Georgia Square Mall, Athens GA | Dead 1980's Mall with redevelopment pending.
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
- This dead mall outside of Atlanta is located in the college town of Athens. Opened in 1981, this CBL & Associates mall was much loved by the community all the way until the late 2000's and early 2010's, when it began to struggle. Losing 3 of its 4 anchors and most of its chain stores, it stands today pending redevelopment, but for now is a beautiful dead mall.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=
Consider checking out the Dead Malls of Discord Server. Must be 18+ to join.
/ discord
Follow my Instagram!
/ themallfox
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=
Footage was filmed in Mid April 2024.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=
Galaxy S22 Ultra (Recording Device)
Capcut Pro (Editor)
Canva (Thumbnails)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=
Song: Palm Springs
Song: Ice Cream Truck
Song: Bubble Gum
Song: Seals
Song: Trinity
Song: Pistachios
Song: Patient
Song: Tuesday
Artist: Kia
Music by: CreatorMix.com
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=
So, funny story. I worked at this mall for about 2 years, from September 2022 to June 2024. I worked at the Spencer Gifts upstairs, and it was the best job I'd ever had. I have so much love for the mall and to find out our store was closing was a real heartbreak. I've lived in Athens my whole life and watching the mall slowly deteriorate stung like hell.
Oh, and that "retro sign from the 1980's" that Spencer's adorned? It's in my garage now lol
EDIT: Here's some info about the mall.
1. The Slab Dream Lab is partially owned by one of the biggest investors of the mall. That's why they've set up shop in the Sears building.
2. Spencer's was forced to leave due to upper management (Spencer's management, not the mall) not liking our store. They pushed for our closure for a while and were always wanting us to close but never had a valid reason. They lied and told us the mall renovations as an excuse, but the part of the mall that was set to be demolished doesn't include the space previously occupied by Spencer's. Mall management pushed for us to stay and even offered the company a bigger storefront at no addition to our rent prices, but the Spencer's company wanted us gone.
3. The house decor/facade in the Belk wing of the mall IS Santa's workshop. It used to be torn down and then set back up every year for Christmas meet-and-greets. The last year they did that was 2022. Whatever company that was hired to deconstruct the set wasn't re-hired by the mall after the 2022 Christmas season, so it sits to this day, abandoned.
Thank you for this information! I'm glad that Spencer's sign went to someone who will appreciate it versus in a landfill. Really sad about the management thing, it would have been nice to see them stay post the redevelopment taking place.
I moved to Athens in 1964 and lived there until about 1989. I loved this place. I met Herschel Walker in Sabaros. I got two autographs. I still have them. His girl friend picked up my 2 year old son and he punched her in the eye. That was soooo embarrassing. Thank you for the video.
I grew up at this mall. I’m from Athens and when I was a kid me and my great grandma would go to this mall once every month and shop and get chick fil a. Sad to see the mall go. Everything moved from that side of Athens over too Oconee connector
This is my childhood mall. One of my earliest memories is watching a TMNT rock em sock em toy being demoed out front of the KB toys. From getting me and my siblings baby pictures taken at Sears to sitting on Santa's lap, so many memories were made there. I remember playing the Mortal Kombat 3 arcade while waiting for a table at the pizza hut. Heading eagerly to electronic boutique (later EB Games) to buy a N64 or a Gamecube game. The Cyberstation arcade my brother and I would play the TMNT cabinet or the Marvel vs Capcom 2 cabinet at. So many good times. I moved away from Athens in 2017 and the mall was half empty then. Nowhere near where it is now though. I'll be sad to see it go. Like they say, time changes everything.
Despite living just 30 minutes away, I haven't been to this mall in nearly a decade. Seeing it this dead is quite depressing.
Its decline was quite rapid, in 2016 it was showing signs of declining but after it lost Sears and Macys, it went downhill fast. The nail in the coffin was JCPenney leaving. To be honest I'm not sure why Athens couldn't support a mall, maybe it was due to Hendon Properties' management? People shopping at outlets and boutiques instead? Athens has the base for a mall so I wish it was doing good :/
I learned a big life lesson at this mall when I was a new freshman at UGA in the 90’s…..my dad had just filled my checking account with a monthly amount. I got so excited and went with friends to shop, not realizing that was also my food, etc money. I had to do the return of shame so I could eat😅 To this day, I smile when I am in town and pass the Georgia Square Mall. I sure hope that a re development occurs.
Sabbaro's had a whole sit down restaurant w/bar upstairs for years.
I remember that. It was good back then.
We love this mall so much! Yours is the best video we’ve seen on it. :) We go here often, and will definitely be sad to see it go. The people here are so kind, the food from American Deli and Great American cookies tastes great (As well as the cafe type place that used to be under the stairs in front of Macy’s), and we’ve got a lot of our clothes and other things in places like Claire’s, Earthbound, Rue21, Belk, JcPenney, Shoe Dept, Jewel Time, and more. I’ve been going here since I was about 5 years old, and my mom first went with a church when the mall first opened in 1981. Oh the memories and memories still being made here. We plan to enjoy it for as long as it stays open. Hoping the best for the time left of GA Square, the people that work here, others who enjoy visiting it also, the Viridian which will take its place, and you The Mall Fox!
I went to my Rue21 closing at Southridge mall when it just started its liquidation in early May :) it was fun
Just commented on your Anderson S.C. mall as that ive been there many times since I live outside Hartwell GA. I work in Athens and have been here most of my life.
Wow, a retro Spencer's sign surprised it didn't get the update with spray paint with most Spencer's now. Rue21 also just closed at The Crossroads Mall in Kazoo along with Express as well, Buckle moved next door to a strip mall in Southland and no I don't call it a mall LOL Southland did have enclosure when I was a kid in the 80s & early '90s it was largely outside stores that was busy. Not so much inside the enclosure part. The Crossroads Mall has a slum lord named Kohan with huge potholes that need to be filled up at JC Penny's parking lot if Penny's or Macy's closes the mall dies pretty fast as it is a dead mall and struggling wasn't the case 10 years ago The Crossroads Mall was doing good. COVID is what hurt the mall and losing Burlington decided to move on my side of town to the de-malled Maple Hill Mall which died when local anchor department store & Wards closed their doors in early 2001. In 2005 decided to make it into a strip mall with stores on the outside they didn't really need a teardown which was a good thing.
There was a dead mall across the street from Maple Hill Mall West Main Mall which was the very first mall built in Kazoo was opened in the late 60s Maple Hill opened in 72, and The Crossroads Mall in 81 or 82. West Main was dead when I was a kid did have Fun Factory a movie theater, Zayres/Ames I don't know if it was another store name in that anchor space which closed in 1990 it was the last store inside West Main Mall other than SOS office. Fun Factory closed in the spring of 96 the last few times it wasn't at all busy. They tore the mall out and became a strip mall United Artist was the last thing to go from West Main in the fall of 99 did have another UA at The Crossroads Mall now Celebration chain movie theater. You're doing a good job keep up the good work.
That mall is very spooky :) I think lol
IIRC, Chic Fil-A was to the left on the opening shot.
Oh wow! I used to go to this mall when I went to UGA back in 2007-2011. They had some pretty decent stores back then. I hate to see all these malls that I frequented growing up looking like this.
Thank you for covering this mall as it is my childhood mall and i will miss it very much for sure
Great video and great job hitting the malls a little less documented malls. Do you have any footage of mount berry in Rome? I was there a couple summers ago and am curious how its holding up.
I don't have any footage of Rome, but I've been within the last year and it's definitely dying unfortunately.
To me, when I think "liminal space" I think backrooms, if your familiar with that legend. And also malls like this, too.
I definitely agree that's a liminal space you showed there!
Since when Arundel Mills a "struggling mall?!?!?!?!?" There's a rue21 there. I'm going to miss them though. I didn't shop there very often.
I might have misworded that. Rue21 was in a lot of malls from Thriving to alive to struggling dying and dead. I was pointing out that this is a big blow to struggling malls of which they were in many.
Really enjoyed the aesthetics of the stairs/central court areas.
I love your video! This is the mall I went to growing up. I loved it & used to eat at the Chick Fil A that was on the 2nd floor with my family before shopping. I live close to Athens, GA & also Anderson, SC. Both malls were fun to go to. Anderson’s still has a bunch of stores.♥️
Your videos are really good. I’ve mentioned before about maybe throwing in related retail visits as traveling to film a mall, you are passing by a lot of great places, both national and local brands.
If you get back home to edit and you have a mall or two plus several other interesting retail or whatever spots, this might help your channel grow faster.
Of course, this genre really is a hobby and there’s not decent money to be made with the vids. It has to be a hobby, but it would certainly be nice to get you past 1k subs to at least make a few bucks along the journey.
🎉🎉🎉
Oh, also if the stability of your shots is an issue, go snag a osmo pocket. Even the first gen is great! I have one but only use it now for mall vids if I don’t want to deal with security… not that they have ever bothered me… yet.😂
Your video is amazing! I can't wait to see more content from mall reviews, TheMallFox.
😊😊😊
What a waste of a really good building and spaces. The little city scene in front of Belk is probably just management not wanting to take it apart after Christmas. It would make that area look even more dead.
Rent is too high, malls greed puts themselves out of business
When I saw “fencing”, I assumed its was a metal or wood fence contractor… in a mall! 😂
This is my local mall. You know your mall is dying once they put in military recruitment centers.
Amazing Video!
your month your mall
13:15 Macy’s
Content ok let me give my (opinion) the music maybe add some different types the vids are good just your stabilizing in the beginning when you went to open the doors of the mall… the shots are good (better then mine) and audio is good too :) so keep being you, your doing great :)
Some of the photos you got to center them ok lol other then that its good :)
A liminal space is whatever you want it to be, it's a place that's neither here, nor there, an in-between place.
Cash in your commemorative north lake coin for a million bucks! 😂😂
10:40