Tower Square Mall: Dead as a Doornail. What Remains of Baystate West Mall in Springfield, Mass.
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- Опубліковано 11 кві 2023
- Join me as I take a look a Springfield, Massachusetts' hidden dead mall, Tower Square. This mall opened in 1970 as Baystate West Mall, but changed it's name to Tower Square in 1996.
Once a thriving mall, it's now just a shell of its former self.
This video was filmed in April 2023 on a Tuesday around 10:30am.
If you liked this video, please give me a thumbs up, leave a comment and subscribe to my channel! Thanks!
Source of information:
deadmalls.com/malls/baystate_...
www.masslive.com/entertainmen...
www.waymarking.com/waymarks/W...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_S...)
#deadmall #deadmalls #mall #massachusetts #shoppingmall #shoppingmalls #retail #springfield
I can say that back in the 70,80s and half the 90s this mall was packed with shoppers especially during the holiday season. So many national and local stores used to be in there from Rave, Fashion Bug, Radio Shack, Champions bar, The arcade next to champions, Mad Maggie's pool hall, Thom Mcann, Fayva, SIS Bank, Stiegers across the street and part of the overpass, Edward's Books (the old man who owned it was prejudiced as hell towards Blacks and Hispanics) Spaghetti Freddie's and of course Treasure Island comic book store. Plus the food court had so many breakfast and lunch options back in the day.
The fountain and the carpeted stairs I also remember. It's still stunning to see what it's become but you can say that about downtown Springfield as a whole.
You are wrong on one point, the bridge connected Steigers across the Street. It went over Main Street. I grew up in Springfield and the bridge was there all through the 80's. This was Bay State West, and we hung out there alot. Great stores
Thanks for the info!
Any idea when they removed that bridge? Earliest Google Map is from 2007 and the bridge was already gone.
WGBY TV (the Springfield PBS station) used to have their annual on-air auction to raise money in the center area/main atrium in the early 70s, when this was still called Bay State West. The whole center area was turned into a TV studio for a week. I remember this well because my father was one of the main on-air hosts, so I spent a lot of time there behind the scenes (and even a brief moment on TV) during the week of the auction.
I had no idea! That's interesting. Did they close the mall to visitors for that week or did everyone walk around them?
I remember calling in to that auction and watching the person I was talking to on TV. Haha. We'd tell them to wave at us and they would. We never bid on stuff though.
@@fleabittenadventures I don't believe so. From what I remember people still were shopping and walking around. You could here the hustle and bussle around the mall while the presenters were talking
I remember a Trans Am give away by a radio station, maybe 1980? Car was right there in the middle
@@fleabittenadventuresthe channel 57 great spring auction was running while the mall was open. We watched it avidly at home
When it's main anchor store, Forbes & Wallace, went out of business in the mid-70's I believe, Baystate West/Tower Square began its downward slide. Add to that the high crime rate in the surrounding area and the loss of Steiger's in the late 90's I am surprised that this mall still exists at all. I really thought they would have expanded the office tower into that space.
There's a mall in there? I never even knew.
Yup. You're not alone. Apparently when it was Baystate West Mall, especially back in the 1970's, it was pretty popular. Thanks for watching!
Baystate West mall was fabulous. It opened in 1971, with Forbes and Wallace as one anchor, and Steigers as the other anchor store. The 2 venerable department stores were connected by "airwalks". They had Liberty Bakery on the main floor, near what was Valley Bank. Alot of great smaller stores. David's (clothing for juniors) Stuarts, Florsheim shoes, Jilson Thoren opticians, Seven Kettles (restaurant) Longmeadow Flowers (downstairs) Capezio, Dees Card & Gifts, Burnhams , Fredericks jewelers, Leprechaun Gifts, Frogs, Ducks and Ilona, SIS bank, Fanny Farmer candy, A.O.White , Belmont records, Mary Jane shoes (was a chain) and then lets not forget the infamous Thrifty Cut-rate pharmacy (nothing cheap about it, and the moment you walked in, they followed you around) Such a magical place...
And as i can remember as a child, they tore down the existing buildings about 1966, it seemed to take a long time to build Baystate West to completion. It wasn't open until later 1971 as i remember, it wasn't opened in 1970.
As always great video 👍
I drove by that place a number of times in the past, but I never realized it was a mall. Maybe someday I'll visit if it doesn't close down.
I went to this Mall a few years ago while visiting the MGM Grand in Springfield. It's only a few blocks from the casino. Athough the Mall hardly has any active stores it looks well maintained and clean.
Man, I don't live too far from there and I've never heard of it. I'd love to go explore it but I don't dare go to Springfield unless absolutely necessary, especially downtown...
Yeah, I didn't know about it either until this last year. When you search for "malls" in Springfield, MA, this doesn't even show up on the list. It's weird. Thanks for watching!
It ain't that bad. Relax
The "Fresh Market" store you passed is a Big Y Express Mini Market that is actually under construction. They're moving into the mall later this year. It's going to be the only grocery store in the Downtown Springfield area. It used to be a CVS Pharmacy before they built a new store down the street across from MGM Springfield.
Oh, interesting! I had no idea something was going to move IN! Thanks for the info and for watching!
Given its dependence on people working in the area the mall undoubtedly has suffered because of working from home.
I'm sure that didn't help, but from what I understand the mall has looked pretty dead like this since before the pandemic. Thanks for watching!
@@fleabittenadventures Since 1996 forward !!
@@fleabittenadventuresthe mall has been this way since around the late 90s early 2000s until today. Farcry from what it used to be like
Thanks for the upload !! I remember this mall when It had most of the anchor Tennant's like Stigers and Radio Shack just to name a few !!
E-commerce skilled the relatively new "East Town Mall" in Knoxville Tn. To add insult to injury, the mall was demolished and an Amazon distribution center was built in it's place.
Yeah, e-commerce is pretty much destroying all physical stores. Thanks for watching.
The airwalk to Steigers went across Main Street, the Forbes and Wallace airwalk extended across Vernon Street, now known as Boland way. (Kind of in the vicinity where the food court is today. )
Reminds of the types of malls connected to smaller convention centers. I'm guessing that Sheraton has a conference/convention center in it.
The view from the food court is nice.
Its a pass through mall you can tell they keep it up to par as far as the cleanness
I agree. It also kind of feels like an abandoned mall that we repurposed for mostly office space. I'm glad it's still there though.
That fabulous view was never there , because there were stores and the airwalk that went across to Forbes and Wallace took that space.
That is a new sky bridge. Forbes was where the hotel is now. Steiger’s was on the other side of Main Street. This was always a strange little mall that appeared oriented to business people who worked downtown. Parking was a pain and the attached parking garage was not a friendly place to maneuver around in. I can’t imagine anyone deciding to just go to Baystate West/Tower Square to do some shopping. As an example of how many of the stores were just a little odd, my wife and I went there shortly after it opened and my wife found a beautiful dress that she loved but it looked like something out of the Italian renaissance. Where would you wear something like that? We couldn’t figure out who they thought was their market. The dandelion fountain was very pretty but this was before they realized that large water displays caused havoc with humidity and general maintenance issues which is why they usually disappeared from malls pretty quickly.
The staircase you ascended is original to the mall and has been there since the beginning.
A strange vestige of a mall.
I have seen a similar vestige of a mall connecting hotels in downtown Indianapolis but not the Circle Centre Mall mall that is there now in downtown Indianapolis (which is also dying).
It must have been a 1970s thing.
There’s a similar “mall” in my hometown where it’s downtown with some small shops and a few restaurants to cater to those working or having business downtown. They’re technically open on the weekends but it can be quite dead. It was built in the late 80s.
Yeah, we used to have a very similar mall in Hartford, CT. It was in the Civic Center where the NHL team the Whalers played. Sadly it was torn down about 20 years ago.... Thanks for watching!
Cool! I love finding and hearing about places like this! It makes me wonder how many more hidden malls there are. Thanks for watching!
There WAS a CVS store in there on the ground floor a few years back
I only shopped in this mall because of A.O.W. Otherwise I went to Holyoke. I do have a lot of great memories there though. Especially during the holidays.
The hours online listed are incorrect. This place is open on the weekends I recorded it on a Sunday
Forbes and Wallace open in 1874, and shut down for good in july 1976. I know, because we shopped it til the bitter end. They started tearing it down in early 1983, but ran int snags, because the building was built like a fortress
Heh, still remember that old finger poppin' radio jingle:
Looking good,
the flavor's right,
the city, the sights, downtown Springfield,
We're snapping it up
At Baystate West
Kinda reminds me of the old civic center mall in Hartford CT
Yes! Me too!
When I was in Springfield it was a mall. Steiger's department store was a great place to shop. Bank of New England failure killed it.
Why don't they put stores back in there and make it a mall again that would be awesome I don't understand why there not doing any thing with it
The spaces you see vacant have been on the market the moment it’s last tenants vacated. Who’s to say that it might have a second wind with the new generation. But some malls are doing the best to reinvent themselves by offering physical activities and experiences that can’t be done online. That’s especially true of the Holyoke Mall as they’re adding restaurants, fitness centers and bowling to name a few. On the positive for this “mall” Big Y has opened a downtown version it’s supermarkets which is a great addition to downtown as you have a number of office people right there but also several apartment complexes where people are paying good money not to have access to quality food without driving. Also the YMCA has relocated to the square and opened a state of the art facility. And the Marriott which is part of the Tower Sq Complex has done a full renovation and looks better than ever. So with those things going, it could be a catalyst for more good things to come. The new MGM Springfield is just a few blocks south. And although that’s not quite living up to the hype, it still brings many more people downtown who otherwise would not. As of late we’re finally reaping the entertainment benefits with some major performers coming to the city which hasn’t been seen in decades. The other major hurdle is all the vacant commercial space along Main St opposite and spanning the length of MGM. Springfield is a basically a blank canvas. There’s so much potential. All that’s needed are the right people with the right vision to innovate.
Update that fresh market closed off place became a grocery store its a big y they were in the middle of renovating it out and sadly i worked for the company the entire duration of three to four months ago they kept playing ads about them moving there
this is a mall I just never heard of it until now looks like one but dying
The malls need to repurpose them selves pretty quickly because they are dying left and right. They need to make the spaces more affordable. Allow for local stores to go in there and be inside and not have to worry about plowing their parking lots in the snow and stuff like that. Have more food places and entertainment like Las Vegas in these big spaces. It’s boring just to go into a mall and walk around and see every store with the same stuff.
They are even using the food areas for places for jewelers and other stupid stores that shouldn’t be there. I’m noticing locally where I live. The malls are just plain dead. Bring local artisans and unique stores and turn the big open spaces into hotel rooms where people can stay overnight, and have entertainment and such for adults and little getaways
But the larger escalator was in the main court , kind of close to a corner. I know which corner, kind of hard to explain...
The one that looks like a museum is in fact one. Pan African History Museum or something similar.
How long before it gets shut completely?
Hard to say. It has apparently looked pretty much like this for years and years! Thanks for watching.
While it will never be the shopping destination it once was, the complex as a whole still by far has too much going for it to just shut down completely. Some major tenants have just moved in such as Big Y opening in the the former CVS space and the YMCA moving their operations here. Also the Marriott just finished a major renovation. And let’s not forget the 27 story office tower which even post pandemic has pretty high occupancy from what I hear. Unless someone comes along with some very grandiose ideas on something that can replace this prime commercial gem, it’s here to stay!
yeah thats the odd part, the offices are pretty packed so its not going anywhere.
I've been past this place many times on the bus! I've never been in there and I'm glad I won't go in there. Not much to explore.
It's a nice looking building, not too keen on the color scheme though
malls need to offer some entertainment rather than just stores to get people in. offer rooms to stay over offer bars and restaurants convert it like a cruise ship
I kind of think this mall is beyond saving, mostly because very few people go into Springfield to shop, other than locals.
Just like the Hampshire mall, it's turning into a entertainment mall.
Holyoke Mall has started expanding in that direction.
Your right only those working in the area are likely to go there. I have not been in it since 1975. I didn't even remember what it looked like. @10:25 on the right appears someone's political office.
Is Champions sports bar still there?
That’s been gone for several years now. I miss that place.
stop charging crazy rent also and maybe stores will stay
Can't argue with that. Thanks for watching!
When the stores were making good profit, they could afford the rent. It’s the suburban shopping malls and strip malls everywhere that killed downtown USA with the exception of some major cities. Ironically suburbia is suffering too with massive malls and major retail in general shuttering because of online shopping. The challenge now is to create a niche that can’t be experienced online. Holyoke Mall is a prime example of how some malls are trying very hard to reinvent themselves by increasing dining, entertainment and recreation experiences.
She probably said get lost
A lot of space is occupied by the University of Mass satellite campus, the YMCA and Cambridge College.
not that crazy, when i worked there i got lost trying to find the post office
Dude this hasn't been a mall since the mid 90s you're about 30 years late.
It's close enough to a mall to count. Also, the fact that it once was a full fledged mall makes me want to see it documented.
Blue state, not surprising at all.
Are there no dead malls in red states?
I’d put the economies of blue states up against red ones any day my friend. Any day of the week. Red states take from the federal government, blue states give.
Might be time for you to give Fox News a break for a while and go outside
the amazon effect