Hawthorne Plaza | A Dead Mall & the Future of American Commerce
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- Опубліковано 30 лип 2024
- Join Tom as he explores the Hawthorne Plaza; a mall that closed over 15 years but remains standing as a post modern cathedral to failed commerce.
Intro music - "City Bound" by My Little Red Toe
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My very first job as a teenager was in this mall, the store was Chess King men's clothing store.
+trainman3970 What year was that?
+Richie Bustamante I used to shop at "Chess King" in the late 70's. 1977-1979. Maybe they went out of business in the early 80's? I lived in NYC though.
I remember Chess King! That's cool you worked there. Remember "Merry Go Round?" And the Cookie Company? The good old days!
That’s cool. My parents bought their first brand new washer and dryer set from a store inside the Hawthorne Plaza mall in the late 80s.
@@speedracerjeffwoahh that's so Cool! I'm pretty sure your parents went to the white building next to this mall called Montgomery Ward'! :)
That mall in the opening commercial is not Hawthorne Plaza. That's Foxhills Mall, which is about 20 minutes away from Hawthorne Plaza. In the back, there's a stone garden and a red structure that was a miniature maze. The red structure has since been torn down when the mall was re innovated and renamed "The Westfield Culver City".
If you want to see Hawthorne Plaza, they used it shortly after it closed for the Tom Cruise film "Minority Report".
You obviously only been to LA once, or you simply don't know the layout of your own city. That green mall was the the Hawthorne Mall. The Westfield Fox Hills Mall is waaaay in culver city and doesn't look like a run down piece of shit.
"That mall in the opening commercial"
reading comprehension yo
You are correct. I noticed the same thing. The red maze like stair case was a feature of the old Fox Hills Mall in Culver City. It is a quick image at 4:27 of the video.
The red maze thing was especially cool at Christmas with the decorations and Santa's sleigh at the top. Man I miss that place.
You are 100% correct.
The only memory I have of this mall is eating a burger with my dad on a rainy day. It was 1993 and I was 11 years old.
Whoever directed this deserves an award. Amazing video.
Exact what I thought! Great video, I live around Hawthorne and always wondered what the Hawthorne plaza was! It's interesting to see abandoned places yet also creepy
Went here a couple of days ago. Quite an interesting scene. Explored the area and snapped a couple of pics until I was caught by security. The guard was really laid back and gave me a in depth tour of the place and allowed me to take more pics. Would return to
Nice.👍
Ooh cool! And also that security was really nice to let you take photos of the mall cuz nowadays like for example let's say 2023 or 2024 the security or any guards might accuse for damaging yk, but yea that's a nice experience you got!! :)
I live about 10 minutes away from the mall and it brought back all these memories of going there to play arcades, and going there with mom. Almost made me shed a tear. Thanks for the video.
Round table pizza was near the arcade.
Really well put-together production. You are a talented filmmaker. Massive potential.
Ditto on that one. Heed what Holtz says.
+Robert J. Holtz agree
I worked at four different stores, for three different companies in this mall.I managed two of the stores. I was there when it was booming, our store was the highest volume in the district, beating DelAmo, and I worked there when it was so empty they let anybody have a store front to keep the occupancy above 50% (lower would forgive remaining leases). I've had the chance to meet some of the best people I have known working at this mall.
Those seem like very great memories! Thankyou for sharing I like to read these stories like yours about this mall I'm a very curious person who wants to know about this mysterious vintage place, and wow I'm amazed that this Hawthorne plaza mall is STILL standing till this day, I really wish I could go in the opening, but too late!
I use to love going to Hawthorne Plaza, play some games in the arcade and get some pizza and go see the movies over at the Hawthorne 6 theaters. I didn't realize any part of the main mall had been used since it shut down after the L.A. riots in 1992.
Interesting, I'm always curious of this mall, also the Seperate building that used to be a theater as u mentioned is now a superior grocers, it's sad this mall didn't last longer then expected😢
I was in this mall the very day it opened in 1977. I used to have a "Hawthorne Plaza" t-shirt and a frisbee I got for free on that day. I spent a LOT of time in that mall from when it opened until about 1980, when my family moved away. I had to pass it on my way to high school, and I would go in on my way home. I usually spent my lunch money at stores in there: buying books from the B. Dalton bookstore, or records/tapes from the Wherehouse store, or at the KB Toys... I also spent some time watching movies in the theater that was a separate building at the south end, but is now gone. I returned to the area by 1984, and the wear and tear were already showing. I remember that the Broadway, for example, was carpeted -- and the carpeting stunk of mildew for whatever reason. A lot of the original stores were gone, and some of them hadn't been replaced by anything. I would say that within 10 years of its grand opening, it was already turning into a "discount" mall that wasn't really worth venturing into. I think there'd been two shootings there by that time, and I also knew a security guard who worked at the Broadway store and told me some pretty disturbing stories. Nevertheless, I find it sad that this place never recovered and had such a short life. It was a significant part of my youth. Some of the images in this video show malls with 1950s cars in them, but that was never the case with the Hawthorne Plaza -- it wasn't that old, and it didn't live long enough to get old, either, for that matter. I can still see bits and pieces of it in my mind, where things were, and even remember a lot of what I bought in it. But those memories are as full of holes now as the building appears to be.
Nice story! I'm always curious with this mall and wonder what it used to look like,I have question! Are the images on Google about Hawthorne mall plaza really it? Did it look like that?
As pointed out previously, the Kinney Shoes commercial with Ken Berry was shot at Fox Hills Mall in Culver City. Now called Westfield Culver City.
As Bitter sweet memories. I hate to see it like that. I worked at MG ward. When I was a teen. The arcade at the mall took all lunch my money. There was a statue that was molded with the faces of greatness that stood in the walk way. I was amazed at that one piece of art. Tom Thanks For taking me back.
I got my first credit card from that Montgomery Ward :)
the world needs more toms!!! every big city needs a tom. a tom in new york. a tom in paris. a tom in london. a tom in tokyo.......
Man has it been gutted I remember when there were stores everywhere. Thanks Tom I always wondered what it looked like inside.
So many memories
.i remember eating at the Taco Bell and Carls Jrs.
Playing arcades
Buying my first Nintendo at Kaybee Toy Store!
Cashing my paycheck at the BofA and spending most of it at the Gap.
Those were the glory days!!!
The sad last days in 1998 were buying clothing on sale bcoz of the soon to be shutdown.
I kept going to the very end. And even once closed And now 2021 I live in San Diego and visit my hometown every other month I love seeing a relic of the past! Hawthorne forever in my heart!
Oh btw this video has stood the test of time and is still the best video you can find on the web about the Hawthorne Mall and it’s history.
hey, thanks!
The best urban explorer / abandoned mall video I've seen so far. I love the story telling, the video editing, and the music. Great video, thanks for sharing and keep up the good work!
+Robert Pataki Ur hot
This Kinney Shoes commercial was shot in the Fox Hills Mall in Culver City and not in Hawthorne Plaza.
Yup. Thanks for pointing that out.
Lived in Hawthorne '63-'80... I remember them building it... Only 2 blocks from my mom's apartment.
But I honestly don't remember ever going in there... Unlike Fox Hills which, like others here, I had no problem recognising.
Oh BTW, they were already acquiring the land for that mall back in 72. Whether the people who were already there cared to move or not.
Good to know! Thanks, also question here, I don't know if u know it but uh what used to be in that empty land before it even became the Hawthorne plaza mall? Was it empty or was it something else? So sorry I'm just so curious of this place I've never went here before and I'm so so so Intrigued ahh!!!
@@Nini-vj8sw Imagine, about 100 years ago, that the old Yellow Car tracks used to run along Hawthorne Bl where the median parking is. Between 118th and El Segundo there were a series of block-wide roundabouts between Hawthorne Bl and Birch which were called "Plazas." The southernmost Plaza had a movie theater "the Plaza" in that popular 20's stucco style. The others, (I seem to remember), were at 118th and 120th and were little parks with hotels, businesses and some residences. The RR tracks were electrified for Pacific Electric and there was a small freight dock. I most remember the loads of fresh-cut Xmas trees that were dropped there.
Late 80's my cousins and I would frequent this Mall. We would go to the Movie Theater. I believe it was on the first floor. We would also go to the Arcade. Good memories.
You guys did a really terrific job with this video. Bravo. That was so enjoyable
Nicely produced! I was expecting the usual immature urbex video, but was pleasantly surprised by the mature take and historical information. I've subbed, so I'll have to check out more of your videos.
This is my favorite episode yet. There's something very eerie about the juxtaposition between the optimistic adverts that helped prop this mall up in its heyday and the quiet desperation of its present day emptiness. Great episode, dudes. Keep it up!
I love your episodes ^°^ it's not your typical show where some person chooses famous spots to go to, it's the kind of show where you get to explore out of the box and not your typical norm. Keep up the good work Tom and crew
Yep. This team is going places. Trust me on that one.
My three fav stores were The Wild Pair, Judy's and Foxmoor.
I use to go to this mall in the 90's. My aunt worked in the dental office there.
I worked in the Montgomery Ward store at the far South end. Lots of great memories of the place, and I made some wonderful friends. Eastern Eatin' was a favorite sandwich shop there, and I hung out with the owners quite a bit in those days.
I went BTS shopping here at JCP/Miller's Outpost/MGWard in the early 80's and saw Smokey and the Bandit and Song of the South in the movie theaters. I always wanted to skate or bike the parking structure!
They just renovated the Del Amo Mall again and despite that it is substantially bigger it markets exclusively to women as there is not a single electronics store in it, lot of shoe and dress shop though.
This video reminds me of a "ghetto adventure" version of Huel Howser.
Awesome video man, truly amazing!
I lived close to there 1978-80. This was a great mall. I'm surprised it's gone.
This mall was so fun when I was a youngster, good times. The movie theater in the back was lit too. Mall security was extra'd out tho lol They would kick us out for anything, which made it even more fun. This is definitely one of my favorite old school malls. Thanx for sharing.
Nice episode..keep it up!
This could easily make an interesting and engaging tv show.
I saw the opening of the movie Friday there and it was amazing.
My parents bought their living room rug there (at Montgomery Ward)... it's still in the living room. I thought there were plans to make Hawthorne Mall into a high school.
Love the show! Such a cool way to learn about LA's past.
Awesome video ! Keep up the great work !!
great editing and video! props to you mister
I couldn't handle how long this one was
As a child.. I hung out at that mall.....my first cassette tape was from Sam goody...my first shoes were from Kenny shoes
This was an amazing video man!!
great documentary, great research.....well done tom !
Very Cool. I look forward to the next episode..
Very cool guys. I look forward to each episode. Since you guys skate maybe you could check out where Del Mar and Upland skate parks used to be. Thanks again. : )
Serious memories. Thank you
Cool video man! Love the footage from before.
Absolutely fascinating Tom!
loving the show guys keep it up
Awesome! I've been meaning to explore this place.
I remember we would ride our bikes to this mall when it opened in '77. We spent hours playing in the arcade. We also spent a lot of time at the movie theater. This was a fun place to back in the day. I think we grew out of it by '79 because we went there so much. Plus other areas like Fox Hills Mall and Del Amo Fashion was more chic and twice as big. Those malls made Hawthorne mall look like a swap meet.
We used to uave The Broadway here in AZ as well. Out of the stores built in the Phoenix area, only two locations come to mind that are still standing: downtown (probably an office building now) and Biltmore (operates as Macy's). Los Arcos was demolished when that mall died. Fiesta was reolaced by a Best Buy with Dick's Sporting Goods stacked on top of it (both closed last year). Christown was demolished long ago for a Wal-Mart. The old Metrocentet store was knocked down to build a Wal-Mart. A lost chain!
Wow. I used to work in that mall. thanks for this.
Great memories of the mall. Nothing like Holiday shopping at the Hawthorne Plaza.
Terrific subject. My first episode. Looking forward to seeing more..
awesome footage!
Very cool! Thank you
my dad and uncle had stores in this mall. everyday after school my mom would take me to see them at work.
Thanks Tom!!
Hi Tom great video. We just wondering what was the music that you used during the old footage of the mall? Started around 3:50. Keep up the great work :-)
You guys really know how to set the mood. Check out West World though. They use this as the ' unused facilities '.
Who the hell is down-voting these videos?
I used to work in this mall, during my senior year in high school.....sad.
Thank you.❤
So glad I found you! Love the research you've done along with your exploration. There's an abandoned hospital/rehabilitation center in Downey, CA love to see a story on it in the near future.
Claudia Figueroa sounds really cool for photos do you have a name or address to share?
I don't have the exact address but it is on 7900 block of Consuelo St (off of Paramount Blvd). It's kinda hidden and well guarded nowadays.. if you need any other details let me know and I will try to help. :)
Claudia Figueroa it's behind the court on imperial hwy
The one that is behind the court is the new facility and the one that I'm referring to is the old hospital which was founded back in 1888 and abandoned sometime in 1980. It is located right behind a high school named St. Pius.
is it called downey care center? thanks for the update btw!
Keep up the good work.
My first job 20 plus years ago was at the JC Penney's in the Hawthorne Plaza. It was sad-ish then. Now. Wow.
Got lucky going there today- there was a film crew there and they had all the doors opened up.
More brick and mortars will take this route in the near future...The web continues to take retail dollars...I grew up in the Valley and hung at TP (Topanga Plaza)...Today many young people have never been to a mall...Never...Great job on the vid!
Wow. Was just in Hawthorne last weekend
Good video. Thanks.
Dope video dude..
I vividly remember that Kinney Shoe commercial
Love that the old Broadway sign was still there. I wonder if it still is.
sure is.
I use to go to this mall when I was younger with my cousin so many memories sad to see it this way
*2024 Update*: The Hawthorne Plaza is still standing to this day exactly as it was when this video was filmed. And for those wondering, the entire interior of the mall was scrapped in 2011 which is why it looks unrecognizable.
I hate how the owner of the property (Arman Gabay) breaks his promise of redeveloping the property. We were going to see a new center in its place in 2016 (known as Magnitude LAX), but his bribery schemes was what caused the property to still languish 20+ years after it closed. The City of Hawthorne wants the owner to do something about the property, otherwise it will be too expensive to redevelop.
Cool I live 10 minutes from there on prairie ave and I've been living in Hawthorne for 6 years, I pass it everyday and I always wondered what it looked like inside so thanks :D
PS I hate living here lol it looked like it was way better back in the days Now it's just dirty and ghetto here, its getting worse everyday.
I used too stay on Hawthorne blvd down Broadway on Gale
Cool episode, but that commercial was filmed at Fox Hills Mall.
2017 update, tried to go in, went at almost midnight, there were flashlights moving in parts of the mall, and we saw a car in the middle of the mall just sitting there on with someone in it. We managed to find a hole in the wall but It was too small for me to fit, my other friend who is smaller fit inside the hole and after only being inside for 10 seconds a mysterious person shines a flashlight at him and we booked it, not sure if it was security cause whoever it was didnt say a word and my friend didnt get a good look at them. Probably more security during the day but itd be way easier to see things and you wouldnt need flashlights
Amazing such a large abandoned space in the middle of cities. Has they demolish the Plaza yet? Thx
I remember going in there as a child and taking photos in a photo booth.
That opening was very Music Man-esque
I love my Hawthorne.
it's so hard to go in there now.
This mall is walking distance from me. Its been closed ever since I can remember , hopefully we'll be able to open it again one day.
Does anyone know the name of the documentary(ies) on minute 2:05 to 2:30 ?
This was a nice Mall, it was modern and visually attractive.
Unfortunately stores with excessive overhead costs are unable to compete with online businesses, Security was another issue, eventually they had to open a Police Substation in this Mall.
I worked Catty Corner on120th & Hawthorne Blvd. 1978-84, Security could be seen chasing Shoplifters out of the Mall, across the street and even subduing them on our property.
No Way this will ever reopen... that is a shame.
Failed malls have a sad feel. Is that footage of the actual Hawthorne plaza in its heyday?
Many music videos have been filmed there. Taylor Swift,Beyoncé & Travis Scott I think teen wolf as well has been filmed in there
a couple years back,I left my friends house who lives in Hawthorne at like 6am,riding around I stumbled into this mall,and locked up my bike nearby and said fuck it,I'm sneaking in this place,and wow it was amazing,and super easy to get into also,I spent the whole morning inside that empty and barren place,the escalator steps all covered in graffiti...it was a fun experience
How does one get in
i visited it recently. it's boarded everywhere. I found an entrance in the lowest level of the parking lot up the escalator. Got caught. it's probably boarded up now
Maps, please?
USED to work at DOuglas AIrcraft in the late 80s-
Awesome video ♡ also, stream black swan by BTS
There’s me 0:11as a kid
Where I got my new school clothes every year. :(
My crib was bought here :(
I wish I could've been inside there once, I live so close and see it all the time, it's a shame it shut down
Wait Jesse Garcia? I feel as if I know you, I live in Hawthorne
XXBadmofo1 I'm a senior at HHS. Do I know you
+Jesse Garcia ur name is Jesus? why u mexicans always change it to jesse ?
Because people can be called whatever the fuck they want
Jesse Garcia Okay CHUY don't get mad.