I used to work at Kay-Bee Toys starting in 1986. The 80's were Century's hey-days. I met Richard Simmons when he came to the mall, as well as Mr. Mcfeely, and Debbie Gibson. I remember taking the 'Pepsi Challenge' near the escalators at the food court, and trying on the leather coats with the chain locks on them at Wilson's. Pappens restaurant was 2 doors down from Kay-Bee, Uncle Lou used to always stop in and give us silver dollars. "Chick-on, chick-on, chick-on...and you gunna like it". Those were the days Dad, I'm in mourning to. Rest in peace old girl, you will be missed.
When I was about 10 or 11 in the early '90s, KDKA was interviewing "back to school" shoppers right outside the Kay-Bee Toys, we stopped and talked to him, and me and my brothers were on tv that night. I remember we stuck a tape in our VCR to record the segment, just in case, because we didn't know if we'd be shown on the news or not.
"They're closing dahn Penny's - that was the last sign of life." --- Whenever JC Penny's goes, that really is the last sign of life for any mall. The 80's and 90's were classic times for sure.
I used to work at Kay-Bee Toys starting in 1986. The 80's were Century's hey-days. I met Richard Simmons when he came to the mall, as well as Mr. Mcfeely, and Debbie Gibson. I remember taking the 'Pepsi Challenge' near the escalators at the food court, and trying on the leather coats with the chain locks on them at Wilson's. Pappens restaurant was 2 doors down from Kay-Bee, Uncle Lou used to always stop in and give us silver dollars. "Chick-on, chick-on, chick-on...and you gunna like it". Those were the days Dad, I'm in mourning to. Rest in peace old girl, you will be missed.
In their later years, this was a day out on the town shopping when mom would make dad drive them to Century 3 from Canonsburg. Not sure she ever spent more than $10, but it was their time to 'bond' walking the mall during their 50+ yrs of marriage. May all 3 rest in peace.
Loved this damn mall growing up. So many memories. Such cool architecture that reminded me of the early 80's malls that don't exist anymore. Kids these days will never know the joy of hanging out at the mall. 😥
I don't think anything was more uniform across America than the "80s mall experience" - literally you could walk into any mall in America and everyone was listening to the same Michael Jackson album, wearing the same clothes, drinking the same soda, a glorious time. Many of them had the same architecture inside too. And the fountains, loaded with pennies, nickels and dimes. Marble pyramids kids would slide down when bored. I remember there was some creepy slime toy they sold at KayBee Toys it was in a little plastic garbage can and totally freaked me out as an 8 yr old. I can smell it in my minds eye.
@Ryanator according to google *5505, i don't recall what it was but yeah we did that and thought we were the funniest people alive watching people go pick it up.
I met Greg, Peter, and Cindy Brady at Century III after they judged a Pittsburgh talent show there. I think Pittsburgh History, as told by Pittsburgh Dad, would be a good segment to the channel.
I hope I'm speaking for a lot of people when I say, "Thank you. Thank you for setting up, putting on, or putting up with the happy years of the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s." They were simpler times, better times. R.I.P. Century III Mall. So many memories...
I was walking by my house today when I came upon a Pittsburgh dad working on his house today hollering to his kid, " Hey where you at". Sounded just like Pittsburgh Dad! 😁
I loved Century Three Mall. Thanks for the memories. Now the slag dump! We used to drive to it to watch the slag being dumped. It was wonderful! Farewell, Century Three!
I practically lived in that mall when I was in high school. The first solo trip I made after getting my driver’s license was to the mall; I bought a Rush cassette. I loved that place and have so many great memories. The flashbacks I’m experiencing now are overwhelming. 😞
The shoutout to DEB was great. I used to manage the DEB shop in our little mall. The Century III store was one of our sister stores in my district. I even got to go help with a remodel there. Happy memories!
Worked in Century III myself in New Dimension Comics for many years after they moved downstairs. Sad to see it finally go, but man watching it slowly decline from the inside was even worse.
I'm from Ohio. When Todd put on the first 3 Rivers Con was my first visit to Century III. The mall was deep in decline then but the third level with the National Guard office was still accessible. Went back until the last con there and a couple other times to that NDC. Glad I was able to wonder around in there before it shut down. 3 Rivers Con at the old Waterfront Macy's last year was great. Hope Todd can do another 3 Rivers in 2021.
I loved going to Century III at Christmas time, they always had it decorated so beautifully. I bought knives at Cutlery World, I bought a leather jacket at Wilson's, I bought some of my favorite pipes from Ron at his Tinder Box store there. Infact the main reason I went there usually was to go to the Tinder Box for pipes and tobaccos. After we left the mall we would hit the Red Lobster or go down Curry Hollow Rd. to The Baltimore House for steamed crabs and beer. Best mall I have ever been in and I have missed it terribly. Nice Pittsburgh Dad tribute to a gone but never forgotten mall.
I remember being so afraid of heights as a small child that I had to walk as close to the stores as possible so that I wouldn't have to see over the balcony. What a wonderful, traumatic experience it was.
Can't forget the old Cutlery Store under the foodcourt and across from the pet store! I still have a Katana sitting around somewhere that I bought from there when I was 16. The store clerk was like "your parents OK with you buying a sword?" Uh, sure. SOLD!
I remember back during the early/mid-2000’s they had a carousel out by the fountain and elevator and then there was a disney store too. Good golly time flies.
I remember when Century III was new. It had Cutlery World. It had a glass elevator. It had a multi level parking lot so you could never find your car. It had a play area with giant concrete turtles. It was a vision of the future. Until in the mid to late 1990s, the when future went around a bend in the road and didn't look back.
@@Bookwyrm976 Right, they were a lot of fun. I remember climbing on them and hopping from turtle to turtle. Kids today would never be allowed to jump on concrete animals! Too dangerous. You could hit your head or break an arm. But, back in the 1900s, we played with toys brightly painted with lead paints, we played in the dirt, we rode bikes, skates, and skateboards without helmets or pads, and played two hand tab football and Wiffle ball out on the front street. In the summer we played outside most of the day. In winter, if it snowed, we rode sleds and threw snowballs. It is a miracle that we are still here!
@@jjryan1352 Funny that you replied to this comment today....just yesterday I was talking to a co-worker who is also from the Pittsburgh area, and we were reminiscing about the malls...Monroeville Mall, Century III, South Hills Village....
Thank you PD for a wonderful tribute to the greatest mall ever to be built on a slag field! What a walk down memory lane you took us on. Friday nights at the mall, hanging out at the food court! Sad to see a piece of my past going away. Great video!
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, joined US Army(just in case someone thinks I joined Canada's!), and I know nothing of this place other than stories, it was 1979 when I left, so I assume the mall wasn't open yet 🤔🤔🤔😵💫
I broke my jaw when I was 8 & had it wired shut all summer so when the doctor asked me what I wanted to eat for the first time in months I said a gyro from Sparta hut in century 3 mall
@@jjryan1352same, that Italian village pie was the best but the gyros won for me, between those & corn dog on a stick I never had to go anywhere else for food there, just that one corner
It's about time.. we pay homage to the water fountain, glass elevator, and dairy queen. all true pittsburgers understand! went there for a field trip in 7th grade (knoxville middle school.) years down the line my kids (who are now 26-24-21) had their only picture with santa there, many memories. monroeville and south hills village never cut it for me..even tried to shop ross park in my late teens, nope.
My Parents LOVED Century III We had babysitters! Yinz could put us kids in Camelot Music for Hours! National Record Mart NRM would watch us...This one Indian Lady had a store and she LOVED Us! They all knew our parents and they knew us kids were no problem at all! We had Spencers entertain us, most of my lighting came from there. Sadly after the Renovation in the 90's it was pretty much going away. I still have a Black Fringe jacket I got in 1992.
I bought an awesome Japanese themed chess set from that tobacco shop back in the early 90's that I still own. I spent many, many happy moments of my life at Century III, including my sons Christmas photos just a few 2 years ago.
I met Bill Cardille there in maybe 1981 or 1982, and I'd go to the hobby store down on the lower level. That's where I bought lead figures, including the Demogorgon, as seen in the first episode of Stranger Things.
I'm south of Uniontown so Century III wasn't a regular stop for me, but myself and my cousin would make a few trips a year up there (especially around Christmas) to hit up the larger selection of stores, then make a stop at Best Buy before we left the area because we didn't have one in the area. My one friend and I would go up together too and always go to the KFC in the food court and order loads of honey bbq wings and gorge ourselves stupid. I still remember the first time I listened to the entire Slim Shady LP was on a return trip from Century III. The mall may be gone, but the memories will last forever.
I’m gonna miss century 3. I was little when it was still packed but I miss the days when I could see Santa, ride the carousel, and all kinds of other things as well. RIP CENTURY 3 MALL
At one time there was no place like that.Even as a 40+ adult I enjoyed going there myself on Friday evening and going to food court and just relaxing by myself
What a classic "Deb, Deb, Deb, Deb, no Deb I'm not yelling for you I'm telling the children where you worked, the store that your mother worked at was also called Deb"
Wow. Century III Gone. That hurts. Back in the day it was a huge deal for me and my friends to to shop there. We were from the suburbs and wanted to shop in the big city mall. They had better stuff than the local mall. I remember it being crowded all the time (back in the late 80s early 90s.) You had a time limit to sit and eat in the food court, especially on a weekend.
Used to work in "The Dough Boys" in the Food Court. Fried bread dough, funnel cakes and deep-fried pierogies! Penney's charge card. Leather jacket on layaway at Chess King. Truly the end of an era!
I worked at Philip Pelusi in Century III mall 1985 - 1986 and the salon was ALWAYS busy! Also doing hair in the mid - late 80's = perms,perms,perms! LOL! Good times.
I remember going through it a few years ago and was sad to have missed this mall all those years. I walked through to go to cash in culture and loved the layout of that mall. I live near the pittsburgh mills mall and its basicly going away and is barely 15 years old.
Who remembers the smell when you walked past "Wilson's Leather"? I always wanted a red Michael Jackson "Beat It" jacket...and then a black leather Bon Jovi jacket with the fringe, but never had the cash! I also just happened to be there that day & saw Richard Simmons "Sweatin' to the Oldies" LOL!! There was always something fun going on there! Oh well, thanks Century III for a lot of great memories & RIP - we all miss what you once were! 😢
As a kid we would watch the horizon for the tell tale sign that they were pouring slag. Our parents would take us to watch the train cars pouring red slag down the mountain. My dad took us up there once because he worked for US Steel but told us get low below the windows of the station wagon because we were'nt authorized to be there. It was like a toxic waste dump. Years later it was poured over with concrete and I worked at Kaufmann's at the C-3 mall. When the mall was built the DiBartolo family was under investigation for suspected ties to organized crime. He owned the 49 niners so no one cared about the allegations. All good. The biggest loss was Murphy Mart. Put Wal Mart to shame. GC Murphy couldn't pull it off. Sad
i remember being a kid growing up in pittsburgh that was the highlight of my youth going to century III mall and throw coins in the fountain not the middle one but the ones near the petstore and i believe sears. used to go to the dairy queen as well. i remember last time i was there back in mid 2000s there was a retro store up top with a bunch of old toys and games from the 80s. but i always had to have a charlie chans chicken chan. that garlic chicken on a stick. good days and i think i bought my first music cd there, white zombie. this mall will be missed
"No, yinz can't go to Orange Julius..I ain't paying $3 for an orange shake..yinz can have a Creamscicle when we get home. And we ain't stoppin' at Spencer's for fake dog crap!"
Wow, Chess King really takes me back. One of the first places, when I was "man" of about 12 or so, that my Mother would let me pick out my own clothes.
I went to C3 for the last time on Black Friday, maybe 5 years ago. Hardly anyone there, only a relative few stores open, the mall was breathing its last breaths. But it was still "decked aht" for Christmas. I appreciated the effort even though everyone knew it wasn't coming back. It felt like one last "thank you" to people who still showed up. I knew it was the last time I'd be there. It was a weirdly somber day.
@@sicsemperpotatus5699 Beautiful story! And C3 WAS Christmas back in the day- Christmas in Pittsburgh will never be the same again. The closing of C3 is truly an end of an era
The sadist thing i saw there about 4yrs ago was the lonely Easter Bunny 😢🐰just sitting on the throne all alone those lines used to wrap around Hallmark 😢😢
Sorry for the loss. Enjoyed watching various dead mall videos including on this particular mall. Subscribed to your channel from Calgary. Think it was the video store video where I first found you and enjoyed your videos here and there.
My first jobs were at CIII, Games N Gadgets and B Dalton Booksellers. When I worked the day after Thanksgiving, I would have someone drop me off as the parking lots were full and crazy.
I remember when it opened. I was 9 or 10. I worked at the food court while i was in highschool in 1986 and 1987. About2 years. Gonna miss it. I always preferred the side near chicfila.
@@shawnavelli9537 they had two cabinets of the mortal kombat games, that's how popular the game was i never saw that for any other arcade game i also remember some kid had a strategy guide for all the moves and fatalities, and he wouldn't let me know where he got it in the mall unless i let him beat me, i let him win and and then he couldn't even remember what the stores name was, gotta love those friendly Clairton folks LOL
A few years ago when I worked dahn in West Mifflin, some of us would head over to the food court for lunches every now and then. When it was raining, you'd walk through the mall and see 5 gallon buckets everywhere to catch the drips from the ceiling.
Love watching the Skate Board Park Near Childrens Palace. My dad would love to go to the mall for Hickory Farms - Where else can you get a 4 pound Meat Stick (summer sausage) with their mustard and cheese - a hunky cheese and wine plate, but this was served with Regent Pop or if you did have one it was Boone Farms Strawberry Hill. Don't forget the Arcades - not just one, but two of them.
That Hickory Farms was a wonder. So much stuff. Endless meats and cheeses and snacks and all so savory. Mom always bought the oxtail soup mix and sesame crunchy snacks, dad went for the summer sausage....had to ration it or it would be gone in a flash.
When I first moved to Pittsburgh back in the late 80's Century III Mall was my landmark. At first I got lost all the time because road signs simply aren't obligatory. I literally memorized my drives by landmarks and getting to and from Century III was the first drive I had down solid. You should know we lived in Carnegie. I learned real fast how Pittsburgh is laid out. And without the benefit of road signs.
@@jenniestevens7899 I disagree. I doubt you would want to live the life of a woman before given the right to vote. Maybe you would, but you would be in the vast minority. As for me, I'm glad my grandfather left the life of an indentured servant in Hungary behind and came to the United States. Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.
I like the subtle "Miracles do happen if you believe" comment. Jefferson Starship's Red Octopus was the first 8 track tape I ever bought back in the 70's. Unfortunately it wasn't at Century III though.
This reminds me of the Metro North Mall here in Kansas City. So many memories in that mall as kid growing up. The fountains, theaters, pizza shop, hot air balloons. It was great. Nostalgia. They demolished it last year and putting up a Top Golf.... life goes on.
I’m feeling this one. My first job was at Orange Julius in 1995, and I worked in the Ritz Camera Store and One hour Photography Lab from 2002-2006. I used to bitch and complain, but looking back, that was the best job I ever had and the best days of my life. That place began a weird second home for a lot of us, and it will be sadly missed.
IDK...I'm a Yinzer and the Pittsburghese is "Hired" for Howard. My aunt who moved to the San Francisco area over 65 years ago still gets chided by her children for her Pittsburgh pronunciation of many words including "Howard." LOL
Some of the best memories from my childhood. I remember every year around Christmas, driving through the snow to a magical land called Century III… I remember running all over pointing out items from my Christmas list and adding new things as I went lol. Then a trip over to the food court for some Chinese food. Top it of with fresh roasted nuts. Ride escalators, throw pennies into the fountain, it was a magical time to be a kid. Now it’s replaced by shopping online. No more seeing school friends and comparing lists or staring at odd strangers walking around. No more tobacco store where your parents would buy cigarettes while you marvel at the pipes and tobacco. Really is kind of sad when I think about it.. R.I.P. Century III. Pittsburgh will never forget you. See yinz online!
I used to work at Kay-Bee Toys starting in 1986. The 80's were Century's hey-days. I met Richard Simmons when he came to the mall, as well as Mr. Mcfeely, and Debbie Gibson. I remember taking the 'Pepsi Challenge' near the escalators at the food court, and trying on the leather coats with the chain locks on them at Wilson's. Pappens restaurant was 2 doors down from Kay-Bee, Uncle Lou used to always stop in and give us silver dollars. "Chick-on, chick-on, chick-on...and you gunna like it". Those were the days Dad, I'm in mourning to. Rest in peace old girl, you will be missed.
Pappen's!!? " and you gonna like it!"
charlie chans with their garlic chicken on a stick, man good ole days when i was 5 or 6
When I was about 10 or 11 in the early '90s, KDKA was interviewing "back to school" shoppers right outside the Kay-Bee Toys, we stopped and talked to him, and me and my brothers were on tv that night. I remember we stuck a tape in our VCR to record the segment, just in case, because we didn't know if we'd be shown on the news or not.
Those sound like the greatest days ever. :(
@@PJownsyoursoul they were. I miss it all the time.
I poured out a bit of Iron City for the Century 3, may it forever live in every yinzers memories..
RIP 🙏
Anybody remember the Century III Chevrolet jingle? "Lebanon Church Road Piiiiiitsburgh..."
Minutes from the mall!
😭😭😭😭
Thanks alot! Now it's in my head again. I still have a jar of 'aunt Penny's preserves' from Kenny ross Chevrolet
ua-cam.com/video/JtSkwsfqjHs/v-deo.html
I was devastated to learn it was not original to Century III Chevrolet. ua-cam.com/video/y3i6_Rz0nrM/v-deo.html
A part of us all will go away with that mall. Those were the days. I'm from Uniontown, that was considered a big out of town trip when I was a kid.
"They're closing dahn Penny's - that was the last sign of life." --- Whenever JC Penny's goes, that really is the last sign of life for any mall. The 80's and 90's were classic times for sure.
I used to work at Kay-Bee Toys starting in 1986. The 80's were Century's hey-days. I met Richard Simmons when he came to the mall, as well as Mr. Mcfeely, and Debbie Gibson. I remember taking the 'Pepsi Challenge' near the escalators at the food court, and trying on the leather coats with the chain locks on them at Wilson's. Pappens restaurant was 2 doors down from Kay-Bee, Uncle Lou used to always stop in and give us silver dollars. "Chick-on, chick-on, chick-on...and you gunna like it". Those were the days Dad, I'm in mourning to. Rest in peace old girl, you will be missed.
I remember malls. They are becoming obsolete
In their later years, this was a day out on the town shopping when mom would make dad drive them to Century 3 from Canonsburg. Not sure she ever spent more than $10, but it was their time to 'bond' walking the mall during their 50+ yrs of marriage. May all 3 rest in peace.
Well that took a turn at the end
Loved this damn mall growing up. So many memories. Such cool architecture that reminded me of the early 80's malls that don't exist anymore. Kids these days will never know the joy of hanging out at the mall. 😥
"Funeral attire= Black dresses, Black suits, and Home Steelers Gear"
That last one would be funnier if it wasn't true.
Hahaha, been there, seen 'nat
I love Pittsburgh dad he is hilarious
I love Pittsburgh dad do to blue Jay and Pittsburgh penguins
@Ryanator I dont know
All Im sayin is Pittsburgh Dad is trainin for a frickin marathon...... The more yinz know......
@@franka.ciccanti507 yes
I don't think anything was more uniform across America than the "80s mall experience" - literally you could walk into any mall in America and everyone was listening to the same Michael Jackson album, wearing the same clothes, drinking the same soda, a glorious time. Many of them had the same architecture inside too. And the fountains, loaded with pennies, nickels and dimes. Marble pyramids kids would slide down when bored. I remember there was some creepy slime toy they sold at KayBee Toys it was in a little plastic garbage can and totally freaked me out as an 8 yr old. I can smell it in my minds eye.
Ryanator I don’t know about Pitt but in NY the code was 660 and the number. I used to do it at my high school all the time.
@Ryanator according to google *5505, i don't recall what it was but yeah we did that and thought we were the funniest people alive watching people go pick it up.
I met Greg, Peter, and Cindy Brady at Century III after they judged a Pittsburgh talent show there.
I think Pittsburgh History, as told by Pittsburgh Dad, would be a good segment to the channel.
I second the Pittsburgh History idea.
I hope I'm speaking for a lot of people when I say, "Thank you. Thank you for setting up, putting on, or putting up with the happy years of the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s." They were simpler times, better times. R.I.P. Century III Mall. So many memories...
I was walking by my house today when I came upon a Pittsburgh dad working on his house today hollering to his kid, " Hey where you at". Sounded just like Pittsburgh Dad! 😁
I loved Century Three Mall. Thanks for the memories. Now the slag dump! We used to drive to it to watch the slag being dumped. It was wonderful! Farewell, Century Three!
I practically lived in that mall when I was in high school. The first solo trip I made after getting my driver’s license was to the mall; I bought a Rush cassette. I loved that place and have so many great memories. The flashbacks I’m experiencing now are overwhelming. 😞
The shoutout to DEB was great. I used to manage the DEB shop in our little mall. The Century III store was one of our sister stores in my district. I even got to go help with a remodel there. Happy memories!
I remember when that mall opened and it was such a big deal to go there. Makes me really sad. Part of my childhood gone.
That and the Civic Arena
Worked in Century III myself in New Dimension Comics for many years after they moved downstairs. Sad to see it finally go, but man watching it slowly decline from the inside was even worse.
I'm from Ohio. When Todd put on the first 3 Rivers Con was my first visit to Century III. The mall was deep in decline then but the third level with the National Guard office was still accessible. Went back until the last con there and a couple other times to that NDC. Glad I was able to wonder around in there before it shut down. 3 Rivers Con at the old Waterfront Macy's last year was great. Hope Todd can do another 3 Rivers in 2021.
In that cobblestone area he mentioned? That was the name of it? I went through those narrow aisles many a time.
I loved going to Century III at Christmas time, they always had it decorated so beautifully. I bought knives at Cutlery World, I bought a leather jacket at Wilson's, I bought some of my favorite pipes from Ron at his Tinder Box store there. Infact the main reason I went there usually was to go to the Tinder Box for pipes and tobaccos. After we left the mall we would hit the Red Lobster or go down Curry Hollow Rd. to The Baltimore House for steamed crabs and beer. Best mall I have ever been in and I have missed it terribly. Nice Pittsburgh Dad tribute to a gone but never forgotten mall.
The Baltimore House!! I forgot about that place!!
I remember being so afraid of heights as a small child that I had to walk as close to the stores as possible so that I wouldn't have to see over the balcony. What a wonderful, traumatic experience it was.
Same! Thought I was the only one lol
Can't forget the old Cutlery Store under the foodcourt and across from the pet store! I still have a Katana sitting around somewhere that I bought from there when I was 16. The store clerk was like "your parents OK with you buying a sword?" Uh, sure. SOLD!
I had my last piece of pizza from Italian Village right before they closed a few years back. Mission complete 👍
Im going to miss this mall
I remember back during the early/mid-2000’s they had a carousel out by the fountain and elevator and then there was a disney store too. Good golly time flies.
I remember when Century III was new. It had Cutlery World. It had a glass elevator. It had a multi level parking lot so you could never find your car. It had a play area with giant concrete turtles. It was a vision of the future. Until in the mid to late 1990s, the when future went around a bend in the road and didn't look back.
I used to love those concrete turtles.
@@Bookwyrm976 Right, they were a lot of fun. I remember climbing on them and hopping from turtle to turtle. Kids today would never be allowed to jump on concrete animals! Too dangerous. You could hit your head or break an arm. But, back in the 1900s, we played with toys brightly painted with lead paints, we played in the dirt, we rode bikes, skates, and skateboards without helmets or pads, and played two hand tab football and Wiffle ball out on the front street. In the summer we played outside most of the day. In winter, if it snowed, we rode sleds and threw snowballs. It is a miracle that we are still here!
Don't forget Cutlery World's annual "back to school sale" 😆
@@jjryan1352 Funny that you replied to this comment today....just yesterday I was talking to a co-worker who is also from the Pittsburgh area, and we were reminiscing about the malls...Monroeville Mall, Century III, South Hills Village....
@@jasonhochman3750 yeahhh went to the old Monroeville Mall a lot back in the day as well. All that parking for a rather small mall 😆
Thank you PD for a wonderful tribute to the greatest mall ever to be built on a slag field! What a walk down memory lane you took us on. Friday nights at the mall, hanging out at the food court! Sad to see a piece of my past going away. Great video!
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, joined US Army(just in case someone thinks I joined Canada's!), and I know nothing of this place other than stories, it was 1979 when I left, so I assume the mall wasn't open yet 🤔🤔🤔😵💫
I broke my jaw when I was 8 & had it wired shut all summer so when the doctor asked me what I wanted to eat for the first time in months I said a gyro from Sparta hut in century 3 mall
For me the dilemma was the pizza or their gyro.
@@jjryan1352same, that Italian village pie was the best but the gyros won for me, between those & corn dog on a stick I never had to go anywhere else for food there, just that one corner
That is were I hung out when I was in high school. It will be missed.
It's about time.. we pay homage to the water fountain, glass elevator, and dairy queen. all true pittsburgers understand! went there for a field trip in 7th grade (knoxville middle school.) years down the line my kids (who are now 26-24-21) had their only picture with santa there, many memories. monroeville and south hills village never cut it for me..even tried to shop ross park in my late teens, nope.
My Parents LOVED Century III We had babysitters! Yinz could put us kids in Camelot Music for Hours! National Record Mart NRM would watch us...This one Indian Lady had a store and she LOVED Us! They all knew our parents and they knew us kids were no problem at all! We had Spencers entertain us, most of my lighting came from there. Sadly after the Renovation in the 90's it was pretty much going away. I still have a Black Fringe jacket I got in 1992.
I bought an awesome Japanese themed chess set from that tobacco shop back in the early 90's that I still own. I spent many, many happy moments of my life at Century III, including my sons Christmas photos just a few 2 years ago.
RIP to my childhood 😭😭😭😭😭😭
I met Bill Cardille there in maybe 1981 or 1982, and I'd go to the hobby store down on the lower level. That's where I bought lead figures, including the Demogorgon, as seen in the first episode of Stranger Things.
Thank you Pittsburgh dad put a smile on my crap day.
I'm south of Uniontown so Century III wasn't a regular stop for me, but myself and my cousin would make a few trips a year up there (especially around Christmas) to hit up the larger selection of stores, then make a stop at Best Buy before we left the area because we didn't have one in the area. My one friend and I would go up together too and always go to the KFC in the food court and order loads of honey bbq wings and gorge ourselves stupid. I still remember the first time I listened to the entire Slim Shady LP was on a return trip from Century III.
The mall may be gone, but the memories will last forever.
I’m gonna miss century 3. I was little when it was still packed but I miss the days when I could see Santa, ride the carousel, and all kinds of other things as well. RIP CENTURY 3 MALL
At one time there was no place like that.Even as a 40+ adult I enjoyed going there myself on Friday evening and going to food court and just relaxing by myself
Sad day. All kidding aside.. thanks for putting this video up Sir.
Spent many a day there as a teen. Those were the days!
What a classic
"Deb, Deb, Deb, Deb, no Deb I'm not yelling for you I'm telling the children where you worked, the store that your mother worked at was also called Deb"
Who's on first?
Universe gonna collapse itself. Should said, "In-DEB-tion..."
Wow. Century III Gone. That hurts. Back in the day it was a huge deal for me and my friends to to shop there. We were from the suburbs and wanted to shop in the big city mall. They had better stuff than the local mall. I remember it being crowded all the time (back in the late 80s early 90s.) You had a time limit to sit and eat in the food court, especially on a weekend.
RIP 😢
R.I.P. Century III. Great memories there from the 90's for me.
I worked at Lechter’s housewares and Best of Times watch store, 96-97...great memories of growing up in West Mifflin..my sister worked at Cinnabon
Used to work in "The Dough Boys" in the Food Court. Fried bread dough, funnel cakes and deep-fried pierogies! Penney's charge card. Leather jacket on layaway at Chess King. Truly the end of an era!
I worked at Philip Pelusi in Century III mall 1985 - 1986 and the salon was ALWAYS busy! Also doing hair in the mid - late 80's = perms,perms,perms! LOL! Good times.
My dad was Santa at the mall in the mid 80s. some of yinz prolly have that old picture somewheres
Great story, Pittsburgh Dad! R.I.P. Century III.
This was some of his best writing so far. Love the Village Pizza reference - we had one on Main Street in Butler back in the day too.
I remember going through it a few years ago and was sad to have missed this mall all those years. I walked through to go to cash in culture and loved the layout of that mall. I live near the pittsburgh mills mall and its basicly going away and is barely 15 years old.
Thoughts and Prayers, Pixburgh Dad.
R.I.P. Century III MALL. I Use to love it. Pick up Girls. Those were the days. 💯💯💯💯
We need more history lessons by dad
The fancy part by Dairy Queen with the cobblestones! 😂
This was so hilarious. I have the best memories of Century III 😌. It was more or less a staple for every teenager in the entire area.
Damn, I just got really sad.
Italian Village had the best pizza and you can fight me on that.
Ever been to the Pub n' Pizza on Castle Shannon Blvd?
I love their stuff. Squirrel Hill location is delicious.
Who remembers the smell when you walked past "Wilson's Leather"? I always wanted a red Michael Jackson "Beat It" jacket...and then a black leather Bon Jovi jacket with the fringe, but never had the cash!
I also just happened to be there that day & saw Richard Simmons "Sweatin' to the Oldies" LOL!! There was always something fun going on there!
Oh well, thanks Century III for a lot of great memories & RIP - we all miss what you once were! 😢
For me the smell I fell in love with was the coffee shop just across from the bookstore. Like Heaven in its scent
I remember that!! I think it was Hazelnut coffee at Gloria Jean's!!
😃
As a kid we would watch the horizon for the tell tale sign that they were pouring slag. Our parents would take us to watch the train cars pouring red slag down the mountain. My dad took us up there once because he worked for US Steel but told us get low below the windows of the station wagon because we were'nt authorized to be there. It was like a toxic waste dump. Years later it was poured over with concrete and I worked at Kaufmann's at the C-3 mall. When the mall was built the DiBartolo family was under investigation for suspected ties to organized crime. He owned the 49 niners so no one cared about the allegations. All good. The biggest loss was Murphy Mart. Put Wal Mart to shame. GC Murphy couldn't pull it off. Sad
i remember being a kid growing up in pittsburgh that was the highlight of my youth going to century III mall and throw coins in the fountain not the middle one but the ones near the petstore and i believe sears. used to go to the dairy queen as well. i remember last time i was there back in mid 2000s there was a retro store up top with a bunch of old toys and games from the 80s. but i always had to have a charlie chans chicken chan. that garlic chicken on a stick. good days and i think i bought my first music cd there, white zombie. this mall will be missed
"No, yinz can't go to Orange Julius..I ain't paying $3 for an orange shake..yinz can have a Creamscicle when we get home. And we ain't stoppin' at Spencer's for fake dog crap!"
I wonder if there will be a Pittsburgh Dad street light stories 3 I did like the other two who's up for Pittsburgh Dad streetlight stories 3
Spent much of my youth in C3! Of course, most was in Software etc and Babbages checking out C64 software and hardware.
Jesus....the NOSTALGIA 😭
Chess King!
Wicks and Sticks!
The pipe tobacco shop
Buster Brown for shoes... you even got a balloon when you left.
Oh man, that pipe tobacco shop smelled so good!
Wow, Chess King really takes me back. One of the first places, when I was "man" of about 12 or so, that my Mother would let me pick out my own clothes.
The mall used to put on the best Christmas decorations during its heyday
My cousin-in-law, pretty much singlehandedly, put up all the Christmas decorations at Century III Mall one year back in the mid-2000s.
I went to C3 for the last time on Black Friday, maybe 5 years ago. Hardly anyone there, only a relative few stores open, the mall was breathing its last breaths. But it was still "decked aht" for Christmas. I appreciated the effort even though everyone knew it wasn't coming back. It felt like one last "thank you" to people who still showed up. I knew it was the last time I'd be there. It was a weirdly somber day.
@@sicsemperpotatus5699 Beautiful story! And C3 WAS Christmas back in the day- Christmas in Pittsburgh will never be the same again. The closing of C3 is truly an end of an era
The sadist thing i saw there about 4yrs ago was the lonely Easter Bunny 😢🐰just sitting on the throne all alone those lines used to wrap around Hallmark 😢😢
@@vickihoffman1999 ua-cam.com/video/vWvgeEmCwls/v-deo.html
RIP century 3 mall
Back in 80's we would ride our bikes up 885 past the dairy queen to the mall. #Hazelwood #fouronetwo
My deepest condolences to yinz Dad.
You should do more Pittsburgh history stuff. Like with Rick sebak
Sorry for the loss. Enjoyed watching various dead mall videos including on this particular mall. Subscribed to your channel from Calgary. Think it was the video store video where I first found you and enjoyed your videos here and there.
Yep sad all malls I grew up with in johnstown are done.richland mall gone.galeria mall dead.hills been gone.ahh the 80s and 90s
I dont live it Pittsburgh but I have been to Century III Mall before when I visited famil there. Sad to see it go.
My first jobs were at CIII, Games N Gadgets and B Dalton Booksellers. When I worked the day after Thanksgiving, I would have someone drop me off as the parking lots were full and crazy.
I remember when it opened. I was 9 or 10. I worked at the food court while i was in highschool in 1986 and 1987. About2 years. Gonna miss it. I always preferred the side near chicfila.
Century 3 was legendary, especially if were a kid in the early 80s straight for the arcade 🏇
@Ryanator 😂without a doubt
Two arcades. Decadent.
i stood in line to play Mortal Kombat 2 and 3 in the early 90's
@@MikeG82 🤣 yea man, I remember that! It was like that with the ninja turtles game when that first came out too
@@shawnavelli9537 they had two cabinets of the mortal kombat games, that's how popular the game was i never saw that for any other arcade game
i also remember some kid had a strategy guide for all the moves and fatalities, and he wouldn't let me know where he got it in the mall unless i let him beat me, i let him win and and then he couldn't even remember what the stores name was, gotta love those friendly Clairton folks LOL
Orange Julius, Claire's boutique, and $1 store
R.I.P century III
Ruby Tuesday salad bar
A few years ago when I worked dahn in West Mifflin, some of us would head over to the food court for lunches every now and then. When it was raining, you'd walk through the mall and see 5 gallon buckets everywhere to catch the drips from the ceiling.
Hey, I remember your show on TV back in the early 70's, from Cincinnati. Ok, maybe that was not you.
@@Zoetropeification Curse you for even thinking I could be from Cincinnasty. Or that old.
@@PaulDixon25 LOL!!!
Love watching the Skate Board Park Near Childrens Palace.
My dad would love to go to the mall for Hickory Farms - Where else can you get a 4 pound Meat Stick (summer sausage) with their mustard and cheese - a hunky cheese and wine plate, but this was served with Regent Pop or if you did have one it was Boone Farms Strawberry Hill.
Don't forget the Arcades - not just one, but two of them.
I worked at the go cart track the skate park turned into. 'Trackers'. Such a blast that was
That Hickory Farms was a wonder. So much stuff. Endless meats and cheeses and snacks and all so savory. Mom always bought the oxtail soup mix and sesame crunchy snacks, dad went for the summer sausage....had to ration it or it would be gone in a flash.
The Deb Shop
What memories, I still remember my most favorite outfit from there!!
When I first moved to Pittsburgh back in the late 80's Century III Mall was my landmark. At first I got lost all the time because road signs simply aren't obligatory. I literally memorized my drives by landmarks and getting to and from Century III was the first drive I had down solid. You should know we lived in Carnegie. I learned real fast how Pittsburgh is laid out. And without the benefit of road signs.
But what about that oh-so-cool Knife store that used to be by the Carousel .
I remember the downfall and closure of Greengate mall,and now Century 3. So sad.
My parents ran the Deck The Walls store there in the 80s-early 90s.
i was there once in the fall of '87. was visiting a friend who lived on the Sah'side, and we took the train out there. that place was HUGE
If you find the mall on Google Maps, there are a whole bunch of great abandoned mall pictures.
When I went to the Century III food court, I always ate at Sparta Hut.
Acid rain!! RIP Century 3!!
I miss the chi chi's that was up there. I did the kid gymnastics at the mall and we'd always go there to eat after
I’m looking at the pictures of the mall and it looks like Kenwood Mall over in Hamilton County, OH.
RIP Century III Mall. Many good times were had at that mall growing up in the 80s.
Wow Rax, Ground Round, and Long John Silvers. I do miss those restaurants
I am a huge Pittsburgh Dad fan!!!! My fam is from Pittsburgh
The only constant in life is change.
Change is always for the worse except in cars and TVs
@@jenniestevens7899 I disagree. I doubt you would want to live the life of a woman before given the right to vote. Maybe you would, but you would be in the vast minority. As for me, I'm glad my grandfather left the life of an indentured servant in Hungary behind and came to the United States. Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.
@@jenniestevens7899 I'll take issue with the cars. We are losing the manual transmission, nothing matters after that!
I like the subtle "Miracles do happen if you believe" comment. Jefferson Starship's Red Octopus was the first 8 track tape I ever bought back in the 70's. Unfortunately it wasn't at Century III though.
Rip century lll mall. 🙏🏻😔
This reminds me of the Metro North Mall here in Kansas City. So many memories in that mall as kid growing up. The fountains, theaters, pizza shop, hot air balloons. It was great. Nostalgia. They demolished it last year and putting up a Top Golf.... life goes on.
THIS IS MY FAMILY REUNION, WHEN I GO BACK TO PITTSBURGH!!
I’m feeling this one. My first job was at Orange Julius in 1995, and I worked in the Ritz Camera Store and One hour Photography Lab from 2002-2006. I used to bitch and complain, but looking back, that was the best job I ever had and the best days of my life. That place began a weird second home for a lot of us, and it will be sadly missed.
My dad is named Howard, and I can 100% confirm that this is the correct pronunciation of Howard. "Hauhrd." One syllable. 😂
IDK...I'm a Yinzer and the Pittsburghese is "Hired" for Howard. My aunt who moved to the San Francisco area over 65 years ago still gets chided by her children for her Pittsburgh pronunciation of many words including "Howard." LOL
Some of the best memories from my childhood. I remember every year around Christmas, driving through the snow to a magical land called Century III… I remember running all over pointing out items from my Christmas list and adding new things as I went lol. Then a trip over to the food court for some Chinese food. Top it of with fresh roasted nuts. Ride escalators, throw pennies into the fountain, it was a magical time to be a kid. Now it’s replaced by shopping online. No more seeing school friends and comparing lists or staring at odd strangers walking around. No more tobacco store where your parents would buy cigarettes while you marvel at the pipes and tobacco. Really is kind of sad when I think about it.. R.I.P. Century III. Pittsburgh will never forget you. See yinz online!