Exploring the dead Stratford Square Mall of Bloomingdale, IL (now closed)
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- Опубликовано: 15 окт 2024
- Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale, Illinois, once a thriving suburban shopping center, is now a shadow of its former self. Opened in 1981 with over one million square feet of retail space, the nearly abandoned mall has five vacant anchor stores and dozens of empty storefronts. With the bustling Woodfield Mall just 15-20 minutes away, it seems Stratford Square's days may be numbered. Take a walk inside this eerie relic to explore the dead mall before it disappears for good.
#deadmall #deadmalls #stratfordsquaremall
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I miss this place. This was my childhood. It makes me so sad to see it like this
Sad, A few years ago the mall still had a decent amount of stores. this mall was my childhood, my friends and I used to go there during elementary and middle school. Hell, this is also the place where I had my first date and first kiss. I feel like this mall was like that to many of the people that lived nearby , It will surely be missed
My dear friend, Debbie Walsh Miller, a fellow 1978 grad from nearby Glenbard North HS & grew up there in Carol Stream, was the Manager of the Camelot Music Store when the SS mall opened. We got a kick out of the original decor of gremlins or munchkin type statues peeking around corners & planters. We used to prank Deb & send people in to ask her for Menudo albums! Love & miss you Debbie since you passed away in 2007. Mary Zavarella Walker
This is so sad to see, I had gone there only once throughout my lifetime. And I wished I could go there again, Unfortunately. I just found out this amazing Mall was abandoned yesterday (1/3/23). I have a rare picture of the beautiful wood ceiling, I would have liked to go on a shopping spree for my birthday. That was the reason I asked to go, I am super sad that it closed down. I hope maybe one day, it will be alive again.
And the best part was my dad drop me off at Stratford Square Mall during the winter along time ago, and I was enjoying myself during the fun night. 😁 that's why I got the best dad ever! Thanks dad! 😁🤗😚
Literally depressing to see what this place has come to. I know it had been going downhill in recent years, but at least Round1 and Cinemark still made it worth going to. Now that both those places are gone, there’s no reason to go there at all anymore. The mall needs new management because the decision to close those places was asinine.
Ever since 2000 the mall went down hill and soon after had a bunch of knock off stores. Thanks to the mall management not putting effort and just letting it die. Will miss this mall like everyone else.
Sorry to see this beautifully designed and aesthetically appealing mall closed yesterday on 4-21-24. This mall was an architectural masterpiece. The architecture was phenomenal. The wood paneled ceilings, the wooden columns, and pillars resembling trees. The skylights on the ceilings. This is by far one of the most beautiful and aesthetically appealing mall I’ve seen on the internet. Absolutely beautiful. Why demolish this work of art? Why not repurpose it like other malls that have not been demolished but revitalized into community colleges, multi purpose facilities or community centers. The building can be turned into a mini community with a museum, multi event center, a theater for the arts, retail, restaurants, gyms, bank, swimming pools, ice skating rink, medical offices, commercial offices, indoor park & recreation inside it. The community needs to have a visionary idea to repurpose this mall instead of demolishing it. The community deserves better than taking away a part of its history. This legendary mall is not just a retail center but a part of the community’s architectural heritage. Why not revitalize it like the Fox Valley Mall in Aurora? Anyway, I said too much. I am thankful that you took the effort to preserve a part of American retail history by filming this mall for future generations to see. This is a work of art created for the community and was designed really well. It should be preserved for historical and architectural significance. I can’t help it but I just appreciate beautiful work of art. And shame on the previous owners who didn’t have a plan to revive this mall when it was struggling. It’s like taking it out of life support. Stratford Square Mall deserves better than that. It served the community during 80s, 90s, and 2000s until poor management, online shopping, Covid 19 infected it. I’m Praying this mall does not get demolished but be revitalized and repurposed. I can only hope. 🙏
Its really sad seeing the mall becoming a ghost town. I used to go there nearly every Friday when I was in high school.
It is a shame for being such a beautiful mall.
This is sad to see. I grew up with this mall in the 80's. My wife and I had our first date at the Houlihan's and used to eat a lot at the Carlos Sweeney's. It's hard to believe it's become a ghost town.
When it first opened- I thought it was just the MOST Beautiful Interesting mall - I have ever been to ... really sad
It still stands up pretty well. The wood accents work well with the mall.
WOW Its been years since I been to Stratford Square Mall. So sad to see it this way. I used to spend many Saturdays hangin' out going to JR's Music & Camelot Music and food court , movies etc. When I worked for Transworld Entertainment I trained at the Record Town upstairs across from the theaters. When it moved and became FYE I helped and opened that store and set it up. A lot of good memories in that mall.
Went there less than a week ago and there was quite a few people there and new service centered stores opened! The center of the mall was actually pretty crowded comparatively! Still no food though.
Let’s hope that the village of bloomingdale can bring some kind of investment and inspiration to this property.everyone deserves it.honestly its days as an indoor mall will soon be over. Thank you so much Stratford Square for over 41 years of memories.you will never be forgotten.
At 7:04 you can see the original tile (vase in the middle) that used to be throughout the entire mall. I believe that the tile was replaced in the late 90s with the same remodel that removed the awesome water features!
i grew up always going to this mall, I made so many great memories here with my family and dance classes. I always wanted to go to this mall, but now i'd rather stay away. it will be missed.
Sad to see how dead it is getting, this is my local mall and I remember coming here a lot. I remember when JCPenney was there.
Once those anchor stores go the regular mall stores soon follow.
Sights of a bygone era. Nice job and the perfect music too friend. Let's keep in touch.
Thanks for checking out. Can’t imagine this mall will survive much longer.
I feel bad.. this was my go too when I was younger and I spent so many nights here hanging out with friends. Sad to see it dying
I lived down the strreet from this mall for 10 years went there all the time i moved to tn in 2017 so its going to be strange seein this mall empty now to go watch
I really don't want that mall to be dead, 😔😢 and I go there every year, I love that mall so much it cause of the Awesome Day and Night watch movies each of them and go to that mall, and after the mall watch movies.
1:26: I love that celling. Reminds me of toothpicks a lil
Great video! Another masterful use of music.
You may want to consider visiting Ford City Mall on Chicago’s SW side.
It’s where the famous Tucker automobile plant once existed.
Just a suggestion...
Have you been there recently? Are there a lot of empty stores?
My wife used to buy clothing at a store at the mall....this was before 2008. They were moving out....employee told her the rents were ridiculous. They moved to a mall across Gary avenue. Money was tight and we started to go to outlet and thrift stores like Goodwill, and fell out of the habit of going to these higher priced malls.
This was another place I grew up with...most are gone now.
While Stratford Mall and Springhill Mall are becoming ghost towns, Woodfield Mall has stood the test of time. Always packed when I go by there.
50,000 used to go this mall now it’s ghost town
This mall looks very nice. I love it. Too bad it’s dead.
This is so depressing. It's had a rapid decline over the last 10 years. Now the town is considering "what to do" about the property.
That Bath & Body Works store is now gone permanently as well. This mall is the Road to Depression
Is Merry-Go-Round still there?
I remember spending many a bean at Gloria Jean,s.
How can a mall in that area become so dead? There's nothing really to do around there and there's a landfill nearby.
Did you see the old Disney Store storefront?
That was a great design used in a lot of Disney Stores from the 1990’s. I uploaded a Golf Mill video too and it is same design and store is currently a piano shop.
@@artofexp Funny you mention that mall and store.... That was my childhood Disney Store and mall!
Well now a new woodmans store opened
Thanks Amazon.
Could be the fanciest Amazon fulfillment center ever.
@@artofexp I thought Woodman's was going to build here.
@@dvferyance I thought they did
@@landontk7696 Your right they did but I thought they had taken over al l of the mall property I guess not.
Stratford took a hit after Marshall Field's, Carsons, and Sears went bankrupt. Then the Covid pandemic hit.
Time for it to go
You are right sadly it’s past it’s prime.