VINTAGE ABANDONED SEARS & Sears Auto - huge 19 acre site - Middleburg Heights, Ohio
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- Опубликовано: 26 сен 2024
- Let’s walk around the massive former Sears site in Middleburg Heights! The store closed in 2017 and sits empty and probably will be demolished. Even the auto center can’t be repurposed. Middleburg Heights now owns this property. They have plans for redevelopment. They say out with the vintage 60s architecture!!
Sears around the Christmas holidays was something special back then
My mom was a display artist there, so it was her doing if you loved the displays😁😁😁
Was used for CARVANA about 4yrs ago.
These properties need to be turn into affordable housing. These will bring back services like doctor clinics, dentist offices, local grocery stores but most important bring back these communities.
@@CSmith-oz4wpaffordable housing = slums
@@IP0Monsturd so what is the solution? Leave them to live out of their car? I see the problem of doing the initial investment but that alone will not help solve the issues. The system (us) must continue the support after someone is given shelter. Those people may not ever had the teachings of how to live and take charge of their decisions.
It was built in 1964. I loved that Sears location!! The city just got 5.5M to demolish it and clean it up of all the asbestos to use it for mixed use development. Got my Kenmore washer/dryer from there and they both still work 20 years later! Thanks for sharing!
@@sharihere8809 now is the old Halle's store building coming down too? I still see Cleveland Furniture Bank in there, I know Burlington moved out a while ago. I always thought those were really cool buildings. It's to bad they won't save them and make them a Sears Museum, they could sell tickets and serve hot dogs and root beer at the squeaky entry doors.
I grew up just down the street from this store. When I was a kid, that’s the only place I got my clothes. Tough skins jeans - with an extra layer of fabric at the knee. Got my first glasses at the Sears Optical. They had a parts department in the basement where you could order parts for the equipment they sold over the years. I remember going with my grandfather to buy belts for the lawnmower down there. My middle school shop teacher worked in the tool department demonstrating the woodworking tools. What memories! One winter, my grandma fell on the wet floor there and broke her shoulder.
The “low rent” Chuck E Cheese, called Marc’s Funtime Pizza Palace, was an actual Chuck E Cheese before it was run by Marc.
Grew up right down the street myself ,and have some fond memories of Marc's fun time pizza place also❤
Back in the day Sears was awesome and had everything. I'm so glad I was around to experience it. The architecture of that building was just beautiful!
Whoa…In love with that mid century architecture ❤
Beautiful architecture!
Sadly it is being torn down.
I went there we used to get school clothes there when I was little. It’s been there since 1965. I believe the city of Middleburg Hts. bought the property. The Sears auto brings back many memories, we used to always take our cars there. And my Dads friend worked in bay 1 doing battery installs. Thank you for sharing this ❤
I love the final shot with the folded plate roof line and the panels running along the top half of the walls. That is a great example of 60s commercial architecture, although it was designed to keep costs down. Also, that sage green was huge in the time that was built.
I didn’t know it was for cost efficiency! That’s interesting
I think it was late 50's, Halle's was also an anchor department store there too. The Halles building was where Burlington was in the lower level. Both Halle's and Sears went up around the same time, there was an original J. c. Penny there too, out front facing Pearl Road (rt. 42) that Penny's was extremely small and caught on fire and was demolished in the 80's, and that Penny's was relocated to what was Parmatown Mall, which is gone now too. After the Sears building is demolished only the Halle's building will be the last standing of the three anchors.
That Sears was exceptionally huge, it had a basement also that sold scratch & dent for a while back in the 80's.
It was a great store, i can still smell that Sears smell and those squeaky entry doors, they always seemed to squeek on every pull or push.
All accurate!
I would just like to add, while on the subject of the old Southland J. c. Penny's catching on fire, oddly there were two other fires that destroyed Southland properties. There was a fire that destroyed the Mercury Theater, and a Fire that destroyed the Faroh's Chocolates on the West side off Pearl going South, there is an empty lot there now, the Mercury Theater was where Joann Fabric is now. Such Memories. I remember the huge Candy canes outside the Faroh's Chocolates, and the Neon lettering that spelled out MERCURY on the Marquette of the theater. Halle's also had huge green Neon lettering on three sides of their building as well. It was so cool to look at all those lights at night.
11 sears stores still open in the usa and one in puerto rico as of april '24...that's wild, they used to be everywhere, great vid, thanks!
I didn’t realize how many were left. More than Kmart! Thanks for watching!
So many great years with Sears especially for the Christmas season now all that left the great memories. So sad to see that’s it’s all gone. Very sad. Such a great and wonderful store. Thank you for sharing this video.
Part of America and part of an era died when Sears (and to a lesser degree, KMart) died.
I am surprised a large trucking outfit or some large company hasn't moved in to that building. Lot's of parking, big interior! ❤😘🥰😍 What would make a kind of neat study is to see what states have the most closed down businesses
Both of those are great ideas !
I thought a Car rental place took over the Great Lakes Sears Auto Building... they may had left though.
You need to buy yourself a lock pick kit
Probably a 1974 design at that place is built. Similar to the old Sears that was in the fashion square mall in Orlando.
@@mrbob8618 so then she could get arrested for trespassing?
I used to work here at the Auto Center over a decade ago, I know quite a bit about this location. If you want revisit to do another video here, I’d be happy to meet up with you to describe how things were at both buildings- as well as what else used to be around there 🙂
I live a few blocks from Southland, the building was built in the early ‘60s. The original Sears was in the strip to the north where Marc’s is currently located. Fun fact, that Sears building has a full basement so that building had a lot of floor space. Until recently there was some sort of operation going on in the basement. At 7:01, yes that was the auto center and had been used by Carvana until recently. Area at 10:12 was garden center for many years before the eliminated it and moved paint department to that area. Green garage area was turned into the garden center after it was moved out of main building. Miss that store!😢
Thank you for this info!!
@@Lydwetzel should do a history of Southland. Growing up in the ‘60s there were 4 grocery stores there! A&P and Pick’n Pay were in the front strip on Pearl, Rini’s to the west where Office Max is now and Fisher Foods in the back strip. There was a Giant Tiger discount store in the strip behind the Firestone store where Goodwill is. Finally, the Mercury theatre on Pearl where Joann Fabrics is now next to what used to be Southland Drug!
My grandparents would take me there and as soon as you walked in you could smell the popcorn from the snack area. They always got me a balloon 😂
*I WAS IN THIS SEARS IN 1969* when I was 5 years old. I was in there a number of times after that, but I don't believe I've been in that store as an adult. So yes, 1960's architecture. A Sears and Roebuck store was a special place back then. The window displays for Christmas were great. You could get about anything you needed back then there. There was "muzak" playing. Customer service was paramount, and the workers were great. I just checked this place out a few months ago with my wife because we hadn't been to Southland in decades, though we still live in the Greater Cleveland area. I was impressed at the condition of the building. I also took a lot of pictures. So many fond memories.
Never a boaring moment, thank you for another great episode 😊
I am glad you enjoyed it!
Once was the #4 Sears in volume!
Until Ford & Chevy moved away in the 80's ! 😢
One of my favorite Sears stores. I live in Brook Park and loved Southland shopping center.
When I was young I used to go shopping at Sears and it was only a few decades ago because before there was a Kohl's department store or a Walmart around me there was a Sears and I used to love it because I bought anything from jeans to dress shirts and they were pretty high quality so I miss those days😢
Was in this store many times ,Parents would 'bite the bullet' and go to more expensive retail stores for items that other stores didn't carry - or at least as far as good quality went.
Wow, lyd, you get prettier with each video!
I'm trying to figure out how to pronounce her name it seems like I really unique name and hard to pronounce because it has no vowels
@@gameboy1984 It's short for Lydia.
Yes she’s absolutely stunning ❤🔥
That Auto Center looks exactly the same as Northland Mall’s did in Columbus where my Father worked. Crazy to see this style still standing! Northland Mall’s Sears Auto was demolished in 2003
That sears used to be really nice I used to come here and the hills (now gabes) with my grandparents and my brother back in the day Im glad you got to film it!
Hill's was originally built as Gold Circle Department Store. Love Middleburg Heights, my hometown!
I worked in the basement of that sears for 6 years in the home appliance repair division. It was creepy down in that basement
Sunset over Sears........seems very fitting...
That used to be the Sears that we went to growing up until one opened up in Parmatown mall (I think). Most likely 1960’s. Brings back many memories.
The appliance warranty was good
Back in the day, the warranty on Sears appliances was second to none. They were a bit more expensive, true, but you could be reasonably sure your washer, dryer, air conditioner, refrigerator, stove, or dishwasher would be doin its thing for many years. My folks had a 1970s fridge that didn't finally quit until 2011. Today, if you get six years out of a major appliance, consider yourself fortunate.
Marc’s fun time theater or whatever it was called.. holy crap were the animatronics scary as hell. I remember going for our last time we pulled up and they were closed that was around 99-2000.
I used to go to this sears since the 60 s miss it
Hi and thanks for posting this video! I remember that Sears well. I went there several times growing up in the 90s' and 00's before it closed in 2017. I remember being in that store for the final time before it closed and got a Structure brand watch there. I no longer have the watch because it fell apart but I remember getting the watch from that location. I also remember the Marc's Funtime and only went there once and I don't remember much about what happened when I went there- but I do remember that they had a lot of arcade games. Thanks for posting this video! God Bless!
The painted green building next to the Auto Center was leased from Sears by Petitti Garden Center. Because the space was only rented, Petitti's could not stay there after Sears closed. That also explains why there were bees and flowers drawn on the breakroom wall.
@@karenj4854 interesting! Thank you for the info. Makes sense why it is green!
That one area you didn't know what it was facing W 130th was a restaurant attached to Sears. I grew up shopping there with my parents, and then worked there for 11 years (2 yrs on the floor and 9 years in the credit department in the basement. A lot of memories there!
That’s awesome. Thanks for sharing!
This is definitely 1960s. That "zig-zag" roofline is the trademark of what is known as "Googie Architecture." Beautiful!
Looks like the old Higbee's at Great Lakes Mall
Thanks for sharing! It’s nice to visit the past. It’s nice to see that no one has vandalized it, no broken glass and paint everywhere!
I looked up the county records, that sears was built in 1964, so you were spot on
I drove past the abandoned Sears in Great Northern Mall today.
Went to an old Sears in Columbus, Westland Park, for a gun show. Racks and signs were still there which was eerie and the parking lot was sketchy with not so friendly individuals watching. Building was demolished in 2023.
Another great video, thank you!!
Fun fact, I threw up at a cashier stand in that Sears when I was 6 years old.
I was joking that I wondered if this was the old Sears near where I lived and lo and behold it is.
Oh yeah, I remember the old Kiddie City, that was a good competitor to Toys R' Us. That brings back memories right about now.
The section at 4:28 was a diner that operated in the store. I can't recall what it was called. But it was like an old Woolworth's lunch counter.
It was Mr. Mike's...nice place.
I still have the Tools section memorized, and the nice cashier lady with the crippled hands.
OMG, I remember Marc's fun time! I haven't heard anyone talk about that since at least the mid-90s, that's a serious blast from the past ...
I remember it
I used to live in MH from 2005 to 2015, been to that Sears many, many times. That Sears was really interesting. It was a Mid Century Modern design, built in 1965, and had an operating cafeteria at the front which was straight out of the '60's. Like the old Kmart or Kresge cafeterias. If you ever went in there, they did update the store somewhat but there were TONS of cues from the original era. Particularly the restrooms. Up until about the time they closed if you went in there (restrooms) it was like stepping back into 1965! No updates! They were clean and in good repair just way outdated. I went there and everytime I could never understand how they could keep that place open. Usually 2 dozen shoppers in the whole store on a good day.
I'll tell you a funny story, so right when Sears was in big trouble and they were closing stores left and right I go in there (this store) in February. (maybe 2016-17). The tools and Hardware section is CLEANED OUT. Like 'maybe' 50-60% shelf stock. I ask a lady 'What's going on?' She say's 'Oh this is after Christmas. We haven't restocked!' I said 'Christmas was 2 1/2 months ago! Are you getting ready to close?' She said 'On NO! We would NEVER close! We're a hub and distribute orders for ALL the other stores in the area." She also gave me an earful about what they thought of the CEO Lampert. So then it was maybe 9-12 months later they were liquidating and closing down. So much for the 'hub'!
That sears was built in 1964. Marc's Funtime started life as a Chuck E Cheese. Then that closed and Marc bought it. He just put a Marc's shirt on Chuck E Cheese on the animatronic stage. Didn't change much until it was razed for BJs.
Cool video. Enjoy.
I remember Sears Auto Center having a bad rap for unnecessary work being done on cars.
I read an article about that. No wonder Sears failed!
@@Lydwetzel that and canceling the Sears Catalog was the final nail in the Sears coffin.
I wonder if that screen door was there for a break room, that's a great idea for people to walk in and out really easily and as long as the shoplifters didn't figure that out🤷♂️
"Push Video button for service"😂😂 7:30
It was opened in 1965.. they are going to tear it down. Middleburg heights bought the property. It has a large basement under it where the trucks delivered its products.
There used to be a Marks Fun Time in Akron at Chapel Hill Mall it was in the old Chuckie Cheese. Used to play a WWF wrestling arcade game that four people could play at once. Think it was around 1992. Good times! Great video
First of all that is 1960s second nice find third that was a big ass Sears
Right?!? Lol
I pass hat place everyday on my way to work. I’d love to go explore older abandoned places like that.
My dentist used to be here, and I also worked as a temp at that location. They had a credit card application processing office in the part of the building at 4:36.
That
Little door you're talking about at.The auto center was for people to drop their car off early before the place open so they could go to work. They would drop the keys with A form saying what Problem save for having with the car
Gorgeous Lydia. Great video
I grew up a few miles away in Parma Hts. I experienced many visits to that store with my mom. I had a high school friend who worked there. He said there is a basement below the stores main floor that was as big as the main floor. Wish I could have seen it.
The old, original SEARS store in Montgomery, Alabama was virtually downtown. At the corner of Fairview Avenue and South Court Street. It was torn down around 2012.
I remember that store since the late 1960s. One distinct memory was sometime around 1970, when I was six. My father had earlier entered our family name into a SEARS store lottery of some sort.
When he went into the store to collect a prize, my brothers and I remained in the car. Yes, it was that safe back in those days.
When he came back to our car, he was toting an ENORMOUS stuffed teddy bear! That stuffed animal was larger than an adolescent. For real!
SEARS eventually moved to the Eastdale Mall in Montgomery (late ‘70s//early ‘80s). It was the only location, to my knowledge, that was in central Alabama.
In my opinion, the SEARS Diehard car battery was the best on the market back in the day.
Ah yeah, that was a rather decent Sears to go to. And yes, Marc's wanted to compete with Chuck E. Cheese, I remember going there with my sister and her friend back in the day. There was an old movie theater that Southland had, yeah...what a childhood here. Southland, Parmatown, you name it, those shopping centers knew how to have character.
Movie theater...The Mercury.
Had a great scratch &dent dept. in the basement.
Sears in southland i remember i shopped with my mom when I was little adolescent years too and my old neighbor years ago worked in the hardware department there
i remember the marcs funtime pizza its where bjs is now i grew up around there but ive been gone since 2011 i remember the sears used to get my tools and stuff there but sears really had cut back on there sporting goods in the early 2000s
I used to work at Marc's Funtime back in 1989... First job. Dishwasher...
Thank you, Eddie Lampert 🙃!!!
That’s what I was thinking too 😅
Sears once stood as middle class America. It closed 7 years ago. No one bought it out or opened a new store. The economic collapse continues.
I don’t disagree that the economy is in the shitter but brick and mortar retail is really a thing of the past. It’s easier for consumers, and cheaper for businesses, to do things online. Why do you think Amazon is so ubiquitous.
I mean think about it: as a business wouldn’t it be cheaper to operate a network of distribution warehouses rather than operating hundreds, or even thousands, of stores. Less labor costs, less costs leasing buildings, etc. And as a consumer you can literally order any item you could think of, rather than having to settle for what’s in stock.
@@Fitz710 Do not forget about the layoffs and job cutbacks. Also, never forget shopping is a social event. People like to shop together with friends at retail stores. The economic slump hurts middle America so much. Ten years ago, no one would have ever believed Sears would close their stores across the U.S..
@@Bobgrapes25 I don’t think the large department store model would’ve survived even with a booming economy. I’m 28, and when I was 18 I saw Sears closing coming from a mile away
I was driving through Michigan and i saw a suburban Sears being demolished, the sign out front said Lincoln Park Mall or something. It looked like a huge Sears also.
I heard that this one in Middleburg Hts, Ohio is scheduled for demolition also.
I lived right by it for a time, used to go there with my dad as a kid, as an adult I’d buy tools there. It was very run down in the final years. The whole area isn’t what it used to be.
@@TheMotorman116 it's rare that my job takes me out of State, but that day I had to drive from Cleveland area into Michigan and that's when I saw that Sears being demolished as I was driving by. I stopped and turned around, very busy area and tried to pull over a few minutes to watch it. Interestingly, there was a huge water tower with SEARS lettering on the Water tower. I never saw that before at a Sears.
Mercury Theater was on Pearl Road on the opposite side of the Sears site.
Sad to see the downfall of Sears. This used to be my favorite place to buy clothes but then they switched to cheap, poorly made clothes. Such a shame.
Sears was a great store with great deals
Been in both the main store and the auto center. I think between the auto center and the main store there was some form of auto ramp to the main store basement.
I would love to get inside and do a video and photo shoot, another nice video Keep em Rolling!
I used to go to the small key shop there. I was there up until it closed.
I believe that Marc's was the original 'Marc's' which was his 'flagship' store and he even had his mother working there as the store manager and you could hear her come over the PA and announce their specials. Pretty sure she's dead now but she was going strong about 12 or so years ago give or take. I knew a guy that owned a trucking company and Marc Glassman came up and worked for the guy running 'Uncle Bill's' and some of the other 'discount' retailers. He learned the biz from them and branched out. I went there a LOOOONG time ago when he first opened that location. My Grandmother called it a 'Junk store' and she wasn't wrong. It was worse than a Dollar Tree when he first opened. I believe that was 'the Original' location though.
Keep showing us, Lyd. We have to know the truth.
I will continue to expose! Thank you for putting a mission statement to my work
Nice video
I heard that Middleburg Hts is sappose to save the auto center building and make it a City Center property for maintenance of city vehicles.
Unfortunately all of the Kmarts I can think of were demolished or repurposed the last one intact was medina but it was demolished for a new meijer
Glad it got torn down after 13 years abandoned
Across the street from the sears was a fretter and a builders square and a old time pottery and a mc sports there all of them are gone too
@@MattDaugherty-jd7my wasn't the home depot in strongsville a builders square?
@ryanryder1091 yes bulders square went out of business in 1998 it became a home depot
@@RyGuy0520 The one in Middleburg on Bagley is now a Cleveland Clinic facility!
I remeber Marc's funtime pizza place,spent many nights there.
My wife and I went; it was the first Marc's ,and they had a lot of small sample products when you first walked in. but we were too bog for any rides ,lol.
Green door was the garden center. It was run by Pettiti.
19:45 I remember seeing that Pepsi machine after they closed and wondering how they would get it out!
My sister and brother worked at that Sear my sister worked in the men's department and my brother worked in the automotive center back in the later 80's
I remember marks fun time pizza palace went there as a kid after I went to usa skates down the street
I bought some Converse at that Sears!
Had to be 9 or 10 years sgo.
There was a Marc’s fun time on Lorain and Clauge Road in North Olmsted gone now long gone CVS stands in its place.
Theirs one of those sears auto centers I pass by the mall on the way to the dispensary. The pavement in that section of the lot is awful. That is the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania .I got my first credit card their YEARS ago.
Yes that building was Sears Auto.
That awning was late 1950’s early 1960’s
Pretty sure the window you looked in at 4:20 was Mister Mikes restaurant. That would've been about early 2000's or so... What it was years before that I don't know... I worked for Mike years earlier at another restaurant, and went to this restaurant to eat and chat with him. That screen door you were at went into his kitchen/backroom area, I went through this door to chat with him.
Marc's Fun Time, they only on the West Side?
May have to tour Five Nights @ Freddie's or Willy's Wonderland next! 😂
u should come to Rochester NY we have abandon asylum u can go in and explore
That sounds awesome! Rochester is cool I was there once
@@Lydwetzel there is a couple places out this way for u!! idk if u travel but my wife and i travel alot and love learning new history and what not. we headed to myrtle beach now..
google's streetview has some pics of the site from 2011 - it looks a little different with landscaping/bushes and parked cars....
I remember marcs funtime! I still have a token from it! Do you remember Eatzapizza?
That’s awesome and yes I do! Wasn’t that a pizza buffet?
@@Lydwetzel yes it was on ridge rd in parma across from target that was my goto hang out back in highschool
Marcs fun time and kiddie city
@@MattDaugherty-jd7my what's kiddie city?
@ryanryder1091 kiddie city was a toy store across from sears back in the 80s early 90s
The Burlington coat factory was Lionel kitty city toy store
Wouldn't be a surprised if a Meijer took this over like they did with the K-Mart in Seven Hills.
There is a notice made on the tenth of sept 2024 for this Sears to be destroyed along with the auto center.
Darn it, I thought that would happen! Than k you for the update
Hey. Great videos as always... I left comments on recent video. They Disappeared... It has a link to R...um...ble.. if you know what that is... Hoping you could view a mall clip I grew up in. Thought you would enjoy.. called Draggin Main...1976.... Probably hard for you to find. Since message board I guess won't let me leave a link ..
Sears was purposely run down. I'm sticking to that ...
It looks like the one in Springdale, oh...which was from the late 50s.
7:00 that does look like the old sears auto here.
We saw that like two weeks ago.