I practically grew up at Eastland Mall. I saw Star Wars across the street at The Beacon East Theatre in 1977. What I'm seeing here is a sad undead zombie Eastland.
I grew up in SCS and went to Regina HS when it was right behind Eastland... I was there almost every school day from 1979-1983. It was very different then... there was a pinball/arcade outside on the sw side of the mall. The lion/mouse was in the center of the mall back then (but I do remember it being outside when I was a very little girl). The “basement” was called the Concourse and it was fully occupied - it had a religious store called McDevitt’s (sp?) where my mom got me a statue of the BVM when I was confirmed (1979). I remember the auditorium being there but I never saw it used. I saw Bozo the clown live at the twin theatre, probably in 1971 or 1972. Thanks for the vid - I live in Montana now and I get home occasionally but I’m so busy with family stuff that I never have a chance to get over to Eastland. Sad to see it so empty- but times change. Malls emptied out Main Streets, now Amazon has emptied out the malls.
@@stephaniewagner6282 The Sander cafeteria was located downstairs but I think you could only get to it through the main part of the store upstairs... I don't think you could get to it through the Concourse. My mom ate so many hot fudge sundaes down there LoL. :)
I went to Notre Dame High at the same time, and I remember all that. The Concourse also had a restaurant my parents liked called The Lemontree, and also a coin/stamp collectors shop where I sold and bought coins. I also remember a shoe-repair shop there too.
Eastland Center did not become Eastland "Mall" (enclosed) until the mid-1970s. At that time, all of the original aesthetic continuity of Victor Gruen's original mid-century design was destroyed. As seen in the leading vintage footage, there were meticulously maintained blooming flowers, sculptures, & fountains (complete with lily pads & goldfish). On the downside, for several months of the year, the fountains were drained and flowerbeds laid fallow. Sadly, other than Marshall Fredick's "Lion & the Mouse", none of this was transferred inside after the remodel. Understandably, JL Hudson made their store the centerpiece (after all, they developed the center) but the original large tenants (including B. Siegel & Stouffer's restaurant) had consistent, complimentary architecture. Stouffer's was the epitome of the "rat--pack" 50s/60s vibe: vinyl booths, martinis, and steak-and-potatoes. The subsequent addition of multiple anchor department stores & the movie theaters were driven by competition from other surrounding malls, but this resulted in a visual hodge-podge, as each chain constructed their own respective building design. The enclosure was also motivated by competition , as well as practicality---given the Great Lakes climate. I was raised in East Detroit (Eastpointe) during the 1960s, a little over a mile away, and spent a good portion of my childhood at Eastland in its original iteration. I recall my mother taking me to the lower-level auditorium, where the public health department offered one of the routine childhood vaccinations. In addition to the auditorium & small retailers in the Concourse (McDevitt, Post Office, Hoffritz for Cutlery, Barber Shop, Tailor), there was also a series of hidden underground tunnels (Northland had these as well), which could be used as a alternative mode of servicing the buildings and also doubled as a bomb shelter (a common design feature in early Cold War public & private projects). In addition to Hudson's and the Concourse, there were a few other stores that had basement retail space. SS Kresge had an escalator down to a lower level, as well as Sanders, which had either a lunch counter or cafeteria downstairs. For a few years after its initial opening, there was a Kroger store on the southern side (Webber Dr) of the Center. What made it so unique is that the customer would purchase their groceries with the cashier and assigned an Ticket #. The packed bags were loaded onto a conveyor belt out to to the parking lot. A bag boy retrieved the order and placed it in the customer's open trunk. As a kid, I wanted my Mom to shop there all the time, being so enthralled with the technology . . .so "Jetsons"!
lbputzer wow thanks for all of this amazing history I grew up in Detroit but I wasn’t born until 1990 so although I did visit the small a few times throughout my childhood I don’t have a lot of memories of it my mom grew up in Detroit but in Southfield Michigan and remembers going to the mall several times but didn’t frequent she went to Northland mostly because she lived right across the Southfield Expressway from it. I really appreciate all the information and I miss living in Michigan
I can’t remember where Sanders was located. I was very young when we went to Stouffer’s for dinner. I remember my family dressed up to go there. And I was obsessed with the revolving door! I also remember a long red carpet leading to that door. Thanks for sharing your memories!
@@windermere2330 IIRC, Sanders was an L-shaped lot, with the main entrance in the main concourse and a second entrance in one of the corridors to that concourse, done in yellow and lime green. And Ibputzer has it right; there was also a downstairs lunch counter (though I don't recall an escalator, like there was for Kresge).
My late ex-husband and I loved going to Stouffer's for a special dinner once a month or so. Very sad to know it's going to be completely gone soon (I understand that it will be demolished later this year. If the downtown Hudson site is anything to judge by, something ugly will take its place.
@@harrietharlow9929 I believe the city of Harper Woods approved a plan for commercial warehousing to replace Eastland. While that certainly won't be as aesthetically attractive as the original shopping center, it is a practical proposal given the economic situation in that area--- which is enveloped by blight. The option will provide local jobs and replace the decay of the sad remnant of what was left of Eastland. That said, I share your strong feelings of nostalgia of what once was.
@@TiltedTripodMedia just another example of racism and bigotry dividing society. I can actually remember the first complaints of ‘Detroiters’ coming in to ‘our’ mall. Sorry… I don’t miss Grosse Pointe, even a little. This was a classic microcosm; exposing the soft underbelly of suburban racism.
Eastland was the place to be in the 80s and early 90s. I had a job at the Lemon Tree restaurant that was in the basement. The back door went into the tunnel.Ross music ,Musicland,Fanny Farmer,Hot Sam pretzels,, TheGap,Leather Loaft,KBS toys,Footlocker,Eastland arcade,Kresgies, McDonalds,Sanders,Hudsons, Pennys,Montgomery Wards,Sabarros Pizza and many more cool places to shop at in Eastland mall. Hanging with my friends and meeting girls didn't get any better. I miss my old hang -out.
Hey Matt great memories!! What happened to the Lemon Tree do you remember what year it closed and why it went out of business? Seems to me somewhere around 1990 it closed? It always seemed to be busy as could be and I was shocked when it closed. The barbers from the barber shop namely Ralph would always eat there.
I remember playing on the hippo and the lion and mouse when I was a young kid. Later on I worked at L.G. Haig shoes. Then I worked at Hudson's. I would get my shoes shined in the concourse (basement) by the coolest guy. He did a great job and was fun to talk with. I would get breakfast most mornings at the Coney Island. Van Dyke Clothiers and Next Door Shop had the best suits. Good times! I worked with lots of good people. Also worked at Northland Mall and did the Downtown Detroit Days with Hudson's. Miss the Detroit days.
It’s a very historic and significant statue to the people of metro Detroit and one of the best ever in a mall. Especially since most malls don’t have artwork. Too bad idiots have to break stuff
That’s soo cool I grew up on west side Livonia and canton my mom and grandparents were from Southfield across from northland. Sad that’s gone I miss it
I was obsessed with that statue! I used to try to climb the lions Afro but never could. I also loved that little gold mouse. That’s a very famous sculpture I forgot who did it though.
I remember when they enclosed Eastland Mall in 1975 and I got my first job at Hudson's Eastland. I worked in the Men's Sportswear Department on the first floor near a mall entrance. The Eastland Mall is like a ghost town or a Dead Mall. Even the Detroit city busses don't go into Eastland Mall anymore. I remember when Hudson's, J.C.Penney, Kresge's,Kroger, and they added a Montgomery Ward's, and also the Eastland Theater,and more of the Eastland Mall. P.S. Eastland Mall will become another Northland Mall in Southfield, Michigan. Northland Mall had been torn down, the Northland Mall had closed down permanently on April 15,2015. I just got the news that Northland Mall had been abandoned since April 15,2015.
I worked in the women's shoe department at Hudson's about that same time frame...also on the first floor. I remember a few names and faces. Good memories!
The "basement" was called the Concourse and when I was a kid (late 1960's early 1970's) it had a small post office, a barber shop and a small shop that sold stamps and coins. We used to walk to the mall from our house before it was enclosed. There was an S.S. Kresge store, a Cunningham Drugs and a Sanders shop too! Lunch upstairs at Hudson's was the bee's knee's back then!
Anthony do you remember the bathroom tile like area at the Hudson’s restaurant? I used to imagine there were alligators down there and would freak myself out!
Also at the restaurant if it was your birthday you could go to the treasure chest and pick out a prize! They would also give you a Mickey Mouse ice cream. Which is basically a scoop of vanilla ice cream with chocolate cookie ears, a little red cherry mouth, and I forget what they used for the eyes.
My mom grew up in Detroit and remembers when the small was built and went there with her mom. I’ve been going here ever since the 90s and yes it’s very sad to see it in the condition that it’s in and that it’s going to close come January
I added this Mall in my new book I'm writing. Just like I did with a certain fruit market that went under a few years ago in SCS, MI in my first title. Yeah, the fruit market may be out of business and Eastland looks like it's going that way, too but I don't care. It's a part of my childhood.
I’m hoping to get my first book published ASAP. Problem is trying to find a decent publisher that won’t screw me over. My first book has been done for awhile and my sequel is almost half way done.
“Wonderful city of Harper woods Michigan” I’m so sorry but I laughed way to hard at that. I’m from Saint Clair Shores and back in the day my parents almost bought in Harper woods back in 04
@@harrywisniewski5017 That was near the peak of the housing market. I waaay overpaid for my house. The prices crashed within a year and the 'hood moved in.
There's a massive storage area under the mall too, got to visit it when I worked for the Grosse Pointe Theatre in high school to pick up some set pieces for a play. Definitely a lot of good memories visiting KB toys when I was a kid!
I am not sure if this is the correct mall, possibly Oakland - but I remember a small dress shop that was geared towards upscale petite clothing, called Peter's. Any info tyi
I grew up with northland and my mom lived across the Southfield expressway watched it get built and the mall too. Yah I knew they saved it which is fantastic
@@TiltedTripodMedia I read that the Southfield Public Library (or somebody) purchased ten of the sculptures in that mall; I don't know where the others are located.
In Australia malls generally have at least one major supermarket chain as an anchor, one mall the Elizabeth City Centre ( Adelaide South Australia ) we visit frequently has 2 supermarkets and 2 major retail stores a Multiplex cinema and a 99% store occupancy rate.
wow thats cool. In the United States back int the 1950s we went through an economic boom many malls were built from 1950s all the way to the last one being built in 2006. none have been built since 2006 which is sad. Due to the popularity of online shopping and the fact that we have so many malls and they all are selling the same old same old boring products that are overpriced. This has lead to a mass die off and its sad. the metro Detroit area once had about 15 inclosed major malls. It's sad to see your childhood and history die just because the malls refuse to innovate to compete with amazon. I and many others would much rather go somewhere you can see the product or try on the clothes. If i had the $ and Knowledge to do so i would take an amazon wear house and sell all the items in a mall. kinda like an amazon mall. then i would implement alliexpress into a mall as well. Im glad the malls by you are still open because here in cincinnati ohio we only have one surviving mall and its so fancy i cant afford to buy anything there when the jeans are $100 and up. so heres hoping someone saves whats left of our historic malls and iff not at least. i will continue to preserve them through this channel
Just took a look at that mall online and it looks soo cool. It even has a Woolworths. My mom remembers them from her childhood and i think they are all gone in the states
It’s very sad. I still occasionally make trips from Cincinnati where I live now to Detroit and still enjoy visiting eastland and other area malls. Thanks for the comment
Easttland was not enclosed in 1957. I cant say when exactly the date was but I was born in 1965 and have memories of the mall being open and I also recall the enclosing. The year must have been in the late 60s to early 70's
I didn’t think it was originally enclosed however my mom who grew up when it was built didn’t remember it being open air. But to be fair she frequented northland as she lived next to it and only went to eastland a few times growing up. Thanks for sharing your memories and contributing to the history.
@@TiltedTripodMedia I too grew up in Michigan (Arenac County, Omer) and now live near Flint. Fond memories going to the Bay city mall which is now essentially abandoned and the Saginaw mall which is having hardships now too. Keep at it man. Youre doing a great service for history for real
As long as I can afford to I will continue documenting as many malls as I can. I’ve started my patreon to help with my goal to never stop preserving history. I love the 3 malls in the Saginaw area and have fond memories. I need to go document them. How endangered are they? Are they going to close any day soon. Last I visited them was around 2010-2012
They just need to be reinvented renewed and new life given as a-lot of people would sill rather shop at them than online. so my goal is to record or capture a piece of history before its gone. that way when future generations ask what a mall is they can see one
Straight to "Nice Girl Like You" in Hudsons.. Always cutting edge. Sad about the mouse getting broken and Stolen from the Lion- I haven't been there since they took my favorite parking area and made it "valet"-- um no- forget it.. Malls are Dying.. my 'new favorite' Elder Beerman and Penny's closing just Killed Adrian Mall.. :(
I grew up going to this mall. When there was a theater, huge food court, book store. KB toys, everything. Then ignorant and dirty people came to ruin it.
i lived in Hazel Park/Ferndale area for two years and had a boss that worked in this mall previously. he made it seem like a bad place. looks like a normal mall to me.
Parents grew up with this mall and always tell me how it was. I’m just glad it’s still here and I do remember it back when it had all of its anchors and stores late 90s into the 2000s
MJAdetroit I’m very familiar with this place growing up in the west suburbs of Detroit and my parents and grandparents lived in Southfield when the mall was built so they have fond memories of it I miss Hudsons a lot
Great video. I grew up on Detroit's eastside near Grosse Pointe, and went to Eastland a lot in the 1990s when I was a teenager. It was so different back then. There used to be two movie theaters that were part of the mall - one in the mall, and another in the outlot, near where Lowe's is now. We would go to the indoor one a lot and never got carded for rated R movies lol. The food court used to be on the other end of the mall (near where K&G is now), and there was an A&W, Arthur Treacher's, I think a Chinese restaurant, and several other food places, and there was an Olga's elsewhere in the mall, I think near Hudson's (later Marshall Fields/Macy's/empty) that was a full-on restaurant. Where the food court is now used to be a number of retailers, including Sam Goody, if I recall correctly. The stores now are almost totally different than what I remember being there when I grew up, with the exception of the Otto's. It looks to be in the exact same spot as 25 or so years ago, and looks the exact same too. My friends and I would love to go to get caramel corn to munch on while hanging out. I don't remember there being a ton of stores in the basement, even in the '90s, but the layout is exactly how I remember it. I think I remember a post office and that tailor might have been there back then too, but don't quote me on that. The only reason I would go down there was that there was an ATM down there, near where the doors to the auditorium are located. Funny thing is, I didn't realize that was an auditorium, so I learned something new! Sad to see malls like this dying out :(. But I do enjoy dead mall videos, and it's surreal to see one on a mall I have firsthand memories of.
Thanks for the memories. My mom grew up in Southfield mi in the 60s and remembers going to northland across from her house and occasionally eastland. I grew up in the 90s and 2000’s and loved going to these malls they had a great urban feel. I grew up in Livonia and canton mi so I mostly went to Westland twelve oaks and briarwood
In the 1970s/1980s the downstairs concourse had a post office, beauty shop valled Artiste, barber shop, coin shop, McDevitts card shop, and the Lemon Tree restaurant.
It was a big boys an cinnabon place and a lil ceasers. A Coney Island. I remember telling the guy to put my chili fries in a white container because I get more fries, and from that point on he added that other box which cheated me of fries. Kaybee toystore and I think a toysrus
It's possible it was a bomb shelter. My mom grew up going to this mall and has been going ever since it opened. I asked her since i've only been going to it since the early 2000's. She said it's always been an auditorium and doesn't recall it being a bomb shelter. A bomb shelter would be a cool use though.
The auditorium is actually just two meeting rooms. My Mom used to work at Eastland from 1975/1993, and they held things such as Weight Watchers meetings...etc down there.
Yeah I’m working on not reading Wikipedia in future videos. However I can’t think of a dead mall video that hasn’t used Wikipedia for their facts it’s hard to find info on some of these malls and when u are spitting out facts it kinda seems like Wikipedia even if u don’t read it word for word. Anyway I appreciate the criticism👍 it helps me improve my videos
He did fine. If you’re not familiar with the mall how else are you gonna know anything about it? At least he was kind enough to do a video tour. I have not been to Eastland in over 20 years!
Lot's of good memories but Harper Woods has just gone to shit. I don't blame people for not coming here anymore. Nobody wants to deal with all the thugs.
I practically grew up at Eastland Mall. I saw Star Wars across the street at The Beacon East Theatre in 1977. What I'm seeing here is a sad undead zombie Eastland.
I wish it wouldn’t die
I grew up in SCS and went to Regina HS when it was right behind Eastland... I was there almost every school day from 1979-1983. It was very different then... there was a pinball/arcade outside on the sw side of the mall. The lion/mouse was in the center of the mall back then (but I do remember it being outside when I was a very little girl). The “basement” was called the Concourse and it was fully occupied - it had a religious store called McDevitt’s (sp?) where my mom got me a statue of the BVM when I was confirmed (1979). I remember the auditorium being there but I never saw it used. I saw Bozo the clown live at the twin theatre, probably in 1971 or 1972.
Thanks for the vid - I live in Montana now and I get home occasionally but I’m so busy with family stuff that I never have a chance to get over to Eastland. Sad to see it so empty- but times change. Malls emptied out Main Streets, now Amazon has emptied out the malls.
Thanks for the comment I'm so glad you took time to share the history and memories you have growing up with this mall
Pinball Palace
Wasn’t there a large Sanders located in the lower level as well?
@@stephaniewagner6282 The Sander cafeteria was located downstairs but I think you could only get to it through the main part of the store upstairs... I don't think you could get to it through the Concourse. My mom ate so many hot fudge sundaes down there LoL. :)
I went to Notre Dame High at the same time, and I remember all that. The Concourse also had a restaurant my parents liked called The Lemontree, and also a coin/stamp collectors shop where I sold and bought coins. I also remember a shoe-repair shop there too.
Eastland Center did not become Eastland "Mall" (enclosed) until the mid-1970s. At that time, all of the original aesthetic continuity of Victor Gruen's original mid-century design was destroyed. As seen in the leading vintage footage, there were meticulously maintained blooming flowers, sculptures, & fountains (complete with lily pads & goldfish). On the downside, for several months of the year, the fountains were drained and flowerbeds laid fallow. Sadly, other than Marshall Fredick's "Lion & the Mouse", none of this was transferred inside after the remodel. Understandably, JL Hudson made their store the centerpiece (after all, they developed the center) but the original large tenants (including B. Siegel & Stouffer's restaurant) had consistent, complimentary architecture. Stouffer's was the epitome of the "rat--pack" 50s/60s vibe: vinyl booths, martinis, and steak-and-potatoes.
The subsequent addition of multiple anchor department stores & the movie theaters were driven by competition from other surrounding malls, but this resulted in a visual hodge-podge, as each chain constructed their own respective building design. The enclosure was also motivated by competition , as well as practicality---given the Great Lakes climate.
I was raised in East Detroit (Eastpointe) during the 1960s, a little over a mile away, and spent a good portion of my childhood at Eastland in its original iteration. I recall my mother taking me to the lower-level auditorium, where the public health department offered one of the routine childhood vaccinations. In addition to the auditorium & small retailers in the Concourse (McDevitt, Post Office, Hoffritz for Cutlery, Barber Shop, Tailor), there was also a series of hidden underground tunnels (Northland had these as well), which could be used as a alternative mode of servicing the buildings and also doubled as a bomb shelter (a common design feature in early Cold War public & private projects).
In addition to Hudson's and the Concourse, there were a few other stores that had basement retail space. SS Kresge had an escalator down to a lower level, as well as Sanders, which had either a lunch counter or cafeteria downstairs. For a few years after its initial opening, there was a Kroger store on the southern side (Webber Dr) of the Center. What made it so unique is that the customer would purchase their groceries with the cashier and assigned an Ticket #. The packed bags were loaded onto a conveyor belt out to to the parking lot. A bag boy retrieved the order and placed it in the customer's open trunk. As a kid, I wanted my Mom to shop there all the time, being so enthralled with the technology . . .so "Jetsons"!
lbputzer wow thanks for all of this amazing history I grew up in Detroit but I wasn’t born until 1990 so although I did visit the small a few times throughout my childhood I don’t have a lot of memories of it my mom grew up in Detroit but in Southfield Michigan and remembers going to the mall several times but didn’t frequent she went to Northland mostly because she lived right across the Southfield Expressway from it. I really appreciate all the information and I miss living in Michigan
I can’t remember where Sanders was located. I was very young when we went to Stouffer’s for dinner. I remember my family dressed up to go there. And I was obsessed with the revolving door! I also remember a long red carpet leading to that door. Thanks for sharing your memories!
@@windermere2330 IIRC, Sanders was an L-shaped lot, with the main entrance in the main concourse and a second entrance in one of the corridors to that concourse, done in yellow and lime green. And Ibputzer has it right; there was also a downstairs lunch counter (though I don't recall an escalator, like there was for Kresge).
My late ex-husband and I loved going to Stouffer's for a special dinner once a month or so. Very sad to know it's going to be completely gone soon (I understand that it will be demolished later this year. If the downtown Hudson site is anything to judge by, something ugly will take its place.
@@harrietharlow9929 I believe the city of Harper Woods approved a plan for commercial warehousing to replace Eastland. While that certainly won't be as aesthetically attractive as the original shopping center, it is a practical proposal given the economic situation in that area--- which is enveloped by blight. The option will provide local jobs and replace the decay of the sad remnant of what was left of Eastland. That said, I share your strong feelings of nostalgia of what once was.
Being torn down as we speak.
So many memories.
Thanks for the video.
That’s so sad
@@TiltedTripodMedia just another example of racism and bigotry dividing society. I can actually remember the first complaints of ‘Detroiters’ coming in to ‘our’ mall. Sorry… I don’t miss Grosse Pointe, even a little. This was a classic microcosm; exposing the soft underbelly of suburban racism.
Eastland is currently being demolished. I have a lot of memories there.
So does my entire family
Eastland was the place to be in the 80s and early 90s. I had a job at the Lemon Tree restaurant that was in the basement. The back door went into the tunnel.Ross music ,Musicland,Fanny Farmer,Hot Sam pretzels,, TheGap,Leather Loaft,KBS toys,Footlocker,Eastland arcade,Kresgies, McDonalds,Sanders,Hudsons, Pennys,Montgomery Wards,Sabarros Pizza and many more cool places to shop at in Eastland mall. Hanging with my friends and meeting girls didn't get any better. I miss my old hang -out.
It was a great place my family remembers all of that
Hey Matt great memories!! What happened to the Lemon Tree do you remember what year it closed and why it went out of business? Seems to me somewhere around 1990 it closed? It always seemed to be busy as could be and I was shocked when it closed. The barbers from the barber shop namely Ralph would always eat there.
I remember playing on the hippo and the lion and mouse when I was a young kid. Later on I worked at L.G. Haig shoes. Then I worked at Hudson's. I would get my shoes shined in the concourse (basement) by the coolest guy. He did a great job and was fun to talk with. I would get breakfast most mornings at the Coney Island. Van Dyke Clothiers and Next Door Shop had the best suits. Good times! I worked with lots of good people. Also worked at Northland Mall and did the Downtown Detroit Days with Hudson's. Miss the Detroit days.
Wow that’s amazing. I was born too late ugh
There was a small post office in the basement
That’s pretty cool. I love malls with basements. It’s something that’s not common. I need to revisit this mall again
And there was a small little escalator to get down there.
Stamp collector’s store. Was this connected to Hudson’s basement where the restaurant was? I can’t remember
Lion and Mouse statue is best statue ever!
It’s a very historic and significant statue to the people of metro Detroit and one of the best ever in a mall. Especially since most malls don’t have artwork. Too bad idiots have to break stuff
Don't have to tell me how important it is, I grew up in East Detroit. 😆 Eastpointe Represent! 🍀
That’s soo cool I grew up on west side Livonia and canton my mom and grandparents were from Southfield across from northland. Sad that’s gone I miss it
I don’t live in Detroit anymore 😢 and didn’t make it back to see northland and film it
I was obsessed with that statue! I used to try to climb the lions Afro but never could. I also loved that little gold mouse. That’s a very famous sculpture I forgot who did it though.
I remember when they enclosed Eastland Mall in 1975 and I got my first job at Hudson's Eastland. I worked in the Men's Sportswear Department on the first floor near a mall entrance.
The Eastland Mall is like a ghost town or a Dead Mall. Even the Detroit city busses don't go into Eastland Mall anymore.
I remember when Hudson's, J.C.Penney, Kresge's,Kroger, and they added a Montgomery Ward's, and also the Eastland Theater,and more of the Eastland Mall.
P.S.
Eastland Mall will become another Northland Mall in Southfield, Michigan.
Northland Mall had been torn down, the Northland Mall had closed down permanently on April 15,2015.
I just got the news that Northland Mall had been abandoned since April 15,2015.
That is cool it must have been amazing to see
I worked in the women's shoe department at Hudson's about that same time frame...also on the first floor. I remember a few names and faces. Good memories!
Yes my family has a long history with northland mall unfortunately I was living in Texas when it closed so I didn’t get to see it one last time
The Eastland Mall in Harper Woods, Michigan. The Eastland Mall is now Closed Permanently. It is suppose to be Demolished sometime in 2022.
The "basement" was called the Concourse and when I was a kid (late 1960's early 1970's) it had a small post office, a barber shop and a small shop that sold stamps and coins. We used to walk to the mall from our house before it was enclosed. There was an S.S. Kresge store, a Cunningham Drugs and a Sanders shop too! Lunch upstairs at Hudson's was the bee's knee's back then!
My mom grew up then and remembers East land but northland was across from where she grew up. I remember eating in the Hudson cafe
Anthony do you remember the bathroom tile like area at the Hudson’s restaurant? I used to imagine there were alligators down there and would freak myself out!
Also at the restaurant if it was your birthday you could go to the treasure chest and pick out a prize! They would also give you a Mickey Mouse ice cream. Which is basically a scoop of vanilla ice cream with chocolate cookie ears, a little red cherry mouth, and I forget what they used for the eyes.
@@windermere2330 that's amazing reminds me of family buggy if you remember that omg the big bear and the bean soup mmmmm
@@windermere2330 ok that's weird lol
Place is a war zone now. I grew up in this mall in the 80's . I'm surprised the palm trees have been stolen.
My mom grew up in Detroit and remembers when the small was built and went there with her mom. I’ve been going here ever since the 90s and yes it’s very sad to see it in the condition that it’s in and that it’s going to close come January
I added this Mall in my new book I'm writing. Just like I did with a certain fruit market that went under a few years ago in SCS, MI in my first title. Yeah, the fruit market may be out of business and Eastland looks like it's going that way, too but I don't care. It's a part of my childhood.
That’s cool. I grew up on the other side of town but remember going a few times during my childhood in the 90s 2000s. Congrats on the book
Love to read your book. When and where can people get a copy?
I’m hoping to get my first book published ASAP. Problem is trying to find a decent publisher that won’t screw me over. My first book has been done for awhile and my sequel is almost half way done.
Palm trees have to be the absolute jump-the-shark moment for all malls everywhere!
Not quite sure what you mean by that
“Wonderful city of Harper woods Michigan” I’m so sorry but I laughed way to hard at that. I’m from Saint Clair Shores and back in the day my parents almost bought in Harper woods back in 04
Sorry I like Michigan grew up in canton and Livonia
Harper Woods was great in the 70s and 80s!
I made that exact same mistake. Bought my home in HW in '04 and have overseen a steady decline since.
@@adamv242 my parents almost bought a house there in 03 but actually couldn’t afford the area
@@harrywisniewski5017 That was near the peak of the housing market. I waaay overpaid for my house. The prices crashed within a year and the 'hood moved in.
There's a massive storage area under the mall too, got to visit it when I worked for the Grosse Pointe Theatre in high school to pick up some set pieces for a play. Definitely a lot of good memories visiting KB toys when I was a kid!
My mom remembers all of that as she was around when it was built. So many memories here.
THEY HAVE A VERY NICE RETAURANT TOO. ON THE SECOND FLOOR. MACYS WAS MY PLACE TO SHOP.
I agree
I am not sure if this is the correct mall, possibly Oakland - but I remember a small dress shop that was geared towards upscale petite clothing, called Peter's. Any info tyi
Sorry I don’t recall a shop with that name. I asked my mom who grew up going to east land the day it was built and she didn’t recall that store
If you want to see the sculpture inside the Northland mall, visit the Southfield, Michigan public library. It has been rehomed there.
I grew up with northland and my mom lived across the Southfield expressway watched it get built and the mall too. Yah I knew they saved it which is fantastic
@@TiltedTripodMedia I read that the Southfield Public Library (or somebody) purchased ten of the sculptures in that mall; I don't know where the others are located.
In Australia malls generally have at least one major supermarket chain as an anchor, one mall the Elizabeth City Centre ( Adelaide South Australia ) we visit frequently has 2 supermarkets and 2 major retail stores a Multiplex cinema and a 99% store occupancy rate.
wow thats cool. In the United States back int the 1950s we went through an economic boom many malls were built from 1950s all the way to the last one being built in 2006. none have been built since 2006 which is sad. Due to the popularity of online shopping and the fact that we have so many malls and they all are selling the same old same old boring products that are overpriced. This has lead to a mass die off and its sad. the metro Detroit area once had about 15 inclosed major malls. It's sad to see your childhood and history die just because the malls refuse to innovate to compete with amazon. I and many others would much rather go somewhere you can see the product or try on the clothes. If i had the $ and Knowledge to do so i would take an amazon wear house and sell all the items in a mall. kinda like an amazon mall. then i would implement alliexpress into a mall as well. Im glad the malls by you are still open because here in cincinnati ohio we only have one surviving mall and its so fancy i cant afford to buy anything there when the jeans are $100 and up. so heres hoping someone saves whats left of our historic malls and iff not at least. i will continue to preserve them through this channel
Just took a look at that mall online and it looks soo cool. It even has a Woolworths. My mom remembers them from her childhood and i think they are all gone in the states
Awesome. I grew up in the area as well. It’s sad but I think Eastland’s days are numbered.
It’s very sad. I still occasionally make trips from Cincinnati where I live now to Detroit and still enjoy visiting eastland and other area malls. Thanks for the comment
I agree Eastland won’t last much longer and will be replaced by something stupid and useless
It's being demolished right now.😔
I grew up going to Eastland in the 1980s
@@VictoryBraxton awesome glad you could experience it.
Easttland was not enclosed in 1957. I cant say when exactly the date was but I was born in 1965 and have memories of the mall being open and I also recall the enclosing. The year must have been in the late 60s to early 70's
I didn’t think it was originally enclosed however my mom who grew up when it was built didn’t remember it being open air. But to be fair she frequented northland as she lived next to it and only went to eastland a few times growing up. Thanks for sharing your memories and contributing to the history.
I believe Eastland was enclosed 1973/74.
That sounds about right
Why would the developers think an open air mall would be a good idea with the Michigan winters?
I had 2 jobs at this mall: Waldenbooks and Kohls. Thank god I evolved past working retail!
You’re very lucky because lots of us are unable to evolve past retail and get anything better
@@TiltedTripodMedia It's a supreme struggle, but worth it. Good luck to you.
@@blipblip88 thanks
Those basement areas are cool. Very unique. Gonna have to check this place out. Oakland Mall is also interesting
Plague grew up going to all the malls in Michigan but I have yet to film them all which is a goal of mine
@@TiltedTripodMedia I too grew up in Michigan (Arenac County, Omer) and now live near Flint. Fond memories going to the Bay city mall which is now essentially abandoned and the Saginaw mall which is having hardships now too. Keep at it man. Youre doing a great service for history for real
As long as I can afford to I will continue documenting as many malls as I can. I’ve started my patreon to help with my goal to never stop preserving history. I love the 3 malls in the Saginaw area and have fond memories. I need to go document them. How endangered are they? Are they going to close any day soon. Last I visited them was around 2010-2012
Thats a really cool place! Sad that malls are dying though
They just need to be reinvented renewed and new life given as a-lot of people would sill rather shop at them than online. so my goal is to record or capture a piece of history before its gone. that way when future generations ask what a mall is they can see one
@@TiltedTripodMedia I totally agree with you. I feel much the same way as Nate Wikoff, for me Eastland mall was the place, I'd take my mom shopping.
This is going to sound weird but does anyone remember when they had penguins in the fountain for a short time. Had to be late sixties
My mom might as she went to this mall back then
Straight to "Nice Girl Like You" in Hudsons.. Always cutting edge. Sad about the mouse getting broken and Stolen from the Lion-
I haven't been there since they took my favorite parking area and made it "valet"-- um no- forget it..
Malls are Dying.. my 'new favorite' Elder Beerman and Penny's closing just Killed Adrian Mall.. :(
I filmed the Adrian mall. I grew up in canton and Livonia Michigan. My mom grew up going to east land
I always liked the shoe department at Hudson’s. They were always so nice and measured your foot. Very pleasant service.
They built buildings I guess it’s going going to be plants/warehouses
So dumb what a waste.
Why is the eastland center closing its stores
Same reason every other mall is dying. This mall is now permanently closed and being demolished
I know some courtland center
Eastland center
Shopping town mall
Eastridge commons
Dort mall
I grew up going to this mall. When there was a theater, huge food court, book store. KB toys, everything. Then ignorant and dirty people came to ruin it.
Godislove I grew up in the west suburbs but visited the mall many times
Tidewater Grill, y'all. Where else could a pleb like me order swordfish.
Sounds amazing
Blackened swordfish for me! And those dinner rolls? Yum! Across 8 mile was Eastside Charlie’s which was also very good.
@@windermere2330 Ive never been there but my mom has I believe
i lived in Hazel Park/Ferndale area for two years and had a boss that worked in this mall previously. he made it seem like a bad place. looks like a normal mall to me.
It’s really not bad
Great video, but it’s lost the magic now... nothing like it use to be x so sad 😞
Parents grew up with this mall and always tell me how it was. I’m just glad it’s still here and I do remember it back when it had all of its anchors and stores late 90s into the 2000s
MJAdetroit I’m very familiar with this place growing up in the west suburbs of Detroit and my parents and grandparents lived in Southfield when the mall was built so they have fond memories of it I miss Hudsons a lot
Great video. I grew up on Detroit's eastside near Grosse Pointe, and went to Eastland a lot in the 1990s when I was a teenager. It was so different back then.
There used to be two movie theaters that were part of the mall - one in the mall, and another in the outlot, near where Lowe's is now. We would go to the indoor one a lot and never got carded for rated R movies lol.
The food court used to be on the other end of the mall (near where K&G is now), and there was an A&W, Arthur Treacher's, I think a Chinese restaurant, and several other food places, and there was an Olga's elsewhere in the mall, I think near Hudson's (later Marshall Fields/Macy's/empty) that was a full-on restaurant. Where the food court is now used to be a number of retailers, including Sam Goody, if I recall correctly. The stores now are almost totally different than what I remember being there when I grew up, with the exception of the Otto's. It looks to be in the exact same spot as 25 or so years ago, and looks the exact same too. My friends and I would love to go to get caramel corn to munch on while hanging out.
I don't remember there being a ton of stores in the basement, even in the '90s, but the layout is exactly how I remember it. I think I remember a post office and that tailor might have been there back then too, but don't quote me on that. The only reason I would go down there was that there was an ATM down there, near where the doors to the auditorium are located. Funny thing is, I didn't realize that was an auditorium, so I learned something new!
Sad to see malls like this dying out :(. But I do enjoy dead mall videos, and it's surreal to see one on a mall I have firsthand memories of.
Thanks for the memories. My mom grew up in Southfield mi in the 60s and remembers going to northland across from her house and occasionally eastland. I grew up in the 90s and 2000’s and loved going to these malls they had a great urban feel. I grew up in Livonia and canton mi so I mostly went to Westland twelve oaks and briarwood
In the 1970s/1980s the downstairs concourse had a post office, beauty shop valled Artiste, barber shop, coin shop, McDevitts card shop, and the Lemon Tree restaurant.
It was a big boys an cinnabon place and a lil ceasers. A Coney Island. I remember telling the guy to put my chili fries in a white container because I get more fries, and from that point on he added that other box which cheated me of fries. Kaybee toystore and I think a toysrus
The restaurant would have been cool
Thanks for the info. I need to go back and film it again. Omg my skills are so much better now. Well and I grew up visiting this mall
Auditorium or bomb shelter ?
It's possible it was a bomb shelter. My mom grew up going to this mall and has been going ever since it opened. I asked her since i've only been going to it since the early 2000's. She said it's always been an auditorium and doesn't recall it being a bomb shelter. A bomb shelter would be a cool use though.
Also thanks for the comment. You are the first non family or friend to leave a comment.
The auditorium is actually just two meeting rooms. My Mom used to work at Eastland from 1975/1993, and they held things such as Weight Watchers meetings...etc down there.
Also that area could be very helpful in case of tornado! I only remember Hudson’s having a basement.
And 1990s 2000s😊
Eathland.
Ummmm I don’t get it
@@TiltedTripodMedia now you get it ;-)
@@redefv OK LOL :)
You literally just read the Wiki to us. Thanks🙄
Yeah I’m working on not reading Wikipedia in future videos. However I can’t think of a dead mall video that hasn’t used Wikipedia for their facts it’s hard to find info on some of these malls and when u are spitting out facts it kinda seems like Wikipedia even if u don’t read it word for word. Anyway I appreciate the criticism👍 it helps me improve my videos
He did fine. If you’re not familiar with the mall how else are you gonna know anything about it? At least he was kind enough to do a video tour. I have not been to Eastland in over 20 years!
Lot's of good memories but Harper Woods has just gone to shit. I don't blame people for not coming here anymore. Nobody wants to deal with all the thugs.
I agree as I grew up in the Detroit area