The upper level is crazy. The management definitely put for effort in walling off empty spaces. It almost looks permanent as if to say they've given up ever attracting new tenants.
I've been waiting for an Alton Square video to be released, while I was doing more research on the mall itself last week. Thank you! Hull PG bought two local malls near me, including the one in my photo..which had 250k sqft demo'd, including two anchors, the inline cinemas and an entire wing. Sadly the walls continue to go up.
I lived in Collinsville, but all of my extended family lived in the Alton/Godfrey area. I spent many, many afternoons in the 1980s at this mall with my grandparents. They were all "mall walkers." It was exactly like what you would expect a mall in the 1980s to be like. Busy, bustling. I love that the stairs are still original. They're at least some small reminder of the past aesthetic.
I love the architecture of the 90s Sears anchors. You always know it’s a sears if it’s white with those pillars and curved designs. With the giant pillar that goes up with the flag pole inside.
NorthCdogg22 also it's depressing how the mall just covers up a lot of the empty stores with walls, just some low self esteem thinking nobody's gonna move there, my mall took 5 years for someone to occupy the former JCPenney space, they didn't demolish it
Sears Cool yeah apparently it’s the company that owns the mall that think the spaces will never be occupied. I mean right after Macy’s closed they demolished the building. It’s so sad how most of this mall is just walls and hallways now, I would’ve loved to see it in its glory days.
Sears Cool well right after sears closed the discount family owned furniture store opened. But that closed so I’m not sure what the deal is. The Sears building is very small compared the the other anchors and old Macy’s anchor so perhaps that’s the case. However I find it unlikely it will ever be occupied again.
I had pictures from this mall in 2017 or 2016 macys was still there and it was like walking in a timewqrp and I know behind one of them walls by macys was a Payless shoe source alot has changed in that mall since then when I went the floors downstairs were still hard floors and not carpet alot has changed like I said everything is so different from then to this video like holy moly
I'm based in the Missouri area and these malls are like home to me and it's sad to see them like this. But I wanted to add another point of view on the reason for the struggle of St. Louis Malls. The reality is that suburban Chicago is only about 4 hours away and if you have the money and the means, most people will make the drive and shop in those locations instead of these local malls. Which is a shame, but I've been to them as well and the experience you have in the Chicago area malls is top-notch and diverse. If someone can afford to do that a couple times a year, that's really all you need. So much easier than being shot or robbed or your favorite store being closed anyway.
You make a good point, it’s really sad people would up and leave for those high end Chicago based malls and leave the old St. Louis ones to fade away. Thanks for commenting!
What a tiny mall, if it wasn't for the bend near JCPenney it would be really bland. I heard a while back that they were trying to get a movie theater in this mall. Hull loves to cover up vacant stores, there is a Hull mall in Victoria Texas about 2 1/2 hours away from me where they do the same thing. Luckily for the residents of Victoria, the mall is doing well with only a vacant Sears.
Hey I know this is an older video but I actually am a local here, and yes it’s very very sad. What’s funny is there are always rumors saying they are going to add a movie theater. This has been in talks for probably 20 years now. About the upper level, it basically is used as a jogging track by older people who mall walk in the morning. Only thing on the top floor is Olgas which is a nice dinner/lunch place. Interesting fact is that the store slackers actually moved in to the mall last year and gets a good amount of traffic.
It’s really fun to see you making your way through the series! Hope your enjoying so far! The video quality between seasons 2 and 3 is a pretty big jump lol
@@NorthCdogg22 LOL! Yeah, I'm on vacation, but it's hot as hell, so I keep taking breaks in the air conditioning and binging your vids. Somebody mentioned your channel on a Gearslutz thread about mallsoft, and I've been addicted. I love the history you provide to contrast the current state of these malls. They were a huge part of my childhood and even in my twenties, I spent a lot of time at the malls in Austin and Vegas. This is an awesome nostalgia drug you've created.
@@NorthCdogg22 It's...something. That is quite a drive, though. Also Fairmont MN, and there's that small one in Spirit Lake IA that's always been really weird
No, that's not what i wanted to say. My grandmother lived in alton in the apartments near target and we used to come here and i loved it. I remember one time she took me to the toy store and in about 4 weeks after it got walled of and closed
The upper level is crazy. The management definitely put for effort in walling off empty spaces. It almost looks permanent as if to say they've given up ever attracting new tenants.
Great great great great video
Thanks Marco!
I think you are the only one who includes old pictures at the spot you are shooting from.
I love to do it, it adds a nice touch and it’s super interesting to see before and afters
I've been waiting for an Alton Square video to be released, while I was doing more research on the mall itself last week. Thank you! Hull PG bought two local malls near me, including the one in my photo..which had 250k sqft demo'd, including two anchors, the inline cinemas and an entire wing. Sadly the walls continue to go up.
Your welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed!
That is so bizarre with all the walls up. Crazy! Great vid.
I know right! Thank you!
I lived in Collinsville, but all of my extended family lived in the Alton/Godfrey area. I spent many, many afternoons in the 1980s at this mall with my grandparents. They were all "mall walkers." It was exactly like what you would expect a mall in the 1980s to be like. Busy, bustling. I love that the stairs are still original. They're at least some small reminder of the past aesthetic.
they have those Sears from the late 90s, nice! I know they have one in San Antonio but they closed it earlier this year
I love the architecture of the 90s Sears anchors. You always know it’s a sears if it’s white with those pillars and curved designs. With the giant pillar that goes up with the flag pole inside.
NorthCdogg22 also it's depressing how the mall just covers up a lot of the empty stores with walls, just some low self esteem thinking nobody's gonna move there, my mall took 5 years for someone to occupy the former JCPenney space, they didn't demolish it
Sears Cool yeah apparently it’s the company that owns the mall that think the spaces will never be occupied. I mean right after Macy’s closed they demolished the building. It’s so sad how most of this mall is just walls and hallways now, I would’ve loved to see it in its glory days.
NorthCdogg22 They didn't demolish the Sears even though it was closed for longer?
Sears Cool well right after sears closed the discount family owned furniture store opened. But that closed so I’m not sure what the deal is. The Sears building is very small compared the the other anchors and old Macy’s anchor so perhaps that’s the case. However I find it unlikely it will ever be occupied again.
I had pictures from this mall in 2017 or 2016 macys was still there and it was like walking in a timewqrp and I know behind one of them walls by macys was a Payless shoe source alot has changed in that mall since then when I went the floors downstairs were still hard floors and not carpet alot has changed like I said everything is so different from then to this video like holy moly
Good video. Thanks.
Thank you for watching! Your welcome!
Many malls have been dry walling over their empty stores. Carolina Mall in Concord NC has dry walled over half their stores
Radio Shack was in the UK,but called 'Tandy'.
that’s my mall 😭 sad asf
I'm based in the Missouri area and these malls are like home to me and it's sad to see them like this. But I wanted to add another point of view on the reason for the struggle of St. Louis Malls. The reality is that suburban Chicago is only about 4 hours away and if you have the money and the means, most people will make the drive and shop in those locations instead of these local malls. Which is a shame, but I've been to them as well and the experience you have in the Chicago area malls is top-notch and diverse. If someone can afford to do that a couple times a year, that's really all you need. So much easier than being shot or robbed or your favorite store being closed anyway.
You make a good point, it’s really sad people would up and leave for those high end Chicago based malls and leave the old St. Louis ones to fade away. Thanks for commenting!
@@NorthCdogg22 he is
Good luck with your channel!
Thank you! 😊
What a tiny mall, if it wasn't for the bend near JCPenney it would be really bland. I heard a while back that they were trying to get a movie theater in this mall. Hull loves to cover up vacant stores, there is a Hull mall in Victoria Texas about 2 1/2 hours away from me where they do the same thing. Luckily for the residents of Victoria, the mall is doing well with only a vacant Sears.
Hey I know this is an older video but I actually am a local here, and yes it’s very very sad. What’s funny is there are always rumors saying they are going to add a movie theater. This has been in talks for probably 20 years now. About the upper level, it basically is used as a jogging track by older people who mall walk in the morning. Only thing on the top floor is Olgas which is a nice dinner/lunch place. Interesting fact is that the store slackers actually moved in to the mall last year and gets a good amount of traffic.
Interesting! I’m glad the mall is still able to see a moderate amount of traffic, even if a good majority of it is slackers and the jogging track.
They built that movie theater
I call malls owned by Hull Property Group, the local art museum. Eh so insane
Endless walls do nothing for a mall. People are not stupid, they can figure why the walls are there.
That's kind of genius how they cheated the occupancy numbers, but holy crap is this place depressing! Easily my favorite in the series so far.
It’s really fun to see you making your way through the series! Hope your enjoying so far! The video quality between seasons 2 and 3 is a pretty big jump lol
@@NorthCdogg22 LOL! Yeah, I'm on vacation, but it's hot as hell, so I keep taking breaks in the air conditioning and binging your vids. Somebody mentioned your channel on a Gearslutz thread about mallsoft, and I've been addicted. I love the history you provide to contrast the current state of these malls. They were a huge part of my childhood and even in my twenties, I spent a lot of time at the malls in Austin and Vegas. This is an awesome nostalgia drug you've created.
@@FatSynthDude thank you!
honestly kinda prefer these walls to what the other places do
If you're looking for more dead malls, the one in Yankton, SD is pretttttty dead
Yankton Village? Yes actually that’s been on my list I’ve just never known if it’s worth the drive. Thanks!
@@NorthCdogg22 It's...something. That is quite a drive, though. Also Fairmont MN, and there's that small one in Spirit Lake IA that's always been really weird
I live 20 minutes away lol
No, that's not what i wanted to say. My grandmother lived in alton in the apartments near target and we used to come here and i loved it. I remember one time she took me to the toy store and in about 4 weeks after it got walled of and closed
And the cookie store is still there!
Every Hull mall is a “wall mall”. I saw those walls in the thumbnail, and I just knew it... Hull Freaking Property Group 🙄
It’s sad, because this mall looked so beautiful back in the day in old photos
Demolish, Wall off or turn into an amazon fulfillment center. Once again your trademark drive up and info on screen and in verbal.