Dead Mall: Lakeview Square Mall - Battle Creek, MI
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- Опубліковано 16 гру 2024
- Dead Mall: Lakeview Square Mall - Battle Creek, MI. While on a weekend trip to Marshall, Michigan last summer to check out the last Kmart in the state, we stayed overnight in nearby Battle Creek. Not being familiar with the area or any malls, we found Lakeview Square by surprise as we literally drove up on it on the highway next to it. Naturally we wanted to check it out and were glad to see it open after the virus shutdowns lifted. Seeing how empty it was inside was shocking. The sky lights were beautiful to see in person. Really added unique character to this mall. I didnt want to leave without putting this place on video for you to enjoy. It was very challenging, however, as there were a lot of people there the day we went. Kind of ironic for a dead mall to have so many people walking around. So our footage took a couple of hours to film but I think was worth it. Enjoy.
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#DeadMall #LakeviewSquareMall #BattleCreek
I'm from Battle Creek, and I have a lot of memories of this mall. I used to come here a lot to go to Babbage's (yes, I'm that old) to buy NES games and games for my family's 486 computer. The Babbage's (and later GameStop) used to be in the closed up shop you see at 12:35 next to the GNC. The Buffalo Wild Wings used to be a much larger food court. And once I had kids of my own, I remember taking them to those very same kiddie rides you see at 13:14. So sad to see this place so empty, but glad it is kept up much better than a lot of other dead mall videos I've watched.
I can't fregging believe GNC is still at this mall. Only like a year ago(or 11/2 years ago now, I think?), that company pulled out of NEARLY every shopping mall they could. Including the HUGELY successful Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg! And true, I agree with you there are a lot of other dead malls that aren't kept up, as well as this place.
I wish some new store, moving into one of the vacant anchors. I'm not sure what chains would consider opening here. If H&M and Forever 21 weren't closing stores down, those could be possibilities this mall could look into. Not sure if they could try to get something unusual like an antique store to open(like what a few malls in eastern Pennsylvania dead, and same with at one time at the now dead Phillipsburg Mall in New Jersey), or something else(maybe an arcade like Round 1) to open here? Although I'm not sure if Battle Creek(and Kalamazoo) is too small of a metro, for Round 1 to open a new arcade location in.
Although when I looked up nearby Crossroads Mall in Portage, MI, I can't help but think how much more successful that mall is(along w/it still having Macy's and Penney's as of spring 2021) probably doesn't help the fortune of this mall? I do wonder if this mall for all I know could try to lure a farm type store like Rural King, or Blaine's Farm and Fleet(whatever the equivalent chain might be, that operates in Michigan) to take over one of the vacant spaces. Or maybe even try to get Hobby Lobby to open here, or ahem steal them from the nearby strip mall they operate in. :) This mall needs to do ANYTHING, to get shoppers back and ASAP.
ETA: doing some googling, the movie theater here ACTUALLY is still open. Thank you NCG, for not closing this theater! I'll take it this theater was temporarily closed, at the time Wallie filmed his video.
Come back and experience Horrocks at the mall! It's LSM's new anchor. And go to Cafe Rica and Waco to top off your Battle Creek experience.
I grew up in Battle Creek. Spent hours at this mall. It was great in the late 90s early 2000s... As a teen I liked having access to Pac Sun, GameStop, Hot Topic, Journeys, Finish Line, and Barnes and Noble.
It's surreal watching your video because it makes me realize how ingrained this place is in my spirit. I always appreciated the aesthetic there too.
Horrocks has brought brand new life here and I love going there again. I have fond memories as a kid going to the arcade and getting pizza there.
The beginning made me cry it made me think back to the 80s when I was growing up where I was and the fact that the malls and stores were packed full of quality merchandise beautiful clothing shoulder pads and aqua net back when merchants cared if you came back or not
I remember Aladdin's Castle Arcade that used to be in this mall. Man hours of fun and quarters spent.
Yess!!! That was the shit. Great hang out when I was a kid. Whooping ass in Mortal Combat!!! 😁 Home sweet home Da Creek!!
Had my 10th birthday there!!!
Me too! Had a lot of fun there! Do you remember the Aladin's Castle tokens!? Those were cool! 😎
I also remember that!!!
I remember it well. I'm 36 and spent some great times there
Growing up as a kid In (BC) Battle Creek, Lakeview Square Mall use to be the spot. So many memories of that Mall, hanging with Friends and meeting girls, it use to have a huge Arcade room way bigger than the one you filmed. It use to have a wishing fountain in the middle of the Mall. But as the years went on it just got worse and worse. Thanks For The Video... Peace!!
This was the place to be. It used to be packed. My dad was one of the many construction workers who worked to build the mall. Battle Creek is a great city and it's sad to see these things happening. You brought back some memories for me. Thanks.
I agree 100% with you I enjoy walking into a store and touching and able to see what I’m buying rather then order online from a picture and hope it’s the right size or what I was wanting in the first place and then having to wait a week to get it. Just wanted to share we have the same thing in common.
Very true
Thank you so much for sharing this video. Battle Creek was my hometown and my children grew up there. I remember the day the Lakeview Square Mall opened and the very happy people who attended the opening. Because it brought many jobs to the city, it was much appreciated to those employees as well as the shoppers to to have a place to socialize and find great stuff. To see the mall as it is now tears my heart out. However, I do hold on to the precious memories that this video brought back to mind. I worked at Hudsons and than the name changed to Marshall Fields. Precious memories.
I'm from battle creek and i miss the way this mall used to be when I was a kid
Me too 😔
Me too
Maybe with Don Pablo's turning in a a weed shop people will want to shop more in the mall. I don't want Barns and Noble to leave.
The Arcade and Pretzel Sams pretzel 🥨 🥲
I just love the smooth r&b in the beginning....good choice when it doesn't repeat itself again
Millennials don't realize going to the mall was once an event; and malls were interwoven with pop culture- movies tv shows music. Memories won't be created sitting alone in your underwear buying stuff online. Very nicely done Wallie!
Millennials knew it was an event. I grew up at the mall. Gen Z is who you are referring to.
I'm a millennial that grew up hanging out at this mall. Figure out which generation you're thinking of first.
Millennials remember Lakeview Square well. It would be those who came after that generation who have no memory of it open and thriving.
Yup. Malls were a cultural thing... Especially during Christmas season. I think its sad. You can't spend the day at Amazon or get a pretzel
Millennials grew up in malls its GenZ that has no clue. They just use the mall as a fight club now
This mall holds a lot of memories for me. From buying a book from Walden Books, sitting in the chairs reading that book I bought from Walden to throwing a penny in the make a wish fountain to the Easter bunny to Santa Clause to the double doozie cookies to the pet store to Kay bee toys to the food court to the Chee Chee’s restaurant. There is just so many memories from my childhood here. This mall was once so alive so full of excitement and energy. Now it’s like someone shot an arrow through its heart and it’s dying. It’s barely making it. One of these days in the very near future. I’m gonna hear the news that it is it’s gonna shut its doors for good. My thanks and appreciation to those who have put this video together. You did a great job and you showing its history. Gave me a tear filled walk down memory lane of when I started going to this mall in my childhood
I'm glad I visited here in 2014, when Macy's and Sears were still around, and walk around the mall as normal. Went again last year, was just so sad. I was inside less than 10 minutes.
Man this place was always jumping when I was a kid and teen! The ONLY reason I go there which is almost never is for the restaurants Applebees and Buffalo Wild Wings and of course Bath and Body Works...and maybe to watch a movie in the theater....just sad. I also used to work there at The Childrens Place. Almost no stores left at all in there, just sad
The owner of this mall, should try to get more mom and pop stores to open here. A la what Richmond Mall in Richmond, KY did, and which Doomie Grunt filmed not long ago. And at least get some serious movie theater operator, to take over the theater that used to operate inside this mall. Not sure if any chain or other theater operator will do that, considering the tough environment movie theaters are going through b/c of COVID.
Anyway, great video! Watching this vid from you, and also that I remember a few other dead mall creators also visited this place(including Urbex: A Peek Inside), makes me want to visit this mall eventually myself.
Wow. The sky lights are just really something else. They make that mall look beautiful. Those plants and the sunlight just go together so well. This mall has a very subtle 70s/80s vibe to it with its decoration and design and I love it. Amazing video!
wow so sad to see such a thriving mall dead. You did such a great job on this production @WallieB26. I cannot wait to film together soon! 😁😁😁
Holy crap I'm getting overwhelmed with nostalgia
We lived near the mall and I remember when it was being built we would drive up every Sunday afternoon and see the progress and when it was finished and we finally went in it was amazing!!! We loved the food court it had so many kinds of food. We didn't eat out much but I remember my parents letting us each getting to pick what we want to eat and all having something different. great memories, so sad!
It's too bad... When I was a kid in the 90's this mall was awesome it had everything and it was the place to go. I live maybe 5 miles from the mall and I tell my kids how great it was and it's sad to see now. Online shopping killed it.
I remember when this was built and growing up shopping and hanging out here. It breaks my heart driving by to see it empty. Battle Creek used to be such a better place. It was once such a beautiful building with the huge sky lights and the lovely tiled fountain. It really has architecture instead of just being a big box to hold stuff. I also remember when the Heritage Tower in downtown Battle Creek was a bank. All marble and very impressive, at least for a kid.
Its hard to believe that they was no where to park and trying to walk around you couldn't. That said its sad to see this once thriving place just barley holding on.I have alot of memories here along with other people.Some of those "walls" that you see have stores behind them, they've just been hidden away I think about 20 more stores are hidden so try to imagine that on top of the empty stores you see now
This mall use to be packed in the late 90s early - mid 2000s
I really enjoyed this video, Wallie! I have many fond memories of shopping in malls from the late 1970s through the early 1990s. It's really sad to see indoor shopping malls either already closed or closing in the near future. Have a KMartlicious Day!
Good work on the Mall video WallieB26
Hi
@@adamsATSfan415 hi
This definitely reminds me of the Lansing Mall...
I remember going to Mastercuts, F.Y.E. Hot Topic and several other stores when they were open, So sad:(
Worked in The mall back in the late 80s! It was packed back then!
Definitely digging the skylights in this mall. Buffalo wild wings and a Apple Bees in a mall that's is something different. Always enjoyed arcades in a mall, grew up going to them in a mall spending my allowance. Thank you for taking us on this tour.
Back in the day it was busy… I’m coming to Battle Creek in a couple of days…. It’s sad I was born in 85’ and I got my ears pierced there at 4
With the full Ace’s sounds and feel! Great vid!
Thank you. Ace is a friend of mine in which I have a great deal of respect for. Always loved his style as well as Dan Bell's style of mall videos which is why I do them the way I do. Just try to do a little something different with the full lap around the exterior.
I don't blame you one bit! I would much rather walk around a mall and go into their stores to shop instead of online shopping, where I can't walk around and enter stores. I would give anything to shop and eat at Century 3 again!
Lived here my whole life and remember the mall opening in 1983. I worked at Gilmore's in this mall from 1987-1989, and the mall was so busy. At Christmas, employees had to park across the street and be shuttled over every 15 minutes because the parking lot was so full, with cars lined to get in AND out. Fun times! Very sad to see it like this now.
Horrock's recently moved in there, in the old JC Penney area, and that place is packed. Nice to see all those cars again in there. Hopefully the traffic will attract new merchants.
My aunt and uncle owned the Mrs Fields. They tried to sell it for a while but perspective buyers were scared off by the insanely high rent. They finally had to just give up and close it. That was the end result for many of the stores that used to be there.
Indoor malls were the biggest thing when they opened. However malls started dying due to Walmart back in the mid 90s to early 2000s. Ffg or some reason. Outdoor shopping centers started becoming popular again. I appreciated your York Boscovs tour
I’m from Texas and my job sent me to Battle Creek for a week back in 2017 and the mall was barely functioning then. Sad to see it now
I've been there during her heyday, and can confirm she was a hopping place. I used to stop there a couple times a year, but haven't been to Battle Creek in a while.
I must say, this being the first dead mall video I've seen from you, you sound so different from the regular vids exploring abandoned retail! Love how you follow the same dead mall format that I'm used to. Excited for more dead mall vids in your backlog!
I love malls. I love walking around the mall and stores with my Dad and just talking and looking at things. The malls around me are slowly dying. I will miss them
Nice that people were shopping...
grew up in BC and saw lakeview square mall thrive so much in the 80s....sad it has become.
I have not lived in Battle Creek in years. Most of my memories of the mall are of a bustling place full of stores and people. I also remember that this killed downtown Battle Creek as it was larger and more convenient to shop in. We were not there for any opening ceremonies but we might have been in the aerial picture of the lot when I was a high-school freshman. I was last in the mall in 2017. The Sears needed work when it close the electronics area was decorated the same as it was when it was new. I used to love going to the mall. The two bookstores, The Record store, Pet Store, Food Court (it had about 12 places). It was an amazing place.
Grew up in Batte Creek but left in the mid 70s when I joined the military. All we heard when I was young was, 'Got to have a mall, like Kalamazoo.' Visited here a few times in the late 80s when it was thriving. This mall changed the whole area with all the growth around it, but like other malls, is fading. I live in Omaha now and they have torn down one mall, and the 'newest' one (opened in 1996) is fading fast because the anchor stores are gone.
great video Wallie. I too love going to the store and see and buy products at the store rather than buying online.
Little update you may like to know. Horrocks Farm Market moved from downtown to the old JCPenney's location and is now open. And the old Macy's is now a self storage place. The Sears still sits empty with no tenant. I have a cool photo the of the Sears empty with the lights on and it really gives backrooms vibes lol.
Came to Michigan 09. I was a little mallrat as I lived in minges nearby. I didn't eat there much but I remember the food court was wide open, the kid area & all the stores were open, it was still thriving. We don't get much in Battle Creek as far as cities go, LSM was the best we got. A peice of us all is missing now.
I shot a video of this mall two years ago (I only live 70 miles away) and it's definitely gotten WORSE since I made it. It used to be a hopping place, but not anymore.
That's a shame to see it fall apart more. If I'm not mistaken I believe I watched your video when we were in town last summer and I wanted to find more info out on the mall.
A local store called Horrocks is currently in the process of moving into this mall. I really hope they are able to revive it at least a little bit. Horrocks is a really nice store and I am kind of worried that moving to the mall might kill them off. I really hope they bring life back to the mall because a lot of people shop at Horrocks.
With Horocks moving in that will help mall
I love Wallie’s mall videos!!! This is great man, keep it up!!!! When you were talking about this mall in the Don Pablos video, I was hoping this would be coming soon!!!
Thanks for filming. Sad. Good video.
It’s sad seeing malls going under. I’ve got so many good memories at malls with my mom. The internet killed the experience of meeting people in malls. I live by woodfield mall (by Chicago) & it’s almost fully abandoned 😭. If you are ever by the Chicago area, hit me up & we can go to abandon buildings. I enjoy your videos
Wow they had so many different places to eat that the BW replaced, at least Apple Bees is still there
Wow so cool how you mixed the vintage pictures with today. How did you get those?! Loved them! Only thing better would be to match them with the exact same lactation on the property.
My brother worked at Silvermans and later Hudsons . I used to go to Chi Chi's and sip raspberry margheritas waiting for him to get out of work . It's a shame to see this place so empty even though Horrocks market is set to move into the old JC Penney store . Maybe some hope for the mall after all .
I have read that in some areas dead malls have been brought back by developers after creating housing inside them, thereby creating an easy indoor walking customer base for retailers who occupy the remaining mall space and would cater to those who live there, as well as the in surrounding community.
Growing up in Battle Creek I remember having a man who was working for publicity for the new and up and coming Lakeview Square Mall visit my 3rd grade class back around 1981 and telling us about the beautiful ponds stocked with trout they would build to replace the natural swamp and stream they were destroying. I loved fish & fishing so that's all I cared about! 😂 I was going to have a beautiful stocked trout pond to fish in! In reality I think a few drainage ditches were widened to hold run off from the parking lot! Nothing big enough or deep enough to hold trout.
Great video! Good job with the history!
Thank you!
Great video n it is sad to see malls going away. I myself like going walking aground them. I'm not much of an online user as in letting stuff. I like to get it right then n I know what I'm getting. Anyways. Thanks for all the work you put into the videos you do.
Have you ever checked out the mall in Senaca,Cranberry Pa? It’s pretty dead as well kinda reminds me of this one. It’s sad what is happening to malls.
I remember going to this mall when I was younger
That was a awesome video wallie
the Applebees was a Chi-chis back in the day
Nope. Chi Chi’s was located where Barnes and Noble is currently located.
Applebee’s was a Big Boy.
I don’t remember Big Boys ever being there. That Applebee’s has been there for a very long time. I don’t remember what preceded it, but I don’t remember it being Big Boys
Chi chis was by where Barnes and noble is now. There also was an arcade called Aladdins castle and a pretzel place (can't remember the name) but there was never a big boy at the mall. Applebee's used to be just a wall of benches back when it first opened. Also where Buffalo wild wings it had a circle of various restaurants and tables in the middle so people could sit down and eat. It used to be called the food court
With all due respect, @Jenny Lund there was most definitely a Big Boy in the mall where Applebee’s is now.
@@jennylynd1853 It was a HOT SAM pretzel place down that corridor when the mall opened. And yes, Big Boy was where Applebees is now.
That all use to be a swamp and farm land. I use to walk my dog where T bell and hobby lobby are now. There was a creek that use to flow through there. Would never know it now
I visited Battle Creek MI when I was a kid, got to go on the tour of the Kellogg's plant with mom, dad and sis
We also went to the Henry Ford Museum and a few other places on a family vacation trip
The last mall I visited that was still thriving was the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg Illinois three years ago
We’ve had new people move in. A storage company; apparently a national chain, has moved into where Macy’s was and a local produce store, Horrock’s, is relocating there to the JC Penny from downtown. Things are looking up-ish.
This place looks awesome. It has been updated but not to super modern. Very different to see BDubs and Applebee's within the mall building. Normally those are out parcels.
Well documented 📺
A local store is opening in either Sears or jcpennys.
See what people fail to realize is that yes our mall I currently dead but it used to be way better and there was much more entertaining things to do in the mall
Thanks for vlogging the Lakeview Square mall. I sometimes mall walk there and noticed your filming was done earlier than the date mentioned under the video. Due to the fact that just about everyone wears a mask now while at the mall. I do not, since I am just mall walking. Personally.. I do not feel the mall is a completely dead mall. I have noticed that a few of the empty stores are being utilized. Maybe not by a name brand store, but utilized just the same. I guess the rent is what counts. I to find that the mall is well maintained. Even the rest rooms. i feel you gave a pretty good review of the Lakeview Square mall. I gave you a like and subscribed to your channel. Ohhhh... that K Mart in Battle Creek is now torn down. Be save out there with your vlogging. Ohhhhhhh.. one more thing. The Pac Man screen at the little arcade is now working. So.. there is still some life left. Be positive dude.
@wallieB26 there is still the movie complex as well as we now have a Storage complex and Horrocks has now moved into the JC Penny spot. You forgot to mention Pennys.
My cousin worked in the automotive at the Sears, I would spend hours walking that mall. This was in the 1990s fantastic time to be alive and young. Unlike today I pitty kids today
This is sad to see since this is my childhood mall and I grew up im battle creek, I eventually moved out of battle creek since it is a shit town there is literally nothing there anymore, This mall used to be filled with lots of good stores and I shopped here all the time when I was little so its very sad to see it so dead, most likely the place will close down permanently in the future. I also highly recommend going to the Lansing mall which is another dead mall.
Fascinating!
You should check out Westwood Mall In Jackson, its worse than this.
Went there last year, I couldn't believe how much of a time warp it was.
Great video it was cool seeing the pictures at the beginning
Wow the amazing 👏 videos
I grew up not too far it’s crazy how empty it is now compared to when I was there growing up
Been years since I've been in that mall
Nothing like it was when it first opened.
I remember my brother going to see The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live at this mall. I loved the pet store that was there. All the anchor stores are gone and you have to shop online. I would rather buy instore and try on what I'm buying. Online shopping if fine if I'm buying a pillow but not for clothing.
Is fine not if fine.
This mall would make a great air soft skirmish sight
Well done sir! You should do more this style.👏
Thanks for sharing this wallie It sad that this mall are dieing left and right.. the online is killing them and virus is not helping too.
They took out the fountain??? And the Spencer's? Woooow... and the place where they had pizza size cookies.
My how the mighty have fallen. I remember going to this mall when my family use to live in the Battle Creek area from 85 to May 89 when we left for Minnesota.
Mom worked for Sears. 1 of her favorite jobs she ever had. My Dad at the time worked at one of the radio stations (95.3 FM WMJC) and they did all sorts of remotes and functions there.. It's such a heart break to see this once thriving mall now dead.
Thanks for the video Wallie. It was a nice trip back to my childhood remembering better times. I Love all your content.
Ah, you went on Sunday. That's the day the Mallwalkers flood the place.
I haven't been to the mall in three years by Julie that dead wow.
H&M Mich Co.
Po box 104
Three Rivers MI 49093
Everytime went to that mall is to get books at Barnes & Noble
I’m predicting this right here, right now. This mall WILL, at some point in time, become fully abandoned.
There is a Kmart not far from there in Battle Creek, with an auto center. Abandoned of course. Toys R Us is across the street.
The Kmart and its Auto-Center were both torn down.
ToysRUs is now Storage /Uhaul rental facility.
What's that incredible intro song?
It's called "Palms And Olives" by Waterfront Dining.
ua-cam.com/video/I9f1g2FT7KI/v-deo.html
@@WallieB26 Looks like I've found another music rabbit hole to go down. Too bad it's not on Spotify.
@@The1Nomad Waterfront Dining is on Bandcamp and there are hundreds of uploads of their mixes and songs on here.
You should come see the Oxford Valley mall in langhorne Pennsylvania. It's very deserted
Wallie! Gotta come check out the lansing mall. Its pretty dead (and across the street from my work)
Reminds me of a mall we have in savannah it only has like 2 stores left that’s open you guys should check it out it’s the savannah mall
Sad to see this mall dying. I have not been to any of the malls in Michigan but this has a lot of empty spots like Stratford square mall.
WallieB26. There have been a few changes at the Battle Creek mall. You may have to make some edits. Like Don Pablo's is now a Marijuana despensory.
I'm from Battle Creek and have watched this mall decline over the decades..btw what's in Marshall to visit?
My mall was built in the late 60s to 74s cersta south Africa Johannesburg 🇿🇦 she is still active today in 2021
Good video wallie 3rd
I mean 4th
More like ghost town now huh wow. I used to go to that mall a lot as a teenager