@@AcesAdventures1 the sword of time will pierce our skins, It doesn't hurt when it begins, but as it works its way on in, the pain of growing older will begin .....
Hey there, I am a Knoxville, Tennessee native. Born and raised here all my life and I remember Knoxville center mall quite fondly. It was a great 2 story mall with lots to do. Had an arcade, a giant open food court that you showed at 16:20, a dmv, a theatre, a huge gym, and at one point it even ran a community college. Anyways, This place was quite the hangout for us back in the day. Scored my first kiss there and skipped school to come meet friends here. Lots and lots of memories. Very sad to see it go but, as they say, time doesn’t stop. Also the place you mentioned at 9:45, was indeed a pet store! Wed all go see all of the puppies and kittens there all the time. As always, RIP to one of the coolest malls around. Thanks for the video man. Go Vols
I worked at CFA and made a lot of memories in high school here. Was definitely the hang out spot. Its so crazy to see it like this. Used to shop here for school and everything. To see it like this and now to think its gone forever is just crazy.
Thank you for doing this. I'm surprised just how much this place meant to me now its gone. thank you. I kissed a girl for the first time in front of the crystal shop, Nursed my first hangover at the chinese restaurant in the food court. Good memories
Wills Music was a great place for a guitar player. Master Cuts was where I accidentally got my hair cut too short because I did not understand the blade numbers for the trimmers. Lady cut my hair too short. Lol.
I remember when this was built, good ole Eastown Mall. I never got used to calling it Knoxville Center. Great memories there and so sad it went the way of a lot of malls.
Same. My Grandma and would go with me my mom and brother here all the time. We also ate Cardins alot. My grandmother passed away about 3 years ago. Then Cardins went and now the mall. Lost them all within 3 years...
Holy shit; that was genuinely scary. You go through some creepy situations to get us quality footage. Serious props to you. Nothing at all but your footsteps; genuinely bone-chilling. Also, you always explore with such tact and dignity; respecting the sites and acknowledging the memories they hold- and it was very moving that you honored that anchor at the end. Stay gold, man.
Naw east towne mall isn’t in the middle of the woods or anything. There’s a huge apartment complex just right up the hill from there. Plus it’s surrounded by interstate highways pretty much.
Oh man, I was excited to see you cover this mall. I was lucky to be able to see this mall back in May of last year. I'm a truck driver for Belk's department stores and at the time they were using their old anchor store as a storage facility for all the spring time merchandise that they were unable to ship to their stores because of the pandemic shutdown. As a Truck Driver, I would get access to the mall and during the few hours it took for other Belk employees to unload my truck, I'd wonder off and just roam the mall. It was all too surreal whenever I would stop and listen to the silence that had fallen on the mall's corridors. But it also brought to me a feeling of sadness when seeing such amazing place being finally put out of its misery. Belk's ended up keeping their merchandise stored there until November, when they finally started pulling everything out again. I was able to see the Knoxville Center one last time before they began the demolition process.
I just got smacked in the face with nostalgia. Spent alot of my teen years here. I can literally still smell the incense from the crystal store and picture the weird little goblin out in front lol.
In situations like this, I personally turn off the lights from time to time to see if there are other light sources nearby. Because if there is possibly someone nearby, then a good assumption is that he or she will not be able to walk in complete darkness either. Admittedly, the moderately inexpensive FLIR camera module that connects to the phone has brought extra security because it sees the heat source in the dark be it a human or a raccoon.
Ah, East Town Mall. I went there thousands of times, I remember it being one of the best places to go in East Knoxville. Now, its being torn down. Sad to see such a memorable place go.
I was as nervous as you were while watching this video! You were brave going there alone, thank God nothing happened to you! I love these kind of videos but please, if you do another one one day, don't go alone! Keep doing the great work as usual and stay safe!
This actually made me tear up a bit. My ex wife and I when we were teenagers and first got married us to go there alot. I guess just like our marriage nothing last forever
I grew up near here and went to this mall often. I was even walking it's walls as it was shutting down. Lots of memories and I only live an hour from the place so I still drive by there sometimes. I loved your opening man. Great job! EDIT: I don't know how I feel about knowing that the city of Knoxville left all those files and blueprints behind like that. 🤔
I remember that mall. I used to go there all the time!. It's so sad now. Amazon is tearing it down right now. To rebuild for a Distribution Center. Memories won't be forgotten!!
Not like it’s a surprise that mall died many years ago after all the ghetto violence from the east side moved in. All the robberies, shootings and fights people just got tired of trying to go there to shop and have fun. Can’t say I blame them. There was a time it was supreme over West town mall but West town is still going strong. But it’s not close to the ghetto so go figure.
yo, it's the mall I use to hang out in back in the early 90s! damn, time has not been kind to you, Eastowne. I have so many good memories of you from back in your glory days.
@Johnny Calabria While there are always problems it's pretty clear that life was simpler and more straight forward back during the 1980s and earlier, I have no doubt that for many Americans the quality of life was a LOT better back then.
For those who are interested, I'm pretty sure the store he pokes his head in at 15:53 is the store where the murder occurred in 2008. I don't have any proof except I know the store was walled up after the shooting and never used again, and for as long as I can remember that store front had a white and blue wall in front of it. I didn't even realize there was a store behind it until he looked inside it, and I've been going to that mall since the early 2000s. The shooting is sort of the defining incident that led to the death of this mall. After that people felt less safe going there, the stores and the people there got seedier over time and eventually it started the downward spiral that led to it closing in January 2020, which had nothing to do with COVID by the way. The closure was announced in November 2019 and expected for years before that.
Have you thought of taking the signage and other momentos of these malls and opening up a dead mall museum? I think you’d be surprised at how many people would be interested in seeing these, as many people have fond memories of the mall.
@@aeladdams2366 First of all, I’m not a dude. Secondly, it goes without saying that if he did something like I suggested, he would follow the proper procedures. There’s nothing illegal in collecting things for display as long as you do it the right way. And what way did you think he was going to do if he chose to follow up on my suggestion??? I know better!!!
Anthony thanks for coming to film this mall again. at 19:18 was the Hallmark Gold Crown store. It was my first job at 18 and brings back so many memories. I remember vacuuming and mopping the tiles in the front, greeting customers, and doing seasonal floor changes, and slamming that gate hard at closing time.
Excellent work as always. Kudos for going in there and filming. All that work and energy that went into constructing and maintaining such a place now never to be seen or enjoyed again. Sad that even the records, drawings and plans seen in the mall office will likely be bulldozed with the building.
And if you watch the proper people’s video, albums and albums of pictures of various events and general mall shots. You can see the various renovations and what it was like back when it first opened. Coolest thing ever and I hope it was saved and given to some historical society!
Wasn’t long ago, East Town was the best mall in Knoxville. I hated seeing it go downhill. Thanks for the vid. Gave me a chance to see it before it’s completely gone.
Epic video Ace! The abandoned mall king! Jason went to this mall in 1998 for a baseball tournament for Johnstown, OH ( they won the whole thing) and it was thriving! Their hotel was by the mall and the team hung out there when they weren’t playing a game. He still holds the record for most stolen bases in the 5 day tournament to this day but remembers the mall was a better time than the tournament itself!
Thank you for giving me this farewell look to my favorite Tennessee mall to visit most of my life. It breaks my heart and angers me to know it was treated this way
Thumbs up for another awesome video. Brave to go in there in the middle of the night. Amazed the police said they didn’t care. Soon as you said the video was dedicated to the lady that passed. I knew it was going to be cancer ☹️. It took my grandpa. Too many good friends. And i am battling it for the second time.
This was an awesome video.Thank you so much for making it. It is so sad to see this place go down. I have so memories of me and my best friend hanging out the in the 80's on Friday or saturday afternoons until closing time. Before we could drive our parents which ever ones we were with , we would come in at Sears . The deal would be is that we would all meet at the lower entrance back there at 9:45 to go home. That was the time when you felt safe there , we would always run into several people that we knew as well there. It is such a shame that it lost the reputation it had due to certain happenings and pretty much taken over by moving groups of thugs for the most parts causing it's downturn and most everyone else including us to start moving towards West Town mall. If management could have gotten a hold of the situation early on it would most likely be still a strong operating mall. I think it was wbir who made the Announcement that Amazon would be bringing over 200 jobs to that location. That sounds good and all, but the mall i its day worked a hell of a lot more than 200 , that's for sure.
I’ve explored some dangerous places over the years, but I could’ve never done this alone. Great job. I think we’d all love to see more. Just bring Sal or someone along too.
This video makes me incredibly sad.. I spent some of the best times of my life at that mall hanging out with my friends, going on dates, buying things that I still use to this day.. it's so sad to see the building so empty without a soul. I drive passed it almost svery morning I go to work, and I've not looked in its direction ever since they started tearing it down. It breaks my heart, but thank God for the memories. Those are the things that will never die.
You're doing god's work. I'm grateful of the dedication you put into your content. I had headphones on, there were some ominous noises going on for sure. Stay safe, love your work as always!
I actually used to work here about 6-7 years ago at the FYE that’s on the left side of you at 6:15. I also had my first paranormal experience in that store. Wish I could go back and see it before it gets demolished.
I work near this mall and it's honestly not the safest area. There's a lot of drug activity and occasionally some of the homeless population can be aggressive. I just say that bc I've experienced it personally. I can't even take the trash out alone at work anymore. I'm so glad you were ultimately safe.
Anthony i will admit it is a bit creepy that dark just glad you made it out safely. It is sad though all the things from when i was a child have been destroyed
was driving by a mall 1 of these guys filmed and decided 2 c it in person and it was heart breaking 💔😢 u can see they had a brand new gorgeous subway and Wetzel pretzels near a healthy arcade that closed up which was surrounded by empty stores as far as the I can see . It haunted me inmagine being a kid now when you missed these mall in their prime
I’m originally from Knoxville, and remember going here all of the time, during the early 2000’s. It was popping back then, it was east town mall. Sad to see what it’s become🥴🤦🏽♀️
Ace raises the bar on dead mall documenting! This is an overall great video with the opening music/graphics/mall footage of "happier" days. True words by Ace at the start and of course the live tour/narration. I agree with Ace on the taggers marking stuff up.
Did I hear you correctly that you called Knoxville Police and asked them if they cared whether you went to photograph a closed mall at night to take pictures? And they didn't care? LoL. Wow. Is anyone else surprised?
I really enjoyed this video, kudos to you because there is NO way I would do this alone. Always have someone with you...please. Much love from North Carolina!
On-line shopping certainly did kill the mall and Amazon is a big part of it. Ironic is that Amazon is literally replacing this mall as the plans are to build another Amazon facility on the site once is is cleared.
Loved the outdoor / campground decor in this mall when I lived there. The food court had those big hanging jars that looked like they had fire fly's lit up in them.
I live like 20 minutes away from this mall and let me just tell you that that building looked like it was in pristine condition. Tennessee is really good about reusing buildings for other purposes hence why if you go into downtown Knoxville it’s all old school buildings but they’re beautiful and re-purposed for other things. This mall is not the case in fact I’m pretty ticked off that they are tearing it down instead of using it for some thing considering the building it’s self looked immaculate
I've been going there weekly to take pics and videos over the last two months and I have them up on Facebook. I filmed inside the movie theater back in April. Wasn't much left of it earlier tonight when I went. Sad to see it go
Great video Ace and yes, I agree with everyone on this you should of had someone with you especially even in the daytime too. Just to have a backup person. Once again great video this was a nail biter. ❤❤❤
Many years ago there was a high school/junior high being torn down I didn’t go at night time I went during the day. But I saved quite a few items that we’re just gonna be crushed the school bell but would ring when it’s classtime fire alarm pull station and lots of hooks for coats and a piece of the gym floor all utilized when I built my home
I remember when this mall opened. So many good memories there. My father-in-law worked there; the rumor was it was haunted. Night security would often hear a baby crying.
I spent a lot of time in that mall as a teenager in the 1980s and 1990s. I know many of the stores you passed, and what used to be there. The gold trimmed pet store was Pass Pets. Had you gone around the food court, opposite the Victoria Secrets, you would have found the Regal theatre. Mr Fuji, one time wrestler for the WWF, used to take tickets there after he tried from wrestling. I used to talk to him every time I went to the movies.
It's a shame to see something so full of life become a dead dry carcass void of anything. It was creepy at night. No lights, no nothing. Thanks for doing this. Also, cancer SUCKS hard!
So many great memories in that place! Christmas shopping with my mom and eating Steak Escape in the food court with my dad. Not to mention the many movies I saw there.
I live in Knoxville and grew up with this mall lol its a pet store @ 9:30 I remember when I was a kid going to here and looking around at all the doggies and reptiles! Time sure does fly , last time I was at this mall probably 3 years ago it seemed like it was dying then, we only went to eat at Sarku Japan , best teriyaki chicken ever! Thanks for exploring it!
This absolutely breaks my heart. I spent many a Saturday st the mall with friends and making new friends back in the late 80s. All me and my friends needed was 5 bucks for all day fun !
Seeing this walk thru brought back many memories. I spent many weekends during my high school year in the 80s. After I graduated I worked at Sears until I got married
I got to go there right before it closed, when the only shop open was an eyeglass store. A friend brought a skateboard -- almost all the shops were totally abandoned, random spots of spray paint on the floors, but they still had a cop patrolling it since it was technically open and she chewed us out for skating in there. What a time. I still have memories of when that place was hopping.
Love you videos, the green x’s would of been put there by the demolition contractor marking the structural columns I’m guessing. Keep up the documenting a way of life we will all miss when we can no longer do it
Who else lives in Knoxville and had mad good memories there😅
Me. I managed a hair salon there.
I will never forget Crystal Visions, that was the most “mall” store of them all LOL!!.
Same I'll miss that mall for sure
Yess
@@zzz9152 used to love going in alladins castle play some arcade games grab a slice of sabaro pizza the go see a movie
Thanks for this! I wanted to try to go in but didn’t get the chance. My wife and I went on our first date here. So many great memories! Thank you
Wasn’t even planned, got lucky lol
@@AcesAdventures1 I hope you carried a hand gun with you when you walked inside of that mall !
@@AcesAdventures1 the sword of time will pierce our skins, It doesn't hurt when it begins, but as it works its way on in, the pain of growing older will begin .....
Hey there, I am a Knoxville, Tennessee native. Born and raised here all my life and I remember Knoxville center mall quite fondly. It was a great 2 story mall with lots to do. Had an arcade, a giant open food court that you showed at 16:20, a dmv, a theatre, a huge gym, and at one point it even ran a community college. Anyways, This place was quite the hangout for us back in the day. Scored my first kiss there and skipped school to come meet friends here. Lots and lots of memories. Very sad to see it go but, as they say, time doesn’t stop. Also the place you mentioned at 9:45, was indeed a pet store! Wed all go see all of the puppies and kittens there all the time. As always, RIP to one of the coolest malls around. Thanks for the video man. Go Vols
we are in the same place
I worked at CFA and made a lot of memories in high school here. Was definitely the hang out spot. Its so crazy to see it like this. Used to shop here for school and everything. To see it like this and now to think its gone forever is just crazy.
Thank you for doing this. I'm surprised just how much this place meant to me now its gone. thank you. I kissed a girl for the first time in front of the crystal shop, Nursed my first hangover at the chinese restaurant in the food court. Good memories
I LOVED Crystal Visions!
Yes, Crystal Visions was my fav.. just going in and walking the roundabout was enough to soothe my little soul. ✨
Ohhhh I hope you were working at the Chinese restaurant nursing your hangover... not trying to eat something for recovery lol
Wills Music was a great place for a guitar player. Master Cuts was where I accidentally got my hair cut too short because I did not understand the blade numbers for the trimmers. Lady cut my hair too short. Lol.
I remember when this was built, good ole Eastown Mall. I never got used to calling it Knoxville Center. Great memories there and so sad it went the way of a lot of malls.
East Town was how I always called it, too. :(
East town always & 4eva!!!!
It was always East Town to me.
I still call it East Town to this day
I’m one of those new whippersnappers that call it Knoxville Center Mall. I was born in ‘06 so I’m not old enough for that.
The more nervous you got, the more nervous I was... if you had done a jump scare.... I would have died!
I just couldn’t do that to you guys lol
@@AcesAdventures1 do you by chance know the demo date?
@@AcesAdventures1 the store that had all the gold trim was a pet store
@@officermeyer it was probably being demolished when we was exploring. A part of it has been demo'd for weeks now. Unless he did before it
@@AcesAdventures1 Was there someone else in there with you or were you just hearing things?
For your own safety Anthony you should have collaborated with another urbex with you to explore a dark place like this.
Probably but im a lone wolf usually lol
@@AcesAdventures1 well least let someone know where ur going
@@AcesAdventures1 my daughter and I would have gladly joined you. We miss that mall
@@AcesAdventures1 you cray cray
Sucks so many memories with my grandma at this mall west town will never compare to east :(
Omg this...west town will never compare
Yeah less crime in east Knoxville
@@dittohead7044 ummm, definitely not now
@@dittohead7044 .....what?
Same. My Grandma and would go with me my mom and brother here all the time. We also ate Cardins alot. My grandmother passed away about 3 years ago. Then Cardins went and now the mall. Lost them all within 3 years...
Holy shit; that was genuinely scary. You go through some creepy situations to get us quality footage. Serious props to you. Nothing at all but your footsteps; genuinely bone-chilling.
Also, you always explore with such tact and dignity; respecting the sites and acknowledging the memories they hold- and it was very moving that you honored that anchor at the end. Stay gold, man.
Extremely sad to see.. my wife used to work at the sears back in the 00s when we were in high school. Many many memories at this mall
I worked there as well in the pet store in Sears in the early 1990s.
So did I!
Please think about bringing one other person with you for back up in case something happens. You had me on the edge of my seat.
I was waiting for the inevitable plink when the torch bulb blew!
Bro, imagine if the flashlight battery died. I would shit myself.
Same dude
What would you have done to get out
& then that old song "Mr. Sandman" starts playing on the speaker.
This was so emotional for me! I grew up here and with this mall booming, every store you want into or by I still remember the signs 😭
Damn, this is spooky as hell. I don’t think I could ever do this at night. Great video, though.
I don’t think I could ever do this during the day either 😬
Right?!? Shit....
@@paulajay8525 me either
I was half expecting to see a person standing in a corner somewhere in the mall, with their back turned from you...
Oh I get where you're going with that! Blair Witch anyone?
Naw east towne mall isn’t in the middle of the woods or anything. There’s a huge apartment complex just right up the hill from there. Plus it’s surrounded by interstate highways pretty much.
Me too...lol
Oh man, I was excited to see you cover this mall. I was lucky to be able to see this mall back in May of last year. I'm a truck driver for Belk's department stores and at the time they were using their old anchor store as a storage facility for all the spring time merchandise that they were unable to ship to their stores because of the pandemic shutdown. As a Truck Driver, I would get access to the mall and during the few hours it took for other Belk employees to unload my truck, I'd wonder off and just roam the mall. It was all too surreal whenever I would stop and listen to the silence that had fallen on the mall's corridors. But it also brought to me a feeling of sadness when seeing such amazing place being finally put out of its misery. Belk's ended up keeping their merchandise stored there until November, when they finally started pulling everything out again. I was able to see the Knoxville Center one last time before they began the demolition process.
I just got smacked in the face with nostalgia. Spent alot of my teen years here. I can literally still smell the incense from the crystal store and picture the weird little goblin out in front lol.
I'm that golbin
Yes! It’s eyes glowed red
In situations like this, I personally turn off the lights from time to time to see if there are other light sources nearby. Because if there is possibly someone nearby, then a good assumption is that he or she will not be able to walk in complete darkness either.
Admittedly, the moderately inexpensive FLIR camera module that connects to the phone has brought extra security because it sees the heat source in the dark be it a human or a raccoon.
Ah, East Town Mall. I went there thousands of times, I remember it being one of the best places to go in East Knoxville. Now, its being torn down. Sad to see such a memorable place go.
I was as nervous as you were while watching this video! You were brave going there alone, thank God nothing happened to you! I love these kind of videos but please, if you do another one one day, don't go alone! Keep doing the great work as usual and stay safe!
Ghost Town Mall.
This mall was so popular while growing up..
it’s sad to see it how it is now. 😔
No joke. And I knew if i scrolled down the comments Id see someone i know lol. Hi Nacira, its Sam from food city!
@@essenlame Hi Best Friend!!! 🥰
That seems like such a shame for all those blueprints to just be trashed in the demolition. Surely they have some historical value for the city.
The Metropolitan Planning Commission likely has copies.
@@rebeccamount50 im sure its all on disk somewhere..
thanks for showing this, brought back tons of memories.
This actually made me tear up a bit. My ex wife and I when we were teenagers and first got married us to go there alot. I guess just like our marriage nothing last forever
Anthony:You are the best at documenting these places. Thanks for the awesome peek inside. 😎
Omg! You couldn’t have paid me to go in there. I was a nervous wreck the whole time watching. Thanks, but please be safe.
Lol. Well hope it was enjoyable 🤣
I grew up near here and went to this mall often. I was even walking it's walls as it was shutting down. Lots of memories and I only live an hour from the place so I still drive by there sometimes. I loved your opening man. Great job!
EDIT: I don't know how I feel about knowing that the city of Knoxville left all those files and blueprints behind like that. 🤔
I remember that mall. I used to go there all the time!. It's so sad now. Amazon is tearing it down right now. To rebuild for a Distribution Center. Memories won't be forgotten!!
I'm so sad to loose that mall! So many great childhood memories, my first job, and the place I met my husband.
Not like it’s a surprise that mall died many years ago after all the ghetto violence from the east side moved in. All the robberies, shootings and fights people just got tired of trying to go there to shop and have fun. Can’t say I blame them. There was a time it was supreme over West town mall but West town is still going strong. But it’s not close to the ghetto so go figure.
LOVE the night time mall explores! Thanks!
yo, it's the mall I use to hang out in back in the early 90s! damn, time has not been kind to you, Eastowne. I have so many good memories of you from back in your glory days.
someone please bring me back to the 80's!!!!
Me too hun
It’s a trip right? I can remember getting Atari games at KB toys in that mall as a kid in the 80’s.
@Johnny Calabria
While there are always problems it's pretty clear that life was simpler and more straight forward back during the 1980s and earlier, I have no doubt that for many Americans the quality of life was a LOT better back then.
@@NateB1976 Every Friday night!
For those who are interested, I'm pretty sure the store he pokes his head in at 15:53 is the store where the murder occurred in 2008. I don't have any proof except I know the store was walled up after the shooting and never used again, and for as long as I can remember that store front had a white and blue wall in front of it. I didn't even realize there was a store behind it until he looked inside it, and I've been going to that mall since the early 2000s. The shooting is sort of the defining incident that led to the death of this mall. After that people felt less safe going there, the stores and the people there got seedier over time and eventually it started the downward spiral that led to it closing in January 2020, which had nothing to do with COVID by the way. The closure was announced in November 2019 and expected for years before that.
The early 90s rocked! Aladdins castle and Spencer’s and sbarro pizza
Constants at virtually every indoor mall since the early days.
Have you thought of taking the signage and other momentos of these malls and opening up a dead mall museum? I think you’d be surprised at how many people would be interested in seeing these, as many people have fond memories of the mall.
Dude he won't even enter a building without calling the cops first he DEFINITELY won't steal from one of these places lol
@@aeladdams2366 First of all, I’m not a dude.
Secondly, it goes without saying that if he did something like I suggested, he would follow the proper procedures. There’s nothing illegal in collecting things for display as long as you do it the right way.
And what way did you think he was going to do if he chose to follow up on my suggestion??? I know better!!!
Anthony thanks for coming to film this mall again. at 19:18 was the Hallmark Gold Crown store. It was my first job at 18 and brings back so many memories. I remember vacuuming and mopping the tiles in the front, greeting customers, and doing seasonal floor changes, and slamming that gate hard at closing time.
I’m legally blind and the quality of this vlog is amazing ,thanks for keeping Nostalgia alive ❤️
Excellent work as always. Kudos for going in there and filming. All that work and energy that went into constructing and maintaining such a place now never to be seen or enjoyed again. Sad that even the records, drawings and plans seen in the mall office will likely be bulldozed with the building.
And if you watch the proper people’s video, albums and albums of pictures of various events and general mall shots. You can see the various renovations and what it was like back when it first opened. Coolest thing ever and I hope it was saved and given to some historical society!
The graffiti mirror reflection shadow moving on the wall at 8:23 creeped me out, good stuff
Ya a stick man haha
I used to go here all the time I loved it had so many good memories sad they closed it
It wasnt shaky in the least, it was very very easy to watch. Love your videos and enjoy your love for the 80s and 90s cause so do i!
Wasn’t long ago, East Town was the best mall in Knoxville. I hated seeing it go downhill. Thanks for the vid. Gave me a chance to see it before it’s completely gone.
I was there earlier documenting. Not much left. Seen some of the chairs from the movie theater and what's left of Belk
Epic video Ace! The abandoned mall king! Jason went to this mall in 1998 for a baseball tournament for Johnstown, OH ( they won the whole thing) and it was thriving! Their hotel was by the mall and the team hung out there when they weren’t playing a game. He still holds the record for most stolen bases in the 5 day tournament to this day but remembers the mall was a better time than the tournament itself!
Thank you for giving me this farewell look to my favorite Tennessee mall to visit most of my life. It breaks my heart and angers me to know it was treated this way
I used to frequent this mall as a young child and teenager. It's cool to see it shown here, but also so, so sad. I recognize all the shop front areas.
I would have to say this video was well worth the effort. Thanks for bringing this place to use just before it disappears forever.
I recommend keeping a backup flashlight that runs on regular batteries.
Being born in the early 90s I feel like my generation was the last one to experience malls it's sad to see where they are now
Thumbs up for another awesome video. Brave to go in there in the middle of the night. Amazed the police said they didn’t care.
Soon as you said the video was dedicated to the lady that passed. I knew it was going to be cancer ☹️. It took my grandpa. Too many good friends. And i am battling it for the second time.
Jeebus! When your reflection showed in the glass barrier near the end I about had a heart attack!!!
Same!
Thanks for the great video of our beloved East Towne Mall in Kville and for dedicating it to Susan. Will subscribe for more adventures!
This was an awesome video.Thank you so much for making it. It is so sad to see this place go down. I have so memories of me and my best friend hanging out the in the 80's on Friday or saturday afternoons until closing time. Before we could drive our parents which ever ones we were with , we would come in at Sears . The deal would be is that we would all meet at the lower entrance back there at 9:45 to go home. That was the time when you felt safe there , we would always run into several people that we knew as well there. It is such a shame that it lost the reputation it had due to certain happenings and pretty much taken over by moving groups of thugs for the most parts causing it's downturn and most everyone else including us to start moving towards West Town mall. If management could have gotten a hold of the situation early on it would most likely be still a strong operating mall. I think it was wbir who made the Announcement that Amazon would be bringing over 200 jobs to that location. That sounds good and all, but the mall i its day worked a hell of a lot more than 200 , that's for sure.
I’ve explored some dangerous places over the years, but I could’ve never done this alone. Great job. I think we’d all love to see more. Just bring Sal or someone along too.
This video makes me incredibly sad.. I spent some of the best times of my life at that mall hanging out with my friends, going on dates, buying things that I still use to this day.. it's so sad to see the building so empty without a soul. I drive passed it almost svery morning I go to work, and I've not looked in its direction ever since they started tearing it down. It breaks my heart, but thank God for the memories. Those are the things that will never die.
You're doing god's work. I'm grateful of the dedication you put into your content. I had headphones on, there were some ominous noises going on for sure. Stay safe, love your work as always!
Thanks!
That is one creepy zombie mall. Anthony you are brave attempting this in pitch darkness!
I actually used to work here about 6-7 years ago at the FYE that’s on the left side of you at 6:15. I also had my first paranormal experience in that store. Wish I could go back and see it before it gets demolished.
Tell us more
I work near this mall and it's honestly not the safest area. There's a lot of drug activity and occasionally some of the homeless population can be aggressive. I just say that bc I've experienced it personally. I can't even take the trash out alone at work anymore. I'm so glad you were ultimately safe.
Anthony i will admit it is a bit creepy that dark just glad you made it out safely. It is sad though all the things from when i was a child have been destroyed
My friend and I were lowkey planning on playing hide and seek in this mall after it closed, west town will never compare
I could never walk into that place by myself.
You are a class act my friend! The best that does this kind of thing!!!
was driving by a mall 1 of these guys filmed and decided 2 c it in person and it was heart breaking 💔😢 u can see they had a brand new gorgeous subway and Wetzel pretzels near a healthy arcade that closed up which was surrounded by empty stores as far as the I can see . It haunted me inmagine being a kid now when you missed these mall in their prime
It was great northern mall near or in Syaracuse ny
I worked in that cinema. Shaped my being. My first kiss was in that house.
I worked at Belk with my fiance at this mall, and it breaks my heart to see it this way, I grew up here.
I’m originally from Knoxville, and remember going here all of the time, during the early 2000’s. It was popping back then, it was east town mall. Sad to see what it’s become🥴🤦🏽♀️
Ace raises the bar on dead mall documenting! This is an overall great video with the opening music/graphics/mall footage of "happier" days. True words by Ace at the start and of course the live tour/narration. I agree with Ace on the taggers marking stuff up.
Thanks Delta
I literally loved this mall growing up. I wanted to cry when they tore it down for Amazon. Like we didn’t need it😭
Did I hear you correctly that you called Knoxville Police and asked them if they cared whether you went to photograph a closed mall at night to take pictures? And they didn't care? LoL. Wow. Is anyone else surprised?
I was Junior Miss Knoxville Center Mall when I was 10! My first pageant ever. Good memories
This is so eerie, but at the same time it's so interesting to see how it's frozen in time almost.
I really enjoyed this video, kudos to you because there is NO way I would do this alone. Always have someone with you...please. Much love from North Carolina!
Thank you
On-line shopping certainly did kill the mall and Amazon is a big part of it. Ironic is that Amazon is literally replacing this mall as the plans are to build another Amazon facility on the site once is is cleared.
Loved the outdoor / campground decor in this mall when I lived there. The food court had those big hanging jars that looked like they had fire fly's lit up in them.
I live like 20 minutes away from this mall and let me just tell you that that building looked like it was in pristine condition. Tennessee is really good about reusing buildings for other purposes hence why if you go into downtown Knoxville it’s all old school buildings but they’re beautiful and re-purposed for other things. This mall is not the case in fact I’m pretty ticked off that they are tearing it down instead of using it for some thing considering the building it’s self looked immaculate
Assuming the ❎’s and ✅’s indicate that the vendor has fully vacated and store ready for demo. Anything additional?
I think that’s correct
I've been going there weekly to take pics and videos over the last two months and I have them up on Facebook. I filmed inside the movie theater back in April. Wasn't much left of it earlier tonight when I went. Sad to see it go
Great video Ace and yes, I agree with everyone on this you should of had someone with you especially even in the daytime too. Just to have a backup person. Once again great video this was a nail biter. ❤❤❤
Just walking up to the building in the pure dark night looked like a opening cutscene to a horror game...
Still got goosebumps an hour later. Great video. So was someone else in there at the end?
I guess we’ll never know heh 👽
This one definitely gives me the same shivers as Rolling Acres by Bell did!
It was creepy!
These kids can’t stop you bro, your content is way better than what these kids produce
Wow that was intense!! I really like this video. Thanks for risking your safety to provide excellent content!
Many years ago there was a high school/junior high being torn down I didn’t go at night time I went during the day. But I saved quite a few items that we’re just gonna be crushed the school bell but would ring when it’s classtime fire alarm pull station and lots of hooks for coats and a piece of the gym floor all utilized when I built my home
Thank you for this BUT BE SAFE!!!
I remember when this mall opened. So many good memories there. My father-in-law worked there; the rumor was it was haunted. Night security would often hear a baby crying.
man I remember going here a lot in the early 2010's
I spent a lot of time in that mall as a teenager in the 1980s and 1990s. I know many of the stores you passed, and what used to be there. The gold trimmed pet store was Pass Pets. Had you gone around the food court, opposite the Victoria Secrets, you would have found the Regal theatre. Mr Fuji, one time wrestler for the WWF, used to take tickets there after he tried from wrestling. I used to talk to him every time I went to the movies.
It's a shame to see something so full of life become a dead dry carcass void of anything. It was creepy at night. No lights, no nothing. Thanks for doing this. Also, cancer SUCKS hard!
So many great memories in that place! Christmas shopping with my mom and eating Steak Escape in the food court with my dad. Not to mention the many movies I saw there.
Great video. My wife and I had anxiety waiting for an apparition to appear.
I live in Knoxville and grew up with this mall lol its a pet store @ 9:30 I remember when I was a kid going to here and looking around at all the doggies and reptiles! Time sure does fly , last time I was at this mall probably 3 years ago it seemed like it was dying then, we only went to eat at Sarku Japan , best teriyaki chicken ever! Thanks for exploring it!
This absolutely breaks my heart. I spent many a Saturday st the mall with friends and making new friends back in the late 80s. All me and my friends needed was 5 bucks for all day fun !
Seeing this walk thru brought back many memories. I spent many weekends during my high school year in the 80s. After I graduated I worked at Sears until I got married
I got to go there right before it closed, when the only shop open was an eyeglass store. A friend brought a skateboard -- almost all the shops were totally abandoned, random spots of spray paint on the floors, but they still had a cop patrolling it since it was technically open and she chewed us out for skating in there. What a time. I still have memories of when that place was hopping.
Love you videos, the green x’s would of been put there by the demolition contractor marking the structural columns I’m guessing. Keep up the documenting a way of life we will all miss when we can no longer do it
Amazing video, Ace! I had the lights off as well for the full effect!
Lol I used to be there when my parents owned a vinyl graphic store. Rip. You entered in the same door we’d enter to go to the shop.
9:05 Waldenbooks. So many good coworkers, so much fun. I miss it, and many of them.