My tour of the amazing & vintage Concord Mall in Elkhart Indiana WWW.PATREON.COM/ACESADVENTURES INSTAGRAM & TWITTER - @ACESADVENTURES1 FACEBOOK - ACESADVENTURES
They need to designate that place a historic landmark. I would hate for us to lose such a beautiful examples of 1970s architecture and interior design.
Isn't that how it usually goes with demolishing old buildings: "you don't know what you got til its gone." Why do we have to keep making the same mistakes. Thanks for the reply.
If the mall management/owners were clever they'd make use of and push that 70's aesthetic. When a new tenant comes in, require their store facade to keep with the theme of the era. It could be a selling point for the place. Just remember, what looks "dated" right now will become "retro someday.
I agree, but maintenence to keep it up would be in the millions. Who pays it? Maybe make a museum and stage all the stores with fake stores from the past and charge admission. What stores would have to be included?
I love this! I was there for the grand opening day of this mall. August 9, 1972. Yes, Concord mall has NOT changed since it's opening. The floor tiles, wall architecture and even the sunken floor rest areas are all original. The center court mall fountain was shut down in 1990 and was replaced with the RV park theme toys. Believe it or not, this mall used to be packed on the weekends! It was a nice mall well ahead of it's time back in the 70's and 80's. It started dying a slow death in the early 90's and is now in it's current state of a barren waste land.
Extremely rare to see a basically untouched mall. I love the lights, the lighting of everything, the colors and all of the vintage architecture, an absolute gem.
Me too. If I had a mall I would give it three sections that looked like a mall did in the mid 1950s, mid 60s and early to late 70s. Music from each decade would play in those sections, there would be employees dressed in period clothing etc., and I would try to get some of the stores to sell vintage merchandise. I know sadly I'll never have that kind of money, but I may try to find an empty movie theater and give it the early 1970s look, and charge 70s prices, play old movies with cartoons, news reels, old comedy shorts, vintage trailers and bumpers before the movies, like how the movie theater experience used to be. You know, when it was fun and most movies were good. That wouldn't take a lot of money.
Ben Dawson , I love nostalgia, drive-in movies. I fortunately have 3 that I can visit often. Here are some trailers and intermission films you may enjoy m.ruclips.net/video/ub6aiTrPRCM/видео.html there are many posted here on You Tube.
Wow, the most 70's mall I have seen thus far! The most amazing thing is how it survived the 80's and 90's without a makeover. Not only that, but it looks like it has been very well taken care of over so many decades.
Concord mall is now closed. All stores vacated. Set to be demolished. I almost teared up when I heard the news. I spent so much time there as a child and teenager. 😢
You're absolutely right about this mall - I've never seen a video that shows one with this level of completely original, and rather sophisticated, 1970s architecture throughout. Personally I wouldn't feel properly dressed walking through it without wearing bell bottoms and a huge flared collar on my paisley-patterned shirt :)
Peter Stean---Bell bottom blue jeans! I remember getting a new pair caught in the chain on my bicycle. I can still hear my mother, "I just bought those and you tore them already?" I had two pairs of bell bottoms in my early teen years. No more.
When I was very little - I guess 5 or 6 years old - I had a beautiful denim suit with flares and a huge collar. I feel a little sad that early '70s fashion hasn't come back in a big way because I remember it as very stylish. I don't think I've ever looked better, in a fashion sense, than I did then!
This may be one of my favorite malls that you've documented so far. I felt like I was in a time machine looking at the 70's lighting and tiles! I loved it!
I wonder if the architect ever would have thought that someday somebody would speak of his 'conversation pits' as being amazing ;-) But you're right, they look pretty cool just as the whole mall
This is in my town and I was in high school when they built this Mall. It was the place to be. In the middle where you see the children's play area, was a huge fountain. It looked like several huge flutes standing on end and the water went clear up and over with a pool surrounding it and people would throw change in. Bad news is it is currently being forclosed on so if you're in the market for a mall, now's your chance!
Crap, just read your comment regarding the children's play area after posting! New there had to be something way more cool in that location rather than a sucky kids play area!
Beautiful 1970s mall. I love the interior's vintage green color tones and the lighting. Thanks for sharing this. I hope this mall keeps going and stays the way it looks inside.
As a person who lives in Indiana, i loved this mall when I was little. The potted plants, Carson's. The streamers on the ceiling. All gone. Ben's pretzels and a bunch of other stores are gone. The parking lot is never full. But it's still a historic landmark for the crossroads of America. It might be dead. But it was hella fun! I'm 13 now. 4 or 5 it was still alive but, seeing a huge chunk of my childhood slip away and rot. Hits me hard. But on 1997, its grand opening, and creation. Gives me a sense of joy for the people who stepped foot on the smooth tiles of the Concord Mall.
I grew up going to this mall, l remember how busy it used to be. I now take my kids there, we eat Pizza at Enzos and stroll the mall. I tell my kids about the fountain (now long gone), that l used to toss pennies into, about the KB toystore. Montgomery Wards, Osco Drugs and so on. They listen but don't have those memories. Its fun...but it gives me a longing to return for a moment to those days.... I guess coming to Concord mall takes me back in time, and l don't want to let go of this one place that time has forgot.
This is probably the video that best conjures up the feelings I had as a kid walking around a place like this. You don't think about it much today but the design of these places had quite the effect on the way you felt. My memories of mall shopping start in the early 80s and this is as close to what it was like back then. It feels good to know the nostalgia that sometimes crosses my brain isn't built on youthful fantasy and indeed has some basis in reality.
I grew up in Goshen and this was our local mall. My memories are of the 80's heyday of this place. I was an elementary school kid in the early-mid 80s and in Jr High in the late 80s. My first memories of the 3 anchor stores were that they were Montgomery Ward, JCPenney, and Meese. (He pronounces it as "Mice" in this video - the way we locals said it, it rhymed with "fleece") Of these, only JCP was still there when last I stopped by for nostalgia 10 years ago. The Meese became an Elder Berman and later a Carsons's that is now closed and the Montgomery Ward became Hobby Lobby. Concord Mall was often packed on 80's weekends and holidays were insane. They had an Aladdin's Castle video arcade on the stretch between JC Penney and the central fountain. That place was absolutely vintage, with old classic arcade cabinets, many that cannot be found anywhere today outside private collections. The central fountain itself was an incredible example of 70s architecture. It had multiple vertical pillars that would expel water in various different ways depending on the day. In my opinion, the golden era of Concord Mall ended when 2 things happened: Aladdin's Castle closed in 1990 followed by the demolition of the fountain in favor of the crummy children's play area you see in this video. Even so, I would still go to the Mall in the early 90's with my parents. We'd always eat at the MCL Cafeteria and then go peruse the Walden's Books Store directly across. When I left the area around 1994 the mall was in a slow decline but still doing business. 15 years later I came back to find it a ghost of it's former self. But like he says in this video - if you like vintage architecture, you'll find it here. The planters are either white tile pyramids or circular white tile seated areas and the brick masonry in the conversation pits at 5:00 in the video are exactly the way I remember them in the 80s. While it's a sad shame that the central fountain is long gone, the white 70s era floor tile around the central area remains. The masonry around the child's play area is all original and was what surrounded the fountain pit where people would toss pennies in the water. You can see this architecture at 8:00 in the video. The ceiling at 7:05 in front of JCP is vintage - that area was a central focus of traffic as the space in front of the primary anchor store. The space in front of JCP was a teenager nexus because Musicland was the store to the right of JCP and Sega's Time Out (The crappy replacement for the previously mentioned glorious Aladdin's Castle) was on the left. The long block masonry at the Carson's storefront is original to the Roberson's of 1972 and the Meese store I remember from the 80s. The front of the out-of-business bookstore seen at 2:00 is actually the original vintage storefront of the Walden's Books that used to be there, but repainted white.. The entire mall is like a time capsule to an era of 80's glory. It would be a shame to tear it down. Better to designate it as a historical landmark now that 50 years have elapsed since it's construction.
Wow - what a 70's gem! Great job recording it! This and the music reminded me of visiting our "new" malls in the late 70's complete with a visit to Spencers for black lights, Disco Balls, Pyramid Power, and Pet Rocks... ;)
This was great. The mall itself really does take you back. One of the malls we went to opened around the same time and was quite similar. Pretty much all the ones I remember have been remodeled beyond recognition. It's interesting the things that change so much that one always thought would be a constant.
Thank you for bringing vintage malls to a vintage mall lover. Up until 12 years ago the mall I started going to in 1974 the Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights .ca. stayed pretty much the same and then they remodeled In an effort to revitalize. I just don't think we realize how much we a losing until it's to late.
Great video! Thanks for posting. Love the 70s architecture! This mall looks impeccable! I fondly remember these when I was a kid, but haven't seen one since the late 80s. You should make a list of malls that still have the 70s look, for people who wish to see these gems!
This is the most fantastic mall I've seen in all of my armchair travels. And it's not too far from where I live! Thank you for the tour. Going to dig out some retro duds and have a good time :D
This is actually my hometown mall. I remember the 1st time I ever when there. My father took my sister, brother and I there. It was at Christmas time. I had actually never heard of a mall...I was only like 9 years old. I thought it was the most amazing place I'd ever been in. A factor in that is it was at Christmas time and the place was full of Christmas decor. Thanks so much for posting this...and what 9 year old doesn't like Christmas?!?
Joann's was NOT an original anchor. that spot used to be a five and dime type store called Mc Crory's, Joanns didn't move in until the late 80s early 90s timeline....glad you stopped and enjoyed it. I only live 30 miles away now, I grew up in this mall and I need to get back and say goodbye before they tear it down
Elkhart is my hometown, I grew up going to this mall. I moved to California in 2010 so it's crazy to see how empty its become since I left. I always thought the conversation pits were so cool but never really grasped the '70s time capsule this mall was. It was a weird place, but it was our weird place and I spent many, many hours just hanging out here with my friends. The "Prime Retail" area you see at 6:23 used to be the core arcade for the mall, and was where I spent most my time. I set my first ever pinball high score there on a Dr. Dude in the early 2000's. I love that mall so much.
Wow!! The 70s called and they said the Concord Malls rad! The intro musics so dope Anthony we just time traveled to the 70s no Delorean necessary. Amazing mall its a time capsule mind blown!!!
Funny you mentioned a Delorean time machine LOL. I live in Elkhart and I always thought from the road on one end with the old style J.C. Penny sign that this mall resembles the one from Back to the Future when they're in the mall parking lot waiting on those Arabs.
I swear to god I clicked on a Dan Bell video and I thought I was watching a Dan Bell video all the way up until you started to speak! Nevertheless, awesome work!! Glad I found this channel
Thank you for posting this gem. Being a small kid during the 1970s and double digits during the 1980s I have spent a few hours at the mall. Change is inevitable but it was a great time. I wish the mall could make a comeback but online shopping is making it difficult for stores like Walmart to succeed which I feel is not such a bad thing. But we all have less money today than we used to so we try to save as much as we can.
Great video! It’s good too see you filming some videos in the Michiana area. I filmed this mall very recently on March 5th I believe I was one of the first people to film this mall and I wish I could’ve seen you I’m a fan of your videos!!!
It was quite the place about 20 years ago, maybe even a couple years into the 2000's. From what I've heard the owners just charge tenants entirely too much for small spaces and that forced many businesses out. My friends and I would hang out here for hours in the summer and odd weekends. I spent way too much of my paper route and allowance money in this old building. Memories galore, that's for sure.
The Carson's closing reminded me when my local mall closed up for good. Carson Pirie Scott was the last open anchor and the mall was sealed off. 2004 it closed for good and they tore everything down.
The last original tenant from the 1972 opening was Walden Books (03:34 - the vacant store that says "book store" in it's front window) which closed about 4 years ago.
This is the mall I grew up going to, I remember they had a 3rd arcade that was massive near the JC penny, no info online though, this video was great to refresh my memory!! At this point though rumor has it the mall has been bought and is going to be remodeled or re purposed!
I grew up in Elkhart and lived a few miles from the mall. This was an amazing mall in it's day and I have so many fond memories of being a frequent shopper as a kid with my mom, a teen snacking on food and hanging with friends, and working at the Swiss Pretzel Shop as a Junior in HS, which was Concord High School, a hop, skip, & jump from the mall. BTW, the store Meis is pronounced Mees....like the word piece. Also, this mall is in serious trouble. They are in possible foreclosure owing a payment of 12 million. This is sad time for all of us here in Elkhart. Thanks for the video!
Right now I'm 15 yet this store in my city is still running up, I'm glad that this store is still alive, the store is slowly dissolving away sadly because the lack of people coming there. Great memories in the city I live in - from a 15 year old Hispanic American guy that is a extreme introvert :)
We have an early 70s subway station similar to this in NYC. 47th Street and Broadway. Orange brick walls, cantilevered terrazzo benches, can lights, sound absorbing ceilings, terrazzo floors and one or two large baked enamel art panels. It cost millions and was a prototype that was only imitated once, at Bowling Green.
Hello from Wyoming, if you want Vintage I can recommend two hole city's here in Wyoming. First from the 70's Casper and then from the 80's Rockspring. They are still rocking the hightops and mullets in Rockspring
Lol I remember Meis (pronounced Meece). There was one is Mattoon, IL until around 1989 when it was bought by Elder Beerman around 1989, and eventually changed to Carson Pirie Scott or Carson’s for short. I used to love going to the Cross County mall in Mattoon. It was built in 1971, and had a Walgreens with an adjoining restaurant. Whenever I visited my aunts and grandmother when I was a kid, that mall was a staple. Sadly, it fell into decline around the mid to late 90s. Still I enjoy visiting for the memories
Nice shots - always bittersweet to see my old mall in zombie state like this. Re Meis - we always pronounced it "mees," but I'm from Indiana, so who knows. Wish I could dig up a picture of that old fountain that was in the center, because it was phenomenal.
Great job, I enjoy your videos, nice touch with the music. Have you been to the Monroeville Mall in Pittsburgh? I have a zombie fan way before the walking dead. When I saw the 1978 movie Dawn of the Dead I thought that would be the best place to go other than being a big target for Marauders like in the movie which you could do a little planning to take care of them if you had some military training and stopped by the local armory and got some long range toys. But it would afford some shelter and protected space to move around. Oh yes very creepy ending! Nice
The childerns play area used to be a huge fountain with something like 3 or 4 wooden poles of various height that water came out of. I used to throw pennys in it as a kid
This was my mall growing up, too. The best thing was our Girl Scout troop got to spend the night around the fountain in those conversation area, sleeping bags lined up. My brother and I would always climb up those pyramid brick structures and the middle felt like it should have been a slide. I have slight memories of eating at a restaurant inside Robertson’s that had a treasure chest in front to pick a prize. We always Christmas shopped there. I remember buying a candle for my mom that was made with layers of sand. Got a pair of Van’s there. Ate at MCL quite often. There was for a time a soda fountain ice cream place but I can’t remember the name. Got my hair cut at Regis. Thought Orange Julius sounded gross. Begged to get a treat from Strauss Bakery. Bought an AT&T telephone at the telephone store. Got our pictures taken at Olen Mills.
Meine erste Mall die mir meine Tante und mein Onkel in Amerika gezeigt haben. Ich bin so traurig und hoffe, dass sie wieder in Gang kommt. Ich liebe diese Mall. Es war die beste Zeit, sitzen in der MCL Cafeteria, oder einen Radar Warner kaufen bei Montgomery Ward usw. Danke für das Video, Greetings Form Germany
They need to designate that place a historic landmark. I would hate for us to lose such a beautiful examples of 1970s architecture and interior design.
Isn't that how it usually goes with demolishing old buildings: "you don't know what you got til its gone." Why do we have to keep making the same mistakes. Thanks for the reply.
If the mall management/owners were clever they'd make use of and push that 70's aesthetic. When a new tenant comes in, require their store facade to keep with the theme of the era. It could be a selling point for the place.
Just remember, what looks "dated" right now will become "retro someday.
I agree, but maintenence to keep it up would be in the millions. Who pays it? Maybe make a museum and stage all the stores with fake stores from the past and charge admission. What stores would have to be included?
Me to
I love this! I was there for the grand opening day of this mall. August 9, 1972. Yes, Concord mall has NOT changed since it's opening. The floor tiles, wall architecture and even the sunken floor rest areas are all original. The center court mall fountain was shut down in 1990 and was replaced with the RV park theme toys. Believe it or not, this mall used to be packed on the weekends! It was a nice mall well ahead of it's time back in the 70's and 80's. It started dying a slow death in the early 90's and is now in it's current state of a barren waste land.
I used to live in Elkhart spent many Saturdays there with my bestie. I'm so sad that it has been treated so bad by owners.
Must have been great to be in its grand opening
1972 was the year for 2 things
- the release of Pong, the first commercial video game
- the year my house was built!
A total gem. I dig it
That is one of the most beautiful malls I've ever seen.
Extremely rare to see a basically untouched mall. I love the lights, the lighting of everything, the colors and all of the vintage architecture, an absolute gem.
Ben Dawson , I wish the stores with the merchandise from the 1970s were available I miss those days.
Me too. If I had a mall I would give it three sections that looked like a mall did in the mid 1950s, mid 60s and early to late 70s. Music from each decade would play in those sections, there would be employees dressed in period clothing etc., and I would try to get some of the stores to sell vintage merchandise. I know sadly I'll never have that kind of money, but I may try to find an empty movie theater and give it the early 1970s look, and charge 70s prices, play old movies with cartoons, news reels, old comedy shorts, vintage trailers and bumpers before the movies, like how the movie theater experience used to be. You know, when it was fun and most movies were good. That wouldn't take a lot of money.
I just need to find others who have that same interest in vintage things like me.
Ben Dawson , it is great idea
Ben Dawson , I love nostalgia, drive-in movies. I fortunately have 3 that I can visit often. Here are some trailers and intermission films you may enjoy m.ruclips.net/video/ub6aiTrPRCM/видео.html there are many posted here on You Tube.
I loving that diagonal wood paneling store fronts.
Wow, the most 70's mall I have seen thus far!
The most amazing thing is how it survived the 80's and 90's without a makeover. Not only that, but it looks like it has been very well taken care of over so many decades.
It looks great!
There used to be a magnificent sculptural fountain in the middle of the mall. Spent a lot of time there when I was young.
Fantastic mall! It’s dripping with 70’s aesthetic. Great video!
I feel like crying, I spent many many hours at this mall with my friends when I lived in Elkhart 1978- Jan 1983
Concord mall is now closed. All stores vacated. Set to be demolished. I almost teared up when I heard the news. I spent so much time there as a child and teenager. 😢
You're absolutely right about this mall - I've never seen a video that shows one with this level of completely original, and rather sophisticated, 1970s architecture throughout. Personally I wouldn't feel properly dressed walking through it without wearing bell bottoms and a huge flared collar on my paisley-patterned shirt :)
Peter Stean---Bell bottom blue jeans! I remember getting a new pair caught in the chain on my bicycle. I can still hear my mother, "I just bought those and you tore them already?" I had two pairs of bell bottoms in my early teen years. No more.
When I was very little - I guess 5 or 6 years old - I had a beautiful denim suit with flares and a huge collar. I feel a little sad that early '70s fashion hasn't come back in a big way because I remember it as very stylish. I don't think I've ever looked better, in a fashion sense, than I did then!
This mall has absolutely beautiful architecture, it’s clean, it looks like it’s in great shape although it’s a vintage 70s mall
I love the enthusiasm in your voice as the video began. And it really IS a 1970's gem! Great video!
This may be one of my favorite malls that you've documented so far. I felt like I was in a time machine looking at the 70's lighting and tiles! I loved it!
Leann Brooks i agree!!
The built in seating and those tiles /brick work 😍
I wonder if the architect ever would have thought that someday somebody would speak of his 'conversation pits' as being amazing ;-) But you're right, they look pretty cool just as the whole mall
This mall is my dream! It is so vintage!
Wow, time capsule. Nice to see it is still very well maintained anyway. Love the brick and tile work.
You can just feel the 70s vibe off the whole pace.
Except the music, of course.
Looks like they took great care of that mall. Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!
Pride! It's almost a lost art today in the US.....The remnants of it still exist in flyover country.
Very groovy 70s style cool video man keep up the great work
Yes, finally someone did this mall!
This is in my town and I was in high school when they built this Mall. It was the place to be. In the middle where you see the children's play area, was a huge fountain. It looked like several huge flutes standing on end and the water went clear up and over with a pool surrounding it and people would throw change in. Bad news is it is currently being forclosed on so if you're in the market for a mall, now's your chance!
I still have dreams about that fountain to this day. It was truly glorious!
Crap, just read your comment regarding the children's play area after posting! New there had to be something way more cool in that location rather than a sucky kids play area!
The fountain was the bomb back in the day:)
I grew up in South Bend and we went here often. I miss the huge fountain they used to have in the center court. It was gigantic!
Beautiful 1970s mall. I love the interior's vintage green color tones and the lighting. Thanks for sharing this. I hope this mall keeps going and stays the way it looks inside.
What a find!
Thank you so much for touring this this beautiful before she sinks forever.
Your audio work on this episode was perfect.
As a person who lives in Indiana, i loved this mall when I was little. The potted plants, Carson's. The streamers on the ceiling. All gone. Ben's pretzels and a bunch of other stores are gone. The parking lot is never full. But it's still a historic landmark for the crossroads of America. It might be dead. But it was hella fun! I'm 13 now. 4 or 5 it was still alive but, seeing a huge chunk of my childhood slip away and rot. Hits me hard. But on 1997, its grand opening, and creation. Gives me a sense of joy for the people who stepped foot on the smooth tiles of the Concord Mall.
Vintage aesthetic overload! I love it.
What a beautiful time capsule! There’s something so satisfying seeing these malls decors!
Amazing video and another beautiful vintage mall.
Holy Cow, you've found a time capsule!!! Right down to the chairs in the Carson's store.
What an incredible, beautiful mall..love the plant and seating areas! Greaat vid!
This is like memory lane, it all looks so good, very clean! Great job Ace!
I grew up going to this mall, l remember how busy it used to be. I now take my kids there, we eat Pizza at Enzos and stroll the mall. I tell my kids about the fountain (now long gone), that l used to toss pennies into, about the KB toystore. Montgomery Wards, Osco Drugs and so on. They listen but don't have those memories. Its fun...but it gives me a longing to return for a moment to those days.... I guess coming to Concord mall takes me back in time, and l don't want to let go of this one place that time has forgot.
Great video. Love the vintage. Thanks.
I love the lighting on the sides towards the ceiling. Beautiful interior!
This is probably the video that best conjures up the feelings I had as a kid walking around a place like this. You don't think about it much today but the design of these places had quite the effect on the way you felt. My memories of mall shopping start in the early 80s and this is as close to what it was like back then. It feels good to know the nostalgia that sometimes crosses my brain isn't built on youthful fantasy and indeed has some basis in reality.
I've been WANTING someone to come check this mall out. YAY!
Ugh, so in love with this mall. Amazing job.
The architecture and decor here are incredible! I really hope it stays intact for a little longer...
Haunting and beautiful, youve outdone yourself!
oh I just loved the little merry-go-round at the end! and that mall is to die for! Great vid!
Jazzy Babe spent a lot of time on that as a kid if I remember
I grew up in Goshen and this was our local mall. My memories are of the 80's heyday of this place. I was an elementary school kid in the early-mid 80s and in Jr High in the late 80s. My first memories of the 3 anchor stores were that they were Montgomery Ward, JCPenney, and Meese. (He pronounces it as "Mice" in this video - the way we locals said it, it rhymed with "fleece") Of these, only JCP was still there when last I stopped by for nostalgia 10 years ago. The Meese became an Elder Berman and later a Carsons's that is now closed and the Montgomery Ward became Hobby Lobby. Concord Mall was often packed on 80's weekends and holidays were insane. They had an Aladdin's Castle video arcade on the stretch between JC Penney and the central fountain. That place was absolutely vintage, with old classic arcade cabinets, many that cannot be found anywhere today outside private collections. The central fountain itself was an incredible example of 70s architecture. It had multiple vertical pillars that would expel water in various different ways depending on the day. In my opinion, the golden era of Concord Mall ended when 2 things happened: Aladdin's Castle closed in 1990 followed by the demolition of the fountain in favor of the crummy children's play area you see in this video. Even so, I would still go to the Mall in the early 90's with my parents. We'd always eat at the MCL Cafeteria and then go peruse the Walden's Books Store directly across. When I left the area around 1994 the mall was in a slow decline but still doing business. 15 years later I came back to find it a ghost of it's former self. But like he says in this video - if you like vintage architecture, you'll find it here. The planters are either white tile pyramids or circular white tile seated areas and the brick masonry in the conversation pits at 5:00 in the video are exactly the way I remember them in the 80s. While it's a sad shame that the central fountain is long gone, the white 70s era floor tile around the central area remains. The masonry around the child's play area is all original and was what surrounded the fountain pit where people would toss pennies in the water. You can see this architecture at 8:00 in the video. The ceiling at 7:05 in front of JCP is vintage - that area was a central focus of traffic as the space in front of the primary anchor store. The space in front of JCP was a teenager nexus because Musicland was the store to the right of JCP and Sega's Time Out (The crappy replacement for the previously mentioned glorious Aladdin's Castle) was on the left. The long block masonry at the Carson's storefront is original to the Roberson's of 1972 and the Meese store I remember from the 80s. The front of the out-of-business bookstore seen at 2:00 is actually the original vintage storefront of the Walden's Books that used to be there, but repainted white.. The entire mall is like a time capsule to an era of 80's glory. It would be a shame to tear it down. Better to designate it as a historical landmark now that 50 years have elapsed since it's construction.
Wow - what a 70's gem! Great job recording it! This and the music reminded me of visiting our "new" malls in the late 70's complete with a visit to Spencers for black lights, Disco Balls, Pyramid Power, and Pet Rocks... ;)
This was amazing!!! I can not believe how many times I've been to elkhart and never knew this place existed! I have got to go here!!
What a beautiful retro mall...I really enjoyed this one Ace! 👍
Amazing gem!! So awesome
This was great. The mall itself really does take you back. One of the malls we went to opened around the same time and was quite similar. Pretty much all the ones I remember have been remodeled beyond recognition. It's interesting the things that change so much that one always thought would be a constant.
Nailing it Ace! Another good one. 🤩
Thank you for bringing vintage malls to a vintage mall lover. Up until 12 years ago the mall I started going to in 1974 the Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights .ca. stayed pretty much the same and then they remodeled In an effort to revitalize. I just don't think we realize how much we a losing until it's to late.
😎 Right on! This mall is out of sight 👍
I loved the video. Good vintage 70’s
Great video! Thanks for posting. Love the 70s architecture! This mall looks impeccable! I fondly remember these when I was a kid, but haven't seen one since the late 80s. You should make a list of malls that still have the 70s look, for people who wish to see these gems!
This is the most fantastic mall I've seen in all of my armchair travels. And it's not too far from where I live! Thank you for the tour. Going to dig out some retro duds and have a good time :D
I looove that JC Penneys entrance at 6:06
Evansmustard Right the lighting and facade are so 70s rad its Amazing its still there!
Back when malls were in their heyday, it was Joslin's, not JCPenney.
I grew up in this mall....great memories!! Especially the Arcades!! And Kay Bee Toys!!!!
This is actually my hometown mall. I remember the 1st time I ever when there. My father took my sister, brother and I there. It was at Christmas time. I had actually never heard of a mall...I was only like 9 years old. I thought it was the most amazing place I'd ever been in. A factor in that is it was at Christmas time and the place was full of Christmas decor. Thanks so much for posting this...and what 9 year old doesn't like Christmas?!?
Great video, I feel like I traveled through time. Also love the ending shot, looked like something out of a horror movie.
Growing up going to this mall sad as hell to see it dying the way it is i remeber a time when all the stores were filled
Joann's was NOT an original anchor. that spot used to be a five and dime type store called Mc Crory's, Joanns didn't move in until the late 80s early 90s timeline....glad you stopped and enjoyed it. I only live 30 miles away now, I grew up in this mall and I need to get back and say goodbye before they tear it down
yasss a new vid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but i would recommend richland mall in sc, it is stuck in the 1980's! Really cool signage and what not.
Love the abandoned Book Store. It brings up all these memories.
Elkhart is my hometown, I grew up going to this mall. I moved to California in 2010 so it's crazy to see how empty its become since I left. I always thought the conversation pits were so cool but never really grasped the '70s time capsule this mall was. It was a weird place, but it was our weird place and I spent many, many hours just hanging out here with my friends.
The "Prime Retail" area you see at 6:23 used to be the core arcade for the mall, and was where I spent most my time. I set my first ever pinball high score there on a Dr. Dude in the early 2000's. I love that mall so much.
Those square lights in front of JC Penny and other lighting are awesome!
This literally brought tears to my eyes...THESE are the malls I grew up in........ "Get off my lawn you kids!"
its so cool & vintage ♥️
Wow!! The 70s called and they said the Concord Malls rad! The intro musics so dope Anthony we just time traveled to the 70s no Delorean necessary. Amazing mall its a time capsule mind blown!!!
Funny you mentioned a Delorean time machine LOL. I live in Elkhart and I always thought from the road on one end with the old style J.C. Penny sign that this mall resembles the one from Back to the Future when they're in the mall parking lot waiting on those Arabs.
Excellent choice of music with John Cameron's Liquid Sunshine!
I swear to god I clicked on a Dan Bell video and I thought I was watching a Dan Bell video all the way up until you started to speak! Nevertheless, awesome work!! Glad I found this channel
Thank you for posting this gem. Being a small kid during the 1970s and double digits during the 1980s I have spent a few hours at the mall. Change is inevitable but it was a great time. I wish the mall could make a comeback but online shopping is making it difficult for stores like Walmart to succeed which I feel is not such a bad thing. But we all have less money today than we used to so we try to save as much as we can.
Those Ben's pretzels are SO good!!!
Great video! It’s good too see you filming some videos in the Michiana area. I filmed this mall very recently on March 5th I believe I was one of the first people to film this mall and I wish I could’ve seen you I’m a fan of your videos!!!
No matter the era this is from... looked like a great mall.... Thank you for this ..
It was quite the place about 20 years ago, maybe even a couple years into the 2000's. From what I've heard the owners just charge tenants entirely too much for small spaces and that forced many businesses out. My friends and I would hang out here for hours in the summer and odd weekends. I spent way too much of my paper route and allowance money in this old building. Memories galore, that's for sure.
The Carson's closing reminded me when my local mall closed up for good. Carson Pirie Scott was the last open anchor and the mall was sealed off. 2004 it closed for good and they tore everything down.
That is a cool looking mall. I hope it survives. Losing another anchor isn't going to help
It's slated to close.
Wow, what a beautiful mall! I wished that I could afford to buy a mall like this and restore it to the original version.
The last original tenant from the 1972 opening was Walden Books (03:34 - the vacant store that says "book store" in it's front window) which closed about 4 years ago.
I live nearby here and just visited it with my friend. It's even deader now but is still holding on by a thread. We even lost the Spencers!
This is in indiana where i live
Now if the muzak was still really playing too this would be a dream come true! I miss mall life soooo much ☹️
It really does. Then the cleaning crew flips to rap at night. I work at the ABC Warehouse in this mall.
I am just absolutely drooling over the vintage aesthetics of this whole mall. Very 70s to the core.
This is the mall I grew up going to, I remember they had a 3rd arcade that was massive near the JC penny, no info online though, this video was great to refresh my memory!! At this point though rumor has it the mall has been bought and is going to be remodeled or re purposed!
Love the old marquees
9:16- love that front entrance to the mall from the former Carsons'
I grew up in Elkhart and lived a few miles from the mall. This was an amazing mall in it's day and I have so many fond memories of being a frequent shopper as a kid with my mom, a teen snacking on food and hanging with friends, and working at the Swiss Pretzel Shop as a Junior in HS, which was Concord High School, a hop, skip, & jump from the mall. BTW, the store Meis is pronounced Mees....like the word piece. Also, this mall is in serious trouble. They are in possible foreclosure owing a payment of 12 million. This is sad time for all of us here in Elkhart. Thanks for the video!
Right now I'm 15 yet this store in my city is still running up, I'm glad that this store is still alive, the store is slowly dissolving away sadly because the lack of people coming there.
Great memories in the city I live in
- from a 15 year old Hispanic American guy that is a extreme introvert :)
It had a mumphys book nook also it had a Christopher and banks its currently being looked at to become a outdoor mall
We have an early 70s subway station similar to this in NYC. 47th Street and Broadway. Orange brick walls, cantilevered terrazzo benches, can lights, sound absorbing ceilings, terrazzo floors and one or two large baked enamel art panels. It cost millions and was a prototype that was only imitated once, at Bowling Green.
I miss the MCL Cafeteria and Strauss Bakery..Bought all my concert tickets at Super Sounds.Good times.
Holyyyyyyyyy 70’s!! 😯
Hello from Wyoming, if you want Vintage I can recommend two hole city's here in Wyoming. First from the 70's Casper and then from the 80's Rockspring. They are still rocking the hightops and mullets in Rockspring
Lol I remember Meis (pronounced Meece). There was one is Mattoon, IL until around 1989 when it was bought by Elder Beerman around 1989, and eventually changed to Carson Pirie Scott or Carson’s for short. I used to love going to the Cross County mall in Mattoon. It was built in 1971, and had a Walgreens with an adjoining restaurant. Whenever I visited my aunts and grandmother when I was a kid, that mall was a staple. Sadly, it fell into decline around the mid to late 90s. Still I enjoy visiting for the memories
I spent alot of time at this mall in the 70s and 80s. Oh how the great have fallen!
Nice shots - always bittersweet to see my old mall in zombie state like this. Re Meis - we always pronounced it "mees," but I'm from Indiana, so who knows. Wish I could dig up a picture of that old fountain that was in the center, because it was phenomenal.
I agree with you on this. Was so sad to see the fountain gone.
My hometown. I miss this mall. I hope they don't tear it down.
Great job, I enjoy your videos, nice touch with the music. Have you been to the Monroeville Mall in Pittsburgh? I have a zombie fan way before the walking dead. When I saw the 1978 movie Dawn of the Dead I thought that would be the best place to go other than being a big target for Marauders like in the movie which you could do a little planning to take care of them if you had some military training and stopped by the local armory and got some long range toys. But it would afford some shelter and protected space to move around. Oh yes very creepy ending! Nice
The childerns play area used to be a huge fountain with something like 3 or 4 wooden poles of various height that water came out of. I used to throw pennys in it as a kid
This was my mall growing up, too. The best thing was our Girl Scout troop got to spend the night around the fountain in those conversation area, sleeping bags lined up. My brother and I would always climb up those pyramid brick structures and the middle felt like it should have been a slide. I have slight memories of eating at a restaurant inside Robertson’s that had a treasure chest in front to pick a prize. We always Christmas shopped there. I remember buying a candle for my mom that was made with layers of sand. Got a pair of Van’s there. Ate at MCL quite often. There was for a time a soda fountain ice cream place but I can’t remember the name. Got my hair cut at Regis. Thought Orange Julius sounded gross. Begged to get a treat from Strauss Bakery. Bought an AT&T telephone at the telephone store. Got our pictures taken at Olen Mills.
Thank you the 70s ROCK YES
Not gonna lie, I found myself swaying back and forth in my chair when the music started lol.
Meine erste Mall die mir meine Tante und mein Onkel in Amerika gezeigt haben. Ich bin so traurig und hoffe, dass sie wieder in Gang kommt. Ich liebe diese Mall. Es war die beste Zeit, sitzen in der MCL Cafeteria, oder einen Radar Warner kaufen bei Montgomery Ward usw.
Danke für das Video, Greetings Form Germany