I was there when it opened … you use to have to push through crowds and run down the escalator to get movie tickets before they sold out! Every store on their website was there and thriving! I use to take the Metro Rail from work in downtown Miami and get off there to have a night out. Those were the days!
I'm a miami local and it's so sad to see how this mall looks now. I remember the energy of it especially on Friday nights looking for clubbing outfits and seeing young kids with their families. Teens going on dates and adults getting ready for a sexy dinner. Music was heard in the distance and there was always something to do and see. Thank you for doing the trip there I have been curious to see how it is now
I remember when this opened. 1999 was an amazing year. The Virgin Megastore, Niketown, GameWorks, and the movies. I was a teenager back then and due to Amazon, there’s unfortunately no reason for it anymore.
They can bring back the virgin megastore. OMG that was where I picked up a Spin magazine and listen to music for free. It was such a vibe. I think kids would like that nowadays but this place has died due to lack of management
That mall use to be bakery center and then it was renovated to sunset place. It had a bar/club, other bars, music, restaurants, stores like virgin records, Nike, Armani, etc. very good stores. It was a great place for everyone. It’s sad to see what has happened to it. After the adults left the kids would hang out there and that’s when it started going downhill. They placed a curfew on the kids that would go and after that it just died. It’s very hot during the day but at night it was a nice spot. Go to the movies, eat at many of its restaurants, and maybe grab a drink. It was so full at one point that you couldn’t even park.
Yes! The Bakery Center & the original location of Miami Children’s Museum! And Sunset Movie theater, I think? But was definitely a theater there, too. I remember when Janet Jackson & Ricky Martin were at Virgin Records store- absolute insanity 😂🎉
The first store front you saw used to be a Banana Republic. Then next to it was Victoria Secret and then adjacent to the broken escalators was Nike Town!
Dolphin mall is dying too! Don't be fooled by its size. The main attractions are all condensed together, so it gives the appearance it's busy, but it's really not.
Sunset Place was at its prime around 2003-2008. Some notable favorites I liked were Niketown which was at that store near the back where you didn't feel safe walking under. Basically a 2 floor nike store with some cool Jordan worn sneakers on display. Also before gametime was Gameworks. An amazing arcade where I would spend hours there as a kid.
This is actually really crazy to watch, during my high school years 2006-10 this place was packed. The upstairs bowling alley which was a splits Ville, the movie theatre.. and a huge candy store. you were spot on about the johnny rockets and right past that used to be a video game-rental place where you could pay hourly to game with your friends on pc or consoles and a hot topic, Downstairs on the immediate entrance to the right was a Dan Marino's restaurant. Those spiral stairs were the stairs to the parking garage levels if the elevator was packed, which it usually was. Where you see that median road downstairs there use to be food vendors, I remember a crepe one specifically we use to stop at almost every time. Barnes and noble was also super packed at the time, a mix of book readers and also Starbucks being inside. While the mall was thriving... it was a great experience for sure.
Yep. I used to eat there at least once a week, since I worked for Baptist Health across the street. Dan Marino had a restaurant in there for a while, too. Larry Coker and Pat Riley used to drop in.
Sunset Place was our hang out spot in high school like 10 years ago because it was so close to a metro station and all my friends took the metro to school. I still go sometimes for Colorful Cute because my gf collects sonny angels, seeing the mall slowly get abandoned is crazy.
Same here! I moved away after graduation around that time. I was planning on taking my husband and kid soon, but I’m very glad this popped up on my recommended. I would’ve been so shocked when I got there.
what’s really interesting is that right by the mall is a nice strip that has really great boutiques and restaurants. i don’t get why the area around is bustling but not the mall itself
This is insane- it’s like a post apocalyptic scene now. I remember going to the movies here all the time, not to mention Marino’s and the bars that were popping back then. It’s crazy. Hopefully they do something to bring the people back.
Discount stores have priced out overly pricey Mall stores in most neighborhoods, and with inflation prices never going away, it'll be a long shot for any to remain. Politicians seem hellbent on crumbling the country.
@@MoMoMyPup10It has nothing to do with politicians or any of that bullshit. When was the last time you actually shopped at a mall? They close down because no one actually buys anything, people go to walk around but that’s about it. Rental space is expensive.
I remember I went to the official opening day of the mall where the Major did the ribbon cutting , and everyone was invited to the big party . The architectural design was very unique and modern, but not how it looks now . The highlights were the Virgin Store , the Nike and Z Gallery , the movie theatre and Game works , which I think was the first one in South Florida. This mall was far better than Dadeland that looked a little bit outdated by the time this mall opened. Once the big stores closed , they took cutting edge architecture with them . I loved the cylindrical structure with the hanging planters in front of the parking elevators . I used to park right at the top floor so I could go around the stairs ending the journey at the water feature which surprisingly is still working . The other water feature with the lions next to the escalators is no longer working . The mall had many nice details that are no longer there that's why it probably looks outdated . Let's hope they make the right decision. But we all know... malls are not meant to last forever.
I still go back sometimes for the Barnes and Noble and to walk around with my friends, but it makes me sad! It used to be the place to go in the 2000s and even the early 2010s, but now it’s just sad.
I grew up in South Miami, I was there when the mall opened in 1995. It has been declining ever since the owners of the mall decided to make high rise apartments on their property. The last time I visited the mall was in 2022, there were only 10 stores opened. That restaurant that you showed was Johnny Rockets!
I used to go to Sunset all the time when I was a kid. Always packed. the only place you might go there for now is the movie theater. You did miss Tea and Poets which is a cool little shop for different jewelry and Cafe. It's on the first floor corner when you walk down the big staircase.
What?!? This can’t be real. I used to go there as a teen with my friends all of the time. Like this WAS the place to be. We’d shop around then to the movies afterwards. I moved up to central Florida 10 years ago and haven’t been back to this specific mall since. I’m so heartbroken, I had so many memories there.
OMG! This is depressing! I remember the mall being so packed! They had Bath and Body! KB toy store a candle making place . I mean it was busy busy!! I'm surprised AMC and Game Time is still there!
The entrance on 72nd street used to have a giant tree that resembled the one at animal kingdom. It was huge. Right behind it was a Rainforest Cafe where Z gallery is today. To get inside, you would walk over a fake bridge over a shallow pond that had fake alligators, fish and other fake plants. The AMC theater was the first one in Miami with stadium seating. It was always packed. Good times. I hope they do something nice with the space similar to what they did with coco walk.
i love the kind of content you create man you gotta post more often and flood the youtube algorithm i dont really see ppl doing the type of content you doing in miami
and yes you were correct, that used to be a johnny rockets. also even 10 years ago the back part of the mall by the LA fitness would be pretty dead and had very little foot traffic. I only ever went to that side for the Zumiez and Buffalo Wild Wings
I remember the Holsum Bakery and the old stores that were demolished to build that ugly mall. Only the Eckerd Drugs was left that building is still there!
The top places in Sunset Places was Virgin Megastore, Niketown, at least for me. Sadly Sunset Place isn’t the only mall that’s looking like this, it’s everywhere in the nation. Malls need to stay relavent, people rather stay inside order their stuff than going in person to buy their stuff.
@@BSmokeyGaming Sunset Place and others like it are a sign of what's to come. A great deal of shoppers are conducting their shopping online... and I honestly can't blame them. No traffic, parking, discrimination, or risk of getting shot. They say they're building the nation's largest mall down here in Miami. I don't see how that's possible considering the smaller ones are holding on by a thread.
I was a regular at that mall on weekends in 2003-2005 and it was a normal great busy mall full of kids and great restaurants. Was a nice place to take a date and chill. Other outdoor malls have opened before and after this mall and are still thriving so I don’t get it. The two things I think killed this mall was surrounding traffic issues and the parking was a pain in the ass. I’d often rather find street parking in the nearby streets and walk a block or two than pay to park in that garage and be looking for a space for 30 minutes. And yes that was a former Johnny Rockets when they used to be everywhere in every mall in the late 90s/2000s haha.
They had an Urban Outfitters way back in the mid to late 2000s. Used to visit Sunset Place a lot back in the day when GameTime was called Gameworks and remember how packed it would be on the weekends. So sad it's a ghost town nowadays.
Its a shame. This place was busy back in the day about 10 years ago or so. My first gf and I got matching hennas (her idea) at a kioske at the base of the stairs at 0:28. And there was a legit candy store with all kinds of candy. There was a build a bear. Nowadays the only thing keeping this alive is the AMC. Also in the surrounding area there are still restaturants and boutique stores.
funny that most people commenting talk about how much traffic its had in the past, but as a 21 year old, this mall is still one of my favorites to this day, even empty. the sunset area in general is so nice because a lot of things are walking distance and I don't feel unsafe there unlike wynwood or Miami beach for example. but in terms of the mall itself, colorful cute goods is a staple! there's also tea and poets, which is where many small comedians, bands, or artists go to perform on their open mic nights. the mini-market they have in there along with the board games honestly make the drive to sunset so worth. the movie theaters are great because they're pretty empty/not full enough and have a good sized theater. but then there's my favorite part.. the parking garage! its nothing like dolphin's but its so beautiful from the top. it definitely gets its traffic from mainly younger/alt crowds. anyways that was my ramble about how I love sunset :)
I worked at UM in 2016 and 2017. I haven't been here often, but it was a nice place to just scroll over to after work. Even though it was only 7/8 years, back then it was still busy. Can't believe it turned into a complete ghost town so fast.
I grew up going to this mall. I don’t go to malls any more but it genuinely mkaes me sad to see Sunset Place like this. It was a great place to go shop or to just walk around and go to the movies but life went on. Fun fact, before this mall there was another nice mall here that also went dead and was demolished in order for this one to be built from scratch. That mall was called Bakery Centre. Let’s go help out the Japanese cute store to stay in business.
It was huge in the y2k era. It was the spot for um students and hs kids all around. The last time it was at capacity was probably 2008. After the recession, it started dying. The glass tower by the la fitness was a nike town and i think a virgin records store next door. I went to the opening of the LA fitness probably in 04' as a kid with an older cousin. Dan Marino owned a big restaurant next to the Barnes and Nobles. There was a giant fake banyan tree next to it with lights playing jungle sounds. All the kids on fridays met up at the Johnny Rockets. It was always busy on the weekends. Not to mention the vans store that had a half pipe!🔥.. if u grew up in sw dade that was the chill plan.
I used to work at the Delia’s store right next to the water fall in my high school days and it was so busy! The mall was quite beautiful in that time and I loved that it was open air.
The empty store that had the "please use other door" sign used to be a local video game/trading card store. I don't even remember the name anymore but we went there a lot in high school my first two smash tournaments ever were there.
I remember the last time it was still open and the employees were staring at me in an intimidating way so I left, but I wish I looked around more because it closed the next time I went there.
I’ve just visited the mall for the first time last Thursday afternoon to see a movie at the cinema and noticed the same as you, it’s really beautiful but too empty, I really liked the fountain in the stairs and the material that are made for, looked like forgotten in the past
Man when that mall opened, I remember the rainforest theme they had at the main entrance. They had Virgin Megastore, where I bought The Chronic 2001, Gameworks, Martini Bar, Strikes and Rainforest Cafe.
I used to go to that mall with my friends to hang out and watch movies. It was a fun place. You always ran into people you knew, and there was always something to do.
This mall opened right when I was in middle school. They used to have a $5 movie special Monday-Thusday at the movie theatre between (4pm-7pm). In the late 90's when it opened, it was very popular with middle and high schoolers, since it is very close to the Metrorail. In its heyday, the vibe was very similar to what Dolphin Mall is today (just no outlet stores or food court). The original mall opened with the AMC movie theatre (still there), Barnes and Noble (still there), Virgin Megastore, and Bally Total Fitness (now LA Fitness) as its main anchors... Other stores such as Victoria Secret, Bath and Body Works, Gap, and The Disney Store, spent many years as tenants of the mall, until the mall started declining. What I have heard is that the reason for the malls sudden decline that began in the late 2010's was that Sunset Place never updated with the times. Sunset Place always catered to the middle and high school crowd but as that crowd grew older.... they preferred more modern and refined places such as Village at Merrick Park and Dadeland Mall for their shopping and dining needs. Another huge factor, in my opinion for its decline was that AMC Sunset Place never made a significant update to its movie theatre while competitors such as Merrick Park and even Dolphin Mall updated their movie theaters with luxury amenities such as reclining seats. I believe AMC has made some updates more recently (post 2020) but it's too little too late. I believe the plan, in the near future is to demolish Sunset Place and replace it with a new development with luxury apartments. But we shall see!
Yeah it’s really sad. Sunset used to be my parents go to mall for the movies and Halloween decoration and I always loved the way sunset looks. It has a very beautiful vibe. It’s just sad to see it die.
I have so many memories of that mall when I was a teenager. All stores were taken, the Virgin store had some cool rare CDs. Scorpio the videogames. The Hot Topic there sold so much. The movie Theater is still alive as well as the gym, thats the only thing that keeps it breathing. The main problem of the mall was that 1. Never had good food inside. 2. Paying for parking is something people never like
Legend is that land is an Indian Burial ground, no mall has ever done well there. There used to be bakery center before that snd it had the same demise.
I remember working there at Brookstone years back. The mall was always packed on the weekends. Also used to go on DInner, Movie, Game Works and Martini Bar dates there. Great Times. So sad to see it empty.
Damn, I remember going to the movies here in 2001. Remember seeing movie posters for Vanilla Sky. Johnny Rocket's was fantastic. You also used to have a Van's shop where people used to skate indoors. It's also crazy because Dadeland is so much older but doing so well. 3:07 this was a Nike store.
Aw this makes me so sad. I grew up coming here. I remember big crowds and live music, families everywhere, people having fun in restaurants, the theater, etc. I'd say it started going downhill in like 2017... I saw less and less stores by then. The demographic of people who went there also changed around that time, it started just being scene teenagers that parents would drop off for the evening lol
Wow, I remember when this place was under construction about 20 years ago. I was a kid back then and I remember the huge crowd going towards a "Virgin" records. I remember watching the premier of *Mean Girls* on that cinema with a group of my middle school friends. It was so packed that I remember being scared of braking my ankles with my elevator shoes trying to walk through the crowd. Crazy seeing it like this now.
It's like radiator springs from csrs now. I went back in 2016 and they had a decent selection of stores, like maybe half of what they have on their outdated website and they still had actual directories. The closed escalator was still working along with the water feature next to it. What you thought was Johnny Rockets actually was one and I ate there in December 2018, which I think still had a decent number of stores from my 2016 visit. But once the pandemic hit, the mall's deterioration escalated tenfold
In the 80's it was a high end mall similar to Merrick Place, it was called The Bakery Center. It had some galleries, restaurants and 2-3 clubs and bars. Its not desolate because it looks dated, its a beautiful build. Its vacant because that location is cursed and the rents are stupid expensive, the parking was miserable and cars were getting stolen left and right. Covid was the final nail in the coffin.
This area in the early 2000 felt special it's sad to see it like this hopefully the city does something with it. I feel the area is wealthy and a revamp would bring lots of business to the area.
Sunset Place was the spot to go to back in my day. I used to go there almost every weekend with friends when I was a kid in the late 1990s and 2000s. I met an ex-girlfriend at Sunset Place in the summer of 2001. They had so many stores, I remember going to a club there at Sunset Place, I would go to the movies, I met a former NBA player at Sunset Place which was cool. Lots of memories
This is so sad. I had several first dates there. I remember the place was so crowded at times that you couldn't find a place to park. They even had an Imax theater where I kissed a girl that I had a crush on for the first time. Great memories.
I remember going there as a teen. So sad to see this. Place was packed full time. Hard to find parking, the movie theater was packed. I think it used to be called “The Bakery Center” before, and if it’s the same place it’s been a Miami landmark since like, the 30’s or something.
I was not around when it use to be a busy place back then, only time I go there is sometimes for movies... but I can honestly say, by the amount of space and store fronts. this place can be Huge again
Wow. I forgot about this place. Used to go there a lot when it first opened. Was always busy. Lots of nice shops and great restaurants. Thanks for the tour.
I went there as a teenager caught a couple of movies, used to go to Game Works before it was Game Time and used to have a bunch of kids raid the Metrorail on Saturdays and Sundays, it used to be the IT mall back in the day
So much of it has changed since the mid 2010s where teens would aimlessly roam the mall till close every weekend. Man if those walls could talk they would have A LOT to say. Two places that are still there (beyond Colorful Cute, Madeline is one of the kindest individuals I’ve ever met) are Tea & Poets, a cool coffee/ shop makers market /community gathering space, and Area Stage Company which is making waves in the community theatre world! I feel like more community/ experience oriented businesses are what sunset place can offer south Miami in a world where people can just shop online.
I still go there occasionally for the Dolby Digital movie theater and Game Time. When I was in HS, kids, use to go there for Zumiez and I think Pacsun like 10ish years ago, but even then it was kind of dry.
Damm bro that was the spot when i was in middle school and highscool, everybody I know always went to dolphin mall to hang out durning The Weekend but me and friends went to sunset cause it was nice vibe and barley people we know goes there and had a lot of good stores, music, and food. Now I only go there just for a movie rarely and that’s it. It’s sad to see a mall like this that made memories when you were a kid and now It’s so quiet and barely anyone goes , and more and more known store we know leaving or been left.
When i came from Cuba that was a very nice mall to go. I used to watch imax movies there. So much fun. It was very colorful mall, modern for the 1990s. But there was no Brickell back then.
This is sad to see. Sunset place was always my favorite of the local malls and was quite popular. My favorite was the lan cafe that used to be there. The Johnny rockets was always garbage though
I remember my parents driving by there in the early 80s. It was a holsum bread factory. You could smell the bread a mile away. Years later I went there to see movies. There was talk of converting it into apartments which is the norm now. I could only imagine the cost of living there.
I used to work at Baptist Health South Florida HQ (20 years) which is across the street from this mall and I know we paid them monthly to park in their garage for overflow. Not sure how many others do in the area, but that is their bread and butter now.
I briefly worked in that beautiful mall in 2001. The place used to be really packed and it took a while to park and exit the parking garage 😅! That mall has been dead for many years and it's sad.
the store you see immediately in front of you when you walk up the centerpiece stairs in the center of the mall used to be a candy store, I believe the candy store was the last business in that location
This is pretty unusual for FL. Open-air malls have replaced enclosed malls across the state. Visit an enclosed mall & you may see tumbleweeds rolling past the shuffling feet of the mall walkers.😂
Used to go as a kid it was always very very busy. Restaurants, live music, Disney store, street style vendors in the middle of mall, b&n was always busy might go check it out for old time sake. In the past 2 years I did go to game time and the movies on the weekend they had a pretty good crowd just sad they don’t freshen up the mall there is plenty of traffic and people that would come by but I do see the issue of competition mainly with the falls constantly growing and being renovated, dolphin, and dadeland all within 30 min of each other sunset place is like a old times plaza beautiful at night and fun to explore but very old school and dated.
I remember going there when Virgin Record store was next to it, and this mall had FAO Schwartz toy store. It was bustling but sad to see the current state of it.
At the 3 minute mark you walked to the Virgin music store. It was massive and they didn’t anticipate the overnight explosion of the iPod and digital audio. Since it closed no company has taken that space, it’s enormous and the mall overall is not a lucrative space. The next space was Urban Outfitters and was there for a long time. That Body Spa and space next door was at one point a huge candy shop and a retro game store. I walked there recently with my family and my dog and my dog had the whole mall to himself.
Ya man…born n raised in Miami..Sunset place used to be the spot..for all ages too..I went to school down the street and heading to sunset was a nice weekend thing with friends to go watch a movie, hit up Gametime and walk around and vibe…as I grew older, Buffalo Wild Wings and the sports grille that was there was a good spot for a beer and some food..I actually worked at gametime for a while as a teenager in the kitchen too lol..Johnny rockets was also a fun popping spot for all ages…it’s sad to see what was a hub for a lot of ppl become what it is now..almsot msde me sad
Yeah, that mall has been dead and mismanaged for years. And for years they have been talking about redevelopment plans. It used to be the place back in the day. Spent a lot of time there in my teens. Good memories. Sad though.
Thank you for the video. I have been going to this mall since the late 90's. Crazy how bare it is. I only go with my wife to watch movies at AMC and we enjoy it every time we go. Game time is also fun when I go with family. Sad to see how there's a few things open. We take advantage even though the mall looks sad with very little for traffic.
It’s super sad that was my favorite mall since it opened in 1999. I remember waiting in line to see every major movie before assigned seating. We would sit for hours in line then grab a bite at the rainforest Café. Or Marinos later on. Destroy you’re talking about at 3:05 was Nike town. And at 3:39 was originally virgin records.
Remembered when that mall opened, it's a shame how far it fell. Malls have to stay fresh and current in Miami to survive(Dadeland mall) or become the next southland mall, cocowalk etc)
I was there in 1999 when it was opened, as it was so beautiful that it used to have shops like Virgin Megastore, Niketown, FAO Schwarz, Sweet Donna's Country Store Restaurant and Bakery, the Rainforest Cafe esque type, Z Gallerie, Splitsville, Old Navy, Disney Store and Johnny Rockets among others. Since 1999, it used to have Banyan trees and laser shows. I miss those Goodtimes and I have hopes that something new will take place while keeping AMC theaters, Gametime and Barnes and Noble.
Wow , it’s sad to see this mall dying out. This was one hell of a packed mall back in 1999. I couldn’t even walk. I remember thinking how the theaters were nicer looking compared to the falls and the mall of America theater, The seats were bigger. Just a ton of stores, candy stores, ice cream, Game works, kids running around teens hanging. It’s sad almost feels like an apocalypse occurred there. I went recently to check it out and it was just as empty it felt like Dawn of the dead.
I use to take my kids there to the movies between 1999 and 2003. There were definitely people there and stores open, we use to eat at Johnny Rockets. We like to go there to walk with the kids and go to the bookstore and Disney Store, even in 2010 there was a Dan Marino restaurant. Very sad when you drive by there now 😢
I used to go this mall all the time when I was in my early 20s. In the early 2000s it was one of the best places in miami. Movie theater was great. Bowling alley. Crepe maker was popular. La fitness. Live music. Always very very busy. Sad to see how quickly it has changed
We use to shop there all the time when it first opened and for several years. In fact we use to shop in the mall that was there before - The Bakery Center. This was a beautiful pedestrian mall filled with shoppers for years. We loved the IMAX Experience theater that was located where Planet Fitness is. It was an independent theater and spectacular. They mall even had a 2 story Virgin Megastore, at the time the largest one in the US. Unfortunately, an unscrupulous and unruly crowd that lived near by on the North side of US 1 started to spoil the shopping experience. There were several nasty incidents including a stabbing many years ago and also a burglary in the Majors jewelry store. Shame, shame, shame...
ugh this is so sad! i love dead mall videos, but they hit different when it’s a mall you used to go to! i live a good 50 minutes away from there, and i still used to go whenever i had the chance. we used to spend hours hanging out there
I’m a native Miamian. That mall, like many others became over run with teenagers. Older shoppers did t want to deal with them. Also, parking was always a major headache. But I would guess mostly the price of rent was crazy.
I worked at Niketown there many years ago and Friday was the busiest night of the week. The kids would pop up for movies. It was very well known to chill out. There was a Dan Marino restaurant. I’m not sure if the bowling spot also. Virgin records, Nike, urban Outfitters, Hot Topic. That was Nike. It was two floors. that you were trying to figure out what it was.
This place was alive and well 10 years ago. Around 2018/2019ish, i noticed it started to die. I have so many memories from there. I used to go to the Hollister there all the time. I remember when it first opened in 1999. We were taken to the imax theater there in 2000 on a field trip. We also used to hang out at this place after school in the 2000s. I think the rent is also super high there which caused a lot of stores to leave.
There used to be a card shop there that I would hang out in and play TCGs. Almost forgot about it until I saw this video, the store closed down years ago but its nice taking a step through memory lane.
I was there when it opened … you use to have to push through crowds and run down the escalator to get movie tickets before they sold out! Every store on their website was there and thriving! I use to take the Metro Rail from work in downtown Miami and get off there to have a night out. Those were the days!
Take away people's ability to spend their disposable income locally and you get an overstock of dead stock and empty stores. Capitalism is NOT GOOD.
2004? Early 2000’s?
Yesss me tooo, it was crazyyyy, wow good times, dont know if Johnny rockets still there....
Those were great days
@@christinaglendale8709 Are we all like in our 30’s now? Some of us are little younger, Some of us a little older?
I'm a miami local and it's so sad to see how this mall looks now. I remember the energy of it especially on Friday nights looking for clubbing outfits and seeing young kids with their families. Teens going on dates and adults getting ready for a sexy dinner. Music was heard in the distance and there was always something to do and see. Thank you for doing the trip there I have been curious to see how it is now
This would be full in Europe
America would rather pau online or to your gas station to travel
yes!!!! back in 03 it was glorious
I remember when this opened. 1999 was an amazing year. The Virgin Megastore, Niketown, GameWorks, and the movies. I was a teenager back then and due to Amazon, there’s unfortunately no reason for it anymore.
They can bring back the virgin megastore. OMG that was where I picked up a Spin magazine and listen to music for free. It was such a vibe. I think kids would like that nowadays but this place has died due to lack of management
Ahh man the Gameworks 😢
that brought back so many memories!!!
That mall use to be bakery center and then it was renovated to sunset place. It had a bar/club, other bars, music, restaurants, stores like virgin records, Nike, Armani, etc. very good stores. It was a great place for everyone. It’s sad to see what has happened to it. After the adults left the kids would hang out there and that’s when it started going downhill. They placed a curfew on the kids that would go and after that it just died. It’s very hot during the day but at night it was a nice spot. Go to the movies, eat at many of its restaurants, and maybe grab a drink. It was so full at one point that you couldn’t even park.
Yes! The Bakery Center & the original location of Miami Children’s Museum! And Sunset Movie theater, I think? But was definitely a theater there, too. I remember when Janet Jackson & Ricky Martin were at Virgin Records store- absolute insanity 😂🎉
@@YabbaDabbaDooooo Don't forget Mac's ice cream...the best!
@@Michelle-km8ry the Bakery Center! Not sure why but I always remember seeing the movie Boomerang starring Eddie Murphy there
I remember going to the club there, good times !
The first store front you saw used to be a Banana Republic. Then next to it was Victoria Secret and then adjacent to the broken escalators was Nike Town!
Came to say this. And next to Nike Town was the second floor of Urban Outfitters!
ouchhhhhh.... that mall was busy like Dolphin Mall, parking was a mission . how sad your video shocked me
Dolphin mall is dying too! Don't be fooled by its size. The main attractions are all condensed together, so it gives the appearance it's busy, but it's really not.
@@LynxStarAutoit is tho
It is not dying it’s doing well
@@LynxStarAutoi was just at dolphin like a month or so ago its always packed😂
Sunset Place was at its prime around 2003-2008. Some notable favorites I liked were Niketown which was at that store near the back where you didn't feel safe walking under. Basically a 2 floor nike store with some cool Jordan worn sneakers on display. Also before gametime was Gameworks. An amazing arcade where I would spend hours there as a kid.
You’re right.
I don't think I've ever owned a pair of Nike's. lol
I don't think I've ever owned a pair of Nike.
This is so sad 😢 I have wonderful memories in that mall during my high school years.
Right this was a hang out spot….so sad to see a small piece of Miami die
I remember my 5th grade field trip we had to gameworks
This is actually really crazy to watch, during my high school years 2006-10 this place was packed. The upstairs bowling alley which was a splits Ville, the movie theatre.. and a huge candy store. you were spot on about the johnny rockets and right past that used to be a video game-rental place where you could pay hourly to game with your friends on pc or consoles and a hot topic, Downstairs on the immediate entrance to the right was a Dan Marino's restaurant. Those spiral stairs were the stairs to the parking garage levels if the elevator was packed, which it usually was. Where you see that median road downstairs there use to be food vendors, I remember a crepe one specifically we use to stop at almost every time. Barnes and noble was also super packed at the time, a mix of book readers and also Starbucks being inside. While the mall was thriving... it was a great experience for sure.
I had so many memories there. Playing basketball at LA fitness and then grabbing food with friends at Buffalo Wild Wings and going to the AMC movies.
You were right, that was a Johnny Rockets!
God I miss going to sunset and Johnny Rockets was my favorite!
I ate there back the wild time flies
Yep. I used to eat there at least once a week, since I worked for Baptist Health across the street.
Dan Marino had a restaurant in there for a while, too. Larry Coker and Pat Riley used to drop in.
@@motecasaI always thought that place was gross. Lol
@@LynxStarAuto I liked the burgers tbh didn't care for anything else. The uniforms were nice lol
Sunset Place was our hang out spot in high school like 10 years ago because it was so close to a metro station and all my friends took the metro to school. I still go sometimes for Colorful Cute because my gf collects sonny angels, seeing the mall slowly get abandoned is crazy.
Same here! I moved away after graduation around that time. I was planning on taking my husband and kid soon, but I’m very glad this popped up on my recommended. I would’ve been so shocked when I got there.
what’s really interesting is that right by the mall is a nice strip that has really great boutiques and restaurants. i don’t get why the area around is bustling but not the mall itself
@@lol-jk4ty the legendary BT's(I know nothing about that place, just heard about it from a friend)🤣🤣😭😂
This is insane- it’s like a post apocalyptic scene now. I remember going to the movies here all the time, not to mention Marino’s and the bars that were popping back then. It’s crazy. Hopefully they do something to bring the people back.
Discount stores have priced out overly pricey Mall stores in most neighborhoods, and with inflation prices never going away, it'll be a long shot for any to remain. Politicians seem hellbent on crumbling the country.
@@MoMoMyPup10It has nothing to do with politicians or any of that bullshit. When was the last time you actually shopped at a mall? They close down because no one actually buys anything, people go to walk around but that’s about it. Rental space is expensive.
Used to work at Marinos
I remember I went to the official opening day of the mall where the Major did the ribbon cutting , and everyone was invited to the big party . The architectural design was very unique and modern, but not how it looks now . The highlights were the Virgin Store , the Nike and Z Gallery , the movie theatre and Game works , which I think was the first one in South Florida. This mall was far better than Dadeland that looked a little bit outdated by the time this mall opened. Once the big stores closed , they took cutting edge architecture with them . I loved the cylindrical structure with the hanging planters in front of the parking elevators . I used to park right at the top floor so I could go around the stairs ending the journey at the water feature which surprisingly is still working . The other water feature with the lions next to the escalators is no longer working . The mall had many nice details that are no longer there that's why it probably looks outdated . Let's hope they make the right decision. But we all know... malls are not meant to last forever.
I still go back sometimes for the Barnes and Noble and to walk around with my friends, but it makes me sad! It used to be the place to go in the 2000s and even the early 2010s, but now it’s just sad.
there was a few different bowling alleys to the left of the AMC ticket booths, I believe the last company to be there was Splitsville
I grew up in South Miami, I was there when the mall opened in 1995. It has been declining ever since the owners of the mall decided to make high rise apartments on their property. The last time I visited the mall was in 2022, there were only 10 stores opened. That restaurant that you showed was Johnny Rockets!
I used to go to Sunset all the time when I was a kid. Always packed. the only place you might go there for now is the movie theater. You did miss Tea and Poets which is a cool little shop for different jewelry and Cafe. It's on the first floor corner when you walk down the big staircase.
I’ve been going to this AMC since forever. It’s been so sad to see the decline of Sunset Place
Blame capitalism.
The AMC still brings a lot of people
@@ArtimusDragonwhat the fuck does this have to do with capitalism 💀💀💀 it’s just better competition
@@chrislegacy4883 Indeed. Always busy
@@adzappin_2567how ignorant
What?!? This can’t be real. I used to go there as a teen with my friends all of the time. Like this WAS the place to be. We’d shop around then to the movies afterwards. I moved up to central Florida 10 years ago and haven’t been back to this specific mall since. I’m so heartbroken, I had so many memories there.
OMG! This is depressing! I remember the mall being so packed! They had Bath and Body! KB toy store a candle making place . I mean it was busy busy!! I'm surprised AMC and Game Time is still there!
The entrance on 72nd street used to have a giant tree that resembled the one at animal kingdom. It was huge. Right behind it was a Rainforest Cafe where Z gallery is today. To get inside, you would walk over a fake bridge over a shallow pond that had fake alligators, fish and other fake plants. The AMC theater was the first one in Miami with stadium seating. It was always packed. Good times. I hope they do something nice with the space similar to what they did with coco walk.
i love the kind of content you create man you gotta post more often and flood the youtube algorithm i dont really see ppl doing the type of content you doing in miami
and yes you were correct, that used to be a johnny rockets. also even 10 years ago the back part of the mall by the LA fitness would be pretty dead and had very little foot traffic. I only ever went to that side for the Zumiez and Buffalo Wild Wings
Anyone else remember when the Bakery Center was the mall there?
I remember the Holsum Bakery and the old stores that were demolished to build that ugly mall. Only the Eckerd Drugs was left that building is still there!
The top places in Sunset Places was Virgin Megastore, Niketown, at least for me. Sadly Sunset Place isn’t the only mall that’s looking like this, it’s everywhere in the nation. Malls need to stay relavent, people rather stay inside order their stuff than going in person to buy their stuff.
@@BSmokeyGaming Sunset Place and others like it are a sign of what's to come.
A great deal of shoppers are conducting their shopping online... and I honestly can't blame them.
No traffic, parking, discrimination, or risk of getting shot.
They say they're building the nation's largest mall down here in Miami. I don't see how that's possible considering the smaller ones are holding on by a thread.
I was a regular at that mall on weekends in 2003-2005 and it was a normal great busy mall full of kids and great restaurants. Was a nice place to take a date and chill.
Other outdoor malls have opened before and after this mall and are still thriving so I don’t get it.
The two things I think killed this mall was surrounding traffic issues and the parking was a pain in the ass. I’d often rather find street parking in the nearby streets and walk a block or two than pay to park in that garage and be looking for a space for 30 minutes.
And yes that was a former Johnny Rockets when they used to be everywhere in every mall in the late 90s/2000s haha.
They had an Urban Outfitters way back in the mid to late 2000s. Used to visit Sunset Place a lot back in the day when GameTime was called Gameworks and remember how packed it would be on the weekends. So sad it's a ghost town nowadays.
I remember going there when it was full as a kid in the 90’s. We all remember how absolutely beautiful it was when it just opened. People were in awe
Its a shame. This place was busy back in the day about 10 years ago or so. My first gf and I got matching hennas (her idea) at a kioske at the base of the stairs at 0:28. And there was a legit candy store with all kinds of candy. There was a build a bear. Nowadays the only thing keeping this alive is the AMC. Also in the surrounding area there are still restaturants and boutique stores.
funny that most people commenting talk about how much traffic its had in the past, but as a 21 year old, this mall is still one of my favorites to this day, even empty. the sunset area in general is so nice because a lot of things are walking distance and I don't feel unsafe there unlike wynwood or Miami beach for example. but in terms of the mall itself, colorful cute goods is a staple! there's also tea and poets, which is where many small comedians, bands, or artists go to perform on their open mic nights. the mini-market they have in there along with the board games honestly make the drive to sunset so worth. the movie theaters are great because they're pretty empty/not full enough and have a good sized theater. but then there's my favorite part.. the parking garage! its nothing like dolphin's but its so beautiful from the top. it definitely gets its traffic from mainly younger/alt crowds. anyways that was my ramble about how I love sunset :)
I worked at UM in 2016 and 2017. I haven't been here often, but it was a nice place to just scroll over to after work. Even though it was only 7/8 years, back then it was still busy. Can't believe it turned into a complete ghost town so fast.
I grew up going to this mall. I don’t go to malls any more but it genuinely mkaes me sad to see Sunset Place like this. It was a great place to go shop or to just walk around and go to the movies but life went on.
Fun fact, before this mall there was another nice mall here that also went dead and was demolished in order for this one to be built from scratch. That mall was called Bakery Centre.
Let’s go help out the Japanese cute store to stay in business.
It was huge in the y2k era. It was the spot for um students and hs kids all around. The last time it was at capacity was probably 2008. After the recession, it started dying. The glass tower by the la fitness was a nike town and i think a virgin records store next door. I went to the opening of the LA fitness probably in 04' as a kid with an older cousin. Dan Marino owned a big restaurant next to the Barnes and Nobles. There was a giant fake banyan tree next to it with lights playing jungle sounds. All the kids on fridays met up at the Johnny Rockets. It was always busy on the weekends. Not to mention the vans store that had a half pipe!🔥.. if u grew up in sw dade that was the chill plan.
I used to work here for a few years at itsugar and it’s sad to see it like this seeing all the empty stores and knowing what they used to be.
I used to work at the Delia’s store right next to the water fall in my high school days and it was so busy! The mall was quite beautiful in that time and I loved that it was open air.
The empty store that had the "please use other door" sign used to be a local video game/trading card store. I don't even remember the name anymore but we went there a lot in high school my first two smash tournaments ever were there.
I remember the last time it was still open and the employees were staring at me in an intimidating way so I left, but I wish I looked around more because it closed the next time I went there.
I’ve just visited the mall for the first time last Thursday afternoon to see a movie at the cinema and noticed the same as you, it’s really beautiful but too empty, I really liked the fountain in the stairs and the material that are made for, looked like forgotten in the past
Man when that mall opened, I remember the rainforest theme they had at the main entrance. They had Virgin Megastore, where I bought The Chronic 2001, Gameworks, Martini Bar, Strikes and Rainforest Cafe.
I used to go to that mall with my friends to hang out and watch movies. It was a fun place. You always ran into people you knew, and there was always something to do.
This mall opened right when I was in middle school. They used to have a $5 movie special Monday-Thusday at the movie theatre between (4pm-7pm). In the late 90's when it opened, it was very popular with middle and high schoolers, since it is very close to the Metrorail. In its heyday, the vibe was very similar to what Dolphin Mall is today (just no outlet stores or food court). The original mall opened with the AMC movie theatre (still there), Barnes and Noble (still there), Virgin Megastore, and Bally Total Fitness (now LA Fitness) as its main anchors... Other stores such as Victoria Secret, Bath and Body Works, Gap, and The Disney Store, spent many years as tenants of the mall, until the mall started declining. What I have heard is that the reason for the malls sudden decline that began in the late 2010's was that Sunset Place never updated with the times. Sunset Place always catered to the middle and high school crowd but as that crowd grew older.... they preferred more modern and refined places such as Village at Merrick Park and Dadeland Mall for their shopping and dining needs. Another huge factor, in my opinion for its decline was that AMC Sunset Place never made a significant update to its movie theatre while competitors such as Merrick Park and even Dolphin Mall updated their movie theaters with luxury amenities such as reclining seats. I believe AMC has made some updates more recently (post 2020) but it's too little too late. I believe the plan, in the near future is to demolish Sunset Place and replace it with a new development with luxury apartments. But we shall see!
power 96 used to always hold events there!
Yeah it’s really sad. Sunset used to be my parents go to mall for the movies and Halloween decoration and I always loved the way sunset looks. It has a very beautiful vibe. It’s just sad to see it die.
I’m not surprised by this even before covid it was pretty empty and also it seems every time I went they always have problems with the escalator.
I have so many memories of that mall when I was a teenager. All stores were taken, the Virgin store had some cool rare CDs. Scorpio the videogames. The Hot Topic there sold so much.
The movie Theater is still alive as well as the gym, thats the only thing that keeps it breathing.
The main problem of the mall was that
1. Never had good food inside.
2. Paying for parking is something people never like
Legend is that land is an Indian Burial ground, no mall has ever done well there. There used to be bakery center before that snd it had the same demise.
Complete bullshit. anything that starts with “so and so is an Indian burial ground”… are we 12?
There was a fudge packing bushes there before the white man came.
I remember working there at Brookstone years back. The mall was always packed on the weekends. Also used to go on DInner, Movie, Game Works and Martini Bar dates there. Great Times. So sad to see it empty.
Damn, I remember going to the movies here in 2001. Remember seeing movie posters for Vanilla Sky. Johnny Rocket's was fantastic. You also used to have a Van's shop where people used to skate indoors. It's also crazy because Dadeland is so much older but doing so well. 3:07 this was a Nike store.
Aw this makes me so sad. I grew up coming here. I remember big crowds and live music, families everywhere, people having fun in restaurants, the theater, etc. I'd say it started going downhill in like 2017... I saw less and less stores by then. The demographic of people who went there also changed around that time, it started just being scene teenagers that parents would drop off for the evening lol
Wow, I remember when this place was under construction about 20 years ago. I was a kid back then and I remember the huge crowd going towards a "Virgin" records. I remember watching the premier of *Mean Girls* on that cinema with a group of my middle school friends. It was so packed that I remember being scared of braking my ankles with my elevator shoes trying to walk through the crowd. Crazy seeing it like this now.
It's like radiator springs from csrs now. I went back in 2016 and they had a decent selection of stores, like maybe half of what they have on their outdated website and they still had actual directories. The closed escalator was still working along with the water feature next to it. What you thought was Johnny Rockets actually was one and I ate there in December 2018, which I think still had a decent number of stores from my 2016 visit. But once the pandemic hit, the mall's deterioration escalated tenfold
In the 80's it was a high end mall similar to Merrick Place, it was called The Bakery Center. It had some galleries, restaurants and 2-3 clubs and bars.
Its not desolate because it looks dated, its a beautiful build. Its vacant because that location is cursed and the rents are stupid expensive, the parking was miserable and cars were getting stolen left and right. Covid was the final nail in the coffin.
This area in the early 2000 felt special it's sad to see it like this hopefully the city does something with it. I feel the area is wealthy and a revamp would bring lots of business to the area.
So whats the plan now? are thes till going to redevelop it?
Moved here 10 year ago and haven't been there ever since. I used to visit that place when visiting Miami. Makes me want to go back and open stores lol
Sunset Place was the spot to go to back in my day. I used to go there almost every weekend with friends when I was a kid in the late 1990s and 2000s. I met an ex-girlfriend at Sunset Place in the summer of 2001. They had so many stores, I remember going to a club there at Sunset Place, I would go to the movies, I met a former NBA player at Sunset Place which was cool. Lots of memories
This is so sad. I had several first dates there. I remember the place was so crowded at times that you couldn't find a place to park. They even had an Imax theater where I kissed a girl that I had a crush on for the first time. Great memories.
I remember going there as a teen. So sad to see this. Place was packed full time. Hard to find parking, the movie theater was packed.
I think it used to be called “The Bakery Center” before, and if it’s the same place it’s been a Miami landmark since like, the 30’s or something.
I was not around when it use to be a busy place back then, only time I go there is sometimes for movies... but I can honestly say, by the amount of space and store fronts. this place can be Huge again
Wow. I forgot about this place. Used to go there a lot when it first opened. Was always busy. Lots of nice shops and great restaurants.
Thanks for the tour.
Spirit Halloween should open a store there.
believe it or not but that big retail space at the start of the video is (or at least at one time was) a spirit Halloween
they do often have a spirit halloween there on the bottom floor
I went there as a teenager caught a couple of movies, used to go to Game Works before it was Game Time and used to have a bunch of kids raid the Metrorail on Saturdays and Sundays, it used to be the IT mall back in the day
So much of it has changed since the mid 2010s where teens would aimlessly roam the mall till close every weekend. Man if those walls could talk they would have A LOT to say. Two places that are still there (beyond Colorful Cute, Madeline is one of the kindest individuals I’ve ever met) are Tea & Poets, a cool coffee/ shop makers market /community gathering space, and Area Stage Company which is making waves in the community theatre world!
I feel like more community/ experience oriented businesses are what sunset place can offer south Miami in a world where people can just shop online.
I remember there used to be a Nike Town, Urban Outfitters, Virgin Mega Store, Hollister, Abercrombie
I still go there occasionally for the Dolby Digital movie theater and Game Time. When I was in HS, kids, use to go there for Zumiez and I think Pacsun like 10ish years ago, but even then it was kind of dry.
Damm bro that was the spot when i was in middle school and highscool, everybody I know always went to dolphin mall to hang out durning The Weekend but me and friends went to sunset cause it was nice vibe and barley people we know goes there and had a lot of good stores, music, and food. Now I only go there just for a movie rarely and that’s it. It’s sad to see a mall like this that made memories when you were a kid and now
It’s so quiet and barely anyone goes , and more and more known store we know leaving or been left.
When i came from Cuba that was a very nice mall to go. I used to watch imax movies there. So much fun. It was very colorful mall, modern for the 1990s. But there was no Brickell back then.
There was a Brickell. Just more higher-end locals knew about the goos spots in Brickell and not everyone lived by the area.
This is sad to see. Sunset place was always my favorite of the local malls and was quite popular. My favorite was the lan cafe that used to be there. The Johnny rockets was always garbage though
I remember when it used to have a Nike store and Dan Marino's bar and Grill
I remember my parents driving by there in the early 80s. It was a holsum bread factory. You could smell the bread a mile away. Years later I went there to see movies. There was talk of converting it into apartments which is the norm now. I could only imagine the cost of living there.
I used to work at Baptist Health South Florida HQ (20 years) which is across the street from this mall and I know we paid them monthly to park in their garage for overflow.
Not sure how many others do in the area, but that is their bread and butter now.
Used to go to the amc there. I remember the urban outfitters was there too. Crazy what’s happening there
I briefly worked in that beautiful mall in 2001. The place used to be really packed and it took a while to park and exit the parking garage 😅! That mall has been dead for many years and it's sad.
the store you see immediately in front of you when you walk up the centerpiece stairs in the center of the mall used to be a candy store, I believe the candy store was the last business in that location
It’s sad how this places turned out. I remember going there when they use to have gameworks and imax back in the early 2000’s it was a great place.
This is pretty unusual for FL. Open-air malls have replaced enclosed malls across the state. Visit an enclosed mall & you may see tumbleweeds rolling past the shuffling feet of the mall walkers.😂
Used to go as a kid it was always very very busy. Restaurants, live music, Disney store, street style vendors in the middle of mall, b&n was always busy might go check it out for old time sake. In the past 2 years I did go to game time and the movies on the weekend they had a pretty good crowd just sad they don’t freshen up the mall there is plenty of traffic and people that would come by but I do see the issue of competition mainly with the falls constantly growing and being renovated, dolphin, and dadeland all within 30 min of each other sunset place is like a old times plaza beautiful at night and fun to explore but very old school and dated.
I remember going there when Virgin Record store was next to it, and this mall had FAO Schwartz toy store. It was bustling but sad to see the current state of it.
At the 3 minute mark you walked to the Virgin music store. It was massive and they didn’t anticipate the overnight explosion of the iPod and digital audio. Since it closed no company has taken that space, it’s enormous and the mall overall is not a lucrative space. The next space was Urban Outfitters and was there for a long time. That Body Spa and space next door was at one point a huge candy shop and a retro game store. I walked there recently with my family and my dog and my dog had the whole mall to himself.
Ya man…born n raised in Miami..Sunset place used to be the spot..for all ages too..I went to school down the street and heading to sunset was a nice weekend thing with friends to go watch a movie, hit up Gametime and walk around and vibe…as I grew older, Buffalo Wild Wings and the sports grille that was there was a good spot for a beer and some food..I actually worked at gametime for a while as a teenager in the kitchen too lol..Johnny rockets was also a fun popping spot for all ages…it’s sad to see what was a hub for a lot of ppl become what it is now..almsot msde me sad
Yeah, that mall has been dead and mismanaged for years. And for years they have been talking about redevelopment plans.
It used to be the place back in the day. Spent a lot of time there in my teens. Good memories. Sad though.
Dam memories of the days gone. That was the hangout back in the day 😢😢
Thank you for the video. I have been going to this mall since the late 90's. Crazy how bare it is. I only go with my wife to watch movies at AMC and we enjoy it every time we go. Game time is also fun when I go with family. Sad to see how there's a few things open. We take advantage even though the mall looks sad with very little for traffic.
I saw Black Panther here in Feb. 2018. It was a busy place and the parking payment system was horrible. I hated parking there so I hated going there.
It’s super sad that was my favorite mall since it opened in 1999. I remember waiting in line to see every major movie before assigned seating. We would sit for hours in line then grab a bite at the rainforest Café. Or Marinos later on.
Destroy you’re talking about at 3:05 was Nike town. And at 3:39 was originally virgin records.
North of Miami where was a mall called the Fashion mall that closed. It was next to another mall that had better parking and more shops.
Remembered when that mall opened, it's a shame how far it fell. Malls have to stay fresh and current in Miami to survive(Dadeland mall) or become the next southland mall, cocowalk etc)
I was there in 1999 when it was opened, as it was so beautiful that it used to have shops like Virgin Megastore, Niketown, FAO Schwarz, Sweet Donna's Country Store Restaurant and Bakery, the Rainforest Cafe esque type, Z Gallerie, Splitsville, Old Navy, Disney Store and Johnny Rockets among others. Since 1999, it used to have Banyan trees and laser shows. I miss those Goodtimes and I have hopes that something new will take place while keeping AMC theaters, Gametime and Barnes and Noble.
Wow , it’s sad to see this mall dying out. This was one hell of a packed mall back in 1999. I couldn’t even walk. I remember thinking how the theaters were nicer looking compared to the falls and the mall of America theater, The seats were bigger.
Just a ton of stores, candy stores, ice cream, Game works, kids running around teens hanging. It’s sad almost feels like an apocalypse occurred there. I went recently to check it out and it was just as empty it felt like Dawn of the dead.
I use to take my kids there to the movies between 1999 and 2003. There were definitely people there and stores open, we use to eat at Johnny Rockets. We like to go there to walk with the kids and go to the bookstore and Disney Store, even in 2010 there was a Dan Marino restaurant. Very sad when you drive by there now 😢
On line shopping is the thing that killed the malls
Then why is Dolphin Mall and Dadeland still booming?
@@eddyherrera3207wait for it
And streaming movies and COVID probably finished it off. Nothing is absolute
lazy behaviors weakened malls
Aventura is popping
I used to go this mall all the time when I was in my early 20s. In the early 2000s it was one of the best places in miami. Movie theater was great. Bowling alley. Crepe maker was popular. La fitness. Live music. Always very very busy. Sad to see how quickly it has changed
We use to shop there all the time when it first opened and for several years. In fact we use to shop in the mall that was there before - The Bakery Center. This was a beautiful pedestrian mall filled with shoppers for years. We loved the IMAX Experience theater that was located where Planet Fitness is. It was an independent theater and spectacular. They mall even had a 2 story Virgin Megastore, at the time the largest one in the US. Unfortunately, an unscrupulous and unruly crowd that lived near by on the North side of US 1 started to spoil the shopping experience. There were several nasty incidents including a stabbing many years ago and also a burglary in the Majors jewelry store. Shame, shame, shame...
ugh this is so sad! i love dead mall videos, but they hit different when it’s a mall you used to go to! i live a good 50 minutes away from there, and i still used to go whenever i had the chance. we used to spend hours hanging out there
I worked there in 1992 when it was the Bakery Centre built in 88 before that was torn down in 95 and Sunset Place was built.
I’m a native Miamian. That mall, like many others became over run with teenagers. Older shoppers did t want to deal with them. Also, parking was always a major headache. But I would guess mostly the price of rent was crazy.
I worked at Niketown there many years ago and Friday was the busiest night of the week. The kids would pop up for movies. It was very well known to chill out. There was a Dan Marino restaurant. I’m not sure if the bowling spot also. Virgin records, Nike, urban Outfitters, Hot Topic.
That was Nike. It was two floors. that you were trying to figure out what it was.
This place was alive and well 10 years ago. Around 2018/2019ish, i noticed it started to die. I have so many memories from there. I used to go to the Hollister there all the time.
I remember when it first opened in 1999. We were taken to the imax theater there in 2000 on a field trip.
We also used to hang out at this place after school in the 2000s.
I think the rent is also super high there which caused a lot of stores to leave.
There used to be a card shop there that I would hang out in and play TCGs. Almost forgot about it until I saw this video, the store closed down years ago but its nice taking a step through memory lane.