Tri-County Mall, OH | a dead mall masterpiece left abandoned | ExLog 119
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
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Welcome to the Tri-County Mall! This amazing Meyerhoff-built mall seemed bulletproof for most of its life...I can't believe it actually closed. Happy Thanksgiving!
#dmodfam #exlog #salguido
I gave Marna covid, whoops. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Who got into a fight with relatives at the dinner table over politics? Subscribe and leave a like and I'll stop being sick thankssssss. Oh, btw, this is the final video at my Baltimore City studio...moving to a new house in December. Give me a minute to get situated and I'll put a new ExLog out as soon as I can.
Y’all get better and best of luck with the move!
It's not a family gathering if people aren't arguing or crying.
Very good Sir! Finally someone who doesn't spew the official bullshit story of blaming the internet!
As this story demonstrates especially way before the mass adoption of the internet that retail has been in trouble for a very long time!
So refreshing to see someone else who actually does research on the topic of retail!
Good work, I thank you for setting the record straight and showing blaming the Internet is crap!
Online sales are only 8 to 10% of all retail sales, meaning 90+% of all retail sales still actually happen in the brick and mortar environment. The downturn is simply because there's an income deficiency across the population.
Oh yes, "mall brats" though not going to Ethan Allen, they was actually the malls number one customer.
They either spent their part time job money or most famously their parents money!
Ever since the late 90's as the now elders aka boomers and those older Gen xers started to bitch about the kids/teens ECT and mall management sided with the Karen's the decline only got more and more obvious!
Those housing projects they talk about, I've noticed this is a common theme via dead malls, yet I noticed how they never actually get on it!
Lots of malls around the nation was up for this sort of thing and 10 years on nothing has happened.
Furthermore I'd bet they'd fail anyway.
They'd be like sodasopa out of south park!
Those type of housing developments never last!
Frankly the malls was never really meant to last as long as they did.
The reality is simply they served as a tax shelter for the rich and companies that was looking for a side line!
Hints that's why there was an over saturation of malls across the country.
But hey once those tax breaks went bye bye so did the upkeep followed by the businesses!
Thinking of you, Sal, and Cap’n. Love❤ you
I never thought this mall would ever die.. It was always so Busy. Spent a lot of time here.. But always loved Forest Fair..
Same here. I never would've thought it would end up this way. Forest Fair didn't last long at all.
I miss Tri-County Mall. So, so much. I hung out there as a teen and I’m 44 now. I shopped there until about 2012. My last visit was to a Spirit Halloween in the old Sears.
Sal, that was a “Safety Town” for kids. We have them here in Hamilton, Ohio, too. You must’ve been there in the summer bc that’s when they do them. They teach kids traffic safety.
Thanks for your delightful documentaries. I also like the Forest Fair Mall ones.
Keep up the good work.
BTW your dad is hilarious.
Streets made for kids on bikes inside ?
Very nice! I worked there in a children’s shoe store from 88-94 (I think) It was a beautiful mall after the remodel in 90-ish. They had to put temporary fronts on the stores while the roof was off, made for some miserable winter work shifts. And I could still kick myself for not getting my picture with Santa during the construction because they had him sitting on a backhoe in the middle of all the construction. I also got to tour the second floor before it was finished when they were coming into the homestretch of the project as part of a mall merchants meeting. I have a sentimental attachment to Tri-County. That was my first real job.
I love the howls that rumble throughout the mall in, some of the quiet moments from the children that were there that day. SEEMINGLY they sound like all the kids that ran and played throughout the mall for over 7-decades.
Sal, I visited this mall as a kid many times and had many cherished memories like buying my first switch there or buying large cookies from the cookie store, and even past moving away I thought about this mall a lot. No one had made a dead mall exploration video until you did, so on my behalf, thank you for letting me be able to revisit my memories once again!
Well lookie here, My favorite Malltuber covering yet another one of my childhood malls. I moved from Ohio about 10 years ago, and have been missing some of the places I used to visit there, such as Tri-County. Had my ears pierced there as a teen, and even spent my first work check in this mall. Can't thank you enough for your service of preserving the memory of these establishments, as well as how well versed and researched your videos are. Keep up the great work!
Hey thanks!!
I don't know why I keep coming back to watch these videos and get depressed. I don't even have a connection to this place, but my feelings of nostalgia for a thriving mall gives me a morbid curiosity to see them as they wither away. A mall like this is built like a monument to capitalism and that reminds me of growing up more than it should.
Nice job on the video and research as always.
We have a couple thriving malls here in the Cincinnati/Dayton area. My wife and I just took our two daughters to one last week. It was very busy, and the food court was packed. It was awesome to see and brought back great memories. I have hope that some malls will survive, and perhaps even make a comeback in the future.
Man the nostalgia is too much lol I knew every step of that place and where you were in each clip just by memory...It's hard to believe it's not a thing anymore.
My job is on the same exit, been there since 2014, I used to go to that Sears all the time since they had an actual Sears Hardware, I used to buy tools online and pick them up there, the Sears Automotive was still open too. After I met my wife and had my kid we would eat at BJ's at times and while we waited to get a table I would walk my daughter down to little rides they had. Good memories but sad as I knew the mall was dying. Kinda cool to see it in one of your videos.
Hope everyone feels better 💪🏾
I remember going to this mall as a young girl. It was always so sparkly with its polished floors and beautiful fountains and felt less oppressive than some of the other malls in the area. Watching the video made me remember how busy it would be not just during the holidays but just any given weekend. The food court would be so packed and there would be so many people, you'd be jockeying for a seat on the garden arrangement near the escalators. Inside the main front entrance used to be a pet store that had all sorts of animals in it (sadly, likely from bad breeding practices like most pet stores) but that was my first experience in finding out you could have skunks as pets. Then on the other side was a Cinnabon (that's still there lol) that would hit you with its smell the moment you got inside, and if you resisted that there was a popcorn place that made all sorts of flavored and candy coated popcorn in every shade of the rainbow. My favorite place was the large fountain that was stepped so the water made just the most gorgeous sound and mist that caught the lights and made it feel magical. However, for some reason the most memorable store for me was a random small perfume store diagonally across from the Disney store; I didn't go in there except once but you could smell it from so far away it was ridiculous. Seeing it in its later state is very sad, but I suppose all good things come to an end.
I worked mall security from 2013-2016. This video unlocked so many memories for me. Thank you. I enjoyed very much!
Sal, You could do a twofer if you make it up north an hour and a half on I-83 to Harrisburg in the next month or so. Colonial Park Mall and Harrisburg Mall (only a few miles apart) are both on the way out.
Another mall well documented and shared, Thank You!
Happy Thanksgiving. Not at TRI county Mall, but I've ordered food by fax before. Our local honey baked ham use to take orders by fax and when we worked Saturdays, a group of us would fax our order in to have it delivered on lunch.
Great video Sal it is sad that the shopping malls in the US are dying I hope that something good comes out of this one good to see your father Captain Sal in some of your videos I hope that he be in the next one I'm looking forward to seeing EX LOG 120 and all the best to moving into your new home all the best form Australia and take care
The tgubg I recall most abot this mall is the narrow space you walk rhrough at 34:10. Used to visit this mall from 2004 to 2006 when I would participate in video game tournaments at a nearby Dave and Buster's. It was thriving then.
Thank you so much for doing this. This one and the 3 parts on Forest Fair really do bring me back to a simpler time in life with incredible memories. An update on Tri-County, I was out that way about 2 months ago, and the mall was still standing. I know a report here said the developers had some issues, but were now back on track, so we will see.
That little driving school looks like a place we used to have in Richmond,VA called Safety Town. It was next to the Azalea mall. It was for teaching kids road safety like crossing the road. How to walk safely on the side of the road. They used to take elementary age kids there as part of a field trip.
Jungle Jim's is awesome
Seeing escalators in the mall will always be a sight for me. You know how they work but I find it so interesting that someone decided to invent and design such a thing. The automatic stair.
Another wonderful video Sal, I love how you go into the history and the filming,drone footage and narration is first class! I appreciate how busy you are in real life and it is always a treat when you post another video. I am so sorry and worried that you have COVID and I hope that your recover quickly. I hope your move goes well and I love to see captain Sal he is a bloody legend ❤ as always greetings from England,until the next time ,take care😊👍🏻👏🏻xx
Always a joy to see your Dad make an appearance! ❤
Hope you are well very soon.
Macy’s shuttering was the last straw for this place. I was pretty surprised they left- they remodeled their store with new paint, lighting, a Backstage concept, and self-checkouts just before the pandemic. Shows just how fast things can change.
Sal I always like your videos, good videos, and the best of history about the mall you are shooting. You do alot of work to uncover the history of your mall. Thank You!
I almost got emotional watching this!! I Spent my teens and early adulthood years with friends and family here, I would always park where you guys parked, right at the top so I could get to the food court fast and Forever 21 lol. I Lived closer to Forest Fair Mall, which died sooner than Tri County but watching you walk around brings back so many fun memories. I remember going there just for the Philly Cheesesteaks and the Asian buffet. I also locked myself in that bathroom around the corner from the food court as a little kid, my parents were freaking out trying to get me to understand how to work the lock 🙃, that unhealthy fear of public bathrooms lasted until adulthood 😩🤣. Good memories there. I hated when it was super busy but when it was slow I would just take my time walking around. I wish it was still open.
Another amazing exlog sal. I was beyond shocked to listen to how well the mall was doing up until 2008. Then after that it all came crumbling down. Although the mall is dead i am at least intrigued as to what the future holds for the property and artisan village
When I was a kid our town had a kids driving city called "Safety City." Seeing that in this video totally brought those memories back. Thank you. Also I've really enjoyed your content since I found it approximately 2 years or so ago. To notch info, camera work, and editing. Oh, and narration.
I went to Safety Town in the 70s when it was outside in the back lot. Its was awesome.
Thanks for finding the Surf Cincinnati add!
This is a really beautiful mall. The skylights, atrium, flooring and overall design somehow sets it apart from a lot of other malls.
So happy to see a new video!
An architectural and design masterpiece. Beautiful. ❤
I moved to Cinti im 1998. Tri County Mall was still a happening place back then...
We absolutely loved this mall before the second floor addition. I cant remeber going after it was added. It is a driving/ safety school it was at the very north east corner of the parking lot next to Lazarus/ Shilitos in the 70's when i was a kid
I had several different jobs in stores in that area, but not in the mall. I remember walking in the mall under and around all of the scaffolding when they were adding the second floor. It felt like the set of Blade Runner. Thank you for the video!
The first but with the round balcony reminds me of the Dali Museum in St.Pete. This gave me the 💡 idea, that these Malls should become Museums, like Art Galleries, maybe a Lil Peep Museum 🖼️🎨 with Music 🎵🎶🎼 playing 🎴❤ 💙💖
Elder Beerman was my favorite store to shop in the ‘80s and ‘90s at this mall. Thank you for documenting these malls, their architecture, what they look like, their history and their importance to their communities when these malls were viable. This is important history for future generations.
I went to tri county like a week before it’s closure. It was so lifeless and empty in there like I was truly walking in a ghost town. I remember always coming here as a kid and seeing the state it turned into was truly tragic. Was one of the most beautiful interiors I’ve seen
Another fantastic production Sal!
This is so fascinating. I was looking at photos of the tri county mall and found myself here. Real life liminal spaces. There's nothing all that nostalgic for me here, as I'm only 23 and have never been to Ohio, nor were malls much of a part of my childhood. But something about these huge, gorgeously structured places being empty and devoid of the bustling life that they once held is eerily beautiful to me.
Especially that children's road safety course thing at the end, that was so bizarre and cool! The history behind the mall's beginnings leading up to its eventual downfall was also quite interesting, thanks for putting so much work into a captivating video!
I worked at the Suncoast Video at this mall back in the late 90’s….I lived in the suburbs of Cincinnati for over 30 years, and this was by far my favorite mall in the Cincy area….The mall was huge, and actually had open stores, unlike Forest Fair Mall 😂
I’ve lived in North Carolina for the last 12 years or so…Really sad to see this mall go….
Lived in Forest Park Ohio when this opened 1960. A small stretch of I 275 had just opened between Ohio 4 and US 42 Sharonville to get people here. Was open air originally. Great at Christmas...second major shopping center in Cincinnati area. So many great memories. My aunt worked at Sears in the Automotive Dept. A trailblazer!
My kids loved it. They're grown now but we were there last in 2018 and the entire top floor was closed and blocked
I spent so much of my life at this mall. I remember before it was remodeled when it was a single floor. It's so sad that this entire area is dead.
I remember when that mall has a single floor, I have lots of great memories and our mall Christmas was incredible there. I’m an HVAC refrigeration mechanic I’ve been on that roof a bunch of times. I left the company I was working for just before BJ’s closed….. it was sad to see that old girl take her last breath when BJ’s pulled out.
Amazing it survived as long as it did. Most malls die in half that time. Oversaturation of malls is one of the causes of them closing. Only the strongest are surviving now.
Those Dillard's clearance centers were amazing! I do miss Dillards all-in-all though. Tri-County also had the best Forever 21 which was ideal for my teen/early twenties budget.
One for the algoritme!
Great video Sal
Hope ya get settled soon and drop another one! Buuuuyyy! 😁
That background music is so haunting! I really miss this mall. We raised our kids in this mall, especially the Sears store. All my current appliances bought at that Sears store.
Another brilliant episode!
Oh I spent hours in this mall as a young woman. And when I retired I pushed my Mim around those places too. We loved it so much. Why is this happening. It makes no sense!
Once before the mall fully closed, it was so dead and there was so little security that my pals and I spent hours upon hours skateboarding inside parts of the mall where there was no stores, often not getting kicked out.
I was in the Surf Cincinnati commercial that you so awesomely featured in this video. I was 14 back then. What a blast from the past! 😮🎉
They are currently doing the renovation on it now. There are the fences up all around the building. The Mexican restaurant and the BJ 's pub thing are open but the access to parking for them is limited.
It’s been a good few years since I set foot in TCM, but time was I would go there almost weekly. It’s surreal to see it this empty, since my memories of it are frozen at about 2010.
Wow another great video love mall walking with you guys so interesting…..such a shame to see them like that !!!so much great history along with your walks thanks❤
Great video Sal!
I was in the hospital 3 weeks ago with COVID, stay strong Sal
We used to hang out at Tri-County mall circa 2000. We definitely shopped while we were there. Different people in the group would buy stuff at different stores. Kicking out the kids probably did hurt their business. Plus you think to go back there when you want to buy something. You also tell people about the stores there.
Must have been to this mall 100 times. Last time I was there was 6 or 7 years ago and a lot of shops had closed even then. The only shops that were worth visiting back then were hot topic, Spencer's, and a retro video game collector store. The DVD store was cool too but it became dead because of streaming movie services. Seriously so many memories in that place.
Yeah, I’m old enough to remember going there when it was one floor. Nice video!
I loved that mall. Architectural wonder. 1980's vibe. Was shocked when i went there before it closed and was empty. Was still in excellent condition but empty. The exotic plants were dried up and removed. It was depressing.
A beautiful mall. Such a shame.
Man, I loved going here growing up. Sad it's gone. My friend and I still joke about this one Chinese restaurant in the food court that had the best red honey chicken ever made.
Beautiful mall
Safety Town was around in the early 1980s. I remember I got sick and couldn't attend the one year I was elligble (which I think was maybe age 5). So cool to see it was still there after 40 years.
And yes, it's a child safety thing. Like how to cross the street and where to cross the road.
23:15 Went into this entrance so many times when I worked at Pacific Sunwear.
Anyone who grew up in greater Cincinnati, especially in 1960-1970's as I did, spent many days at this mall and all the other surrounding stores. In those days, you couldn't get off the highway easily to even reach the mall for the Day After Thanksgiving sales. Once I got used to online shopping, those days were over for me. Probably been a decade or more since I shopped there. I loved McAlpin's as alternative to the downtown store, and their Sears location was second to none.
If you haven't been, I highly recommend you check out Meridian township mall in Okemos, MI. It was my home mall for my entire childhood until I left across country to Seattle, WA. I visited recently and it's dyeing, Very Sad. I would love to see what you find out about it.
I work right near there...I spent most of my teen years there, also Northgate and Forest Fair... My fiance and I met face to face for the first time in the food court at the table closest to the escalator
My kids loved it too they are grown now but the last time we were there the entire top floor was closed and blocked... Maybe 2018 ... Heartbreaking.
My kids loved it too. They're grown now but the last time we were there it was I think 2018 and the entire top floor was closed and blocked.
That's one of the things I miss. We used to meet new people at the mall. I met my ex wife at the mall back in the 90s.i made some really good friends at the mall also. These videos always make me feel super nostalgic.
wow i dont think ive ever seen a pringles vending machine
Same here never seen a Pringles Vending Machine
I’m so glad to hear from you !!a big like always for you great work 👍
Sal you should go to Exton Square mall and Plymouth meeting mall
I used to work at the BJ’s at Tri county before it closed down. I work at a different one now. But I remember walking through the mall in 2018 when I interviewed for the job. Even then I knew the mall was on its final leg.
That's actually a beautiful mall!
Safety Town was (and still is) a thing as far back as the 1970s in the central Ohio suburb where I grew up--recognized the setup immediately. Basically, it's for preschool-aged kids to know about crossing the streets and other basic kid safety stuff--the kids would drive around in trikes and pedal cars and Big Wheels and the like. But ours was never next to a giant mall--it was in a schoolyard (and still is). That mall location looks rather frightening.
Fascinating!!
I volunteered at the Tri-County Safety Town when I was a Girl Scout in the early 80s. The set-up used to be outside way off to the side in a sectioned off part of the parking lot. I had no idea it existed into the 2000s.
Ill catch it tomorrow Sal
. Didnt get notified again. Night ..
I remember as a kid them having a Grocery store and I remember them having bmx freestyle Competition
I used to live walking distance from this mall. so weird to see this pop up in my recommended. Spent so much time here growing up
Jesus! I knew This mall was closed, but I didn't know it went THIS Far! And the Parking Garages are going to be preserved? The next 10-15 years is going to be insane! I'm not AS Local, but I DO Live In the Cincinnati Limits, so I do find myself in the area a couple times. I used to go to a Card Shop in the mall, but it went down with the ship before it even began sinking. At least most of the more important shops (Bath and Body / Claires' / etc, DID move to a nearby plaza across the Street on Kemper.
A Dead Mall lover right here. I just got back from Sallisaw, Oklahoma. I had to buy some headlights. I spent $43.00 for them at O'REILLY'S. Earlier, I was at Ft. Gibson playing at their casino. 🎰 I won $300.00 while there. But, me and my family spent it. It doesn't matter they're worth it. Anyway, thanks for the upload.🩶
Hey sal always great videos really enjoy watching them just a little FYI concord mall in elkhart Indiana closed they're turning it into a business park soon
Always impressed by these videos. Hoping for more!
In the 90s’, this place was magical at Christmas.
Somewhere around 2010 I had a friend who worked at anything airbrushed there. I would spend hours in there with her just eating food court garbage and drinking coffee while very few, if any, customers came in and out. Her boss probably should have been more strict with us, we stayed until 2am once using the paint and the computer.
I used to work at tri county sears and then the tire center out back in 2006-2007
The mall had so many issues with theft 4-5 years before it closed that it banned mall brats. Kids under 18 had to be there with a parent.
I hope you are getting better and are feeling better take care we be waiting for some good videos ok take care
I didn't know this place closed down. I used to live near enough to this that I have a lot of memories here. Mostly buying school clothes in the early 2000's. My first pair of glasses.
That 'Hot Image' place used to be a card shop where I got a bunch of Yu Gi Oh cards back when I still played. I think before that it was a Disney Store? Or maybe that was next to it? idk.
ExLog 119 - I've finally caught up and it's Tri-County. UniComm's Tri-County video was amazing and yours was as well.
Now I have to wait (im)patiently with everybody else for the next ExLog.
Me and my friends went in there 6-7 years ago because on the website it still said this arcade was still open. The doors were unlocked for some reason, so we just went in looking for the arcade, but some security guard saw us and yelled at us to get out. We just thought all the other stores were just closed down cause we knew the mall was dying, but we didn’t know the whole mall was shut down by that point.
Let’s goooo Sal, I can’t wait for this premiere
great work
I believe I went to the Gold Star Chili in this mall in 2014!
Man I shopped at TriCounty Mall most of my life until spine surgery in 2012. I barely remember Shillito's & Pogue's. I'm sure our mother took us there as children. That mall was remodeled so many times with great anchors. So many other great stores over the years and then Macy's opened 🎉 I miss the days or going to stores to actually try on clothing and shoes before buying them. Can young people even imagine doing that 😆 Jungle Jim's yeah that's an entirely other video or 3.
Yup, like Forest Fair Mall, I don't think you can get inside it anymore. Parking lot is almost completely fenced off now.
I went here during Covid 2020...it was so eerie
Happy Thanksgiving Sal. UA-cam and their bizarre algorithm didn't notify me of this premier. But hey, I found it anyway. Also. Jungle Jims is epic! The closest one to me (West Edmonton Mall) was an unfortunate victim of Covid.
Is the west Edmonton mall still thriving?
@@toriwolf5978Absolutely. Unfortunately it’s lost all of its ‘80s aesthetics due to massive renovations that have occurred over the last decade or so. Still a really cool mall, but the brass, marble, and trees are gone.
I miss the Sunrise Mall on Long Island, but Roosevelt Feild seems to be the Alpha Mall on Long Island. All the other malls are dead or dying.
This mall lost it quaint 1960s look of being both an indoor and outdoor shopping plaza. The redevelopment plan looks like a nice step back into the past.