This mall is in Merritt Island, FL, not Orlando. I worked here in the 80s at Mother's Records. It was a fun time to be a mall employee. The record store was the hangout along with the arcade and cookie company. I was there yesterday, and it is definitely circling the drain. Sad. The mall in the 80s and 90s was the place to hangout for teens. Sadly, all they want to do now is be on a device.
Problem is that very few people are searching for Merritt Island, or could even point it out on a map! SEO dictates how I have to describe things…Hope the mall persists though.
No worries. Health First is moving their hospital across the street from it, so there may be hope after all. Especially if they fill it with restaurants. @@DeadMallWalking
Lmao I work here, us employees give it about 3 or 4 years, it just keeps going down hill and there are a lot of issues going on behind the scene with the mall management and the tenents being at odds Also claires is gone
This mall used to be so busy. Holiday memories. Easter Bunny, Santa Claus. They plant beds and huge palm trees in huge pots. We reveled in the beauty of the mall. So bad and sad for my favorite mall. Good video.
Was just there this evening. Most of the west wing is vacant now and at least 6 more stores have closed since you filmed this video @deadmallwalking. A newish restaurant opened to take the place of Ruby Tuesday's on the north side (facing the main E-W thorofare-- 520) called "Margarita Island". It was quite good and fairly busy for a Monday eve. I, too, suspect bad management. Melbourne Square Mall, about 20 miles south is thriving with few vacancies. Keeping fingers crossed for Merritt's future🤞
It’s sad malls are closing. There’s a dead mall not too far away from me in SC called The Citadel Mall. My son attends a co-op class there. I really enjoyed checking out malls in the 80’s and 90’s.
This was my hometown mall. The skatepark across the street (paradise skatepark) closed down about 10 years ago. Our parents would drop us off all day and we would go back and forth between the mall and the park oh what a time 😅
I was wondering when good ole Merritt Square was going to be featured on a dead malls video. Like others commenting - this was the place to be in the 90s and even early 00s. We loved going to the Piccadilly (just outside of the food court area and next to the movie theater) - back when there was a smoking/nonsmoking section. In elementary school we would set up our science fair projects all up down the main halls, I have vivid memories of sitting outside JCPenney smelling the yummy pretzels from pretzel twister (located where that bath fitter was sitting) for hours. We’d get our family pictures done at Sears. And the eye doctor was in the mall too. See Santa there. I got my ears pierced at one of the venders set up in the center of the corridor. Every time I come home and drive past i wonder when they will decide to tear it down. My guess is that also with the boom of Viera through the late 00s and into today, a lot of folks inland who used to make the trek out to Merritt island no longer need to with all the new shops and options in viera/Melbourne area. Makes me sad to see what used to be such a vibrant area in such decline.
Oh my gosh! I found your channel because you found me... I love your work!! I'm a huge fan of this type of content, and I can tell you are too. I'm going to binge all of your content and scratch that Dead Mall void in my heart. *EDIT - I know this is Florida, but this looks as bleek as a lot of the malls in California. It's eerie how an empty food court is so cursed regardless of being in a "sunshine" state.
Well thanks so much for the kind words! And you're so right about these places looking similar, often because they're owned or operated by the same companies, so a lot of the blandification changes come down from corporate...
@@DeadMallWalking I love your terminology of Beige-ing Over. It’s like they’re trying to remove any identity, maybe it’s easier to remove that way if no one remembers the building.
You need to check out the Tallahassee "Center of Tallahassee Mall". I lived in Tallahassee for a few years around 2017, and it was dead back then, I can't imagine what it is now.
I don’t walk through the mall anymore, it’s too sad for me to see what happened to this place. I’ll park outside the JCPenny’s or Macy’s if I need to go into one of those stores. Back in 2013, you could see everyone walking around with friends, families, and pre-teens causing chaos in the food court.
Looking at the store fronts you recorded in this video, the following 7 businesses have since left the building: rue 21, Sid's Men's Shop, Garra Fish Spas, Merle Norman, Florida Homes & Loans, Claire's, Dakota Watches (Kiosk), and your favorite Bath Fitters display. The Ollie's Bargain Outlet you refer to, hasn't been there at least since 2021. There have been three new arrivals: 321 Exclusive Imports, a martial arts school, and a tiny foreign food market that attracts business from cruise ship employees that take a shuttle over from Port Canaveral.
Referring to the other mall Melbourne square, Melbourne square mall had an ace in the hole. That ace in the hole was the fact that it never had a Sears and hardly any mall that had a Sears close down ever had it be filled with another anchor store. Having a Sears is often the kiss of death for many malls and Melbourne square never had one. Melbourne Square also still has its fountain in the center square. As for Merritt square it’s likely where those massage chairs are in the center square there was once a fountain. I wish malls wouldn’t do that.
Love a mall fountain, always sad to see them get pulled out! I agree there’s a certain irony that anchor stores places once probably competed for ended up being a curse when it comes to vacant space.
When Merritt Square had a fountain, back in the 70's. It wasn't where the massage chairs were. It was at the end of the west side of the mall. However the mall was smaller then because the whole side that is now the west side didn't exist. It was added sometime in the early 80s. Where Macy's is was the west end of the mall and there was nothing further west. This particular mall couldn't fill the spot where Sears was because Sears actually owns that store and the retail space. They made a deal when the expansion went in. That store is actually their property.
I was just here during the weekend -- the occupancy seemed to be considerably lower than 50% from what I could tell, and there were quite a few older folks getting their daily walks in throughout the concourse (a common feature of dying malls in Florida)
Oh! Thank you for drawing that to my attention - I tried a few and they seemed to be working, but could you let me know what/which weren't working? I've actually updated equipment a bunch so will be changing them up soon anyway.
Ahh, that may be because some of the links use (supposedly…!) a geo-location tool to adjust the links based on where the viewer is. I’m for sure updating them soon anyway, but for now the products named next to the links are what I use/have used ☺️
This mall is in Merritt Island, FL, not Orlando. I worked here in the 80s at Mother's Records. It was a fun time to be a mall employee. The record store was the hangout along with the arcade and cookie company. I was there yesterday, and it is definitely circling the drain. Sad. The mall in the 80s and 90s was the place to hangout for teens. Sadly, all they want to do now is be on a device.
Problem is that very few people are searching for Merritt Island, or could even point it out on a map! SEO dictates how I have to describe things…Hope the mall persists though.
No worries. Health First is moving their hospital across the street from it, so there may be hope after all. Especially if they fill it with restaurants. @@DeadMallWalking
This place was so full in the late 90s
Lmao I work here, us employees give it about 3 or 4 years, it just keeps going down hill and there are a lot of issues going on behind the scene with the mall management and the tenents being at odds
Also claires is gone
I loved Claire’s. Such a cool store.
This mall used to be so busy. Holiday memories. Easter Bunny, Santa Claus. They plant beds and huge palm trees in huge pots. We reveled in the beauty of the mall. So bad and sad for my favorite mall. Good video.
Melbourne mall still going strong
That's good to hear! I didn't visit it on my trip, so I don't have any point of comparison.
Was just there this evening. Most of the west wing is vacant now and at least 6 more stores have closed since you filmed this video @deadmallwalking. A newish restaurant opened to take the place of Ruby Tuesday's on the north side (facing the main E-W thorofare-- 520) called "Margarita Island". It was quite good and fairly busy for a Monday eve.
I, too, suspect bad management. Melbourne Square Mall, about 20 miles south is thriving with few vacancies.
Keeping fingers crossed for Merritt's future🤞
It’s sad malls are closing. There’s a dead mall not too far away from me in SC called The Citadel Mall. My son attends a co-op class there. I really enjoyed checking out malls in the 80’s and 90’s.
Feeling like that doggy in the intro. Thanks for the video to brighten my day!
Safe to say we’ve all felt like the mall floor dog at one point or another 😌 You’re very welcome!
your videos oddly comfort me. i watch them at night to help me sleep
Thanks, I appreciate it! I hope not too many rowdy ads interrupt the video 😅
@@DeadMallWalking yeah i have youtube premium aha
This was my childhood mall and it used to be so full of life 😢
Seeing this mall in this state saddens me. I went there maybe 3 times in my life and those memories sure stuck in my brain.
This was my hometown mall. The skatepark across the street (paradise skatepark) closed down about 10 years ago. Our parents would drop us off all day and we would go back and forth between the mall and the park oh what a time 😅
I was wondering when good ole Merritt Square was going to be featured on a dead malls video.
Like others commenting - this was the place to be in the 90s and even early 00s. We loved going to the Piccadilly (just outside of the food court area and next to the movie theater) - back when there was a smoking/nonsmoking section. In elementary school we would set up our science fair projects all up down the main halls, I have vivid memories of sitting outside JCPenney smelling the yummy pretzels from pretzel twister (located where that bath fitter was sitting) for hours. We’d get our family pictures done at Sears. And the eye doctor was in the mall too. See Santa there. I got my ears pierced at one of the venders set up in the center of the corridor.
Every time I come home and drive past i wonder when they will decide to tear it down.
My guess is that also with the boom of Viera through the late 00s and into today, a lot of folks inland who used to make the trek out to Merritt island no longer need to with all the new shops and options in viera/Melbourne area.
Makes me sad to see what used to be such a vibrant area in such decline.
Oh my gosh! I found your channel because you found me... I love your work!! I'm a huge fan of this type of content, and I can tell you are too. I'm going to binge all of your content and scratch that Dead Mall void in my heart.
*EDIT - I know this is Florida, but this looks as bleek as a lot of the malls in California. It's eerie how an empty food court is so cursed regardless of being in a "sunshine" state.
Well thanks so much for the kind words! And you're so right about these places looking similar, often because they're owned or operated by the same companies, so a lot of the blandification changes come down from corporate...
@@DeadMallWalking I love your terminology of Beige-ing Over. It’s like they’re trying to remove any identity, maybe it’s easier to remove that way if no one remembers the building.
Can't wait to check this place out when I visit
Worth a visit, I'd say! I hope the sleepy dog is there for ya...haha.
Every time i come back here, it's more and more dead. Have lots of memories of this place so it's a little sad to see it like it is
Yeah, it definitely felt like it was struggling when I was there…not surprised things aren’t getting better!
We used to take Grandma and Grandpa to the Piccadilli at this mall every weekend back in the 70's.
You need to check out the Tallahassee "Center of Tallahassee Mall". I lived in Tallahassee for a few years around 2017, and it was dead back then, I can't imagine what it is now.
If you go south the Melbourne square Mall is still pretty busy but if you go further south to Vero the mall is worse than Merritt square
Clarie store close up in that mall
I don’t walk through the mall anymore, it’s too sad for me to see what happened to this place. I’ll park outside the JCPenny’s or Macy’s if I need to go into one of those stores. Back in 2013, you could see everyone walking around with friends, families, and pre-teens causing chaos in the food court.
There is a great Mexican restaurant there - Margarita Island - it’s where Ruby Tuesday used to be.
Looking at the store fronts you recorded in this video, the following 7 businesses have since left the building: rue 21, Sid's Men's Shop, Garra Fish Spas, Merle Norman, Florida Homes & Loans, Claire's, Dakota Watches (Kiosk), and your favorite Bath Fitters display. The Ollie's Bargain Outlet you refer to, hasn't been there at least since 2021. There have been three new arrivals: 321 Exclusive Imports, a martial arts school, and a tiny foreign food market that attracts business from cruise ship employees that take a shuttle over from Port Canaveral.
Where is the foreign food market? Thanks!
Great video!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed 😃
Referring to the other mall Melbourne square, Melbourne square mall had an ace in the hole. That ace in the hole was the fact that it never had a Sears and hardly any mall that had a Sears close down ever had it be filled with another anchor store. Having a Sears is often the kiss of death for many malls and Melbourne square never had one. Melbourne Square also still has its fountain in the center square.
As for Merritt square it’s likely where those massage chairs are in the center square there was once a fountain. I wish malls wouldn’t do that.
Love a mall fountain, always sad to see them get pulled out! I agree there’s a certain irony that anchor stores places once probably competed for ended up being a curse when it comes to vacant space.
Melbourne square actually no longer has the fountain but is still pretty busy
When Merritt Square had a fountain, back in the 70's. It wasn't where the massage chairs were. It was at the end of the west side of the mall. However the mall was smaller then because the whole side that is now the west side didn't exist. It was added sometime in the early 80s. Where Macy's is was the west end of the mall and there was nothing further west. This particular mall couldn't fill the spot where Sears was because Sears actually owns that store and the retail space. They made a deal when the expansion went in. That store is actually their property.
I was just here during the weekend -- the occupancy seemed to be considerably lower than 50% from what I could tell, and there were quite a few older folks getting their daily walks in throughout the concourse (a common feature of dying malls in Florida)
Looks like you went on a busy day 💀
I feel like most malls will die in this economy
Merritt Island Florida not Orlando
Yup, no shade to Merritt Island - just hopping on search traffic around Orlando malls.
Wow not a Toys R Us ! Cool
The entire mall will be closing by the end of year and replaced with an apartment complex.
Got a source on that or just a prediction?
Pop-up shops?
Cute doggy
Your affiliate links are not working as a heads up! Thanks for the video!
Oh! Thank you for drawing that to my attention - I tried a few and they seemed to be working, but could you let me know what/which weren't working? I've actually updated equipment a bunch so will be changing them up soon anyway.
@@DeadMallWalking honestly none of them worked for me! I was interested in what you used but nothing pulled up, just the amazon front page
Ahh, that may be because some of the links use (supposedly…!) a geo-location tool to adjust the links based on where the viewer is. I’m for sure updating them soon anyway, but for now the products named next to the links are what I use/have used ☺️