I used to work at a Waldenbooks calendar kiosk in this mall in the early 2000s. There used to be an arcade back in the older section of the mall in the ‘90s. It was pretty cool for the time.
Shenago Valley Mall was my childhood. It was amazing and then it got very empty and no one came there. Me and my cousins would go there for hours just playing on the little play area.Im very sad it’s empty now not fully but not lots there.
I went to this mall a week ago to record it without any knowledge about it. I wish I did my research before because I then went to stop and eat at a nearby fast food place and then learned about the secret wing. I then immediately went back to the mall only to find the enter aces locked. I then went through JCPenny to get into the mall only to quickly find a security guard who said the mall is closed for the day and that I must leave. Sadly this mall is over 6 hours away from where I live so hopefully I will make it back some day to see the secret 70’s wing.
Did you head over to Kraynak’s and see the walk thru Christmas display and all the greenhouses with Christmas items? Amazing!!! I hope you did. It’s the kind of place that is extremely rare to see in today’s retail. Very old school!
A cool little mall with character! My first visit I absolutely missed the 70's portion. Until my uncle told me about the hallway leading to that section. It really is like a secret passage to a hidden timecapsule. So much wood!
That last bit was called the North Mall back in the day. I don't remember it having any decent stores. It was mainly repair shops and mall offices. They missed a golden opportunity to turn it into a food court. It had a bigger entrance near the current Maurice's store front, but it got covered over by KB Toys in the 1990s. We really need clothes shopping in town again. Heaven help us if the plan to make it a sports center or gaming center go through.
There was an arcade back there in the ‘90s, used to go there all the time. And I seem to remember some kind of small cafe or lunch place right across from the arcade for awhile.
That back space was likely a leftover from renovations that never got overhauled. Rather than try to adapt it for the existing mall space, the owners likely had that portion walled away. What I find particularly odd is how it seems like it was still meant to be accessible after the renovations.
Because that wing was suddenly sealed off to the public in 1997 and then reopened in 2004, meaning it was spared the mall's 2001 renovation. There are several stories and theories as to why the wing was suddenly shuttered in 1997. The story I've heard the most often is that Pocketchange Park, which was the biggest attraction back there, closed around Christmas 1996. At the same time, Sears was looking to expand, so in February 1997 they evicted the remaining stores (Dollar Tree was relocated elsewhere in the mall, other stores like a coffee shop, a convenience store, and a vacuum dealer called Shenango Sweeper weren't so lucky), permanently locked the outdoor entrance and sealed the inline entrance (which was between GNC and Rave, those two storefronts are now one space occupied by Maurice's). From there, the story gets murky. All I know is Sears ultimately never went through with the expansion and in March 2004 the mall built a new corridor linking the restroom hallway to the hidden hallway, opening it to the public once again (please note these dates are accurate but I have no idea how accurate this version of events is, it's just the version I've heard from the most people. If anyone has more or contradicting information please reply).After the 2004 unsealing there were two businesses back there: Twice Loved Appliances, which had previously been located in the recently vacated antique shop, and a Mercer County government office. Over the next few years a handful of businesses would try leasing space back there (hopefully for cheaper rent than on the main concourse lol) and the mall opened a community room back there in the old mall office in 2005. The longest running tenant back there after the reopen was actually a karate school which lasted about 3 years before finally giving up the ghost in early 2010, they were the last tenant to try it back there. Also not many people know this but there's ANOTHER hidden wing in the mall that has been closed to the public for almost 30 years (ok not really a wing but a storefront). Directly to the left of the concourse entrance to Macy's there's a narrow hallway that is currently employee's only. Up until the very early 90s that hallway led to a Mercer County DMV office
I guess you know Northlake Mall in Charlotte is in receivership? A lot of empty storefronts there now.. You know you are in a dead mall when there is a church in there.
I've seen a ton of videos on this mall, and this one covers the exact same info as the others... but this is probably the best shot I've seen of the old Things Remembered kiosk
When I was a kid in the 90s this mall was booming with business. It is the smallest of the 3 local malls and sometimes that was what we wanted. It’s looked like this for a long time though. So sad!
I used to work at a Waldenbooks calendar kiosk in this mall in the early 2000s. There used to be an arcade back in the older section of the mall in the ‘90s. It was pretty cool for the time.
Shenago Valley Mall was my childhood. It was amazing and then it got very empty and no one came there. Me and my cousins would go there for hours just playing on the little play area.Im very sad it’s empty now not fully but not lots there.
I love dead mall videos. Thank you for uploading!
I went to this mall a week ago to record it without any knowledge about it. I wish I did my research before because I then went to stop and eat at a nearby fast food place and then learned about the secret wing. I then immediately went back to the mall only to find the enter aces locked. I then went through JCPenny to get into the mall only to quickly find a security guard who said the mall is closed for the day and that I must leave. Sadly this mall is over 6 hours away from where I live so hopefully I will make it back some day to see the secret 70’s wing.
it’s getting demolished in a couple days
RIP SHENANGO VALLEY MALL!!!!
The lost hallway was added in mid 80's
Great video. Hope they can save it. 🤞
Grants closed in 1976. Strouss didn’t take its place till 1979
Did you head over to Kraynak’s and see the walk thru Christmas display and all the greenhouses with Christmas items? Amazing!!! I hope you did. It’s the kind of place that is extremely rare to see in today’s retail. Very old school!
I have not. I will have to keep that in mind next time I pass through the area.
@@DoomieGruntVenturesit’s amazing I actually went today
6:34 thats a great idea would of been perfect is Stranger Things was in the 70s lol
A cool little mall with character! My first visit I absolutely missed the 70's portion. Until my uncle told me about the hallway leading to that section. It really is like a secret passage to a hidden timecapsule. So much wood!
That last bit was called the North Mall back in the day. I don't remember it having any decent stores. It was mainly repair shops and mall offices. They missed a golden opportunity to turn it into a food court. It had a bigger entrance near the current Maurice's store front, but it got covered over by KB Toys in the 1990s. We really need clothes shopping in town again. Heaven help us if the plan to make it a sports center or gaming center go through.
There was an arcade back there in the ‘90s, used to go there all the time. And I seem to remember some kind of small cafe or lunch place right across from the arcade for awhile.
Why was that last section so different though? It was pretty cool to see the contrast between it and the other section.
That back space was likely a leftover from renovations that never got overhauled. Rather than try to adapt it for the existing mall space, the owners likely had that portion walled away. What I find particularly odd is how it seems like it was still meant to be accessible after the renovations.
@@DoomieGruntVentures That section really is a unique future. Will it all be removed in the renovations?
The old section needed some closer inspection and an overall slowdown in the walkthrough.
Because that wing was suddenly sealed off to the public in 1997 and then reopened in 2004, meaning it was spared the mall's 2001 renovation. There are several stories and theories as to why the wing was suddenly shuttered in 1997. The story I've heard the most often is that Pocketchange Park, which was the biggest attraction back there, closed around Christmas 1996. At the same time, Sears was looking to expand, so in February 1997 they evicted the remaining stores (Dollar Tree was relocated elsewhere in the mall, other stores like a coffee shop, a convenience store, and a vacuum dealer called Shenango Sweeper weren't so lucky), permanently locked the outdoor entrance and sealed the inline entrance (which was between GNC and Rave, those two storefronts are now one space occupied by Maurice's). From there, the story gets murky. All I know is Sears ultimately never went through with the expansion and in March 2004 the mall built a new corridor linking the restroom hallway to the hidden hallway, opening it to the public once again (please note these dates are accurate but I have no idea how accurate this version of events is, it's just the version I've heard from the most people. If anyone has more or contradicting information please reply).After the 2004 unsealing there were two businesses back there: Twice Loved Appliances, which had previously been located in the recently vacated antique shop, and a Mercer County government office. Over the next few years a handful of businesses would try leasing space back there (hopefully for cheaper rent than on the main concourse lol) and the mall opened a community room back there in the old mall office in 2005. The longest running tenant back there after the reopen was actually a karate school which lasted about 3 years before finally giving up the ghost in early 2010, they were the last tenant to try it back there.
Also not many people know this but there's ANOTHER hidden wing in the mall that has been closed to the public for almost 30 years (ok not really a wing but a storefront). Directly to the left of the concourse entrance to Macy's there's a narrow hallway that is currently employee's only. Up until the very early 90s that hallway led to a Mercer County DMV office
I guess you know Northlake Mall in Charlotte is in receivership? A lot of empty storefronts there now.. You know you are in a dead mall when there is a church in there.
I've seen a ton of videos on this mall, and this one covers the exact same info as the others... but this is probably the best shot I've seen of the old Things Remembered kiosk
You really should make a run to CT , RI and southern Ma lots of malls in need of your style of archiving especially the Crystal Mall in Waterford CT
When I was a kid in the 90s this mall was booming with business. It is the smallest of the 3 local malls and sometimes that was what we wanted.
It’s looked like this for a long time though. So sad!
Do cape cod mall next!
Cool video
Have you ever seen True Stories?
ive seen more people at a Joe Biden pep rally
His pep rallies had people?
@@DoomieGruntVentures I’m a liberal and even I had no idea he had rallies
@@misterhat5823 let's go Brandon
How about we stick to malls and no politics on this channel. We get enough politics. Give us a break! 😐