Thankfully I got to visit this mall before the Costco shut down. It was a lot nicer place to visit before that happened because the food court was always full of people eating Costco pizza and hot dogs and it felt less creepy.
As a guy who has worked at Metro and Christown mall I’m glad you’re documenting this. Brings back so many memories. Thank you man. Keep up the amazing work
Truly appreciate that thank you man. Glad you enjoyed the vids and the memories. These places hold a special significance to so many of us and it’s good to preserve them on video. Stay tuned 😎
Man....I grew up at Christown mall...back when the North entrance had the 2 stair cases that had all the military recruiting offices on the 2nd floor. Ferral's (sp?) Ice cream, Montgomery Wards, The Broadway, Sears, KayBee toys (I worked at the Christown location in the 90s), miracle mile, the food court that had the escalator to the movie theater (saw return of the jedi there).....the 80s and early 90s were that malls heyday for sure.
That’s awesome you saw a Return of the Jedi there and that you worked at KB toys!!! Definitely seems like the golden era there for sure at that point in time.
I saw jaws, Up in Smoke, Empire Strikes Back, Aliens, and many others at the UA Cinemas way back when. Also spent many, many hours wandering the aisles from the early 70's to the late eighties, good memories.
Nice exploration. It’s like they’re trying to hold on to that little piece of interior Christown Mall as an homage to the past-though except for maybe a few people like you I wonder if anyone cares or appreciates it in this absentee-aloof society we seem to live in now. I wonder how stand alone restaurants as a whole are doing these days, including fast food joints, as far as profitability. I wonder if any of these places actually ever get busy like back in the glory days-versus just hanging on! I also wonder what if anything is going on with the Metrocenter site.
Thank you! It does make you wonder about the purpose and future of the center of the mall! Would be great to see it revitalized. But most likely it will stay in this state for a while and either end up demolished or turned into some kind of medical campus or storage facility in a few years at best. Word is that Metro Mall will be torn down in the spring sadly. Thanks for watching as always!
There's a 60s-style fast-food joint near where I grew up-- that's been around since the early 60s, I believe-- called All American. It's a small stand-alone place, strictly walk-in (with a handfull of small tables and benches outside near the parking lot)-- the building itself looks like something right out of American Graffiti-- but come 6ish PM on a weekend and this place is packed with a line out the door-- nearly without fail. I don't even think the food is anything that special-- and most locals, if they were being honest, would probably admit the same-- but I think it's more the fact that this place is a local institution, with such a strong historical connection to the community, which encourages this almost rabid loyalty from local residents. I have relatives who grew up in the area who moved out to different states, but everytime they come home to visit the first stop on the itinerary is All American for a burger, fries, milkshake and a knish. Which, btw, that's another little idiosyncracy about this place: they sell items like knishes and tuna salad (there's a big Jewish community in the area) which you don't typically associate with 1960s Americana fast-food. Their handmade French-fries, however, are legendary, and it's the local custom to dip the fries in milkshake (don't knock it till you try it). It's kinda nice though; my opinion of the food aside, I'll probably be devastated if there ever comes a day where that place shutters for good.
My future brother in-law and sister in-law and my future wife, all worked together at the United Artists Theater 6, my best friend and I moved from California to Arizona in 1985, transferring from a U.A. Theater in Northern California. I miss that old Theater and time of my life.
I grew up at this mall, soooo many memories! My dad was a bus driver so I could ride for free from 31st av and bethany to Christown. I remember as far back as Farrell's. The Sand Sculptures. I saw The Never Ending Story in the upstairs theater. I remember that place that sold huge TVs by montgomery wards, I think across from woolworth, anyway they were playing the beginning of top gun over and over to showcase the tv'd quality. With the jets taking off "hiiighway to the danger zone.." Always loved the atriums and plants! JCPenney was my first job there when I turned 16. Good memories
While I do agree that Christown's prime is in the past, I think the mall is really starting to make a comeback with its latest additions such as Burlington and Five Below! I much prefer that than what happened with Metro Center-- just completely dying and being deemed a lost cause. I absolutely love malls, they are a great place to shoot the shit (especially in AZ of all places where you need good AC 😭) and I'd honestly hate for malls to become extinct Also, I'm sure you've already found out but the Bath and Body Works didn't leave, it just moved outside near the Target!
Weird how the malls are fluctuating. Fiesta mall has gone down hill. I was shocked last time I went there. Used to be a beautiful mall. Arizona Mills is doing a lot better. That used to be the cool mall when I was a kid. Now when we go to phoenix we usually stop by arrowhead and/or Arizona mills. I just love walking around a mall. Maybe it’s the 80’s kid in me. I also remember going to Pistol Pete’s Pizza as a kid. Way better than Peter piper’s. If you want to see a sad and pathetic mall come to Prescott Gateway. They managed to scare off just about every big store there. I guess they are turning it into a high end apartment complex. Anyway. I didn’t go to christown much but I do have a few vague memories of it. Nice video! You really stirred up some old memories/feelings for me.
Definitely remember the sand sculptures. And the old movie theater upstairs. The Miracle Mile; the Walgreens inside the mall. I was still shopping at the Christown Costco during the pandemic in 2020 before they moved out. Spent a lot of time here, at MetroCenter and Westridge in the early 90s. Maryvale Mall was already a dump back then.
Lived near this mall in the 80s. It was beautiful. Holidays had elaborate displays. There were sand sculptures set up like art exhibits and more. It was a lot of fun and so close to home. Metrocenter was more elaborate and amazing but this was in my backyard and I loved it. I can't believe Metro and Fiesta are gone. Those were my childhood and teen hang out years. I thought they would always be around. Time capsules of my youth. Even the places I loved in my twenties have all been torn down. The Valley eats childhood memories. Nothing is allowed to age in the Phoenix Sonoran desert. Progress must be made and icons destroyed. I am no luddite and I love shiny new things. I just wish some of these places were able to survive.
Agree with you 100%. Wish they could keep a few of these iconic spots. It’s odd to destroy them all. Vegas has the same bad habit unfortunately. If it were up to me, Metro would be restored back to how it was circa 1985 and listed as a historic building. Same with Christown but try to bring it back to how it was in 1969 style-wise. Same with fiesta, maybe go for a more 90s vibe there. But either way I wish these places would be preserved and utilized.
We both can definitely relate to each other. Here's why. Malls are great too. You remember the Rollero Skating rink on 75th avenue & Indian School. Great high school memories plus the mall across the ways called Westridge Mall, which is now Desert Sky
Looking at the map and Christown has every store you need and then some. One stop shopping. I used to go there when Harkins was in the mall upstairs and the food court was underneath it back in 1995.
I did not know this place still existed. I remember the giant sand castles, the movie theater was upstairs near the food court the arcades next to one of the best Chinese foods places. Good ol times. Also, wasn't there another movie theaters outside the mall?
Back when the Ladmo bags were grocery size bags. You got a box of Hostess cupcakes, and a 6-pack, of soda! Do you remember going to the midnight movies there?
@@azpapa9347 I did from time to time at the UA 6 with the escalators. I went to most of the midnight movies at Metro. I also remember getting several shrinking Ladmo Bags through the years. Toward the end, most of them had gift certificates and coupons. I'll bet the last ones were Ladmo Envelopes!!! LOL!!
I only went to this mall, when my partner needed to go to Costco and Walmart. I visited this mall once and walk around the different shop once while running an errand.
Holy moly, I forgot all about the sand sculptures! Memory unlocked. I used to go into the Miller's Outpost next to what is now Walmart quite often and a lil book store on that side too.
I miss it all, Tilt arcade (and chinese restaurant next door), charlie's house of fun, miracle mile deli, kb toy store, the united artists theatre and montgomery wards (with music store attached).
Aww... sweet memories. I used to run that all about books and comics location many many years ago.. God bless you Alan and Marsha Giroux for all the great memories, and all the customers who would have us hold your favorite comics each week for you to pick up.❤
Thanks for the memories. My ex wife managed a store named House of Nine which was a dress shop that sold ladies clothes that were sizes 3 through 9 only. There was also an Indian Fry Bread shop outside of the front mall entrance that served the best tasting snacks. Very good but awful fattening. LOL
OMG! I remember the monkey! He would take the coin, put it in his pocket, tip his hat & shake your hand!❤❤ Nothing like it did when I grew up here in Phoenix. That was like the 70s-80s. I loved Farrolles!
I grew up a few miles North from this mall. I used to bike here with my grandpa and brother as a little kid. We would walk around the mall during the hot summer days to cool off too. It used to be much bigger. I mildly remember the Montgomery Ward. The mall used to have the orange brick tile and they had a lot of decorative plants inside which I miss. I remember the dillards shutting down in the early 2000s and when Walmart and Costco moved in. That Costco was my go to Costco since it was so close and convenient. I miss having a Costco in this part of town. I never got to experience this mall in its prime but it was a prominent location in my life while I was growing up in the early 2000s. Especially the harkins and Costco. I think they also had a KB toys in this mall. My parents would often take me to Metro center and Paradise Valley Mall as well.
Crime, junkies and crime! Sounds mean but it’s true. The area went downhill and the mall suffered. Once Costco and JCP moved out it really declined even more as there was much less foot traffic. Shops packed up and moved out.
Oh wow, i used to go to Christown when i first moved to Phoenix in 1990. I'd forgotten all about it! Moved to the East Valley years ago and rarely go into Phoenix anymore. Great memories!
I didnt think there was still little stores inside there I thought it was all big box stores now. Good to know I might go check it out again I havent been there since I was a teenager 20 years ago. They used to have huge sand castles and huge lego displays back in the 80s and 90s it was soooo cool.
I haven't been since 2018 but spent a lot of my teens in that area. The Harkins was one of my go-tos for movie dates in high school. Lots of good memories at Christown lol
I remember going here as a kid and there was an R/C raffle give away, it must of been 2000 or so. I forgot about this place until one day while driving with my dad his car overheated and we hung out inside the mall and It all came back to me
I remember shopping at millers outpost for what I thought had the cheapest pants when I was in high school. Now I see where I work now built a location in there I'm like. If y'all only new the things I've seen at that mall over 20 years ago...I'm old..
Photography is my hobby and the shopping mall is one of my specialties. I was surprised that this mall was once lenient on me taking pictures but I am sad to hear security saying "NO MORE PICTURES." I was also shocked to hear that. But I managed to get 49 pictures from this mall during its leniency. By the way, I know a lot about this mall like when Wards closed in 2001, it became a Ross - Dress for Less store. And Walgreens got separated from the mall to make way for the Big 5 Sporting Goods store.
When we came here to visit family (97?), my aunt took my sister & I here to see Dr. Doolittle. This was when the theatre was on the 2nd floor. Eventually, we moved to AZ and lived down the street from the mall (15th & Colter). I went to this mall so much.
Christown predates Metrocenter by several years. I remember this was very different in 1983 when I first went here. There was a bit of a renaisance in mall design in Phx in the early 90s to "keep up with the times" and then malls just fell out of favor altogether.
We didn't have any walk-in movie houses in south PHX. whenever I was a kid. And you about had to get jumped to see a movie at the Westdale. So Christown 6 was big fun in the 1970s
I used to visit that mall all the time when I was a kid. Grandma would give each of us grandchildren a penny and the monkey would take it and put it in a small can. Sometimes he would tip his little hat. The monkey nipped me once just cutting the skin.... no big deal back then. There also used to be a huge fountain at the entrance. It was loud!
This is a really small mall with relatively strong foot traffic during peak hours after schools and during the weekends. A *dead* mall are these massive places with absolutely no foot traffic so to speak even in ideal times. The entire surrounding area is also very active, which is not common for a dead mall. You really need to reassess what constitutes as "dead" here.
Nah, compared to how it was it’s a ghost town. Dead Mall term is to draw in viewers but I stand by it, it’s on the way out. It’s a sad shell of what it used to be. Look up the definition yourself it truly can fit different levels of occupancy. “Slowly declining mall propped up by Wal Mart and adjacent Target that is not connected to the main Mall” just doesn’t have the same ring to it. But yeah it’s thriving, totally… it’s on the way out home slice.
The Sand Sculptures started as a promo for summer reading program. The big dragons was called Bookman the Dragon.(I think). It was such a hit they extended it for a couple of years. It was a big draw. I took my kids several times. They loved different sculptures. Each year they would change the main feature in the center of the mall. That's when JC Penney's was right in front of the center. Before Costco was there. Went there lot too. 😕 Sad about all the malls.
I remember going to Christown Mall daily as a teen from 1991-1996. There was always so much to do around there… there was a bowling alley at the corner of 19th Ave and Bethany Home. Harkins theatre was outside of the mall at 19th Ave and Montebello… it was a big theatre. Had to of been about 50 movies I saw there over the years. I remember the sand sculptures inside the mall. Inside the north entrance of the mall they had this huge bird cage up near the ceiling… I remember they had a bunch of tropical birds. I remember the movie theater upstairs above the food court… I think it was called United Artists. I only watched a few movies there because the Harkins out side had a better selection of movies and was just bigger and better. I remember Montgomery Wards, Dillards, Jc Pennies, the Broadway department store before they closed it and made it in the Walmart. Tilt Arcade and the Chinese restaurant next door to it. Walgreens was inside the mall next to Foot Locker, Carls Jr and Miracle Mile Deli. I remember the Woolworth store. Peter Piper Pizza, Tower Records, Abco Grocery store, Osco Drug store and Subway at the plaza just south of the mall. Damn… had a lot of fun times at the mall and surrounding area back in the 90’s.
It’s sad seeing all these malls that we grew up at close down. When I was really young before I started frequenting Christown Mall it was Maryvale Mall that I used to go to daily…. 1984-1989. I lived across the street from there and would go to the Maryvale Mall, the dollar theater or Maryvale swimming pool. I haven’t been to that area since probably 1997 and that whole area changed drastically… looks nothing like it used to. I also remember my mom would take me to Westridge Mall back in the late 80’s, I haven’t been to that mall since probably 97 also. I remember Park Central Mall in the downtown area at Central and Osborn. That mall had a Dillards and a few other big department stores. It was the first Mall in Phoenix. I had only went there a handful of times between 1993-1995. Also vaguely remember a mall called Valley West Mall that was located around 59th Ave and Northern. I remember going there a few times in the early 90’s. Of course Metro Center and PV Mall were other places I’d frequent. Late 90’s for Metro Center and the 2000’s for PV Mall. Sad to see all these mall close down or pretty much dead and not what they were once. I think in my opinion only Arrowhead Nall and Scottsdale Fashion Square are the only malls that are even worth going to anymore. Really wish someone would have redeveloped the Metro Center area and either get that mall back up and running or turn it into a huge theme park…. I think there was plans to do that years ago.
There is a door on the side of that building that I opened about a year ago. I walked in and the inside felt larger than what the building outside looked like. It was completely pitch black but I could hear voices and what sounded like power tools. I got a heavy feeling in my chest and left a few seconds after. I tried to go back in a few weeks later but the door was locked and I’ve never seen another entrance to that part of the mall
Went to a lot of baseball card shows here with my dad growing up. We did see a couple of teenagers fighting and one pulled a gun thankfully they all just took off. It was wild back then and even crazier now.
United Artists Christown Mall Cinemas 6. I’m not sure the exact location of the upstairs cinema but I believe it was on the now Walmart side. There are pictures floating around online, see Cinema Treasures website for more info. Looked great 👍
Never spent time at christown. Too far east for my family. We went to westridge mall, now desert sky mall. Then arrowhead mall once westridge went down hill. Kinda sad seeing the malls slowly going down hill.
My best memories at Christown mall are all the sand art that they had. Also my family were eating at the Miracle Mile Deli, and my sister, about 10 years old, wanted to eat horseradish sauce. My parents warned her multiple times, but she insisted. So they gave her a very small protion on the fork. Her eyes got about 3 times big and covered her ears. She stormed off to the planters nearby and she said youre despicable as she was walking away.
I worked at Christown for my first job back in 2012. That mall STILL looks the same. Except now the Costco isn’t there, which is what had the most foot traffic. If anyone remembers, my job was to stand at a kiosk and say “here you get one!” and hand you a rectangular card
Bro, I missed the days when the mall would be bustling with people. The arcade/movie days were the best! I have to say Flagstaff mall is so dead too 😅 AND there's literally three fitness gyms that make up for the empty space's 😭
Sad to see the MALLS DIE... I moved to Arizona in the Spring of 1992. My First Job here was at SEARS in LOS ARCOS MALL, Scottsdale. All of that was Demolished by the end of the 1990's. ASU SKYSONG is on that site now... Great Job on this, the end of an Era when THE MALL was the place to Hangout. 😊
Thanks for the tour! It actually looks better than I imagined. I grew up around Christown back in the '60s and worked at Montgomery Ward in 1980. It was a whole different world back then. The main entrance was called the Court of Fountains because it had these big fountains in the middle. In the summer the main doors would whoosh open and you'd be hit by the cool air and the scent and sound of the fountains. Straight ahead was JCPenney. Christown was a lively place to hang out especially on the weekends. I found this video of the way it looked back in the day, if interested: ua-cam.com/video/IQS-7A98vDQ/v-deo.htmlsi=igsQeKzXfBfnzP9b
There is no official report on why they didn’t renew their lease, but I would venture to say it’s because the crime rate has gone up in the area. Plus an undesirable array of eclectic characters, homeless and otherwise in the parking lot, etc. I personally wish they would’ve kept Costco there. But it’s not a huge surprise that they left.
@@unfazedreview3000An employee that worked there told me the mall was charging them a ridiculous monthly rent. Those were the rumors u heard. Don’t know why the mall wouldn’t make adjustments since Costco was helping it out a lot but I guess the owner was stingy. Also what happened to the renovation rumors? I thought the mall was going to be bulldozed and turned into a mixed use area.
From what I recall they started falling apart over the years and got removed one by one. People began to damage them and eventually they were all taken down and I would assume were destroyed. Great question though I wonder if any were salvaged by like the artist?? I doubt it, but it’s possible.
At least it's still standing. Fiesta Mall in Mesa is a pile of dirt now. Completely demolished. Superstition Springs is barely holding on, but still has a few people roaming around.
I used to go there years ago, but after the hurricane in New Orleans it seems like that city just vomited it's inhabitants all over Atlanta, Houston,and Phoenix. The are around 19th and Bethany is where most of them wound up. So sad. Christown became a sewer after that.
almost 90% positive the old lady and the kids that lived in the boot, was located in front of what is now BIG 5. i spent a lot of time, as a kid, staring at that thing, wondering how i could get that thing to crumble. as some of those kids looked terrified. i too thought it looked like something out of a bad dream.
@@unfazedreview3000 As someone who grew up in the 80's and 90s malls were a big part of my childhood! When Arcades and Toys store left the mall so did a lot of people just saying!
I grew up going to the first indoor mall in Phoenix. Who cares if Costco moved. Walmart destroyed our neighborhood long before Costco moved in and retreated.
The problem today is corporations forgot how to make real money. The ideas of the70's/80,s/90's where geared towards specific shoppers, the ones who bring in money. Kid's- bring parents to the mall. Teens- buy all sorts of food, shoes, clothing and also bring parents with money. The mall esthetics , fountains, kids play areas, REAL arcades, All help to harness the atmosphere of comfortable shopping. This is what you call revolving door revenue. The demand for malls is still there, boomers, GenX, millennials, and even some Gen Z want this. Time to get back to what works and abandon what does not work. Wake up corporate America, dull and boring is OUT.
I too saw a movie there. Actually included the theater in this video. If you watch the entire video, I actually walk inside of the theater. What part is fake 😂???
Used to love that mall. That rail train brought a bad element there and shop lifted it blind. That train is free transportation for criminals! Ruined every neighborhood south of Bethany home also.
Depends on your definition. Compared to how it used to be, it’s dead. If you consider a dead mall fully closed than no, it’s not yet fully closed. Definitions vary, and “declining mall” doesn’t look as good on a thumbnail. I catch your drift.
OH I LOVE A COZY RAINY MALL DAY W BENJAMIN ❤❤❤
Weeeeee
Thankfully I got to visit this mall before the Costco shut down. It was a lot nicer place to visit before that happened because the food court was always full of people eating Costco pizza and hot dogs and it felt less creepy.
As a guy who has worked at Metro and Christown mall I’m glad you’re documenting this. Brings back so many memories. Thank you man. Keep up the amazing work
Truly appreciate that thank you man. Glad you enjoyed the vids and the memories. These places hold a special significance to so many of us and it’s good to preserve them on video.
Stay tuned 😎
Man....I grew up at Christown mall...back when the North entrance had the 2 stair cases that had all the military recruiting offices on the 2nd floor. Ferral's (sp?) Ice cream, Montgomery Wards, The Broadway, Sears, KayBee toys (I worked at the Christown location in the 90s), miracle mile, the food court that had the escalator to the movie theater (saw return of the jedi there).....the 80s and early 90s were that malls heyday for sure.
That’s awesome you saw a Return of the Jedi there and that you worked at KB toys!!! Definitely seems like the golden era there for sure at that point in time.
I member!😃
I saw jaws, Up in Smoke, Empire Strikes Back, Aliens, and many others at the UA Cinemas way back when. Also spent many, many hours wandering the aisles from the early 70's to the late eighties, good memories.
I unfortunately go to Walmart cause it's easy to get to
Nice exploration. It’s like they’re trying to hold on to that little piece of interior Christown Mall as an homage to the past-though except for maybe a few people like you I wonder if anyone cares or appreciates it in this absentee-aloof society we seem to live in now. I wonder how stand alone restaurants as a whole are doing these days, including fast food joints, as far as profitability. I wonder if any of these places actually ever get busy like back in the glory days-versus just hanging on! I also wonder what if anything is going on with the Metrocenter site.
Thank you! It does make you wonder about the purpose and future of the center of the mall! Would be great to see it revitalized. But most likely it will stay in this state for a while and either end up demolished or turned into some kind of medical campus or storage facility in a few years at best.
Word is that Metro Mall will be torn down in the spring sadly.
Thanks for watching as always!
There's a 60s-style fast-food joint near where I grew up-- that's been around since the early 60s, I believe-- called All American. It's a small stand-alone place, strictly walk-in (with a handfull of small tables and benches outside near the parking lot)-- the building itself looks like something right out of American Graffiti-- but come 6ish PM on a weekend and this place is packed with a line out the door-- nearly without fail. I don't even think the food is anything that special-- and most locals, if they were being honest, would probably admit the same-- but I think it's more the fact that this place is a local institution, with such a strong historical connection to the community, which encourages this almost rabid loyalty from local residents.
I have relatives who grew up in the area who moved out to different states, but everytime they come home to visit the first stop on the itinerary is All American for a burger, fries, milkshake and a knish. Which, btw, that's another little idiosyncracy about this place: they sell items like knishes and tuna salad (there's a big Jewish community in the area) which you don't typically associate with 1960s Americana fast-food. Their handmade French-fries, however, are legendary, and it's the local custom to dip the fries in milkshake (don't knock it till you try it).
It's kinda nice though; my opinion of the food aside, I'll probably be devastated if there ever comes a day where that place shutters for good.
I will need to come back and watch this many more times. It is currently 108 degrees in July. The rainy parts are really comforting!
Glad you enjoyed!
Amen! I feel that
My future brother in-law and sister in-law and my future wife, all worked together at the United Artists Theater 6, my best friend and I moved from California to Arizona in 1985, transferring from a U.A. Theater in Northern California. I miss that old Theater and time of my life.
I grew up at this mall, soooo many memories! My dad was a bus driver so I could ride for free from 31st av and bethany to Christown. I remember as far back as Farrell's. The Sand Sculptures. I saw The Never Ending Story in the upstairs theater. I remember that place that sold huge TVs by montgomery wards, I think across from woolworth, anyway they were playing the beginning of top gun over and over to showcase the tv'd quality. With the jets taking off "hiiighway to the danger zone.."
Always loved the atriums and plants!
JCPenney was my first job there when I turned 16.
Good memories
Yes! Farrell's ice cream was right there by Walmart's entrance. I had a love/hate relationship with that place.
While I do agree that Christown's prime is in the past, I think the mall is really starting to make a comeback with its latest additions such as Burlington and Five Below! I much prefer that than what happened with Metro Center-- just completely dying and being deemed a lost cause. I absolutely love malls, they are a great place to shoot the shit (especially in AZ of all places where you need good AC 😭) and I'd honestly hate for malls to become extinct
Also, I'm sure you've already found out but the Bath and Body Works didn't leave, it just moved outside near the Target!
Weird how the malls are fluctuating. Fiesta mall has gone down hill. I was shocked last time I went there. Used to be a beautiful mall.
Arizona Mills is doing a lot better. That used to be the cool mall when I was a kid. Now when we go to phoenix we usually stop by arrowhead and/or Arizona mills.
I just love walking around a mall. Maybe it’s the 80’s kid in me.
I also remember going to Pistol Pete’s Pizza as a kid. Way better than Peter piper’s.
If you want to see a sad and pathetic mall come to Prescott Gateway. They managed to scare off just about every big store there. I guess they are turning it into a high end apartment complex.
Anyway. I didn’t go to christown much but I do have a few vague memories of it. Nice video! You really stirred up some old memories/feelings for me.
Glad you enjoyed! I did a video on Prescott Gateway last year if you want to check it out.
@@unfazedreview3000 Ah ok I’ll have to do that 👍
Fiesta mall has been demolished.
Man, those are some massive couches
Thanks I made them myself by hand with some tape and spare fabric.
Definitely remember the sand sculptures. And the old movie theater upstairs. The Miracle Mile; the Walgreens inside the mall.
I was still shopping at the Christown Costco during the pandemic in 2020 before they moved out.
Spent a lot of time here, at MetroCenter and Westridge in the early 90s. Maryvale Mall was already a dump back then.
I lived across the street and spent a lot of time there in the 90s as a kid. Walmart was the kiss of death of that mall.
Agreed. Adding a Walmart and taking away the Costco was a brutal finishing move.
I did too. Grew up on 15th Ave and berridge
Oh shit, Chevelle 602, is that you Mike Smith?
@@az67mustang Hell yeah it is.
@@Chevelle602 how are you doing bro?
Lived near this mall in the 80s. It was beautiful. Holidays had elaborate displays. There were sand sculptures set up like art exhibits and more. It was a lot of fun and so close to home. Metrocenter was more elaborate and amazing but this was in my backyard and I loved it.
I can't believe Metro and Fiesta are gone. Those were my childhood and teen hang out years. I thought they would always be around. Time capsules of my youth. Even the places I loved in my twenties have all been torn down. The Valley eats childhood memories. Nothing is allowed to age in the Phoenix Sonoran desert. Progress must be made and icons destroyed.
I am no luddite and I love shiny new things. I just wish some of these places were able to survive.
Agree with you 100%. Wish they could keep a few of these iconic spots. It’s odd to destroy them all. Vegas has the same bad habit unfortunately.
If it were up to me, Metro would be restored back to how it was circa 1985 and listed as a historic building. Same with Christown but try to bring it back to how it was in 1969 style-wise. Same with fiesta, maybe go for a more 90s vibe there. But either way I wish these places would be preserved and utilized.
We both can definitely relate to each other. Here's why. Malls are great too. You remember the Rollero Skating rink on 75th avenue & Indian School. Great high school memories plus the mall across the ways called Westridge Mall, which is now Desert Sky
Looking at the map and Christown has every store you need and then some. One stop shopping. I used to go there when Harkins was in the mall upstairs and the food court was underneath it back in 1995.
I did not know this place still existed. I remember the giant sand castles, the movie theater was upstairs near the food court the arcades next to one of the best Chinese foods places. Good ol times. Also, wasn't there another movie theaters outside the mall?
Wow! Haven't been there in years. I can remember going to see Santa every year and all of the Wallace and Ladmo stage shows in the early 70's.
Back when the Ladmo bags were grocery size bags. You got a box of Hostess cupcakes, and a 6-pack, of soda!
Do you remember going to the midnight movies there?
@@azpapa9347 I did from time to time at the UA 6 with the escalators. I went to most of the midnight movies at Metro. I also remember getting several shrinking Ladmo Bags through the years. Toward the end, most of them had gift certificates and coupons. I'll bet the last ones were Ladmo Envelopes!!! LOL!!
I only went to this mall, when my partner needed to go to Costco and Walmart. I visited this mall once and walk around the different shop once while running an errand.
Saw a movie there one time but I think that's my only experience with this mall. I don't recall actually going to see the rest of the mall
Solid theater! I remember seeing A perfect getaway at this one as a teen.
I spent many a day, high, shopping shopping shopping...🎉 at this Mall for years. I lived close to it.
There used to be a Carl's Jr inside the mall (prior to that, was a Gifts III
Golden era
Holy moly, I forgot all about the sand sculptures! Memory unlocked. I used to go into the Miller's Outpost next to what is now Walmart quite often and a lil book store on that side too.
I miss it all, Tilt arcade (and chinese restaurant next door), charlie's house of fun, miracle mile deli, kb toy store, the united artists theatre and montgomery wards (with music store attached).
Definitely miss KB toys!
Aww... sweet memories. I used to run that all about books and comics location many many years ago.. God bless you Alan and Marsha Giroux for all the great memories, and all the customers who would have us hold your favorite comics each week for you to pick up.❤
Thanks for the memories. My ex wife managed a store named House of Nine which was a dress shop that sold ladies clothes that were sizes 3 through 9 only. There was also an Indian Fry Bread shop outside of the front mall entrance that served the best tasting snacks. Very good but awful fattening. LOL
OMG! I remember the monkey! He would take the coin, put it in his pocket, tip his hat & shake your hand!❤❤ Nothing like it did when I grew up here in Phoenix. That was like the 70s-80s. I loved Farrolles!
I grew up a few miles North from this mall. I used to bike here with my grandpa and brother as a little kid. We would walk around the mall during the hot summer days to cool off too. It used to be much bigger. I mildly remember the Montgomery Ward. The mall used to have the orange brick tile and they had a lot of decorative plants inside which I miss. I remember the dillards shutting down in the early 2000s and when Walmart and Costco moved in. That Costco was my go to Costco since it was so close and convenient. I miss having a Costco in this part of town. I never got to experience this mall in its prime but it was a prominent location in my life while I was growing up in the early 2000s. Especially the harkins and Costco. I think they also had a KB toys in this mall. My parents would often take me to Metro center and Paradise Valley Mall as well.
I worked at the popcorn wagon at PV mall 38 years ago. I remember when you could go ice skating at Metro center mall.
I worked at Kennys Shoes and Bakers Shoes back in the early 80s. I was 16.
I wonder why this happens? I never have seen one of our shopping centres close
Crime, junkies and crime! Sounds mean but it’s true. The area went downhill and the mall suffered. Once Costco and JCP moved out it really declined even more as there was much less foot traffic. Shops packed up and moved out.
@@unfazedreview3000 Malls were built to be re-purposed. It´s an agenda. Also, the idea is to remove natural land and seal it with assfault.
@@unfazedreview3000as an introvert this place is right up my alley, dont wanna get shanked tho 😅
Oh wow, i used to go to Christown when i first moved to Phoenix in 1990. I'd forgotten all about it! Moved to the East Valley years ago and rarely go into Phoenix anymore. Great memories!
Good times
I didnt think there was still little stores inside there I thought it was all big box stores now. Good to know I might go check it out again I havent been there since I was a teenager 20 years ago. They used to have huge sand castles and huge lego displays back in the 80s and 90s it was soooo cool.
I haven't been since 2018 but spent a lot of my teens in that area. The Harkins was one of my go-tos for movie dates in high school. Lots of good memories at Christown lol
My wife was the assistant manager of the Hallmark store there
I remember they used to have sand castle structures there in the '90s. 19th Ave & Bethany.
I remember going here as a kid and there was an R/C raffle give away, it must of been 2000 or so. I forgot about this place until one day while driving with my dad his car overheated and we hung out inside the mall and It all came back to me
In the north parking lot are some restaurants. In Wal-Mart is Subway. I really like eating and shopping at Ross and The $ Tree . Target is also there.
I remember shopping at millers outpost for what I thought had the cheapest pants when I was in high school. Now I see where I work now built a location in there I'm like. If y'all only new the things I've seen at that mall over 20 years ago...I'm old..
I remember this place, 1965,1975, I was 5 years old in 1965 and celebrated my birthday there.
im over here boppin while lookin at dead malls, chill af fr B)
Lol I live around there
Photography is my hobby and the shopping mall is one of my specialties. I was surprised that this mall was once lenient on me taking pictures but I am sad to hear security saying "NO MORE PICTURES." I was also shocked to hear that. But I managed to get 49 pictures from this mall during its leniency. By the way, I know a lot about this mall like when Wards closed in 2001, it became a Ross - Dress for Less store. And Walgreens got separated from the mall to make way for the Big 5 Sporting Goods store.
Would definitely be interested in seeing those mall pics! You definitely should post them and let us know.
@@unfazedreview3000 How can I send you my mall pictures? I don't know how on UA-cam.
When we came here to visit family (97?), my aunt took my sister & I here to see Dr. Doolittle. This was when the theatre was on the 2nd floor. Eventually, we moved to AZ and lived down the street from the mall (15th & Colter). I went to this mall so much.
Christown predates Metrocenter by several years. I remember this was very different in 1983 when I first went here. There was a bit of a renaisance in mall design in Phx in the early 90s to "keep up with the times" and then malls just fell out of favor altogether.
We didn't have any walk-in movie houses in south PHX. whenever I was a kid. And you about had to get jumped to see a movie at the Westdale. So Christown 6 was big fun in the 1970s
I remember when there was a Sambo’s at Christown Mall I used to love that place went there with my grandparents
I used to visit that mall all the time when I was a kid. Grandma would give each of us grandchildren a penny and the monkey would take it and put it in a small can. Sometimes he would tip his little hat. The monkey nipped me once just cutting the skin.... no big deal back then.
There also used to be a huge fountain at the entrance. It was loud!
Much love for the Grandma memories and the monkey! Crazy the monkey bit you!? Funny it would tip its hat.
I miss the movie theater upstairs
Same❤
This is a really small mall with relatively strong foot traffic during peak hours after schools and during the weekends. A *dead* mall are these massive places with absolutely no foot traffic so to speak even in ideal times. The entire surrounding area is also very active, which is not common for a dead mall. You really need to reassess what constitutes as "dead" here.
Nah, compared to how it was it’s a ghost town. Dead Mall term is to draw in viewers but I stand by it, it’s on the way out. It’s a sad shell of what it used to be. Look up the definition yourself it truly can fit different levels of occupancy. “Slowly declining mall propped up by Wal Mart and adjacent Target that is not connected to the main Mall” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
But yeah it’s thriving, totally… it’s on the way out home slice.
The Sand Sculptures started as a promo for summer reading program. The big dragons was called Bookman the Dragon.(I think).
It was such a hit they extended it for a couple of years. It was a big draw. I took my
kids several times. They loved different sculptures. Each year they would change the main feature in the center of the mall.
That's when JC Penney's was right in front
of the center. Before Costco was there.
Went there lot too. 😕 Sad about all the malls.
That’s a fun fact! They were so great to see in person.
@@unfazedreview3000 Loved way them being built too. Good memories. 😊💕💕
Live pretty close to this mall and it was my go to Costco for years.
I remember going to Christown Mall daily as a teen from 1991-1996. There was always so much to do around there… there was a bowling alley at the corner of 19th Ave and Bethany Home. Harkins theatre was outside of the mall at 19th Ave and Montebello… it was a big theatre. Had to of been about 50 movies I saw there over the years. I remember the sand sculptures inside the mall. Inside the north entrance of the mall they had this huge bird cage up near the ceiling… I remember they had a bunch of tropical birds. I remember the movie theater upstairs above the food court… I think it was called United Artists. I only watched a few movies there because the Harkins out side had a better selection of movies and was just bigger and better. I remember Montgomery Wards, Dillards, Jc Pennies, the Broadway department store before they closed it and made it in the Walmart. Tilt Arcade and the Chinese restaurant next door to it. Walgreens was inside the mall next to Foot Locker, Carls Jr and Miracle Mile Deli. I remember the Woolworth store.
Peter Piper Pizza, Tower Records, Abco Grocery store, Osco Drug store and Subway at the plaza just south of the mall. Damn… had a lot of fun times at the mall and surrounding area back in the 90’s.
It’s sad seeing all these malls that we grew up at close down. When I was really young before I started frequenting Christown Mall it was Maryvale Mall that I used to go to daily…. 1984-1989. I lived across the street from there and would go to the Maryvale Mall, the dollar theater or Maryvale swimming pool. I haven’t been to that area since probably 1997 and that whole area changed drastically… looks nothing like it used to. I also remember my mom would take me to Westridge Mall back in the late 80’s, I haven’t been to that mall since probably 97 also.
I remember Park Central Mall in the downtown area at Central and Osborn. That mall had a Dillards and a few other big department stores. It was the first Mall in Phoenix. I had only went there a handful of times between 1993-1995. Also vaguely remember a mall called Valley West Mall that was located around 59th Ave and Northern. I remember going there a few times in the early 90’s. Of course Metro Center and PV Mall were other places I’d frequent. Late 90’s for Metro Center and the 2000’s for PV Mall. Sad to see all these mall close down or pretty much dead and not what they were once.
I think in my opinion only Arrowhead Nall and Scottsdale Fashion Square are the only malls that are even worth going to anymore.
Really wish someone would have redeveloped the Metro Center area and either get that mall back up and running or turn it into a huge theme park…. I think there was plans to do that years ago.
The outside is giving AMC 30 next to the Charley’s steakhouse, inside becomes a forgotten Arrowhead
quite sad, might have to drive down there soon
There is a door on the side of that building that I opened about a year ago. I walked in and the inside felt larger than what the building outside looked like. It was completely pitch black but I could hear voices and what sounded like power tools. I got a heavy feeling in my chest and left a few seconds after. I tried to go back in a few weeks later but the door was locked and I’ve never seen another entrance to that part of the mall
You uncovered a time warp.
Went to a lot of baseball card shows here with my dad growing up. We did see a couple of teenagers fighting and one pulled a gun thankfully they all just took off. It was wild back then and even crazier now.
Really nothing in the interior of the mall but i do like the harkins there.
Where was the old indoor theater located in this video?
United Artists Christown Mall Cinemas 6. I’m not sure the exact location of the upstairs cinema but I believe it was on the now Walmart side. There are pictures floating around online, see Cinema Treasures website for more info. Looked great 👍
I remember there used to be a FARRELS ice cream shop at Christown
Yep
Never spent time at christown. Too far east for my family. We went to westridge mall, now desert sky mall. Then arrowhead mall once westridge went down hill. Kinda sad seeing the malls slowly going down hill.
My best memories at Christown mall are all the sand art that they had. Also my family were eating at the Miracle Mile Deli, and my sister, about 10 years old, wanted to eat horseradish sauce. My parents warned her multiple times, but she insisted. So they gave her a very small protion on the fork. Her eyes got about 3 times big and covered her ears. She stormed off to the planters nearby and she said youre despicable as she was walking away.
Great memories haha
the one thing i remember the most about this mall was the massive sand sculptures they used to display there.
Same! Magical.
I worked at Christown for my first job back in 2012. That mall STILL looks the same. Except now the Costco isn’t there, which is what had the most foot traffic.
If anyone remembers, my job was to stand at a kiosk and say “here you get one!” and hand you a rectangular card
Do you still have any rectangular cards?
@@unfazedreview3000 I don’t, got rid of everything from that job when I quit 😂
That Boutique and Fashion near the entrance...didn't that used to be a shop for coffins and urns? (Not kidding...)
Bro, I missed the days when the mall would be bustling with people. The arcade/movie days were the best! I have to say Flagstaff mall is so dead too 😅 AND there's literally three fitness gyms that make up for the empty space's 😭
The good ol days at Rectom mall!
😂
Sad to see the MALLS DIE... I moved to Arizona in the Spring of 1992. My First Job here was at SEARS in LOS ARCOS MALL, Scottsdale. All of that was Demolished by the end of the 1990's. ASU SKYSONG is on that site now... Great Job on this, the end of an Era when THE MALL was the place to Hangout. 😊
Thanks for watching. Rip Los Arcos Mall!
Thanks for the tour! It actually looks better than I imagined. I grew up around Christown back in the '60s and worked at Montgomery Ward in 1980. It was a whole different world back then. The main entrance was called the Court of Fountains because it had these big fountains in the middle. In the summer the main doors would whoosh open and you'd be hit by the cool air and the scent and sound of the fountains. Straight ahead was JCPenney. Christown was a lively place to hang out especially on the weekends. I found this video of the way it looked back in the day, if interested: ua-cam.com/video/IQS-7A98vDQ/v-deo.htmlsi=igsQeKzXfBfnzP9b
Does anyone know why Costco moved from christown?
There is no official report on why they didn’t renew their lease, but I would venture to say it’s because the crime rate has gone up in the area. Plus an undesirable array of eclectic characters, homeless and otherwise in the parking lot, etc.
I personally wish they would’ve kept Costco there. But it’s not a huge surprise that they left.
Mall was asking for an outrageous renewal to rent. Plus the food court had problems with none members purchasing fast food.
@@unfazedreview3000An employee that worked there told me the mall was charging them a ridiculous monthly rent. Those were the rumors u heard. Don’t know why the mall wouldn’t make adjustments since Costco was helping it out a lot but I guess the owner was stingy. Also what happened to the renovation rumors? I thought the mall was going to be bulldozed and turned into a mixed use area.
Anyone remembers Radio Shack, Millers Outpost, Woolworth, Payless Shoes, Factory 2U, in this ancient mall
Whatever happened to the sand sculptures?
From what I recall they started falling apart over the years and got removed one by one. People began to damage them and eventually they were all taken down and I would assume were destroyed. Great question though I wonder if any were salvaged by like the artist?? I doubt it, but it’s possible.
Machete Azteca is hella good
At least it's still standing. Fiesta Mall in Mesa is a pile of dirt now. Completely demolished. Superstition Springs is barely holding on, but still has a few people roaming around.
I used to go there years ago, but after the hurricane in New Orleans it seems like that city just vomited it's inhabitants all over Atlanta, Houston,and Phoenix. The are around 19th and Bethany is where most of them wound up. So sad. Christown became a sewer after that.
didnt go to tower records at christown
Was that the 43rd and Glendale? I went to KFC before!
almost 90% positive the old lady and the kids that lived in the boot, was located in front of what is now BIG 5. i spent a lot of time, as a kid, staring at that thing, wondering how i could get that thing to crumble. as some of those kids looked terrified. i too thought it looked like something out of a bad dream.
Interesting! Yeah I was pretty young when they were there so you could definitely be correct. Some of them did look terrified haha!
I got out of Costco because thay cose the mall to start closing I like that mall
Does anybody remember the sandcastles during Christmas time
I miss the Costco they had here, that’s all
Once cosco left, it died out
So true
Why would I waste my time in malls when the Internet is so much closer and no lines to check out! Even though I don't see a lot of people!
Your wish is granted it appears. In this case. The appeal of malls are about the social aspects and it’s a bummer to see them go.
@@unfazedreview3000 As someone who grew up in the 80's and 90s malls were a big part of my childhood! When Arcades and Toys store left the mall so did a lot of people just saying!
Internet shopping is certainly more confident. But going to the mall is all about the experience.
@@entransify Yeah if you like people! As a intervert I order all my stuff on line!
I grew up going to the first indoor mall in Phoenix. Who cares if Costco moved. Walmart destroyed our neighborhood long before Costco moved in and retreated.
The problem today is corporations forgot how to make real money. The ideas of the70's/80,s/90's where geared towards specific shoppers, the ones who bring in money. Kid's- bring parents to the mall. Teens- buy all sorts of food, shoes, clothing and also bring parents with money. The mall esthetics , fountains, kids play areas, REAL arcades, All help to harness the atmosphere of comfortable shopping. This is what you call revolving door revenue. The demand for malls is still there, boomers, GenX, millennials, and even some Gen Z want this. Time to get back to what works and abandon what does not work. Wake up corporate America, dull and boring is OUT.
🍾🌴⛲🦞🦃🌌🌧️☕
The Red Baron, anybody?
Bro the theater part is fake I went there around a month ago and I went to watch the inside out 2 movie
I too saw a movie there. Actually included the theater in this video. If you watch the entire video, I actually walk inside of the theater.
What part is fake 😂???
The powers that be need this much needed land to change the landscape. Sick of, "so called, progress," that removes the iconic locations for land.
This video is very depressing 😅
Thank you.
Used to love that mall. That rail train brought a bad element there and shop lifted it blind. That train is free transportation for criminals! Ruined every neighborhood south of Bethany home also.
It’s not really a dead mall.
Depends on your definition. Compared to how it used to be, it’s dead. If you consider a dead mall fully closed than no, it’s not yet fully closed. Definitions vary, and “declining mall” doesn’t look as good on a thumbnail. I catch your drift.
@@unfazedreview3000 I’m just saying cause I’ve been in there recently and it’s still a little lively.
I thought maybe it's pronounced like Jesus Christ instead of Chris.
That would be if a mega church took the place of Costco.
You never served, but refer to your Navy Seal friends. Stick to jits and MMA speak.
What part are you referring to? More info needed…
Grew up going here and going to the theatre with my father
And Costco kept it alive, sucks how it left
My wife and I walk the mall regularly with our girls. It's a shell of its former self unfortunately.