter Mall. Sadly I don’t live in Arizona. 😥
Hurts to know Superstition Springs is dying, I grew up out in Gold Canyon and this was the mall we went to
I really like how you're periodically covering Paradise Valley Mall! It's like something of a case study of dead malls, with having video of it every year or two.
The last one has an Orange Julius. Not even close to dead.
Orange Julius still open means the mall still has the pulse?
@@thanakonpraepanich4284 they are rare, must be doing something right.
That was a surprise name drop of John Riggs at the end. Like when you realize two of your friends already know each other.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Birmingham UK, look forward to more great videos next year.
The weekend before Christmas these malls used to be shoulder to shoulder when I first lived here in the 90's. Tragic.
Superstition Springs was my mall to go to on weekends back in the early 2000's happy to see its still doing okay as far as malls are concerned.
Do you know who to contact about purchasing the decorations. I'd love those penguins and polar bears!
They're already sold, that portion of the fixture auction was a few weeks ago.
@@RetailArchaeology Rats! Thanks for the update. Always love watching your videos. Merry Christmas! and Happy New Year!
It was always nice to see the mall decked out in Christmas stuff.
Major props to the employees who are setting up decorations in that first mall. I mean like why bother if nobody is coming in? But they still clearly put a lot of effort into it.
I think it's good they are still having decorating for the holidays
I remembered you cover the Prescott gate way mall not too long ago. I was just in that mall the other day. And was surprised to see it decorated for Christmas. They even had the big fireplace going. A few people in the food court and shopping.
Eating knish from Chompies is one of my favorite things. Hope they find a lot of success in the new stand-alone.
I used to work as a mall security guard for a macerich owned mall in Modesto CA . Back in the mid to late 90's It was called Vintage Faire Mall its also dying . Paradise valley has that macerich look just like vintage faire the tile and the poinsettias.
wow honestly did not expect the cameo appearance at the beginning! riggs does some great retro stuff though highly recommended!
i'm sad for the Santa just hanging about
Eh, Santa’s make some big bucks lol. He might be thrilled to get paid for just sitting around
The virus probably isn't doing this mall any favors. The mall where I live has more office space than stores these days.
There isn't any virus.
Our 50 yr old mall is converting to multi level condos and townhouses and smaller retail spaces
I just recently moved to TN from Mesa. I too grew up in Superstion Springs Mall. Every black Friday and Christmas season I have shopped here for 32 years. This of course is the first one I cant now having moved out of state. It truly is sad to me to miss the decor. Thanks for posting this as it some how oddly made my Christmas a little better and more complete even though I still miss it so much.
It’s sad to see so many dead malls. I live near Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento and surprisingly it’s still always busy, despite the pandemic, multiple shootings, and online shopping taking over. With that being said, 5 minutes in the other direction you have Country Club Mall which has been slowly dying for the last 20 years.
Merry Christmas to you too! Glad to see you squeezed out one more retail mall therapy before Christmas! We'll see you next year! 😘🙏
Nostalgia: Christmas at the mall
the morbid pleasure of watching the 70-90's temples of consumption crumbling, great video, cheers from Spain
@@cornstar1253 sadly is our reality
i don't know where are we going with this
changes, nothing remains thats for sure.
In the future something completly different will come for Amazon style of shopping.
Because i don't think anything makes a come back, i don't see horse charriots on the streets anymore for example, i can't see what will be but even online shopping is a temporary thing.
Newer generations socialice different now, in a way older can't understand at all.
Back in the early 1990's, I worked two different jobs, at one of our local malls - Radio Shack (1991) & Bergner's (1993). The mall scene was so different then. More families, busy stores, & people smiling... More than 25-years have passed, and both of my former employers are history. Well, Radio Shack seems to still exist through a few Dealership/Franchise stores which remain, as well as the 'Express' Stores inside select HobbyTown locations - still a shadow of their former self.
Bergner's was a seasonal job, during the Christmas Holiday. I 'wore' several hats, while working there. I worked Floor Sales (Domestics & Housewares, China/Bridal Registry, & Children's Wear), Customer Service... as in the guy that carried-out the 6-10-piece Samsonite Luggage sets to the customer's car in the parking lot, Building Maintenance (changing-out light bulbs, cleaning-out the trash compactor, etc...), and my favorite.... dressing-up as Tyler Ted - a big Teddy Bear, with glasses & blue bib overalls.
As Tyler Ted, my job was to greet parents & kids in our store, give-out candy, and occasionally give a big (but gentle) bear hug or too - just no talking. We had a mall entrance, directly across from Santa’s Little Village & his line of patiently waiting children. During one interesting occasion, I was walking by our mall entrance, and a number of little kids saw me. They left Santa's line, and ran over to get candy & hugs from Tyler Ted. One little girl (probably 3 or 4 years-old) hung-on tight, and her mom decided it was a good opportunity to take a picture. Apparently, Santa was more than curious, why some of his ‘customers’ were leaving his line in haste. He actually got out of his big chair & looked over just to see what the big ‘draw’ was. Who knew kids loved a big soft teddy bear (with candy), over a bearded guy in a red suit?
My only complaint was how hot the bear suit was to walk around in. About every 20-30 minutes, I had to take a break, if nothing else than to take the bear head off in our break room, so I could breathe & get some fresh air. Oh, and I found it safer to take the elevator over the escalator, when going between floors. Furry paws tend to get caught at the base of the escalator, or so I was told! :o
LED Christmas lights have fuses in the plug head. New strings usually come with a couple extra fuses. Look for a sliding panel or some such thing on the plug, open it up and easily swap the burned out fuse.
Hello. I have watch this dead malls of the south states this year. I love your experiences in a dead mall. Keep working on it in 2021.
I loved PV mall I grow up there and I have a lot of memories there.
So happy not only did you start with PV Mall, but at the old Luby's entrance on the east side facing Tatum. This was the entrance we almost always came in from unless we were seeing a movie or coming in with friends and hitting the food court first. Christmas in the 90s was an event at this place, and the decorations now are a shadow of what they once were some 20-30 years ago. They would hang lush pine garlands across the corridors with red and silver (likely plastic) bells and ornaments along with wreaths and giant ponderosa pine cones as big as footballs. The photos with Santa setup was at the JCPenny's side well across the mall, and the donations tree was in the atrium where you'd split off between Sears and the Food Court, then head west for Penny's. Of all the shops, I think Dillard's went the most all out for their in store holiday decor. The two book stores, Kay Bee's and Hobby Bench were regular stops back then.
I would love to have all the playing card decorations and the Santa chair. That would just be awesome. I was trying to find when they were going up for sale online. I did find result of the fixture auction from December 4. That was when they sold the cave he signs and the Cinnabon along with benches and trash cans and track lighting from the spencers. Stuff like that. I just can’t find any listings for the Christmas decorations.
They cards the wagon and a few other of the “large” objects were so cool
That’s really sad ,a malls Christmas display with no children.
Approximately 1/2 of a mall in a neighboring town was converted into a charter school last year. Other ideas:. Senior living center with attached doctor offices and hospital annex or a community recreation center.
They're on the third auction for Metrocenter and they haven't put any of the Christmas stuff up yet!?!? I might score the Santa playing card or the giant viewmaster if they put them up. Thanks for making the vid and reminding me!
Beautiful Christmas decorations in dead shopping mall. It beautiful good shape in the mall, don't look like dead mall.
Erik
Thank You the fantastic content this year, your channel and many UA-camr have help me though during this awful year when I have been mostly at home, So I wish you and Your Family A Safe and Healthy Christmas, and I can't wait for More Retail Archaeology Content in 2021.
Thanks for this,I was a mall rat in the 80th & it's sad to see what's become of should a beloved place. 🛍
Enjoy your well-deserved break - thank you for another amazing year of content. 💙
I use to love Paradise Valley Mall
RIP Metro
The Christmas special was nice. Merry Christmas to you and your's.
My local mall didn't put up their big tree out front this year. They used the same red and silver Santa photo set that they have used the last couple years, but they didn't hang the moon, stars, or twinkly green lights from the ceiling. They didn't hang any of the other ceiling greenery or lights this year either. I went over a couple weeks ago just to get out of the house, and there was not a line to see Santa at all.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Everyone!
I found your channel randomly yesterday and have been watching your videos nonstop! Your voice is great and calming and it’s great to watch at work as background noise and learning fun and cool things. Wish you’d come to the east coast more! We have tons of abandoned malls especially in New York and tri-state area
For some reason I tie Santa with the smell of pipe tobacco that was allowed in malls in the early 80's:)
I remember that smell even though I was a kid then. Our one mall reeked of it as soon as you entered the mall
The new Chompies is going to be on 32nd street and Cactus
Metro City Mall hosted a large airsoft event recently. Likely they'll do it again. I've been to Metro City and shop at the Paradise Valley mall occasionally still. So feel free to ask me anything about them from a local.
Ha!!! Lots more dead than malls at Christmas time in the 1980s, when life was so much better.
Things change. Suburban malls killed downtown department stores. Walmart pushed malls out the door and Amazon kicked them to the curb. We don't have a mall or Walmart in our little town. The last department store closed this year. Although we still have a hardware, pharmacy and movie theater, DT is mostly antiques, boutiques and restaurants now. We do have 5 dollar stores in the county!
Walmart is still doing well
I knew the voiceover from the introduction sounded familiar! I live in Yakima, WA! Wow, it’s a small world.
It’s all so surreal. The trees for sale at the Metrocenter Liquidation is something we would like at PTV. It would be an awesome addition to our Christmas Forest.
2:31 “Perhaps The Croods 2 or Freaky has dollar tickets or something.” Lol
King of Wishful Thinking. And don’t even get me started on HBO Max Wonder Woman.
@the cutest snail there's just something fun about going to a movie theatre with friends, even if streaming is easier and cheaper
These were the de facto town squares of their day. Twenty or thirty years ago it wasn't difficult to spend many hours at the mall. I miss those times as do many who remember.
Best Christmas Special ever.
It’s so sad to see these malls dying. Maybe they just built too many of them. In my area outside of Philadelphia, Pa, a few of the largest malls will survive. Thank you for sharing such great videos. I wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday.
Does every little store have a restroom? If so they could covert them into condos with residential interior upgrades. In Phoenix having an indoor jogging road, air conditioned in summer, would be a killer condo selling point!
You should come to Springfield, Ohio and see the Upper Valley Mall. It has about 10 stores left (inside).
Merry Christmas to you and your family as well.
I remember when Wallace and Ladmo would make weekly appearances at Meteo Center back in the 80s.
I am suprised that Superstition Springs is dying out.
When did Westcor sell the mall?
Merry Christmas to you and yours. And as always thanks for the videos to watch.
Thanks for sharing the ghists of xmas's past.
I loved seeing those old Christmas decorations! They are so huge!!!
Merry Christmas from western Australia! Thank you for some great entertainment throughout the year!
Thanks for making the time and filming all the footage on the Malls, however it is so very sad seeing how most Malls are decaying! Earlier in my life I will wonder how and abandoned ruin got to that point but watching all these gives you some kind of perspective. It will be interesting to see what the Retail Landscape is going to look like a decade from now. Great job with all the videos Mister!
The best Christmas vibes and decorations in the 80z was christown mall , it was so beautiful and luxurious.
Love your vids and am happy to have seen your channel grow this year; to bigger things ahead and even greater expansion! 🥂
I worked in malls 90s-2006. It’s so sad. I loved it. It was crazy and tiring but I miss malls.
2:09 The temperature is 29 degrees? Is that a mall announcement? I assume that's centigrade as that's too cold for Arizon if it's in F!
I remember going into the Macys at my local mall as a kid. And the decorations were always so cool. Sadly Macys left and the mall only has about 6 stores left in a two story mall.
We don't what Transform Co. plans are for the remaining Kmart & Sears store. One Kmart in California is closing by March 2021
when i was growing up 80 & 90's Even crap malls would have ppl jammed in them and working fountains till mid 90's. You walked into a more magical xmas experience and it just looked top shelf and magically lit. Now Your lucky to see Santa with an elf taking polaroid shots for $20.00 And personally shopping online for xmas gift fucking blows and its been a shit show this year which follows 2020's theme in general.
I agree
I'm just finding all your videos now, I love it. I love seeing malls during christmas, I'm a sucker for cheesy decor. Keep up the good content!
Well damn, if three malls in Maricopa County are dead/dying, that means the whole area is dying, right?
there are waaay more than 3 Malls in Maricopa County. They have too many malls is part of the problem. Most people in Paradise Valley probably go to Scotsdale Fashion Square or Biltmore which are other malls in the area.
I love the floor. I love the tilework.♏
My local malls are still doing pretty good but the one mall I go to has more "experiences" than stores in it, there's a mini library, VR lab, movie theater, yoga space, etc.
The other mall near me is going with high end/upscale stores and even has an amazon store in it, however the sears in it looks dead as hell for obvious reasons.
I hope this pandemic doesn't kill malls more than they already were, I'd rather go to a mall than online shop any day.
Hey, if they close the Chompie's in PV Mall, you can always come on over to 92nd Street and Shea (very close to where I live). It is still going strong. I remember having to travel to get to one in 1981, but was thrilled when they decided to open one near me. Actually, I was in there yesterday with a friend who needed to pick up some bakery delicacies for his wife.
What is really strange to me is that malls tend to fail regardless of location or demographics. Looking over the ones I remember which closed (Tri-City, Thomas, Los Arcos), those which are failing (PV, Metrocenter, Papago Plaza, Fiesta, Superstition Springs, etc.) and the only one which has not failed, but has had difficult times is Scottsdale Fashion Square. Even the Borgata couldn't make it and it wasn't that far away from SFS. The only thing different is that over the years, SFS has been home to Sax Fifth Ave., Nordstrom's and Neiman Marcus. With the exorbitant prices, you would think it would have killed the mall, but it didn't. You definitely bring to light some very interesting subjects regarding shopping tendencies in the metropolitan Phoenix area. Thank you very much.
I feel like you made this video just for me. I lived in Phoenix as a kid and this was my mall. I now live in Buffalo. Thanks for the memories.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas too! I used to live in Phoenix back in the 80's but I still have memories of Metro Center. My wife and I watched Tootsie at their movie theater back in 1982. Enjoy your videos.
Huge bummer to see PV Mall like this and I remember back in the 90s there use to be a long line to see Santa.
11:20 Makes me think of what could be an interesting song or band name: "Dead Mall Santa".
What is it with turning off fountains? They just re-use the same water over again. Can't be expensive to keep on.