So many memories of this mall! I was at the Melissa Joan Hart signing. I got to hold a cheetah cub at another event. I remember a store associate keeping an eye on me while I feverishly pumped a pair of Air Jordans at a shoe store by the fountain. I got my ears pierced at Corey’s Jewel Box in the wing where the hippo is and screamed loud enough for the whole mall to hear. My mom worked at Knapp’s, Field’s West, JCPenney, and Elder-Beerman. I worked at JCPenney for a few years in the early 2010s. Around 1990 (maybe earlier) an old woman got her gas and brakes mixed up and drove into the front window of Penney’s where the shoe department is. I remember the huge board covering the window for a while.
Wow, I grew up in nearby Napoleon and our family went to this mall many, many times. Aladdin’s Castle was a major hangout for us teens. While watching this video, at 0:53 I see a girl I graduated HS with in ‘85, Penny Brown. I remember seeing Ted Nugent walking around the mall as well!
The difference is that Montgomery Ward had direct access to the mall similar to JCPenney whereas Walmart does not. I worked at Montgomery Ward as a teen until the closing in the receiving department.
Okay, this is interesting. This mall bears a very strong resemblance to a mall I grew up near, North Kent Mall, near Grand Rapids, MI. The front entryway is almost identical as is the mall's layout, and the ceilings in the corridors are virtually the same as well. I wonder if there is any kind of connection. No hippo statue, though. Unfortunately, the mall near me closed in the early 2000s and is now mostly taken up by a Lowes, but at least it seemingly has a clone on the other side of the state!
I spent many many hours there. Watched Star wars in that mall for the 1st time. Then one day almost smashed my car into Ted Nugent! There was an video arcade on the Right when you walked into the mall and a record store (real records) on the left about 3 stores up. Big Boy used to be in there too. But the Toy Store was my favorite.
I, too, saw Star Wars there for the first time. The toy store was also my favorite. Eating Hot Sam pretzels and sitting on the hippo or by the fountain.
Nice video. I miss those fountains. Was a real treat seeing all of the archival images. I've never heard of the Nickelodeon event, but I would have only been 3. Maybe that's why my mother knew who MJH was and encouraged me to watch "Clarissa explains it all" 🤔
I love your channel and I'll be honest I watch every one of your videos, but dead mall videos just aren't my thing. I do watch most of them but some of the mall ones I have passed on. Mostly because they remind me of dying times and how online shopping is killing everything. The reason I did watch this one was the length of the video seemed about right and as usual it was another great video. Anyway Congrats on hitting 40K subscribers! Keep it up!
This mall has declined so much more even since the video was posted. Notably, FYE, Bath and body works, kay jewelers, rue 21, American eagle, and shoe dept are all now closed. It's like 90% vacant and 10% occupied. Really sad to walk in there when even 8 years ago it was much more busy.
A sad reminder of the glory days of the shopping mall, complete with multiplex cinema, arcade & food court.
So many memories of this mall! I was at the Melissa Joan Hart signing. I got to hold a cheetah cub at another event. I remember a store associate keeping an eye on me while I feverishly pumped a pair of Air Jordans at a shoe store by the fountain. I got my ears pierced at Corey’s Jewel Box in the wing where the hippo is and screamed loud enough for the whole mall to hear.
My mom worked at Knapp’s, Field’s West, JCPenney, and Elder-Beerman. I worked at JCPenney for a few years in the early 2010s.
Around 1990 (maybe earlier) an old woman got her gas and brakes mixed up and drove into the front window of Penney’s where the shoe department is. I remember the huge board covering the window for a while.
I love malls and mall culture but then again I’m Gen X so it was definitely our thing.
I agree. That's was our social hang out spot.
Same
Wow, I grew up in nearby Napoleon and our family went to this mall many, many times. Aladdin’s Castle was a major hangout for us teens. While watching this video, at 0:53 I see a girl I graduated HS with in ‘85, Penny Brown. I remember seeing Ted Nugent walking around the mall as well!
The difference is that Montgomery Ward had direct access to the mall similar to JCPenney whereas Walmart does not. I worked at Montgomery Ward as a teen until the closing in the receiving department.
Keep them coming
I believe this is older footage, but since this was recorded, the bath and body works, kay jewelry, and fye have all closed in this mall
Okay, this is interesting. This mall bears a very strong resemblance to a mall I grew up near, North Kent Mall, near Grand Rapids, MI. The front entryway is almost identical as is the mall's layout, and the ceilings in the corridors are virtually the same as well. I wonder if there is any kind of connection. No hippo statue, though.
Unfortunately, the mall near me closed in the early 2000s and is now mostly taken up by a Lowes, but at least it seemingly has a clone on the other side of the state!
Great Video
I was shocked they ripped out the fountain. You could hear it from all over the mall.
Great vid! The mix between old and new images is always a good choice to make the connection to the history.
I spent many many hours there. Watched Star wars in that mall for the 1st time. Then one day almost smashed my car into Ted Nugent! There was an video arcade on the Right when you walked into the mall and a record store (real records) on the left about 3 stores up. Big Boy used to be in there too. But the Toy Store was my favorite.
I, too, saw Star Wars there for the first time. The toy store was also my favorite. Eating Hot Sam pretzels and sitting on the hippo or by the fountain.
Nice video. I miss those fountains. Was a real treat seeing all of the archival images. I've never heard of the Nickelodeon event, but I would have only been 3. Maybe that's why my mother knew who MJH was and encouraged me to watch "Clarissa explains it all" 🤔
Them days are gone and not coming back.🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲
Nice!! 😊
I love your channel and I'll be honest I watch every one of your videos, but dead mall videos just aren't my thing. I do watch most of them but some of the mall ones I have passed on. Mostly because they remind me of dying times and how online shopping is killing everything. The reason I did watch this one was the length of the video seemed about right and as usual it was another great video. Anyway Congrats on hitting 40K subscribers! Keep it up!
Let skaters in!🛹🛹🛹
Hell no.
@@fblack9033 Hell yeah!
I go to that mall it sad
This mall has declined so much more even since the video was posted. Notably, FYE, Bath and body works, kay jewelers, rue 21, American eagle, and shoe dept are all now closed. It's like 90% vacant and 10% occupied. Really sad to walk in there when even 8 years ago it was much more busy.