I grew up going to this mall with my grandpa and brother every sunday after church. Many memories going to the arcade upstairs, eating at the food court, getting orange julius and dairy queen, going to red robin, walking around sears and gottchalks (however you spell it), looking at all the candy at the candy store next to the escalator near the carousel and waterfall as i take the escalator up to the arcade and food court. Damn, i even remember they had a longs drugs lol. Man, i remember trying to get good grades bc they honored arcade credits for each grade on your report card. I still have a vivid memory of looking down at my grandpa from the arcade upstairs, sitting at the waterfall waiting for my bro and me to finish playing at the arcade. Playing on the spiral stairs bc we lived in a single story home, i felt like i was in a fancy castle. Makes me so sad to see what it has become now
So sad to have been a huge part of my shopping experience as a kid and seeing it now. International Foods, the arcade, wherehouse music, kaybee toys, Lerner’s, home express, millers outpost, Longs drugstore are just memories now
I think this mall needs stores that caters to the modern crowd like Dutch Bros or a Lululemon or a sushi place. Something they can identify with and the crowd may come back. Fill it with drug stores and dollar stores, and smoke shops they won't get the crowd they think they'll get.
Well done, I am FHS Class of 97 and Manchester was the place to be back then, the first modern walk in theater was on the very end of the mall on Dokota, I remember seeing BigTop PeeWee and Jurassic Park on opening day there. I also worked in the big call center there in the early 2000's as it declined, Longs closed and Gottschalks went out of business. They have tried many times to re-invent the place but it will never be the place it was back then.
Got my first real skateboard at The Surf Shop in Manchester Mall. The Surf Shop was near one of the malls entrance/exits across from Valley Sports and next to the pet shop
Ahh yes I remember this mall Even in the late 90s and early 00s it was waning.. still tho the carousel 🎠 Red Robin king buffet long drugs kb toys and of course signature theaters I saw chicken run when it opened it really was state of the art back then
Manchester: A tribute to tail fins, will likely enjoy a resurgence once corporate personhood is deregulated and Fresno regains its rightful farming breadbasket status, IMHO. People will always need a centralized market. Make America A Swapmeet Again.
I grew up going to this mall with my grandpa and brother every sunday after church. Many memories going to the arcade upstairs, eating at the food court, getting orange julius and dairy queen, going to red robin, walking around sears and gottchalks (however you spell it), looking at all the candy at the candy store next to the escalator near the carousel and waterfall as i take the escalator up to the arcade and food court. Damn, i even remember they had a longs drugs lol. Man, i remember trying to get good grades bc they honored arcade credits for each grade on your report card. I still have a vivid memory of looking down at my grandpa from the arcade upstairs, sitting at the waterfall waiting for my bro and me to finish playing at the arcade. Playing on the spiral stairs bc we lived in a single story home, i felt like i was in a fancy castle. Makes me so sad to see what it has become now
Sounds awesome thanks for sharing
So sad to have been a huge part of my shopping experience as a kid and seeing it now. International Foods, the arcade, wherehouse music, kaybee toys, Lerner’s, home express, millers outpost, Longs drugstore are just memories now
I think this mall needs stores that caters to the modern crowd like Dutch Bros or a Lululemon or a sushi place. Something they can identify with and the crowd may come back. Fill it with drug stores and dollar stores, and smoke shops they won't get the crowd they think they'll get.
Well done, I am FHS Class of 97 and Manchester was the place to be back then, the first modern walk in theater was on the very end of the mall on Dokota, I remember seeing BigTop PeeWee and Jurassic Park on opening day there. I also worked in the big call center there in the early 2000's as it declined, Longs closed and Gottschalks went out of business. They have tried many times to re-invent the place but it will never be the place it was back then.
Wow big top pee wee
🎪
Taking it back
Fond memories. Thank you.
Got my first real skateboard at The Surf Shop in Manchester Mall. The Surf Shop was near one of the malls entrance/exits across from Valley Sports and next to the pet shop
Yep. I worked at Valley Sports while going to Fresno State.. 1981-1985
I remember going to Manchester when all stores were outside.
My daughter goes to Manchester gate i love learning about this area, i appreciate the great work yall did on this video should be on pbs .
@@roberthernandez3902 I’m very proud of my wonderful students
Manchester mall used to be the place to be back in the early 90s
Ahh yes I remember this mall
Even in the late 90s and early 00s it was waning.. still tho the carousel 🎠 Red Robin king buffet long drugs kb toys and of course signature theaters I saw chicken run when it opened it really was state of the art back then
Used to be my favorite mall bk in the days when I came to Fresno now just plain and deserted😢... And then they took the iconic 🎠 away I don't know why
Very well done. Would be cool to see if one ever gets done for the Mayfair district too.
My favorite part about Manchester as a kid was seeing all the OG pimps different colored suits
it use to be a popular mall in the 1980s & 1990s as of 2024 its a ghost mall
i've heard it is rumored to meet the bulldozer for mixed used retail and residential
First they ruined Fulton mall, then Manchester, now fashion fair and riverpark is next. We just can’t have nice things anymore because of you know who
Manchester: A tribute to tail fins, will likely enjoy a resurgence once corporate personhood is deregulated and Fresno regains its rightful farming breadbasket status, IMHO. People will always need a centralized market. Make America A Swapmeet Again.
I think the Manchester Mall needs to be converted to an industrial & manufacturing complex.