Thank you for uploading this. This was a Childhood mall for me in the 90s and early 2000s and to watch slowly decline and fall apart and now watching it being torn down everyday. It just hurts to bad to see. I am glad to see yall archived a commercial. I couldn't find almost anything on this mall when it came to looking for old commercials and stuff for it.
Don't you just love the beautiful round marquee at the entrance? My husband, a welder, welded up the big marquee at the entrance. The company, Lexco Sales and Engineering has been gone since 2005. My husband retired at that time. He talked much about the round design and all the struts needed. He's been gone for 8 years now. He would have loved to see this. More of his work can be seen in the Richland County Library downtown Columbia. He welded up all the white strutwork seen inside the large glass front room. He worked several months on that project.
Very cool to preserve this stuff. This is for sure one of the most unique/odd layouts to a mall I've seen. It's crazy to look at the food court/stage area and see how even 25 years ago it was converted into something so lifeless and dead as that call center was.
Getting old! I remember the original uncovered Richland Mall as a 9 year old in 1965. I recently moved back to Columbia. I lived in Forest Acres in the late 80's. I drove by the site last week and saw the demolition underway. Piles of rubble. Here's to a bright future and the wonderful people if Columbia, SC.❤
Grew up in the 80s and 90s. This was actually kind of hard to watch. The malls in and around Atlanta looked very similar to this one. What a different world it was back then. The 80s synthwave was spot on as audio to this visual…
This was cool but also made me super sad. You could see how they went all out for Christmas.... even having reindeer and carolers and pretty decorations. The lights look so nice too. It was colorful and happy and full of life.
Absolutely heartbreaking! What happened to our society and civilization?! These pictures are insane because I at the age of 46 have very little memory of their ever being this many people at the mall. By at the very least the mid 1990's this place was DEAD. As a matter of fact this mall never came close to taking off. I bet no more than 30% of the mall had stores in it at its peak. I will admit I am SHOCKED that it stayed open as long as it did not year after year but decade after decade. Now we have the bore of apartments and a grocery store to take its place. Pathetic. What a sad life for those of us that have had a pulse. Many of the people in this video are now old or dead from a condition called old age probably decades ago.
Was at this mall many times, including on a stormy day around 2004 or 2005. While standing toward the back of the Barnes & Noble store, the ceiling near the doors to the outside fell in and a waterfall (as well as complete chaos) resulted.
The funny thing about those Christmas events in the back half of the video is those were definitely shot around the time the decline started. Outside of hosting events, Columbiana Mall was killing their business by then.
some cool cars i spotted 0:36 Eagle talon TSI? 0:42 C4 Corvette immediately followed by Honda CRX and Volvo 240 following the C4 0:49 EF honda civic next to ~88 honda accord. Astro Van
What's special about Richland Fashion Mall in the capital of SC? Rooftop parking. Drivers had to be careful not to bump any panes when they parked. If it reopens next decade, I would visit there before passing away. So much to see and do at the lit Southern joint!
Many thanks for uploading this. I really wish that the video technology we have today had existed in the 80s. So that it would have been easier to preserve the past.
@@kailozen8430The developer should just bury it at this site since it's going to be mixed use with retail and green space until the date it's to be opened.
I found this to be incredibly depressing, honestly. The mall of my youth is now regularly in the news for shootings and criminal activity. I wouldn't even feel safe returning for a nostalgic visit. I'd rather remember it as it was in the 80s and 90s.
I love the part where the narrator is describing the area its situated in and this "affluent estate" and then shows all these nice gated houses and very specifically states that the average household income in that area was 43k per year.
It began as just Richland Mall. It was an open air mall with a Kroger at the end nearest Forest Dr and White’s at the other end. Woolworth, Britton’s etc. when the enclosed it and expanded it was rebranded as Richland Fashion Mall. As I understand, the rents became to high to be sustainable for many of the merchants and that’s when the real decline started!
Listen,I have a request for you. It may be hard for you guys. I’d like you to explore White Plains Galleria Mall, NY. It may be hard. But I’d like to see it.
*Is. They still exist, but back in the 90s-mid 2000s virtually every major mall had one. They almost all disappeared in the late 2000s, but have made a small comeback in recent years.
Damn right! I live in Montgomery, AL, and there is NO mall pizza here. Birmingham (mentioned in this video, actually), not too far North of here has a big mall (Riverchase Galleria) who hasn't had a pizza place since 2020. It's getting too hard to find Sbarro :(
@@BollingHolt Parkway Place Mall in Huntsville has one. I think the closest mall to you in Montgomery that has a Sbarro though might be Peachtree Mall in Columbus, Ga.
@@TheNewgreatlife Cool! My uncle lives in Huntsville. I'll have to ask him to bring me a pizza next time he comes to Montgomery LOL. I think I found one in Columbus, GA as well.
Ok, what movies are on those posters in the beginning of this? I noticed ‘Beethoven’ which came out in 4/1992 - recognize any others? It’s obviously really poor quality 😎
I'm sorry, did I hear a store named "Athlete's foot"? Why would anyone choose this name lol Edited to add: Clearly people have been saying "Happy Holidays" for much longer than some conservative bigots would like you to believe...
This mall did way too much for Christmas, concerts and fashion shows. It would have been interesting to be there in its prime. But no wonder they ran out of money.
Thank you for uploading this. This was a Childhood mall for me in the 90s and early 2000s and to watch slowly decline and fall apart and now watching it being torn down everyday. It just hurts to bad to see. I am glad to see yall archived a commercial. I couldn't find almost anything on this mall when it came to looking for old commercials and stuff for it.
I was born in 1999 vote yes to replace amazon with Malls haha 😋 no but I do like Malls
Who are these people who posted/uploaded this?! This is crazy.
Don't you just love the beautiful round marquee at the entrance? My husband, a welder, welded up the big marquee at the entrance. The company, Lexco Sales and Engineering has been gone since 2005. My husband retired at that time. He talked much about the round design and all the struts needed. He's been gone for 8 years now. He would have loved to see this.
More of his work can be seen in the Richland County Library downtown Columbia. He welded up all the white strutwork seen inside the large glass front room. He worked several months on that project.
I did love it and now I'm heartbroken it is all gone.
Very cool to preserve this stuff. This is for sure one of the most unique/odd layouts to a mall I've seen. It's crazy to look at the food court/stage area and see how even 25 years ago it was converted into something so lifeless and dead as that call center was.
This 80s soundtrack was in perfect nostalgic harmony with the photos and videos.
Getting old! I remember the original uncovered Richland Mall as a 9 year old in 1965. I recently moved back to Columbia. I lived in Forest Acres in the late 80's. I drove by the site last week and saw the demolition underway. Piles of rubble. Here's to a bright future and the wonderful people if Columbia, SC.❤
Yeah, if you like grocery stores and apartments. The excitement never ends.
Thank you for this video, this was the world I felt safe in. Best days of my life. 💕
Grew up in the 80s and 90s. This was actually kind of hard to watch. The malls in and around Atlanta looked very similar to this one. What a different world it was back then. The 80s synthwave was spot on as audio to this visual…
This was cool but also made me super sad. You could see how they went all out for Christmas.... even having reindeer and carolers and pretty decorations. The lights look so nice too. It was colorful and happy and full of life.
Don't forget the animatronic bears!
A Beautiful Mall for sure Sad what has happened to brick and mortar retail
It's a shame the mall is gone.I work there back in the day. everybody was so good to me.
I wasn’t expecting an upload on this channel too! 😁
Thank you for preserving these pictures and videos! Would love to see more of this for future videos.
Absolutely heartbreaking! What happened to our society and civilization?! These pictures are insane because I at the age of 46 have very little memory of their ever being this many people at the mall. By at the very least the mid 1990's this place was DEAD. As a matter of fact this mall never came close to taking off. I bet no more than 30% of the mall had stores in it at its peak. I will admit I am SHOCKED that it stayed open as long as it did not year after year but decade after decade. Now we have the bore of apartments and a grocery store to take its place. Pathetic. What a sad life for those of us that have had a pulse. Many of the people in this video are now old or dead from a condition called old age probably decades ago.
Thank you for grabbing these. Water damaged as some of these are, looks like you got to them just in time.
Was at this mall many times, including on a stormy day around 2004 or 2005. While standing toward the back of the Barnes & Noble store, the ceiling near the doors to the outside fell in and a waterfall (as well as complete chaos) resulted.
Why, well, that was TWO decades ago. What do you think that that means has been going on for so long?
This was fantastic! Thanks for doing this alongside the main video!
Awesome video as always Bryan and Michael.
Fantastic video! Love looking at old photos!
The blinded optimism from a bygone time.
The funny thing about those Christmas events in the back half of the video is those were definitely shot around the time the decline started. Outside of hosting events, Columbiana Mall was killing their business by then.
OMG it looks sooooo much like Wijnegem shopping center, our biggest shopping center in belgium, the still hustling and bustling mall !
Interesting video. The mall was so pretty back then. Thanks alot.
some cool cars i spotted
0:36 Eagle talon TSI?
0:42 C4 Corvette immediately followed by Honda CRX and Volvo 240 following the C4
0:49 EF honda civic next to ~88 honda accord. Astro Van
I'm glad I'm not the only one! That's the first thing I look for is cool cars that when this was made were brand new! So cool
I like that you guys gave more info on the building
Thanks for awesome video of the past
What's special about Richland Fashion Mall in the capital of SC? Rooftop parking. Drivers had to be careful not to bump any panes when they parked. If it reopens next decade, I would visit there before passing away. So much to see and do at the lit Southern joint!
Many thanks for uploading this.
I really wish that the video technology we have today had existed in the 80s. So that it would have been easier to preserve the past.
Love your work,thank you!
Thank you for this! I actually found myself in one of the pictures!!
Who are you in which one? You must be old...
Wow the good old days.
The exterior shot they used for dillards is the mall i grew up going to in lamarque/texas city tx. Was at mall of the mainland.
I wonder what happened to the time capsule...
Demolition team found it a few months ago and the city is planning on relocating it to a park.
@@kailozen8430 yeah but what was inside it? Did they preserve it or throw the contents? I wonder...
@@kailozen8430The developer should just bury it at this site since it's going to be mixed use with retail and green space until the date it's to be opened.
what a vibe!
They had no idea of the looming obsolescence back in the day.
I miss Babbage's and Waldenbooks...
I found this to be incredibly depressing, honestly. The mall of my youth is now regularly in the news for shootings and criminal activity. I wouldn't even feel safe returning for a nostalgic visit. I'd rather remember it as it was in the 80s and 90s.
Same. I feel prepared to die now.
I love the part where the narrator is describing the area its situated in and this "affluent estate" and then shows all these nice gated houses and very specifically states that the average household income in that area was 43k per year.
In ~1992 that was the equivalent of $100,000 today.
@@eddonbordeaux3192 which still wouldn't be enough to afford to live in a house like those pictured
this mall reminds me of the eaton centre in Toronto, Ontario , Canada. It has a very similar vibe, looks, and design.
poor mall wish it could've been saved..
2:06 athletes foot? Great store name lol 🤣
I think this is still a thing-- just opened one here in Baton Rouge, LA, USA!
550 stores in 30 countries.
The Athlete's Foot was always a staple in any mall built in the later 70's through the 80's.
It began as just Richland Mall. It was an open air mall with a Kroger at the end nearest Forest Dr and White’s at the other end. Woolworth, Britton’s etc. when the enclosed it and expanded it was rebranded as Richland Fashion Mall. As I understand, the rents became to high to be sustainable for many of the merchants and that’s when the real decline started!
How did this uploader get these videos and where from❓❗
I work at Providence Hospital, when I got off 📴 I used to go to eat at SS Cafe good food ❤ and shop at JB. White.
Sounds like the Thalasin guy!
Shit, I'm getting old.
Where'd you get those shoes? Athletes Foot.
Listen,I have a request for you. It may be hard for you guys. I’d like you to explore White Plains Galleria Mall, NY. It may be hard. But I’d like to see it.
There is an error. Ft. Jackson added 200,000 not 20,000.
:( Another one lost.
❤
Did you save this stuff from the mall
Were the stores always kind of crappy?
There was a shoe store called “athletes foot?”
*Is. They still exist, but back in the 90s-mid 2000s virtually every major mall had one. They almost all disappeared in the late 2000s, but have made a small comeback in recent years.
it is actually insane to me that they just covered up that beautiful food court. anything to make an extra buck
Yeah, well, did you go that food court?!
@@alexkx8599 no i didn’t. but i can see atleast from old vids and pics how cool it looked. shame that they covered it up like that
This was incredible! Thanks for sharing…. Now I’m kinda depressed though
What happened to the people that bought a store in the mall?
The stores just leased the space at extremely high rates.
Sbarro was and still is the shit.
Damn right! I live in Montgomery, AL, and there is NO mall pizza here. Birmingham (mentioned in this video, actually), not too far North of here has a big mall (Riverchase Galleria) who hasn't had a pizza place since 2020. It's getting too hard to find Sbarro :(
Yep. Their pizza rocks.
Good but expensive
@@BollingHolt Parkway Place Mall in Huntsville has one. I think the closest mall to you in Montgomery that has a Sbarro though might be Peachtree Mall in Columbus, Ga.
@@TheNewgreatlife Cool! My uncle lives in Huntsville. I'll have to ask him to bring me a pizza next time he comes to Montgomery LOL. I think I found one in Columbus, GA as well.
Vapourwaves
So what was the Parisian? Like a Macy's or Dillard's?
More like Dillard’s.
Ok, what movies are on those posters in the beginning of this? I noticed ‘Beethoven’ which came out in 4/1992 - recognize any others? It’s obviously really poor quality 😎
I'm sorry, did I hear a store named "Athlete's foot"? Why would anyone choose this name lol
Edited to add: Clearly people have been saying "Happy Holidays" for much longer than some conservative bigots would like you to believe...
This mall did way too much for Christmas, concerts and fashion shows. It would have been interesting to be there in its prime. But no wonder they ran out of money.
Good god. Take a drink for every time you see belt hanging down in front haha oh the times. Surprised I didn’t see an upside down golf visor 😂.
There was a lot of resentment from the locals at the time it was built. They preferred the smart and convenient shopping center that was there before.
🚨UPDATE: FIRE.🔥 at the mall yesterday during demolition work. There are a few local news channel videos have posted explaining what happened.