This mall has massive potential, and Mr. Basalyga is totally killing it, and doing a great job. Let me know if you want the Samurai Cop for a birthday party. Love you all. Catch up on the full Expedition Log Series! Support the Expedition Log on Patreon, if you like! - www.patreon.com/salvatoreamadeo Second Channel! - ua-cam.com/users/quitestudios Join the discussion on Discord! discord.gg/g4tKbpu My Website: www.salvatoreamadeo.com Facebook Page! - facebook.com/QuiteStudios/ ExLog Series Playlist - ua-cam.com/play/PLeveLKZSrsW5yrdr5vZa1-7oq_g-EuzZt.html Twitter - twitter.com/salvatoreamadeo Instagram - instagram.com/salvatoreamadeo Subscribe to and follow everyone on the DMOD Seal: Faded Commerce - ua-cam.com/users/fadedcommerce RetailPocalypse - ua-cam.com/users/Retailpocalypse The Vintage Spaces Channel - ua-cam.com/users/thevintagespaceschannel Unicomm Productions - ua-cam.com/users/unicommproductions Ace's Adventures - ua-cam.com/channels/YfArGrC66A-vdS45DS7Qrg.html Jonrev's Flickr - www.flickr.com/photos/7323354@N05/ Jonrev's Site - jonrev.com/ The Caldor Rainbow - thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/ The Neon Explorer instagram.com/theneonexplorer Rustbelt Expeditions instagram.com/rustbeltexpeditions
I've been watching your driving bits rather closely and noticed that you stop in Shippensburg, PA quite often. Is that just a normal refuel spot for you?
I just remember being a kid and going there. Sometime in the late 90’s. And a few times in the early 2000’s. It was truly a magical place at that time. Especially around Christmas. Lights twinkling everywhere. That beautiful entrance from the parking garage all lit up inviting you in. I remember going to radio shack in the mall and buying a zip zap RC car. And then having lunch with my mother in the food court. I think we got Chinese. It was so busy back then. I do miss this place. And it truly deserves as many chances as it can get to stay open. Very fond memories. Takes me back to easier times.
It honestly gives me goosebumps when I finally see a happy ending on a dead mall (at least for now). I was feeling really bad about Al Boscov and his genuine effort into making this mall, and kinda expected him to die in the sadness that his mall is gone, but that new owner is really trying his best to turn around Steamtown. We seriously need more mall owners like this who have a vision for transforming malls by tailoring to local needs. It really warmed my heart when I saw public functions like community colleges and local merchants using the mall as a public gathering place, just as Victor Gruen originally envisioned. Al can finally retire with the assurances that his mall has a good new owner and that his life work was not in vain. Thanks Sal!
Thanks for the great video with accurate research! The marketplace is doing well, and us Scrantonians are happy to see it succeeding instead of being blighted. Scranton is a sleepy little city that has lots to offer if you know were to look. It's home to several colleges and universities, has a vibrant art scene, and lots and lots of wonderful food! Come back and visit again!
Great ExLog, Sal. It all came together with the compelling story, friendly encounter with one of the vendors, and awesome footage of the trains. Unlike many other malls, there still seems to be hope for this one. Looking forward to more episodes like this. Keep it up! 👍🏼
Used to work at Steamtown. Fall 94-98. Lechters housewares. It was upstairs across from the escalator and across from Antianns (sp). Face ing the store had BeMoss ladies clothing. I also worked at the opening of Bath and Body Works. Upstairs behind the elevator. Off the wall was a short time spent downstairs near Boscov entrance. My biggest surprise from your video was the food court. Ate there many times back in the day.
I've never been to a Boscov's. That said, in these stores I see echoes of stores that made such an impact on my childhood ie; Sears, Eaton's, and Woodward's to name but a few. Long live Boscov's. Who would have ever thought that a department store could mean so much?
I was there in Scranton about 10 years ago for the Steamtown Marathon. It was a joy running it, and the support from the people there was incredible. A lot of warm people with great energy to make it their own. It wasn’t your cookie-cutter race, and a lot of it was because of the atmosphere. I know it’s about the Steamtown Mall, but I want to give the people in the area their due. I wish them the best and hopefully, their mall will have a prosperous future.
Never knew the history of Bocsov. I have shopped at a couple of them in Pennsylvanian over the years and one in Binghamton, NY. Most all the old time department stores in my area (Rochester, NY) are gone now. If JC Penny and Macy's go out, there will be no dept. stores left in most areas. People the last year or so have just not been out shopping like they used to, Amazon, Covid, crime, whatever it is. People just stay at home I guess.
Don´t laugh at me, I found that Samurai Cop snippets actually entertaining. I mean, it´s so bad that it´s actually good at the same time. Even the actors look like they are having a fun time :)
I went to the Steamtown Historic site back in 1998 and enjoyed my visit so much...which included a train ride. I also got to go to the Steamtown Mall, which was busy at that time. They had a very large "Great American Train Store" at the mall there which was the largest one I had been to (at their height they had a number of locations throughout the USA). I believe we also went to see the restored Lackawanna train station. A nice visit...and sad to see so much had changed.
Great tour. You did a great job explaining the history of this mall and showing it in it's current state. I've gotta give Albert Boscov credit, he had a dream and he made it happen even with almost everything against him. Sure, this mall hasn't had a great history but the fact that he made it happen is a great example of the American dream and one's determination to get something they want.
You would love the old Boscov Headquarters on Bernville Road in Reading. It's a colocation facility and comms center now, but much of it is still original 70s decor.
I've been to that museum, and it's really wonderful. My mom's from near Scranton, and we've gone there a lot. I really need to visit this mall/marketplace.
This an awesome mall. The story about Albert boscov is really sad that he watched his dream fall apart. But the new guy who owns seems to be doing a really good job. I'm happy you went to the train yard, I love the history behind these areas and you do a great job of showing us it. Take care sal looking forward to the next video.
I visited this mall in late 2018- I'm glad to see that it's doing better than it could be- and that less "traditional" uses seem to be helping keep the place occupied. I also REALLY love that public market.
I'm impressed so many exterior lights on the central elevator were working! So many were burned out every time I visited. I grew-up in the area and worked in Scranton from the mid-90s until the late 2000s. I find it hilarious that they went back to charging for parking. They did so in the early years but stopped due to the city having fee on a per-space basis for any paid parking; obviously free-with-validation parking wasn't a winning strategy for them. The various hardware from that remained in place for years despite no longer being used. What I most remember from the time the mall was being constructed was about the persistent issues with prostitution on that stretch of Lackawanna Ave. Also, local TV station WYOU, whose studios were on Lackawanna Ave, had a "Kamikazee Kamera" atop one of the buildings as it was explosively demolished in 1992. There's an odd history about the prominence of the name "Lackawanna" including a decades-long political fight in the 19th century about even creating Lackawanna County - neighboring Luzerne County did not want it and even got the state constitution amended at one point to prevent the creation of any more counties.
Wow.... Scranton transformed. I was there in the late '70s early '80s. My family visited this area do to the huge railroad train buff draw. Tons of people came to Scranton to check out the railroad. The area sure didn't look like this back then! Mind blown. I also learned Boscov is a real person too. I'm sorry to hear his nephew made a mess of a successful company. I hope Mr Boscov can enjoy his retirement now in his mid 80s in peace. He worked hard for his father's company. In Milford Connecticut, when JC Penney left the CT Post Mall, Boscov moved in. History note JC Penney had his home in Westport Connecticut on Beachside Drive and would commute to his headquarters in Manhattan.
I spent a lot of time at the Steamtown Mall in the mid to late 90's, I have so many fun memories there. I've hated seeing it decline over the years, my mom and I will go there once and awhile, mostly for Boscov's. I always keep hoping it makes a comeback.
I also remember the old arcade!! As you entered the Food Court it was all the way in the back and on the right!! Also another neat place was the small scale train set-up. Different gauges and most ran; That was on the right side just before you entered the Food Court; Later on it became a Jewelry Store. Man I wish we had smart-phones back then. So many neat pics I could have taken (and video's) I had a "regular" Camera that took nice 35M pictures but I left it back in the Hotel Room.
Regarding aquariums in malls, there's one that's 26,000 sqft. at Arizona Mills in Tempe, but that's the only one I'm aware of. Arizona Mills also has a mini indoor Legoland, and a 40,000 sqft. two-story arcade.
The most active you’ll see that mall is during railfest at steamtown, parking lot is filled up, the bridge connecting it the mall to the park gives an excellent overhead view of the rails, but the one time I went it seemed like a really nice mall
Wow just wow..awesome footage..glad to see a mall owner that actually cares abt the property..I'm not terribly far from that mall as I'm in New castle area where u filmed cascade galleria and I would love to see that town the mall the museum..just all of it..downtown area looks so quaint n picturesq..this was probably one of my favorites ..ty Sal..
Hey Sal, we first stumbled upon this Mall back in the Winter of 1995. We stay up at Lake Harmony in between Big Boulder and Jack Frost. My gf saw brochures in our Hotel Room about Moosic and Scranton/Montage so one afternoon we jumped back on the NE Extension and drove the 35 minutes and explored Scranton. Drove through the old downtown and saw the Mall so pulled in the "underground parking". Even though it was the dead of Winter the weekend was busy there. Went through Wards and the old Food Court. I can't remember what was in the GYM back then. Well, for a while it was Steve and Barry's and if I remember correctly was some kind of furniture place; 'Not sure if Boscov's used it. A Restaurant across from Starbucks. Bookstore etc. When BonTon opened it always seemed "classy" along with a decent crowd. What I really loved was the classic NEON in Boscov's. Hanging above the different Departments... Men's clothing, Women's etc etc... I didn't notice in video if they're still there... Are they Sal?? I haven't been up in a few years.) Also a local and well known landmark Diner is Chicks just up the Street... Check it out next time you visit... Thanks for another great video!!!!! James
We have had an aquarium in a mall here in AZ for many years. I do like what the current owner is doing with the mall though, almost like he has the spirit for it that Mr Boscov had. Thank you again for this wonderful insight.
I really like how they did renovate the old food court area, into the new 'Scranton Public Market'. How many food vendors did you see that were operational, besides the place you got food at(Paradise Sweets), the cheesesteak stand, and any others that were open? Also looked like maybe one or 2 others were trying to set up shop there, but hadn't opened yet. I really wish more malls would do something like this, to revive dead food court areas of a mall. Lincolnwood Town Center and Northfield Square(Bradley, near Kankakee, and you might remember Ace's Adventures visited there once, their food court as I remember is even more dead vs. the one at Lincolnwood), I'm looking at both those malls where I wish they'd do something like this!
Thank you for this. I went to that mall years ago, and the view of Steam Town from the food court is great, best view I've ever seen form any food court. But... I wanted to sit in the food court, eat lunch and read, but I'd finished my book. I didn't see anyplace in the mall to get a book so but there was a mall cop. I asked him if there was someplace where I could get a paperback book or a magazine. He responded with... "Well, I don't know what a paperback book is but..." No wonder he was a mall cop!
Glad you covered this mall. I visited it several years ago with a friend who lives in the area, and I had a pretty good time. Looks like it's time for me to pay another visit.
.Love your videos. I really enjoy the dead mall series. I am in Cincinnati Ohio which is home to Forest Fair/ Cincinnati Mills Mall. Which is a story into itself. Thank you for letting me go with you. Be safe in your travels. I am taking care because of my bad heart.
Fantastic video. It's really been interesting to see this mall throughout the years. My family used to go up to Scranton to visit family as a kid, and I remember when Steamtown still had some life. There used to be loads of stands in the food court, even an arcade. My mom grew up in the area as well and used to describe to us the size and glamour of the Globe Store. I then went to college in Scranton and remember seeing the mall continue to succumb to the economy and competition of Dickson City/Viewmont mall and Montage Mtn. I'm glad to see some life in that cafeteria, as the last time I was there it only contained one pizza stand with none of the renovations or stalls. I do worry that with Covid-19 that this mall will suffer even more. But I guess we'll wait and see.
Hi… You’re probably right, considering the population of the surrounding area. Although for me, coming down from the north, it was easier to shop at Viewmont rather than head into the city. Wishing you all the best!
It definitely was. Most of the stores that were at Steamtown moved to the "high end" Shoppes at Montage, which also isn't doing well as it first did (mostly due to the stores that are going out of business completely). I really think that the mixed use concept is going to save malls across the country.
@@bbabarsky The "new" ownership has really worked hard to find innovative ways to keep Steamtown viable. Not so much as a traditional mall...but with the Community College and now the Medical offices having moved in to occupy all of the former BonTon space...hopefully the building will continue to serve the community for decades to come. I always felt like some sort of retirement type rental units made a ton of sense...but the logistics may simply be too much.
We love Steamtown! Try to plan your visit to the NHS to coincide with a time they offer trolley rides through the Lackawanna Trolley Museum, at the opposite end of the parking lot. One of the few places in the country to can still ride a trolley to a baseball game (well, post-Covid). Or, you can just ride the trolley and learn more fascinating Scranton history.
Hi Sal, my husband turned me on to your videos recently and I told him we should reach out to you. We live in the Scranton area and are surrounded by malls. We would love to spend a day with you taking you to different places of your liking. I highly recommend the Steamtown Museum and would love to tour with you. The other "local" malls are the Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes Barre and the Viewmont Mall in Dickson City. I'd say another two to three weeks and they'll all be open again. And dinner would be on us!!
Samurai Cop has my Moms wig on. Did I hear Michael Scott and Dwight rapping bout Electric City? LOL. Another great one Sal. Great research on the Boscovs, as usual. Stay safe
It’s been years since I’ve been inside a Boscov’s, and they hadn’t changed one bit it seems. The interior design of the mall looks familiar too, very close to the interior of the Harrisburg East Mall before it was remodeled. Logs like this one in this state really take me back,
Oh and I almost forgot!! A weekend we never miss is just before St. Patrick's Day. That's usually the last weekend of skiing up there and Scranton has their St. Patrick's Day Parade. Town gets pretty packed and esp the small bars... Even a cigar place a few blocks away and t we buy a few as you can smoke in there. Anyways, as you can imagine with the University right down the Street the Mall gets packed.. Oh yeah, they can get rowdy but nothing too major!!!!
Hey Sal another awesome video. I really enjoyed this video, and I guess it was because it was not a dead or dieing mall at least not yet. I do like the idea that the owner of the mall is trying. We have an aquarium at a mall here in New Jersey at Woodbridge mall which seems to be a near dieing mall which you might be interested in covering, since it recently lost 2 anchors in sears and lord and taylor... and jcpenney and boscov not doing that great the end is near.. take care and stay safe
As usual, I really enjoyed a visit to another fascinating place. You make it special! Truly, a career in investigative journalism would not be out of reach for you! Now....I will enjoy envisioning the reptiles in quiet repose, in their "dens"...🐍💖
I worked in downtown Scranton in the early 2000s and visited this mall often. It was a booming mall back then. Every year the MD Telethon was broadcast live from the center court. I moved out of the area in 2008 but according to my friends in Scranton, the mall seemed to die quickly over the next several years. (As did many other malls throughout the country). The food court used to be a lively place and it looks very different in your video. Apparently it was redesigned at some point to reflect a marketplace. It's very sad to see the failure of this once great mall.
I personally would love to see you visit the museum and by the way they "abandoned" equipment is actually owned by the museum, they just don't have anywhere to really protect it from the elements that's why it looks the way it does, but it is really worth visiting and the same can be said for the shortline railroad that runs along side the museum, it uses vintage diesels regularly
My sister and I visited this mall on our way to a Volbeat and Slipknot concert last year. The funny thing was at least a dozen people commented on our shirts and asked if we were going to that concert. I remember getting lost in that parking garage and when she was getting flustered, I said "Would you like to hear the mating call of my people?" to her. She shrugged halfheartedly and I let out a loud yelp. Stupid, yet satisfying. Nice mall, shame it's not very occupied.
I live in Scranton, honestly, once GameStop left this mall it fucking collapsed, the food court looked nothing like that shit, it had a playground next to those doors leading to the tracks, and tables and chairs filled out the food court. There was so much more mainstream stores in there. Once they left the people left, now everyone goes to Viewmont Mall in Dickson City.
Sal - any clue what the large mercantile building at the corner of Wyoming and Lackawanna (the one straight ahead as you exit Boscov's at 7:15) used to be?
Please visit Baldwin Hills Mall before it changes to some weird mixed office space. They lost 2 anchors Sears and Walmart and are struggling even more due to COVID-19
I remember this place for kids with plushies and they had a kids carpet, or something else. I don't remember that much of it. It was like a fever dream. But is real
I remember that part of Lackawanna Avenue before the mall. Back when the old Casey Inn hotel, Preno's Italian Restaurant and other landmarks were still standing. It was tacky, tawdry ... but delightfully decadent. Bars, Triple-X adult bookstores with backrooms, occasional hookers, gay guys, etc. The Coney Island Lunch is still there. This Philly boy visits Scranton at least twice a year.
Wow. I own the DVD version of Samurai Cop, but can NOT sit through it without the added Joe Bob Briggs (of TNT Monstervision fame) comedy commentary on it. XD The comedy commentary saves it.
The late Albert Boscov is still an icon here in his native Berks County, PA. He was nothing if not persistent in doing what he wanted or needed to do. His nephew Jim is now the company head.
I like trains. Like, life's passion like. I first visited this mall in 2006 when I first visited Steamtown NHS. I stayed at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel and the quickest way to the museum is through the mall. When I was there it was full. Boscov's was thriving (I should mention this is the only Boscov's I have visited as we don't have them in the Buffalo-area), Bon-Ton was doing well and I don't remember a vacant storefront. Yet shortly afterwards I kept hearing everybody call it a deal mall, which confused me. I went back the following year, it was fine. In fact it was so packed I couldn't move around, but that was because Miley Cyrus was performing there that day. In 2008 I was there for Railcamp but didn't have time to spend at the mall, it was all trains, all the time. I came back in 2011 for Railcamp reunion we were holding at the same time as Lackawanna Railfest and went to mall for lunch and it was dead. I saw what everybody meant, abandoned storefronts everywhere. Only place I spent any real amount of time was the food court and one of the prime parcels which was now taken up by an HO scale model railroad. Not a hobby shop, just a layout, nothing for sale. I'd say I don't know it stayed open, but it didn't. In multiple visits, not only Steamtown, but Scranton has become a special place in my life and I do still follow the mall. Last time I was there was 2018, and again I didn't have time for the mall, but I knew about the Aquarium though it wasn't open yet. Seeing this video actually pleases me to see that "The Marketplace at Steamtown" appears to be turning the corner and Al Boscov's vision isn't dying. I never met him, from what I've heard he was a terrific person and it would be a shame to his vision die. Mr. Basalyga deserves credit for saving this place and being able to think outside of the box of what a mall can be.
I thought it was weird you couldn’t add more history about the mall “due to time constraints” but you included 5 minutes of Samurai Cop. Still liked this!
Hey I come here! We just went there but we heard a crying child. Creepy thing he was there the whole time, even heard him when he was there when we we started to go. They also closing the road
Have you ever done a dead mall expedition on Chicago's Lincoln Mall it says it shut down in Jan 2015? Not sure if the building still standing or not. I love all your mall's Expedition great job
This mall has massive potential, and Mr. Basalyga is totally killing it, and doing a great job. Let me know if you want the Samurai Cop for a birthday party. Love you all.
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Thanks for the linKs, the website looks awesome. Will check it out more after the premiere.
Check your emails.
I'd be happy to offer a $25 appearance fee.... That's provided he caters. Cheeseburgers would be fine.
I've been watching your driving bits rather closely and noticed that you stop in Shippensburg, PA quite often. Is that just a normal refuel spot for you?
Wow, great job! Very interesting. If you liked the area -You should look into Rocky Glen, Nayog Park; Coal Mine Tour, and Knoebels theme park.
That encounter at the former food court area was so nice and sweet, UNLIKE A CERTAIN MALL COP IN INDIANA
He needs an asskicking from Samurai Cop
It looks like Dwight's boycott of the Steamtown Mall worked.
I just remember being a kid and going there. Sometime in the late 90’s. And a few times in the early 2000’s. It was truly a magical place at that time. Especially around Christmas. Lights twinkling everywhere. That beautiful entrance from the parking garage all lit up inviting you in. I remember going to radio shack in the mall and buying a zip zap RC car. And then having lunch with my mother in the food court. I think we got Chinese. It was so busy back then. I do miss this place. And it truly deserves as many chances as it can get to stay open. Very fond memories. Takes me back to easier times.
It honestly gives me goosebumps when I finally see a happy ending on a dead mall (at least for now). I was feeling really bad about Al Boscov and his genuine effort into making this mall, and kinda expected him to die in the sadness that his mall is gone, but that new owner is really trying his best to turn around Steamtown. We seriously need more mall owners like this who have a vision for transforming malls by tailoring to local needs. It really warmed my heart when I saw public functions like community colleges and local merchants using the mall as a public gathering place, just as Victor Gruen originally envisioned. Al can finally retire with the assurances that his mall has a good new owner and that his life work was not in vain. Thanks Sal!
Thanks for the great video with accurate research! The marketplace is doing well, and us Scrantonians are happy to see it succeeding instead of being blighted. Scranton is a sleepy little city that has lots to offer if you know were to look. It's home to several colleges and universities, has a vibrant art scene, and lots and lots of wonderful food! Come back and visit again!
Love how you research all the malls. Always interesting.
Sad to see this Mall like this. I worked on it from the ground up
Great ExLog, Sal. It all came together with the compelling story, friendly encounter with one of the vendors, and awesome footage of the trains. Unlike many other malls, there still seems to be hope for this one. Looking forward to more episodes like this. Keep it up! 👍🏼
Used to work at Steamtown. Fall 94-98. Lechters housewares. It was upstairs across from the escalator and across from Antianns (sp). Face ing the store had BeMoss ladies clothing. I also worked at the opening of Bath and Body Works. Upstairs behind the elevator. Off the wall was a short time spent downstairs near Boscov entrance. My biggest surprise from your video was the food court. Ate there many times back in the day.
I've never been to a Boscov's. That said, in these stores I see echoes of stores that made such an impact on my childhood ie; Sears, Eaton's, and Woodward's to name but a few. Long live Boscov's. Who would have ever thought that a department store could mean so much?
I've only been to this location, but have never heard a bad thing about them.
I was there in Scranton about 10 years ago for the Steamtown Marathon. It was a joy running it, and the support from the people there was incredible. A lot of warm people with great energy to make it their own. It wasn’t your cookie-cutter race, and a lot of it was because of the atmosphere. I know it’s about the Steamtown Mall, but I want to give the people in the area their due. I wish them the best and hopefully, their mall will have a prosperous future.
If they were smart, they'd put a sign on one of those storefronts that says "Future home of Michael Scott Paper Co.".
i haven't seen a video about this mall in so long and fell in love with it after the video dan bell made on it!! thank you for uploading!!
Sal your production value is tremendous and the malls you visit are truly haunting in their emptiness. Keep up the good work!
Absolutely LOVED all the Office stuff! It might be my favorite show of all time! Awesome vid Sal!
Wonderful work Sal, they don't make them like they used to like Albert Bocsov.
So glad to enjoy this documentation of history!
Never knew the history of Bocsov. I have shopped at a couple of them in Pennsylvanian over the years and one in Binghamton, NY. Most all the old time department stores in my area (Rochester, NY) are gone now. If JC Penny and Macy's go out, there will be no dept. stores left in most areas. People the last year or so have just not been out shopping like they used to, Amazon, Covid, crime, whatever it is. People just stay at home I guess.
Love it! Great video Sal. We were laughing so hard about Samurai Cop had to pause before moving on. Cheers
Don´t laugh at me, I found that Samurai Cop snippets actually entertaining. I mean, it´s so bad that it´s actually good at the same time. Even the actors look like they are having a fun time :)
I went to the Steamtown Historic site back in 1998 and enjoyed my visit so much...which included a train ride. I also got to go to the Steamtown Mall, which was busy at that time. They had a very large "Great American Train Store" at the mall there which was the largest one I had been to (at their height they had a number of locations throughout the USA). I believe we also went to see the restored Lackawanna train station. A nice visit...and sad to see so much had changed.
Another superb video. Thanks Sal. (A fan in the UK).
Great tour. You did a great job explaining the history of this mall and showing it in it's current state. I've gotta give Albert Boscov credit, he had a dream and he made it happen even with almost everything against him. Sure, this mall hasn't had a great history but the fact that he made it happen is a great example of the American dream and one's determination to get something they want.
That intro music is 🔥🙌
Great research again now on the boscov history never knew the story yet saw the store around my whole life.
I live a mile away from this, what an absolute gem of a place 👌
What a beautiful mall. And Steamtown!
You would love the old Boscov Headquarters on Bernville Road in Reading. It's a colocation facility and comms center now, but much of it is still original 70s decor.
I've been to that museum, and it's really wonderful. My mom's from near Scranton, and we've gone there a lot. I really need to visit this mall/marketplace.
This an awesome mall. The story about Albert boscov is really sad that he watched his dream fall apart. But the new guy who owns seems to be doing a really good job. I'm happy you went to the train yard, I love the history behind these areas and you do a great job of showing us it. Take care sal looking forward to the next video.
I visited this mall in late 2018- I'm glad to see that it's doing better than it could be- and that less "traditional" uses seem to be helping keep the place occupied. I also REALLY love that public market.
I'm impressed so many exterior lights on the central elevator were working! So many were burned out every time I visited. I grew-up in the area and worked in Scranton from the mid-90s until the late 2000s. I find it hilarious that they went back to charging for parking. They did so in the early years but stopped due to the city having fee on a per-space basis for any paid parking; obviously free-with-validation parking wasn't a winning strategy for them. The various hardware from that remained in place for years despite no longer being used. What I most remember from the time the mall was being constructed was about the persistent issues with prostitution on that stretch of Lackawanna Ave. Also, local TV station WYOU, whose studios were on Lackawanna Ave, had a "Kamikazee Kamera" atop one of the buildings as it was explosively demolished in 1992.
There's an odd history about the prominence of the name "Lackawanna" including a decades-long political fight in the 19th century about even creating Lackawanna County - neighboring Luzerne County did not want it and even got the state constitution amended at one point to prevent the creation of any more counties.
Wow.... Scranton transformed. I was there in the late '70s early '80s. My family visited this area do to the huge railroad train buff draw. Tons of people came to Scranton to check out the railroad. The area sure didn't look like this back then! Mind blown. I also learned Boscov is a real person too. I'm sorry to hear his nephew made a mess of a successful company. I hope Mr Boscov can enjoy his retirement now in his mid 80s in peace. He worked hard for his father's company. In Milford Connecticut, when JC Penney left the CT Post Mall, Boscov moved in. History note JC Penney had his home in Westport Connecticut on Beachside Drive and would commute to his headquarters in Manhattan.
I spent a lot of time at the Steamtown Mall in the mid to late 90's, I have so many fun memories there. I've hated seeing it decline over the years, my mom and I will go there once and awhile, mostly for Boscov's. I always keep hoping it makes a comeback.
I also remember the old arcade!! As you entered the Food Court it was all the way in the back and on the right!!
Also another neat place was the small scale train set-up. Different gauges and most ran; That was on the right side just before you entered the Food Court; Later on it became a Jewelry Store. Man I wish we had smart-phones back then. So many neat pics I could have taken (and video's) I had a "regular" Camera that took nice 35M pictures but I left it back in the Hotel Room.
The Great Train store was on the corner at the entrance of the food court. Beautiful store. Hard wood floors.
Regarding aquariums in malls, there's one that's 26,000 sqft. at Arizona Mills in Tempe, but that's the only one I'm aware of. Arizona Mills also has a mini indoor Legoland, and a 40,000 sqft. two-story arcade.
The most active you’ll see that mall is during railfest at steamtown, parking lot is filled up, the bridge connecting it the mall to the park gives an excellent overhead view of the rails, but the one time I went it seemed like a really nice mall
Another quality installment! Thanks, Sal!
Wow just wow..awesome footage..glad to see a mall owner that actually cares abt the property..I'm not terribly far from that mall as I'm in New castle area where u filmed cascade galleria and I would love to see that town the mall the museum..just all of it..downtown area looks so quaint n picturesq..this was probably one of my favorites ..ty Sal..
Hey Sal, we first stumbled upon this Mall back in the Winter of 1995. We stay up at Lake Harmony in between Big Boulder and Jack Frost. My gf saw brochures in our Hotel Room about Moosic and Scranton/Montage so one afternoon we jumped back on the NE Extension and drove the 35 minutes and explored Scranton. Drove through the old downtown and saw the Mall so pulled in the "underground parking".
Even though it was the dead of Winter the weekend was busy there. Went through Wards and the old Food Court. I can't remember what was in the GYM back then. Well, for a while it was Steve and Barry's and if I remember correctly was some kind of furniture place; 'Not sure if Boscov's used it. A Restaurant across from Starbucks. Bookstore etc. When BonTon opened it always seemed "classy" along with a decent crowd.
What I really loved was the classic NEON in Boscov's. Hanging above the different Departments... Men's clothing, Women's etc etc... I didn't notice in video if they're still there... Are they Sal??
I haven't been up in a few years.) Also a local and well known landmark Diner is Chicks just up the Street... Check it out next time you visit... Thanks for another great video!!!!! James
I haven't been in since Scranton's Santa Parade in 2019, but they are still there!
@@wetzelwifey Oh that's good!! Boscov's wouldn't be the same with out them!!!!
We have had an aquarium in a mall here in AZ for many years. I do like what the current owner is doing with the mall though, almost like he has the spirit for it that Mr Boscov had. Thank you again for this wonderful insight.
Wow. Such a sad Mall story. Hopefully this Mall will have a good future. Great video as usual! And Eeeww about Spiders!🕸🕷😱
I really like how they did renovate the old food court area, into the new 'Scranton Public Market'. How many food vendors did you see that were operational, besides the place you got food at(Paradise Sweets), the cheesesteak stand, and any others that were open? Also looked like maybe one or 2 others were trying to set up shop there, but hadn't opened yet. I really wish more malls would do something like this, to revive dead food court areas of a mall. Lincolnwood Town Center and Northfield Square(Bradley, near Kankakee, and you might remember Ace's Adventures visited there once, their food court as I remember is even more dead vs. the one at Lincolnwood), I'm looking at both those malls where I wish they'd do something like this!
Thank you for this. I went to that mall years ago, and the view of Steam Town from the food court is great, best view I've ever seen form any food court. But... I wanted to sit in the food court, eat lunch and read, but I'd finished my book. I didn't see anyplace in the mall to get a book so but there was a mall cop. I asked him if there was someplace where I could get a paperback book or a magazine. He responded with... "Well, I don't know what a paperback book is but..."
No wonder he was a mall cop!
Glad you covered this mall. I visited it several years ago with a friend who lives in the area, and I had a pretty good time. Looks like it's time for me to pay another visit.
Another great video, Sal. Southwest Plaza mall in Littleton Co also has an aquarium, which so far as I know, has been doing well.
.Love your videos. I really enjoy the dead mall series. I am in Cincinnati Ohio which is home to Forest Fair/ Cincinnati Mills Mall. Which is a story into itself. Thank you for letting me go with you. Be safe in your travels. I am taking care because of my bad heart.
Also, I was there in 2013. Bought 2 shirts at Boz, and took photos of those trains.
That looks like Owings Mills Mall in the last 2 or 3 years that it was around. One massive ghost town!
Fantastic video. It's really been interesting to see this mall throughout the years. My family used to go up to Scranton to visit family as a kid, and I remember when Steamtown still had some life. There used to be loads of stands in the food court, even an arcade. My mom grew up in the area as well and used to describe to us the size and glamour of the Globe Store.
I then went to college in Scranton and remember seeing the mall continue to succumb to the economy and competition of Dickson City/Viewmont mall and Montage Mtn. I'm glad to see some life in that cafeteria, as the last time I was there it only contained one pizza stand with none of the renovations or stalls.
I do worry that with Covid-19 that this mall will suffer even more. But I guess we'll wait and see.
My family is from the neighboring town of Wilkes Barre and we spent a lot of time in Scranton.
I've heard that the Shoppes at Montage Mountain is the silent killer, just like the Orb-Weaving Scranton Strangler spider.
Hi… You’re probably right, considering the population of the surrounding area. Although for me, coming down from the north, it was easier to shop at Viewmont rather than head into the city. Wishing you all the best!
It definitely was. Most of the stores that were at Steamtown moved to the "high end" Shoppes at Montage, which also isn't doing well as it first did (mostly due to the stores that are going out of business completely). I really think that the mixed use concept is going to save malls across the country.
@@bbabarsky The "new" ownership has really worked hard to find innovative ways to keep Steamtown viable. Not so much as a traditional mall...but with the Community College and now the Medical offices having moved in to occupy all of the former BonTon space...hopefully the building will continue to serve the community for decades to come. I always felt like some sort of retirement type rental units made a ton of sense...but the logistics may simply be too much.
We love Steamtown! Try to plan your visit to the NHS to coincide with a time they offer trolley rides through the Lackawanna Trolley Museum, at the opposite end of the parking lot. One of the few places in the country to can still ride a trolley to a baseball game (well, post-Covid). Or, you can just ride the trolley and learn more fascinating Scranton history.
Hi Sal, my husband turned me on to your videos recently and I told him we should reach out to you. We live in the Scranton area and are surrounded by malls. We would love to spend a day with you taking you to different places of your liking. I highly recommend the Steamtown Museum and would love to tour with you. The other "local" malls are the Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes Barre and the Viewmont Mall in Dickson City. I'd say another two to three weeks and they'll all be open again. And dinner would be on us!!
Samurai Cop has my Moms wig on. Did I hear Michael Scott and Dwight rapping bout Electric City? LOL. Another great one Sal. Great research on the Boscovs, as usual. Stay safe
Defiantly love to see more there. :)
This mall is beautiful, and the museum looks awesome! It truly is a shame that it's dead.
My friend a I made the two hour trip to Scranton and skated in that parking deck at the start, went in the boscovs but the mall was closed.
It’s been years since I’ve been inside a Boscov’s, and they hadn’t changed one bit it seems. The interior design of the mall looks familiar too, very close to the interior of the Harrisburg East Mall before it was remodeled. Logs like this one in this state really take me back,
Oh and I almost forgot!! A weekend we never miss is just before St. Patrick's Day. That's usually the last weekend of skiing up there and Scranton has their St. Patrick's Day Parade. Town gets pretty packed and esp the small bars... Even a cigar place a few blocks away and t we buy a few as you can smoke in there.
Anyways, as you can imagine with the University right down the Street the Mall gets packed.. Oh yeah, they can get rowdy but nothing too major!!!!
Love it and love the Steamtown Mall and boscov's is my favorite store and I like your security there I feel safe 💗
This such a great documentary, well researched!
I love the Lisa Frank 420!
Hey Sal another awesome video. I really enjoyed this video, and I guess it was because it was not a dead or dieing mall at least not yet. I do like the idea that the owner of the mall is trying. We have an aquarium at a mall here in New Jersey at Woodbridge mall which seems to be a near dieing mall which you might be interested in covering, since it recently lost 2 anchors in sears and lord and taylor... and jcpenney and boscov not doing that great the end is near.. take care and stay safe
As usual, I really enjoyed a visit to another fascinating place. You make it special! Truly, a career in investigative journalism would not be out of reach for you! Now....I will enjoy envisioning the reptiles in quiet repose, in their "dens"...🐍💖
Thanks so much, Chris!
Nice bro . Steam town was the mall to go to for all the food back to school
Clothes when I was a kid .
An ExLog devoted to the Steamtown museum would be awesome.
Such a pretty mall. And I like seeing the Luzerne County Community College. I was born, but not raised, in Willes-Barre which is found in that county.
wow that mall is comeing back alive ty for showing this :)
I worked in downtown Scranton in the early 2000s and visited this mall often. It was a booming mall back then. Every year the MD Telethon was broadcast live from the center court. I moved out of the area in 2008 but according to my friends in Scranton, the mall seemed to die quickly over the next several years. (As did many other malls throughout the country). The food court used to be a lively place and it looks very different in your video. Apparently it was redesigned at some point to reflect a marketplace. It's very sad to see the failure of this once great mall.
I personally would love to see you visit the museum and by the way they "abandoned" equipment is actually owned by the museum, they just don't have anywhere to really protect it from the elements that's why it looks the way it does, but it is really worth visiting and the same can be said for the shortline railroad that runs along side the museum, it uses vintage diesels regularly
Good video.Thanks for filming.
Macintosh Plus playing away in the background. Spot on.
My sister and I visited this mall on our way to a Volbeat and Slipknot concert last year. The funny thing was at least a dozen people commented on our shirts and asked if we were going to that concert. I remember getting lost in that parking garage and when she was getting flustered, I said "Would you like to hear the mating call of my people?" to her. She shrugged halfheartedly and I let out a loud yelp. Stupid, yet satisfying. Nice mall, shame it's not very occupied.
Beautiful footage.
Great this video 💓 abandoned malls location
Another great video. It's good to see a mall that has actually made a change in a positive direction. I wan't to visit this mall.
I just noticed you drove through shippensburg, I lived in shipp and Chambersburg for a decade. Small world
Al Boscov sounds like an awesome dude.
I live in Scranton, honestly, once GameStop left this mall it fucking collapsed, the food court looked nothing like that shit, it had a playground next to those doors leading to the tracks, and tables and chairs filled out the food court. There was so much more mainstream stores in there. Once they left the people left, now everyone goes to Viewmont Mall in Dickson City.
Sal - any clue what the large mercantile building at the corner of Wyoming and Lackawanna (the one straight ahead as you exit Boscov's at 7:15) used to be?
That is the Oppenheim Building which used to be the Scranton Dry Good company way before I was born.
@@bbabarsky Thanks!
The commercials are so great..... just wow :-)
thank you nice job again!
Please visit Baldwin Hills Mall before it changes to some weird mixed office space. They lost 2 anchors Sears and Walmart and are struggling even more due to COVID-19
I remember this place for kids with plushies and they had a kids carpet, or something else. I don't remember that much of it. It was like a fever dream. But is real
I remember that part of Lackawanna Avenue before the mall. Back when the old Casey Inn hotel, Preno's Italian Restaurant and other landmarks were still standing. It was tacky, tawdry ... but delightfully decadent. Bars, Triple-X adult bookstores with backrooms, occasional hookers, gay guys, etc. The Coney Island Lunch is still there. This Philly boy visits Scranton at least twice a year.
_Sal, I've always enjoyed your videos._
Wow. I own the DVD version of Samurai Cop, but can NOT sit through it without the added Joe Bob Briggs (of TNT Monstervision fame) comedy commentary on it. XD
The comedy commentary saves it.
The late Albert Boscov is still an icon here in his native Berks County, PA. He was nothing if not persistent in doing what he wanted or needed to do. His nephew Jim is now the company head.
I like trains. Like, life's passion like. I first visited this mall in 2006 when I first visited Steamtown NHS. I stayed at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel and the quickest way to the museum is through the mall. When I was there it was full. Boscov's was thriving (I should mention this is the only Boscov's I have visited as we don't have them in the Buffalo-area), Bon-Ton was doing well and I don't remember a vacant storefront. Yet shortly afterwards I kept hearing everybody call it a deal mall, which confused me. I went back the following year, it was fine. In fact it was so packed I couldn't move around, but that was because Miley Cyrus was performing there that day. In 2008 I was there for Railcamp but didn't have time to spend at the mall, it was all trains, all the time. I came back in 2011 for Railcamp reunion we were holding at the same time as Lackawanna Railfest and went to mall for lunch and it was dead. I saw what everybody meant, abandoned storefronts everywhere. Only place I spent any real amount of time was the food court and one of the prime parcels which was now taken up by an HO scale model railroad. Not a hobby shop, just a layout, nothing for sale. I'd say I don't know it stayed open, but it didn't. In multiple visits, not only Steamtown, but Scranton has become a special place in my life and I do still follow the mall. Last time I was there was 2018, and again I didn't have time for the mall, but I knew about the Aquarium though it wasn't open yet. Seeing this video actually pleases me to see that "The Marketplace at Steamtown" appears to be turning the corner and Al Boscov's vision isn't dying. I never met him, from what I've heard he was a terrific person and it would be a shame to his vision die. Mr. Basalyga deserves credit for saving this place and being able to think outside of the box of what a mall can be.
That is the South Park "Fingerbang" episode mall stage. "Where is the sausage and cheese cart?"
Very reminiscent of Owings Mills Mall, though with a bit more life. So sad...
I’m so happy to see a few vendors.
I remember the pizza place being open when i visited the railroad museum
That mall could be so cool
This mall is amazing looking! I wish it was doing better. I’d love a cool mall like this in my hometown
I thought it was weird you couldn’t add more history about the mall “due to time constraints” but you included 5 minutes of Samurai Cop. Still liked this!
Lol thanks. I added the most relevant bits without dragging on. Blame the start of the pandemic for driving my mind to weird places!
I get you! The Pandemic...makes me want to watch Samurai Cop ! 😁
Hey I come here! We just went there but we heard a crying child. Creepy thing he was there the whole time, even heard him when he was there when we we started to go. They also closing the road
You should check out the muncie mall in Muncie Indiana
Thanks for buying Strawberries ken ❤😂 Seleena Beth Tanzer
Have you ever done a dead mall expedition on Chicago's Lincoln Mall it says it shut down in Jan 2015? Not sure if the building still standing or not. I love all your mall's Expedition great job
11:46, the bathroom signs are hilarious.