I'm from Kalamazoo, and would drive here once a month to shop and eat here. My kids loved the ramps and small stairs to run up and down. They had several stores that either weren't at the Crossroads mall or were different versions. They had a Chi-Chi 's and an Applebees in the mall, which was very convenient. At one point they had a "gap warehouse" that was a precursor to Old Navy. That store had inexpensive, but good quality basic clothing items for kids and adults. Much of it for kids was unisex, so I could pass down the items in my family. What is missing from many malls now, is a reason to go there; that few certain stores or eateries that are unique.
I really miss how busy this mall was when I was a kid. I remember it being packed at Christmas time and throwing coins in the big fountain that used to be in the center of the mall by Macy’s. And just going there to find friends in the late 2000s when I was in high school. It seems the rapid decline started right after I graduated in 2010.
It's sad to see.... I lived here in Battle Creek for 58 years, was right in this mall when it opened in 1983. It was great, busy, lots of stores.... lots of memories! We've been in Iowa for 9 years. I'd live to move back home. Mall or no mall. Good video.
EXCELLENT example of our mall here in Battle Creek. I’ve lived here my whole life except for a few years of college. It’s been a shit hole for 10-15 years. Internet has taken a huge bite out of all store shopping and killed others. Before I die the mall footprint will probably be a sub division. Would love to see it go back to “green” acres like before it was built. I grew up a half mile away and from the very beginning I was never impressed. Nice video. Thanks for sharing 😃
I went here with a friend at the time in 2016 to get pedicures. Checked out the Hot Topic and FYE. Had a fun time and remember there wasn't much there at the time. One of the funnest days of my life and when you're in the area check out Hogzilla BBQ. It's a nice BBQ place that had a BBQ buffet with chicken, ribs, baked beans, and Mac and Cheese. So good! I'm from MI and also check out the Mall of Monroe if you're in the Detroit area. It's off I-75 and not far from the Ohio border.
I’ve been to this mall many time when I lived in canton Michigan and I recently filmed it myself. I do dead mall and retail too and wow great work. Nice smooth footage and great commentary with good music.
I live 15 minutes away in the neighboring town Marshall. A lot of childhood memories here and it’s really sad to see it die. I have vivid memories of shopping at all of the closed stores you showed in this video, it was really sad and nostalgic to see them in their current state. I hope a big store or something new comes into this mall to revive it to its formal glory. There’s a lot of potential in this property. Thank you for making this video.
You got the order wrong (I'm from Battle Creek) Sears closed last. The mall used to have a Fountain, Security/Stroller area, Stage. The mall used to have weekly events on the stage to draw families in (I remember the ones we went to see with my kid brother). There were a few things have caused mall issues. #1 Internet sales. #2 Declining birth rate in the USA (older people buy less stuff). #3 Each generation makes less than the one before it for expected life time earnings adjusted for inflation this is the opposite of the way things have been historically in the USA.
The architectural design of this mall reminds me of the 1980s addition to the former Pontiac/Summit Place Mall (arguably the FIRST fully-enclosed mall in all of Michigan which first opened ALL THE WAY BACK in 1962.) I wonder if the company that originally developed this mall back in 1983 ALSO at one point owned Pontiac Mall? Speaking of which... How far is this mall from Summit Place/Pontiac Mall? I'm curious... (**Pontiac Mall/Summit Place Mall should have NEVER DIED! IMHO... Same with Northland!)
It looks like it's about 2 hours away. Not sure but it would be cool to visit that mall. Unlikely it's open right now might have to call the city to see if I can get in.
@@UrbexAPeakInside Yeah unfortunately it has since been demolished. BUT there IS still "some" hope for you visiting the former Northland Center (supposedly the VERY FIRST MALL to open in the United States ALL THE WAY BACK IN 1954!) -- that's if they haven't already demolished Northland as well -- like they did with the former Pontiac/Summit Place Mall...
Your videos keep getting better, keep up the great work! This mall is a dreary place, but back in the day it probably looked really awesome when a lot of places had neon sign. Thanks for taking us along for the visit.
I Cant Believe That Closing Their Own Stores I've Been N Battle Creek For 15 years Tha World Is Changing I Had Fun Time In Lakeview Mall As A Kid I Was Remember
I know I have said this before, but I am so glad you went back to doing these videos - really great content and love the history you provide with the smooth tour. Keep it up!
Thanks for the video I was going to open a store there about a year ago until I walked inside it was almost depressing and I live about 10 minutes away from the mall. I've been there 3 times in 6 years
I'm from Battle Creek. I remember when this mall was new I was a freshman in high school at the time. The big empty space in the middle of the Mall didn't used to be empty it so strange to see it that way (1:56). The circle to the left was some planters and seating as well as a small fountain. The circle direct to the front was the stage where event happened on a regular basis on the weekend (fashion show, Santa, Ninja Turtles and so on). Jut past the stage was the Help Desk (lost kids, questions and stroller rental). Sear was actually the last to close. They remodeled the part of the mall with Barnes and Nobel and closed several stores to put it in.
Battle Creek is a dying Boomtown. Blame the internet for all the death of the malls. Kellogg's and Kraft Foods aren't the employers that they once were Battle Creek doesn't have the jobs that we used to have, the skeleton of a mall is just a reflection of the town that it belongs to
PS it has plenty of lighting but they don’t have it on during the day apparently because they don’t have much business now. As I said maybe if you could bring a few hundred of your friends just checked regularly they might turn the lights on in the daytime rather than only in the evening.
GK also owns the Peru mall and they just announced redevelopment plans. I just released a video of that and it's sad. Hopefully they follow through with the plans.
Urbex- A Peak Inside I have a good mall request. If you go out near Springfield someday you should do Eastland mall in Bloomington Illinois. And in the Chicago area Louis Joliet mall and Spring Hill mall. Also the thriving fox valley mall and maybe a update on hawthorn mall.
I am planning a huge Illinois tour shortly and Springfield is on my radar. I do have a video in the Fox Valley Mall. Spring Hill is one will visit soon.
@@UrbexAPeakInside If you tour central Illinois malls or any just south of the Chicago area, I'd try to visit Northfield Square in the Kankakee area. That mall is unfortunately dying more and more, and as of right now has a closing JCPenney store. The Penney's closing there is the last traditional department store anchor, left at Northfield. It has some nice late 80s/early 90s aesthetics that I enjoy seeing, inside that mall. Hickory Point in Forsyth(next to Decatur) also has been struggling, for a good while. Von Maur somehow hangs on at Hickory Point, and I'm surprised. You also might want to check out the dead malls in Mattoon and Effingham, if you get over to that part of IL. JCPenney still hangs on in Mattoon as of now, but closed their Effingham store a few years ago.
Back when I was a student at WMU ( 1983-85) my parents and I went to this mall from Grand Rapids. It was very busy and seemed nice although I don’t remember much more about it. A few years ago my daughter and I were on the way back from Albion college and stopped here for lunch. The only place inside the mall was a Chinese joint which was out of everything we tried to order. Maybe they should go to the outdoor type mall like Centerpointe Mall in GR is now. That place was about as dead before the remodel and now it’s is quite busy. (Although the parking lot sucks).
Accidentally lost the comment I was trying to type that I almost finished, so I'll try again. Anyway I like the ceiling here, and it looks vaguely Taubman-ish to me. Other than the vacancies inside, this mall doesn't look that depressing inside to me. I think to each their own, on what may make a mall depressing to one person vs. another? If it didn't have a lot of skylights inside, like some 60s and 70s era malls out there are like, it might be a little depressing inside here. As for the anchor vacancies, I do wonder if this mall should try to attract say like Round One arcade to open here? Or say something unique or a little different, like how in Pennsylvania a few malls have an antique store filling an anchor? That will be an issue where I wonder if they can resolve that, for at least one or more of the vacancies here.
Maybe but this was a Saturday and they're just not many people who go there anymore. The movie theater has to open as a step one. Round one is a possibility.
Sad I still live in battle Creek I remember it use to be a nice mall when I was young but now I'm 21 and ready to get out of battle creek no good jobs hear no opetunitys hear as well nice video though
Interesting video. Was there about 5 - 6 years ago on black friday. Shocked how dead it was then. Battle Creek "large well developed city", don't think so. Moved away 45 years ago, visit family yearly, still glad I moved away
The mall is not dead. It is floundering and it is in serious trouble but it is not dead you need to revise your video. In doing that you can come visit the town with all your buddies and move here and start going to the mall and maybe it would have enough revenue to survive. When it was first built it was the center of shoppingIn our city for many many years and now you talk about it as though it were a dead rat in the street. I won’t give up on them all even though many stores are closed in the pandemic has hit and it’s in trouble but it can survive if we just get people to invest in this mall ,but we seriously need help please spread the word.😩😩😩😩😩😩😩
@@TiltedTripodMedia Thank you for Filming our mall; I just wish that you would’ve put it in a more positive light and maybe had a little bit more enthusiasm and courage people to come to our city ; and somehow maybe it can be saved. That’s why I ask you for a revised video or a plea for people to consider that our mall is very endeared to all of the citizens here and very upsetting that it is Cell into a desperate situation. And making another video of it maybe you can inspire people to come here and see the beauty and the potential of resurrecting it again 😩😫😫😫😢😭😢😢
@@kattrakee I always try and say good things about malls unless of course there is nothing good to say and I always try to support them with some business even if it’s to eat in the food court when I visit
@@TiltedTripodMedia That did not address my posting to you at all. I’m talking about this particular mall I’m not talking about your filming techniques. Do you have any thing to say regarding my last posting if not I will just give up and figure you don’t care even though you say you’re trying to make people aware of different malls and preserve their history, I wrote a lengthy posting or two to you regarding this and I get just one pat answer. Just never mind I guess that would be the best thing to do just never mind go on and do your filming and have a ball.There are just people in this world such as yourself which apparently see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear and that’s all. Good day to you.
I'm from Kalamazoo, and would drive here once a month to shop and eat here. My kids loved the ramps and small stairs to run up and down. They had several stores that either weren't at the Crossroads mall or were different versions. They had a Chi-Chi 's and an Applebees in the mall, which was very convenient. At one point they had a "gap warehouse" that was a precursor to Old Navy. That store had inexpensive, but good quality basic clothing items for kids and adults. Much of it for kids was unisex, so I could pass down the items in my family. What is missing from many malls now, is a reason to go there; that few certain stores or eateries that are unique.
It seems to have a lot of the chain stores but as malls die you see a lot of the ma and pa stores moving in.
I really miss how busy this mall was when I was a kid. I remember it being packed at Christmas time and throwing coins in the big fountain that used to be in the center of the mall by Macy’s. And just going there to find friends in the late 2000s when I was in high school. It seems the rapid decline started right after I graduated in 2010.
It's sad to see.... I lived here in Battle Creek for 58 years, was right in this mall when it opened in 1983. It was great, busy, lots of stores.... lots of memories! We've been in Iowa for 9 years. I'd live to move back home. Mall or no mall. Good video.
It's amazing the memories these places bring. Only gonna Battle Creek a few times but the mall def. seems slower than in the past.
EXCELLENT example of our mall here in Battle Creek. I’ve lived here my whole life except for a few years of college. It’s been a shit hole for 10-15 years. Internet has taken a huge bite out of all store shopping and killed others. Before I die the mall footprint will probably be a sub division. Would love to see it go back to “green” acres like before it was built. I grew up a half mile away and from the very beginning I was never impressed. Nice video. Thanks for sharing 😃
I went here with a friend at the time in 2016 to get pedicures. Checked out the Hot Topic and FYE. Had a fun time and remember there wasn't much there at the time. One of the funnest days of my life and when you're in the area check out Hogzilla BBQ. It's a nice BBQ place that had a BBQ buffet with chicken, ribs, baked beans, and Mac and Cheese. So good! I'm from MI and also check out the Mall of Monroe if you're in the Detroit area. It's off I-75 and not far from the Ohio border.
Will have to check that place out next time I'm in town I like barbecue.
I’ve been to this mall many time when I lived in canton Michigan and I recently filmed it myself. I do dead mall and retail too and wow great work. Nice smooth footage and great commentary with good music.
I live 15 minutes away in the neighboring town Marshall. A lot of childhood memories here and it’s really sad to see it die. I have vivid memories of shopping at all of the closed stores you showed in this video, it was really sad and nostalgic to see them in their current state. I hope a big store or something new comes into this mall to revive it to its formal glory. There’s a lot of potential in this property. Thank you for making this video.
Marshall is nice. Went there in October to see the last Kmart in Mi.
@@sirekumasutra7022 the Kmart is dying for sure, was just there to get my prescription. Hope you enjoyed it!
You are doing excellent work. Yours are among the very best videos on this subject. Thank you!
Thanks for your support. I try to stand out.
You got the order wrong (I'm from Battle Creek) Sears closed last. The mall used to have a Fountain, Security/Stroller area, Stage. The mall used to have weekly events on the stage to draw families in (I remember the ones we went to see with my kid brother). There were a few things have caused mall issues. #1 Internet sales. #2 Declining birth rate in the USA (older people buy less stuff). #3 Each generation makes less than the one before it for expected life time earnings adjusted for inflation this is the opposite of the way things have been historically in the USA.
The architectural design of this mall reminds me of the 1980s addition to the former Pontiac/Summit Place Mall (arguably the FIRST fully-enclosed mall in all of Michigan which first opened ALL THE WAY BACK in 1962.) I wonder if the company that originally developed this mall back in 1983 ALSO at one point owned Pontiac Mall?
Speaking of which... How far is this mall from Summit Place/Pontiac Mall? I'm curious... (**Pontiac Mall/Summit Place Mall should have NEVER DIED! IMHO... Same with Northland!)
It looks like it's about 2 hours away. Not sure but it would be cool to visit that mall. Unlikely it's open right now might have to call the city to see if I can get in.
@@UrbexAPeakInside I'm afraid they demolished Summit Place in 2019.
@@UrbexAPeakInside Yeah unfortunately it has since been demolished.
BUT there IS still "some" hope for you visiting the former Northland Center (supposedly the VERY FIRST MALL to open in the United States ALL THE WAY BACK IN 1954!) -- that's if they haven't already demolished Northland as well -- like they did with the former Pontiac/Summit Place Mall...
Shucks.
Many a memory in there. I miss the old fountain they took out in the 2000's.
Your videos keep getting better, keep up the great work! This mall is a dreary place, but back in the day it probably looked really awesome when a lot of places had neon sign. Thanks for taking us along for the visit.
Neon signs were the shit back in the eighties. Thanks for watching.
I Cant Believe That Closing Their Own Stores I've Been N Battle Creek For 15 years Tha World Is Changing I Had Fun Time In Lakeview Mall As A Kid I Was Remember
I know I have said this before, but I am so glad you went back to doing these videos - really great content and love the history you provide with the smooth tour. Keep it up!
Trying to improve for each video. :) Thanks for watching! I'll say it again too so glad you stuck by after all these years.
Goodbye, Lakeview Square, I came here from when I was 2-3 (2012-2013), and I'm sad to see it go, I love this mall..
Thanks for the video I was going to open a store there about a year ago until I walked inside it was almost depressing and I live about 10 minutes away from the mall. I've been there 3 times in 6 years
Yeah, Its sad how it has become. Thanks for watching.
I'm from Battle Creek. I remember when this mall was new I was a freshman in high school at the time. The big empty space in the middle of the Mall didn't used to be empty it so strange to see it that way (1:56). The circle to the left was some planters and seating as well as a small fountain. The circle direct to the front was the stage where event happened on a regular basis on the weekend (fashion show, Santa, Ninja Turtles and so on). Jut past the stage was the Help Desk (lost kids, questions and stroller rental). Sear was actually the last to close. They remodeled the part of the mall with Barnes and Nobel and closed several stores to put it in.
Battle Creek is a dying Boomtown. Blame the internet for all the death of the malls. Kellogg's and Kraft Foods aren't the employers that they once were Battle Creek doesn't have the jobs that we used to have, the skeleton of a mall is just a reflection of the town that it belongs to
It's a sad state of affairs.
PS it has plenty of lighting but they don’t have it on during the day apparently because they don’t have much business now. As I said maybe if you could bring a few hundred of your friends just checked regularly they might turn the lights on in the daytime rather than only in the evening.
GK also owns the Peru mall and they just announced redevelopment plans. I just released a video of that and it's sad. Hopefully they follow through with the plans.
That's good. Paru mall is in sad shape.
Great video man:)
Thanks. More Michigan malls to follow.
Urbex- A Peak Inside I have a good mall request. If you go out near Springfield someday you should do Eastland mall in Bloomington Illinois. And in the Chicago area Louis Joliet mall and Spring Hill mall. Also the thriving fox valley mall and maybe a update on hawthorn mall.
I am planning a huge Illinois tour shortly and Springfield is on my radar. I do have a video in the Fox Valley Mall. Spring Hill is one will visit soon.
Urbex- A Peak Inside Oh, that will be exciting white oaks mall is a Simon owned mall in Springfield just to let you know that it is a nice place.
@@UrbexAPeakInside If you tour central Illinois malls or any just south of the Chicago area, I'd try to visit Northfield Square in the Kankakee area. That mall is unfortunately dying more and more, and as of right now has a closing JCPenney store. The Penney's closing there is the last traditional department store anchor, left at Northfield. It has some nice late 80s/early 90s aesthetics that I enjoy seeing, inside that mall.
Hickory Point in Forsyth(next to Decatur) also has been struggling, for a good while. Von Maur somehow hangs on at Hickory Point, and I'm surprised. You also might want to check out the dead malls in Mattoon and Effingham, if you get over to that part of IL. JCPenney still hangs on in Mattoon as of now, but closed their Effingham store a few years ago.
Sears was the last anchor
Back when I was a student at WMU ( 1983-85) my parents and I went to this mall from Grand Rapids. It was very busy and seemed nice although I don’t remember much more about it. A few years ago my daughter and I were on the way back from Albion college and stopped here for lunch. The only place inside the mall was a Chinese joint which was out of everything we tried to order. Maybe they should go to the outdoor type mall like Centerpointe Mall in GR is now. That place was about as dead before the remodel and now it’s is quite busy. (Although the parking lot sucks).
Accidentally lost the comment I was trying to type that I almost finished, so I'll try again. Anyway I like the ceiling here, and it looks vaguely Taubman-ish to me. Other than the vacancies inside, this mall doesn't look that depressing inside to me. I think to each their own, on what may make a mall depressing to one person vs. another? If it didn't have a lot of skylights inside, like some 60s and 70s era malls out there are like, it might be a little depressing inside here.
As for the anchor vacancies, I do wonder if this mall should try to attract say like Round One arcade to open here? Or say something unique or a little different, like how in Pennsylvania a few malls have an antique store filling an anchor? That will be an issue where I wonder if they can resolve that, for at least one or more of the vacancies here.
Maybe but this was a Saturday and they're just not many people who go there anymore. The movie theater has to open as a step one. Round one is a possibility.
Actually Sears was the last department store to leave the mall. Sears left this mall in the beginning of 2018.
www.flickr.com/photos/kzoocowboy/
Looks like you were there before it opened. But, still a dead mall. Also, Battle Creek is two words (referring to your title sequence) ;)
Good video. Thanks.
Thanks Nancy.
Nice video as usual
You doing the Cherryvale Mall in Rockford, IL as well?
Thanks a lot. Have had several requests, I do plan on doing that mall shortly.
What a sad place, so dark and uninviting. It makes it look deader than it might really be.
I know what you mean. There were some people walking around but overall, this place is very dead.
As of october 23, 2023, this mall is still open with people going to the mall
Sad I still live in battle Creek I remember it use to be a nice mall when I was young but now I'm 21 and ready to get out of battle creek no good jobs hear no opetunitys hear as well nice video though
County Fair Fashion Mall in Woodland California.
Interesting video. Was there about 5 - 6 years ago on black friday. Shocked how dead it was then. Battle Creek "large well developed city", don't think so. Moved away 45 years ago, visit family yearly, still glad I moved away
RIP kmart and sears
Way to go through a mall when all the store's are closed.
😥😓😓😓😓😓☹😭😭😭😭😭😭
The mall is not dead. It is floundering and it is in serious trouble but it is not dead you need to revise your video. In doing that you can come visit the town with all your buddies and move here and start going to the mall and maybe it would have enough revenue to survive. When it was first built it was the center of shoppingIn our city for many many years and now you talk about it as though it were a dead rat in the street. I won’t give up on them all even though many stores are closed in the pandemic has hit and it’s in trouble but it can survive if we just get people to invest in this mall ,but we seriously need help please spread the word.😩😩😩😩😩😩😩
All malls need love and attention. So I dedicated my life to filming and documenting them to bring awareness and preserve the history
@@TiltedTripodMedia Thank you for Filming our mall; I just wish that you would’ve put it in a more positive light and maybe had a little bit more enthusiasm and courage people to come to our city ; and somehow maybe it can be saved. That’s why I ask you for a revised video or a plea for people to consider that our mall is very endeared to all of the citizens here and very upsetting that it is Cell into a desperate situation. And making another video of it maybe you can inspire people to come here and see the beauty and the potential of resurrecting it again 😩😫😫😫😢😭😢😢
@@kattrakee I always try and say good things about malls unless of course there is nothing good to say and I always try to support them with some business even if it’s to eat in the food court when I visit
@@TiltedTripodMedia That did not address my posting to you at all. I’m talking about this particular mall I’m not talking about your filming techniques. Do you have any thing to say regarding my last posting if not I will just give up and figure you don’t care even though you say you’re trying to make people aware of different malls and preserve their history, I wrote a lengthy posting or two to you regarding this and I get just one pat answer. Just never mind I guess that would be the best thing to do just never mind go on and do your filming and have a ball.There are just people in this world such as yourself which apparently see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear and that’s all. Good day to you.
What has our world become