Thanks for visiting out town of Battle Creek . Don Pablos building was built for Don Pablos . They were the only occupant ever . Probably the reason it still sits vacant is because it couldn’t be converted into a dollar store , a marajuana shop , or a car wash .
And if Don Pablos doesn't come back (it won't sadly) I hope that building stays untouched for the history of a great restaurant. I just really love that place.
Battle Creek is my hometown I live there since I was five I moved away from there when I was 15 but I was supposed to still around that area up until I moved away and then I moved to Nashville Michigan that's closer to Hastings and Charlotte then from from there I moved back to Battle Creek and then I moved up north across the Mackinac bridge but Battle Creek Michigan is my hometown
This Don Pablos closed when the entire franchise closed, and most of the franchise had no notice. This building was also built by Don Pablos and hasn't had another occupant.
My dad loved that place. Used to eat there a couple times a month. Staff was always friendly. Being a warehouse style dining room, the place was loud when it was packed. We found out they closed like the staff did. Rolled up for lunch one day and found it locked up. Surprising to see all the stuff that got left behind. They auctioned off a lot of the contents after they closed. Nice video, thanks for the memories.
I live in Battle Creek, and I use to eat here. At 3:50, that was a wishing fountain and there was always a ton of change in there. It's weird to see the inside of it again. I drive past it every day but I never go up and look inside it.
@@jocelynelliott5676 oh yeah, but that mall is empty and depressing besides Applebee's and the Movie theater that will probably change companies again in the next year or two 😂😂😂
This is actually how most Don Pablo's were styled. Both of the ones near me looked exactly like that until they closed. Also shout-out to Wallie for the RVD reference and Kayla for the Cannibal Corpse shirt
The one in Airport Hwy in Toledo OH looks like a mail package box painted in tan. It closed the same way. When I left Concentrix it was fired and abandoned too.
Great video! I'm originally from Battle Creek and also an RVD fan. I took quite a few dates to this Don Pablo's back in the day. It's a bummer finding out how many places have closed in Battle Creek. I used to work at that Sears back in the day and the unmarked store on the end used to be a JC Penny's.
Thanks for coming to Cereal City. I had many good times, great food and drink at that Don Pablo's. Many places have closed and some are being torn down.
I miss Don Pablo's. Not the best Mexican food but they had a cool atmosphere. The resturant was pretty busy but I believe the company declared bankruptcy.
Loved this place after work. It's a ghost town at the mall area. I was shocked when it closed so quickly. It was built as a Don Pablo's. Hope something moves in
I worked there in 2016 and left just before it closed. I wasn't paid correctly on a check and when I asked the GM he had no straight answer as to why he was splitting it between different weeks checks. When I left in June I told my best friend it would be closed within a year. And it closed shortly after. They had trouble paying vendors for a while. I had gone through this before when Te Khi did the same thing, telling the employees to leave because there was a gas leak and locking the damn doors like cowards.
A friend of mine who been in the the restaurant industry told me there is a reason why restaurants close abruptly because it would cause a hostile environment, theft, vandalism, sabotage, contamination of food, if they told their employees the restaurant was closing in a few weeks.
I live in Battle Creek. This was one of my favorite places to eat and hang out. Then one day it was gone. It was a sad day. Many of my friends lost their jobs, it was unexpected.
That anchor store on the end was a Penny's. Sears on the west end. Yes Pablo's was a neat place to go. I really liked there soft shell tacos. I did some mall walking during my shoulder surgery recovery. Thanks for showing up and giving us a see through of Don Pablo's.It is to bad the grounds people do not keep the greenery cut down a little better. Safe travels.
@@gaffneyrailroading1982 I live in Chicagoland, they have A decent amount of them here about 10-15. Which is nothing compared to about 200-300 Wal-Mart stores.
Little update for ya. This building has become a Pure Roots marijuana dispensary, the old Pier 1 Imports that was across the street is now an AutoZone and I will admit it looks a bit bizzare yet unique, And the old Toys R Us is a huge U-Haul storage and rental center. You should check it out next time you are in Battle Creek. I am born and raised there, and love seeing these buildings having life in them again~
This is so sad. Don's had great food and was a booming place when it first opened and on for several years. Everyone was disturbed to see it close. Yes, it had great atmosphere and the square in the middle of the room was a fountain with plants around it. It was our favorite place to sit. There was also plenty for vegetarians to choose from off the menu. So sorry to see it closed and sitting there abandoned. Thanks for posting.
Not only restaurants close with no warning. Several other kind of businesses do also. Probably 20 years ago...Sprint did something similar. They called a somewhat employee meeting and fired over 300 people and told them they had 2 hours to get their things and get out. Some folks demanded an explanation. Almost a riot broke out.
The thing I know Battle Creek for is having an abandoned Toys R Us that DIDN'T close with the company and actually closed in 2006. I think I heard U-Haul moved in within the last year or 2 but the vintage Toys R Us aesthetic is still there. And to the comment about managers locking the doors, almost happened to me so I can put myself in those shoes easily. I would have tried to get a lawyer if I hadn't mostly moved on with my life.
Man this gives me so much nostalgia I used to eat here all the time, sad to see it gone and also that building at the end of the mall was the old J.C Penney’s it closed in 2017
JC Penney is at that end of the mall, it's a dead mall. Sears was at the other end, Macy's was in the middle all three are closed. I ate at that Don Pablo's twice, and had to blow that toilet up..😂. I dont know what was up with their food. Yes, they did their employees dirty! Great video!
While you are in Michigan you should visit Benton harbor MI. Thier is a abandoned target thier and a Burlington store that used to be a Kmart. And a abandoned pier 1. Just a suggestion :)
I'm from the Battle Creek area and I remember that Don Pablo's when it was built it was built as a Don Pablo's it was nothing else if I remember rightly
I live in mid Michigan. Grew up here. In the early 90s, there was a rally’s/checkers that did that very same thing to their employees. The employees one day showed up and the doors were locked and no explanation no warning. It was kind of a semi “thing” for about a month. Back then, it was a really small college town. I worked in food as I got older. I too feel bad for those/all employees that are unfortunate to endure that horrible situation. People that do crap like that (with no legit reason like you said) deserve bad karma. SMDH
It's was built as a Don Pablo's there was nothing there before it was built back around 2000. The franchise was bought by a company along with many other restaurants I want to say around 2010- 2014ish. It was a great place to eat and work most people loves it
Miss DP. Ours in Mt. Laurel, NJ closed around the same time... in the same way. Looks the same too. Closures like this happen in bankruptcies, they keep the place running until the very last minute. Sometimes a court order closes them too.
My hometown! The building was new when they opened, sorry it closed, loved the food but you're right, what a crappy thing to do to your employees! BC needs some restaurants, not much there but fast food now.
WORKED A DON PABLOS IN YOUNGSTOWN OHIO FOR 5 YEARS. FUNNEST JOB I EVER HAD. 2 WEEKS BEFORE WE CLOSED NO INVENTORY WAS BEING ORDERED. WE KNEW WHAT WAS COMING. THAT LAST WEEK THERE I MADE SOOOOO MUCH MONEY. I WAS A BARTENDER. ANY CASH SALES WENT RIGHT INTO MY TIP JAR. HAD THE WHOLE STAFF SO DRUNK ON THE LAST NIGHT. THEY DIDNT GET OVER ON US EMPLOYEES.
Yes this happened to many restaurants in Battle Creek around 2016. Lone star as well. Doors closed. We are filling up with corporate fast food. Save Battle Creek!
The same thing happened to our Ryan's Steakhouse back in I want to say 2007. I was working there, and one day we were running out of everything, telling customers that we must be waiting on a truck or something. That night, they had everyone working clearing off tables and packing things up, and a mandatory meeting was held to tell people that "tomorrow, we won't be opening the doors." We were told that Old Country Buffet (also gone now) would accept applications and offer positions to our employees who wanted to go there for a job. I had three children ages 5 and under at the time. It was devastating.
I grew up in the Pittsburgh South Hills area, and we would occasionally go to the Don Pablo’s at The Point at North Fayette. That one was nothing like the one in this video.
BC native here, this place has since been turned into Pure Roots weed shop. I remember eating here a few times when I was little and I think it was okay. Then there was this one time I went with my older sister and I got sick off it, that was the last time I ever ate there cause the place closed a couple years later.
I live in Battle Creek and I loved this place! I was stunned when I heard a young lady that worked there telling someone in the grocery store what happened. I would love to know just what happened! Curiouser and Curiouser 🤔🤔🤔 Oh and Sears is gone.. JC Penny's is gone ...Macy's is gone... You can see we still have Barnes and Noble .but our only mall is pretty much a shell. Welcome to good ole Battle Creek, Michigan ... 😖 My second home is Pittsburgh! I remember the Giant Eagle in North Versailles!
Wow, did not know Rob Van Dan was from my home town, Thanks for that... my cousin worked there, he showed up to work and it was locked up with a note on the door.I believe Everybody got there pay check. He told me upper management was stealing money. After watching this I'm going to ask him again Tho... Peace!!
Thanks for sharing this wallie..next time you come to michigan come by Port huron michigan there a Abandoned building Kmart for ya guys to check out.. it sad that some company just close and dont say anything to there worker..
My parents took me there a bunch as a kid and I got to wear a huge sombrero on my birthday 😂 It's crazy to see the inside of it after so long, the building is just kinda there now and everyone pretty much ignores it.
the one in the Toledo/Holland Ohio area closed in the same way....but it is now reopened as a new restaurant. Firehouse Bar and grill. Has fire engines outside and everything.
Hey that's my home town. Yeah it looks like that cause the building was a building was supposed to be in the form of an Adobe style Western building like the Alamo, but given a brick exterior to make it modern/ metro style. It had great food, and it was a spot to be at a time. The Casino that came in to town helped kill it. Plus loss of biz in that mall across the parking lot.
Next to Barnes and Nobles was JC Penny's and center use to be MACY and other end was SEARs. All three closed back to back and this was all way before Covid.
I can remember my parents, my brother and myself had a late dinner at the old Damon's Steakhouse in the Southland shopping center back in '04 after one of my brother's football games. And I remember we waited forever for our dinners, and our waitress finally came to us and apologized for the long wait, and that they had JUST recieved word that they were closing and were going to be out of a job. So there, another classic case of unexpected unemployment. It's a very disheartening situation.
If your ever in Michigan again I would highly recommend checking out some abandoned farmer Jack grocery stores, they all went bankrupt in 2004 and 07, 2 locations that I still know of are the ones in Lincoln park and in Shelby Twp mi, I would highly recommend visiting the Shelby twp location as it has all of its shelving and logos inside
All the Don Pablo's locations here in Florida closed more than 10 years ago, so when I hear of locations in other places that are still open or closed more recently, it takes me back because I had forgotten about them. It had the feeling of eating in a Mexican market place and not a typical restaurant vibe. I don't remember much about the food, except that must have liked it enough to go back several times. I was into chain restaurants then. I'm more of a local restaurant kind of guy now.
Was always a Don Pablo's was there on the first day it opened, I also was there the day the U-Haul was out back planning on eating there after shopping employees were lost for words not only did they pay like the back but they also change the front doors lock
If I had lost a job unexpectedly, I'd file a lawsuit and fry their hides!! There are people who are absolutely shameless! You can't shame the shameless. I really enjoy watching your UA-cam Channel videos, Wallie and Kayla! Have a KMartlicious Day!
When opened they starved on authentic hand made Mexican food. I went back in 2002 and they had started going to some bought pre-made still 80-90% of the food was made in house.
Don Pablos had a bad reputation for poor customer service. There were also a lot of rumors about drug addiction among the employees. So it was not just poor management. I ate there a few times over the years, but each time the experience was less than favorable. Slow food orders filled, even when the restaurant was empty, mediocre food quality and the wait staff were not very friendly.
Thanks for visiting out town of Battle Creek . Don Pablos building was built for Don Pablos . They were the only occupant ever . Probably the reason it still sits vacant is because it couldn’t be converted into a dollar store , a marajuana shop , or a car wash .
I believe it was a Chi Chi's Mexican restaurant in the early 90s. That closed and soon Don Pablo moved in around 96 or maybe a little earlier
And if Don Pablos doesn't come back (it won't sadly) I hope that building stays untouched for the history of a great restaurant. I just really love that place.
Just read that they plan to make it a weed store. Ha!
Battle Creek is my hometown I live there since I was five I moved away from there when I was 15 but I was supposed to still around that area up until I moved away and then I moved to Nashville Michigan that's closer to Hastings and Charlotte then from from there I moved back to Battle Creek and then I moved up north across the Mackinac bridge but Battle Creek Michigan is my hometown
@@areed107 no, Chi Chi's was inside the mall. It occupied a part of what is now Barnes and Nobles.
And the mall right there is nearly empty. It's like a ghost town when you walk through the mall.
Soo true the only thing BC still has going for it is you get lucky some days and still get to smell the fresh cereal
Omfg that's what my dad says... now I believe him. I have dreams in there so often it's crazy.
I've heard rumors that Horrocks is moving into the vacant JCPenney store sometime before the end of this year.
Hi WALLIE B26. Saw your video concerning Don Pablo's in Battle Creek, Mi.
Well.. Don Pablo's is reopening as a POT SHOP. FYI.
My wife’s aunt worked at that don pablos right up until it closed. Too bad you couldn’t see our Kmart before it was demolished
Why did they close
Wait, the Battle Creek KMart got demolished? It's been about 6 months since I've been in downtown BC.
This Don Pablos closed when the entire franchise closed, and most of the franchise had no notice. This building was also built by Don Pablos and hasn't had another occupant.
Damn I wasn’t expecting to see my city on UA-cam 🤣🤣💕💕 love it😂
They slowly closed every location just like Old Country Buffet currently is. Good stuff guys!
Battle Creek still has an Old Country Buffet about 2 miles down the road. Still open.
@@6tyughj that location was closed and auctioned off in March 2016. Saginaw was the last Michigan location, which closed December 2018.
@@mikekurchak9851 Sorry, you are correct. I'm thinking of Cracker Barrel.
My dad loved that place. Used to eat there a couple times a month. Staff was always friendly. Being a warehouse style dining room, the place was loud when it was packed. We found out they closed like the staff did. Rolled up for lunch one day and found it locked up. Surprising to see all the stuff that got left behind. They auctioned off a lot of the contents after they closed. Nice video, thanks for the memories.
I live in Battle Creek, and I use to eat here. At 3:50, that was a wishing fountain and there was always a ton of change in there. It's weird to see the inside of it again. I drive past it every day but I never go up and look inside it.
I live in the creek. Yeah filled the water fountain at lakeview square mall with soap. It was a mess!! Great hang out when I was a kid!! 😁
@@jocelynelliott5676 oh yeah, but that mall is empty and depressing besides Applebee's and the Movie theater that will probably change companies again in the next year or two 😂😂😂
I totally miss Aladdin's castle Arcade. 💖
This is actually how most Don Pablo's were styled. Both of the ones near me looked exactly like that until they closed. Also shout-out to Wallie for the RVD reference and Kayla for the Cannibal Corpse shirt
The one in Airport Hwy in Toledo OH looks like a mail package box painted in tan. It closed the same way. When I left Concentrix it was fired and abandoned too.
Great video! I'm originally from Battle Creek and also an RVD fan. I took quite a few dates to this Don Pablo's back in the day. It's a bummer finding out how many places have closed in Battle Creek. I used to work at that Sears back in the day and the unmarked store on the end used to be a JC Penny's.
Thanks for visiting my home town Wallie 😄
Right😅
Same
I find that Battle Creek is best known for being the headquarters of Kellog's.
It is , I live here...yes it did happen but we still maintain here in Battle creek ...
I live in the creek too. Off riverside drive!! ☺️💖
Kellogg’s**
@@melindadavids5300 unfortunately it is hard to remember how to spell if you don't have one of their boxes infront of you.
@@robertsitch1415 Is it...?
We had a Don Pablos in Beavercreek. It became a MacKenzie River, Grill & Pub.
Thanks for coming to Cereal City. I had many good times, great food and drink at that Don Pablo's. Many places have closed and some are being torn down.
I miss Don Pablo's. Not the best Mexican food but they had a cool atmosphere. The resturant was pretty busy but I believe the company declared bankruptcy.
Nina's is a great Mexican restaurant, but I'm not sure they're open either! I haven't been that direction for a while!
Loved this place after work. It's a ghost town at the mall area. I was shocked when it closed so quickly. It was built as a Don Pablo's. Hope something moves in
I worked there in 2016 and left just before it closed. I wasn't paid correctly on a check and when I asked the GM he had no straight answer as to why he was splitting it between different weeks checks. When I left in June I told my best friend it would be closed within a year. And it closed shortly after. They had trouble paying vendors for a while. I had gone through this before when Te Khi did the same thing, telling the employees to leave because there was a gas leak and locking the damn doors like cowards.
A friend of mine who been in the the restaurant industry told me there is a reason why restaurants close abruptly because it would cause a hostile environment, theft, vandalism, sabotage, contamination of food, if they told their employees the restaurant was closing in a few weeks.
That’s sick I live and Battle Creek and always have wondered how it looked inside so thank for showing us inside I had to subscribe great channel!
I live in Battle Creek. This was one of my favorite places to eat and hang out. Then one day it was gone. It was a sad day. Many of my friends lost their jobs, it was unexpected.
I live here too, I've only ever been there once
That anchor store on the end was a Penny's. Sears on the west end. Yes Pablo's was a neat place to go. I really liked there soft shell tacos. I did some mall walking during my shoulder surgery recovery. Thanks for showing up and giving us a see through of Don Pablo's.It is to bad the grounds people do not keep the greenery cut down a little better. Safe travels.
From what I've heard, the whole "closing without telling employees" was common for Don Pablo's.... the North Hills location did that.
That's how all the Don Pablo's in Minnesota looked. That was their architectural style in the late '90s and early 2000s.
Fun fact cause you mentioned Meijer. Their headquarters in walker Michigan only about 73 miles away from battle creek.
@@gaffneyrailroading1982 I live in Chicagoland, they have A decent amount of them here about 10-15. Which is nothing compared to about 200-300 Wal-Mart stores.
Can't leave out home of country singer Frankie Ballard as well
I went to school with Frankie!! ☺️💖
@@kattrakee That man has talent cause i have seen him live and in person.
Eddie Robinson
Don't forget about Del Shannon.
Little update for ya. This building has become a Pure Roots marijuana dispensary, the old Pier 1 Imports that was across the street is now an AutoZone and I will admit it looks a bit bizzare yet unique, And the old Toys R Us is a huge U-Haul storage and rental center. You should check it out next time you are in Battle Creek. I am born and raised there, and love seeing these buildings having life in them again~
This is so sad. Don's had great food and was a booming place when it first opened and on for several years. Everyone was disturbed to see it close. Yes, it had great atmosphere and the square in the middle of the room was a fountain with plants around it. It was our favorite place to sit. There was also plenty for vegetarians to choose from off the menu. So sorry to see it closed and sitting there abandoned.
Thanks for posting.
My first serving job, I worked there from 98-2004 good memories in that building!! Their demise was so sad they had really good food at one point RIP
Finding these places are like a vintage adventure in the wild lol!
There is an abandoned Kmart off of US131 on exit 76. A planet fitness was recently built in the same parking lot. Went there alot as a kid.
Hey you went to Marshall!! All my videos are made around Marshall, also I used to work in the Lakeview square mall.
Not only restaurants close with no warning. Several other kind of businesses do also. Probably 20 years ago...Sprint did something similar. They called a somewhat employee meeting and fired over 300 people and told them they had 2 hours to get their things and get out. Some folks demanded an explanation. Almost a riot broke out.
The thing I know Battle Creek for is having an abandoned Toys R Us that DIDN'T close with the company and actually closed in 2006. I think I heard U-Haul moved in within the last year or 2 but the vintage Toys R Us aesthetic is still there. And to the comment about managers locking the doors, almost happened to me so I can put myself in those shoes easily. I would have tried to get a lawyer if I hadn't mostly moved on with my life.
I got food poisoning three times from that place, once when I was 6 months pregnant. I grew up in Battle Creek and just moved out of state last week.
Aaaaand it’s now a weed shop!😡🙄😳
Man this gives me so much nostalgia I used to eat here all the time, sad to see it gone and also that building at the end of the mall was the old J.C Penney’s it closed in 2017
JC Penney is at that end of the mall, it's a dead mall. Sears was at the other end, Macy's was in the middle all three are closed. I ate at that Don Pablo's twice, and had to blow that toilet up..😂. I dont know what was up with their food. Yes, they did their employees dirty! Great video!
Tell edmond i said hello
The building in and out is beautiful. Rare to see these days.
While you are in Michigan you should visit Benton harbor MI. Thier is a abandoned target thier and a Burlington store that used to be a Kmart. And a abandoned pier 1. Just a suggestion :)
I'm from the Battle Creek area and I remember that Don Pablo's when it was built it was built as a Don Pablo's it was nothing else if I remember rightly
I live in mid Michigan. Grew up here. In the early 90s, there was a rally’s/checkers that did that very same thing to their employees. The employees one day showed up and the doors were locked and no explanation no warning. It was kind of a semi “thing” for about a month. Back then, it was a really small college town. I worked in food as I got older. I too feel bad for those/all employees that are unfortunate to endure that horrible situation. People that do crap like that (with no legit reason like you said) deserve bad karma. SMDH
It's was built as a Don Pablo's there was nothing there before it was built back around 2000. The franchise was bought by a company along with many other restaurants I want to say around 2010- 2014ish. It was a great place to eat and work most people loves it
Like everything else in bc, it's now in the process of becoming a pot shop
I live right down the road on Beckley!!! Haha this is super cool. Yeah it's been closed down in our mall parking lot for like 9 or 10 years now 😁💖☺️
Only been 6 years closed in 2015
I live by there, and yes it was a shock. One day they were open and the next closed. No warning nothing
WallieB26 and Kayla, really enjoyed your video! Love the building and inside and very beautiful inside and out!
This use to be a really nice restaurant with good food. Awesome staff.
Miss DP. Ours in Mt. Laurel, NJ closed around the same time... in the same way. Looks the same too. Closures like this happen in bankruptcies, they keep the place running until the very last minute. Sometimes a court order closes them too.
Based on a Google Earth search, the vacant building next to Barnes and Noble was a JCPenney, so that probably was Sears you saw on the opposite end. 😌
Yes, you are correct. There are a few places still open in Lakeview Square Mall, but neither Sears nor Penney's made it.
Loved Don Pablo's especially the chile mashed potatoes. Yes they had a fountain in the dining rooms.
My hometown! The building was new when they opened, sorry it closed, loved the food but you're right, what a crappy thing to do to your employees! BC needs some restaurants, not much there but fast food now.
WORKED A DON PABLOS IN YOUNGSTOWN OHIO FOR 5 YEARS. FUNNEST JOB I EVER HAD. 2 WEEKS BEFORE WE CLOSED NO INVENTORY WAS BEING ORDERED. WE KNEW WHAT WAS COMING.
THAT LAST WEEK THERE I MADE SOOOOO MUCH MONEY.
I WAS A BARTENDER. ANY CASH SALES WENT RIGHT INTO MY TIP JAR. HAD THE WHOLE STAFF SO DRUNK ON THE LAST NIGHT. THEY DIDNT GET OVER ON US EMPLOYEES.
Yes this happened to many restaurants in Battle Creek around 2016. Lone star as well. Doors closed. We are filling up with corporate fast food. Save Battle Creek!
The same thing happened to our Ryan's Steakhouse back in I want to say 2007. I was working there, and one day we were running out of everything, telling customers that we must be waiting on a truck or something. That night, they had everyone working clearing off tables and packing things up, and a mandatory meeting was held to tell people that "tomorrow, we won't be opening the doors." We were told that Old Country Buffet (also gone now) would accept applications and offer positions to our employees who wanted to go there for a job. I had three children ages 5 and under at the time. It was devastating.
I grew up in the Pittsburgh South Hills area, and we would occasionally go to the Don Pablo’s at The Point at North Fayette. That one was nothing like the one in this video.
That was JC Penny on that end of the mall that was closed, sears was at the other end and Hudson's/Marshalls was in the middle
This place looks like a old industrial factory 🏭 or an old school 🏫. Very interesting find Wallie. I haven't ever seen a restaurant like this.
BC native here, this place has since been turned into Pure Roots weed shop.
I remember eating here a few times when I was little and I think it was okay. Then there was this one time I went with my older sister and I got sick off it, that was the last time I ever ate there cause the place closed a couple years later.
I live in Battle Creek and I loved this place! I was stunned when I heard a young lady that worked there telling someone in the grocery store what happened. I would love to know just what happened! Curiouser and Curiouser 🤔🤔🤔 Oh and Sears is gone.. JC Penny's is gone ...Macy's is gone... You can see we still have Barnes and Noble .but our only mall is pretty much a shell. Welcome to good ole Battle Creek, Michigan ... 😖 My second home is Pittsburgh! I remember the Giant Eagle in North Versailles!
J.C. Penney's was on the end of the mall where you were pointing . It too closed around 2012 or so .
I started my own business and never out of a job. I happy to be self employeed and don't have to answer to any body.
Sears at one end, Penny's at the other, Macy's in the middle, mostly abandoned.
I always thought it’d make a Great Brewery
Wow, did not know Rob Van Dan was from my home town, Thanks for that... my cousin worked there, he showed up to work and it was locked up with a note on the door.I believe Everybody got there pay check. He told me upper management was stealing money. After watching this I'm going to ask him again Tho... Peace!!
Thanks for sharing this wallie..next time you come to michigan come by Port huron michigan there a Abandoned building Kmart for ya guys to check out.. it sad that some company just close and dont say anything to there worker..
Also Sears space was from the back to back, that is why there is a sign at each end.
My parents took me there a bunch as a kid and I got to wear a huge sombrero on my birthday 😂 It's crazy to see the inside of it after so long, the building is just kinda there now and everyone pretty much ignores it.
Ha! Me and the wife were just in this area. The mall across from it has an abandoned Sears & JCPenney & Macy's.
Need to come to Lansing..theres all kinds of stuff here i can let you know about :)
When you guys were talking about the unique architecture of the building, All I could think of is that it looks like an old school.
They all permanently closed in the summer of 2019. I miss this place. They were everywhere in Florida.
My husband grow up in battle creek. He said it was build as a Don Pablo's.
He is correct I lived here all my life
the one in the Toledo/Holland Ohio area closed in the same way....but it is now reopened as a new restaurant. Firehouse Bar and grill. Has fire engines outside and everything.
Awesome! Never heard of this restaurant! How was your birthday by the way :)
There's an abandoned Don Pablo's in Waterford, MI too, northeast corner of the old Summit Place Mall site
Been sitting vacant since 2003 iirc
Hey that's my home town. Yeah it looks like that cause the building was a building was supposed to be in the form of an Adobe style Western building like the Alamo, but given a brick exterior to make it modern/ metro style. It had great food, and it was a spot to be at a time. The Casino that came in to town helped kill it. Plus loss of biz in that mall across the parking lot.
Miss Don Pablos so bad. There are no good restaurants over there anymore. Born and raised in BC
Next to Barnes and Nobles was JC Penny's and center use to be MACY and other end was SEARs. All three closed back to back and this was all way before Covid.
You posted this the same week RVD got inducted into the hall of fame 👍
I had no idea! Haha awesome!
@Samuel Jackson Rob Van Dam
I can remember my parents, my brother and myself had a late dinner at the old Damon's Steakhouse in the Southland shopping center back in '04 after one of my brother's football games. And I remember we waited forever for our dinners, and our waitress finally came to us and apologized for the long wait, and that they had JUST recieved word that they were closing and were going to be out of a job. So there, another classic case of unexpected unemployment. It's a very disheartening situation.
Cool place,so wondering what it was before!Loved the RVD reference,you guys and him are The Whole Damn Show!
It was built for Don Pablo's.
If your ever in Michigan again I would highly recommend checking out some abandoned farmer Jack grocery stores, they all went bankrupt in 2004 and 07, 2 locations that I still know of are the ones in Lincoln park and in Shelby Twp mi, I would highly recommend visiting the Shelby twp location as it has all of its shelving and logos inside
Exterior design reminds me of a Barnes & Noble. Nice building.
Funny thing is Barnes & Nobles is located right across the parking lot from this building...I live in battle creek
All the Don Pablo's locations here in Florida closed more than 10 years ago, so when I hear of locations in other places that are still open or closed more recently, it takes me back because I had forgotten about them. It had the feeling of eating in a Mexican market place and not a typical restaurant vibe. I don't remember much about the food, except that must have liked it enough to go back several times. I was into chain restaurants then. I'm more of a local restaurant kind of guy now.
Was always a Don Pablo's was there on the first day it opened, I also was there the day the U-Haul was out back planning on eating there after shopping employees were lost for words not only did they pay like the back but they also change the front doors lock
The Don Pablos in Sarasota, FL was this style building also
I never heard of Don Pablo's I don't believe we ever had one in here in Wilkes-Barre
This place was like ChiChi's on steroids. A little more authentic though. they had gr8 mexican cuisines!
kinda what i thought when i saw the building!
Don Pablo’s was the best chain on the planet, great food and an amazing atmosphere
Chi Chi’s was soooo much better than Don Pablo’s.
FYI- It was built for Don Pablo’s and hasn’t been anything since. So sad.
I live in Battle Creek for 43 years
If I had lost a job unexpectedly, I'd file a lawsuit and fry their hides!! There are people who are absolutely shameless! You can't shame the shameless. I really enjoy watching your UA-cam Channel videos, Wallie and Kayla! Have a KMartlicious Day!
Also that part of the mall was jcpenny. Sears was on the opposite side. And behind the tent was Macy’s
Grew up in Battle Creek. Moved away 8 years ago.
what a rad building. love it!
When opened they starved on authentic hand made Mexican food. I went back in 2002 and they had started going to some bought pre-made still 80-90% of the food was made in house.
I really wanna do an urbex road trip to Michigan sometime!
Joshcraver..you should..tons of places all over this state
Don Pablos had a bad reputation for poor customer service. There were also a lot of rumors about drug addiction among the employees. So it was not just poor management. I ate there a few times over the years, but each time the experience was less than favorable. Slow food orders filled, even when the restaurant was empty, mediocre food quality and the wait staff were not very friendly.
Never heard of this chain of restaurants, it has the appearance of a bank or Federal building no wonder they closed. LOL.
Looks like the chain fully liquidated? Eeven the website is gone.