This is horrible. Why hasn't the city demolished the building? I remember in HIgh School, three of the four major malls closed in columbus. They city demolished the malls to the ground within the same year.
I was there a couple days ago with my girlfriend, it's so sad to see, especially considering I'm not that old but still remember when most of the shops were full and the mall was the catchall place to hang out
At 8:06 the writing on the wall that says “Heems world” was for a classmate of mine, Joheem Meredith, that was shot and killed the day before our graduation this year. He’s been on my mind a lot recently, and it’s crazy that somebody put that there.
To all those disheartened by this Mall's condition: I feel your pain. Sadly, this is the fate of 90% of malls (arbitrary number). Here in KC, we've seen plenty go up and down over the past few decades or so. The one I most remember as a kid is Metro North Mall, which was at 169 and Barry road. It too met this fate and then was torn down. Malls carry such an odd energy, like ancient civilizations. Places that once held so much life, now in ruins, within a fraction of our lifetimes. Nostalgia is at an all time high in our lives, as the world changes so fast and so dramatically nowadays... Whoa, okay that one got away from me.. Haha. Hopefully this comment resonates.
I lived there as a child. I remember going to a few shops in there in the 90s, but mostly I remember going to Westridge where everything was. So sad to see it in such disrepair.
I remember Christmas shopping there when I was a kid in late 70s and early 80s. It had industrial styled art structures and fountains, it was quite the place.
Never forget Aladdin’s Castle! 5 tokens for a dollar , and the most diverse selection of arcade machines in Topeka! I want to say that it closed in 95, which was well into the dying days of Whitelakes Mall, and arcades in general in the United States. Had several birthday parties there on Saturday mornings. Nothing spelled happiness like a 4 player game of Ninja Turtles, followed up by a little Uzi action with Operation Wolf. Good times! As the neighborhood decayed around the mall, you’d finish your game of Double Dragon , Narc, or Bad Dudes, and step outside into the sunlight to see an environment eerily similar to the game you were just playing. The only other competition it had was “Jolly Time”, across town at the newly built Westridge Mall. While a good arcade, it never had the sense of mystery, wonder, danger, and adventure that Aladdin’s Castle had. I still miss it. 🕹
I remember when the parking lot was so full that was nothing but wall-to-wall cars on Friday nights and all the kids went up there to take and drag their cars. Also it was either 78 or 79 the number 3 most cruised strip in the United States was Topeka Kansas white Lakes Mall but boy has it gone to shit
I remember back in the mid '80s when it was a great adventure to travel to Topeka to shop at White Lakes Mall. The other great road trip back in the day was to Oak Park Mall in KC. Which is still going strong! Topeka should be ashamed that now they have allowed a 2nd mall to fail from lack of local support. RIP West Ridge Mall!
I so agree with you. Now you pretty much have to travel to Kansas City to go to the mall and evidently the people who own the mall in Topeka doesn't care!
This makes me so sad. I'm a lifelong Topekan, except for a couple years...and now I live on the east side of town, having this mall open would be so awesome....but now, if you want/need something, you must travel to the west side of town where the Westridge Mall is. And now, the Westridge Mall is suffering. Many of the stores are gone. It's just a sad state of affairs all around.
I too live in east Tijuana. The city did a drag net on our humble obscure neighborhood a couple years back for any petty little thing that violated their newer property code that allows for zero percent peeling paint. Close to 200 low income properties were wrote up from a code that was adopted from (uppity) localities like Johnson and Wyandotte county's. But yet nothings done to White Lakes because the city can threaten to fine or demolish normal citizens properties, but the (previous?) owner of White Lakes has the money, clout and skillful legal team to get away with two different shootings of trespassers (not saying the self defense shootings weren't justified, but twice at two different vacant commercial properties in one year?), escaped federal gun charges after hiding purchases during his bankruptcy, suspicious fire where not one later model Shelby was stored, but two, plus many other instances. The city seems to not mess with this property or owner, but has no problem harassing with the average citizen who has no connections/clout/resources. Even Westridge mall made the news this spring, its lawn being a couple feet tall because of some issue with (new?) owners/management and the city on camera saying "if we have to mow that huge area, it will wreck our mowing budget for the year", but yet how many other citizens through illness, age, broken mower or other circumstances 'got behind' mowing in a wet spring, and get a nasty gram letter from the city. No talk of wrecking the budget in these cases of the average citizen, only wreck the budget when it comes to wealth and power. Just my two cents worth on the code injustice of this one horse town and embedded beurocrats.
In the mid-seventies, at White Lakes, I negotiated financing with my mom to buy a Soundesign stereo. I don't remember the name of the store but the stereo had to be great - it had big speakers and was cheap! If I remember correctly, there was also a Jenkins music store at WL. It mostly carried organs and would have someone playing one with those "amazing" rhythm machines as folks walked around. The guitars, drums and other "cool stuff" was at their downtown store on Kansas Avenue. One more vivid memory - across the street there was a restaurant called Kings (famous for their Cheese Frenchy deep fried sandwich). Kings was so high-tech that each booth had a wall mounted phone for customers to place their orders. If speed dial had existed then I'm sure there would have been a button for the Cheese Frenchy!
Oh wow brings back 90s child hood memories. We went there to visit in the 90s and went to that mall once when I was a kid and we went to the toy store I got a new beanie baby and then we went to the food court. When we left and got to the care I realized I left my little kid purse with my new toy in it we went back and it was gone someone stole it . I was so upset.
Hey THE JUNE 8th 1966 TORNADO WIPED OUT HOMES AND DID EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO TOPEKA,,,,My parents loaded us kids up and went to Burnettes Mound to ''watch'' the twister sweep thru T-Town....Anyone remember The Wind Jammer Inn ??? I totally got drunk in there with my cool happenin' friends! White Lakes Mall was t.h.e. coolest place to hang out in the 70s early 80s! Orange Julius stands were popular, this mall had it all tho-JCPenny, Sears, Foxworths, T-Shirt Iron On shops with the Keep On Truckin' sign ironed on a shirt, my Momma was the best, she'd take us kids out to the mall every weekend, we were so spoiled!! White Lakes Mall became The ''BOULEVARD'' AND ALL HOT RODS WERE OUT EVERY WEEKEND,,,,WE WERE IN OUR 1972 MUSTANG MACH 1 factory metallic dark green/silver with a 351 Cleveland motor & 4 on the Floor!! I wouldn't trade my memories at White Lakes for a million bucks people!! Still here!!! The Martin Family comin' atcha
I got hired by Sears in 1964 to help them open their beautiful new store in the White Lakes Mall. Sears on the north end, Penneys at the south end and about 60 good stores and places to eat and thousands of shoppers in between. It ruined downtown for shopping at the time, but that was progress. Now the malls are dying a slow death and all we need is the smart devices we can hold in one hand and I guess this is progress, too. What do you think is next?
So cool! I’ve been wanting to do this. I remember when I was a little guy and adults were sitting around the fountain smoking cigarettes. They used to have an Aladdin’s Castle arcade! Me and my son have talked about exploring but I was seriously concerned about all of the meth heads and bath salt bandits in the area. I didn’t want us to find ourselves in a fallout 4 scenario.
I can remember when this mall back in it's Hay Day's was alive and well running. It was the All American Mall just like Bannister Mall was in Kansas City for many years. It amazes me how fast time goes by and the memories are still fresh in your memory.
Spent a lot of time at Aladdin's Castle. Sad to see it like this. With West Ridge dying down in favor of strip malls, would be nice to see some economic development resources utilized to help the east side of Topeka.
Great video, the mall itself has been mostly abandoned most of my life. It housed small businesses when I was younger along with a hair school. There have been squatting happening off an on since the last tenant left. The guy who bought it is garbage, we all knew that nothing was going to happen with the property when he bought it. There used to be a Mexican restaurant at the south end of the building, not sure if it is still there or not.
I loved White Lakes Mall as a kid in the 70s! It was so full of life. (You can still see the top of the Orange Julius stand in the video, and Aladin’s Castle where I dropped endless quarters on video games). Then as a teenager cruising the boulevard from White Lakes to Holliday Square and back again...over and over. Left Topeka many decades ago. So sad to see what has happened to it all!
Im also a Topeka Native. I remember going to the mall 100s of times it seems back in the 1960s and 1970s. So sad to see it in such disarray. I remember when she opened up it was fantastic. You could spend hours there shopping and looking around. I delivered TVs and appliances for Penneys. The place had the smell of new clothing and fresh paint. Good memories.
I felt dread when I heard about west ridge bankruptcy, I may not go to the mall at all, but I know it keeps jobs here. Plus maybe I just a little paranoid with hearing about all these other stores closing there doors for good.
There waa also an Orange Julius, in the pagoda with white roof you show, a Town Crier book store and a music store out in the open that had self playing organs and electric pianos
Spectacular video. I'd nominate this for a 'tuuby' You did a good job detailing the history and chronology of the events leading to its current state. I particularly loved the animation filter at the end.
Yaaaaaasss! I’m from Overland Park but visited family in Topeka every weekend and school break as a child. Finally! I find a vid with my state featured :)
I’m from Topeka KS, this mall looks super rundown but it’s only been closed for maybe 10 years. Or that was the last time I’ve been in there at least. At that time there was only a book store, hair salon & tax place inside
Wow really sad remember mom and dad took us there 70s 80s would go to long John's silver then go to the mall it was really awesome at that time especially christmas...
Myself, my dad, and my boy scout group spent the final night in the mall that it was open. Only thing left at the time was one of those empty rooms (where we slept on the floor, on sleeping bags.) as well as an arcade with a marvel fighting game. We got to eat a bunch of free pizza and all hang out and tell stories before the night was out. That was a good 20 years ago now... Holy hell where did the time go.
My grandfather developed that property and was part in construction in the mall. I grew up going to this place in the 80s. We went to the arcade often. Now I drive by looking at it everyday sad site to see. So many memories from my childhood and teen years. It used to be a place to walk before the homeless and criminals came in destroying it. The floors were all hardwood at one time. Interesting video thanks for sharing light to our history.
I remember when White Lakes Mall opened. When I was in kindergarten in 1963 we learned the very long word "escalator," which was built in the Sears at White Lakes. It may have been the only escalator in town at that time. The town had elevators, of course, but no escalator. White Lakes was several miles from our house, but when I was 11 and my brother 8, we were allowed to walk to the mall, by ourselves, and get soft-serve ice cream for 10 cents. The mall also had a good bookstore, The Town Crier, which was also a tobacco shop. My dad bought his pipes there.
You should have added photos from the heyday of White Lakes to give a better idea of just how fantastic this place was. If you grew up in the area during the 70s or 80s it was THE place to go shopping and have a bite to eat. There was always something going on there like baseball card shows, craft shows, Jerry Lewis telethon, Santa Claus and even band concerts (I played a Christmas concert with the National Guard band there). When my wife and I first got together we could do our entire Christmas shopping there. One of our favorite stores was The Nut Hut and that was the first place I could find Jelly Belly in Topeka. It's just too bad that this place full of great memories for so many people was allowed to end up in this state.
@@AcesAdventures1 I have several I downloaded from Topeka history geeks facebook page that is run by a reporter for the Topeka Capital Journal. A post about White Lakes comes up every couple months and new photos are posted. I'm sure other cities you film in have Facebook groups as well and can have a wealth of information if you ask about the place you are wanting to film.
There was a Cosmetology College on the East side of the mall until they were kicked out by the owner. Thw mall wasn't in great shape when I was in College there, but this is sad to see. I used to walk through it and go to Las Fuentes for lunch!
My Grandmother was born and mostly raised in Topeka. We went to Topeka for my Great Grandmother’s funeral in the ‘90s I believe and visited this and one other mall. Crazy to see it like this 25/30 years later!
I grew up in Topeka Kansas, moved to Baltimore MD in 1992. Was my favorite mall that I shopped at. Remember when they builted west view mall. Hated to see it dwindle down,. I never went much to the new mall only when I came to Topeka to visit.
LOL my cousin worked there in the early 80's we used to get stoned in the parking lot. Most of the malls in the greater area that close have been torn down. Many are just huge wastes of space now like Indian Springs in KC. Metro North in Gladstone is the one I miss. The most disgusting mess is the Leavenworth Shopping mall. They tore it down and left westlake on one end and the old sears(closed) on the other. In between is a huge space of destruction and it's been that way for awhile. So these malls didnt work they decide to build an outdoor mall in Wyandotte. Hello, Kansas is cold. Ive been there a couple times in winter and the employees are shocked when you walk in. I will say when it's nicer the place is hopping but come on.
Ah, those Taco burgers were so good. One of the things that caused the demise was that the rents were raised and the owners did not do repairs. The new mall was just nicer. There was a book store, a pipe shop, and a gift shop. One feature was a little pool with a bridge that I loved just outside Sears.
I’m from Topeka, and remember this mall when I was little ...so sad .I live in GA now and only visit every year because my family still there or I wouldn’t go back.
I grew up on a somewhat historic farm in Butler County and the landlord lived in Emporia. We went to visit her in probably the early 70s and asked her where she wanted to go. She told us White Lakes in Topeka so we took her there.
I remember the last time I shopped there. It was about 1988 on Black Friday. It was SO crowded with people, we were almost shoulder-to-shoulder! It was SO alive and vibrant. SO hard to imagine and painful to see now. R.I.P. White Lakes Mall.
Interesting to see Leeds on some signs lol, I live in the city of Leeds, UK 😂. Never knew there was a shoe company in America with that name. Love seeing footage of these abandoned Malls, Very interesting but also quite sad.
My mom loved this mall when we first moved to Topeka in the mid-80s, she used to take us shopping there most weekends. I remember performing in a Christmas concert there in probably 5th or 6th grade, which might be the last time I went in. Really sad to see it falling down like this.
California raised lived in Topeka in the 90s.. I remember this mall back in the day...it was already going down hill....I'm surprised its still there after all these years and I'm reading comments that West Ridge is next..I'm back in Cali but I still have fond memories of Topeka.
I live like less than a mile from this mall. It caught on fire Monday morning. Apparently it had become a warm spot for homeless and they had taken it over to the point that demolition was on hold because police could not go in and make people leave. With electricity and water still on, I can understand, somewhat, why. Not sure of the damage but it looked significant.
This used to be a very lovely indoor shopping mall. Sadly in Topeka we have many dilapidated buildings here and they are just eyesores and makes Topeka look like a poor city, which it is. And don't get me started on the crappy roads throughout Topeka!
I grew up in Topeka. I remember this mall. I'm class of 1996 from Washburn Rural. I remember I would go walking in this mall with friends and family. I think I even took my kids here 18 years ago....we would go walking. There are so many memories from this mall. I wonder how Westridge mall is doing? I remember when that mall first opened,that was the favorite hang out place after school
I went to this mall in the 70's one time when we were visiting my Grandparents who lived in Topeka. I remember they had testing set up for everyone's blood type going on in the mall, some health event I guess. And I also remember having an Orange Julius at White Lakes. My Dad is from Topeka but has lived in Tulsa since early 60's.
As a Topeka native. This is so disheartening. The white lakes mall still looked good in like ‘06... it makes me sad to see it in disarray like this
Very sad it was our epicenter for so long
I currently live in Topeka, and I knew White Lakes was bad, but had no idea it was THAT bad. Sad too, I remember going there as a kid.
I live in Topeka as well, and this mall has truly gone to all hell. It's really sad to see
Yeah I live only 10 minutes away from it. I’ve always been interested in going inside
@@danibabyx same! I have to figure out a day to go
I live in Topeka also and grew up going to this mall every weekend!! It's so sad.
This is horrible. Why hasn't the city demolished the building? I remember in HIgh School, three of the four major malls closed in columbus. They city demolished the malls to the ground within the same year.
Well damn, Westridge is about to be next. More than half of businesses moved out or went out of business.
I was there a couple days ago with my girlfriend, it's so sad to see, especially considering I'm not that old but still remember when most of the shops were full and the mall was the catchall place to hang out
Town west in Wichita Kansas is on its way also
So is Salinas mall......
DAMN YOU AMAZON!!!!!
no wait....
I hated going to the mall....
I loved old White Lakes..I never seemed to be a fan of of Westridge Mall
@@jonjacobjingleheimerschmid3798 to be fair Salinas mall was always lame..lets be honest lol
At 8:06 the writing on the wall that says “Heems world” was for a classmate of mine, Joheem Meredith, that was shot and killed the day before our graduation this year. He’s been on my mind a lot recently, and it’s crazy that somebody put that there.
Why was he shot?
i realize it is kinda randomly asking but do anybody know a good place to stream newly released tv shows online ?
@Lewis Oliver I would suggest flixzone. Just search on google for it :)
@Karsyn Mathew Definitely, I've been using flixzone for since april myself :D
@Karsyn Mathew Thank you, signed up and it seems to work =) I appreciate it!
To all those disheartened by this Mall's condition: I feel your pain. Sadly, this is the fate of 90% of malls (arbitrary number). Here in KC, we've seen plenty go up and down over the past few decades or so. The one I most remember as a kid is Metro North Mall, which was at 169 and Barry road. It too met this fate and then was torn down. Malls carry such an odd energy, like ancient civilizations. Places that once held so much life, now in ruins, within a fraction of our lifetimes. Nostalgia is at an all time high in our lives, as the world changes so fast and so dramatically nowadays...
Whoa, okay that one got away from me.. Haha. Hopefully this comment resonates.
I live in Topeka and I drive by this mall everyday
Its so sad. West Ridge is prob next.
Me too. I know it’s been bad for a while but I was kind of shocked with exactly how bad it looked. And yep Westridge is well on hits way there
So do i. It just caught fire not to long ago
I lived there as a child. I remember going to a few shops in there in the 90s, but mostly I remember going to Westridge where everything was. So sad to see it in such disrepair.
I remember Christmas shopping there when I was a kid in late 70s and early 80s. It had industrial styled art structures and fountains, it was quite the place.
It really saddens me to see all the malls going the way of the dinosaur. I spent countless hours at the Alladin's Castle at my local mall
12yo. Could not wait for Sunday mornings at Aladdin's Castle. Had the whole place to myself.
I spent thousands in that place
Never forget Aladdin’s Castle! 5 tokens for a dollar , and the most diverse selection of arcade machines in Topeka! I want to say that it closed in 95, which was well into the dying days of Whitelakes Mall, and arcades in general in the United States. Had several birthday parties there on Saturday mornings. Nothing spelled happiness like a 4 player game of Ninja Turtles, followed up by a little Uzi action with Operation Wolf. Good times! As the neighborhood decayed around the mall, you’d finish your game of Double Dragon , Narc, or Bad Dudes, and step outside into the sunlight to see an environment eerily similar to the game you were just playing. The only other competition it had was “Jolly Time”, across town at the newly built Westridge Mall. While a good arcade, it never had the sense of mystery, wonder, danger, and adventure that Aladdin’s Castle had. I still miss it. 🕹
What about Gold Diggers? They were off 29th & Fairlawn and near White Lakes, I don't remember the actual spot.
West Ridge on the other side of town is on it's way to this.
More than likely yeah. They only have one restaurant in the food court now, and it's not even that good. I wish it was still thriving
Makes me feel old. I remember when West ridge wasn't even there
@@robertkenney7122 Me too. Just a flashing light at 21st & Wanamaker.
Driving passed the parking lot is just plain sad.
That's sad. When I was stationed at Riley I would go there on paydays.
We ran into the band Poison a week before their first video aired on M-TV. They were having an Orange Julius and checking out the Musicland.
Lmao that is amazing!
That's gold
The Windjammer Restaurant Bar was incredible as was the Brass Rail and their amazing tacos.
Windjammer had best pool tables and decent restaurant. I see the first orange julius still standing. Was some good times. West ridge pretty dead now.
@@blakenelson8385 I should own stock in Orange Julius!! I loved it and their california hotdogs!
Brass Rail closed :(
Windjammer had some really good bands. Went there all the time.
Played in a pingpong tournament there in 1972. Thank you for sparking up some good memories. Oh yeah, the Town Cryer Book store was there.
I remember when the parking lot was so full that was nothing but wall-to-wall cars on Friday nights and all the kids went up there to take and drag their cars. Also it was either 78 or 79 the number 3 most cruised strip in the United States was Topeka Kansas white Lakes Mall but boy has it gone to shit
Funny. Parking lots packed!?
@@monkeywkeys3916 Yep, White Lakes, Holiday Square, Western Auto, all sorts of lots filled with people..
@@ZXLNT
The way it should be!
I remember back in the mid '80s when it was a great adventure to travel to Topeka to shop at White Lakes Mall.
The other great road trip back in the day was to Oak Park Mall in KC. Which is still going strong!
Topeka should be ashamed that now they have allowed a 2nd mall to fail from lack of local support. RIP West Ridge Mall!
I so agree with you. Now you pretty much have to travel to Kansas City to go to the mall and evidently the people who own the mall in Topeka doesn't care!
The people who own those places have run them into the ground, it's not the fault of the locals.
I’m scared Oak Park is going to start heading south soon. They are losing an anchor next year, and after the pandemic, idk how fast it’ll recover.
This makes me so sad. I'm a lifelong Topekan, except for a couple years...and now I live on the east side of town, having this mall open would be so awesome....but now, if you want/need something, you must travel to the west side of town where the Westridge Mall is. And now, the Westridge Mall is suffering. Many of the stores are gone. It's just a sad state of affairs all around.
I too live in east Tijuana. The city did a drag net on our humble obscure neighborhood a couple years back for any petty little thing that violated their newer property code that allows for zero percent peeling paint. Close to 200 low income properties were wrote up from a code that was adopted from (uppity) localities like Johnson and Wyandotte county's. But yet nothings done to White Lakes because the city can threaten to fine or demolish normal citizens properties, but the (previous?) owner of White Lakes has the money, clout and skillful legal team to get away with two different shootings of trespassers (not saying the self defense shootings weren't justified, but twice at two different vacant commercial properties in one year?), escaped federal gun charges after hiding purchases during his bankruptcy, suspicious fire where not one later model Shelby was stored, but two, plus many other instances. The city seems to not mess with this property or owner, but has no problem harassing with the average citizen who has no connections/clout/resources. Even Westridge mall made the news this spring, its lawn being a couple feet tall because of some issue with (new?) owners/management and the city on camera saying "if we have to mow that huge area, it will wreck our mowing budget for the year", but yet how many other citizens through illness, age, broken mower or other circumstances 'got behind' mowing in a wet spring, and get a nasty gram letter from the city. No talk of wrecking the budget in these cases of the average citizen, only wreck the budget when it comes to wealth and power. Just my two cents worth on the code injustice of this one horse town and embedded beurocrats.
In the mid-seventies, at White Lakes, I negotiated financing with my mom to buy a Soundesign stereo. I don't remember the name of the store but the stereo had to be great - it had big speakers and was cheap! If I remember correctly, there was also a Jenkins music store at WL. It mostly carried organs and would have someone playing one with those "amazing" rhythm machines as folks walked around. The guitars, drums and other "cool stuff" was at their downtown store on Kansas Avenue. One more vivid memory - across the street there was a restaurant called Kings (famous for their Cheese Frenchy deep fried sandwich). Kings was so high-tech that each booth had a wall mounted phone for customers to place their orders. If speed dial had existed then I'm sure there would have been a button for the Cheese Frenchy!
In the 70s, we would cruise Topeka boulevard from the Drummer Boy to White Lakes parking lot then cruise around Macdonald's.
The drummer boy was a restaurant on east side of Topeka boulevard. We would circle through that parking lot, then back to Macdonald's.
@The Beatles Rule try joining Topeka history geeks on Facebook
When everyone wanted or drove a muscle car. Martin tractor. The good ol days
Oh wow brings back 90s child hood memories. We went there to visit in the 90s and went to that mall once when I was a kid and we went to the toy store I got a new beanie baby and then we went to the food court. When we left and got to the care I realized I left my little kid purse with my new toy in it we went back and it was gone someone stole it . I was so upset.
A childhood that prepared you for life in 2020
@@MidnightAphelion The two incidents aren't related though?
F
I lived in Lawrence and In the 70-80's it was the Christmas go-to mall for us. It was awesome inside and Santa was always there lol
Wasn't there a mall down by the river? On the north end of mass? I vaguely remember going to a bookstore inside there.
@@smitty2jones no, it was in Topeka. Riverfront mall was the one you are thinking of. It had the best chocolate store.
The outside of the building doesn't look nearly as bad as the inside
Hey THE JUNE 8th 1966 TORNADO WIPED OUT HOMES AND DID EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO TOPEKA,,,,My parents loaded us kids up and went to Burnettes Mound to ''watch'' the twister sweep thru T-Town....Anyone remember The Wind Jammer Inn ??? I totally got drunk in there with my cool happenin' friends! White Lakes Mall was t.h.e. coolest place to hang out in the 70s early 80s! Orange Julius stands were popular, this mall had it all tho-JCPenny, Sears, Foxworths, T-Shirt Iron On shops with the Keep On Truckin' sign ironed on a shirt, my Momma was the best, she'd take us kids out to the mall every weekend, we were so spoiled!! White Lakes Mall became The ''BOULEVARD'' AND ALL HOT RODS WERE OUT EVERY WEEKEND,,,,WE WERE IN OUR 1972 MUSTANG MACH 1 factory metallic dark green/silver with a 351 Cleveland motor & 4 on the Floor!!
I wouldn't trade my memories at White Lakes for a million bucks people!! Still here!!! The Martin Family comin' atcha
Love your story!!!
$5 drink and drowns!!!!
I got hired by Sears in 1964 to help them open their beautiful new store in the White Lakes Mall. Sears on the north end, Penneys at the south end and about 60 good stores and places to eat and thousands of shoppers in between. It ruined downtown for shopping at the time, but that was progress. Now the malls are dying a slow death and all we need is the smart devices we can hold in one hand and I guess this is progress, too. What do you think is next?
So cool! I’ve been wanting to do this. I remember when I was a little guy and adults were sitting around the fountain smoking cigarettes. They used to have an Aladdin’s Castle arcade! Me and my son have talked about exploring but I was seriously concerned about all of the meth heads and bath salt bandits in the area. I didn’t want us to find ourselves in a fallout 4 scenario.
This is by far the most apocalyptic mall I've ever seen, and I've seen HUNDREDS of abandoned mall videos from all the other channels.
Wow only a million over budget, we knew how to do things right back then. Man that intro was off the charts.
Wow!! I grew up going to this mall!! Got my ears pierced here when I was 6!! Insane!!
Omg makes me cry!! My hang out every weekend. 80s . Makes me sick.
Wow!!!!! I remember being in this mall in the late 80's and early 90's. It was nice then!!!! Wow!!!!!
I can remember when this mall back in it's Hay Day's was alive and well running. It was the All American Mall just like Bannister Mall was in Kansas City for many years. It amazes me how fast time goes by and the memories are still fresh in your memory.
Spent a lot of time at Aladdin's Castle. Sad to see it like this. With West Ridge dying down in favor of strip malls, would be nice to see some economic development resources utilized to help the east side of Topeka.
It caught on fire this morning. Good thing you got this footage
I lived in Topeka feom1966-1972 and then 1977-1981. Sad to see this icon in such disrepair.
Great video, the mall itself has been mostly abandoned most of my life. It housed small businesses when I was younger along with a hair school. There have been squatting happening off an on since the last tenant left. The guy who bought it is garbage, we all knew that nothing was going to happen with the property when he bought it. There used to be a Mexican restaurant at the south end of the building, not sure if it is still there or not.
The Mexican restaurant has been gone awhile.
It moved to Gage Center @ Huntoon & Gage.
THEY HAVE TORN IT ALL DOWN
I loved White Lakes Mall as a kid in the 70s! It was so full of life. (You can still see the top of the Orange Julius stand in the video, and Aladin’s Castle where I dropped endless quarters on video games). Then as a teenager cruising the boulevard from White Lakes to Holliday Square and back again...over and over. Left Topeka many decades ago. So sad to see what has happened to it all!
I live in Topeka and i live less than a mile away from the mall it was so cool seeing what was inside!!
Im also a Topeka Native. I remember going to the mall 100s of times it seems back in the 1960s and 1970s. So sad to see it in such disarray. I remember when she opened up it was fantastic. You could spend hours there shopping and looking around. I delivered TVs and appliances for Penneys. The place had the smell of new clothing and fresh paint. Good memories.
Knew the inside would be bad but definitely didn’t think it would be this destroyed
Great video and love the new effects !
I felt dread when I heard about west ridge bankruptcy, I may not go to the mall at all, but I know it keeps jobs here.
Plus maybe I just a little paranoid with hearing about all these other stores closing there doors for good.
Used to go there often as a kid. I had no idea it was that run down. I thought it was still being used for offices.
There waa also an Orange Julius, in the pagoda with white roof you show, a Town Crier book store and a music store out in the open that had self playing organs and electric pianos
This makes me very 😥 sad. I have awesome memories of this mall. With Family, friends good food, Great stores♡♡♡♡
Spectacular video. I'd nominate this for a 'tuuby'
You did a good job detailing the history and chronology of the events leading to its current state. I particularly loved the animation filter at the end.
Awesome vide ace. I really enjoy these abandoned malls.
Yaaaaaasss! I’m from Overland Park but visited family in Topeka every weekend and school break as a child. Finally! I find a vid with my state featured :)
Sad to see what happened to this mall and the city for that matter. Topeka needs new leadership
Update. At 6:45 am 12/29/20 Whitelakes was on fire. 2 alarm. Topeka FD were on scene.
This place caught on fire a few days ago
WHAT
Awesome video, and love the new intro!👍👌😍
All I can say is it is a damned shame. What I see is jobs, livelihoods gone, and dreams dashed. How utter is the destruction. It is a damned shame.
I’m from Topeka KS, this mall looks super rundown but it’s only been closed for maybe 10 years. Or that was the last time I’ve been in there at least. At that time there was only a book store, hair salon & tax place inside
I'm form Topeka and I miss the town LONG LIVE TOPEKA
Wow really sad remember mom and dad took us there 70s 80s would go to long John's silver then go to the mall it was really awesome at that time especially christmas...
I live in Kansas and I feel the lawmakers has given up on a future. 🙏🙏🙏
Especially in Topeka. They suck
Myself, my dad, and my boy scout group spent the final night in the mall that it was open. Only thing left at the time was one of those empty rooms (where we slept on the floor, on sleeping bags.) as well as an arcade with a marvel fighting game. We got to eat a bunch of free pizza and all hang out and tell stories before the night was out.
That was a good 20 years ago now... Holy hell where did the time go.
Awww its 😔😔😔I remember driving from here in junction City Kansas goin to white lake...Online shopping 🛍 is killing of malls..👋🏾👋🏾
My grandfather developed that property and was part in construction in the mall. I grew up going to this place in the 80s. We went to the arcade often. Now I drive by looking at it everyday sad site to see. So many memories from my childhood and teen years. It used to be a place to walk before the homeless and criminals came in destroying it. The floors were all hardwood at one time. Interesting video thanks for sharing light to our history.
I remember when White Lakes Mall opened. When I was in kindergarten in 1963 we learned the very long word "escalator," which was built in the Sears at White Lakes. It may have been the only escalator in town at that time. The town had elevators, of course, but no escalator. White Lakes was several miles from our house, but when I was 11 and my brother 8, we were allowed to walk to the mall, by ourselves, and get soft-serve ice cream for 10 cents. The mall also had a good bookstore, The Town Crier, which was also a tobacco shop. My dad bought his pipes there.
I go to the Walgreens there almost every day. Crazy it's that bad on the inside. Used to go to this mall every weekend
Super excited for this! I'm a Topekan!
Nice to find others lol
I drive by there all the time, but have never been inside.
@@blakewineinger9176 same!! That and blind tiger
@@mooshi9743 what? You’ve never been to Blind Tiger?? It’s got great steaks and beer! I’m going to miss it when I move in a couple of weeks... 😭
U didn’t add any old video or photo of the mall in its hey day ??? Or when it was just built it better to have a idea of before n after
I live in Topeka.. It caught on fire today and part of the roof collapsed.. I remember the good old days in the '80's..
You should have added photos from the heyday of White Lakes to give a better idea of just how fantastic this place was. If you grew up in the area during the 70s or 80s it was THE place to go shopping and have a bite to eat. There was always something going on there like baseball card shows, craft shows, Jerry Lewis telethon, Santa Claus and even band concerts (I played a Christmas concert with the National Guard band there). When my wife and I first got together we could do our entire Christmas shopping there. One of our favorite stores was The Nut Hut and that was the first place I could find Jelly Belly in Topeka. It's just too bad that this place full of great memories for so many people was allowed to end up in this state.
There were none
@@AcesAdventures1 I have several I downloaded from Topeka history geeks facebook page that is run by a reporter for the Topeka Capital Journal. A post about White Lakes comes up every couple months and new photos are posted. I'm sure other cities you film in have Facebook groups as well and can have a wealth of information if you ask about the place you are wanting to film.
Wasn't white lakes one of the first indoor malls in the country? I remember the beautiful fountains as a kid. We'd throw pennies in the water
There was a Cosmetology College on the East side of the mall until they were kicked out by the owner. Thw mall wasn't in great shape when I was in College there, but this is sad to see. I used to walk through it and go to Las Fuentes for lunch!
My Grandmother was born and mostly raised in Topeka. We went to Topeka for my Great Grandmother’s funeral in the ‘90s I believe and visited this and one other mall. Crazy to see it like this 25/30 years later!
1988 is when the hypermart (now walmart on wanamaker) was built as well on the west side. So sad that this place caught on fire last night.
In the 90s as a child I would come here with my mother to mall walk. Although my memories of this place are vague, I barely recognize it.
I'm only 33 and remember this mall not at its peak but def still alive. Sad, but Mr. Watts always helps 🤍
I grew up in Topeka Kansas, moved to Baltimore MD in 1992. Was my favorite mall that I shopped at. Remember when they builted west view mall. Hated to see it dwindle down,. I never went much to the new mall only when I came to Topeka to visit.
I worked there at Little King sandwich shop in the 80s. Sad!
I loved little kings. Wasn't it a nickel extra to warm the sandwich?
LOL my cousin worked there in the early 80's we used to get stoned in the parking lot. Most of the malls in the greater area that close have been torn down. Many are just huge wastes of space now like Indian Springs in KC. Metro North in Gladstone is the one I miss. The most disgusting mess is the Leavenworth Shopping mall. They tore it down and left westlake on one end and the old sears(closed) on the other. In between is a huge space of destruction and it's been that way for awhile. So these malls didnt work they decide to build an outdoor mall in Wyandotte. Hello, Kansas is cold. Ive been there a couple times in winter and the employees are shocked when you walk in. I will say when it's nicer the place is hopping but come on.
The Music 🎵🎶 and effects are nostalgic bruh 💕
White lakes mall burned . It’s not coming back, but those is us who remember this won’t forget it.
Ah, those Taco burgers were so good.
One of the things that caused the demise was that the rents were raised and the owners did not do repairs. The new mall was just nicer.
There was a book store, a pipe shop, and a gift shop. One feature was a little pool with a bridge that I loved just outside Sears.
Topeka Capital took a photo of my mother installing speakers for the sound system Jan 1977
How’d you get it I’ve tried getting in before but couldn’t find an entrance
I remember Aladdin's Castle... 😆👍
I’m from Topeka, and remember this mall when I was little ...so sad .I live in GA now and only visit every year because my family still there or I wouldn’t go back.
I worked here in 2007 or so and the mall was open for several years later. I do remember going to the arcade as a kid as well.
Spent a lot of times there as a kid...It was a nice place, it is sad that they have let this get into this shape.
White lakes mall for orange Julius was always a treat
I grew up on a somewhat historic farm in Butler County and the landlord lived in Emporia. We went to visit her in probably the early 70s and asked her where she wanted to go. She told us White Lakes in Topeka so we took her there.
I remember the last time I shopped there. It was about 1988 on Black Friday. It was SO crowded with people, we were almost shoulder-to-shoulder! It was SO alive and vibrant. SO hard to imagine and painful to see now. R.I.P. White Lakes Mall.
@Robert Vincent Birch Jr 11-10-71 El Paso TX Nope
Interesting to see Leeds on some signs lol, I live in the city of Leeds, UK 😂. Never knew there was a shoe company in America with that name. Love seeing footage of these abandoned Malls, Very interesting but also quite sad.
All of man's creations will eventually go back to dust.
As a 19 year old, I have zero memory of this place besides driving by and being told by my mom that it’s abandoned.
Wow this looks like what Jamestown mall in frossiant Missouri looks like this mall looks very similar to it way beyond repair
Now it was burned in an arson fire. Very heavy roof damage. 3 kids were arrested for lighting the fire.
My mom loved this mall when we first moved to Topeka in the mid-80s, she used to take us shopping there most weekends. I remember performing in a Christmas concert there in probably 5th or 6th grade, which might be the last time I went in. Really sad to see it falling down like this.
California raised lived in Topeka in the 90s.. I remember this mall back in the day...it was already going down hill....I'm surprised its still there after all these years and I'm reading comments that West Ridge is next..I'm back in Cali but I still have fond memories of Topeka.
my family always visited white lakes and also hat box and sadly yesterday it caught fire
Mainline Printing is in the former Sears store. My father worked for them.
I remember Ed I work there currently.
@@waynedub1167 glad you remember him. He really enjoyed working there. I wish I could have shown him this video.
I live like less than a mile from this mall. It caught on fire Monday morning. Apparently it had become a warm spot for homeless and they had taken it over to the point that demolition was on hold because police could not go in and make people leave. With electricity and water still on, I can understand, somewhat, why. Not sure of the damage but it looked significant.
This used to be a very lovely indoor shopping mall. Sadly in Topeka we have many dilapidated buildings here and they are just eyesores and makes Topeka look like a poor city, which it is. And don't get me started on the crappy roads throughout Topeka!
Looks like a 3rd world country in many places. Very sad
I never been to this mall since i grew up during the 2000s but literally facts these buildings does make our city look really poor
Lived there in the 1960's . . . White Lakes Mall was the place to go!
Many happy days spent there.
Topeka native as well. As of March 8, 2022, they're finally starting to tear the mall down.
I remember going there as a kid. It had a lot of art pieces. Even a fake grocery store where all the kids pretend to shop. Good times.
I grew up in Topeka. I remember this mall. I'm class of 1996 from Washburn Rural. I remember I would go walking in this mall with friends and family. I think I even took my kids here 18 years ago....we would go walking. There are so many memories from this mall. I wonder how Westridge mall is doing? I remember when that mall first opened,that was the favorite hang out place after school
I went to this mall in the 70's one time when we were visiting my Grandparents who lived in Topeka. I remember they had testing set up for everyone's blood type going on in the mall, some health event I guess. And I also remember having an Orange Julius at White Lakes. My Dad is from Topeka but has lived in Tulsa since early 60's.