When it first opened, the New Bern Mall was called Twin Rivers Mall and excitement about it in the local community was very much in evidence. Not only was it popular with New Bern/Craven County shoppers, but people from neighboring Carteret and Pamlico counties would go there as well. Back in the day, there was a recessed area at the center court of the mall and if memory serves, a small fountain was located there. It was an area where shoppers could take a break for a little while. I was raised in Beaufort NC and my wife is a native of New Bern so we visited the mall many times when we lived there in the late 1980's. Back then, it was still the place to shop in New Bern as many of the businesses that had previously been located downtown had moved to the mall, including JC Penney and Belk. In recent years though, it has been shocking to see the decline. The facility itself looks to be well maintained still but as for the stores, they are dwindling down to just a few. And the last couple of times I visited the mall, I was amazed at how few shoppers there were. Yes, there are stores in the New Bern Mall and compared to some other malls, this one appears healthy at first glance but as stores close, they aren't being replaced. As bad as I hate to admit it, I think this mall could very well be closed in the next few years. But with the growth New Bern has seen recently and as more people come to the area to live, there may be a possibility that the mall can be saved. I sure hope so.
It does have the last Annabelles Restaurant in existence. I moved to New Bern 29 years ago and the mall looks a lot nicer than it did except it really is like a ghost town when you go in there.
As a kid, I remember my mom going into JC Penny to shop and giving my brother and I money for the arcade. It makes me really sad to have watched the decline of our mall, but it's ultimately unavoidable. The restaurants are really the only things keeping it on life support
I remember going here when it was known as twin rivers mall and it was packed full of people and even shops and was so alive....my how times have changed ya all.
@@TheBlackHeartsClub yeah its too bad its becoming like other malls. Signal hill mall closing never been to that but it had to be a great mall at once and than you have Penrose mall....well I never been to that either and with the way it looks its hard to image why its still open .I guess it must had been a good mall too at once but wow it looks terrible.
@@TheBlackHeartsClubDid you ever visit the arcade back when it was still open? That, Walden Books, Dollar Tree, Kmart, and the fountain are some of my most vivid childhood memories from the mall
When it first opened, the New Bern Mall was called Twin Rivers Mall and excitement about it in the local community was very much in evidence. Not only was it popular with New Bern/Craven County shoppers, but people from neighboring Carteret and Pamlico counties would go there as well.
Back in the day, there was a recessed area at the center court of the mall and if memory serves, a small fountain was located there. It was an area where shoppers could take a break for a little while.
I was raised in Beaufort NC and my wife is a native of New Bern so we visited the mall many times when we lived there in the late 1980's. Back then, it was still the place to shop in New Bern as many of the businesses that had previously been located downtown had moved to the mall, including JC Penney and Belk.
In recent years though, it has been shocking to see the decline. The facility itself looks to be well maintained still but as for the stores, they are dwindling down to just a few. And the last couple of times I visited the mall, I was amazed at how few shoppers there were. Yes, there are stores in the New Bern Mall and compared to some other malls, this one appears healthy at first glance but as stores close, they aren't being replaced.
As bad as I hate to admit it, I think this mall could very well be closed in the next few years. But with the growth New Bern has seen recently and as more people come to the area to live, there may be a possibility that the mall can be saved. I sure hope so.
It does have the last Annabelles Restaurant in existence. I moved to New Bern 29 years ago and the mall looks a lot nicer than it did except it really is like a ghost town when you go in there.
Annabelle's was a chain at ine point? I was born and raised here, and I've never heard of that. I had always assumed it was just a local place
As a kid, I remember my mom going into JC Penny to shop and giving my brother and I money for the arcade. It makes me really sad to have watched the decline of our mall, but it's ultimately unavoidable. The restaurants are really the only things keeping it on life support
Sadly it’s becoming a sign of the times nationwide eastern nc is hit hard with dying or dead malls Vernon park , Wilson mall and new Bern
Indoor malls are becoming a thing of the past. It's sad but that's the truth. Online shopping is killing malls.
I thought it was nice with lots of potential. New Bern is attracting a lot of people relocating from other states. I think the future is bright there.
I remember going here when it was known as twin rivers mall and it was packed full of people and even shops and was so alive....my how times have changed ya all.
I agree I also remember when it was a thriving mall many years ago
@@TheBlackHeartsClub yeah its too bad its becoming like other malls. Signal hill mall closing never been to that but it had to be a great mall at once and than you have Penrose mall....well I never been to that either and with the way it looks its hard to image why its still open .I guess it must had been a good mall too at once but wow it looks terrible.
@@TheBlackHeartsClubDid you ever visit the arcade back when it was still open? That, Walden Books, Dollar Tree, Kmart, and the fountain are some of my most vivid childhood memories from the mall
I am from new Bern and I hate that this mall is dying . it was built in 1979
It died many years ago, just doesn't know it yet
oh yes, it’s very dead. Lol