Whenever I see an almost empty mall I use my imagination and think of all the stores being filled, I think of what they may have been, I think of crowds of people of all ages but especially teens bustling around; I let my imagination fill in the blanks. It's great that you are documenting what is left of these places, the videos are archives of them before they are gone. You do a great job with the videos. Thanks
i remember during christmas when the mall would be full of kids waiting to take a photo with santa. the photo of me and my siblings with santa is still on my dad's refrigerator door. it's sad to see how the mall only has one store open now. i hope something will come of the space one day.
I was the manager of the GNC store in that mall back in the mid 90's. It used to get really crowded on the weekends. The GNC store was right across from the red and white (now closed) store that used to be Chick-Fil-A. It was in between Wooten's Jewelers and that old record store. Back in the mid 90's, pro wrestling was HUGE and WCW was still running. When they would sell tickets to a WCW wrestling event, the people would like up literally all around the inside of the mall to get tickets to WCW events in Charlotte. They also did this to get concert tickets when popular bands would come to town. That record store was the place to get all your event tickets in this town. Even though the food choices there were very limited (Chick-Fil-A and IHOP), they were pretty good places to eat. Even though the mall was still crowded back then and most of the stores seemed to be doing pretty well, there were already rumors that it might close someday (soon). Truth be told, I'm surprised it's lasted this long. I definitely saw the writing on the wall with GNC. I had just gotten a PC and gotten on the internet when I was working there, and it didn't take me long to find out that there were dietary supplement sellers online that were selling protein powders and vitamins for HALF what we were selling them for at GNC. That was a lot of the reason I left there - I knew it couldn't last. It's also a whole lot cheaper to run an online biz out of a cheap warehouse (or basement!) than to pay uber-expensive mall rent, and it looks like that's what everything is trending towards. But it was good to see the old mall again, even if for the last time before they tear it down. It's really a shame to see the old malls being torn down. I used to really enjoy them when I was younger.
I worked at armada music in that mall in my late teens and I went there since I was 3 or probably younger. That circular doorway was a shop called tunes and my buddies dad owned it. Looking back to childhood there was a kb toys, a pet store, a shoe store, a dollar store that was awesome, I ate at the IHOP all the time burgers were all I ever ate there for some reason. The place in the middle had wooden seats in the middle and I don't ever remember a chick FIL a there ever. I remember the wish fountain and things like that. I remember up front with the jewelry stores there being a computer store and playing the computer games on one. Being my childhood town in the summer that's all I ever went to with my cousins and friends. It's a shame it's all gone basically.
Old Hickory Farms to the left of Belk. We had one in an old mall in Greenville, SC. My little brother and I used to go in there and eat up all the samples 😁. Happy memories of the McAllister Square Mall. First Chick Fil A in our area.
It is like stepping back in Time when you showed us inside this mall, this mall should be saved for sure would be sad to see it go. I haven't seen a Radio Shack sign in like forever wow. Thanks for taking us along.
Very nicely done documentary. I sure miss my days at the arcades and the food courts. I guess we'll all be working for Amazon packing and deliver stuff to each other.
That fountain is really neat; one of the things i find comforting about malls is listening to the sound of a fountain. It's a shame this mall is struggling.
I live about 5 minutes away from this mall. This video really made me appreciate it. Had my birthday party here in the 90s in the "barn structured" room next to Radio Shack (cannot remember what it was called) and used to get ice cream by the fountain. I hope they do not tear it down. I'm going to have to visit it before it's gone.
This is place is so nostalgic for me personally I remember going here frequently in my early childhood I want to go there again I still pass on the way to school I hate the thought of it being torn down at some point
I wish I could magically scoop all these malls up and hoard them somewhere to enjoy anytime at my leisure. The closest I can get to that would be these videos.
I used to go here frequently in the 00's. There was a bookstore down toward the south end of it that I used to frequent and I still have a number of books in my collection from there. Both my wife and I used to get our hair cut at the salon place that was across from the IHOP, and when our daughter was really little, we got a picture of her with the Easter Bunny in that mall that we love. It's sad to see it dying, the parking lot used to be so full all of the time. But that's how these things work.. same as with the Blockbuster video that used to be across the street. I wish I could visit it again, but we moved away from the area long ago.
Wow this quite a gem to catch 💎, so glad you got their to share with us. Seeing the vintage store fronts and some label scars helps fill in the memory bubbles of other old malls I’m starting to have fuzzy memories of
I grew up here and this mall was my playground. My grandmother worked at JC Penny until she retired. My grandfather worked at the book store. My brother worked at the sears. I lost my first tooth in that bath and body works. I sat in that ihop countless times with my grandparents. There are tons of pictures of me in this mall with my friends when we did a fundraiser there for my elementary school. Hard to believe, but this mall use to be so lively.
I can imagine how nice it was. I tried finding old photos of the mall and even though I came across several from around 2012, I had trouble finding good ones prior to that year. I wanted to see how full of life this place was.
I'd have to go search for it, but there is another video of this mall on RUclips that includes a clip taking during its heyday in the early 1990s. I grew up about halfway between Statesville and Charlotte, and I remember visiting this mall during that era. BTW that red tile on the wall on the left when he talks about the old platform is where the Chic-fil-a used to be.
6:35 Are those holes lights that had to be pushed out of the ceiling? The roof damage is pretty bad, and needs to be replaced. Looking inside Bath & Body Works, the roof in there was very damaged.
I was going to malls as far back as the 1980s I'm 45 now, the malls are a getting to look like a sore eyes nothing to do in them anymore. There completely dead.
I grew up going to this mall. I took my son to this mall while he was growing up. I worked at the Sears in the office for years. So many good memories of this place. I hate to see it dead like this. The mall is for sale now. I know it will be demolished and that breaks my heart. 💔
As of this date IHOP is no longer there as well as the Bath and Body Works did move successfully as well. I hate to see this mall go down over the years. We now all go to Mooresville and beyond to Charlotte for Our shopping needs.
Do not know if you will be in SC anytime soon but you should visit Anderson Mall in Anderson, SC and Greenwood Mall in Greenwood, SC. Greenwood Mall opened as the 316,000 Cross Creek Mall in 1979 and was built by Jim Wilson and Associates. It started with 2 major anchors (Gallant Belk and JC Penney) and 2 ancillary anchors (Meyers-Arnold and Wilson's Showroom). This mall never had an expansion and was purchased by Hull Storey Gibson in the early 2000's. Hull Storey Gibson would then do the only ever renovations in 2002. This mall still has some of its original design features left, including their detailed gardens near the entrance of JC Penney and Belk. Wilson's became Service Merchandise in 1985 and Meyers-Arnold became Upton's a couple of years later. The whole Upton's chain closed in 1999 and Service Merchandise went bankrupt in 2002 so the locations at the mall closed, along with all the other store's of both of those chains. Layer on in the 2000's, the Upton's space was redeveloped into TJ Maxx, Michael's, and Shoe Department Encore. However, the Service Meechandise space, due to being at the back of the mall, did not become retail. It ended up becoming a Sykes call center but that closed in 2018. However, in 2020, it was announced that Dynata as going to put a call center in that space. Chick-fil-a, who had a location in the mall for a long time, also ended up moving out of the mall and to an outparcel in front of the mall. The JC Penney closed in July of 2019 and has not had a new tenant in it since. The Michael's store closed in January of 2021 due to underperformance. The only anchors left are Belk and TJ Maxx. There is 12 tenants left inside the mall. This mall is a dead mall, however it is not as extreme as other cases I have seen on your channel (including Signal Hill) and I think the future of this mall would probably be Big Box Retail with no inside. Anderson Mall opened in 1972 with 3 anchors (JC Penney, Meyers Arnold, and G.C. Murphy). It started with around 200k/300k square feet but went through an expansion in 1984 (first announced in 1982) that added Gallant Belk, Sears, 2 additional wings with those stores, and a food court which brought the size or the mall up to its current size of 671,000 sqft. Meyer's Arnold became an Upton's after the Meyer's got purchased by them and then became a Belk's Men and Home Store. The GC Murphy brand got bought out by Ames in the 80s. Here, from the research I found, it becomes unclear if it became an Ames Store then became JC Penney or if JC Penney just ended up replacing them. The Belk Men's and Home Store (front left anchor) closed in 2007 to make way for a new Dillard's store. The succesful main Belk Store (rear left anchor) stayed and had the men's section consolidated into the main store and had a portion of their wing turned into the Home store. The Sears (rear right anchor) closed in July of 2018 and has not been filled since due to it being at the back of the mall. Rural King, a farm and home store out of Illinois, was looking at it but passed on it and is now looking at redoing another shopping center on the other side of town for their 1st SC location. Chick-fil-A closed their Anderson Mall location in early 2021, due to not seeing the demand of having 2 Chick-fil-A's on that one corridor. They are now looking to replace that Chick-fil-A with a new standalone location in another part of town. JC Penney (front right anchor), along with five other SC locations, was on the chopping block in May of 2020 but ended up being one of only 5 or so getting removed from an updated closure list. They are now on an extra 5 year lease plus another 3 years remaining with the option to renew. Meanwhile, Dillard's is currently in the process of extending their time with the mall for another 10 years but it is not a lease since they own their space. Belk is performing well. Books-A-Million is also performing well. So, at its current, the Anderson Mall has 3 out of 4 anchor spaces filled (Dillard's, JC Penney, Belk) with the Sears space still empty and 1 Junior Anchor (Books-A-Million). There is currently around 55 stores in the mall compared to it starting at 43 stores at its start and 75 stores at its peak (after the expansion). This mall has been, since its opening, a center point of the community located right off of the most major corridor in the Western Upstate. This mall is the only mall that has ever been within a 30 mile radius and this mall, along with Anderson in general, has always been the main shopping destination for Northeastern GA as well. It is located along a strong retail corridor wit hardly any vacancies. I would not 100% consider it a dead Mall since it is running at around 70/80% occupancy and the current stewards of the mall said that they are currently talking to some chain and non chain tenants to take over some of the empty spaces. However, I still think it would be worth for you to visit. It has been renovated multiple times but here is still parts of the old look intact throughout the mall. As a fun fact, the first McDonald's to open in the state of SC (opened in 1962) is located right across from the mall and has never moved. Also, the first Harley-Davidson dealer, Toyota dealer, and the first KFC in the state of South Carolina are also not far from this mall. I have multiple photos of the mall before the expansion, after the expansion, as construction for the expansion was going on, a construction rendering photo for the back then "new" Sears, photos of the McDonald's during construction and after opening, photos of the old theater that has not been there since the 90s, and more. One last thing about Anderson Mall. Simon Property group bought it in the early 2000s but the property was part of the spin off of 90 or so Simon Malls to the new Washington Prime Group brand in the 2010s. However, as of early 2021, Washington Prime Group is going through a bankruptcy of one of their LLCs that owns 10-20 malls in which will all be auctioned off in a month or two. This includes Anderson Mall who, just like all the other malls a part of this, is temporarily being managed by Woodmont Property Group out of Fort Worth, Texas until the auction occurs. It is expected Anderson Mall will find a buyer though, do to its occupancy rate.
I do not have photos of Greenwood Mall but if you want photos of Anderson Mall, I have photis from the 70s (before expansion), 80s (after the expansion), construction renderings/plans for the expansion, and current photos [I might even have some in between but would have to check]. Just ask me and give me an email or something to send them to, and I would be happy to share with you.
I'm from statesville and signal hill really was a great little mall in its day. The stores were all full, there was always live music or some kind of presentation going on. Friends and I would go there on Saturday nights just to have something to do. The owners though wouldnt put any money into the upkeep of the structure and that's why some tenants have left. I realize that shopping habits have changed but I hate to see this happen. If it is torn down it won't be a surprise.
Hey Wallie, Jeff from Retail Mix USA and I toured Midday Mall in Sherman Texas last week. They pulled down the boards so anyone can walk towards Sears and the old food court.
This is a neat retro mall Wallie. I never visited it though. This place reminds me of the Carnation Mall in Alliance, Ohio, which is now closed. It was a small mall like this one. By the way, the building that says "M Alterations" on the sign, that used to be an arcade back in the day. It was labeled as "Playhouse." The building across from it used to be a KB Toys.
The vintage aesthetics are so cool! I really like the water fountain as well! Have a KMartlicious Day! Have a North Carolinalicious Day! Have a Cape Hatteraslicious Day! Have a Outer Bankslicious Day!
There is a mall in Frederick Maryland (FrederickTowne Mall) that has been abandoned for several years now. Last I heard, it’s currently (or possibly going to be) updated. Not sure what the actual plans for the mall will be. The store front next to Radio Shack (5:48) resembles Hickory Farms?
Love the vintage look of this place and all them label scares are freakin awsome and how does the bath and body works always windnup bejng the only place left in dead malls
I don't know if you and Kayla will ever got to Elkhart, IN. But in case you guys ever feel like going a little more west(and heck you guys got to Lakeview Square in Battle Creek, MI, which to be honest isn't that far away from Concord Mall. ditto w/also Marshall, MI's Kmart), you guys would LOVE checking out Concord Mall! JCPenney spared the closing of their store at Concord last summer at the last minute, and there must be only something like 5ish stores left there. Hobby Lobby also anchors Concord Mall, as well. ABC Warehouse technically is an anchor too(they are a regional furniture/mattress/appliances chain, for those who are wondering), but has NO INSIDE entrance into this mall. There even is one remaining place to eat in that mall called Enzo's Pizza, which I'm amazed has survived considering the decline of this mall. While Concord has slightly more stores remaining, I have no doubt that it'll probably go the way Signal Hill is going. That's really sad to think Signal Hill may get demolished, within a year. :( I didn't realize it had gotten so bad at Signal Hill, that it'll soon lose Bath and Body Works. As I remember, B&BW had already pulled out of Concord Mall some years back. Forget the year they closed, though.
I did karaoke on that stage. That mall used to be the place to go. We cruised down the hill past jr's, and around town. They banned cruising, and we'll, dead mall.
So sad how dead it is and the Bath and Body works trying to hold on for dear life even though it's going to close and move like you said. Unfortunately this is happening to too many malls nowadays.
In Raleigh NC I worked at North Hills Mall-gone, Crabtree Valley Mall-Amazing remodeled several times and going strong. In Cary Worked at Cary Towne Center-Now owned by Epic Games. University Place in Chapel Hill, NC 32 stores remain. Carolina Circle Mall Greensboro-Gone. Worked at Holly Hills Mall and Business Center. When I worked there Fall of 1977 to April 78 it was just Holly Hills Mall-Burlington, NC. It now has 2 Anchor Stores and 53 stores overall. Malls are turning into Dinosaurs. You are well aware of all of this. I worked for RadioShack from August 1977 until Dec 2006. My ex company has no retail footprint only an online entity.
The JCPenney in the mall was a terrible one. It's in the same town as a major (and likely oldest still operating) JCPenney Distribution Center, yet I guess the mall was stagnant enough that the JCPenney never really had anything worth browsing, unlike all the ones in other cities further away. Employees using their discounts would drive 40 minutes away just to be able to use it rather than waste their time going to the local store.
I concur with all the other posters it's sad to watch the decline of malls- a large part of Americana gone for good. Great backing music straight from 1985!
According to our sources, the mall IS for sale, but has not yet found anyone to purchase it. Depending upon the company buying it, BELK may, or may not remain on property. There is, at this time, no demolition scheduled.
You need to visit this mall again, it has gotten a lot worse. Mold everywhere. Place is completely falling apart, yet the jewelry store and the phone store are still open for some reason.
I grew up in Statesville, and with this mall and was all over it in it's heyday. Over the years the management of it did nothing to contribute to it's health and longevity. It's sad to see it has come to this.
I worked in a mall for 16 years, also a nostalgia junkie.....I’m an eighties kid and it’s too bad that the new generation can’t experience shopping malls in their prime.....
It was. Haha I needed to redo a shot walking into the mall as the first attempt got screwed up by someone walking literally into my shot and practically into me and the camera. Haha so she stood there trying to be out of the way. Lol
I've been to a few malls that are doing fine with a Belk as an anchor. I just dont film every mall I go to but I've been to several with a Belk and they're doing okay.
i lived there as a child born in 77. completely different back then. one of my first jobs was at bookland across from the radio shack. they have been talking about demolishing it down for years though. the rumor is the owner keeps it open for tax write offs. anymore questons let me know
There is a mall in called the Chesterfield Mall(Chesterfield MO)and they will be Demolitioning it in a couple of years. Macy's owns the three story part. Owners building something else.
If the mall is going to be demolished, then someone will have to ask Belk to move since they own their building. So as of yet, they ain't going anywhere.
Whenever I see an almost empty mall I use my imagination and think of all the stores being filled, I think of what they may have been, I think of crowds of people of all ages but especially teens bustling around; I let my imagination fill in the blanks. It's great that you are documenting what is left of these places, the videos are archives of them before they are gone. You do a great job with the videos. Thanks
That is an excellent heartfelt post - I too, and many fans of these vids, wonder the same. A large piece of Americana gone for good.
i remember during christmas when the mall would be full of kids waiting to take a photo with santa. the photo of me and my siblings with santa is still on my dad's refrigerator door. it's sad to see how the mall only has one store open now. i hope something will come of the space one day.
I was the manager of the GNC store in that mall back in the mid 90's. It used to get really crowded on the weekends. The GNC store was right across from the red and white (now closed) store that used to be Chick-Fil-A. It was in between Wooten's Jewelers and that old record store. Back in the mid 90's, pro wrestling was HUGE and WCW was still running. When they would sell tickets to a WCW wrestling event, the people would like up literally all around the inside of the mall to get tickets to WCW events in Charlotte. They also did this to get concert tickets when popular bands would come to town. That record store was the place to get all your event tickets in this town.
Even though the food choices there were very limited (Chick-Fil-A and IHOP), they were pretty good places to eat.
Even though the mall was still crowded back then and most of the stores seemed to be doing pretty well, there were already rumors that it might close someday (soon). Truth be told, I'm surprised it's lasted this long. I definitely saw the writing on the wall with GNC. I had just gotten a PC and gotten on the internet when I was working there, and it didn't take me long to find out that there were dietary supplement sellers online that were selling protein powders and vitamins for HALF what we were selling them for at GNC. That was a lot of the reason I left there - I knew it couldn't last.
It's also a whole lot cheaper to run an online biz out of a cheap warehouse (or basement!) than to pay uber-expensive mall rent, and it looks like that's what everything is trending towards.
But it was good to see the old mall again, even if for the last time before they tear it down. It's really a shame to see the old malls being torn down. I used to really enjoy them when I was younger.
I worked at armada music in that mall in my late teens and I went there since I was 3 or probably younger. That circular doorway was a shop called tunes and my buddies dad owned it. Looking back to childhood there was a kb toys, a pet store, a shoe store, a dollar store that was awesome, I ate at the IHOP all the time burgers were all I ever ate there for some reason. The place in the middle had wooden seats in the middle and I don't ever remember a chick FIL a there ever. I remember the wish fountain and things like that. I remember up front with the jewelry stores there being a computer store and playing the computer games on one. Being my childhood town in the summer that's all I ever went to with my cousins and friends. It's a shame it's all gone basically.
6:22
The barn shaped storefront, I believe, used to be a Hickory Farms
Used to be foot action in the early 90's
I remember going in here as a kid.. now to see it so empty. It’s crazy.
Old Hickory Farms to the left of Belk. We had one in an old mall in Greenville, SC. My little brother and I used to go in there and eat up all the samples 😁. Happy memories of the McAllister Square Mall. First Chick Fil A in our area.
It is like stepping back in Time when you showed us inside this mall, this mall should be saved for sure would be sad to see it go. I haven't seen a Radio Shack sign in like forever wow. Thanks for taking us along.
Very nicely done documentary. I sure miss my days at the arcades and the food courts. I guess we'll all be working for Amazon packing and deliver stuff to each other.
That fountain is really neat; one of the things i find comforting about malls is listening to the sound of a fountain. It's a shame this mall is struggling.
I was happy it was on. Other people's videos from previous years the fountain was off. I'm glad it was on on the day of our visit.
I live about 5 minutes away from this mall. This video really made me appreciate it. Had my birthday party here in the 90s in the "barn structured" room next to Radio Shack (cannot remember what it was called) and used to get ice cream by the fountain. I hope they do not tear it down. I'm going to have to visit it before it's gone.
It probably was Hickory Farms
This is place is so nostalgic for me personally I remember going here frequently in my early childhood I want to go there again I still pass on the way to school I hate the thought of it being torn down at some point
So many memories of this mall. That sears is where I met my wife 10 years ago.
I wish I could magically scoop all these malls up and hoard them somewhere to enjoy anytime at my leisure. The closest I can get to that would be these videos.
I used to go here frequently in the 00's. There was a bookstore down toward the south end of it that I used to frequent and I still have a number of books in my collection from there. Both my wife and I used to get our hair cut at the salon place that was across from the IHOP, and when our daughter was really little, we got a picture of her with the Easter Bunny in that mall that we love. It's sad to see it dying, the parking lot used to be so full all of the time. But that's how these things work.. same as with the Blockbuster video that used to be across the street. I wish I could visit it again, but we moved away from the area long ago.
8:47
That storefront with the red tile was probably where the Chick FIL A was
Isn't it a lovely place? The fact that it reopened after all the lockdowns is amazing to me.
Wow this quite a gem to catch 💎, so glad you got their to share with us. Seeing the vintage store fronts and some label scars helps fill in the memory bubbles of other old malls I’m starting to have fuzzy memories of
OOF! This mall is dead!! Awesome Explore, love the label scars on this place too!
Thanks!
All malls across the USA had water fountain.this one is the best. Thanks for sharing Wallie ✌️
I grew up here and this mall was my playground. My grandmother worked at JC Penny until she retired. My grandfather worked at the book store. My brother worked at the sears. I lost my first tooth in that bath and body works. I sat in that ihop countless times with my grandparents. There are tons of pictures of me in this mall with my friends when we did a fundraiser there for my elementary school. Hard to believe, but this mall use to be so lively.
I remember going into the bookstore and I would always try to find the vintage WWE magazines
I miss the old logo and checkered awning of Bath and Body Works. I'm sure this mall was amazing in it's heyday.
Hi day
I can imagine how nice it was. I tried finding old photos of the mall and even though I came across several from around 2012, I had trouble finding good ones prior to that year. I wanted to see how full of life this place was.
I'd have to go search for it, but there is another video of this mall on RUclips that includes a clip taking during its heyday in the early 1990s.
I grew up about halfway between Statesville and Charlotte, and I remember visiting this mall during that era. BTW that red tile on the wall on the left when he talks about the old platform is where the Chic-fil-a used to be.
6:35 Are those holes lights that had to be pushed out of the ceiling? The roof damage is pretty bad, and needs to be replaced. Looking inside Bath & Body Works, the roof in there was very damaged.
It may be even worse, idk
Absolutely love your videos Wallie. Keep it up.
Thank you very much!
This is what we were waiting for. The ghost signs are amazing.
I agree, it IS sad to see it dwindle down to this.
Damn! I remember going here with my cousins when I was only 4 in 2007. It was so alive back then!
Yeah its sad to know the recession and closure of the anchors over time led to the demise.
That was around the last time I was there and yes it was still so alive then!
I was going to malls as far back as the 1980s I'm 45 now, the malls are a getting to look like a sore eyes nothing to do in them anymore. There completely dead.
I grew up going to this mall. I took my son to this mall while he was growing up. I worked at the Sears in the office for years. So many good memories of this place. I hate to see it dead like this. The mall is for sale now. I know it will be demolished and that breaks my heart. 💔
If anyone lives in statesville, do you remember the Flintstones machine that was near peebles?
Video of the machine in Woolworths store 1991 Signal Hill Mall video here on utube. Link posted a few comments below
I love that fountain! ⛲️
Me too!
Wow this mall is so beautiful. I would love to take a day trip out here one day.
The fountain is pretty freaky cool..
I agree!
The layout of this mall looks similar to that of the now-demolished Cloverleaf Mall in Richmond, VA. I believe both were opened the same year as well.
As of this date IHOP is no longer there as well as the Bath and Body Works did move successfully as well. I hate to see this mall go down over the years. We now all go to Mooresville and beyond to Charlotte for
Our shopping needs.
Nice work WallieB26 thanks for the video
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed!
So sad to see malls die
Amazing looking mall, a real retro gem. Great video 👍
Do not know if you will be in SC anytime soon but you should visit Anderson Mall in Anderson, SC and Greenwood Mall in Greenwood, SC.
Greenwood Mall opened as the 316,000 Cross Creek Mall in 1979 and was built by Jim Wilson and Associates. It started with 2 major anchors (Gallant Belk and JC Penney) and 2 ancillary anchors (Meyers-Arnold and Wilson's Showroom). This mall never had an expansion and was purchased by Hull Storey Gibson in the early 2000's. Hull Storey Gibson would then do the only ever renovations in 2002. This mall still has some of its original design features left, including their detailed gardens near the entrance of JC Penney and Belk. Wilson's became Service Merchandise in 1985 and Meyers-Arnold became Upton's a couple of years later. The whole Upton's chain closed in 1999 and Service Merchandise went bankrupt in 2002 so the locations at the mall closed, along with all the other store's of both of those chains. Layer on in the 2000's, the Upton's space was redeveloped into TJ Maxx, Michael's, and Shoe Department Encore. However, the Service Meechandise space, due to being at the back of the mall, did not become retail. It ended up becoming a Sykes call center but that closed in 2018. However, in 2020, it was announced that Dynata as going to put a call center in that space. Chick-fil-a, who had a location in the mall for a long time, also ended up moving out of the mall and to an outparcel in front of the mall. The JC Penney closed in July of 2019 and has not had a new tenant in it since. The Michael's store closed in January of 2021 due to underperformance. The only anchors left are Belk and TJ Maxx. There is 12 tenants left inside the mall. This mall is a dead mall, however it is not as extreme as other cases I have seen on your channel (including Signal Hill) and I think the future of this mall would probably be Big Box Retail with no inside.
Anderson Mall opened in 1972 with 3 anchors (JC Penney, Meyers Arnold, and G.C. Murphy). It started with around 200k/300k square feet but went through an expansion in 1984 (first announced in 1982) that added Gallant Belk, Sears, 2 additional wings with those stores, and a food court which brought the size or the mall up to its current size of 671,000 sqft. Meyer's Arnold became an Upton's after the Meyer's got purchased by them and then became a Belk's Men and Home Store. The GC Murphy brand got bought out by Ames in the 80s. Here, from the research I found, it becomes unclear if it became an Ames Store then became JC Penney or if JC Penney just ended up replacing them. The Belk Men's and Home Store (front left anchor) closed in 2007 to make way for a new Dillard's store. The succesful main Belk Store (rear left anchor) stayed and had the men's section consolidated into the main store and had a portion of their wing turned into the Home store. The Sears (rear right anchor) closed in July of 2018 and has not been filled since due to it being at the back of the mall. Rural King, a farm and home store out of Illinois, was looking at it but passed on it and is now looking at redoing another shopping center on the other side of town for their 1st SC location. Chick-fil-A closed their Anderson Mall location in early 2021, due to not seeing the demand of having 2 Chick-fil-A's on that one corridor. They are now looking to replace that Chick-fil-A with a new standalone location in another part of town. JC Penney (front right anchor), along with five other SC locations, was on the chopping block in May of 2020 but ended up being one of only 5 or so getting removed from an updated closure list. They are now on an extra 5 year lease plus another 3 years remaining with the option to renew. Meanwhile, Dillard's is currently in the process of extending their time with the mall for another 10 years but it is not a lease since they own their space. Belk is performing well. Books-A-Million is also performing well. So, at its current, the Anderson Mall has 3 out of 4 anchor spaces filled (Dillard's, JC Penney, Belk) with the Sears space still empty and 1 Junior Anchor (Books-A-Million). There is currently around 55 stores in the mall compared to it starting at 43 stores at its start and 75 stores at its peak (after the expansion). This mall has been, since its opening, a center point of the community located right off of the most major corridor in the Western Upstate. This mall is the only mall that has ever been within a 30 mile radius and this mall, along with Anderson in general, has always been the main shopping destination for Northeastern GA as well. It is located along a strong retail corridor wit hardly any vacancies. I would not 100% consider it a dead Mall since it is running at around 70/80% occupancy and the current stewards of the mall said that they are currently talking to some chain and non chain tenants to take over some of the empty spaces. However, I still think it would be worth for you to visit. It has been renovated multiple times but here is still parts of the old look intact throughout the mall. As a fun fact, the first McDonald's to open in the state of SC (opened in 1962) is located right across from the mall and has never moved. Also, the first Harley-Davidson dealer, Toyota dealer, and the first KFC in the state of South Carolina are also not far from this mall. I have multiple photos of the mall before the expansion, after the expansion, as construction for the expansion was going on, a construction rendering photo for the back then "new" Sears, photos of the McDonald's during construction and after opening, photos of the old theater that has not been there since the 90s, and more.
One last thing about Anderson Mall. Simon Property group bought it in the early 2000s but the property was part of the spin off of 90 or so Simon Malls to the new Washington Prime Group brand in the 2010s. However, as of early 2021, Washington Prime Group is going through a bankruptcy of one of their LLCs that owns 10-20 malls in which will all be auctioned off in a month or two. This includes Anderson Mall who, just like all the other malls a part of this, is temporarily being managed by Woodmont Property Group out of Fort Worth, Texas until the auction occurs. It is expected Anderson Mall will find a buyer though, do to its occupancy rate.
I do not have photos of Greenwood Mall but if you want photos of Anderson Mall, I have photis from the 70s (before expansion), 80s (after the expansion), construction renderings/plans for the expansion, and current photos [I might even have some in between but would have to check].
Just ask me and give me an email or something to send them to, and I would be happy to share with you.
Really digging the music at 0:48
Thank you! While searching for music I thought fit and that I liked I came across that song and said yep... thats the one.
Oh wow that vintage scale in the entryway!
There are still several thriving malls in the area, Carolina Place, Concord Mills, Northlake and Southpark,
My parents and I lived down there in 1985 to 1987. But I don't think we ever went, or I never did but I was only seven when we moved there.
I'm from statesville and signal hill really was a great little mall in its day. The stores were all full, there was always live music or some kind of presentation going on. Friends and I would go there on Saturday nights just to have something to do. The owners though wouldnt put any money into the upkeep of the structure and that's why some tenants have left. I realize that shopping habits have changed but I hate to see this happen. If it is torn down it won't be a surprise.
before the mold started
Yeah, I saw photos people have shared. It's pretty bad now. One wing looked like the ceiling was black from so much black mold. Looked hazardous.
I miss going in this mall
Hey Wallie, Jeff from Retail Mix USA and I toured Midday Mall in Sherman Texas last week. They pulled down the boards so anyone can walk towards Sears and the old food court.
Someone else mentioned that too. Weird given there was essentially no reason for that area to be open.
Came cross this video wanted check it out. Nice video
Thank you very much.
@@WallieB26 welcome
This is a neat retro mall Wallie. I never visited it though. This place reminds me of the Carnation Mall in Alliance, Ohio, which is now closed. It was a small mall like this one. By the way, the building that says "M Alterations" on the sign, that used to be an arcade back in the day. It was labeled as "Playhouse." The building across from it used to be a KB Toys.
True story my friend. Loved going to the Playhouse arcade. A couple buddies from school, their fathers co owned/ operated. Good Times for sure 👍
awesome job on the video really like your mall videos
Actually went there today hoping to shop some…. I couldn’t believe it!!!!! SOOO SAD!!!!
The vintage aesthetics are so cool! I really like the water fountain as well! Have a KMartlicious Day! Have a North Carolinalicious Day! Have a Cape Hatteraslicious Day! Have a Outer Bankslicious Day!
There is a mall in Frederick Maryland (FrederickTowne Mall) that has been abandoned for several years now. Last I heard, it’s currently (or possibly going to be) updated. Not sure what the actual plans for the mall will be. The store front next to Radio Shack (5:48) resembles Hickory Farms?
Love the vintage look of this place and all them label scares are freakin awsome and how does the bath and body works always windnup bejng the only place left in dead malls
Cool Video
Thank you!
I don't know if you and Kayla will ever got to Elkhart, IN. But in case you guys ever feel like going a little more west(and heck you guys got to Lakeview Square in Battle Creek, MI, which to be honest isn't that far away from Concord Mall. ditto w/also Marshall, MI's Kmart), you guys would LOVE checking out Concord Mall! JCPenney spared the closing of their store at Concord last summer at the last minute, and there must be only something like 5ish stores left there. Hobby Lobby also anchors Concord Mall, as well. ABC Warehouse technically is an anchor too(they are a regional furniture/mattress/appliances chain, for those who are wondering), but has NO INSIDE entrance into this mall. There even is one remaining place to eat in that mall called Enzo's Pizza, which I'm amazed has survived considering the decline of this mall.
While Concord has slightly more stores remaining, I have no doubt that it'll probably go the way Signal Hill is going. That's really sad to think Signal Hill may get demolished, within a year. :( I didn't realize it had gotten so bad at Signal Hill, that it'll soon lose Bath and Body Works. As I remember, B&BW had already pulled out of Concord Mall some years back. Forget the year they closed, though.
I did karaoke on that stage. That mall used to be the place to go. We cruised down the hill past jr's, and around town. They banned cruising, and we'll, dead mall.
So sad how dead it is and the Bath and Body works trying to hold on for dear life even though it's going to close and move like you said. Unfortunately this is happening to too many malls nowadays.
Great job 👏👏
In Raleigh NC I worked at North Hills Mall-gone, Crabtree Valley Mall-Amazing remodeled several times and going strong. In Cary Worked at Cary Towne Center-Now owned by Epic Games. University Place in Chapel Hill, NC 32 stores remain. Carolina Circle Mall Greensboro-Gone. Worked at Holly Hills Mall and Business Center. When I worked there Fall of 1977 to April 78 it was just Holly Hills Mall-Burlington, NC. It now has 2 Anchor Stores and 53 stores overall. Malls are turning into Dinosaurs. You are well aware of all of this. I worked for RadioShack from August 1977 until Dec 2006. My ex company has no retail footprint only an online entity.
Wow 👌 👌 man awesome video
Thank you!
The JCPenney in the mall was a terrible one. It's in the same town as a major (and likely oldest still operating) JCPenney Distribution Center, yet I guess the mall was stagnant enough that the JCPenney never really had anything worth browsing, unlike all the ones in other cities further away. Employees using their discounts would drive 40 minutes away just to be able to use it rather than waste their time going to the local store.
I concur with all the other posters it's sad to watch the decline of malls- a large part of Americana gone for good. Great backing music straight from 1985!
If malls weren't failing before, this last year has been a disaster for them.
Well the thing with Signal Hill is that it's been failing for several years. The last few have taken a big toll on it.
It feels like in a lot of ways, five years happened over the last year... in other ways, not much at all.
Love you videos Dude
Wow that lonly one gumball machine....
Right?!
According to our sources, the mall IS for sale, but has not yet found anyone to purchase it. Depending upon the company buying it, BELK may, or may not remain on property. There is, at this time, no demolition scheduled.
4:57 Kayla's Hitchcock cameo
Cool 😀
You know it's bad when bath and body works closes
I understood Belks owned their building. That could have changed!
So wish they will save the fountain if the mall gets demolished,its so cool!
I agree. Its too nice to let it go to waste. I mean the whole mall is to me but obviously they won't save an entire mall.
I used to throw so much in that fountain, i stay on the same st got most of all my sneakers from here growing up, 704 🤟🔥
The small stage area would have been extra seating. There was seating inside the Chick-fil-A, I remember eating there.
that fountain!!
You need to visit this mall again, it has gotten a lot worse. Mold everywhere. Place is completely falling apart, yet the jewelry store and the phone store are still open for some reason.
that is sad that going be closing but not profit to keep it open for 4 tenents
I grew up in Statesville, and with this mall and was all over it in it's heyday. Over the years the management of it did nothing to contribute to it's health and longevity. It's sad to see it has come to this.
I made another video of Chambersburg Mall in Chambersburg Pennsylvania. Not many stores left.
Nice. I did one right after Christmas I have yet to upload. I know at least Christopher and Banks left since then.
Chambersburg Mall is closing when the rest of the leases are up.
It's sad to see the malls are closing
I agree
This mall has been dead for years
I used to live in statesville I remember when it was built i was born there
The mall will probably close this year
Rumor is that it will be demolished within a year.
I worked in a mall for 16 years, also a nostalgia junkie.....I’m an eighties kid and it’s too bad that the new generation can’t experience shopping malls in their prime.....
4:58 that looks like Kayla standing there! 🙃. You 2 really are a cute couple.
It was. Haha I needed to redo a shot walking into the mall as the first attempt got screwed up by someone walking literally into my shot and practically into me and the camera. Haha so she stood there trying to be out of the way. Lol
@@WallieB26 haha!
man i haven't been to this mall for years
Wallie got question what is the name of the song and artist in your videos at the end of them all usually..?
most the dead malls ive been to had a belk in them for some reason
Belk was everywhere in the south. Not just dead malls have one.
I've been to a few malls that are doing fine with a Belk as an anchor. I just dont film every mall I go to but I've been to several with a Belk and they're doing okay.
😥 I get sad seeing the demise of malls here in America. They were such a huge thing from the 70s to the end of the 90s.
The mall closest to me is not closing.
Was that fountain there in 1973
If the gumball machine had a date...
I know. I bet it's as old as me.
Hi!
Hello!
i lived there as a child born in 77. completely different back then. one of my first jobs was at bookland across from the radio shack. they have been talking about demolishing it down for years though. the rumor is the owner keeps it open for tax write offs. anymore questons let me know
There is a mall in called the Chesterfield Mall(Chesterfield MO)and they will be Demolitioning it in a couple of years. Macy's owns the three story part. Owners building something else.
Short and long halls entrances alternating
i kinda wanna film a video showcasing chesapeake square mall cause it's dead right now with very few stores and eateries in the food court
If the mall is going to be demolished, then someone will have to ask Belk to move since they own their building. So as of yet, they ain't going anywhere.
Does this mall still stand?
It's 2022 now
Yes it is still there.
Yeah idk why I live right around the corner and they wont demolish this place just bc the jc pennys still there
Not sure if y'all the mansion behind it.
I grew up here. This mall is over dew for destruction 😒. It's been dead since the year 2000. 😑 💀 #RIP
Did u see the pic 9n facebook
thata is a sad that only has 1 achor left
The only thing deader then this mall is the usa today paper box at the entrance... infact it's about appropriate it is there!