Okay which one of you shit in the urinal? This was supposed to be released Halloween Night 2023, but the upload stalled. Let's just call this a Dios de los Muertos episode. I NEVER KNEW THERE WAS A FOREST FAIR MALL JINGLE WITH LYRICS! Glad to be back in the studio, can't wait to produce more episodes. Subscribe or I'll cry. Come join my discord server: discord.gg/dmod
Dude, I just want to say that I enjoy every one of your vlogs. Your aesthetic sensibility of using rasterized 80s and 90s video clips and distortion effects in your intros sets a vibe that is really enjoyable and relatable. Plus just pounding an insane amount of pavement to make these videos. This is obviously your labor of love... good work.
It sounds like a horror film with that "security" guard! How awful! And what a deranged horrible thing to do to kittens 😞Anyway i was thinking how it looks like a Disney set when it is closed, or such vast emptiness, that it could be used for a film studio to film shows there, with all the empty space. It baffles me how much greed and money can be poured into making these structures that clearly are failures from the get go, and should never of been built in the first place. And instead of people communicating with each other to make these massive malls re-purpose into something for the community that they actually need and want-thus making it a destination not an eye sore-it just keeps getting repurchased and sold with ever depleting amounts of money for the value of the property and the land and the refurbishments spent on it, instead of the main problem being solved which was A: Not to of built it in the first place, and spent so much money on it, B: to ask the community what they wanted from it once it began to lose money, C: to adjust rents for the tenants so it was more attractive for them to be there and stay there to keep it open, D: So they could spend more money on fixing the building and proper security so it didn't fall into disrepair, E: Negotiated with the current owners to care and take pride in their asset, and make better deals on rent/utilities/outgoings-so it could become and stay profitable instead of just burning through money so people could make a quick profit. We see this time and time again with every mall in America that fails. So it has to be because of that. And yet some of them thrive and are still doing well today. Why arn't they asking themselves what they are doing wrong which those one's are doing well? I ran 4 shops across 2 charities for 10 years altogether. All of them made a profit. It astounds me that people who own and run massive malls like this get away with running them like this it's madness! i'd of been fired long ago if i did that! You have to keep your eyes on profit and loss every week and see where things are going wrong, and remedy them. The owners were to blame for this like all the failed mall owners are. They spend too much money initially making them too big, & making them too far away from cities and build too many too close together. They don't allow for anything to go wrong like pandemics, changing consumer tastes, and online shopping vs bricks and mortar shopping malls. It's not like this in the UK, we build them much less over a longer period and they are much smaller. I think it's about time America caught up-and i think they are starting to. I have seen them start to build outside small shopping pavilions in new build estates where they have a lot of footfall. And at the end of the day-footfall is the main issue. You either got it, or you don't. 🙂
Sal, your vids are so peaceful to me. Your voice is very soothing and it always feels like we're walking side by side, taking stock of the things now abandoned and honoring their memories. Plus, your dad is always a hoot! Thanks for taking us along with you.
You and your father have an awesome relationship. From the moment he arrived he had me laughing. What a character. I mean that in a good way. Thank you for putting a smile on my face.
That was quite an impressive performance at the end. I can’t even imagine how much work it must have taken to rehearse all of those parts, and record them all perfectly, and edit them all together.
Forest Fair was kinda like Queen Elizabeth to me: one of those things that you just thought would just kinda always be there, given how long it did last. It’s kinda surreal to say “Forest Fair is closed”
Its great seeing how you and your dad interact with one another. Keep doing that as long as you can, My dad recently passed away so I can't spend time with him anymore and I wish I could.
Sal, I trying to explain what a dead mall is. And I came up with these definitions. A dead mall is a mall with a 50% or less occupancy rate (I debated about 30%) or a majority of office space. An Abandon mall is a mall that (technically) is no longer open to the public but still stands. A demolished mall is just that a demolished mall. What do you think?
I was born with this mall and frankly thought the mall would make it longer than me. A ton of memories from this place -- it was like a mini-amusement park inside a mall, it was packed with all kinds of things for kids to do, and it was a genuinely huge mall. Years later as it slowly died, there was a holdout Guitar Center that I visited often and remember fondly. The place somehow held on. Guess I did too.
@@sal it's no wonder why things are so unfair. All that hard work wasted just to demolish it. All the housing that should've been built instead. Or it should've been made into a place for something else. Greedy wasteful society sickens me. That place could've easily been renovated
I remember going to this mall for this first time after my Dad just moved all of us to Cincy from West Virginia in the mid 90’s. I was 10 and all of the fun stuff to do in Cincinnati was a whole new world compared to where I grew up in West Virginia. I especially spent a lot of weekends in Forest Fair during junior high. They were known for having the $3 movies, and sometimes they would do $1 movie nights. Miss my childhood. Can we all go back?!
Thanks so much fer the Exlogs on this place.. I have so man memories there.. From Childhood to working at a Finish Line back in 96.. To being a dj at the big night club that was there.. I spent so many nights there just walking around when I was a teen.. And so many drunk ones as a adult.. So sad that after all these years its going to be gone fer good.. But the memoires I have will live on with me an when I want to go back in time I can revisit your Exlogs.. Thanks Sal..
I took my kids to the bouncy house place a few times in 2021 and got to talk to the owner. She said she was on the lease when it was originally signed or something to that effect and that's why she was still open. The owner was approached by many people to lease space in the mall and he refused them all. Said something about it being a tax write off. The bouncy house place was priced great, clean and the owner and her family that ran it were super nice.
Sal, im very happy you did another video on this mall. i went to see this in Sept of ‘22. (8 hrs) and (500 miles each way) At first this mall said it was officially closed (already an hour drive into Cincinnati) i almost freaked out. (got a hotel and took days off of work for this) i arrived at the mall at 7 pm on a Friday. a security guard said we’re closed. i met up with him. he told me we’re closed for the night. (i was in relief) for the next two days. i took a walk around the mall. taking in the sights. hearing the eerie sound of silence. (talked to the security guard there) he was cool. (last day i was there) i got him something things from the dollar store. he was quite surprised and pleased. Even though ive nvr been to this mall before in my life. it was quite interesting to imagine and see what life was like before it became a dead mall. (once again thank you Sal)
Sal, I gotta say you outdid yourself with this one. Forest Fair was my childhood mall, and I had last visited it in 2011 shortly before I had moved from Cincinnati to where I am now, Florida. There’s been a lot of turmoil in my family, specifically between my mom and dad, and this mall had housed some of my best memories that were spent with them as a child. It’s a bittersweet thing to watch this video, as I had hoped to see it once more before it was shuttered for good, but luckily you were able to make that happen through your channel. Thank you for providing top tier content, and being an overall kick ass guy. God bless!
I’ve been walking Sunrise Mall in the Sacramento area and it’s sad to see it’s demise after once being a vibrant place. I’ve noticed that the community’s ideas for the redevelopment proposal are now posted all along the empty storefronts, although the Macy’s Men’s/Furniture wing still has some life to it, but is definitely on life support. Country Club Plaza is another that is completely dead after a 2003 renovation failed. On the other hand, Arden Fair and Galleria in Roseville are still bustling, even though Sears and Nordstrom at Arden Fair have both been shuttered.
So sad .. melancholy feeling...Yes it would seem like this mall would still remain....Malls..were The most exciting places..it was a family fun trip to shop and eat❤. To bad some things change..but not always for the good. Thanks for your hard work...Sal..and your Dad is funny. Love the end..such talent❤! Take care
For those who do not know it, the included Windows Ad was a parody created for internal use at MS. Steve Balmer liked to create stuff like that for internal moral. For a time, MS had there own internal streaming radio station (mid to late 90s). I know because I worked there at the time.
Wow, I can't believe as a local I missed that news story about the security guard! I was filming there with a friend once and we were warned by one of his coworkers after over an hour of filming that he would be on the property in about 30 minutes and for our personal safety and the safety of our equipment we should be gone before he got back. We thought the dude was being dramatic but I guess he was genuinely trying to keep us safe. I'm glad we listened and left anyway. The other dude was cool as hell, he saw us filming multiple times and just left us be until he simply couldn't any longer. Also, if you were unaware, try to look up the malls nightclub era. I believe there were multiple bars & nightclubs in there in the late 90s. As a barely teenager my parents wouldn't let me go there anymore due to the "nightclubs". As an adult I understand that choice. Then somewhere in the early 2000s - 2010s there was an absolute shitshow massive 18+ nightclub there called Metropolis. I dunno when it closed but it was well known for being a great place to get assaulted or worse, especially if you're a woman.
Thank you for documenting Forest Fair Mall! I lived just down the road from Forest Fair in the early ‘90s and shopped frequently there. At that time, visitors to the mall were sparse. It was a great place to go Christmas shopping-no crowds! Later, the movie theater showed movies on their second run for $1.50 a ticket. The theater was very popular in its day.
What an adventure this place was. That song and dance routine got me at the grand opening. Like wtf is this 😂. Also the stuff on the side of Kohls at the end is temporary cooling equipment. Likely because the rooftop units were busted and the mall wasn't maintaining them.
I moved out of the area in ‘92 so I never even got to see the first refresh. I only remember it when it was in its heyday and spent most of my time in the arcade. Thanks for the recent updates.
I've never been, but each time I see this place, it seems it was really beautiful back in the day. Fills me with a huge sense of my favorite word Sal taught me 4 years ago, "Saudade!" Great video as always, buddy! Why did the Windows guy have to yell at us? He was entirely too enthusiastic...
So sad. It was beautiful. Loved the area with the buttons and thread carpet as I am a seamstress at heart. Thanks Sal. We are still here and we know life happens. Take care. Love you did these Exlogs. Great memories.
I experienced the Segway guy. He wasn't friendly, especially down the Biggs hallway, as you showed. This was also during the height of the pandemic. I went for a walk with a client, and the moment we stopped he showed up. He claimed "liability" for why he stopped us, though all we were doing was stopping in front of a blacked out corner store.
I have your videos on in the background while I study. It's cathartic, like staring out a window and zoning out. Keep up the great work and stay warm out there!
What talented and classy guy. Sal, I am so happy that I found you. Your videos are the gold standard for this type of content. Thanks for all the hard work and I love seeing you and your family in the videos. So much fun. The footage at the end was crazy great! So glad I watch all your videos to the end, always nice easter eggs. Have a great day!
Great video, as always. The woman from the community TV footage was so peak Southwestern Ohio--I have relatives with that accent. And she's trying hard, but the eye movement and general dead stare gives away the fact she's reading from cards or a teleprompter or a script and isn't very familiar with her text (probably ran it through once or twice). I love the fact that you've added all of that vintage footage to your videos--it makes my historian heart go all aflutter. And, oh gods, does the pretty-much-still-intact Media Play branding drive home just how long this place was dead. I unfortunately moved to Canada from Columbus before getting into dead malls, so I missed seeing these ones in person, but definitely looking forward to your coming Eastland/Westland episode, especially watching Westland coming down through photographs in the last few weeks. I'm hoping you've found some interesting vintage footage for those two.
All things must pass.... Sal, I often watch your videos and other dead mall vids and try to take the perspective of an alien visiting trying to descipher the use of these behemoths. The grand design... the oppulance, the decay of hope, I guess. I think of it like the scene in Alien(1979)... given the scale of the halls and the cielings: "The must be giants." Great job as usual Sal, good to see you and your pops sharing an experience.
Hi’ta, Captain. I’ve missed you and Sal. I’m almost 79 now. I worked in Houston and traveled to NewOrleans over 40 years and that’s been a few years ago. Momma was still there when I moved to Illinois.
Well worth the wait Sal. Hope all is well with you and your family. Sorry to hear that you're leaving Bmoore. I think you've covered all the local malls, but i have one small nearby one for you. North Hanover Mall in Hanover PA. Extremely dead
I first visited Forest Fair Mall in June of 1989 when it was actively busy at the time. Decades later when I returned to Cincinnati for a visit I was surprised to find it empty and run down. Sad to see it go this way. On the bright side I guess the concept probably paved the way for the future Mall of America.
Just came across this today. Tremendous detail into the history of this place. I loved forest fair growing up. Tyme out on the court is a lot of my childhood! Thank you!
That's so sad, the mall looks very nice still. That mall would be saved if they built some high development on site maybe half the mall or build it in some of the carpark area.
OMG! Your the best! You two crack me up! Love your Dad! He is so cool and so funny. He really looked as if he really did not want to sit in those gross chairs. Your the best!!
Hi Sal! Glad to see a new video😊i know you have been super busy in real life,so it’s always a treat to see a new video. I’m going to do a cup of tea,turn off my phone and put my feet up. Hope your move goes well and as always greetings from across the pond🇬🇧😊👍🏻
I live in the tri-state are in New York. I know they are not dead. But we have two malls that somehow are still doing okay. Colonie Center and Crossgates Mall. Would be great to see you tour them and give your critique.
The crazy security guard is actually wearing a “plate carrier” in your video(not the newscast). This is the first mall cop I’ve seen wearing a bullet-proof vest. Although I doubt he has actual certified plates in his vest, they are expensive and heavy.
I used to work at that big insurance company next door. During the company's 10k steps a day campaign, tons of employees (myself included) would use our lunch breaks to log our steps. I watched that mall go from having Time Out on the Court to that ridiculous underwater theme (I worked at the insurance co at that time) in 2006-7 ish. Maybe 2008. It was definitely around the recession. Anyway, I just drove past there on June 19th 2024 because the kids wanted to go in one last time, but all entrances are boarded up now.
Hi Sal. I really appreciate all your work, dedication, and love of indoor malls. I'm glad someone else noted that malls have been closing at an exponential rate since 2022. Every time I turn around I hear of another mall closing down soon. I've been really looking forward to this ex-log for about two years or so now. I do have to say that in the Richland Mall ex-log, you said that when you did a part 3 on Forest Fair that you would do a deep dive into George Herscu and his criminal activities......I was really disappointed that you didn't keep that promise. That's absolutely wild about the security guard. Dude is obviously a mental case. Why was he hired to be a SECURITY GUARD!?????
Awesome ExLog! I love it that you and your father get along so well. It's always nice to see him in your vlogs. He seems to be a cool and funny guy. You do a great job explaining the history of the places in your vlogs. It's sad when they gets demolished. The story about the security guard is creepy. How can someone like him work in that profession? And the icing on the cake was seeing/hearing you play at the end. Just wow! Now I am looking forward to your next ExLog.
That Windows ad cracks me up 😂. Anyone who says older folks don't understand tech never had to grapple with those ancient operating systems 😂. Another wonderful tour, thanks!
Thank you for recording this place, I wanted to take photos so I can recreate the mall in blender or make it a gmod map. That mall was my childhood. It was so unique style wise.
Terrible feeling when the ones you thought would keep hanging on finally close their doors. Chambersburg Mall was my childhood mall had so many first their and I knew the day would come eventually. Throughout this year scamdar just started kicking the remaining tenants out. Antique store was the last one standing. Closed end of June. No announcement was made when the interior would be closed. Just showed up one day all the doors were locked and the maintenance guy was sitting out on a bench in disbelief he showed up to work just to realize it was over. Thankful for everyone who documented all the malls because let's face it at this rate even the ones that were doing well might not be here five years from now
Hi! Our Mall still open!!! Yes it's gone down alot. But it's not a SUPER MALL. BUT STILL OPERATING! I remember when it opened in 1981. This was a great mall in 1989.
Hopefully Ed found himself another job now, one which doesn't involve any human interaction !! A crazy mall & a wild outro there... the man with many talents 😃
Randall Park Mall in the Cleveland area, was the first mega mall at over 2 000 000 square feet. It, like Rolling Acres, is now an Amazon distribution site.
There needs to be a main attraction to malls like once a week. Huge venue, new performances, attracts everyone of all ages and types. And pay the performances well. If it's a thriving mall they can afford it. Basically give everyone a reminder that such a place exists.
I don't think I understand this mall the way that many other commenters seem to. To me, the bright colors and blocky surfaces look down-market and cheap-n-cheerful, reminding me of Disney's "budget" resorts in Florida. It wouldn't really be one of my favourite places to spend time, as malls go... although maybe it was designed to appeal to children and not to adults. But I do appreciate the 80's touches like the vaulted glass ceiling, the thick several-pipe railings on stairs, and the rounded overhangs of some of the upper floors over the atrium.
Man, I wish I had a dad like that. Sal is lucky! Wish there was an uncensored version without the bleeps. Love the music here. 53:50 is that an original Legend of Zelda arcade? It has newer games' artwork and characters pictured on it. Did anyone buy it for $6,900?! I'm a huge TloZ fan.
Its sad to see all theses American shopping malls empty and abandoned what I put it down to I guest is theses day people are staying at home and do on line shopping and not going into a store looking at an item of clothing or talking to a sales person what I don't like about on line shopping is you got to be careful on how you give your details to so you got to protect your identity In Australia we are lucky we still have our shopping malls and the mall cops as you call them we call them security guards but many still like to do on line shopping what is going to happen to the Australin shopping malls in another 30 or 70 years time I don't know because todays kids wont have one to go to see friends thank you Sal for this video Exlog 118 and take care moving and see you in the next video log 119
My nephew and I had a sports apparel store (Caps) in the mall and left as it was almost dead back then. We left right before the mega movie theater was finished.
I've never been in there, only seen the compound from 275. Its still there, rotting away. A monument to the days of decadence and cheap money. Thanks for filming and braving the mold for us!
Man even bass pro shop finally left their new location just opened up earlier this year. Its a real shame to see the current state of this place. Lots of memories here despite recognizing they always struggled to fill it. The place is MASSIVE. Very nostalgic video u haven't walked inside in many years.
There is no way to convey how absolutely massive this place was. Truly one of those you had to be there experiences.
Randall Park Mall was pretty big too though.
Okay which one of you shit in the urinal? This was supposed to be released Halloween Night 2023, but the upload stalled. Let's just call this a Dios de los Muertos episode. I NEVER KNEW THERE WAS A FOREST FAIR MALL JINGLE WITH LYRICS! Glad to be back in the studio, can't wait to produce more episodes. Subscribe or I'll cry. Come join my discord server: discord.gg/dmod
A god of the dead episode?! 🤨
Yay!! You’re back! I have missed you
Dude, I just want to say that I enjoy every one of your vlogs. Your aesthetic sensibility of using rasterized 80s and 90s video clips and distortion effects in your intros sets a vibe that is really enjoyable and relatable. Plus just pounding an insane amount of pavement to make these videos. This is obviously your labor of love... good work.
Never apologize for not having content out due to life happenings. We all know it's going to be a great upload when you do return!
It sounds like a horror film with that "security" guard! How awful! And what a deranged horrible thing to do to kittens 😞Anyway i was thinking how it looks like a Disney set when it is closed, or such vast emptiness, that it could be used for a film studio to film shows there, with all the empty space. It baffles me how much greed and money can be poured into making these structures that clearly are failures from the get go, and should never of been built in the first place. And instead of people communicating with each other to make these massive malls re-purpose into something for the community that they actually need and want-thus making it a destination not an eye sore-it just keeps getting repurchased and sold with ever depleting amounts of money for the value of the property and the land and the refurbishments spent on it, instead of the main problem being solved which was A: Not to of built it in the first place, and spent so much money on it, B: to ask the community what they wanted from it once it began to lose money, C: to adjust rents for the tenants so it was more attractive for them to be there and stay there to keep it open, D: So they could spend more money on fixing the building and proper security so it didn't fall into disrepair, E: Negotiated with the current owners to care and take pride in their asset, and make better deals on rent/utilities/outgoings-so it could become and stay profitable instead of just burning through money so people could make a quick profit. We see this time and time again with every mall in America that fails. So it has to be because of that. And yet some of them thrive and are still doing well today. Why arn't they asking themselves what they are doing wrong which those one's are doing well? I ran 4 shops across 2 charities for 10 years altogether. All of them made a profit. It astounds me that people who own and run massive malls like this get away with running them like this it's madness! i'd of been fired long ago if i did that! You have to keep your eyes on profit and loss every week and see where things are going wrong, and remedy them. The owners were to blame for this like all the failed mall owners are. They spend too much money initially making them too big, & making them too far away from cities and build too many too close together. They don't allow for anything to go wrong like pandemics, changing consumer tastes, and online shopping vs bricks and mortar shopping malls. It's not like this in the UK, we build them much less over a longer period and they are much smaller. I think it's about time America caught up-and i think they are starting to. I have seen them start to build outside small shopping pavilions in new build estates where they have a lot of footfall. And at the end of the day-footfall is the main issue. You either got it, or you don't. 🙂
Sal, your vids are so peaceful to me. Your voice is very soothing and it always feels like we're walking side by side, taking stock of the things now abandoned and honoring their memories. Plus, your dad is always a hoot! Thanks for taking us along with you.
Captain Sal and the legendary Forest Fair Mall abandoned security vehicle - now that's just epic!
We really brought our A Game for this one lol
You and your father have an awesome relationship. From the moment he arrived he had me laughing. What a character. I mean that in a good way. Thank you for putting a smile on my face.
That Forest Hills Journal lady in the beginning had absolutely no enthusiasm, whatsoever. I kept waiting for her to smile LOL!
That was quite an impressive performance at the end. I can’t even imagine how much work it must have taken to rehearse all of those parts, and record them all perfectly, and edit them all together.
I feel bad for those poor deflated fish. Your dad made this video so funny. Thanks for the video.
Forest Fair was kinda like Queen Elizabeth to me: one of those things that you just thought would just kinda always be there, given how long it did last. It’s kinda surreal to say “Forest Fair is closed”
Its great seeing how you and your dad interact with one another. Keep doing that as long as you can, My dad recently passed away so I can't spend time with him anymore and I wish I could.
Sal, I trying to explain what a dead mall is. And I came up with these definitions. A dead mall is a mall with a 50% or less occupancy rate (I debated about 30%) or a majority of office space. An Abandon mall is a mall that (technically) is no longer open to the public but still stands. A demolished mall is just that a demolished mall. What do you think?
this will always be a very special place to me, really sad that it’s going to be demolished but thank you for capturing this really magical place, sal
I would have loved to have visited in it's heyday.
I was born with this mall and frankly thought the mall would make it longer than me. A ton of memories from this place -- it was like a mini-amusement park inside a mall, it was packed with all kinds of things for kids to do, and it was a genuinely huge mall. Years later as it slowly died, there was a holdout Guitar Center that I visited often and remember fondly.
The place somehow held on. Guess I did too.
The video is a masterpiece, which I’ve come to expect, but this outro is making me weep! Bravo, Sal!!! ❤❤❤
Thank you so much!
@@sal it's no wonder why things are so unfair. All that hard work wasted just to demolish it. All the housing that should've been built instead. Or it should've been made into a place for something else. Greedy wasteful society sickens me. That place could've easily been renovated
This was my childhood right here! It was a spectacular mall. So beautiful ❤️
I remember going to this mall for this first time after my Dad just moved all of us to Cincy from West Virginia in the mid 90’s. I was 10 and all of the fun stuff to do in Cincinnati was a whole new world compared to where I grew up in West Virginia.
I especially spent a lot of weekends in Forest Fair during junior high. They were known for having the $3 movies, and sometimes they would do $1 movie nights.
Miss my childhood. Can we all go back?!
ya man you said it... Im guessing your childhood was 80s or 90s?
Who dey 😢
@@johne7850 who dey!
@@marcussmith4913 yes! born in the mid 80’s, grew up in the 90’s!
Thanks so much fer the Exlogs on this place.. I have so man memories there.. From Childhood to working at a Finish Line back in 96.. To being a dj at the big night club that was there.. I spent so many nights there just walking around when I was a teen.. And so many drunk ones as a adult.. So sad that after all these years its going to be gone fer good.. But the memoires I have will live on with me an when I want to go back in time I can revisit your Exlogs.. Thanks Sal..
I took my kids to the bouncy house place a few times in 2021 and got to talk to the owner. She said she was on the lease when it was originally signed or something to that effect and that's why she was still open. The owner was approached by many people to lease space in the mall and he refused them all. Said something about it being a tax write off. The bouncy house place was priced great, clean and the owner and her family that ran it were super nice.
I always assumed they had to have gotten a break on property taxes to even bother keeping it open to the public as long as they did
Sal, im very happy you did another video on this mall. i went to see this in Sept of ‘22. (8 hrs) and (500 miles each way) At first this mall said it was officially closed (already an hour drive into Cincinnati) i almost freaked out. (got a hotel and took days off of work for this) i arrived at the mall at 7 pm on a Friday. a security guard said we’re closed. i met up with him. he told me we’re closed for the night. (i was in relief) for the next two days. i took a walk around the mall. taking in the sights. hearing the eerie sound of silence. (talked to the security guard there) he was cool. (last day i was there) i got him something things from the dollar store. he was quite surprised and pleased. Even though ive nvr been to this mall before in my life. it was quite interesting to imagine and see what life was like before it became a dead mall. (once again thank you Sal)
Your dad is a hoot! Please have him in more videos!
My kids and I would dead mall walk here during COVID. They loved those dang droopy fish.
Man as someone from Cincinnati and vividly remember the slow fall of this place is crazy!! Ty for showing it!
Sal, I gotta say you outdid yourself with this one. Forest Fair was my childhood mall, and I had last visited it in 2011 shortly before I had moved from Cincinnati to where I am now, Florida. There’s been a lot of turmoil in my family, specifically between my mom and dad, and this mall had housed some of my best memories that were spent with them as a child. It’s a bittersweet thing to watch this video, as I had hoped to see it once more before it was shuttered for good, but luckily you were able to make that happen through your channel. Thank you for providing top tier content, and being an overall kick ass guy. God bless!
I’ve been walking Sunrise Mall in the Sacramento area and it’s sad to see it’s demise after once being a vibrant place. I’ve noticed that the community’s ideas for the redevelopment proposal are now posted all along the empty storefronts, although the Macy’s Men’s/Furniture wing still has some life to it, but is definitely on life support. Country Club Plaza is another that is completely dead after a 2003 renovation failed. On the other hand, Arden Fair and Galleria in Roseville are still bustling, even though Sears and Nordstrom at Arden Fair have both been shuttered.
So sad .. melancholy feeling...Yes it would seem like this mall would still remain....Malls..were The most exciting places..it was a family fun trip to shop and eat❤. To bad some things change..but not always for the good. Thanks for your hard work...Sal..and your Dad is funny. Love the end..such talent❤! Take care
Proof that “build it and they will come” isn’t always the case.
To see the making it’s hay day in the beginning, all the ups and downs, now it’s chilling finality, great video with great commentary and insight.
The archival footage is such a great find, very daggy, very community tv and I love it
For those who do not know it, the included Windows Ad was a parody created for internal use at MS. Steve Balmer liked to create stuff like that for internal moral. For a time, MS had there own internal streaming radio station (mid to late 90s). I know because I worked there at the time.
Wow, I can't believe as a local I missed that news story about the security guard! I was filming there with a friend once and we were warned by one of his coworkers after over an hour of filming that he would be on the property in about 30 minutes and for our personal safety and the safety of our equipment we should be gone before he got back. We thought the dude was being dramatic but I guess he was genuinely trying to keep us safe. I'm glad we listened and left anyway. The other dude was cool as hell, he saw us filming multiple times and just left us be until he simply couldn't any longer.
Also, if you were unaware, try to look up the malls nightclub era. I believe there were multiple bars & nightclubs in there in the late 90s. As a barely teenager my parents wouldn't let me go there anymore due to the "nightclubs". As an adult I understand that choice. Then somewhere in the early 2000s - 2010s there was an absolute shitshow massive 18+ nightclub there called Metropolis. I dunno when it closed but it was well known for being a great place to get assaulted or worse, especially if you're a woman.
Your dad is adorable!
Agreed!
You need to have your dad in more episodes. He seems like a character.
Sal you did an amazing job with this video. Thanks
a song about a mall at the mall's opening? sounds like a cult. i love this one man.
Thank you for documenting Forest Fair Mall! I lived just down the road from Forest Fair in the early ‘90s and shopped frequently there. At that time, visitors to the mall were sparse. It was a great place to go Christmas shopping-no crowds! Later, the movie theater showed movies on their second run for $1.50 a ticket. The theater was very popular in its day.
What an adventure this place was. That song and dance routine got me at the grand opening. Like wtf is this 😂. Also the stuff on the side of Kohls at the end is temporary cooling equipment. Likely because the rooftop units were busted and the mall wasn't maintaining them.
I moved out of the area in ‘92 so I never even got to see the first refresh. I only remember it when it was in its heyday and spent most of my time in the arcade. Thanks for the recent updates.
I've never been, but each time I see this place, it seems it was really beautiful back in the day. Fills me with a huge sense of my favorite word Sal taught me 4 years ago, "Saudade!" Great video as always, buddy! Why did the Windows guy have to yell at us? He was entirely too enthusiastic...
So sad. It was beautiful. Loved the area with the buttons and thread carpet as I am a seamstress at heart. Thanks Sal. We are still here and we know life happens. Take care. Love you did these Exlogs. Great memories.
Also what a waste. Again sad.
My mall. I was born n raised in this mall
Hell yeah me too, remember the pool balls, the mini golf, the movie theater, the merry go round, the kb toys, the sand box, really great food court
@@chickengenius4202 I had a buddy that worked at time out and gave me tokens all the time. The movie theater was my favorite! Good ole super saver
I experienced the Segway guy. He wasn't friendly, especially down the Biggs hallway, as you showed. This was also during the height of the pandemic. I went for a walk with a client, and the moment we stopped he showed up. He claimed "liability" for why he stopped us, though all we were doing was stopping in front of a blacked out corner store.
The dude is a menace
My parrot loves watching your videos! ❤
My cat loves watching your parrot 😂😂😂
I have your videos on in the background while I study. It's cathartic, like staring out a window and zoning out. Keep up the great work and stay warm out there!
That’s perfect. Thanks for sharing!
Melbourne, Australia 🦘 longtime fan of your channel. One of the BEST!
Yep and this mall was built by the Australians ❤
Your dad is a riot! Glad to see you back!
What talented and classy guy. Sal, I am so happy that I found you. Your videos are the gold standard for this type of content. Thanks for all the hard work and I love seeing you and your family in the videos. So much fun. The footage at the end was crazy great! So glad I watch all your videos to the end, always nice easter eggs. Have a great day!
Great video, as always. The woman from the community TV footage was so peak Southwestern Ohio--I have relatives with that accent. And she's trying hard, but the eye movement and general dead stare gives away the fact she's reading from cards or a teleprompter or a script and isn't very familiar with her text (probably ran it through once or twice). I love the fact that you've added all of that vintage footage to your videos--it makes my historian heart go all aflutter.
And, oh gods, does the pretty-much-still-intact Media Play branding drive home just how long this place was dead.
I unfortunately moved to Canada from Columbus before getting into dead malls, so I missed seeing these ones in person, but definitely looking forward to your coming Eastland/Westland episode, especially watching Westland coming down through photographs in the last few weeks. I'm hoping you've found some interesting vintage footage for those two.
All things must pass....
Sal, I often watch your videos and other dead mall vids and try to take the perspective of an alien visiting trying to descipher the use of these behemoths. The grand design... the oppulance, the decay of hope, I guess. I think of it like the scene in Alien(1979)... given the scale of the halls and the cielings: "The must be giants."
Great job as usual Sal, good to see you and your pops sharing an experience.
Hi’ta, Captain. I’ve missed you and Sal. I’m almost 79 now. I worked in Houston and traveled to NewOrleans over 40 years and that’s been a few years ago. Momma was still there when I moved to Illinois.
Well worth the wait Sal. Hope all is well with you and your family. Sorry to hear that you're leaving Bmoore. I think you've covered all the local malls, but i have one small nearby one for you. North Hanover Mall in Hanover PA. Extremely dead
I first visited Forest Fair Mall in June of 1989 when it was actively busy at the time. Decades later when I returned to Cincinnati for a visit I was surprised to find it empty and run down. Sad to see it go this way. On the bright side I guess the concept probably paved the way for the future Mall of America.
Just came across this today. Tremendous detail into the history of this place. I loved forest fair growing up. Tyme out on the court is a lot of my childhood! Thank you!
That's so sad, the mall looks very nice still. That mall would be saved if they built some high development on site maybe half the mall or build it in some of the carpark area.
OMG! Your the best! You two crack me up! Love your Dad! He is so cool and so funny. He really looked as if he really did not want to sit in those gross chairs. Your the best!!
I used to go there for years. I would push my Mom around in her wheelchair. We enjoyed it at its peak. It used to be amazing!
Edmund makes Kyle very tame. Great film, well worth the wait!!
what are you going on about?
The vintage footage is fantastic! Great work
Hey thanks!
Hi Sal! Glad to see a new video😊i know you have been super busy in real life,so it’s always a treat to see a new video. I’m going to do a cup of tea,turn off my phone and put my feet up. Hope your move goes well and as always greetings from across the pond🇬🇧😊👍🏻
Great stuff as always Sal! Nice to see and hear you play at the end. That looks like it was fun to make!
You and Dan Bell are def my fav❤
Another masterpiece, Sal!!! Especially enjoyed the music BRAVO!!!!
always beautifully made content from u!! thank u for ur service
I live in the tri-state are in New York. I know they are not dead. But we have two malls that somehow are still doing okay. Colonie Center and Crossgates Mall. Would be great to see you tour them and give your critique.
Love that when "Carmen" comes on, shenanigans are about to start.
That miniature golf looked so much fun!
I'm finally catching up with this because I was out of the country during the premiere. Good to have you back, Sal!
The crazy security guard is actually wearing a “plate carrier” in your video(not the newscast). This is the first mall cop I’ve seen wearing a bullet-proof vest. Although I doubt he has actual certified plates in his vest, they are expensive and heavy.
Your videos are funny without trying too hard to be funny. 👍 love learning about malls
Absolutely appreciate the theme from Vertigo as composed by Bernard Hermann. Your music selections are always choice. :)
you make awesome exploration videos!!! I really appreciate the research you put into all your videos!
I've participated in many call center openings in failing malls in the US and Canada; the parking garage shots are SO familiar!
Bravo Sal another first class exlog.. And I love a man who plays an instrument, I am always awestruck and could sit there for hours listening
This used to be my favorite spot for a walk. Thank you for documenting it so well.
I used to work at that big insurance company next door. During the company's 10k steps a day campaign, tons of employees (myself included) would use our lunch breaks to log our steps.
I watched that mall go from having Time Out on the Court to that ridiculous underwater theme (I worked at the insurance co at that time) in 2006-7 ish. Maybe 2008. It was definitely around the recession.
Anyway, I just drove past there on June 19th 2024 because the kids wanted to go in one last time, but all entrances are boarded up now.
Hi Sal. I really appreciate all your work, dedication, and love of indoor malls. I'm glad someone else noted that malls have been closing at an exponential rate since 2022. Every time I turn around I hear of another mall closing down soon. I've been really looking forward to this ex-log for about two years or so now. I do have to say that in the Richland Mall ex-log, you said that when you did a part 3 on Forest Fair that you would do a deep dive into George Herscu and his criminal activities......I was really disappointed that you didn't keep that promise.
That's absolutely wild about the security guard. Dude is obviously a mental case. Why was he hired to be a SECURITY GUARD!?????
Sal, your dad makes me laugh every time he's in an ExLog....As always though, a good ExLog.
Awesome ExLog!
I love it that you and your father get along so well. It's always nice to see him in your vlogs. He seems to be a cool and funny guy.
You do a great job explaining the history of the places in your vlogs. It's sad when they gets demolished.
The story about the security guard is creepy. How can someone like him work in that profession?
And the icing on the cake was seeing/hearing you play at the end. Just wow!
Now I am looking forward to your next ExLog.
That Windows ad cracks me up 😂. Anyone who says older folks don't understand tech never had to grapple with those ancient operating systems 😂. Another wonderful tour, thanks!
This is a truly legend mall, Sal, very great vid, man.
Thanks Wesley!
Sal himself is a legend!
@@sal Oh yeah, I see there's "Arcade Legacy" retro game store still around here, it's gotta be so fun.
Sal’s dad seems pretty stylish. The thought of ironing my shorts has never once even crossed my mind. But it did today.
I'm 37. Worked at compusa when I was 19 but by me in White Plains ny. Don't miss that job.
Thank you for recording this place, I wanted to take photos so I can recreate the mall in blender or make it a gmod map. That mall was my childhood. It was so unique style wise.
Terrible feeling when the ones you thought would keep hanging on finally close their doors. Chambersburg Mall was my childhood mall had so many first their and I knew the day would come eventually. Throughout this year scamdar just started kicking the remaining tenants out. Antique store was the last one standing. Closed end of June. No announcement was made when the interior would be closed. Just showed up one day all the doors were locked and the maintenance guy was sitting out on a bench in disbelief he showed up to work just to realize it was over. Thankful for everyone who documented all the malls because let's face it at this rate even the ones that were doing well might not be here five years from now
Scamdar! That's perfect, I love it!!
Hi! Our Mall still open!!! Yes it's gone down alot. But it's not a SUPER MALL. BUT STILL OPERATING! I remember when it opened in 1981. This was a great mall in 1989.
Your pops is a real badass character. Loving the bema convertible 😂
I love this place, I saw your previous videos about it and I think that's beautiful. Saddening to know that it closed.
Hopefully Ed found himself another job now, one which doesn't involve any human interaction !!
A crazy mall & a wild outro there... the man with many talents 😃
He’s been commenting on other videos say “he has the keys to the front doors” so I think he’s still caught up 🤣
Wait we found his YT account? Show me.
@@sal look up brown-streak studios.
@@sal should pull up edmund 94232. Spaced it so it ain’t tag him 🤣
i'm unemployed and homeless now for 11 months. fuck that mall and fuck America.
Randall Park Mall in the Cleveland area, was the first mega mall at over 2 000 000 square feet. It, like Rolling Acres, is now an Amazon distribution site.
There needs to be a main attraction to malls like once a week. Huge venue, new performances, attracts everyone of all ages and types. And pay the performances well. If it's a thriving mall they can afford it. Basically give everyone a reminder that such a place exists.
I don't think I understand this mall the way that many other commenters seem to. To me, the bright colors and blocky surfaces look down-market and cheap-n-cheerful, reminding me of Disney's "budget" resorts in Florida. It wouldn't really be one of my favourite places to spend time, as malls go... although maybe it was designed to appeal to children and not to adults. But I do appreciate the 80's touches like the vaulted glass ceiling, the thick several-pipe railings on stairs, and the rounded overhangs of some of the upper floors over the atrium.
Man, I wish I had a dad like that. Sal is lucky!
Wish there was an uncensored version without the bleeps.
Love the music here.
53:50 is that an original Legend of Zelda arcade? It has newer games' artwork and characters pictured on it. Did anyone buy it for $6,900?! I'm a huge TloZ fan.
Sal your deff in the GAME !! Love your channel!!!! VERY FUN IN THE CAR
Yew shore play that thar fiddle nice, Salvinator!
FINALLY getting around to be able to watch this episode!
Same 😅🌝
Another great video man this stuff is always interesting
Its sad to see all theses American shopping malls empty and abandoned what I put it down to I guest is theses day people are staying at home and do on line shopping and not going into a store looking at an item of clothing or talking to a sales person what I don't like about on line shopping is you got to be careful on how you give your details to so you got to protect your identity In Australia we are lucky we still have our shopping malls and the mall cops as you call them we call them security guards but many still like to do on line shopping what is going to happen to the Australin shopping malls in another 30 or 70 years time I don't know because todays kids wont have one to go to see friends thank you Sal for this video Exlog 118 and take care moving and see you in the next video log 119
My nephew and I had a sports apparel store (Caps) in the mall and left as it was almost dead back then. We left right before the mega movie theater was finished.
Sal! Welcome back. We missed you.
I've never been in there, only seen the compound from 275. Its still there, rotting away. A monument to the days of decadence and cheap money. Thanks for filming and braving the mold for us!
Man even bass pro shop finally left their new location just opened up earlier this year. Its a real shame to see the current state of this place. Lots of memories here despite recognizing they always struggled to fill it. The place is MASSIVE. Very nostalgic video u haven't walked inside in many years.