I just wanted to stop in and say thank you for your videos! I'm someone who grew up walking around malls, but who lives farther from them now. They have a kind of nostalgic appeal to me and I'm glad to see someone else appreciates them too. The way you shoot your videos and the relaxing music really invokes a unique feeling that's equal parts calming and low-key enthralling. Not many UA-camrs nail a particular feel, and you've really outdone yourself here. Anyways, thanks for your content! :)
This mall was called Westridge Mall until the late 90's . The Curacao store was JC Penney which closed in the early 2000's and moved to Avondale. The Burlington was Montgomery Wards. Mervyns was in the Mercado De Los Cielos building until the chain closed.
Yes! I remember the Curacao store's grand opening. They had a concert outside with a Chicano rapper named MC Magic. It was around maybe 2007-2009. I was a kid so I can't remember exactly.
Those corner shops used to house a miniature post office and also a Phoenix Police Substation, that might be why they look so out of place. I was a mall cop here for a year and I have an older pre 2000 map of the mall showing the older Mervins and other anchors. If I can find it I'll post it up somewhere.
Please do! Also how was it being a mall cop there? I get that mall cops are a frequent running gag but I'm really curious about how real mall cops are haha
It's physically changed so much since it opened. The mall used to be very dark inside, with dark earth tone tiles (I remember a lot of dark brown with burnt orange highlights). There were slews of planters, laden with chinese evergreen and other dark green plants, and in the central courtyard there was a fountain as well. It was very high-end for the westside of Phoenix, prompted by some higher-end developments going in to the north and west of the mall at the time. We lived a couple of miles to the east and were there the week it opened. We bought a replacement stove there not long after they opened as I recall. Also a really sweet Kenmore canister vacuum that was decades ahead of its time (interior storage for attachments, auto height adjustment, things you wouldn't generally find on vacuums for another 20 years). I got my first pair of prescription glasses there too, at Pearle in 1981. Saw many films in the Harkins theater there in the '80s, including Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan and Aliens. During the late '80s Westridge is where I'd catch an express bus to the central bus terminal downtown, where I'd transfer to a bus to Arizona State in Tempe. We also had many dinners at the Macayo's there just outside the mall - I always thought it was physically the nicest of their properties and also tended to have the best food. It looked like Desert Sky was going to die a few years ago, so I'm glad to see it looks like the mall is going to make it.
I miss the old aesthetic of it....it was so 80s...so like mohogany tinted, dark tile dark look that wooden letter P looking statue that used to be in the landscape...that mall is absolutely unrecognizable to me now.
I worked here in high school, from 1999 - 2001, at three stores...Wild Pair, Anchor Blue (shout out if you remember Miller's Outpost), and Cinnabon...miss everyone I used to work with and meet there. Good times...
I'm so glad to see Desert Sky has bounced back. I used to take the bus a lot. There's a transit station right outside, so I loved going through the mall while waiting for my next bus. Best shop has to be the Mexican candy shop right next to the Hurricane Simulator. I'm so happy that it's still there! That weird corridor of shops could really use a kick ass mural to make it look like an old European alleyway or something like that. It just looks too much like a place not meant for shoppers.
That has the new Sears logo as most malls still have the old logo. This mall has allot of light. While there are many malls across America that are dying or dead, there are many others that are thriving. Just like Desert Sky Mall, my local in VA is thriving. It opened in 1985 and currently has 200+stores on single level. The mall has very few vacant storefronts.
I started working at Westridge Mall when I was 16 back in 1988. I worked at a store called Lane Bryant and my best friend at the time worked at Swenson's which was down by the food court. The food court had one of those corn dog on a stick places and an Orange Julius. If I remember correctly, Lane Bryant was directly across from the pretzel place. I have so many good memories of this mall. Even when we weren't working, we were there hanging out and shopping. We attended Trevor Browne High School just down the street. The strange little area of shops off the beaten path that he's referring to in the video was called "The Detour" back then. The entrances on either end had the front of a real VW bug coming out of the wall with it's headlights on with the background painted like a road. I loved that little area. It housed some funky little shops and a great cinnamon roll place. I also spent a lot of time at Maryvale mall and worked at Metrocenter for a little while after high school until I left Phoenix for college in Florida in 1992. I'm sad to see malls declining over the years.
Westridge, grew up there. I remember it used to have a very large water feature with pool & waterfall. That awkward niche area was an area for local businesses, there was always a barber shop there & that eyebrow threading place use to be an Old Timey photo, dress up like a saloon girl & Doc holiday, & where the p.o boxes are now that wall actually was open & lead into a small post office. You use to be able to enter the movie theatre from inside the mall but they shut off the entrance, too many kids sneaking in. Some stores I remember: Mervyns, Montgomery Wards, Miller's Outpost, The Wherehouse, Babbages, Lotions & Potions, Glamour Shots, Piccadilly Cafeteria, Pocket Change arcade, KB toys!
The back “awkward” space was a hugely popular barbershop that is still in the mall but a different location. There was also a post office right next to it where they sold various stamps that I loved looking at as a child while my brothers got haircuts. Also another place back there was a photostudio that did western looking photos. I’ve lived in AZ my whole life! There also use to be a huge fountain by the sears that is now super small. The place has changed so much but I love it. The Mexican market place is amazing and you have to try la carieta de Lilly!! Sooo good
I grew up in the same area when the Mall was built and have lived 10 of 46 years near it. It was a place with a lot of good memories for me too. The little area shown from 8:00 to 9:00 was decked out in a dark alley motif a while back and it was very cool. More than metro Center but not quite as many as Chris-Town. But still, Malls are fighting to stay alive in Phoenix, and some are succeeding.
Attended Trevor Browne in '84-'88 . Also had a Great Expectations hair salon, Casual Corner, Walgreens, Rio Salado college & people who asked you if you wanted to take a short survey for some money. Across from the mall's parking lot was Mrs. Gs and Macayos.
Cool little mall but I cannot imagine how much it must cost two keep it maintained so nicely. Just the air conditioning Bill alone in Phoenix must be enormous!
YOU FINALLY DID DESERT SKY!!! Thank you so much man, it took me back and I'm happy to see that the mall isn't dead; I worked there and went to high school at TGB about eleven years ago... so many great memories from that place :) I still remember the Chinese food place right next to the food court entrance, because until today that's the BEST Chinese food I've ever tasted.
It was great to see this mall busy. My husband and I were at mall in Marion, IL. and it is definitely a dead mall. It had anchor stores but not so much of little stores. We were really shock.
Across from Dillard’s was a large square water fountain with water channels around the perimeter and lots of leafy plants. I remember tossing coins into it as a kid, but it was removed sometime in the late 00’s I believe. I remember there was a Walgreens in the middle of the mall across millers out post. That DQ towards the beginning of the video next to the arcade is probably one of the original shops to this mall. There actually was a large arcade in the food court area.
It was great to see this mall again. I have so many fond memories of Desert Sky ( Westridge). A lot of firsts for me. First Date, First R movie as a 80s kid. Love it Thanks
I found your channel not that long ago and I love it ! Making me miss home . I moved to Missouri like 3 years ago . Anyway I grew up going to desert sky mall . We used to call it desert ghetto mall 😂😂😂 . There used to be like a cool fountains and stuff in the middle of the mall . That Mercado de los cielos used to be a mervyns ! Anyway thanks for the video !
I came across your channel by chance and am so happy I did! Was first introduced to the world of “Dead Mall” through Dan Bell. I love your style and narration and hope you keep growing with your subscribers and content. You just keep doing you! Your Dead Mall series is awesome!!!
I remember visiting this mall when it opened as "Westridge" Mall in late winter, '81. Originally, this mall didn't have skylights and the floor consisted primarily of waxed square red quarry tile. It was quite dank. They've definitely done some remodeling over the past 35 years or so. I'm sure at least some of the shops, or the mall itself, have added WiFi.
I used to go to this mall growing up. I remember getting lost and some security staff helping me find my mom. They used to have like a comic convention thing every now and again and I would pick up a lot of books. Wish I could go back to the 90's and walk around again.
The corner shoppes remind me of something being done at an old Macy's building in my childhood mall. They gutted the entire building and put a gym on the second story and formatted the first floor with tiny little boutiques like that for salons and doctor's offices. It's a neat little concept. Before my mall had closed they installed the hurricane simulator but I never tried it out. I see I didn't miss much!
It used to be a harkins in the late 90’s. In the video where you see the wetzles pretzel and the photo place next to it was the interior access to the movie theater.
There is this special charm about watching a dead mall walk through. It's eerie, and frankly kind of cool. And, as nobody cares, this was uploaded on my birthday.
That's the first time I've seen the modern sears logo on a building! I wonder if those corner shops were a subdivided junior anchor like an old Newberry or Woolworth's back when the mall first opened.
Love your videos! I have a weird obsession with malls and have been to theM all here in AZ!! I especially like Desert Sky Mall.. it's definitely a unique experience. At first I was worried you weren't gonna go inside the flea market or the super old Dillard's.. but then you said you're gonna make videos for them later lol.. can't wait! :) If you think it was busy when you were there- you should see it when they have local dance schools perform or other various cultural events. It can get a lot busier than you'd imagine.
I had so much fun making this video. The hurricane machine was a blast. Can't wait to see the finished product for the "Mall of the Skies" video. That place was awesome.
I don't know why I like your videos. I'm not happy to see people/businesses struggle or fail. It's a foreboding feeling... kinda scary. I do appreciate your hard work.
My spokane valley mall seems to still be doing good. It is pretty just with 1 local shop, and only 4 empty spaces. We don't have dillards up in our area though.
Incredible design and variety of larger chains with local shops that works! I also must admit that this has to be one of my favourite malls. Many people feel that Bal Harbour, just north of Miami Beach and Surfside in Florida, with its 100% Occupancy and High-End Designers, is their favourite Mall, but that is for people of the1% that can afford a $10,000 dress and $250,000 cars. Granted, it's a gem that you should experience, but I would recommend dressing smart if you go there, because it is for the most elite and its decor reflects almost 50 years with the best shops money can buy. For me this is what a Mall should be. A visual experience and incredible architecture with amazing lighting. My favourite, without a doubt! Looking forward to the Dillards video. I would be thrilled to have this as my local mall!
That Sonora cinema plays English movies with Spanish subtitles and that used to be a Harkins years ago and there was also a Harkins on 67th ave and Thomas as well And the Mercado de Los Cielos is like a indoor swapmeet
Mercado de los cielos is an anchor. .. cool place it rents small spaces to local businesses or small investors For About 650 dlls a month It could be the salvation of malls .. small local businesses bringing the dead malls alive again .. 👍🏻. Great mall
Its so weird not seeing a Chic-Fil-A inside your malls across the country. I know they are not in your area, they are staples in our malls here in the south. I promise when ya'll finally get one you are gonna love it!!!!!
900th like. My ex wife And our 4 kids used to go to the Piccadilly Cafeteria located inside this mall when it was called westridge mall. we knew the manager of Piccadilly Steven Simpson 27, when he was tragically shot And killed During a robbery right around Easter my family was going to dine that evening and went to another restaurant when we heard that evening he was murdered. this was During a period of time beginning in the mid eighties when crips and bloods were moving over from California and claiming territory in this area. Steve would go in the back and get liver and onions for my wife when it wasn't available in the front And would always come and visit with our family when we dined there And was a very warm and friendly individual.
Was going to say, it opened as Westridge mall. Was pretty decent place to hang. It took a lot of traffic from Metro center and Valley West. Use to watch the fireworks displays on July 4.
i think its kinda funny you chose to do a video on this mall. youre right, its not really dead anymore, but it was definitely dying about 10 years ago. the Mercado used to be an unused anchor (that was previously jc penny, but that shut down in the mid-90s). La curacao used to be a mervyns. i think the Mervyns had been there pretty early on as an anchor store... that funky hallway actually used to lead to a post office, hence why the post boxes are back there. there used to be a lot of barber and jewlery shops in that corridor as well. im glad they got a new carousel, but they used to have a bigger, better one like in the center of the mall (they built a stage there later, and i couldve sworn it was in front of the dillards entrance, but i didnt see it). and lastly, that movie theater (i believe) used to be a harkins. i was pretty young when they shut it, but they didnt reopen it until much later as an exclusively latino movie theater (all the movies were either subbed or dubbed in spanish). i guess ill hafta check out how its changed now....
I have a full deadmalls-style writeup on this mall that I have yet to send them. Desert Sky is a great example of a mall successfully retuning itself to meet area needs. To answer some questions people may have: -Westridge Mall (the original name) opened in 1981 and expanded in 1993. The 1993 expansion added the Wards and Mervyn's (now Burlington and Mercado de los Cielos, respectively). You can see the early 90s bones of the design in front of those anchors even if there's been continual updates to the actual center. -The mall rename happened on March 1, 1997. Officially, the idea was to trade on some of the name equity of the nearby concert pavilion which was known as Desert Sky (it's now sponsored). More likely, the point was to get rid of a name that might have put shoppers off. -A case could have been made for a dead mall in 1999/2000, when it lost JCPenney (which half-owned the mall at the start) and Wards in rapid succession due to those chains' problems. Burlington was a key to really stopping the bleeding here, and the Curacao (2007) and Mercado de los Cielos (2010, replacing Mervyn's) filled the mall back up with regard to its anchor stores. -There was once a Pollo Campero in this mall. No joke. I find it fascinating that Dillard's hangs on. That might be a case of a ticking time bomb as the reason they remained at Desert Sky was the economic crash taking out the plans for Estrella Falls, a lifestyle center further west on I-10 which they signed on to anchor in *2005*. (This has since been partially built at long last, but without the Dillard's.) Had Dillard's left around 2008, this mall could have experienced a death spiral.
I think you might be right about the mix of stores; I went to the College Square Mall in Morristown, Tennessee that, for the longest time, was kinda struggling, but when I went there for the first time in years a few days ago, there was a LOT of foot traffic in there and it had a healthy mix of standard mall stores and your little mom and pop stores. I started to chalk it up to "Oh, it's back to school time so the kids must be with their parents getting back to school clothes and shit" but I think you might actually be onto something about the mom and pop stores possibly being the saving grace of malls.
There used to be a US post office in that Corner Shops back corner. You are correct, this is an interesting mall and lots of mom and pop style businesses but hardly any empty store fronts. Although the Sears is now closing due to bankruptcy.
This mall looks so different now! I haven't been in it since I was a kid in the 90s. Too bad the awesome fountain isn't there anymore, threw many pennies in there with my grandma.
I remember going here every weekend as a little kid in the 80's till '90/'91 when it was Westridge Mall. I lived in the Vineyards Apartments back then, right up the road from Luke Elementary School.
That little corridor was once called The Detour, funk little niche stores used to be there. I worked in this mall for about 9 years. It still amazes me on how much it has changed.
My father used to pull security duty while this mall was being built. It is formerly known as Westridge Mall. I also work there at the pet store and Chick-fil-A from 84-87.
This was the WEST SIDE Place to go Back in the Day. I moved from the East Side were we had THOMAS Mall and TOWER Plaza which were either Dying out Or Dead Malls in the 90s. Me and the Homies would roll to the Mall get Blazed up and Hit the Mall. I had homies work in the mall as well Good Times Bro!
The "Alcove" used to be a duplicate of the "Alley" in Metrocenter back in the 70s and 80s. I think this mall was called Westridge when it first opened? I've only been there once or twice back when it opened in the mid-80's, I lived in the east valley so I never really went to this mall.
I will say it’s really sad to see that the Dillards here downgraded to a clearance center. The Dillards definitely was aesthetically pleasing. You should definitely do an update on this mall since it’s been a while. Update: at least on Google maps it said the Dillards is now a clearance center but I’m not sure exactly.
The odd shops along the side corridor remind me of the off-the-beaten-path part of Crystal City Underground in Arlington VA that resembles a theme park version of a medieval English streetscape. It must be the tight quarters and weird shops.
I really like those lights in the ceiling too and this mall actually looks very nice. Also what type of glasses do you use? The image looks good and I been thinking about investing in some
The last time I went to the mall my nephew and I stumbled across a large room the size of a Sears but it wasn’t a conventional store it was like a flea market. It had small chaos like areas rented out to people who sold their own stuff and quite a bit of barbershop/hair salons along with cell phone products. I thought it was very weird as I’ve never seen anything like it before very Spanish oriented
Plaza las Americas In San Juan Puerto Rico! If you could afford to fly there maybe on a vacation please check it out, it's not dying but it's declining!
Of all the malls in Puerto Rico the one closest to get into the "Dead Mall" status is probably Santa Rosa Mall (Road 2, just E of the Bayamón downtown on San Juan's western suburbs). It's like 30% empty and has a Sears (in relatively good shape though), chain which is slowly declining. About "Plaza" as we call the mall, it could be an example of how to reinvent themselves even with the Island's economic decline (had a Sports Authority and has both Sears and Kmart + the largest JC Penney in the world).
syxepop Good point there even opening up a Marshals near the Kmart, I could see your point about reinventing themselves too. But they have a lot of empty stores now and it has a lot less traffic then it had 2 years ago. You could say it's because the people have no money but still people are shopping at the Mall of San Juan which is very high class.
Most likely the issue is the rents there (but DDR malls here have a WORSE RECORD since they CHARGE MORE than Plaza on malls that have anywhere from 10-30% of Plaza's traffic). If someone wants to make a comparison on "reinvention" they should try Simon Malls' Plaza Carolina (in the eastern suburb of Carolina, about 15 min. SE of the SJU airport). I don't figure them as being "deader" than Plaza is nowadays.... (just a thought)
Plaza del Atlantico on the Hatillo/Arecibo border is on its way out because Plaza del Norte in Hatillo just happens to be better. However, even PdN has many empty lots. Santa Rosa is definitely the closest to a dying mall that I've seen. I remember fifteen years back and it was an a Right place but they depended too much on Sears and Sears is a dying chain everywhere. Now it's mostly a ghost town. It's odd because our economy is in the shitter and most people can't afford shopping malls, there are dying malls yet in some towns they're building more.
oh man my dad's optician shop had that same security gate in the 80s/90s. have you ever done an asian mall? there are a lot of them where i live and they usually take over crappy strip malls. a couple are in enclosed spaces and they're super interesting to visit. usually based around an asian grocery store, which always results in a good dinner.
Possibly that alcove was a anchor store that just had some walls slapped up to re-purpose the space and get lower rent instead of no rent for it. It appears to be a better solution than empty space.
In Omaha, Ne they have two dying or dead malls. The Crossroads Mall and the southroads mall. They also have a mall that is thriving with record customer traffic numbers. The Westroads Mall. Here in Temple, Tx the Temple Mall is dying gradually. When I moved here in 2013 they had only 5 empty spaces. Now they have 15+ and their Macy's will be closing soon with the current Dillards expanding/taking over the space. I looked up the mall map, Dillards will be about 197,000+sq feet total between the two anchor spots.
Yup this Mall was dead for a minute. Its packed every weekend now. Mercado de los Cielos definitely revived it. Shoe palace did also. Sears is a Spirit Halloween. It’s a little more different now. You should update this video👍🏼
Went to desert sky mall when I was a kid. I remember when it was called westridge. The wards was added later (now Burlington) penny's left. It was a dead mall for awhile. It looks like it is thriving. I bought my first thing with a Jc penny's credit card ( a Nintendo 64) out of the catalog and picked it up there at the mall.
You guys gotta go to the Berkshire Mall in Lanesborough Massachusetts! It's the only mall in that area and it's dead as dead can be. I am 32 and that mall has been on it's way to dead since I was like 15. I think the only proper anchor left is Sears, which is crazy since they've closed so many. I worked at that Sears and NO ONE shops there, not even at Christmas. This mall used to have Best Buy, JC Penney, Macy's. All gone. There is still a movie theater (a nice one!) and there is a Target, but mostly ppl are just going into the main entrance of Target then leaving and never actually going to the mall itself. Soooooooo many empty store fronts. And they have definitely never updated this mall. It has looked exactly the same forever. Please come! ❤️
"Mercado de los Cielos" means, I *believe,* "Market of the Skies". It's a nice parallel to the name of the mall itself. As for malls that look dead but aren't, my local malls are pretty alive too. They looked dead for a while, but sprung back. We had a third, but it was torn down after it really did die for good.
If you ever go up to Prescott, check out the Prescott Gateway Mall. It was the saddest looking mall I had ever seen in Arizona (I've never been to Metrocenter or Fiesta Mall, which from seeing your videos on them, look worse.) Desert Sky Mall at least seems to have some potential.
Why didn't you film That small type of playground? I really wanted to see it. It reminds me so much when I lived there. My family and I would go every weekend to the mall and see a movie. And I loved Playing there. It would be nice if you again and filmed it. Great video!
Very cool. I also do lots of cool abandoned places near me outside Pittsburgh. Also just did the first video for my new series Public Restroom Reviews!
So...the weird little nook area...I have seen something identical to this in a phoenix mall before. It was called "the Alley" at Metrocenter and it was themed to feel like you were window shopping in a dark alley at night. It had faux brick walls and street lights and seating. It had like photography etching places and little gimmicky store like that It wrapped around and just the same as the one here. I think this might be a revamped version of that. You were wondering and I swear it is exactly the same just brighter and plain walls.
I just wanted to stop in and say thank you for your videos! I'm someone who grew up walking around malls, but who lives farther from them now. They have a kind of nostalgic appeal to me and I'm glad to see someone else appreciates them too.
The way you shoot your videos and the relaxing music really invokes a unique feeling that's equal parts calming and low-key enthralling. Not many UA-camrs nail a particular feel, and you've really outdone yourself here.
Anyways, thanks for your content! :)
This mall was called Westridge Mall until the late 90's . The Curacao store was JC Penney which closed in the early 2000's and moved to Avondale. The Burlington was Montgomery Wards. Mervyns was in the Mercado De Los Cielos building until the chain closed.
I worked in the mervyns in high school it has changed a lot and I’m happy it’s part of a booming business for our economy
I love y'alls commenting and replying keep it up.💚
Yes! I remember the Curacao store's grand opening. They had a concert outside with a Chicano rapper named MC Magic. It was around maybe 2007-2009. I was a kid so I can't remember exactly.
Those corner shops used to house a miniature post office and also a Phoenix Police Substation, that might be why they look so out of place. I was a mall cop here for a year and I have an older pre 2000 map of the mall showing the older Mervins and other anchors. If I can find it I'll post it up somewhere.
Please do! Also how was it being a mall cop there? I get that mall cops are a frequent running gag but I'm really curious about how real mall cops are haha
desert sky always makes me super nostalgic every time I go inside it (which isn’t often) . it just reminds me of my childhood, I luv it
It's physically changed so much since it opened. The mall used to be very dark inside, with dark earth tone tiles (I remember a lot of dark brown with burnt orange highlights). There were slews of planters, laden with chinese evergreen and other dark green plants, and in the central courtyard there was a fountain as well. It was very high-end for the westside of Phoenix, prompted by some higher-end developments going in to the north and west of the mall at the time.
We lived a couple of miles to the east and were there the week it opened. We bought a replacement stove there not long after they opened as I recall. Also a really sweet Kenmore canister vacuum that was decades ahead of its time (interior storage for attachments, auto height adjustment, things you wouldn't generally find on vacuums for another 20 years). I got my first pair of prescription glasses there too, at Pearle in 1981.
Saw many films in the Harkins theater there in the '80s, including Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan and Aliens. During the late '80s Westridge is where I'd catch an express bus to the central bus terminal downtown, where I'd transfer to a bus to Arizona State in Tempe. We also had many dinners at the Macayo's there just outside the mall - I always thought it was physically the nicest of their properties and also tended to have the best food.
It looked like Desert Sky was going to die a few years ago, so I'm glad to see it looks like the mall is going to make it.
I miss the old aesthetic of it....it was so 80s...so like mohogany tinted, dark tile dark look that wooden letter P looking statue that used to be in the landscape...that mall is absolutely unrecognizable to me now.
You should go to the Arizona Mills Mall that mall is packed on weekends too.
Nah arrow head
Man the production quality just keeps getting better, keep up the great work!
PantherBanana Thank you!!!
I worked here in high school, from 1999 - 2001, at three stores...Wild Pair, Anchor Blue (shout out if you remember Miller's Outpost), and Cinnabon...miss everyone I used to work with and meet there. Good times...
I'm so glad to see Desert Sky has bounced back. I used to take the bus a lot. There's a transit station right outside, so I loved going through the mall while waiting for my next bus. Best shop has to be the Mexican candy shop right next to the Hurricane Simulator. I'm so happy that it's still there! That weird corridor of shops could really use a kick ass mural to make it look like an old European alleyway or something like that. It just looks too much like a place not meant for shoppers.
Good ole Thomas Rd. bus line ended there. So did McDowell, Indian school and encanto ones I believe.
Wow, you've really shot up in subs recently dude, congrats!!!
+Larry Bundy Jr thanks! It's been a fun and wild ride 😁
Larry Bundy Jr maybe you'll be featured as a dead youtuber on this channel!
you do appear everywhere
@@leaninheavy lol
That has the new Sears logo as most malls still have the old logo. This mall has allot of light. While there are many malls across America that are dying or dead, there are many others that are thriving. Just like Desert Sky Mall, my local in VA is thriving. It opened in 1985 and currently has 200+stores on single level. The mall has very few vacant storefronts.
I started working at Westridge Mall when I was 16 back in 1988. I worked at a store called Lane Bryant and my best friend at the time worked at Swenson's which was down by the food court. The food court had one of those corn dog on a stick places and an Orange Julius. If I remember correctly, Lane Bryant was directly across from the pretzel place. I have so many good memories of this mall. Even when we weren't working, we were there hanging out and shopping. We attended Trevor Browne High School just down the street. The strange little area of shops off the beaten path that he's referring to in the video was called "The Detour" back then. The entrances on either end had the front of a real VW bug coming out of the wall with it's headlights on with the background painted like a road. I loved that little area. It housed some funky little shops and a great cinnamon roll place. I also spent a lot of time at Maryvale mall and worked at Metrocenter for a little while after high school until I left Phoenix for college in Florida in 1992. I'm sad to see malls declining over the years.
Cheryl Vermillion Online Shopping is taking over. 😢
TGB class of '86 myself. Go Bruins!
I like how ur not just a ghoul, u seem general happy this mall is doing well. I love ur videos, keep up the good work:)
Westridge, grew up there. I remember it used to have a very large water feature with pool & waterfall. That awkward niche area was an area for local businesses, there was always a barber shop there & that eyebrow threading place use to be an Old Timey photo, dress up like a saloon girl & Doc holiday, & where the p.o boxes are now that wall actually was open & lead into a small post office. You use to be able to enter the movie theatre from inside the mall but they shut off the entrance, too many kids sneaking in. Some stores I remember: Mervyns, Montgomery Wards, Miller's Outpost, The Wherehouse, Babbages, Lotions & Potions, Glamour Shots, Piccadilly Cafeteria, Pocket Change arcade, KB toys!
The back “awkward” space was a hugely popular barbershop that is still in the mall but a different location. There was also a post office right next to it where they sold various stamps that I loved looking at as a child while my brothers got haircuts. Also another place back there was a photostudio that did western looking photos. I’ve lived in AZ my whole life! There also use to be a huge fountain by the sears that is now super small. The place has changed so much but I love it. The Mexican market place is amazing and you have to try la carieta de Lilly!! Sooo good
The carreta de Lilly is the best. Now I’m hungry thinking of it.
I love seeing malls alive that's why I suggest to everyone to shop instead of buying online .
I grew up in the same area when the Mall was built and have lived 10 of 46 years near it. It was a place with a lot of good memories for me too. The little area shown from 8:00 to 9:00 was decked out in a dark alley motif a while back and it was very cool.
More than metro Center but not quite as many as Chris-Town. But still, Malls are fighting to stay alive in Phoenix, and some are succeeding.
"Dark alley motif" is the perfect description. I loved smelling the store with all the leather goods.
@@ladianagpe2976 Miss those halcyon days of tobacco shops and leather good stores just for the aromas and vibe. Still brings a smile to my heart.
Attended Trevor Browne in '84-'88 . Also had a Great Expectations hair salon, Casual Corner, Walgreens, Rio Salado college & people who asked you if you wanted to take a short survey for some money. Across from the mall's parking lot was Mrs. Gs and Macayos.
Cool little mall but I cannot imagine how much it must cost two keep it maintained so nicely. Just the air conditioning Bill alone in Phoenix must be enormous!
YOU FINALLY DID DESERT SKY!!! Thank you so much man, it took me back and I'm happy to see that the mall isn't dead; I worked there and went to high school at TGB about eleven years ago... so many great memories from that place :)
I still remember the Chinese food place right next to the food court entrance, because until today that's the BEST Chinese food I've ever tasted.
I loved that Bomb ass Food Court back in the Day. Great Food and Great Vibe. It was Awesome lol
It was great to see this mall busy. My husband and I were at mall in Marion, IL. and it is definitely a dead mall. It had anchor stores but not so much of little stores. We were really shock.
Across from Dillard’s was a large square water fountain with water channels around the perimeter and lots of leafy plants. I remember tossing coins into it as a kid, but it was removed sometime in the late 00’s I believe. I remember there was a Walgreens in the middle of the mall across millers out post. That DQ towards the beginning of the video next to the arcade is probably one of the original shops to this mall. There actually was a large arcade in the food court area.
It was great to see this mall again. I have so many fond memories of Desert Sky ( Westridge). A lot of firsts for me. First Date, First R movie as a 80s kid. Love it Thanks
10:03 What does that Hollywood store sell? It reminded me of the video store chain but I thought that went under years ago.
Somos Dental Orthodontics. They have a Facebook page advertising deals on oral surgery, and luche libre events... alright.
I found your channel not that long ago and I love it ! Making me miss home . I moved to Missouri like 3 years ago . Anyway I grew up going to desert sky mall . We used to call it desert ghetto mall 😂😂😂 . There used to be like a cool fountains and stuff in the middle of the mall . That Mercado de los cielos used to be a mervyns ! Anyway thanks for the video !
This was a very positive video and we definitely need more of these kind of stories! Thank you retail archeology!
Mr. Nick b thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it 😁
Retail Archaeology yes I did and thank you again for providing and trying find retail stores and malls like this!
Retail Archaeology 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I came across your channel by chance and am so happy I did! Was first introduced to the world of “Dead Mall” through Dan Bell. I love your style and narration and hope you keep growing with your subscribers and content. You just keep doing you! Your Dead Mall series is awesome!!!
I remember visiting this mall when it opened as "Westridge" Mall in late winter, '81. Originally, this mall didn't have skylights and the floor consisted primarily of waxed square red quarry tile. It was quite dank. They've definitely done some remodeling over the past 35 years or so. I'm sure at least some of the shops, or the mall itself, have added WiFi.
Mercado de los cielos= Market of the skies
Carlos Sebastian necrotic goth I should have just said the English translation so I didn't sound like such a gringo, LOL
I used to go to this mall growing up. I remember getting lost and some security staff helping me find my mom. They used to have like a comic convention thing every now and again and I would pick up a lot of books. Wish I could go back to the 90's and walk around again.
I’ve never been inside or seen anyone use a hurricane simulator thanks 😭 I never have 2 wonder again
The corner shoppes remind me of something being done at an old Macy's building in my childhood mall. They gutted the entire building and put a gym on the second story and formatted the first floor with tiny little boutiques like that for salons and doctor's offices. It's a neat little concept. Before my mall had closed they installed the hurricane simulator but I never tried it out. I see I didn't miss much!
I live 20 minutes from this mall.. The movie theater in the mall shows Spanish language movies also.
William Haynes Yea it used to be called Cinema Latino way back when
I live 5 minutes away from this mall lol
It used to be a harkins in the late 90’s. In the video where you see the wetzles pretzel and the photo place next to it was the interior access to the movie theater.
@@oshii666 who tf asked
There is this special charm about watching a dead mall walk through. It's eerie, and frankly kind of cool. And, as nobody cares, this was uploaded on my birthday.
You remind me of Dan Bell but of the west. Keep up the amazing videos, you deserve more subscribers!!! Sending love from New York!
That's the first time I've seen the modern sears logo on a building!
I wonder if those corner shops were a subdivided junior anchor like an old Newberry or Woolworth's back when the mall first opened.
Love your videos! I have a weird obsession with malls and have been to theM all here in AZ!!
I especially like Desert Sky Mall.. it's definitely a unique experience. At first I was worried you weren't gonna go inside the flea market or the super old Dillard's.. but then you said you're gonna make videos for them later lol.. can't wait! :)
If you think it was busy when you were there- you should see it when they have local dance schools perform or other various cultural events. It can get a lot busier than you'd imagine.
I was thinking about the same thing I love it when they have those events it’s so beautiful
I had so much fun making this video. The hurricane machine was a blast. Can't wait to see the finished product for the "Mall of the Skies" video. That place was awesome.
Burlington Coat Factory as well use to be Montgomery Wards.
I don't know why I like your videos. I'm not happy to see people/businesses struggle or fail. It's a foreboding feeling... kinda scary. I do appreciate your hard work.
My spokane valley mall seems to still be doing good. It is pretty just with 1 local shop, and only 4 empty spaces. We don't have dillards up in our area though.
Ugames 332 I know that mall. I spent most of my time at Northtown though
Incredible design and variety of larger chains with local shops that works! I also must admit that this has to be one of my favourite malls. Many people feel that Bal Harbour, just north of Miami Beach and Surfside in Florida, with its 100% Occupancy and High-End Designers, is their favourite Mall, but that is for people of the1% that can afford a $10,000 dress and $250,000 cars. Granted, it's a gem that you should experience, but I would recommend dressing smart if you go there, because it is for the most elite and its decor reflects almost 50 years with the best shops money can buy.
For me this is what a Mall should be. A visual experience and incredible architecture with amazing lighting. My favourite, without a doubt! Looking forward to the Dillards video. I would be thrilled to have this as my local mall!
That Sonora cinema plays English movies with Spanish subtitles and that used to be a Harkins years ago and there was also a Harkins on 67th ave and Thomas as well
And the Mercado de Los Cielos is like a indoor swapmeet
Mercado de los cielos is an anchor. .. cool place it rents small spaces to local businesses or small investors For About 650 dlls a month It could be the salvation of malls ..
small local businesses bringing the dead malls alive again .. 👍🏻. Great mall
Aron Mercado there will be a video coming in the future of this Market. It really was cool to see 😊
Check out 'La Gran Plaza' in Fort Worth.
Its so weird not seeing a Chic-Fil-A inside your malls across the country. I know they are not in your area, they are staples in our malls here in the south. I promise when ya'll finally get one you are gonna love it!!!!!
900th like. My ex wife And our 4 kids used to go to the Piccadilly Cafeteria located inside this mall when it was called westridge mall. we knew the manager of Piccadilly Steven Simpson 27, when he was tragically shot And killed During a robbery right around Easter my family was going to dine that evening and went to another restaurant when we heard that evening he was murdered. this was During a period of time beginning in the mid eighties when crips and bloods were moving over from California and claiming territory in this area. Steve would go in the back and get liver and onions for my wife when it wasn't available in the front And would always come and visit with our family when we dined there And was a very warm and friendly individual.
Killer mall.. glad to see busy. And doing well. AWESOME!!
Was going to say, it opened as Westridge mall. Was pretty decent place to hang. It took a lot of traffic from Metro center and Valley West.
Use to watch the fireworks displays on July 4.
I spent many Saturday nights back in '89-90 at Westridge for Rocky Horry Picture Show midnight shows. Good times. Thank you for the video!
i think its kinda funny you chose to do a video on this mall. youre right, its not really dead anymore, but it was definitely dying about 10 years ago. the Mercado used to be an unused anchor (that was previously jc penny, but that shut down in the mid-90s). La curacao used to be a mervyns. i think the Mervyns had been there pretty early on as an anchor store... that funky hallway actually used to lead to a post office, hence why the post boxes are back there. there used to be a lot of barber and jewlery shops in that corridor as well. im glad they got a new carousel, but they used to have a bigger, better one like in the center of the mall (they built a stage there later, and i couldve sworn it was in front of the dillards entrance, but i didnt see it). and lastly, that movie theater (i believe) used to be a harkins. i was pretty young when they shut it, but they didnt reopen it until much later as an exclusively latino movie theater (all the movies were either subbed or dubbed in spanish). i guess ill hafta check out how its changed now....
edit: i drove by the mall the other day and realized id mixed up mercado and la curacao (tho from my understanding they are very similar stores).
I have a full deadmalls-style writeup on this mall that I have yet to send them. Desert Sky is a great example of a mall successfully retuning itself to meet area needs.
To answer some questions people may have:
-Westridge Mall (the original name) opened in 1981 and expanded in 1993. The 1993 expansion added the Wards and Mervyn's (now Burlington and Mercado de los Cielos, respectively). You can see the early 90s bones of the design in front of those anchors even if there's been continual updates to the actual center.
-The mall rename happened on March 1, 1997. Officially, the idea was to trade on some of the name equity of the nearby concert pavilion which was known as Desert Sky (it's now sponsored). More likely, the point was to get rid of a name that might have put shoppers off.
-A case could have been made for a dead mall in 1999/2000, when it lost JCPenney (which half-owned the mall at the start) and Wards in rapid succession due to those chains' problems. Burlington was a key to really stopping the bleeding here, and the Curacao (2007) and Mercado de los Cielos (2010, replacing Mervyn's) filled the mall back up with regard to its anchor stores.
-There was once a Pollo Campero in this mall. No joke.
I find it fascinating that Dillard's hangs on. That might be a case of a ticking time bomb as the reason they remained at Desert Sky was the economic crash taking out the plans for Estrella Falls, a lifestyle center further west on I-10 which they signed on to anchor in *2005*. (This has since been partially built at long last, but without the Dillard's.) Had Dillard's left around 2008, this mall could have experienced a death spiral.
Desert Sky Mall! My friend and I fell in love with the retro interior architecture in the Dillards.
I think you might be right about the mix of stores; I went to the College Square Mall in Morristown, Tennessee that, for the longest time, was kinda struggling, but when I went there for the first time in years a few days ago, there was a LOT of foot traffic in there and it had a healthy mix of standard mall stores and your little mom and pop stores. I started to chalk it up to "Oh, it's back to school time so the kids must be with their parents getting back to school clothes and shit" but I think you might actually be onto something about the mom and pop stores possibly being the saving grace of malls.
There used to be a US post office in that Corner Shops back corner. You are correct, this is an interesting mall and lots of mom and pop style businesses but hardly any empty store fronts. Although the Sears is now closing due to bankruptcy.
Anyone else watch these videos before going to sleep?
This mall looks so different now! I haven't been in it since I was a kid in the 90s. Too bad the awesome fountain isn't there anymore, threw many pennies in there with my grandma.
Music gets a double thumbs up from me! :)
I remember going here every weekend as a little kid in the 80's till '90/'91 when it was Westridge Mall. I lived in the Vineyards Apartments back then, right up the road from Luke Elementary School.
That little corridor was once called The Detour, funk little niche stores used to be there. I worked in this mall for about 9 years. It still amazes me on how much it has changed.
My father used to pull security duty while this mall was being built. It is formerly known as Westridge Mall. I also work there at the pet store and Chick-fil-A from 84-87.
This was the WEST SIDE Place to go Back in the Day. I moved from the East Side were we had THOMAS Mall and TOWER Plaza which were either Dying out Or Dead Malls in the 90s. Me and the Homies would roll to the Mall get Blazed up and Hit the Mall. I had homies work in the mall as well Good Times Bro!
Great video of an alive mall. I watched the ad for you and will be doing it on all your videos.
I remember when this place first opened and it was called Westridge Mall. Keep the cool vids coming!
Did it look the same as now?
Ahh, the old "Westridge Mall". Good old times.
I can't help it, but every time I watch a video about a mall, I immediately want to play Dead Rising.
I like all the natural light and earth tone paint colors. It looks like somewhere you would actually want to be.
Im located in Az, your videos are giving me a lot of good places to go explore. Thank you
The "Alcove" used to be a duplicate of the "Alley" in Metrocenter back in the 70s and 80s. I think this mall was called Westridge when it first opened? I've only been there once or twice back when it opened in the mid-80's, I lived in the east valley so I never really went to this mall.
Haven’t been to that mall in years! I thought the mall was going to die after Mervyns closed. Awesome video!
Yo I saw you on Fox 10 news!
Just went today, it’s extremely packed and the food court is even busier!
I will say it’s really sad to see that the Dillards here downgraded to a clearance center. The Dillards definitely was aesthetically pleasing. You should definitely do an update on this mall since it’s been a while.
Update: at least on Google maps it said the Dillards is now a clearance center but I’m not sure exactly.
The odd shops along the side corridor remind me of the off-the-beaten-path part of Crystal City Underground in Arlington VA that resembles a theme park version of a medieval English streetscape. It must be the tight quarters and weird shops.
It was originally called The Alley. It had an Old West cosplay photo-posing shop.
I really like those lights in the ceiling too and this mall actually looks very nice. Also what type of glasses do you use? The image looks good and I been thinking about investing in some
H.H. foxaddict I'll add a link to the glasses in the description when I get a few minutes. Thanks for watching!
good for them. nice to see thriving/recovering malls in this era.
That hurricane machine was a gip! Love that mall . One of the few hanging on.
The last time I went to the mall my nephew and I stumbled across a large room the size of a Sears but it wasn’t a conventional store it was like a flea market. It had small chaos like areas rented out to people who sold their own stuff and quite a bit of barbershop/hair salons along with cell phone products. I thought it was very weird as I’ve never seen anything like it before very Spanish oriented
Plaza las Americas In San Juan Puerto Rico! If you could afford to fly there maybe on a vacation please check it out, it's not dying but it's declining!
Of all the malls in Puerto Rico the one closest to get into the "Dead Mall" status is probably Santa Rosa Mall (Road 2, just E of the Bayamón downtown on San Juan's western suburbs). It's like 30% empty and has a Sears (in relatively good shape though), chain which is slowly declining.
About "Plaza" as we call the mall, it could be an example of how to reinvent themselves even with the Island's economic decline (had a Sports Authority and has both Sears and Kmart + the largest JC Penney in the world).
syxepop Good point there even opening up a Marshals near the Kmart, I could see your point about reinventing themselves too. But they have a lot of empty stores now and it has a lot less traffic then it had 2 years ago. You could say it's because the people have no money but still people are shopping at the Mall of San Juan which is very high class.
Most likely the issue is the rents there (but DDR malls here have a WORSE RECORD since they CHARGE MORE than Plaza on malls that have anywhere from 10-30% of Plaza's traffic).
If someone wants to make a comparison on "reinvention" they should try Simon Malls' Plaza Carolina (in the eastern suburb of Carolina, about 15 min. SE of the SJU airport). I don't figure them as being "deader" than Plaza is nowadays.... (just a thought)
YOU go film it and upload a video! There is definitely interest in the topic here and there's always room for another content creator.
Plaza del Atlantico on the Hatillo/Arecibo border is on its way out because Plaza del Norte in Hatillo just happens to be better. However, even PdN has many empty lots. Santa Rosa is definitely the closest to a dying mall that I've seen. I remember fifteen years back and it was an a
Right place but they depended too much on Sears and Sears is a dying chain everywhere. Now it's mostly a ghost town. It's odd because our economy is in the shitter and most people can't afford shopping malls, there are dying malls yet in some towns they're building more.
oh man my dad's optician shop had that same security gate in the 80s/90s.
have you ever done an asian mall? there are a lot of them where i live and they usually take over crappy strip malls. a couple are in enclosed spaces and they're super interesting to visit. usually based around an asian grocery store, which always results in a good dinner.
Possibly that alcove was a anchor store that just had some walls slapped up to re-purpose the space and get lower rent instead of no rent for it. It appears to be a better solution than empty space.
nice to see a largely mexican community reviving this once declining mall
WTF are you talking about Hillary?
Herbert Neal If they're reviving our malls, I'm all for letting them stay. Just as long as they go get citizenship.
LOL, "Those Mexicans are the future of America. Thank God."
Is that you George Soros? Maybe Barbara Spectre?
Can anyone say *NARCISSISM?*
Los Pollos Hermanos
In Omaha, Ne they have two dying or dead malls. The Crossroads Mall and the southroads mall. They also have a mall that is thriving with record customer traffic numbers. The Westroads Mall. Here in Temple, Tx the Temple Mall is dying gradually. When I moved here in 2013 they had only 5 empty spaces. Now they have 15+ and their Macy's will be closing soon with the current Dillards expanding/taking over the space. I looked up the mall map, Dillards will be about 197,000+sq feet total between the two anchor spots.
Yup this Mall was dead for a minute. Its packed every weekend now. Mercado de los Cielos definitely revived it. Shoe palace did also. Sears is a Spirit Halloween. It’s a little more different now. You should update this video👍🏼
Went to desert sky mall when I was a kid. I remember when it was called westridge. The wards was added later (now Burlington) penny's left. It was a dead mall for awhile. It looks like it is thriving. I bought my first thing with a Jc penny's credit card ( a Nintendo 64) out of the catalog and picked it up there at the mall.
"Hurricane Simulator" may be considered lame, however... when you gotta break wind, hurricane speeds offer a serious challenge.
Great Video as always! 👍Thankyou for the Upload! 👍 Saved 👌and shared! 💜
Lakeside Mall here in Michigan has one of those double decker carousels too.
Please do a walk around of Tempe marketplace
You guys gotta go to the Berkshire Mall in Lanesborough Massachusetts! It's the only mall in that area and it's dead as dead can be. I am 32 and that mall has been on it's way to dead since I was like 15. I think the only proper anchor left is Sears, which is crazy since they've closed so many. I worked at that Sears and NO ONE shops there, not even at Christmas. This mall used to have Best Buy, JC Penney, Macy's. All gone. There is still a movie theater (a nice one!) and there is a Target, but mostly ppl are just going into the main entrance of Target then leaving and never actually going to the mall itself. Soooooooo many empty store fronts. And they have definitely never updated this mall. It has looked exactly the same forever. Please come! ❤️
"Mercado de los Cielos" means, I *believe,* "Market of the Skies". It's a nice parallel to the name of the mall itself.
As for malls that look dead but aren't, my local malls are pretty alive too. They looked dead for a while, but sprung back. We had a third, but it was torn down after it really did die for good.
There was an African Hairbraiding place in the now demolished Owings Mills Mall too. Kinda interesting.
A lot more Spanish named stores than I have seen in a mall, which is cool. It's like the malls here in Utah. They still get pretty heavy traffic.
If you ever go up to Prescott, check out the Prescott Gateway Mall. It was the saddest looking mall I had ever seen in Arizona (I've never been to Metrocenter or Fiesta Mall, which from seeing your videos on them, look worse.)
Desert Sky Mall at least seems to have some potential.
8:00 what was that guy in the reflection doing?
Why didn't you film That small type of playground? I really wanted to see it. It reminds me so much when I lived there. My family and I would go every weekend to the mall and see a movie. And I loved Playing there. It would be nice if you again and filmed it. Great video!
Very cool. I also do lots of cool abandoned places near me outside Pittsburgh. Also just did the first video for my new series Public Restroom Reviews!
The GearShots Looks like you've started an interesting channel. Glad you mentioned it. Just subbed. :-)
Thanks! I'm headed out right now to film more abandoned places. So many near me. New video guaranteed every Tuesday at 10 am
Not yet. Bet The Hot Dog Shoppe has a few!
*BROWN*
Use to be called Westridge Mall. Where's bills shoe hut.
Garrett Parker i use to work at bills shoe hut they closed that location.
The corner stores part of thos mall kinda remind me as old service back hallway
So...the weird little nook area...I have seen something identical to this in a phoenix mall before. It was called "the Alley" at Metrocenter and it was themed to feel like you were window shopping in a dark alley at night. It had faux brick walls and street lights and seating. It had like photography etching places and little gimmicky store like that
It wrapped around and just the same as the one here. I think this might be a revamped version of that. You were wondering and I swear it is exactly the same just brighter and plain walls.