The audio effect of having songs being played over the mall speakers is genius....ghostly and reminiscent. It's great to have a chronicle of these giants, slated for demo, recorded one last time for history's sake, despite the personal risk.
I like the way he wants to treat the place with respect, essentially following the unwritten "golden rule" of exploration. "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints."
I've been to an abandoned place in Texas and am always fascinated to be walking in huge places that were once thriving. It was eerie and unsettling but I was able to capture some of it on my camera. I got a bit scared and stayed only 5 minutes, thinking surely the cops will see my bright red car in the parking lot and get suspicious... LOL.
this place was my childhood my mom would babysit my cousins and we would play in the playing area and have fun 💔😭 then the mall started to lose stores then I remember I one of the last times I was there I went to a perfume store that was barely standing and a nice young man gave me a Cinderella perfume he told me “these are going to go in the trash” “I might as well give one to you I remember when I was younger when this place was fun and active “ the last time I went I went to the fair that is near the mall (right outside the mall) seeing the mall broke my heart 😭
It is very sad to see Landmark end up like this. It was a beautiful mall back in the 90s. Used to go there all the time. I still even have 2 Landmark Mall loyalty cards from back in the day. While I agree that general trends probably doomed the mall, IMHO there were some particularly stupid decisions which sped up the process: 1. Bringing in Lord & Taylor: This sounded good on paper, but the demographics of the area around the mall didn’t really support that type of store, especially with Pentagon City right up I-395. 2. The Old Navy experiment: At one point, the Sears side of the mall was the most vibrant. The mall’s owners decided to fix that by relocating all of the stores on the second floor of the Sears court over to the Macy’s side, then turn the space into an Old Navy. This had the effect of disrupting several business, some of whom left, and then to top it all off, the Old Navy was open for just a short while. After that, the Sears side just died on the vine, with the Old Navy space being pretty much an (usually empty) albatross. In your video, I think it was a no-name furniture store. 3. General Properties’ Redevelopment Scheme: I remember attending a community meeting about the redevelopment circa 2005, and walked away wondering what they were smoking because it was some good stuff. For one thing, they talked about how average household income within 1 mile of the mall was $120K or something like that. Anybody who knows that part of Alexandria knows that isn’t exactly the case (lots of apartment buildings filled with low-to-moderate income people). Then they started cancelling the leases (for example, the CVS and the tire shop which used to be across from the Macy’s) to clear the way for redevelopment. Then they had to cancel, and then they were left with a nearly empty mall. A true General Properties special!
Reading this, now it makes tons of sense why Landmark Mall died. Yeah, bringing in Lord and Taylor was a bizarre move to do, considering the nearby demographics. So sad it died, since per this video it still looks really nice and immaculate inside even after that mall officially closed. Thank goodness the vandals hadn't hit this mall, and hopefully they continue to not find a way to trash this mall unlike too many other ones they ruined(i.e. Lincoln Mall in Matteson, IL, Rolling Acres in Akron, OH, etc).
BoratWanksta Yeah it’s nice that it wasn’t trashed. I suppose that the Wonder Woman movie had a lot to do with that. In a way, I am very happy that it will be preserved in a feature file the same way that the mall of my youth, Phoenix’s MetroCenter, is preserved in its full glory in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
@AidanPlayzMC - Minecraft & Autism & Aspergers Nope. Just somebody who went to that mall for the better part of 2 decades, from when it was just redone as an indoor mall until the Great Recession.
Strangely, I visited open air Landmark back in '85 when I was living temporarily in ALX...Years later when I moved to VA for good (1997), I had no idea Landmark had become a full-fledged mall, as I lived out near Fair Oaks and used to also go to Tysons (I and II) and Dulles Town Center, and once in a while, Pentagon City. Too many malls.......Soon there willl only be Tysons.
Hey everyone! Thanks so much for the awesome support! This log is a long time in the making, and I'm excited to finally share it with you all! I believe filming has wrapped at the Landmark Mall for Wonder Woman: 1984, and right now redevelopment is imminent. The funny thing is...in 1984, the mall was still outdoor, not enclosed...so I wonder if Wonder Woman: 1984 will call this the Landmark Mall? Research Research Research!!! Enjoy!
Another awesome mall log, Sal. The Landmark Mall is an attractive retail space. I can see why Warner/DC is using the mall to film some scenes of Wonder Woman 1984. I wasn't aware the latest stand-alone Wonder Woman film will be set in the 80's era. With Hollywood's current success with 80's themes shows like STRANGER THINGS ❤️, doing a Wonder Woman origin story set in 1984 is on point. Thx so much for offering the DC inside scoop on the film. I will be sure to see the Wonder Women film on opening day. As always thx for sharing your mall journeys with us. It's always a treat. Have a great night.
As someone who has been with the channel from the very beginning, I humbly appreciate your words, Mme. keep in mind...the mall wasn’t redeveloped and enclosed until 1990...so I swear if this film calls their location from 1984 “Landmark Mall”...I’ll be having words with them...
😁 "So I swear if this film calls their location from 1984 “Landmark Mall”...I’ll be having words with them" Sal, this comment made me chuckle lol. Honestly, when I read your comments concerning the Wonder Woman film location details, all I could think is; "And, why isn't Sal part of the film crew again? TRUTH. This is exactly my thought. Since I've been with your channel since the opening, this old schooler fangirl lol can say without question your the creative process/content of your videos are tight. As someone who has been on my fair share of film sets throughout the years, I'm confident if you had the chance to film in the professional league, you'd hold your known. Till this happens, keep killing it in your youtube league. ☕️ Cheers! PS: Thx for the kind comments. It's appreciated. Have a great day.
I grew up in Woodbridge, VA near Potomac Mills Mall. This mall opened in 1985 and is still thriving today. What's different about this mall is that is a single level mall. Originally developed by the Mills Corporation and now owned by the Simon Group. Currently it has over 200 stores. The mall brought the first Ikea to Virginia, though Ikea is not in the mall anymore but it's own building.
You’re doing a great job, Sal. I’m always impressed with the amount of homework you do on these places. I love hearing the history as opposed to just watching someone walk around in silence. The “Muzak” in the background with the mall-like reverb effect is a nice touch too.
So difficult looking at a place like that knowing once it was alive with activity and now there’s just leaves falling from whatever kind of trees grow in those enormous pots. Thank you for documenting this and for all the amazing research you do!
It's very sad. I think of a local mall in South Florida in my town that closed and was demolished a number of years ago. It's not a huge outlet mall. None of the original structure stands and thus unrecognizable...
This mall, being in such good shape, is actually not depressing. It just looks closed. Like it will open in a few hours. Most of these dead malls with buckets all over the place catching leaks, and broken tiles all over are much more ready for demolition than this
This was one of our hangouts when I was a student at Thomas Jefferson (TJHSST)! I’m so glad UA-cam recommended this to me...this was a well-made, bittersweet trip down memory lane.
All the cool kids, especially those who had cars hung out at Landmark Mall. Gas up their cars at Strubies (sp), as her Dad owned the Shell gas station at Rt.236 (Little River Turnpike) and Beauregard Street. Gary was the son of the owner of Jerry's Ford. Gary was often riding in a Mustang rag top, with dealer tags (something he wasn't supposed to do).
The Sears is still open today even though the mall closed. It closed Jan 31, 2017 after Macy's closed. The owners planned to tear it down and replace with an open town center, but it seems to be delayed due to financial problems. Meanwhile, the former Macy's will be used as a temporary homeless shelter.
I really don't know why mall owners can't find creative ways to redevelop these properties. Landmark looked immaculate inside, and if they wanted to could easily be redeveloped into something new. But no, developers too often are wasteful and tear these buildings down after it fails as a mall. :(
BoratWanksta I'm pretty sure the nobody will be able to afford to live at this new town center whenever it gets all said and done by the rate things are going (unless if you're part of the super elite 2-1%).
I remember going to the original Landmark Mall as a child in the 1960s, then taking my own children there when they renovated it in the '90s, and then my grandchild there in the 2000s. Decades of memories and stories about this mall. I'm not going to lie, lots of tears thinking about those times, but change is inevitable and has to be embraced. We have our precious memories and that's what they will remain. Thanks so much for documenting the end of an era in Alexandria, VA.
I remember the outside mall as a kid in the 70s and a teenager in the 80s. There was something called the Underground. Part of the mall shops were underground in those days.
I shot a vlog at this mall two years ago just a few months before it closed - I first came to this mall in 1986 when it was an open air mall and I have witnessed first hand it's rise and fall over the last 30 years
Potomac Mills out in Woodbridge ate that malls lunch unfortunately! I was there a few years back at 3pm on a Wednesday walked into the food court and it was standing room only. Me and a friend was on our way to see a concert in Manassas and the Potomac Mills exit was one exit up I-95. The place was so packed we just ate and went to the concert venue.
So many memories had at this mall. I got my haircut here for years, bought so many Pokemon cards here, suffered through clothes shopping with my family. This mall played a big part of my childhood.
The video, narration, and background music are nothing short of incredible! It’s really interesting to see the mall basically untouched after being abandoned. Thanks for a great video! :)
A fine job of filming. I moved into Fairfax County in 1966. Worked at Fort Belvoir and lived with my new bride in a garden apartment a few miles up Route 1. Landmark was then the nearest shopping center. It wasn't enclosed then. Sears, Woodward & Lothrops and JC Penny's were the anchor stores. I'll miss it.
I really like the idea of exploring abandoned places. It feels like time stopped right there and it's story lives on. Thinking about the halls that was once filled, who used to fill the halls, and the nostalgia acting as the building's life support. I also find it a perfect place to do photography. But of course, I rather come to these places with a group
Meanwhile on the other side of the shopping mall in the parking lot dr. Emmett Brown was shot and killed by Libyan terrorists while Marty McFly was traveling back in time.
The production value is fabulous, Sal-- thanks for putting in the time. I've been to a fair share of dead malls. I am always amazed how the energy still seems to be in the building, even though the humans are gone. Thanks for the videos!
Anytime a person sets foot on a Deserted Abandoned Mall. It gives very Eerie feeling that you,re not alone. Nervousness sets in. It,s too quiet. You just want to look around . Capture whatever in the Camera. And get the hell out. ASAP. It just brings chills up the spine. Like you,re being watched. even though the Mall is completely undisturbed.
I used to live a block from this mall. My ex was a security guard there. Brought back a lot of memories for me. Your expedition logs are a wonderful look at these former shopping meccas. I also love to walk malls and look at all the great architecture. Keep up the excellent work!
I grew up around landmark mall. I used to go to a shopping center about a half mile up the road that was or had an S Kline store in it. Then after that Landmsrk came along. I have so many good memories at landmark mall. But It was I think just called Landmark. I even got arrested at Sears stealing a brand new hand held 10.00 computerized football game. Of course this was 40 years before cellphones or computers as we know them now. I used to take my girlfriends Christmas shopping outside, window shopping at night while it snowed and it was very special. Thank you so much for doing this.
Thank you for this. I grew up in the Lincolnia neighborhood of Alexandria (Virginia Village), right across 95. This was our favorite hangout spot for years, this and Springfield. If the metro hit both of them it would have been good. The best years of my life were in Alexandria and in this are and mall 96 till 2001. I met hulk hogan here. Made friends here. Went to the fair here. Hung with my girls here. Shopped with my family. Bought records at the FYE. 1st time I went to chic filA was here. Loved the food court. I LOVED THIS MALL!! I spent so much time here, so much money. So many memories. This breaks my heart. It was cool having a mall basically in ur neighborhood. RIP Landmark. Thank you for the memories!!!
Yeah I always wonder about that too. Why people would want to trudge around in the snow and rain baffles me. The biggest reasons I've heard are (1) it's too much trouble to go to a particular store (unless it's an anchor store) because you have to go inside and walk to wherever it is and (2) the landscape is too phony. The new model of developing housing in line with shopping strikes me as a bit on the trendy side. It does sound nice in theory, and I'm sure that there are people who will enjoy close access to shopping etc. But long-term, who will want to have to try to sleep with all the noise, etc.? Or who will want to have 15,000 strangers right near where their kids are? I suspect that the best model is a hybrid-style mall, with store entrances facing both inside and out. That way, you can come right up to the store you want to go to if you aren't in the mood to wander, while you can go inside and wander if that is what you want to do. Mall operators also have to be creative and serve the communities which are actually around them and not the ones which they would like to be. They can study the example of Desert Sky Mall in Phoenix, which has succeeded in doing reasonably well (4 out of 5 anchors open, and mostly occupied) in an area where most malls would have folded.
Like neck ties and hem lines. They come and go, only to return in style. The hankie hem was seen on Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth's grandmother, mother to her father.
@@sal it’s crazy it’s still just sitting there. I drive by it every day. The talk is for the stereotypical mixed use with a hospital but I haven’t seen much happen. Amazon uses the parking lot and that’s about it
I can't believe a store "the best of the Internet" never opened. It'll be a collection of all the hottest sellers on the internet where people can go buy, pay, and take home the product without having to pay for shipping and wait. Stores need to be more seasonal and be more like a specialized warehouse. Malls need to house service businesses like gym, dentists, chiropractors, hair, nail salons, spa, sauna, massage, physical therapy, acupuncture, bar, movie theatre, retro arcade, pool hall, oil change centers, car wash and detail, community theatre, and of course restaurants, etc. no more gnc, bath and body works, etc.
Ironically many malls did have retro arcades long before it was retro, but rather still a new idea. Would be hard to pull off on a large scale now as game producers have moved on to home consoles with $80 games, dlc and subscriptions years ago. Thinking back last time I saw an arcade in a mall was 2002, and a theatre in a mall about 2005 which is another thing I often liked. For the rest of those things I do see a lotta smaller malls with those types of businesses inside, too often in the struggling malls now ignored by most people.
I remember my mom and I standing upstairs in front of Sears. We literally stood there for several minutes when she sadly told me "Wow... this mall used to be crowded with people and now it's slowly dying. It's so sad how things change.". Now its completely dead :(
This guy is proper! The information about places is spot on and sound effects are great. One of the best explorers on UA-cam with out doubt. Keep up the good work man! Sick videos!
Thanks for recording this and giving some history. I did not know it has closed. I now live on the west coast but from 1971 to 1978 I worked at the Sears at Landmark Shopping Center in Alexandria, Va. It was a ver busy center and store. Many of the departments were over million dollar departments and that was a lot in the 70's. Cannot believe that it is no longer open. Shocked. A lot of the malls you mentioned opened after ours.
Thank you for documenting this. I was waiting for someone to film Landmark. I use to come to this mall all the time when I was a kid. I also use to go to the carnivals they would have in the parking lot. I knew that eventually it was gonna close, but when it happened it was like a piece of my childhood died. It was sad to see it go. Can't wait to see what they did to the inside in Wonder Woman 2.
Wow...I would be absolutely terrified if I were to get lost or trapped in any sort of building...glad you made it out okay! It’s amazing to see an abandoned, for the most part at least, building in such good condition! Keep up the great work, your production quality continues to impress, even if this was actually older footage!
Thank you, Emelie! It was frightening in the stairwell. Of course, it’s entirely my fault for putting myself in that situation...but I’ll not stop at any lengths to get the footage if it’s possible!
John Dubay Yea we were at the peak of Malls in late 70 to mid 80's. I would go with my Dad on weekends to Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, NC in the early and mid 80's and eat donuts. It was real special and I get all those feelings seeing these frozen in time Malls like this. Im surprised that any Malls are left to be honest, that type of shopping just isnt done anymore everythings online.
For me, it was Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, IL. I spent a LOT of time there with friends either window shopping or going to the movies at the theatres associated with the mall. It was an awesome place to see at Christmas too!! I don't know how they do it up now, but when I was a kid, the whole mall was just magical, with high school choirs singing, Santa in the center court and crowds of happy shoppers. I loved it!!
Beautifully done!! So bloody sad....I (still) live 3 miles north on Van Dorn Street. Back in the day rarely a week went by that my hubby or I wasn't at this mall for something. I can pretty much tell you which vacant spaces were which stores. I can see the decline of malls, when internet shopping came about I was one of the first to stop going to malls. What I wouldn't give for some of those beaultiful trees! Thanks again!!!!
That is a very big mall & too bad you weren't able to explore all of it. It is sad to see all these malls folding up. I mean where will people shop if all malls end up closing? I mean when I buy clothes, I like to go & try them on. And I surely don't want to have to buy all my clothes at Walmart. Thanks for keeping some of history alive.
I vastly prefer to shop at free standing stores, and will continue to give them my business as long as they're able to survive. Malls on the other hand, I have no remorse about them closing and going away. Despite a lot of good memories from my childhood and teen years, since then they've been nothing but an exercise in frustration to me. The PITA of finding a parking spot, the masses of inconsiderate people and the 50/50 shot that the stores will have what I want, after an decent hike to get there, I can live without them.
In one sense malls killed themselves -- by having the same vendor mix whether you're in Virginia or New Hampshire. Why go to a different mall just to get the same Spencer, GNC, Gap etc? I stopped going once Sears started to flatten their selection. That was years ago.
Not all malls are closing. The US is over malled. The closures will probably get you to the same number of malls per head of population as here in Australia or Britain. In my rural area it is a 30 to 40 minute drive to my closet enclosed mall.
Peter Nadreau I went shopping on two Main Streets yesterday. It helps that I live in tourist area and both streets thrive on bric a brac stores and upscale cafes . But Main Streets can still work.
Peter Nadreau I live in Australia,here we are far more regulated then in the US. Malls here were mainly regulated to downtown, very few were built on green field sites until recently. The Mall tended to eat the downtown. On the positive side as city centres revived people only had to move a few blocks and the parking was already there. Yeah my last shopping trip took in two Main Streets, A strip mall and an enclosed mall so I don’t get the romance either. I also grew up before Malls took over everything so not much nostalgia either.
When are people going to wake up in America?....it's not simply Amazon and walmart...it's decline in standard of living and lack of disposable income....i made double 20 years ago vs today....and every dollar is worth 60 cents....so its more like triple....
Most of my Kmarts within' 10-15 miles started closing 2010-2012...Too many outdated ones and too close to each other. Probably 8 or 9 close to me. Three Malls within '20-30 minutes and most of them are pretty busy... Plenty of restaurants etc. Plus SEARS and Penneys etc. Too many Wallymarts… Two near the Deptford Mall and a five minute drive from each other. Just like having our Rite-Aid and Walgreens on the same corner/across the street from each other… Some close after a few years. Some smaller outdoor Malls/outlets are popping up and doing better. But most of my lazy millennial friends would rather sit on their fat asses and order online... unsociable web- heads... Then gain. I live in a typical "machine run State" that's taxes us death; just like NY and California. No wonder corporations do want to be here; just like Philly...
Just watched WW84. I instantly recognized it was The Landmark Mall from watching your video. It had to be bittersweet for people who used to go to that Mall when it was actually open & busy like that to see that scene in WW84. I also had to go back and rewatch your video on this mall as well as other You Tube channel's who documented this mall like Dan Bell, Ace's Adventures etc. I'd be willing to bet that this video will get a bunch more views now that WW84 finally came out. I totally forget that WW84 was supposed to come out a little over a year ago. (For anyone reading this in the future WW84 was originally supposed to debut in November of 2019) *SPOILER ALERT FOR WONDER WOMAN 1994:* Very ironic post credit scene to this video given WW84's post credit scene 😎.
If you’re from the area, you might remember the old indoor shopping mall in Georgetown that was recently converted into a parking garage and expanded space for street level floors. It was such a neat space, being a full scale indoor mall that was hidden away in the center of a huge city block. If you watch the old and (by today’s standards) incredibly cheesy Arnold Schwarzenegger action flick called True Lies (released in 1994) you will actually see live scenes filmed in this old shopping mall, much like we’ll see in the new Wonder Woman film.
I’m 2 years late to the party, but so glad I discovered your channel!!! I use to live in Alexandria and I remember Landmark Mall! Back in Middle School (circa 1993), I participated in a fine arts competition held at Landmark Mall and had a blind contour drawing selected to be sent to a Moscow art exhibit. Had no idea Wonder Woman 1984 would be filmed there decades later! LoL
It applies to life as it applies to malls: Once you lose your woodies, failure is your destiny... Another epic Expedition, Sal. More than just a Picasso, this Video Document is a true work of art. You remain the Dali of Mall Walkers, and at the _end of the day,_ you are not the Dead Mall explorer we want, you are the Dead Mall explorer we _need..._ Namaste
Sal! I'm spending a couple hours each night with you exploring these old malls. I don't know what it is that is so enchanting about them. It's sad to watch them in their abandoned state but beautiful at the same time as if they are holding their chin up and going out with dignity. This has been my favorite mall so far. It is the most gorgeous mall I've ever seen. This one is the saddest to me because it's so pretty. To me it looks like stores could move in and it would be a top notch mall again! Thank you so much for filming these and giving such great history.
We have a dead mall here in Jackson Mississippi called the metro center . I spent half of my life in that mall but I am not even sure if it is open anymore they may have finally closed it after years on its deathbed
I left Jackson in 2004 and well remember the Metrocenter. When I was there, it was at about 30-40% occupancy with Sears and I think Belk as the two anchors. The rest of the stores other than Dollar Tree were ticky tacky no name outfits scattered in between nail and hair salons. And most of the kids hanging out there had their eyes out for your valuables so I never spent more time there than I had to. Frankly, I'm not surprised that it closed, only that it took so long.
This vlogumentary was worth the wait! The ambient music was first rate, especially the Coca Cola ad tune! Just superb explore footage... It always hurts my heart, to see a Mall come to an end. I love Mall life, as it was, but I love the tour of them. The sights and the silence, and the creaks and the shadows of the past... Great job, Sal! 👍
Sal, thanks for your efforts in keeping these malls relevant and remembered. I’m old enough (52) to remember the pomp surrounding a new mall opening. Wish I could go back but your vids are as close as I’ll get ever again. Cheers.
I was lucky enough to walk around the inside 3 separate times, I got in the same way you did but I went through the left set of doors instead of the right. It was a lot easier to access the inside, just two sets of doors. On my second time going, after spending about and hour walking around the inside a security guard came in on the first floor (I was on the second by the front doors) my friend and I jumped into the closest store front and hid in a small bathroom in the back for about 20 mins until we couldn't hear any foot steps. We managed to get out the way we came in with no problem... I came back after my 3rd time going about a month later to go walk the inside again. But sadly sears had closed the gates to the mall... I went outside and walked around the mall to check for another way in. I found another way in which amazingly enough led to the same hallway. As you can imagine i was extremely excited only to be let down that the door that led to the mall was locked... (also excited to meet you in Milwaukee soon!)
I love Wonder Woman. After I graduated pilot training, a dear friend gave me a small desk plaque that read, “Wonder Woman Works Here”. Even now, fully retired, I still smile when I see this little bit of inspiration when I look at it on my desk.
It breaks my heart that this mall is no more. I remember when this mall was jammed packed during the Christmas holiday season. I would go here after shopping over at Tysons Corner. My husband and I would drive up the hill and eat at the Chi-Chi's and then walk next door to CompUSA. Thank you! New subscriber!
Sal, thank you so much for all of these! I am so fascinated by these old malls and anything nostalgic. I really appreciate these videos you’ve done. It would be so fun to do what you’re doing.
it's like watching the passing of a lifetime of memories and almost as if the walls that held the structure together silently thanking you for making memoir of them even tho they consciously know that they will be soon forgotten
Your videos are top quality Sal. I enjoy the throughout history you provide and appreciate your excellent use of the English language as well when it comes to describing these malls
Hi Sal. This was the best treatment of Landmark I've seen, and I don't say that idly, because the mall is like a member of the family. Landmark was the apex product of the golden age of the real estate trust in America. That kind of financing is unlikely to ever be available again. I guess all I hope is that Hughes repurposes it successfully so that it can be remembered for what it was. Thank you so much.
This makes me cry, this is my town's mall : Thanks for the last look, just went to some meetings and they are back on track on redoing it, they now have all the property...
How funny. Just watched this video and decided to subscribe. Then I noticed I'm subscriber number 6000. You do great videos. I love abandoned malls. Keep on with this!
This made me so sad, but it was great to see the mall make an appearance in WW84. When I first moved to the area, Landmark was a throw-back open air shopping bizarre. I remember a record store that was sunken underground with carpeted walls and a ramp from the surface level that wrapped around the exterior walls of the sunken space. Landmark Mall was such a huge update to the area.
I don't know why I keep watching these type's of videos its so super depressing. Ugh!!!!!! My friends and me used to go to the mall for getting numbers and having so much fun. I hope the newer generations really dig the shit outta Amazon, good greif the malls are jobs for the youth it's how you grow into management positions and it's where people learn retail skills. And work experience, look at all of that amazing tile work and all the hands on construction that went into every single part of the mall. I'm a tile and granite contractor and I've done my share of tile in malls, so I know how many hundreds of guys put blood sweat and tears into making these things so beautiful. I'd much rather go to a real store for clothes shopping, go to Toys R US instead of Target or Wallmart who sell everything under the sun, Toy R US sold one thing. Toys!!!!!!!!! the world is becoming really weird
I feel exactly what your saying. I'm 31 and the mall down the street from my house was me and my friends favorite place to hangout on the weekends. Toys R Us was also a favorite of mine for buying anything toy or game related. Now all of it is slowly turning into an online store and it makes me so fucking sad for today's generation of kids. I feel like we're heading into the twilight zone of another reality :(
I'm a new sub and I'm obsessed with your videos. I love the history you provide! I grew up going to the mall with friends and working there. I'm 33 now and it hurts to see this happening. I'm happy you are able to do this for us!
FYI. For those who might be curious enough to try this yourselves, I was just there yesterday. The mall entrances from Sears on both floors have now been covered up by drywall so the exploration Sal took is no longer possible. It was weird to see as the drywall they covered the entrances up with is a different color than the rest. Classy till the end...LOL! Also, I went to the entrance of the mall and looked inside. There were two box fans on the floor by the door and a few buckets in the distance on the floor. They'd had trouble with leaks before but there was more than one bucket visible. They're going to demo the mall anyway so no biggie. It won't be reused. Just kinda sad to see it like that.
Sal as always you are great. I truly love the fact that you do not make it about yourself but what you are exploring. That Montgomery Mall in Alabama is still there waiting for you. I think.
I remember my dad taking me to this mall in 2002 when he lived in Alexandria. I was just a teenager. I remember it looked like an ordinary mall. It definitely wasn't high-end. Maybe there were a few vacancies. I do remember him commenting though that he thought it looked kind of depreciated. Maybe by then it started its downward spiral. We never went back. We usually went to Ballston Common Mall, Pentagon City Mall, or the Shops at Georgetown Park. Now every single one of those save Pentagon City are gone. Consumer dynamics changed drastically in just 18 years...
We just explored a dead mall here in Florida. Our video is more humorous, but I’ve always appreciated and been fascinated with dying retail and abandoned places. Your channel is amazing. Keep up the great work brothaman.
it's sad to see this mall go. my mom loved going here because it was empty because she hates big crowds and we would just hang out under those massive skylights. it's really sad to me that if they would have kept it open air i bet it'd be booming today. Love your stuff btw the work you put in is amazing!
I really like your commentary on these malls. It's a shame you don't live further south. Birmingham used to be ripe with abandoned malls. Earlier this year, Huntsville demolished their first regional mall, Madison Square Mall. In Tuscaloosa, the McFarland Mall has been seeing a recent boon. Just 10 minutes away from my house is the Western Hills Mall which just refuses to die after being on its last legs for 10 years. Malls in my state are so fragile it seems.
There was a mall like that near my home, the Plantation Fashion Mall, beautiful mall inside, brass railings, granite flooring, fountains, the works. Spent a solid 8 or so years just barely hanging on, the last 2 stores being a Sharper Image and an Auntie Annie's, and Macy's. Hurricane Wilma finally did it in when it damaged the roof over Macy's and flooded that store. They simply moved up the street to a Burdians location they'd acquired and the mall died, finally. Took them almost 13 years to finally demolish it.
Funny you mention Western Hills. Though I don't know much about that one, the mall that to me seems the equivalent of this mall in the Chicago area(keep thinking it'll die, but it doesn't and continues to limp on) is River Oaks Center in Calumet City, IL. That mall used to be a completely outdoor shopping center built in the same way(and same developer) as Old Orchard and Oak Brook(think they may also have developed the former Park Forest Plaza, but not sure), but after being enclosed around 1994 by Simon, it eventually started to struggle and couldn't compete as well vs. Southlake Mall in Merrillville, IN. Though it wasn't all bad for that mall, since it managed to outlast Lincoln Mall in Matteson, IL(just to the west of here). Macy's did recently add a Macy's Backstage(clearance area) to their River Oaks store, so maybe the Macy's here is not as in danger of closing as I used to think. The FYE at River Oaks is also the ONLY FYE I've ever been to, where half of the store is walled off. I'm in desperate need of wanting to revisit River Oaks, since it was an interesting mall for me to visit when I went there a few years ago. Oh yeah, almost forgot to say this mall(think this is the order they closed, but it was years ago) lost a 6 screen movie theater, two different 2 screen movie theaters(1 connected to the mall, and another outside that was the oldest theater vs. the 2 connected to this mall), Carson's, and finally Sears. It still has Macy's(like I said above) and JCPenney, as of now.
Dang Western Hills mall is still alive, its been dead since I was kid and I’m 25. They lost their anchor when I was a kid, I’m surprised it’s still living.
Believe it or not, up until last year the mall still had an anchor tenant. The last 2 anchors were Walmart and Burlington. Can you guess which one left first? There are still businesses in the mall, although not many. Just last month the tuxedo rental place announced they would be relocating. That surprised me because while they had been there literally forever, I thought they would have already left by now. A Few months ago, the mall's manager got shot in a gang shooting outside the mall. With all the stuff that happens, I really wish sometimes the place would die.
Great, now I've got "I"d Like To Teach He World To Sing" stuck in my head - thanks a lot.( Haha, j/k. It's actually a fave of mine.) I was thinking, when you were walking in the back stairwells - he's gonna get lost. Those service hallways, especially in larger malls, are a dark, scary labyrinth if you don't know your way around. Glad you found a way out. Nice footage of this mall - it's nice to see them still in good condition even when they're completely vacant. Hopefully they will move forward with a nice redevelopment, so this place can live on into the future. Really enjoy your vids, thanks for all the hard work you put into producing them.
I’m so glad you recognized the Ad!!! This is my all time favorite, and I’m so thankful that McKann-Erickson pushed for the ad so hard! Truly a groundbreaking campaign, with a global reach.
Very interesting video Sal. I have lived in the West End of Alexandria since 1995 and in the years I have lived here I have watched Landmark Mall die a slow death. In the late 1990s and very early 2000s the mall was still busy. The food court area had about a dozen vendors and there were musical performances (I believe on every other Wednesday) in the food court which was on the third floor. In the middle 2000s retailers such as the chain bookstore and CVS drug store left and the mall portion between the anchor stores became populated with lower end poorly financed businesses which came and went. A rough crowd of un-disciplined adolescents started hanging out and shoppers went elsewhere. Lastly since I am not from the Washington DC area (I moved here for work as many did) I found the story at the beginning about the history of the mall back in the 1960s to be quite interesting. A part of this area's past before I lived here.
your channel and a guy called wallie b are my favorites . I really like these old places , I just wish they wouldn't keep pulling them down .keep up the great work your doing.
I really like your videos because you do so much research. Do you find all your information online or do you have to go through records at city hall and libraries?
It’s a mix of everything. Newspaper articles, public court documents, and some kind friends around the country that are willing to visit the recorder of deeds in person, if the papers aren’t online.
They shouldn't demolish this mall! It's beautiful and there are other ways to use this mall like turning it into an apartment building with the storefronts being converted into apartments and the former food court could be rented out to restaurants who could sell food to the tenants who live there and in that way they could preserve the architecture and beauty of this historic structure.
i just found your channel the other day and i'm hooked. i love that you give histories of the locations; great narration. i also just listened to your Beethoven's 5th on one violin from 2013--AMAZING!!!!
The audio effect of having songs being played over the mall speakers is genius....ghostly and reminiscent. It's great to have a chronicle of these giants, slated for demo, recorded one last time for history's sake, despite the personal risk.
Yeah, I thought that was pretty cool, too. :-)
yeah, it's reminiscent of dan bell
It's nice to get credit for a stolen idea. Dan Bell has been doing it years before Sal.
Dan Bell
Dan Bell
I like the way he wants to treat the place with respect, essentially following the unwritten "golden rule" of exploration. "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints."
I've been to an abandoned place in Texas and am always fascinated to be walking in huge places that were once thriving. It was eerie and unsettling but I was able to capture some of it on my camera. I got a bit scared and stayed only 5 minutes, thinking surely the cops will see my bright red car in the parking lot and get suspicious... LOL.
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but memories.
The act of breaking and entering (whether he breaks anything, or not) and respect in the same sentence. People are so creative.
@mas5867 you sound like such a fun human.
this place was my childhood my mom would babysit my cousins and we would play in the playing area and have fun 💔😭 then the mall started to lose stores then I remember I one of the last times I was there I went to a perfume store that was barely standing and a nice young man gave me a Cinderella perfume he told me “these are going to go in the trash” “I might as well give one to you I remember when I was younger when this place was fun and active “ the last time I went I went to the fair that is near the mall (right outside the mall) seeing the mall broke my heart 😭
Same 😪😪😪
fr
same, the man gave me a kung foo panda (idk if i spelt it right) perfume
Same and I drive by it almost every day and I wish it would open
same bro..
It is very sad to see Landmark end up like this. It was a beautiful mall back in the 90s. Used to go there all the time. I still even have 2 Landmark Mall loyalty cards from back in the day.
While I agree that general trends probably doomed the mall, IMHO there were some particularly stupid decisions which sped up the process:
1. Bringing in Lord & Taylor: This sounded good on paper, but the demographics of the area around the mall didn’t really support that type of store, especially with Pentagon City right up I-395.
2. The Old Navy experiment: At one point, the Sears side of the mall was the most vibrant. The mall’s owners decided to fix that by relocating all of the stores on the second floor of the Sears court over to the Macy’s side, then turn the space into an Old Navy. This had the effect of disrupting several business, some of whom left, and then to top it all off, the Old Navy was open for just a short while. After that, the Sears side just died on the vine, with the Old Navy space being pretty much an (usually empty) albatross. In your video, I think it was a no-name furniture store.
3. General Properties’ Redevelopment Scheme: I remember attending a community meeting about the redevelopment circa 2005, and walked away wondering what they were smoking because it was some good stuff. For one thing, they talked about how average household income within 1 mile of the mall was $120K or something like that. Anybody who knows that part of Alexandria knows that isn’t exactly the case (lots of apartment buildings filled with low-to-moderate income people). Then they started cancelling the leases (for example, the CVS and the tire shop which used to be across from the Macy’s) to clear the way for redevelopment. Then they had to cancel, and then they were left with a nearly empty mall. A true General Properties special!
Reading this, now it makes tons of sense why Landmark Mall died. Yeah, bringing in Lord and Taylor was a bizarre move to do, considering the nearby demographics. So sad it died, since per this video it still looks really nice and immaculate inside even after that mall officially closed. Thank goodness the vandals hadn't hit this mall, and hopefully they continue to not find a way to trash this mall unlike too many other ones they ruined(i.e. Lincoln Mall in Matteson, IL, Rolling Acres in Akron, OH, etc).
BoratWanksta Yeah it’s nice that it wasn’t trashed. I suppose that the Wonder Woman movie had a lot to do with that. In a way, I am very happy that it will be preserved in a feature file the same way that the mall of my youth, Phoenix’s MetroCenter, is preserved in its full glory in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
@AidanPlayzMC - Minecraft & Autism & Aspergers Nope. Just somebody who went to that mall for the better part of 2 decades, from when it was just redone as an indoor mall until the Great Recession.
Strangely, I visited open air Landmark back in '85 when I was living temporarily in ALX...Years later when I moved to VA for good (1997), I had no idea Landmark had become a full-fledged mall, as I lived out near Fair Oaks and used to also go to Tysons (I and II) and Dulles Town Center, and once in a while, Pentagon City. Too many malls.......Soon there willl only be Tysons.
Hey everyone! Thanks so much for the awesome support! This log is a long time in the making, and I'm excited to finally share it with you all! I believe filming has wrapped at the Landmark Mall for Wonder Woman: 1984, and right now redevelopment is imminent. The funny thing is...in 1984, the mall was still outdoor, not enclosed...so I wonder if Wonder Woman: 1984 will call this the Landmark Mall? Research Research Research!!! Enjoy!
What was the security talking to you about at the end?
Another awesome mall log, Sal. The Landmark Mall is an attractive retail space. I can see why Warner/DC is using the mall to film some scenes of Wonder Woman 1984. I wasn't aware the latest stand-alone Wonder Woman film will be set in the 80's era. With Hollywood's current success with 80's themes shows like STRANGER THINGS ❤️, doing a Wonder Woman origin story set in 1984 is on point. Thx so much for offering the DC inside scoop on the film. I will be sure to see the Wonder Women film on opening day. As always thx for sharing your mall journeys with us. It's always a treat. Have a great night.
As someone who has been with the channel from the very beginning, I humbly appreciate your words, Mme. keep in mind...the mall wasn’t redeveloped and enclosed until 1990...so I swear if this film calls their location from 1984 “Landmark Mall”...I’ll be having words with them...
😁 "So I swear if this film calls their location from 1984 “Landmark Mall”...I’ll be having words with them" Sal, this comment made me chuckle lol. Honestly, when I read your comments concerning the Wonder Woman film location details, all I could think is; "And, why isn't Sal part of the film crew again? TRUTH. This is exactly my thought. Since I've been with your channel since the opening, this old schooler fangirl lol can say without question your the creative process/content of your videos are tight. As someone who has been on my fair share of film sets throughout the years, I'm confident if you had the chance to film in the professional league, you'd hold your known. Till this happens, keep killing it in your youtube league. ☕️ Cheers!
PS: Thx for the kind comments. It's appreciated. Have a great day.
They were telling me to leave the property :(
I basically grew up in Springfield VA mall and Landmark Alexandria VA. So sad to see Landmark abandoned
:(
I grew up in Woodbridge, VA near Potomac Mills Mall. This mall opened in 1985 and is still thriving today. What's different about this mall is that is a single level mall. Originally developed by the Mills Corporation and now owned by the Simon Group. Currently it has over 200 stores. The mall brought the first Ikea to Virginia, though Ikea is not in the mall anymore but it's own building.
I grew up literally a minute away from this mall. This video brings back so much memories man.
You’re doing a great job, Sal. I’m always impressed with the amount of homework you do on these places. I love hearing the history as opposed to just watching someone walk around in silence. The “Muzak” in the background with the mall-like reverb effect is a nice touch too.
So difficult looking at a place like that knowing once it was alive with activity and now there’s just leaves falling from whatever kind of trees grow in those enormous pots. Thank you for documenting this and for all the amazing research you do!
It’s so bittersweet...
It's very sad. I think of a local mall in South Florida in my town that closed and was demolished a number of years ago. It's not a huge outlet mall. None of the original structure stands and thus unrecognizable...
Hi Karen. Are you related to Dr Bob Kasulke? I knew him when I lived in NYC. Just wondering.
This mall, being in such good shape, is actually not depressing. It just looks closed. Like it will open in a few hours. Most of these dead malls with buckets all over the place catching leaks, and broken tiles all over are much more ready for demolition than this
This was one of our hangouts when I was a student at Thomas Jefferson (TJHSST)! I’m so glad UA-cam recommended this to me...this was a well-made, bittersweet trip down memory lane.
Thank you for watching!
Oh wow I went to TJHSST too and I didn't know that TJ students used to hang out there!
All the cool kids, especially those who had cars hung out at Landmark Mall. Gas up their cars at Strubies (sp), as her Dad owned the Shell gas station at Rt.236 (Little River Turnpike) and Beauregard Street. Gary was the son of the owner of Jerry's Ford. Gary was often riding in a Mustang rag top, with dealer tags (something he wasn't supposed to do).
The Sears is still open today even though the mall closed. It closed Jan 31, 2017 after Macy's closed. The owners planned to tear it down and replace with an open town center, but it seems to be delayed due to financial problems. Meanwhile, the former Macy's will be used as a temporary homeless shelter.
Correct. Not sure exactly when redevelopment will begin, but they have the green light already.
I really don't know why mall owners can't find creative ways to redevelop these properties. Landmark looked immaculate inside, and if they wanted to could easily be redeveloped into something new. But no, developers too often are wasteful and tear these buildings down after it fails as a mall. :(
BoratWanksta I'm pretty sure the nobody will be able to afford to live at this new town center whenever it gets all said and done by the rate things are going (unless if you're part of the super elite 2-1%).
They are going to do this to the one mall in my area also.
Sears finally closed down back in September 2020
I remember going to the original Landmark Mall as a child in the 1960s, then taking my own children there when they renovated it in the '90s, and then my grandchild there in the 2000s. Decades of memories and stories about this mall. I'm not going to lie, lots of tears thinking about those times, but change is inevitable and has to be embraced. We have our precious memories and that's what they will remain. Thanks so much for documenting the end of an era in Alexandria, VA.
I met my current fiance there 25+ years ago working at Chocolates, Etc, a candy store right outside of Sears on the 2nd floor.
Omg congrats! That’s wonderful!
We would love to get married there before they tear it down but i have my doubts.
and thanks!
Have you contacted the management?
No, but your video has inspired me to do so.
Your most gripping expedition yet! Everytime I take a pic at malls, my heart drops when I hear keys gingling or that radio chirp.
Thanks!! The radio scared the hell out of me, which made me cut it short...but it’s such an amazing place!
Your hard work on these videos is greatly appreciated!
I remember the outside mall as a kid in the 70s and a teenager in the 80s. There was something called the Underground. Part of the mall shops were underground in those days.
WOW! Not only full of information but edge of your seat drama! :). Well worth the wait!!!
I shot a vlog at this mall two years ago just a few months before it closed - I first came to this mall in 1986 when it was an open air mall and I have witnessed first hand it's rise and fall over the last 30 years
I remember win it opened it's hard to see like this I lot childhood and some thought college to
????
Sears is still open there
Potomac Mills out in Woodbridge ate that malls lunch unfortunately! I was there a few years back at 3pm on a Wednesday walked into the food court and it was standing room only. Me and a friend was on our way to see a concert in Manassas and the Potomac Mills exit was one exit up I-95. The place was so packed we just ate and went to the concert venue.
So many memories had at this mall. I got my haircut here for years, bought so many Pokemon cards here, suffered through clothes shopping with my family. This mall played a big part of my childhood.
The video, narration, and background music are nothing short of incredible! It’s really interesting to see the mall basically untouched after being abandoned. Thanks for a great video! :)
Thank you so much for the kind words, Christina! Tons more content on the way :)
Sal, Your videos are fantastic and all the details you give keep me hanging on for more. Keep up the good work!
Thanks, Linda! The research is half the fun!
A fine job of filming. I moved into Fairfax County in 1966. Worked at Fort Belvoir and lived with my new bride in a garden apartment a few miles up Route 1. Landmark was then the nearest shopping center. It wasn't enclosed then. Sears, Woodward & Lothrops and JC Penny's were the anchor stores. I'll miss it.
I really like the idea of exploring abandoned places. It feels like time stopped right there and it's story lives on. Thinking about the halls that was once filled, who used to fill the halls, and the nostalgia acting as the building's life support. I also find it a perfect place to do photography. But of course, I rather come to these places with a group
Me too!!! Thanks so much for watching!
Meanwhile on the other side of the shopping mall in the parking lot dr. Emmett Brown was shot and killed by Libyan terrorists while Marty McFly was traveling back in time.
That Twin Pine mall is near my house but not many ppl there either.
The production value is fabulous, Sal-- thanks for putting in the time. I've been to a fair share of dead malls. I am always amazed how the energy still seems to be in the building, even though the humans are gone. Thanks for the videos!
Thanks!!! I’ve been positively swamped lately, but I hope to have my next piece out soon :)
Anytime a person sets foot on a Deserted Abandoned Mall. It gives very Eerie feeling that you,re not alone. Nervousness sets in. It,s too quiet. You just want to look around . Capture whatever in the Camera. And get the hell out. ASAP. It just brings chills up the spine. Like you,re being watched. even though the Mall is completely undisturbed.
I used to live a block from this mall. My ex was a security guard there. Brought back a lot of memories for me. Your expedition logs are a wonderful look at these former shopping meccas. I also love to walk malls and look at all the great architecture. Keep up the excellent work!
Thank you!
I grew up around landmark mall. I used to go to a shopping center about a half mile up the road that was or had an S Kline store in it. Then after that Landmsrk came along. I have so many good memories at landmark mall. But It was I think just called Landmark. I even got arrested at Sears stealing a brand new hand held 10.00 computerized football game. Of course this was 40 years before cellphones or computers as we know them now. I used to take my girlfriends Christmas shopping outside, window shopping at night while it snowed and it was very special. Thank you so much for doing this.
I was having a panic attack along with you :D Thanks for filming, archiving and sharing these sad bits of mall history with us.
Thank you for this. I grew up in the Lincolnia neighborhood of Alexandria (Virginia Village), right across 95. This was our favorite hangout spot for years, this and Springfield. If the metro hit both of them it would have been good. The best years of my life were in Alexandria and in this are and mall 96 till 2001.
I met hulk hogan here. Made friends here. Went to the fair here. Hung with my girls here. Shopped with my family. Bought records at the FYE. 1st time I went to chic filA was here. Loved the food court. I LOVED THIS MALL!! I spent so much time here, so much money. So many memories. This breaks my heart. It was cool having a mall basically in ur neighborhood.
RIP Landmark. Thank you for the memories!!!
Ironic how this open air mall was redesigned as an enclosed mall yet today enclosed malls are being redesigned as open air malls.
Yeah I always wonder about that too. Why people would want to trudge around in the snow and rain baffles me. The biggest reasons I've heard are (1) it's too much trouble to go to a particular store (unless it's an anchor store) because you have to go inside and walk to wherever it is and (2) the landscape is too phony.
The new model of developing housing in line with shopping strikes me as a bit on the trendy side. It does sound nice in theory, and I'm sure that there are people who will enjoy close access to shopping etc. But long-term, who will want to have to try to sleep with all the noise, etc.? Or who will want to have 15,000 strangers right near where their kids are?
I suspect that the best model is a hybrid-style mall, with store entrances facing both inside and out. That way, you can come right up to the store you want to go to if you aren't in the mood to wander, while you can go inside and wander if that is what you want to do. Mall operators also have to be creative and serve the communities which are actually around them and not the ones which they would like to be. They can study the example of Desert Sky Mall in Phoenix, which has succeeded in doing reasonably well (4 out of 5 anchors open, and mostly occupied) in an area where most malls would have folded.
Like neck ties and hem lines. They come and go, only to return in style. The hankie hem was seen on Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth's grandmother, mother to her father.
I remember when it was an open air mall and Woodie’s was there.
I’m still living in Alexandria and just knowing more about this mall I used to go to, is very weird and just cool.
Cheers! You live by a very very cool mall, I wish It was still open!!
@@sal it’s crazy it’s still just sitting there. I drive by it every day. The talk is for the stereotypical mixed use with a hospital but I haven’t seen much happen. Amazon uses the parking lot and that’s about it
Thank you for making such thoughtful videos. I remember going to Landmark with my mom to get my first prom dress- what a difference. Stay safe!
Thanks, Maggie! I promise to be more careful in my expeditions :)
I can't believe a store "the best of the Internet" never opened. It'll be a collection of all the hottest sellers on the internet where people can go buy, pay, and take home the product without having to pay for shipping and wait. Stores need to be more seasonal and be more like a specialized warehouse. Malls need to house service businesses like gym, dentists, chiropractors, hair, nail salons, spa, sauna, massage, physical therapy, acupuncture, bar, movie theatre, retro arcade, pool hall, oil change centers, car wash and detail, community theatre, and of course restaurants, etc. no more gnc, bath and body works, etc.
Ooh, and also a training center for music, art, pottery
I really like that idea!!!!
Ironically many malls did have retro arcades long before it was retro, but rather still a new idea. Would be hard to pull off on a large scale now as game producers have moved on to home consoles with $80 games, dlc and subscriptions years ago. Thinking back last time I saw an arcade in a mall was 2002, and a theatre in a mall about 2005 which is another thing I often liked. For the rest of those things I do see a lotta smaller malls with those types of businesses inside, too often in the struggling malls now ignored by most people.
I remember my mom and I standing upstairs in front of Sears. We literally stood there for several minutes when she sadly told me "Wow... this mall used to be crowded with people and now it's slowly dying. It's so sad how things change.". Now its completely dead :(
This guy is proper! The information about places is spot on and sound effects are great. One of the best explorers on UA-cam with out doubt. Keep up the good work man! Sick videos!
Hey thanks a bunch! Should have my next piece out by late tonight or tomorrow!
Sal looking forward to it 👊🏻
I live 5 minutes away from mall... it’s big shame mall going away. Nothing last forever, at least Springfield mall revitalize in a good way.
I don't like it feels repetitive after couple times. I'll probably end up like landmark in 10 years
Thanks for recording this and giving some history. I did not know it has closed. I now live on the west coast but from 1971 to 1978 I worked at the Sears at Landmark Shopping Center in Alexandria, Va. It was a ver busy
center and store. Many of the departments were over million dollar departments and that was a lot in the 70's. Cannot believe that it is no longer open. Shocked. A lot of the malls you mentioned opened after ours.
Funny you play the cassette commercial. Been watching Jackass lately, and they parody that commercial with a jet engine.
Haha that’s a great bit. Jackass is a treasure.
Thank you for documenting this. I was waiting for someone to film Landmark. I use to come to this mall all the time when I was a kid. I also use to go to the carnivals they would have in the parking lot. I knew that eventually it was gonna close, but when it happened it was like a piece of my childhood died. It was sad to see it go. Can't wait to see what they did to the inside in Wonder Woman 2.
Wow...I would be absolutely terrified if I were to get lost or trapped in any sort of building...glad you made it out okay! It’s amazing to see an abandoned, for the most part at least, building in such good condition! Keep up the great work, your production quality continues to impress, even if this was actually older footage!
Thank you, Emelie! It was frightening in the stairwell. Of course, it’s entirely my fault for putting myself in that situation...but I’ll not stop at any lengths to get the footage if it’s possible!
So long as you still come out safe, then I understand the need to document these locations! That’s real passion!
I appreciate your concern for my safety :)
This sucks to see. I remember growing up in the 80s and 90s when malls were still in pretty good shape.
John Dubay Yea we were at the peak of Malls in late 70 to mid 80's. I would go with my Dad on weekends to Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, NC in the early and mid 80's and eat donuts. It was real special and I get all those feelings seeing these frozen in time Malls like this. Im surprised that any Malls are left to be honest, that type of shopping just isnt done anymore everythings online.
For me, it was Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, IL. I spent a LOT of time there with friends either window shopping or going to the movies at the theatres associated with the mall. It was an awesome place to see at Christmas too!! I don't know how they do it up now, but when I was a kid, the whole mall was just magical, with high school choirs singing, Santa in the center court and crowds of happy shoppers. I loved it!!
Oh yeah, back in the 80's the mall was the coolest place to go. We walked around with our friends, talked and laughed, and had a really great time.
Spooky spooky mall. You got guts doing that!!
Beautifully done!! So bloody sad....I (still) live 3 miles north on Van Dorn Street. Back in the day rarely a week went by that my hubby or I wasn't at this mall for something. I can pretty much tell you which vacant spaces were which stores. I can see the decline of malls, when internet shopping came about I was one of the first to stop going to malls. What I wouldn't give for some of those beaultiful trees! Thanks again!!!!
That is a very big mall & too bad you weren't able to explore all of it. It is sad to see all these malls folding up. I mean where will people shop if all malls end up closing? I mean when I buy clothes, I like to go & try them on. And I surely don't want to have to buy all my clothes at Walmart. Thanks for keeping some of history alive.
I vastly prefer to shop at free standing stores, and will continue to give them my business as long as they're able to survive. Malls on the other hand, I have no remorse about them closing and going away. Despite a lot of good memories from my childhood and teen years, since then they've been nothing but an exercise in frustration to me. The PITA of finding a parking spot, the masses of inconsiderate people and the 50/50 shot that the stores will have what I want, after an decent hike to get there, I can live without them.
In one sense malls killed themselves -- by having the same vendor mix whether you're in Virginia or New Hampshire. Why go to a different mall just to get the same Spencer, GNC, Gap etc? I stopped going once Sears started to flatten their selection. That was years ago.
Not all malls are closing. The US is over malled. The closures will probably get you to the same number of malls per head of population as here in Australia or Britain. In my rural area it is a 30 to 40 minute drive to my closet enclosed mall.
Peter Nadreau I went shopping on two Main Streets yesterday. It helps that I live in tourist area and both streets thrive on bric a brac stores and upscale cafes . But Main Streets can still work.
Peter Nadreau I live in Australia,here we are far more regulated then in the US. Malls here were mainly regulated to downtown, very few were built on green field sites until recently. The Mall tended to eat the downtown. On the positive side as city centres revived people only had to move a few blocks and the parking was already there.
Yeah my last shopping trip took in two Main Streets, A strip mall and an enclosed mall so I don’t get the romance either. I also grew up before Malls took over everything so not much nostalgia either.
I love these urban decay mini docs... i enjoy hearing a deep history of each location. Great job.
When are people going to wake up in America?....it's not simply Amazon and walmart...it's decline in standard of living and lack of disposable income....i made double 20 years ago vs today....and every dollar is worth 60 cents....so its more like triple....
When people stop applauding tax breaks for the corporations and wealthy. Sad isn't it?
Federal Reserve continuing to devalue the dollar, and continuing government debt. I don’t see either ending anytime soon.
Most of my Kmarts within' 10-15 miles started closing 2010-2012...Too many outdated ones and too close to each other. Probably 8 or 9 close to me. Three Malls within '20-30 minutes and most of them are pretty busy... Plenty of restaurants etc. Plus SEARS and Penneys etc. Too many Wallymarts… Two near the Deptford Mall and a five minute drive from each other.
Just like having our Rite-Aid and Walgreens on the same corner/across the street from each other… Some close after a few years.
Some smaller outdoor Malls/outlets are popping up and doing better.
But most of my lazy millennial friends would rather sit on their fat asses and order online... unsociable web-
heads...
Then gain. I live in a typical "machine run State" that's taxes us death; just like NY and California. No wonder corporations do want to be here; just like Philly...
im one of those unsociable web heads, i take offense
@@sparkplug1018 sears roebuck received their tax break this year..lol
This is sad. This is where I spent my teen years in the 70s and 80s. Thank you for this video.
Just watched WW84. I instantly recognized it was The Landmark Mall from watching your video.
It had to be bittersweet for people who used to go to that Mall when it was actually open & busy like that to see that scene in WW84.
I also had to go back and rewatch your video on this mall as well as other You Tube channel's who documented this mall like Dan Bell, Ace's Adventures etc.
I'd be willing to bet that this video will get a bunch more views now that WW84 finally came out.
I totally forget that WW84 was supposed to come out a little over a year ago.
(For anyone reading this in the future WW84 was originally supposed to debut in November of 2019)
*SPOILER ALERT FOR WONDER WOMAN 1994:*
Very ironic post credit scene to this video given WW84's post credit scene 😎.
How sad that a place that was such a beautiful place will soon be what was will no longer be around to enjoy.
Sherry Workman its not like junk consumerism disappeared
If you’re from the area, you might remember the old indoor shopping mall in Georgetown that was recently converted into a parking garage and expanded space for street level floors. It was such a neat space, being a full scale indoor mall that was hidden away in the center of a huge city block. If you watch the old and (by today’s standards) incredibly cheesy Arnold Schwarzenegger action flick called True Lies (released in 1994) you will actually see live scenes filmed in this old shopping mall, much like we’ll see in the new Wonder Woman film.
I’m 2 years late to the party, but so glad I discovered your channel!!! I use to live in Alexandria and I remember Landmark Mall! Back in Middle School (circa 1993), I participated in a fine arts competition held at Landmark Mall and had a blind contour drawing selected to be sent to a Moscow art exhibit. Had no idea Wonder Woman 1984 would be filmed there decades later! LoL
It applies to life as it applies to malls: Once you lose your woodies, failure is your destiny...
Another epic Expedition, Sal.
More than just a Picasso, this Video Document is a true work of art.
You remain the Dali of Mall Walkers, and at the _end of the day,_ you are not the Dead Mall explorer we want, you are the Dead Mall explorer we _need..._
Namaste
Sal! I'm spending a couple hours each night with you exploring these old malls. I don't know what it is that is so enchanting about them. It's sad to watch them in their abandoned state but beautiful at the same time as if they are holding their chin up and going out with dignity. This has been my favorite mall so far. It is the most gorgeous mall I've ever seen. This one is the saddest to me because it's so pretty. To me it looks like stores could move in and it would be a top notch mall again! Thank you so much for filming these and giving such great history.
We have a dead mall here in Jackson Mississippi called the metro center . I spent half of my life in that mall but I am not even sure if it is open anymore they may have finally closed it after years on its deathbed
I’ve got an episode coming down the line for Metrocenter! I was able to visit last winter!
Sal awesome I can't wait to see it . it was a nice mall in its prime
I left Jackson in 2004 and well remember the Metrocenter. When I was there, it was at about 30-40% occupancy with Sears and I think Belk as the two anchors. The rest of the stores other than Dollar Tree were ticky tacky no name outfits scattered in between nail and hair salons. And most of the kids hanging out there had their eyes out for your valuables so I never spent more time there than I had to. Frankly, I'm not surprised that it closed, only that it took so long.
This vlogumentary was worth the wait! The ambient music was first rate, especially the Coca Cola ad tune! Just superb explore footage... It always hurts my heart, to see a Mall come to an end. I love Mall life, as it was, but I love the tour of them. The sights and the silence, and the creaks and the shadows of the past... Great job, Sal! 👍
Great video Sal! Really enjoyed it and glad you posted again!
Sal, thanks for your efforts in keeping these malls relevant and remembered. I’m old enough (52) to remember the pomp surrounding a new mall opening. Wish I could go back but your vids are as close as I’ll get ever again. Cheers.
I was lucky enough to walk around the inside 3 separate times, I got in the same way you did but I went through the left set of doors instead of the right. It was a lot easier to access the inside, just two sets of doors. On my second time going, after spending about and hour walking around the inside a security guard came in on the first floor (I was on the second by the front doors) my friend and I jumped into the closest store front and hid in a small bathroom in the back for about 20 mins until we couldn't hear any foot steps. We managed to get out the way we came in with no problem... I came back after my 3rd time going about a month later to go walk the inside again. But sadly sears had closed the gates to the mall... I went outside and walked around the mall to check for another way in. I found another way in which amazingly enough led to the same hallway. As you can imagine i was extremely excited only to be let down that the door that led to the mall was locked... (also excited to meet you in Milwaukee soon!)
Hey man! Thanks for watching! The security guards were definitely a presence there...I couldn’t take any chances as I’m sure you can understand...
I love Wonder Woman. After I graduated pilot training, a dear friend gave me a small desk plaque that read, “Wonder Woman Works Here”. Even now, fully retired, I still smile when I see this little bit of inspiration when I look at it on my desk.
Never have I heard the "Coke" song so hauntingly. Love It!
It breaks my heart that this mall is no more. I remember when this mall was jammed packed during the Christmas holiday season. I would go here after shopping over at Tysons Corner. My husband and I would drive up the hill and eat at the Chi-Chi's and then walk next door to CompUSA. Thank you! New subscriber!
Whoa, didn't realize this happened. I used to live at The Arbors on Duke many, many years ago. Thanks for doing this and sharing.
Sal, thank you so much for all of these! I am so fascinated by these old malls and anything nostalgic. I really appreciate these videos you’ve done. It would be so fun to do what you’re doing.
I think they should seal them up as time capsules for future generations .
it's like watching the passing of a lifetime of memories and almost as if the walls that held the structure together silently thanking you for making memoir of them even tho they consciously know that they will be soon forgotten
I don't know if the music really was playing ( I'm doubting that) but if it was it becomes creepy when no one's around.
Your videos are top quality Sal. I enjoy the throughout history you provide and appreciate your excellent use of the English language as well when it comes to describing these malls
Hi Sal. This was the best treatment of Landmark I've seen, and I don't say that idly, because the mall is like a member of the family. Landmark was the apex product of the golden age of the real estate trust in America. That kind of financing is unlikely to ever be available again. I guess all I hope is that Hughes repurposes it successfully so that it can be remembered for what it was. Thank you so much.
This makes me cry, this is my town's mall : Thanks for the last look, just went to some meetings and they are back on track on redoing it, they now have all the property...
How funny. Just watched this video and decided to subscribe. Then I noticed I'm subscriber number 6000.
You do great videos. I love abandoned malls. Keep on with this!
Hey thanks!!! You rock for being Sub #6000!!
This made me so sad, but it was great to see the mall make an appearance in WW84. When I first moved to the area, Landmark was a throw-back open air shopping bizarre. I remember a record store that was sunken underground with carpeted walls and a ramp from the surface level that wrapped around the exterior walls of the sunken space. Landmark Mall was such a huge update to the area.
Another great piece.
Sal I love your use of old commercials as 'sponsors'.
It’s my favorite
I don't know why I keep watching these type's of videos its so super depressing. Ugh!!!!!! My friends and me used to go to the mall for getting numbers and having so much fun. I hope the newer generations really dig the shit outta Amazon, good greif the malls are jobs for the youth it's how you grow into management positions and it's where people learn retail skills. And work experience, look at all of that amazing tile work and all the hands on construction that went into every single part of the mall. I'm a tile and granite contractor and I've done my share of tile in malls, so I know how many hundreds of guys put blood sweat and tears into making these things so beautiful. I'd much rather go to a real store for clothes shopping, go to Toys R US instead of Target or Wallmart who sell everything under the sun, Toy R US sold one thing. Toys!!!!!!!!! the world is becoming really weird
I feel exactly what your saying. I'm 31 and the mall down the street from my house was me and my friends favorite place to hangout on the weekends. Toys R Us was also a favorite of mine for buying anything toy or game related. Now all of it is slowly turning into an online store and it makes me so fucking sad for today's generation of kids. I feel like we're heading into the twilight zone of another reality :(
I'm a new sub and I'm obsessed with your videos. I love the history you provide! I grew up going to the mall with friends and working there. I'm 33 now and it hurts to see this happening. I'm happy you are able to do this for us!
I love this comment :)
I found this after the trailer of Wonder Woman 1984 released !!! How cool it was
This mall is nuts!! And I’m glad it gets a ton of screen time in the trailer too!
FYI. For those who might be curious enough to try this yourselves, I was just there yesterday. The mall entrances from Sears on both floors have now been covered up by drywall so the exploration Sal took is no longer possible. It was weird to see as the drywall they covered the entrances up with is a different color than the rest. Classy till the end...LOL! Also, I went to the entrance of the mall and looked inside. There were two box fans on the floor by the door and a few buckets in the distance on the floor. They'd had trouble with leaks before but there was more than one bucket visible. They're going to demo the mall anyway so no biggie. It won't be reused. Just kinda sad to see it like that.
Sal as always you are great. I truly love the fact that you do not make it about yourself but what you are exploring. That Montgomery Mall in Alabama is still there waiting for you. I think.
It’s definitely on my list...just need to find some time to get out and explore!
I remember my dad taking me to this mall in 2002 when he lived in Alexandria. I was just a teenager. I remember it looked like an ordinary mall. It definitely wasn't high-end. Maybe there were a few vacancies. I do remember him commenting though that he thought it looked kind of depreciated. Maybe by then it started its downward spiral. We never went back. We usually went to Ballston Common Mall, Pentagon City Mall, or the Shops at Georgetown Park. Now every single one of those save Pentagon City are gone. Consumer dynamics changed drastically in just 18 years...
Great video! You deserve 40,000 subscribers! :)
He's closing in on it now! 2 years later, I'm very glad to have been here since the beginning 😁
@@PaulRudd1941 Oh, that is awesome! :) Thank you for reminding me of my comment. :)
We just explored a dead mall here in Florida. Our video is more humorous, but I’ve always appreciated and been fascinated with dying retail and abandoned places. Your channel is amazing. Keep up the great work brothaman.
Great video. Can understand how erie it was. I seen vids on Landmark but not since it closed. Was awesome to see but sad too.
it's sad to see this mall go. my mom loved going here because it was empty because she hates big crowds and we would just hang out under those massive skylights. it's really sad to me that if they would have kept it open air i bet it'd be booming today. Love your stuff btw the work you put in is amazing!
I like the part about getting lost in the corridors...very House of Leaves.
I have been shopping at Landmark since it opened.
It was a great place at Christmas time and in the summer in the 1960s/1970s.
Sad to see it close.
I really like your commentary on these malls. It's a shame you don't live further south. Birmingham used to be ripe with abandoned malls. Earlier this year, Huntsville demolished their first regional mall, Madison Square Mall. In Tuscaloosa, the McFarland Mall has been seeing a recent boon. Just 10 minutes away from my house is the Western Hills Mall which just refuses to die after being on its last legs for 10 years. Malls in my state are so fragile it seems.
There was a mall like that near my home, the Plantation Fashion Mall, beautiful mall inside, brass railings, granite flooring, fountains, the works. Spent a solid 8 or so years just barely hanging on, the last 2 stores being a Sharper Image and an Auntie Annie's, and Macy's. Hurricane Wilma finally did it in when it damaged the roof over Macy's and flooded that store. They simply moved up the street to a Burdians location they'd acquired and the mall died, finally. Took them almost 13 years to finally demolish it.
Funny you mention Western Hills. Though I don't know much about that one, the mall that to me seems the equivalent of this mall in the Chicago area(keep thinking it'll die, but it doesn't and continues to limp on) is River Oaks Center in Calumet City, IL. That mall used to be a completely outdoor shopping center built in the same way(and same developer) as Old Orchard and Oak Brook(think they may also have developed the former Park Forest Plaza, but not sure), but after being enclosed around 1994 by Simon, it eventually started to struggle and couldn't compete as well vs. Southlake Mall in Merrillville, IN. Though it wasn't all bad for that mall, since it managed to outlast Lincoln Mall in Matteson, IL(just to the west of here). Macy's did recently add a Macy's Backstage(clearance area) to their River Oaks store, so maybe the Macy's here is not as in danger of closing as I used to think. The FYE at River Oaks is also the ONLY FYE I've ever been to, where half of the store is walled off. I'm in desperate need of wanting to revisit River Oaks, since it was an interesting mall for me to visit when I went there a few years ago. Oh yeah, almost forgot to say this mall(think this is the order they closed, but it was years ago) lost a 6 screen movie theater, two different 2 screen movie theaters(1 connected to the mall, and another outside that was the oldest theater vs. the 2 connected to this mall), Carson's, and finally Sears. It still has Macy's(like I said above) and JCPenney, as of now.
Dang Western Hills mall is still alive, its been dead since I was kid and I’m 25. They lost their anchor when I was a kid, I’m surprised it’s still living.
MissRoyalSex I know Birmingham is a big city, but we are over malled honestly. You have Brookwood Mall, Riverchase Galleria, Hwy 280 open area strip.
Believe it or not, up until last year the mall still had an anchor tenant. The last 2 anchors were Walmart and Burlington. Can you guess which one left first? There are still businesses in the mall, although not many. Just last month the tuxedo rental place announced they would be relocating. That surprised me because while they had been there literally forever, I thought they would have already left by now. A Few months ago, the mall's manager got shot in a gang shooting outside the mall. With all the stuff that happens, I really wish sometimes the place would die.
perfect timing of vid/description at 16:16 - "encountered more security" with a couple older women walking down the stairs... spot on Sal!!!
Dude, this is awesome!
Thanks, Jake!!
I remember coming to this mall as a kid and I have so many memories playing in the little kid area and looking at the water tanks they have
Awesome job with the music playing
Great, now I've got "I"d Like To Teach He World To Sing" stuck in my head - thanks a lot.( Haha, j/k. It's actually a fave of mine.) I was thinking, when you were walking in the back stairwells - he's gonna get lost. Those service hallways, especially in larger malls, are a dark, scary labyrinth if you don't know your way around. Glad you found a way out. Nice footage of this mall - it's nice to see them still in good condition even when they're completely vacant. Hopefully they will move forward with a nice redevelopment, so this place can live on into the future. Really enjoy your vids, thanks for all the hard work you put into producing them.
I’m so glad you recognized the Ad!!! This is my all time favorite, and I’m so thankful that McKann-Erickson pushed for the ad so hard! Truly a groundbreaking campaign, with a global reach.
Very interesting video Sal. I have lived in the West End of Alexandria since 1995 and in the years I have lived here I have watched Landmark Mall die a slow death. In the late 1990s and very early 2000s the mall was still busy. The food court area had about a dozen vendors and there were musical performances (I believe on every other Wednesday) in the food court which was on the third floor. In the middle 2000s retailers such as the chain bookstore and CVS drug store left and the mall portion between the anchor stores became populated with lower end poorly financed businesses which came and went. A rough crowd of un-disciplined adolescents started hanging out and shoppers went elsewhere. Lastly since I am not from the Washington DC area (I moved here for work as many did) I found the story at the beginning about the history of the mall back in the 1960s to be quite interesting. A part of this area's past before I lived here.
your channel and a guy called wallie b are my favorites . I really like these old places , I just wish they wouldn't keep pulling them down .keep up the great work your doing.
I really like your videos because you do so much research. Do you find all your information online or do you have to go through records at city hall and libraries?
It’s a mix of everything. Newspaper articles, public court documents, and some kind friends around the country that are willing to visit the recorder of deeds in person, if the papers aren’t online.
New subscriber. Enjoying your videos Sal. Not just dead malls, but history of them as well.. nice job.
Thank you!
They shouldn't demolish this mall! It's beautiful and there are other ways to use this mall like turning it into an apartment building with the storefronts being converted into apartments and the former food court could be rented out to restaurants who could sell food to the tenants who live there and in that way they could preserve the architecture and beauty of this historic structure.
After this mall is demolished, it's going to become a new Alexandria Hospital campus. So good things will happen there.
i just found your channel the other day and i'm hooked. i love that you give histories of the locations; great narration. i also just listened to your Beethoven's 5th on one violin from 2013--AMAZING!!!!
Great video. Thanks.
Thanks, Nancy!
Your videos are fantastic. I love the history and background you give to them.
The editing and music is perfect too.