This mall was the biggest thing to happen to Des Moines in years, when it opened it was lake a fair attraction. It held our first chik fil a, my friends and I would go every weekend to talk to girls before being old enough to go to bars. Great memories. Fun fact, in the 70s Southridge mall had an indoor waterslide but the quickly removed it because it was very dangerous.
I love Jordan Creek. Going there on vacation in a couple weeks. Spent most of my childhood at this one and Southridge before that went belly up as a kid.
It’s a nice mall but honestly, part of me has grown to like Merle Hey more because it hosts more of the stores I’d like to shop at. Absolutely adored it as a kid though, two level malls were such a treat in my mind.
@@YodelingLoonRetailOh yup, that’s the biyearly Quadcon. I didn’t make it this fall but the three times I’ve gone it’s always super packed and I think it’s a smart idea to get folks from around the state to come in and help support local retail/small independent sellers. Also I know I left a comment a while back about wanting to share info with you on the now demolished Crossroads Mall in Fort Dodge, but I can’t find the response with your discord tag. Do you mind me asking what it was again? Found a few additional articles from the local newspaper talking about possible stores returning.
I'd love to read them. I have a channel on Dead Malls of Discord. discord.gg/dmod I believe this is a direct link: discord.com/channels/389082732845596684/996427048639799327
Nice to see someone was finally able to get to this one! Nice video! Also I thought that but about “stupid malls” was so funny😂😂 I wish I could remember my first reaction to seeing a dead mall
I love this mall. It has many stores I actually like. Apple store, GameStop, and Spencers. Bought my Apple Vision Pro from here. Place is very clean and like the people.
I remember when this mall first opened. I was in first grade. Before that, there wasn’t anything there. It was just a field. Between June 2014, and July 29th, 2018, I worked at the Subway in the food court. The Subway was where the Hummus place is in this video. At that time, Younkers was still around, and Zombie Burger was a Wendy’s. Subway was my first ever job. While I was there, I made many acquaintances with the other mall employees. Shortly after that, I moved up Ames, IA, for college. Coming back to the mall after working there, it doesn’t feel the same. My subway shut down, and none of the mall employees I knew are there anymore. It feels like a different place.
An old coworker of mine who works seasonally at Spirit Halloween told me that the Spirit Halloween store that used to take over the old Yonkers location in the Valley West Mall had to move to the Von Maur location due to rot in the Yonkers building. Apparently, due to the lack of a tenant, they turned the air conditioning off, allowing moisture to accumulate in vulnerable areas.
i frequent valley west a lot, i was told by an employee at spirit that their feet literally sank into the floor at younkers. i believe it, that building is in horrible condition.
thank you so much. new subscriber here. amazing videos. We will be moving to De Moines this year, please which places are safe to live & raise a family in De Moines or Iowa as a whole? Affordable rentals, good schools, transport system
My dad used to work for the Wittern Group in Clive, IA until he retired from there many years ago. He knows Art Wittern personally and told me about the development plans for Jordan Creek long before they broke the news to the general public.
Jordan Creek Mall has done serious damage to both Valley west mall and Merle Hay mall Park Fair mall didnt decide to make the below ground as offices, they lost so many tennets they had to do something so it first off housed a large DMV with truck area then added more offices Valley west mall is currently in bankruptcy
The Eden Prairie Center was my local mall I can’t see it shutting down but it just feels dead… Scheels is the only reason people go in to the mall for the most part but I hope it turns around and gets popular again my favorite part is the DQ
There have been a number people at EP when I've visited, but it's never felt crowded. I love the little coffee kiosk by the elevator. I plan to release a video about the mall in July.
A pain in the ass to get around that area. They packed waaaay too many things into too small of a space, despite the overall large coverage. Also, just trying to find you're way through that maze of streets and roads is nearly impossible. I absolutely refuse to ever shop there.
Hey, Merle Hay might give me depression every single time I've stepped foot in there but you put respect on that name. So long as MH still stands, DSM still has a local mall.
This mall was the biggest thing to happen to Des Moines in years, when it opened it was lake a fair attraction. It held our first chik fil a, my friends and I would go every weekend to talk to girls before being old enough to go to bars. Great memories. Fun fact, in the 70s Southridge mall had an indoor waterslide but the quickly removed it because it was very dangerous.
I was blown away when I learned about the waterslide at Southridge. It sounded so disgusting.
Well, the leaking roofs of Southridge onto the floor can be a spiritual successor of some kind to it.
That is really a beautiful mall and I know that's a strange thing to say but it really does have a unique style and it all works.
It has some subtle prairie-style elements that've aged surprisingly well!
Btw we did get that Dave and busters it's just outside of the mall in the movie theater parking lot.
Yes
Yeah he mentioned that in the video. Two weeks after his visit it finally opened south of the mall but not in it.
At least they opened somewhere.
Hi, I'm a new subscriber. Thank you for filming Iowa malls specifically Des Moines. I really like your videos.
Thank you for subscribing. Iowa has so many cool old malls!
Iowa has some nice malls. Valley West was one of my favorites. I know Von Maur leaving there did not help it any.
I love Jordan Creek. Going there on vacation in a couple weeks. Spent most of my childhood at this one and Southridge before that went belly up as a kid.
Keep em rolling Thanks!
Thank you again! I appreciate it so much!
It’s a nice mall but honestly, part of me has grown to like Merle Hey more because it hosts more of the stores I’d like to shop at. Absolutely adored it as a kid though, two level malls were such a treat in my mind.
Merle Hay was packed when I visited two weekends ago! There was some sort on fantasy fair. People were cosplaying.
@@YodelingLoonRetailOh yup, that’s the biyearly Quadcon. I didn’t make it this fall but the three times I’ve gone it’s always super packed and I think it’s a smart idea to get folks from around the state to come in and help support local retail/small independent sellers.
Also I know I left a comment a while back about wanting to share info with you on the now demolished Crossroads Mall in Fort Dodge, but I can’t find the response with your discord tag. Do you mind me asking what it was again? Found a few additional articles from the local newspaper talking about possible stores returning.
@@YodelingLoonRetailYou said Fantasy Fair, a cheesy amusement park in the struggling Woodbine mall.
Darn it! You're making me want to quit my job and drive all over Ontario. :D
I'd love to read them. I have a channel on Dead Malls of Discord. discord.gg/dmod I believe this is a direct link: discord.com/channels/389082732845596684/996427048639799327
Nice to see someone was finally able to get to this one! Nice video! Also I thought that but about “stupid malls” was so funny😂😂 I wish I could remember my first reaction to seeing a dead mall
Thank you! I think you’d love Nathan Bush’s video from nine years ago to see how the stores have changed,
Great video, information and entertainment!
Thank you!
I love this mall. It has many stores I actually like. Apple store, GameStop, and Spencers. Bought my Apple Vision Pro from here. Place is very clean and like the people.
Glad I was able to help give you information on a few of these malls!
Thank you so much! I love Des Moines’ malls.
Wonderful Video!!!! I love the Waterfall/ Fountain!!!!! F+L, Corey
I remember when this mall first opened. I was in first grade. Before that, there wasn’t anything there. It was just a field. Between June 2014, and July 29th, 2018, I worked at the Subway in the food court. The Subway was where the Hummus place is in this video. At that time, Younkers was still around, and Zombie Burger was a Wendy’s. Subway was my first ever job. While I was there, I made many acquaintances with the other mall employees. Shortly after that, I moved up Ames, IA, for college. Coming back to the mall after working there, it doesn’t feel the same. My subway shut down, and none of the mall employees I knew are there anymore. It feels like a different place.
An old coworker of mine who works seasonally at Spirit Halloween told me that the Spirit Halloween store that used to take over the old Yonkers location in the Valley West Mall had to move to the Von Maur location due to rot in the Yonkers building.
Apparently, due to the lack of a tenant, they turned the air conditioning off, allowing moisture to accumulate in vulnerable areas.
i frequent valley west a lot, i was told by an employee at spirit that their feet literally sank into the floor at younkers. i believe it, that building is in horrible condition.
I remember this mall. I went there a few times before some of my favorite stores closed down. A real shame too. I kinda liked it
thank you so much. new subscriber here. amazing videos. We will be moving to De Moines this year, please which places are safe to live & raise a family in De Moines or Iowa as a whole? Affordable rentals, good schools, transport system
It’s nice to see there’s still some living malls other than the MOA. Not just living- but Really Nice! A Cheesecake Factory👍 very nice!
My dad used to work for the Wittern Group in Clive, IA until he retired from there many years ago. He knows Art Wittern personally and told me about the development plans for Jordan Creek long before they broke the news to the general public.
I love this mall its my favorite ❤❤❤❤
Jordan Creek was struggling when Younkers closed. Brooks Brothers and that end of the mall went really quiet until H&M and Von Maur.
Subscribed!
Thank you!
This is the spiritual successor to Valley West
I go to this mall many times a year woot. Mostly to the Apple Store, and Scheels
Brandon you make a topnotch Jr. Cruise Director 😉
Thank you! I asked to be called “Leftenant” and now that’s my unofficial title now on Discord . 😆
@@YodelingLoonRetail I'll need to jump back on Discord it's been a while. Have a great night.
That's gotta be the fanciest looking mall I've ever seen
Des Moines could have been like Milwaukee having a Northridge and a Southridge. Although the Northridge in Milwaukee is long gone.
Jordan Creek Mall has done serious damage to both Valley west mall and Merle Hay mall
Park Fair mall didnt decide to make the below ground as offices, they lost so many tennets they had to do something so it first off housed a large DMV with truck area then added more offices
Valley west mall is currently in bankruptcy
Have you done a serious count of how many episodes made so far?
I have produced 76 videos (73 about malls, 3 non-mall retail)
The Eden Prairie Center was my local mall I can’t see it shutting down but it just feels dead… Scheels is the only reason people go in to the mall for the most part but I hope it turns around and gets popular again my favorite part is the DQ
There have been a number people at EP when I've visited, but it's never felt crowded. I love the little coffee kiosk by the elevator. I plan to release a video about the mall in July.
A pain in the ass to get around that area. They packed waaaay too many things into too small of a space, despite the overall large coverage. Also, just trying to find you're way through that maze of streets and roads is nearly impossible. I absolutely refuse to ever shop there.
This mall isn’t as dead as as you think I see more shoppers when I’m here then mall walkers
Yeah, I filmed early in the morning. I was there last week and it was so busy I couldn’t walk without people constantly darting in my path.
I mean its the only mall around Des Moines 😂
Hey, Merle Hay might give me depression every single time I've stepped foot in there but you put respect on that name. So long as MH still stands, DSM still has a local mall.
If you were real punk… Ashlee Simpson would be on the playlist! 😂😂😂
this mall rocks