@@angelm2655 Shortpump is interesting. Should still be doing well. Stoney Point is interesting if you want to see a mall that’s dying. You might find Regency Square interesting. It’s in a redevelopment / mixed use phase.
I live like 5 minutes away from the mall haven't been there since I was a teenager now I'm a dad I can't believe how much it changed your awesome thanks for reviewing the mall brings back old memories
This mall is like 15 minutes away from me 😆 I grew up going there and still occasionally go! Love how it’s still doing well, but I do prefer Short Pump. Fun fact, there used to be a fountain towards the Sears in that open space across At Home, and another one towards the Macy’s near H&M; wish they still have them! ⛲️ Red Robin used to be a Taco Bell, but the Taco Bell was just a regular food stand like the current Chick-fil-A and other current food tenants.
I used to live by this mall 2008-2015 and I have many good memories. It was always thriving. My mom and sister still live in the area. There’s a mall by me now in North Charleston called The Northwoods Mall that is doing really well.
I was not expecting this mall to be as lively as it was. I thought for sure violence might have scared people away. Apparently, except for that fight/murder it’s mostly quiet crime wise.
When I was a kid in the 90s we'd go to this mall all the time. It was always packed. We'd get cinnamon rolls from the irresistible smell of Cinnabun right outside the food court. Spencer's was a staple when I was a teenager (used to be near the Sears). It's probably kept alive by its distance to Short Pump, the deaths of competitor malls, and the developments of the Midlothian area.
The entry area through the food court is the only exciting and welcoming part of this mall but I love it. Wide open, massive skylights for amazing natural light, the palm tree motif, it feels like you are outdoors . . the (now gone) movie multiplex, tons of seating from end to end, lot of good eateries. . this was a GREAT hangout zone. lived and worked nearby in early 90's and loved this place. Ate lunch there several times a week - sweet memories. This mall had some good computer software stores back in the day (Babbages, software etc.) , adding a cutting edge feel to it. Decades have passed and I still go here from time to time just for nostalgia.
@fiatfan83 Nice. No doubt we crossed paths many times. I used to hang at Software Etc. a bit. Still remember the poster for the Neo Geo I think it was. My kid was crazy for The Early Learning Center. Kids had to be dragged away literally kicking and screaming they loved that place so much.
@fiatfan83 I own a boxed copy of Legends! Good chance I bought it from you, LOL. What a game! My first trip down the Nordshleife I think. Like ice in those old cars.Those were the days . . .Sbarro pizza, movies, free refills at Taco Bell, those giant cookies, cinnabuns, do you remember when Sbarro had an attached dining room? That goes way back. I was at that mall when it opened, or re-opened (it was some other mall before) this must have been around 88\89 I guess, just guessing.
I don’t know the demographics of where the mall is, but it’s likely in a great spot close to where people actually live and is easy to get to with hassle free parking. These days it’s less about aesthetics and more about reducing stress. It can be boring and do well if it’s got what people want and is easy to get to. Malls that are failing are usually in traffic congested areas right off a busy interstate exit and overpass. Gwinnett Place mall in Georgia is a prime example of that. People don’t want to drive long distances or deal with bad traffic just to go to a mall that’s pretty. A nice simple mall like this if it’s close to where people live that’s easy to get to and has what people are interested in buying will succeed.
There are a lot of reasons these malls are failing. Crime of course is one reason. It's everywhere. People don't dress like they used to either. I mean how many pairs of sweatpants and jeans can one person own? Anything seems to go. Different shoes aren't needed. Most people wear tennis shoes. Even jewelry has simplified. Less is more. After all these malls fail and become places to exercise, that will play out too. They will do it at first and then people will figure out how many places can you go to exercise? That mall used to have a restaurant I liked in it called Spinnakers many years ago. I would go to the mall and enjoy taking a break to eat. I don't want to eat fast food everywhere I go. I think these malls are also very dull looking. Malls used to be bright and attractive with seasonal decorations. They actually worked hard on the decorations to get you in the mood to spend money. The music was studied to make you want to shop. None of that anymore. And as far as home decor, nobody wants that anymore either with the minimalist movement. I think they are all doomed. A new "place" will come to be and it will last until the next new place comes along. It's sad to me as a person who used to love to shop and have a day at the mall.
I was going to say spinnakers MADE the mall for me growing up when I’d go there… pretty much stopped going after that and when the sears and radio shack closed even though it’s less than a 5 minute drive for me
True. When I called it a boring mall it’s the design elements. Mall operators today don’t seem to want to do some fun things on the interior to make the malls interesting. That’s why I call it boring.
Why would we be disappointed that it’s not a dead mall. It’s actually a good sign and it makes me feel good. Please Not everything has to be gloom and doom. It’s nice to see something going well. That’s kind of sad that that’s a statement the channel owner felt you needed to say?
Some folks love to only see the abandoned and empty properties. Others such as yourself like it all :) I appreciate the kind words. It is nice to see properties that appear to be fighting the trend we are seeing. Hope you enjoyed the video.
@@DyingRetail I did. Thank you for doing it. But with everything going on in the world today, it really is nice to have something good like that. It’s good to see. There are still places that are doing all right.
I’m working on Military Circle malls final video next. Unfortunately, this will be sad. It’s being prepped for Demolition but… there will be other malls coming and I’m sure it’s going to be a mixture of struggling and those beating expectations.
Mall developers are either playing a game or outright lying. Developers, financiers, local governments, and community representatives.; all are putting a "smiley face" on economic projections even when similar mall projects in neighboring cities have already failed under similar business projections. No one would ever describe me as, "Affluent & Upscale", and it makes me wonder if the people these malls are built for ever really shop in-person at a mall.
In the area of this mall they were going after shoppers of nearby affluent areas. A lot of things with this location is the location. It’s easy to get to, etc. the two new malls built in 2003 that was competing was more upscale, Nordstrom, Saks, etc. one of almost dead. A lot of their issue was location. It was out of the way.
@@DyingRetail Maybe what I'm missing is any understanding of retail statistics. How many people in a mall versus how many sales are the stores capturing? These huge retail complexes are throwbacks to an era as old as I am. Affluent people today have options that affect the whole economy.
Modern stores are just bland. No color, no patterns, no decorations. Just milk toast bland corporate cookie cutter nightmares. I miss the days of color and fountains and general decor.
My apologies. Current mall owner is a Brookfield Properties. Didn’t see in my newspaper research. More info in description. Sorry about that.
I'm visiting Richmond Va this weekend. In your opinion, what is the best mall to visit in the area? Are there any interesting ones in the area?
@@angelm2655 Shortpump is interesting. Should still be doing well. Stoney Point is interesting if you want to see a mall that’s dying. You might find Regency Square interesting. It’s in a redevelopment / mixed use phase.
@@DyingRetail thanks
@@angelm2655 you’re welcome
I live like 5 minutes away from the mall haven't been there since I was a teenager now I'm a dad I can't believe how much it changed your awesome thanks for reviewing the mall brings back old memories
Hi Peter! Thanks for visiting the channel and it’s good to hear you were able to recall some good memories of this mall!!!
@@DyingRetail I also remember the old Clover leaf mall back in the day as well things have changed so much now miss the good old days
@petervicheth4929 I went there once in the 90’s.
@@DyingRetail I miss the 90's that's when everything during that time was more live than it is now to be honest
@petervicheth4929 The world didn’t seem as nuts as it is now
This mall is like 15 minutes away from me 😆 I grew up going there and still occasionally go! Love how it’s still doing well, but I do prefer Short Pump. Fun fact, there used to be a fountain towards the Sears in that open space across At Home, and another one towards the Macy’s near H&M; wish they still have them! ⛲️ Red Robin used to be a Taco Bell, but the Taco Bell was just a regular food stand like the current Chick-fil-A and other current food tenants.
Would have been nice to seen fountains. It’s a busy mall. Just the architectural elements looked bland but that’s a lot of places anymore.
@fiatfan83 Got to be careful of that mystery meat :)
I used to live by this mall 2008-2015 and I have many good memories. It was always thriving. My mom and sister still live in the area. There’s a mall by me now in North Charleston called The Northwoods Mall that is doing really well.
I was not expecting this mall to be as lively as it was. I thought for sure violence might have scared people away. Apparently, except for that fight/murder it’s mostly quiet crime wise.
My hometown mall Great mall
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the video.
When I was a kid in the 90s we'd go to this mall all the time. It was always packed. We'd get cinnamon rolls from the irresistible smell of Cinnabun right outside the food court. Spencer's was a staple when I was a teenager (used to be near the Sears).
It's probably kept alive by its distance to Short Pump, the deaths of competitor malls, and the developments of the Midlothian area.
Location definitely seems to be on this malls side. That’s for sure.
The entry area through the food court is the only exciting and welcoming part of this mall but I love it. Wide open, massive skylights for amazing natural light, the palm tree motif, it feels like you are outdoors . . the (now gone) movie multiplex, tons of seating from end to end, lot of good eateries. . this was a GREAT hangout zone. lived and worked nearby in early 90's and loved this place. Ate lunch there several times a week - sweet memories.
This mall had some good computer software stores back in the day (Babbages, software etc.) , adding a cutting edge feel to it. Decades have passed and I still go here from time to time just for nostalgia.
That’s the busiest food court that I’ve seen in a long time.
@fiatfan83 It’s like the owners only care about getting the rent check. Unfortunately a lot of malls just look for sanitized and sterile.
@fiatfan83 Nice. No doubt we crossed paths many times. I used to hang at Software Etc. a bit. Still remember the poster for the Neo Geo I think it was. My kid was crazy for The Early Learning Center. Kids had to be dragged away literally kicking and screaming they loved that place so much.
@bigalexg never know :)
@fiatfan83 I own a boxed copy of Legends! Good chance I bought it from you, LOL. What a game! My first trip down the Nordshleife I think. Like ice in those old cars.Those were the days . . .Sbarro pizza, movies, free refills at Taco Bell, those giant cookies, cinnabuns, do you remember when Sbarro had an attached dining room? That goes way back. I was at that mall when it opened, or re-opened (it was some other mall before) this must have been around 88\89 I guess, just guessing.
I don’t know the demographics of where the mall is, but it’s likely in a great spot close to where people actually live and is easy to get to with hassle free parking. These days it’s less about aesthetics and more about reducing stress. It can be boring and do well if it’s got what people want and is easy to get to. Malls that are failing are usually in traffic congested areas right off a busy interstate exit and overpass. Gwinnett Place mall in Georgia is a prime example of that. People don’t want to drive long distances or deal with bad traffic just to go to a mall that’s pretty. A nice simple mall like this if it’s close to where people live that’s easy to get to and has what people are interested in buying will succeed.
It appears demographics are very good. Usually I have observed when a mall has a violent incident, you see traffic suffer but not in this case.
There are a lot of reasons these malls are failing. Crime of course is one reason. It's everywhere. People don't dress like they used to either. I mean how many pairs of sweatpants and jeans can one person own? Anything seems to go. Different shoes aren't needed. Most people wear tennis shoes. Even jewelry has simplified. Less is more. After all these malls fail and become places to exercise, that will play out too. They will do it at first and then people will figure out how many places can you go to exercise? That mall used to have a restaurant I liked in it called Spinnakers many years ago. I would go to the mall and enjoy taking a break to eat. I don't want to eat fast food everywhere I go. I think these malls are also very dull looking. Malls used to be bright and attractive with seasonal decorations. They actually worked hard on the decorations to get you in the mood to spend money. The music was studied to make you want to shop. None of that anymore. And as far as home decor, nobody wants that anymore either with the minimalist movement. I think they are all doomed. A new "place" will come to be and it will last until the next new place comes along. It's sad to me as a person who used to love to shop and have a day at the mall.
All are valid points. Main issue is over building of malls in the 90’s. I think we will still see malls just not as many.
@fiatfan83 Lol! True. Mall life in the 80s/90s was awesome. I miss it.
I was going to say spinnakers MADE the mall for me growing up when I’d go there… pretty much stopped going after that and when the sears and radio shack closed even though it’s less than a 5 minute drive for me
I do too!
@@kieranmorley2833 I miss the Shack. Managed a store in the 90’s.
These people don't really have many place to go, and they can't really keep going down the road like they did in Henrico.
True. When I called it a boring mall it’s the design elements. Mall operators today don’t seem to want to do some fun things on the interior to make the malls interesting. That’s why I call it boring.
Why would we be disappointed that it’s not a dead mall. It’s actually a good sign and it makes me feel good. Please Not everything has to be gloom and doom. It’s nice to see something going well. That’s kind of sad that that’s a statement the channel owner felt you needed to say?
Some folks love to only see the abandoned and empty properties. Others such as yourself like it all :) I appreciate the kind words. It is nice to see properties that appear to be fighting the trend we are seeing. Hope you enjoyed the video.
@@DyingRetail I did. Thank you for doing it. But with everything going on in the world today, it really is nice to have something good like that. It’s good to see. There are still places that are doing all right.
I’m working on Military Circle malls final video next. Unfortunately, this will be sad. It’s being prepped for Demolition but… there will be other malls coming and I’m sure it’s going to be a mixture of struggling and those beating expectations.
@@DyingRetail yeah that is a sad when I remember hearing about that mall. I grew up in Elizabeth city North Carolina so I’m kind of familiar with it
It’s sad seeing this one go. Was the second mall in the area.
Mall developers are either playing a game or outright lying. Developers, financiers, local governments, and community representatives.; all are putting a "smiley face" on economic projections even when similar mall projects in neighboring cities have already failed under similar business projections. No one would ever describe me as, "Affluent & Upscale", and it makes me wonder if the people these malls are built for ever really shop in-person at a mall.
In the area of this mall they were going after shoppers of nearby affluent areas. A lot of things with this location is the location. It’s easy to get to, etc. the two new malls built in 2003 that was competing was more upscale, Nordstrom, Saks, etc. one of almost dead. A lot of their issue was location. It was out of the way.
@@DyingRetail Maybe what I'm missing is any understanding of retail statistics. How many people in a mall versus how many sales are the stores capturing? These huge retail complexes are throwbacks to an era as old as I am. Affluent people today have options that affect the whole economy.
True. Unfortunately sales numbers, etc. isn’t information that’s publicly available.
Modern stores are just bland. No color, no patterns, no decorations. Just milk toast bland corporate cookie cutter nightmares.
I miss the days of color and fountains and general decor.
Agreed.
You ought to be greatful that the place is open and doing well.
@@thebeaz1 yes, that's true. I am thankful for that.
You can be grateful and still point out the lack of design thought.