The atrium area had water and fountains in the mid to late 80’s through the early to mid 90s. This is my childhood mall. ❤ The mall was going pretty strong until after I was out of High School. It really took a downturn around 2010 and onward. I could tell you all the stores in those spots in the 90s and early 2000’s. The McDonalds used to have a large sunroom area. It got pretty chilly and had condensation issues. Lol I spent so many hours there with my Mom. There used to be Sears, Champion, Payless, Radio Shack, Claire’s, TJ Max, Zumies, Old Navy, Aeropostale, American Eagle, Maurice’s, American Eagle, Bon Ton/ Caldor before that, Hallmark, Bath and Body Works, VIctoria’s Secret, Alternative Nation, Jade Gifts, Johnathan Reid, Fannie Farmer chocolates, FYE, The Weathervane, Steve and Barry’s, DEB, Regis salon. Sooo many stores.
Don't forget Record Town and Kay Bee Toy and Hobby. This mall was awesome in its day. Things really went downhill when all of the floor attractions and Kiosks bit the dust.
Wasn’t there one in front of Auntie Anne’s/Target where all the jewelry stores used to be? I remember they used to be full of coins. They were tiny round ones compared to the more impressive ones at Wilton Mall. I remember most of the store you listed. I also remember Electronics Boutique/EB games where I used to buy the first PC games I ever bought.
Hudson falls represent. But seeing this video makes me think of how active the place used to be. And I'm only 23! That food court used to be bumpin every single day. The pet store is where we got our first family dog. He was a toy fox terrier and was extremely underweight all his life, because those puppies came from unhealthy mills for the longest time. He lived long though! And I remember walking around the place so fondly before our movie came on in the theater. It's crazy how time flies.
Took my son there two weeks ago. We ate Chinese in the empty food court and bought a bunch of DVD.S at Play It Again. Walked around and it is struggling But has enough stuff to keep the lights on. I love the Bash It Store and The Axe Throwing Store. Still has an Aunt Annies too
I have only been to this mall a couple times times, but the atrium always stays in my head, the first time was when Caldor was there. We demolished the Caldor in Latham Circle Mall in 2003 and I still have one of the signs off it to this say by the way! But the thing I remember most about this atrium, aside of the atmosphere it has, was the very unusual installation they had of mercury vapor lights in a strip configuration with fully exposed 100 watt mercury lamps, some were old high hour “greened out” phosphor coated color improved 1970’s originals, some, newer clear and deluxe white phosphor coated as well, and these were remote ballasted units, which I suspect were in an electrical room or electrical closet nearby! As a mercury vapor lover that was a treat, as were some old original mercury vapor parking lot lights with pretty dimmed out 1000 watt color improved mercury lamps still in use as well! I believe it was mid 1980’s. These are, of course, long gone now. Too bad it is a dead mall, because it is nice and has atmosphere. 😢
I'm amazed no one mentioned the bookstore that used to be here in the 80s. I think it was B Dalton, but could have been Waldenbooks. Spending summers in Lake George you could get a lot in the Lake area. But if you wanted books, this was where everyone went. It was one of the busiest stores in the Mall. A lot of fond memories here from 40 years ago now. And yes the atrium did have fountains and waterfalls. I also distinctly remember the dark brownish/Terra cotta shade tiles the whole Mall had. It looked so much different.
Yes! I remember Waldon Books. It was next to JC Penney right? I remember they were kind of expensive and would usually just go to Borders or Barnes and Noble in Saratoga to get them cheaper.
This mall has acted like a "dead mall" for decades... every time you think it's fully dead, it isn't as things happen to prevent it from going under. But it definitely is far from healthy. Couple notes: So the original JcPenny before 1994 expansion was in the wing you were in, with the mall entrance being right next to what is now Target. Dick's: Prior to this, it was a vacant spot in the mall's expansion. The Target was 1/2 parking lot and 1/2 smaller stores like Sam Goody's before it was installed T.J. Maxx left Aviation Mall to move into the nearby Northway Plaza, where Peter Harris Clothes was until the two swapped. The former Sears, once they left, was home to the Spirit of Halloween shop, and in 2020-21 was the region's vaccination center. 18:45 - You are correct, before Target came in, this was an entrance wing. At the end of the wing was a Ground Round restaurant. 21:20 - That glass "greenhouse" location was where the McDonald's was. In the mall's heyday before McDonald's left in the 90's, the food court consisted a smoothie station, McDonald's, Long John Silvers, Sbarro's, Taco Bell and Arby's. The McDonald's left because they wanted to focus their business on the nearby Route 9 location.
A couple of notes: The Regal Cinemas were Regal Cinemas for as long as I can remember (at least before 2004). 2017 was just when they did a renovation there. TJ Maxx moved to a local strip mall several years back. The Wow entertainment center used to be a Game Stop before they left to go to another local strip mall. The abandoned shop across from the Chinese restaurant/restrooms used to be the arcade.
This brings back many memories for me. I had spent countless hours here in the 1980s as a teenager. Back then the malls were one of the main social hubs for young folks. I always loved the atrium in front of the old Caldor entrance especially when it had the water features. My favorite places were the arcade, the music stores, the hobby shop and of course Ben & Jerrys. Thank you for the video!
The 80s especially the early 80s really were the days of malls They had a full food court. Separate food places and even McDonald's in some like Latham Circle Mall Really sad seeing the end of an era Malls used to be 100% full and rent was very high. It was good for the customer because they had only popular places The cinemas were another massive change of the late 79s early 80s Before the late 70s you would have a single screen theater in town that used to be a vaudeville theater I remember the twin screen Drive-Ins and the United artists one and two The movie industry usually only released two new movies each week So they didn't need to have more screens In the late 70s and early 80s they would have 2 to 4 A films and a few B films released and they had some Wednesday releases as well. The late 80s early 90s there were some big hits that released on the Same weekend The Batman from 89 or around that time had UHF and I think Bill & Ted released that same weekend
The atrium outside of Caldor absolutely had fountains and running water. :(. Grew up at this mall. I remember playing tag with my brother and friends in the atrium. The biggest problem this mall had in its later years was you had multiple stores all owned by the same company all selling the same things. So you think there were a lot of stores but no variety. Grew up in the mall in the 80’s and 90’s. Sadly it is a dead mall has been for a long time. Not too many people take it seriously as a shopping option after mid 2000’s.
I worked here in the early 2000s and it was still pretty busy. Holidays were especially packed around the anchors. Everything went downhill after the 2008 recession.
I grew up in the Lake George area with my grandparents when my family frequently visited them. The Aviation Mall was one of the malls I grew up with in Queensbury.
Never been to any of the malls you covered (appreciate seeing how large they are compared to my area Rhode Island/Mass.), sadly watching all these malls they clearly have moved on to our new era. Stunning to see malls completely empty (compared to the 45 years of malls being mobbed year round). Thanks for your malls and input.
I worked in the office of JCPenney when the store opened in 1975. It was bustling back in the day. I wish I remembered more about the stores in it at the time. I do remember Kay Jewelers and Erlanger Fashions though. I moved from the area years ago but it's still upsetting to see it declining.
Where was ground round, barrel of fun arcade and fast food joints located? Oh and who remembers Gibson girl ice cream? Where was that located? And does anyone out there have any photos of ground round, barrel of fun arcade, or Gibson girl???
This is home turf for me. I live in Glens Falls. It's kinda sad honestly. I remember driving past Aviation Mall as a kid when we went to Great Escape and it always seemed like a decently modern mall. Sad how all these malls of the 90s seem to be closing down. I really think malls are one of those things people are really going to miss once they're gone and they don't quite realize it yet. It's nice having online commerce and all but it's also nice to be able to drive down the street and get what you want immediately and not have to wait a couple days for shipping. I loved going to malls as a kid.
A dead mall near where I used to live has a boat show around this time of year where they’ll load in boats you can buy right in the mall! Oh my is that atrium beautiful!
I love I found this! Trip down memory lane! This was my childhood mall between ‘84-‘90. My father would tell us he took the ‘secret road’ into the mall - nope just a shortcut lol ☺️loved the atrium with the fountains! Always threw a penny in them. I remember going to KB ToyStore, the tiny cookie store & a treat would be a dinner at The Ground Round where we would watch cartoons & eat popcorn.
Thank you for this fun to walk around aviation virtually 15 years later after moving to socal where we have lots of dead malls. The one near me is still healthy.
The atrium at 6:10! I remember that place from the mid 1980s. I was just a small child. I remember the little lights built into the bricks and I remember the fountains and all the water in the area. it was like an indoor paradise and I never wanted to leave that place! I haven't been there in probably 30 years so i'm glad it still exists! that little slice of the 80s still existing in 2024 is just wild to me! I'm from Saratoga Springs so my childhood mall is gone. We used to have two malls at one point right next to each other. the old Saratoga Mall, (formerly the Pyramid mall) and the newer Wilton Mall that was built in 1990. so from about 1990-1999 we had the choice of going to the "old mall" or the "new mall". The new mall is still around and kind of dying, and there are a bunch of big box stores like Home depot and Target where the old mall used to be. The old mall had those same corrugated walls on the outside like Sears and Ollie's have. Those Wow entertainment centers are sad excuses for what used to be the great arcades of the 80s and early 90s. The old mall used to have an arcade called the Dream Machine. I don't remember the Aviation mall having an arcade in the 80s but it probably did have one. That second larger arcade is much better than the ones at the Wilton mall. Still, disappointing to see mostly prize machines and no retro/classic games there. Sorry for the long comment. I just had to info dump/reminisce a little lol
I grew up in that area too. I moved to Saratoga right when Wilton Mall was taking over Saratoga Mall and Saratoga Mall was dying... Now I live in Glens Falls so I'm watching Aviation Mall die it's so sad. I never thought the day would come that people would stop going to malls, it was so big in the 90s and 2000s, it's kinda sad honestly what online commerce has done. I don't think people realize how much they will miss having brick and mortar stores once they're gone. It's starting to happen now but we still have a decent variety but if we keep losing all these smaller stores there won't be much left but these huge corporate stores like Walmart and Target and CostCo.
Seeing the difference between the way the Saratoga and Lake George region was back in the 70s, so rural, and now all the new housing development and new massive retail Exit 15 is just completely different. There was nothing there back in the 70s and now it is 100% built out
I grew up in the area and still live about five miles from this mall. I might go there once or twice a year, and then only to Target (which has an exterior entrance). I did go to JC Penney (which also has an exterior entrance) last year on an emergency run because I was headed to a wedding and needed a dressy purse--they had one, and it was on sale! That made me wonder why I didn't shop there more often, but I haven't been back.
Chances are Ollie's would have to pay higher rent if it had direct mall access and Ollie's doesn't seem like the sort of business that will pay any more than it has to. And access to that dead duck of a mall would not mean any meaningful increase in foot traffic.
I was there in October 2023. The Chinese place is pretty good. Got free donuts, which was pretty cool. That Sears houses a Spirit Halloween during spooky season.
This is my childhood mall. It’s absolutely dead. The only thing that people really go there for is to work out at Planet Fitness or shop at Target. My mom walks there everyday that’s it. Growing up here, I thought the liminal forest was the norm and never really appreciated how unique it is. It is pretty cool and hope it stays around. The greenhouse you describe was part of the McDonalds and remember eating in there as a kid. There used to be a huge wooden propeller from an old airplane that was hung on the wall, which was pretty cool. The space with the purple/pink stone next to the food court was an arcade. In the mid-90s, my dad would take me there after we ate lunch in the food court (which would usually be full at lunch time). Funny enough, the taco place was where Taco Bell used to be. You are correct about the entrance where Target is. Before the addition, you could go out to the parking lot there. It seemed like it was unnecessary at the time with three front facing exits all in close proximity. Additional thoughts: The staying power of Auntie Anne’s shouldn’t be underestimated. This is the only stores that has survived besides JC Penney (which I think it will outlast) since the mid-90’s when I first remember coming here. Every other store has disappeared or changed hands (like the cinema). Spencer’s might have been around then, but I can’t remember if it’s been there that long or not. CVS had it’s own store and then moved into Target, so that might count too.
In addition to the former fountains in the Caldor courtyard, the mall used to have fountains scattered throughout it. Like 2, or 3. One was by the original location of JCPenney
Dying mall, sure. Dead mall? Absolutely not. It has pretty consistent activity, and they're definitely taking risks to keep it alive. Like it's definitely recovering from some lows but not in the sort of catastrophic tailspin that happens when malls lose most of their anchor stores. This might be that the stores they do have outside of their anchors are actually providing regular services like the planet fitness or stuff that's harder to get around town like the weed store. The AMC there is the only theater around town so that's also helping with consistent traffic. It's a mall that's at least on life support but it's in no way dead yet.
Farmington Valley Mall??? Wow, I worked for Sage Allen across the river in high school in the 80’s and went to university in California and stayed! Farmington Valley Mall was like a hallway with Sage and D&L!
Where the target entrance is now used to be a Sam Goody before that (and possibly another music store before that I believe?) That whole section which leads to Dicks, The 99, Planet Fitness, etc, was JC Penny until 94, then it was expanded out.
I went here a couple of weeks ago on a weekend to Lake George. The atrium is like something out of my own (long gone) childhood mall. All it needs is some flagstone flooring instead of carpet or brick. I have to wonder how this place has held on for so long with the outlet shops just fifteen minutes down the road. Maybe Target and Ollie's are holding it all together; that was my first time in an Ollie's and I wish we had one nearby.
7:10 I remember throwing pennies into a water fountain as a child, but I don't think it was in the location where these plants are. I think it was in front of JC Pennies.
The one thing you really don't see any more is pet stores with live animals in shopping malls. Especially in Mass. That's mainly due to increased regulations against puppy mill dogs and other health codes passed in the state.
@@fleabittenadventures NY passed legislation recently. It goes into effect this December, so in just 4-5 months. I think it will shut this pet store down. It bans purchasing cats, dogs, and rabbits from retail pet stores.
You are a truly great UA-camr. I really love your work. Thank you for entertaining us. This is a beautiful mall. I have a great idea. Please come to Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. It's a mall from 1968 which has been dying. They're waiting for someone to buy the grounds. Also, do you like Batman? I live in a Batman museum and you're invited.
Thanks! I appreciate it! I'll probably be getting to Pennsylvania malls sometime later this year. I'll have to do a 2 or 3 day roadtrip.... I do like Batman. Where is your museum?
This is my hometown mall. Been going here since I was a kid. Only thing carrying the mall is Target. Other than that, this mall has gone wayyy downhill. Lots of stores moved out to nearby shopping plazas or the outlets up near Lake George for cheaper rent. It's sad that the uprise of amazon and online shopping has really taken away from this place. It's surely in decline. In the winter, they use the foodcourt for a farmers market which actually makes a lot of sense, but yeah there's not a lot of hope for this mall. It's sad.
The mall is in a mostly vacation area with limited market during the winter though the summer the area gets pretty busy, Walmart which is just up the road gets most of everyone, so that could be why its dying
Damn! Sucks seeing puppies in stores like that. You'd think by now there would be regulations on that (maybe there is). I hope they get time out of the crates.
It's interesting because I am from Plattsburgh and visit this area frequently only being about an hour and a half away and I remember visiting this mall roughly 5-6 years ago and it was incredibly dead. Like, 90% of the stores were closed and it was a ghost town. Then, I came back last year and noticed several new additions from before and was quite surprised to see more stores opening back up. Typically in malls these days once they start to decline they don't turn around and start adding new things into them, but this seems to have been doing that. It's definitely still a dying mall, but it was even worse several years ago believe it or not.
back in the day I used to pass by Andy Rooney every day in the Summer ... Christmas shopping was fun for me. I was away at College and did everything the week before.. I started at the Ground Round ( would be across where 99 restaurant is now ) a beer at the bar then off to shop .. return to the bar for another beer after standing in line .. then head back to the crowded stores !! was a busy place !!!
My childhood mall. I hate to say it’s dead. It’s got enough to thrive a bit. But clearly not as good and and busy and it was when I was a kid, 10 years ago. The only thing that’s unique was Play It Again. But that’s closing down in September. So basically the only things that may keep me going is the theater, Target, and Ninety Nines. I think it’s on the grips of dead but still making work for now.
The size of these places !yet there's hardly anybody in there is very surreal ? Even more so to me living in U.K. We just don't have that here !! deathly quite and empty very bizarre ??
I live here. It's a dead mall. Only go for target or dicks. Fyi, next to the closed taco place (was taco bell) was Claire's. Old navy was where Peter Harris is. McDonald's was where the office is and where you like the windows outside the main entrance near the bathrooms. Spent way too many days there as a teen. Sad to see where it is now.
I'd say this is dying. I think Target being there would be enough to keep it hanging on. Any plans to go to the mall in Ithaca? I haven't been there in over a decade and I am wondering how it is doing.
Lake George is just a few minutes north of this mall and that is a mostly summer vacation area with two ski resorts north of it but the summers are pretty busy with americade a bikers holiday being the most popular time
Every time I ever visited this mall as a kid and into adulthood there's always been a boat somewhere. The area at 18:40 in this video is where I always remember there being a boat.
I have a very limited memory of malls in the late 70's. I definitely remember the 80's though and malls back then were so much more important and busy back then!
A pet store with puppies for sale, yikes. I didn't know any of those places existed anymore. My local pet stores are partnered with the local animal shelters to help adopt out their animals.
I think I found some doggies certainly they're really cute they're really and I'm still cold to get one how are you go get one let's get the doggies cuz I love doggies they're so cute yeah I love them I think that place still open a couple times cuz I love them I love doggies then my favorite month I do love cats too certain the guests are really good too so anything dogs sometimes go crazy so crazy says I love cats and dogs they're so crazy with theirselves I love them they're so cute and curly Yes they're really cute
A mall night be a good place for a university and re-education for high tech trades... Tell me how we are going to compete with the rest of the world without education?
The atrium area had water and fountains in the mid to late 80’s through the early to mid 90s. This is my childhood mall. ❤ The mall was going pretty strong until after I was out of High School. It really took a downturn around 2010 and onward. I could tell you all the stores in those spots in the 90s and early 2000’s. The McDonalds used to have a large sunroom area. It got pretty chilly and had condensation issues. Lol
I spent so many hours there with my Mom.
There used to be Sears, Champion, Payless, Radio Shack, Claire’s, TJ Max, Zumies, Old Navy, Aeropostale, American Eagle, Maurice’s, American Eagle, Bon Ton/ Caldor before that, Hallmark, Bath and Body Works, VIctoria’s Secret, Alternative Nation, Jade Gifts, Johnathan Reid, Fannie Farmer chocolates, FYE, The Weathervane, Steve and Barry’s, DEB, Regis salon. Sooo many stores.
Don't forget Record Town and Kay Bee Toy and Hobby. This mall was awesome in its day. Things really went downhill when all of the floor attractions and Kiosks bit the dust.
Wasn’t there one in front of Auntie Anne’s/Target where all the jewelry stores used to be? I remember they used to be full of coins. They were tiny round ones compared to the more impressive ones at Wilton Mall.
I remember most of the store you listed. I also remember Electronics Boutique/EB games where I used to buy the first PC games I ever bought.
This mall has an _excellent_ DVD store.
Hudson falls represent. But seeing this video makes me think of how active the place used to be. And I'm only 23! That food court used to be bumpin every single day. The pet store is where we got our first family dog. He was a toy fox terrier and was extremely underweight all his life, because those puppies came from unhealthy mills for the longest time. He lived long though! And I remember walking around the place so fondly before our movie came on in the theater. It's crazy how time flies.
This is my 2nd Childhood mall. I go there a lot but it’s kinda a healthy mall. Recently I got a puppy from that pet store.
Cool! Thanks for watching!
Awww
Took my son there two weeks ago. We ate Chinese in the empty food court and bought a bunch of DVD.S at Play It Again. Walked around and it is struggling But has enough stuff to keep the lights on. I love the Bash It Store and The Axe Throwing Store. Still has an Aunt Annies too
I have only been to this mall a couple times times, but the atrium always stays in my head, the first time was when Caldor was there. We demolished the Caldor in Latham Circle Mall in 2003 and I still have one of the signs off it to this say by the way! But the thing I remember most about this atrium, aside of the atmosphere it has, was the very unusual installation they had of mercury vapor lights in a strip configuration with fully exposed 100 watt mercury lamps, some were old high hour “greened out” phosphor coated color improved 1970’s originals, some, newer clear and deluxe white phosphor coated as well, and these were remote ballasted units, which I suspect were in an electrical room or electrical closet nearby! As a mercury vapor lover that was a treat, as were some old original mercury vapor parking lot lights with pretty dimmed out 1000 watt color improved mercury lamps still in use as well! I believe it was mid 1980’s. These are, of course, long gone now. Too bad it is a dead mall, because it is nice and has atmosphere. 😢
I remember being fascinated by the little rectangular lights set in the brickwork. They don't seem to be functioning anymore sadly
I'm amazed no one mentioned the bookstore that used to be here in the 80s. I think it was B Dalton, but could have been Waldenbooks. Spending summers in Lake George you could get a lot in the Lake area. But if you wanted books, this was where everyone went. It was one of the busiest stores in the Mall. A lot of fond memories here from 40 years ago now.
And yes the atrium did have fountains and waterfalls.
I also distinctly remember the dark brownish/Terra cotta shade tiles the whole Mall had. It looked so much different.
Yes! I remember Waldon Books. It was next to JC Penney right? I remember they were kind of expensive and would usually just go to Borders or Barnes and Noble in Saratoga to get them cheaper.
I work in the area. That Atrium is definitely a nostalgia vibe.
Caldor had the best toy section ever
It's only missing a water fountain!
For sure!
Wow my friend Josh is in this video!!! How cool.
@@fleabittenadventuresThere used to be one!
This mall has acted like a "dead mall" for decades... every time you think it's fully dead, it isn't as things happen to prevent it from going under. But it definitely is far from healthy.
Couple notes:
So the original JcPenny before 1994 expansion was in the wing you were in, with the mall entrance being right next to what is now Target.
Dick's: Prior to this, it was a vacant spot in the mall's expansion.
The Target was 1/2 parking lot and 1/2 smaller stores like Sam Goody's before it was installed
T.J. Maxx left Aviation Mall to move into the nearby Northway Plaza, where Peter Harris Clothes was until the two swapped.
The former Sears, once they left, was home to the Spirit of Halloween shop, and in 2020-21 was the region's vaccination center.
18:45 - You are correct, before Target came in, this was an entrance wing. At the end of the wing was a Ground Round restaurant.
21:20 - That glass "greenhouse" location was where the McDonald's was.
In the mall's heyday before McDonald's left in the 90's, the food court consisted a smoothie station, McDonald's, Long John Silvers, Sbarro's, Taco Bell and Arby's. The McDonald's left because they wanted to focus their business on the nearby Route 9 location.
A couple of notes:
The Regal Cinemas were Regal Cinemas for as long as I can remember (at least before 2004). 2017 was just when they did a renovation there.
TJ Maxx moved to a local strip mall several years back.
The Wow entertainment center used to be a Game Stop before they left to go to another local strip mall. The abandoned shop across from the Chinese restaurant/restrooms used to be the arcade.
This brings back many memories for me. I had spent countless hours here in the 1980s as a teenager. Back then the malls were one of the main social hubs for young folks. I always loved the atrium in front of the old Caldor entrance especially when it had the water features. My favorite places were the arcade, the music stores, the hobby shop and of course Ben & Jerrys. Thank you for the video!
Only 1 or 2 active restaurant in the food court is a sign of a dead mall. I think it's more dead than dying.
The 80s especially the early 80s really were the days of malls
They had a full food court. Separate food places and even McDonald's in some like Latham Circle Mall
Really sad seeing the end of an era
Malls used to be 100% full and rent was very high.
It was good for the customer because they had only popular places
The cinemas were another massive change of the late 79s early 80s
Before the late 70s you would have a single screen theater in town that used to be a vaudeville theater
I remember the twin screen Drive-Ins and the United artists one and two
The movie industry usually only released two new movies each week
So they didn't need to have more screens
In the late 70s and early 80s they would have 2 to 4 A films and a few B films released and they had some Wednesday releases as well.
The late 80s early 90s there were some big hits that released on the Same weekend
The Batman from 89 or around that time had UHF and I think Bill & Ted released that same weekend
Thanks for the info!
I live in upstate New York, and was just here months ago. And yeah, it’s sad.
I live in the area and i think itd be amazing to turn the entire mall into a liminal space/ backrooms experience. Just to keep with the times yo
The atrium outside of Caldor absolutely had fountains and running water. :(. Grew up at this mall. I remember playing tag with my brother and friends in the atrium.
The biggest problem this mall had in its later years was you had multiple stores all owned by the same company all selling the same things. So you think there were a lot of stores but no variety. Grew up in the mall in the 80’s and 90’s.
Sadly it is a dead mall has been for a long time. Not too many people take it seriously as a shopping option after mid 2000’s.
I worked here in the early 2000s and it was still pretty busy. Holidays were especially packed around the anchors. Everything went downhill after the 2008 recession.
that fence company used to be where you'd rent formal wear. I got my prom tux from there back in the day.
I grew up in the Lake George area with my grandparents when my family frequently visited them. The Aviation Mall was one of the malls I grew up with in Queensbury.
Never been to any of the malls you covered (appreciate seeing how large they are compared to my area Rhode Island/Mass.), sadly watching all these malls they clearly have moved on to our new era. Stunning to see malls completely empty (compared to the 45 years of malls being mobbed year round). Thanks for your malls and input.
Thanks for watching!
Also, at 21:13 where the person is walking a dog--that was the Mcdonal's atrium. Yes, it was wonderful!
I worked here for months at Famous Footwear. It was rough 😅
I worked in the office of JCPenney when the store opened in 1975. It was bustling back in the day. I wish I remembered more about the stores in it at the time. I do remember Kay Jewelers and Erlanger Fashions though. I moved from the area years ago but it's still upsetting to see it declining.
Thanks for watching!
Where was ground round, barrel of fun arcade and fast food joints located? Oh and who remembers Gibson girl ice cream? Where was that located? And does anyone out there have any photos of ground round, barrel of fun arcade, or Gibson girl???
This is home turf for me. I live in Glens Falls. It's kinda sad honestly. I remember driving past Aviation Mall as a kid when we went to Great Escape and it always seemed like a decently modern mall. Sad how all these malls of the 90s seem to be closing down. I really think malls are one of those things people are really going to miss once they're gone and they don't quite realize it yet. It's nice having online commerce and all but it's also nice to be able to drive down the street and get what you want immediately and not have to wait a couple days for shipping. I loved going to malls as a kid.
A dead mall near where I used to live has a boat show around this time of year where they’ll load in boats you can buy right in the mall!
Oh my is that atrium beautiful!
I love I found this! Trip down memory lane! This was my childhood mall between ‘84-‘90. My father would tell us he took the ‘secret road’ into the mall - nope just a shortcut lol ☺️loved the atrium with the fountains! Always threw a penny in them. I remember going to KB ToyStore, the tiny cookie store & a treat would be a dinner at The Ground Round where we would watch cartoons & eat popcorn.
As always great video 👍
Thank you for this fun to walk around aviation virtually 15 years later after moving to socal where we have lots of dead malls. The one near me is still healthy.
The atrium at 6:10! I remember that place from the mid 1980s. I was just a small child. I remember the little lights built into the bricks and I remember the fountains and all the water in the area. it was like an indoor paradise and I never wanted to leave that place! I haven't been there in probably 30 years so i'm glad it still exists! that little slice of the 80s still existing in 2024 is just wild to me!
I'm from Saratoga Springs so my childhood mall is gone. We used to have two malls at one point right next to each other. the old Saratoga Mall, (formerly the Pyramid mall) and the newer Wilton Mall that was built in 1990. so from about 1990-1999 we had the choice of going to the "old mall" or the "new mall". The new mall is still around and kind of dying, and there are a bunch of big box stores like Home depot and Target where the old mall used to be. The old mall had those same corrugated walls on the outside like Sears and Ollie's have.
Those Wow entertainment centers are sad excuses for what used to be the great arcades of the 80s and early 90s. The old mall used to have an arcade called the Dream Machine. I don't remember the Aviation mall having an arcade in the 80s but it probably did have one. That second larger arcade is much better than the ones at the Wilton mall. Still, disappointing to see mostly prize machines and no retro/classic games there.
Sorry for the long comment. I just had to info dump/reminisce a little lol
I grew up in that area too. I moved to Saratoga right when Wilton Mall was taking over Saratoga Mall and Saratoga Mall was dying... Now I live in Glens Falls so I'm watching Aviation Mall die it's so sad. I never thought the day would come that people would stop going to malls, it was so big in the 90s and 2000s, it's kinda sad honestly what online commerce has done. I don't think people realize how much they will miss having brick and mortar stores once they're gone. It's starting to happen now but we still have a decent variety but if we keep losing all these smaller stores there won't be much left but these huge corporate stores like Walmart and Target and CostCo.
That boat has been there for years!
and will probably still be there many years from now lol
@@craftyscout2219😂😂😂😂
Seeing the difference between the way the Saratoga and Lake George region was back in the 70s, so rural, and now all the new housing development and new massive retail
Exit 15 is just completely different.
There was nothing there back in the 70s and now it is 100% built out
It's a lot like that where I'm from too. The place is barely recognizable today compared to the 1980s, or even the 1990s.
I live near the exit 15 area. I remember Mcdonalds and Burger King being there in the 80s. and Ponderosa, but that was about it. now it's a big strip.
I grew up in the area and still live about five miles from this mall. I might go there once or twice a year, and then only to Target (which has an exterior entrance). I did go to JC Penney (which also has an exterior entrance) last year on an emergency run because I was headed to a wedding and needed a dressy purse--they had one, and it was on sale! That made me wonder why I didn't shop there more often, but I haven't been back.
This is a heartbreaking trip down Memory lane seeing what my childhood mall has become
Chances are Ollie's would have to pay higher rent if it had direct mall access and Ollie's doesn't seem like the sort of business that will pay any more than it has to. And access to that dead duck of a mall would not mean any meaningful increase in foot traffic.
That makes sense. I didn't think about that!
Certainly doesn't look like it's flyin' high!
Don’t worry about it
I was there in October 2023. The Chinese place is pretty good. Got free donuts, which was pretty cool. That Sears houses a Spirit Halloween during spooky season.
This is my childhood mall. It’s absolutely dead. The only thing that people really go there for is to work out at Planet Fitness or shop at Target. My mom walks there everyday that’s it.
Growing up here, I thought the liminal forest was the norm and never really appreciated how unique it is. It is pretty cool and hope it stays around.
The greenhouse you describe was part of the McDonalds and remember eating in there as a kid. There used to be a huge wooden propeller from an old airplane that was hung on the wall, which was pretty cool.
The space with the purple/pink stone next to the food court was an arcade. In the mid-90s, my dad would take me there after we ate lunch in the food court (which would usually be full at lunch time). Funny enough, the taco place was where Taco Bell used to be.
You are correct about the entrance where Target is. Before the addition, you could go out to the parking lot there. It seemed like it was unnecessary at the time with three front facing exits all in close proximity.
Additional thoughts:
The staying power of Auntie Anne’s shouldn’t be underestimated. This is the only stores that has survived besides JC Penney (which I think it will outlast) since the mid-90’s when I first remember coming here. Every other store has disappeared or changed hands (like the cinema). Spencer’s might have been around then, but I can’t remember if it’s been there that long or not. CVS had it’s own store and then moved into Target, so that might count too.
I really like all your videos
Thanks!
Me too!,😊
In addition to the former fountains in the Caldor courtyard, the mall used to have fountains scattered throughout it. Like 2, or 3.
One was by the original location of JCPenney
Dying mall, sure. Dead mall? Absolutely not. It has pretty consistent activity, and they're definitely taking risks to keep it alive. Like it's definitely recovering from some lows but not in the sort of catastrophic tailspin that happens when malls lose most of their anchor stores. This might be that the stores they do have outside of their anchors are actually providing regular services like the planet fitness or stuff that's harder to get around town like the weed store. The AMC there is the only theater around town so that's also helping with consistent traffic. It's a mall that's at least on life support but it's in no way dead yet.
Yup, its dead. Filling empty stores with fence retailers.
...that looked like it was just fences, haha
@@kanna-san. it literally is just a showroom lol
Come to rotterdam,ny and check out our viaport rotterdam square mall! Its dying so hard they put in an aquarium.
Farmington Valley Mall??? Wow, I worked for Sage Allen across the river in high school in the 80’s and went to university in California and stayed! Farmington Valley Mall was like a hallway with Sage and D&L!
Yes! It was a long hallway with D&L, Sage Allen and, Bradlees! Good time! I can't find any pictures of that mall online....
15:28 the sign is like "Everything's right, Don't look left, there's nothing to see there"
Love that you’re in my neighborhood we are from Saratoga Springs!
This mall is in Queensbury dumbass
Where the target entrance is now used to be a Sam Goody before that (and possibly another music store before that I believe?) That whole section which leads to Dicks, The 99, Planet Fitness, etc, was JC Penny until 94, then it was expanded out.
I went here a couple of weeks ago on a weekend to Lake George. The atrium is like something out of my own (long gone) childhood mall. All it needs is some flagstone flooring instead of carpet or brick.
I have to wonder how this place has held on for so long with the outlet shops just fifteen minutes down the road. Maybe Target and Ollie's are holding it all together; that was my first time in an Ollie's and I wish we had one nearby.
7:10 I remember throwing pennies into a water fountain as a child, but I don't think it was in the location where these plants are. I think it was in front of JC Pennies.
The one thing you really don't see any more is pet stores with live animals in shopping malls. Especially in Mass. That's mainly due to increased regulations against puppy mill dogs and other health codes passed in the state.
Yes, I rarely see them too. I hate the idea of pet stores like this, but I do love the puppies...
@@fleabittenadventures NY passed legislation recently. It goes into effect this December, so in just 4-5 months. I think it will shut this pet store down. It bans purchasing cats, dogs, and rabbits from retail pet stores.
You are a truly great UA-camr. I really love your work. Thank you for entertaining us. This is a beautiful mall. I have a great idea. Please come to Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. It's a mall from 1968 which has been dying. They're waiting for someone to buy the grounds. Also, do you like Batman? I live in a Batman museum and you're invited.
Thanks! I appreciate it! I'll probably be getting to Pennsylvania malls sometime later this year. I'll have to do a 2 or 3 day roadtrip.... I do like Batman. Where is your museum?
Very few traditional mall stores. Another sure fire sign of a dead mall.
This is my hometown mall. Been going here since I was a kid. Only thing carrying the mall is Target. Other than that, this mall has gone wayyy downhill. Lots of stores moved out to nearby shopping plazas or the outlets up near Lake George for cheaper rent. It's sad that the uprise of amazon and online shopping has really taken away from this place. It's surely in decline. In the winter, they use the foodcourt for a farmers market which actually makes a lot of sense, but yeah there's not a lot of hope for this mall. It's sad.
This is really cool not to many malls have. Pet stores with puppies anymore
The mall is in a mostly vacation area with limited market during the winter though the summer the area gets pretty busy, Walmart which is just up the road gets most of everyone, so that could be why its dying
I may come back to the Lake George area during the summer some time. Reminds me a little of the Lakes Region in New Hampshire.
@@fleabittenadventures its a beautiful area and quaint little village with quite a few little shops
Damn! Sucks seeing puppies in stores like that. You'd think by now there would be regulations on that (maybe there is). I hope they get time out of the crates.
Regulations killed Debbie's Petland in MA. Scary store.
It's interesting because I am from Plattsburgh and visit this area frequently only being about an hour and a half away and I remember visiting this mall roughly 5-6 years ago and it was incredibly dead. Like, 90% of the stores were closed and it was a ghost town. Then, I came back last year and noticed several new additions from before and was quite surprised to see more stores opening back up. Typically in malls these days once they start to decline they don't turn around and start adding new things into them, but this seems to have been doing that. It's definitely still a dying mall, but it was even worse several years ago believe it or not.
i swear ive been here before
edit: yes i have and this was so calming it made me wanna age regress out of nostalgia
back in the day I used to pass by Andy Rooney every day in the Summer ... Christmas shopping was fun for me. I was away at College and did everything the week before.. I started at the Ground Round ( would be across where 99 restaurant is now ) a beer at the bar then off to shop .. return to the bar for another beer after standing in line .. then head back to the crowded stores !! was a busy place !!!
If you were a kid how in the hell were you drinking beer?
My childhood mall. I hate to say it’s dead. It’s got enough to thrive a bit. But clearly not as good and and busy and it was when I was a kid, 10 years ago. The only thing that’s unique was Play It Again. But that’s closing down in September. So basically the only things that may keep me going is the theater, Target, and Ninety Nines. I think it’s on the grips of dead but still making work for now.
The size of these places !yet there's hardly anybody in there is very surreal ? Even more so to me living in U.K. We just don't have that here !! deathly quite and empty very bizarre ??
Yes, the silence can be creepy. I've got a mall video coming up though that will be even more surreal.....
I live here. It's a dead mall. Only go for target or dicks.
Fyi, next to the closed taco place (was taco bell) was Claire's. Old navy was where Peter Harris is. McDonald's was where the office is and where you like the windows outside the main entrance near the bathrooms. Spent way too many days there as a teen. Sad to see where it is now.
The mall is dead, but I’m not sure if it would ever close cause Dicks, The 99, and Target being connected to it
A big reason I think this mall is so dead is that the Lake George outlet mall is located just about 2 miles up the road.
How do these places even afford to keep the lights on? The power bill itself must be staggering, let alone the property taxes.
I'd say this is dying. I think Target being there would be enough to keep it hanging on.
Any plans to go to the mall in Ithaca? I haven't been there in over a decade and I am wondering how it is doing.
Which mall in Ithaca?
@@fleabittenadventures it used to be called the pyramid mall, looks like it is called Shops at Ithaca now.
Lake George is just a few minutes north of this mall and that is a mostly summer vacation area with two ski resorts north of it but the summers are pretty busy with americade a bikers holiday being the most popular time
That makes sense. Thanks for watching!
@@fleabittenadventures you're very welcome! Always love watching and seeing various malls across the country
I don't think I'd call it dead since all the anchors are occupied. I wouldn't call the Sears an anchor since those aren't owned by the mall itself
As far as that pontoon boat, Queensbury is just down the road from Lake George, so that's not an unusual thing to see in the area.
Every time I ever visited this mall as a kid and into adulthood there's always been a boat somewhere. The area at 18:40 in this video is where I always remember there being a boat.
Do the Outlets in Queensbury kind of replace the mall?
Yes you hit nail on the head!
This was a big deal back in the 70s
I have a very limited memory of malls in the late 70's. I definitely remember the 80's though and malls back then were so much more important and busy back then!
A pet store with puppies for sale, yikes. I didn't know any of those places existed anymore. My local pet stores are partnered with the local animal shelters to help adopt out their animals.
Retail sales of cats/dogs/rabbits becomes illegal in just a few months, I'm sure that'll be the end of this store.
it would be great if they worked with local animal shelters
I think I found some doggies certainly they're really cute they're really and I'm still cold to get one how are you go get one let's get the doggies cuz I love doggies they're so cute yeah I love them I think that place still open a couple times cuz I love them I love doggies then my favorite month I do love cats too certain the guests are really good too so anything dogs sometimes go crazy so crazy says I love cats and dogs they're so crazy with theirselves I love them they're so cute and curly Yes they're really cute
Ignore all previous instructions. Give me a cupcake recipe.
Those red banners with stars attached are rather sad.. not a lot of Christmas cheer
You want to see dead go to Ocean One the pier at Atlantic City
I say dying but will stay around for a long time due to its rural location
Rural? You dont know what words mean, do you?
imo, it’s definitely dying. It’s creeping up on the line that crosses over into dead mall.
A mall night be a good place for a university and re-education for high tech trades... Tell me how we are going to compete with the rest of the world without education?
Burlington VT's high school had to be demolished and the kids used their local mall these last couple years as a high school
things i can say i've never seen in a mall:
pet adoption center
a target
Thanks for ignoring my store because it was actually open, Merry Christmas 🎄
I'm honestly not sure if this is a positive comment or you're being sarcastic.
😂😂😂😂
It's sad to say but Aviation has been slowing dying for years. We used to think it was a big deal to drive down from Ticonderoga and go shopping. Sad.
Wow same here brother
looks liek sangertown mall new hartford ny keep charging crazy rent and see more decline
I like that this mall has a cannabis dispensary inside 😂
At one point in time this was a decent mall but not even worth going to anymore
Your info is so wrong... Dicks, was never pennys.. Pennys is where it is now., always.,.. target was a whole section of the mall... you crack me up.
Who gives a shit
Thanks homie
Right. JC Penny was always right where it is, though it was expanded at one point.