Dead Malls Season 5 Episode 25 - Westland Mall (OH)
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2023
- Once upon a time, malls like this were fabled as the future of shopping, the future of commerce, and the future of community. A place were any and all could be brought together under one roof to do any and all they wanted. In Columbus, Ohio this was one of those malls… Westland Mall was one of the first in the city and enjoyed decades of success and popularity. But as the times changed, and newer malls opened. It was put out of favor, and if you utter the name around town nowadays, you might get a different outtake on it.. Despite being a small mall it’s still one of the most fascinating I’ve ever been to. So join me today, as we dive in, take a look at, and tell the story of one of the most bizarre abandoned malls I have ever been to…
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For everyone who keeps asking, the reason I got so scared at 15:30 was because my irrational fear of man made objects submerged in water (submechanophobia) and my fear of deep water (thalassophobia)
That really was hella scary.
what was under the water??@@Dark_Harmony
@@mikeschulte3686 The stairs.
I've got both of those too, Bro, so I totally understood. That stairwell, and the one at the beginning, were definitely the biggest Nopes of the video for me!! Stellar video, as always!
Bull.
This was my mall growing up. Even when it was "thriving", Westland was viewed as not being as good as Northland and Eastland (Southland had no connection to the other malls). Westland didn't have Gap, American Eagle, Disney or a food court like Northland and Eastland did. Some other fun facts:
1. After the Chi-Chis closed, it became another Mexican restaurant but it was actually a drug front; owner was distributing brown heroin out of the restaurant
2. Next to Chi-Chi's was Wendy's Hamburgers. Next to Wendy's Hamburgers was Wendy's Bridal. No connection but it was odd
3. The JCPenny constantly had roof leaking issues. The store would have tarps filled with water strapped to the ceiling when it was open
4. The Limited (which you show in the video) had two entrances at an angle so shoplifters would just run straight through and grab stuff. Later they would keep the gate down on one of the entrances
5. Lazarus had an entrance right across from Waldenbooks. This entrance lead to their "Fast Lane" zone which was their "young, hip" department that competed with Chess King
Thanks for the info.🤎
The water up that high on the stairwell is seriously a movie scene. You should have yelled “Rose, stay on the upper deck of the ship!!!”😂
😊
Genuinely amazed at the amount of unbroken glass in this abandoned mall. There’s certainly a lot of broken glass, but I’m used to seeing every last inch of glass smashed.
Guys I didn’t even catch the clip of me swearing at 6:30 , so sorry about that one, although I will admit me asking “what’s in there? Cocaine bricks?” Is pretty funny
No worries. You aren't going to offend me. In real life i swear like a drunken sailor with tourettes.
Lol didn’t even notice that but I cracked up after hearing it
I'm 21, so by the time I had the ability to form memories, the mall was already mostly gone, but one of my first memories that I can still recall to this day originates at Westland. I was probably 2 or 3 years old, my mom was pushing me through the mall in a stroller, and over the intercom speakers I heard "lifes been good" by Joe Walsh for the first time. Not sure how, or why, that stuck with me, but it did.
The timing of this post is interesting. The mall just started being demolished right around when you posted. Thanks for sharing as a Columbus local I have been fascinated with this mall we call it wasteland
This was an amazing episode! Exciting, eerie and sad all at the same time. I was thinking something was gonna pop out of one of those back rooms at any moment. This was one of the best episodes so far and a definite worthy finale! Thanks for risking your lives to get such good footage.
Thanks man! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I would’ve sworn this place was abandoned long before it was. That’s shocking how quickly it turned into that. I also can’t believe it wouldn’t be more of a priority for them to get rid of such a hazard! I don’t think I would’ve gone in if I were you, but glad you did to capture this footage.
I know right?! Especially in such a developed neighborhood you would think it would be their priority to get rid of such a dangerous place sooner
@@NorthCdogg22 Hell, it was dangerous during the 90's. I was warned to not go to it alone. But there were enough shoppers still meandering around, & felt fine most of the time. Yet, I was still s. assaulted right in front of a Chi Chi's crowd, late afternoon, during Christmas shopping season in early December, & not one person helped me. What a horrible time, & a very undermanaged place.
The contrast of that terrifying water and the lingering brick & woodwork...it gave the impression of something lurking just out of sight. And that one image of someone walking just far enough ahead to seem like a lost mall walker added to the unsettling impression.
This was actually a really cool place during its "low end" phase in the 00s. It had all kinds of stores you wouldn't see in most malls like a used video game store, used book store and a local trying to be a fashion designer and opening up a shop. The Chi Chi's was turned into a night club. Yet it still had "mall credibility" with "real" stores like Foot Locker, Sears, etc. being there too. The Lazarus space in the middle of the mall would be rented out for random things like CD liquidation, gun shows and all kinds of random stuff. Ironically, I miss this era of the mall more than its 80s heyday.
I laughed so hard when you said you can even tell your cat to subscribe, I'm honored 😁🤣⭐🤩
Once a glorious mall filled with life has now been abandoned and left to rot. A mall that I am sure was once beautiful. Good Video!
Loved this mall as a kid. The Claire’s there with their 10 for $10 wall in the back made my little childhood so fun - hate to see it in such disarray.
I was in this one around later July 2022, came in the same way, man that smell is PUNGENT as heck when u first get in. We had respirators and it still bleed through them, it’s the worst place I’ve ever seen by far and I’ve seen some insane places
My youth captured once again. This is the second video I've seen of Westland, which I find strange. Here in Texas, dead malls hang on, transform or get demolished. A decaying mall just standing there...strange.
I grew up with Westland. I recall the 2 screen theatre you spoke of. I saw Ghostbusters and Neverending Story there. My brother worked at the newer General Cinema Westland 8 when it opened across from the mall.
In the other video, someone took video of the restaraunt space. I recall it being a Chi Chis. And we never went to that part of the mall much. It was a treat. I remember an arcade over there (Aladdins Castle?) and a Wendy's. I don't remember the Musicland. I remember a store called Record Town.
The old arcade was definitely an Aladdin’s Castle before, it had that look to it. That’s pretty sweet you have so many memories of this amazing mall when it was still an amazing mall!
Look up rolling acres mall! It sat for years in even worse shape than this mall!
I grew up with Westland Mall myself. So strange to see it like this.
Hi from the UK, loving the vibe and story telling you give to these interesting structures.
Glad you like it thanks for watching!
This was an amazing video. So scary and creepy, yet fascinating to watch. Reminds me of Rolling Acres. Ohio seems to have many dead and abandoned malls. You deserve more subscribers cause your videos are all awesome. Thanks for all the work you do to film the malls. I really appreciate it.
Thank you for watching! I’m glad you enjoy them!!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I feel sorry for people younger than about 37 who probably never had a change to experience malls in their heyday, and now only wander around in the “ruin porn” of their state today. Or then again, maybe I envy those people, because you don’t feel the heartbreak of someone like me, who is 44, and grew up in those golden mall years. But for someone like me who truly loved malls, it’s very emotionally scarring to see what the majority of them are today. I feel like I’ve lost my third place to go. Seeing malls like this feels like seeing a dying relative who you loved, in bed and unable to move, and a shell of their former self. It was surreal seeing the storefront for The Finish Line in this video. That logo is exactly the way the storefront logo in my local mall was when it opened in 1991. Even if my mall’s store was smaller. I have images from that time 32 years ago burned into my memory from how cool it all was.
I just turned 47 and remember how awesome malls were. My kids never got to experience that.
That intro music drew me in right away. Set the mood just right.
Fantastic video.
I’m glad you liked it! Thank you to watching!
I'm glad you had people with you on this one. I cant believe its been abandoned that long. I think jamestown looked worst. I would have to carry a weapon to go in jamestown by myself. I never heard of that phobia. I had to read about it. Thanks for another great video.
Thanks for watching SeaBee glad you enjoyed!
Fun local fact! As of May 2024 The Westland Mall is currently under demo and once it's finished they're going to build more apartment housing
I wouldn't have gone in I'd be too scared plus the smells would make me gag and I'd want to puke a lot LOL😂. I liked the old style with the wood and old signage with The Finish Line which I remember it as Finish Line the Finish Line where I live became a JD Sports at The Crossroads Mall in Kazoo. Yeah, The Crossroads Mall had many store fronts back in it's heyday 80s & 90s they got rid of those to expand some stores like H&M when that opened in July of 2018 & then Forever 21 was enlarged as well as that was a pretty small space they were in H&M took that space that Forever 21 was in and Forever 21 took where Guess & The Disney Store was along with The Wet Seal. Glad that you made it out alive and didn't get injured either.
Hey! just wanted to tell you that im glad that your starting to make abandoned mall videos! thats rlly awesome!
Glad you enjoy them! SO many more to come!
@@NorthCdogg22 Yes! I'm indeed very excited! if only we could go to century III which will be demoed
@@rockersretailandmore Century 3 is coming VERY soon don’t you worry
@@NorthCdogg22WOoOoOOoO!!!
Wait wain so like we’re going to century 3 next or something else
Fabulous as always! Man your absolutely crushing it on mall tours❤
This mall had the feeling of complete defeat emanating from it, so sad
Thanks!
@@NorthCdogg22 the amount of water at that one stairwell was mind blowing
As of late July 2023, this mall is still standing in ruins even if funding is available to demolish it. A few weeks ago, my dad and I dined at the last surviving York Steak House in America across the street. He said they still have gun shows held at the Westland, but I'm sure they are in the areas of the building that aren't unsafe. Now Tuttle Crossing that originally took some business away from Westland in the late 90s is struggling to stay alive. Polaris and Easton are the healthy malls in this area.
It’s weird how such a fancy and high end mall like Tuttle Crossing itself is now struggling, and I remember seeing signs outside the old Sears about a gun show, I’m guess that’s the one building on the property they keep in good shape
YORK STEAK IS NASTY TOO.
Fantastic episode! The water filled basement looked extremely dangerous.
Right?? Thanks for watching!
i very fondly remember the westland arcade room, since i would always beg my parents to let me go in there. It was around for a bit but i remember that being one of the first few things that closed when the mall slowly started dying off. If i remember correctly, the room was more dim but there was neon lights and decorations that made the arcade pop
At 21:17 that place used to be a hair salon i would go to as a kid and across from that was a food stand with the name Mark Pi’s Express
Hey i live by this! It was actually just torn down, good timing getting this out!
sunday morning and a dead malls episode. love your content, thank you
Thank you!!
Thanks for putting the music in the video!
Excellent video! I really loved seeing shots of the mall when it was open for shopping then abandoned!
I love all the former stores frozen in the 80’s. The Foot Locker was especially cool.
Ok i'm impressed that you mentioned the Southland Mall. Most people in Columbus don't even remember that, and yes it was basically a glorified strip mall. It was very small.
But how could you not mention Eastland and Northland?? Those 3 (Northlan, Eastland, Westland) were all designed by most the same firms. They all looked very similar and had the same anchor stores.
either way, awesome videos, thanks!
8:04
@@NorthCdogg22 Ah, I missed that obviously, thankyou.
I remember going to westland mall as a kid. Westland and northland were my two favorite places my parents would take me.
Westland is now in the process of being demolished
Also, tuttle mall is dying too. Its kind of sad because thats where my partner and i spent alot of time.
Great video. Loved it 👍. To also add to one of the topics you talked about. Anchor stores and mall stores are going the opposite way. Anchor stores were humongous in the 50s 60s and 70s, but now they've gotten smaller. Mall stores in lifestyle centers are larger than mall stores in the 50s 60s and 70s. It shows how time has changed and we don't need 200,000 2 level sears anymore.
Thank you for watching! And I definitely agree it’s weird seeing even in my lifetime how department stores have shrunk down.. You used to have big box style Macys stores and now a lot of them are closing, and the ones opening back up have TINY square footages..
This was a fantastic exploration!! Great upload!
Thanks!
You always show the coolest things! I wish I could have seen it in its heyday. TY CDogg!
Times were so much better back then. Was beautiful back then. I was in jr hi /high school.
Good god! That moldy water filling the lower level gave me the creeps! Thanks for the video!
Right?? Thank you for watching!
As always great content
Thank you for another awesome video!
Thanks for watching!
Oh dang you are really close to a mall I used to visit as a child when my dad lived in the area--Southland/Marion Centre. Judging from the names, they are probably related.
I could definitely see that, Marion Center is actually one of the malls I have filmed in my backlog for Season 6! You’ll see it pretty soon!
14:50 that among us really got me 😂
Wow, that was depressing. But not unexpected, as I spent a lot of time there when I lived a mile or so west of it in what was called Colonial Courts of Westland, then renamed to Lincoln Village during the 90's. It was already a bit on the dark & depressing side. Seemed old & run down, so eventually spent more time at City Center. Plus, after I was s a'd in the end of it by that once very popular Chi Chi's, in front of a lot of people, & nobody helped me, & there was no mall guard to be found at that end; & even trying to get help from cops when I had to go across the street to Media Play to use a pay phone, even the cops didn't help me! Yeah, that area went downhill fast the few years I was stuck living in it. I wish I had better memories of that place. But it was already turning into a mall a lot of people were bored with. If they would've put brighter colors on it, & lit it up better, instead of it looking like somebody's dark, brown 1970's basement rec room everywhere, would've made it more inviting.
Yes, after City Center mall was built downtown, which is around 88 or 89, Westland mall pretty much died. I remember going there in the mid 80s until about 91 or 92? I was probably 14 years old. That was the last time I went to Westland mall lol😂😂… but Northland was still popular until the mid 90s and Eastland was still popular until the mid 90s. I will say late 90s early 2000s…. Tuttle mall is still just hanging on but it’s so far out west that they still have people going there It’s probably the only legacy mall that’s pretty much left. I’m not sure why it’s still there but it’s still there.
That's too bad the Staples didn't have a mall entrance, that would be cool to see a Staples with an entrance into enclosed mall
I’ve been looking for this episode for a long time! I watched it and forgot what mall this was. I kept thinking it was Jamestown Mall. They look a little similar. I’m glad I finally found it!!
Yesssss! The abandoned squad!
YUH
I walked in to that mall literally hundreds of times. I lived in the large apartment complex next to the mall when it was called Shannon Way. $4 movies at the theater
This was so scary to watch that I had to skip some parts, and as I was comparing how beautiful was in the past, made me think something even scarier;
"Are we looking to our future?"
The music sounds so beautiful. 🎶🎶
Nice video I had 116 degrees on Wednesday it was so nice… lol
Oh that sounds awful😭😭 your a trooper for that tho
@@NorthCdogg22 but I liked it bc it was 1 day lol want it backkkk
Your photography is so sharp, even in uncontrollable lighting conditions. What cameras do you use?
Thank you! I just use my IPhone 13 Pro camera
I’m from this area! I barely remember the mall, only went there when I was a kid. It’s mostly torn down now. My mom brought me here to meet Santa a few times
Great Video! My guess is you are going to Eastland Mall next as it closed December 31st 2022. Thanks for the great content.
You know it! Thanks for watching!
As much as I hate to see something torn down this place is Beyond saving
Agreed
Awesome episode. I’m taking a guess and saying the next episode you are heading to Eastland Mall?
Other than the flooded basements, this looks to be on par with Sandburg Mall in Galesburg, IL. Not factoring in the basements here, they look to be degraded about the same.
After Westland you must be going to Eastland Mall!
Terrific tour, though sad to see: I spent many hours there in the 80's. The Westland Arcade used to be "Aladdin's Castle", where my allowance was spent every week.
Judging by the water in the basement that is brown and green makes me think this has been abandoned since the Great Financial crisis of 2008. I'm betting this closed around 2007.
Have you ever considered doing a dead mall exploration of a city in Canada or is it just too expensive?
I’ve definitely considered it, maybe one day!
cool
@@NorthCdogg22
Cool video! I drive past this mall weekly. It’s since been torn down as of April 2024.
The chairs facing each other in the courtyard are for Westland Friday night slap fights. 👋. What’s the first rule of Friday night slap fights? 🤫
You don't talk about Friday Night Slap Fights.
Rule 2 : you don’t talk about Friday Night Slap Fights
Amazing!!!
It's almost unbelievable how this place looks. Wonder if the restaurants have any decade old food stored in them 🤨 I remember visiting this place two years before it closed, remember going to Westland Arcade which I guess still had operational things in it. I also recall seeing this red stylized gumball machine with a face on it called Oscar's Wild Ride that could talk on its own. If these videos and photos are anything to go by I can only assume they got rid of it? Wow, that would've been the icing of the abandoned cake:
You're walking anxiously and all of a sudden you hear in frazzled decaying quality: "LOOK OVER HERE! LOOK OVER HERE!" Then you turn and see the machine's disoriented eyes and smile, and to top it all in whatever state left by vandals.
EPIC VIDEO BRO!!! MANNY QUACIOUA WAS THE FIRST TO EXPLORE WESTLAND MALL!!
Hope you are safe and sound. That green water was something. Is the next mall in Ohio?
I must be giving away my age because the worst mall I ever saw was Dixie Square! But, Westland is pretty putrid. They knocked down the Chi Chi's today - the whole front end is gone now and if you were walking out of the Penney's into the mall right now you'd be able to see Broad st.
Wow! Talk about back rooms 😮
I know right?!
I don’t really expect anyone to answer this question, but how the hell is everyone getting into this mall? I have been to this mall numerous times, and every time it turns out to be an almost violent affair. One time I was chased by a security car that tried to crash me, but I ended up running them into a giant pothole. And the most recent time several black cars came zooming up on me, trying to pin me in literally trying to crash into my car. I was doing like 80 through the parking lot trying to get out of there because I didn’t know if they were gonna pull guns at me or not there was a gun show going on that day and they were unmarked cars. In fact, one time a car rolled up on me while I was just driving around at this mall I took one picture of the outside, and the occupant of the car reached for something that appeared to look like a gun so I was out of there and I do have some of these encounters on video if you wanna see them on my channel.
I couldn’t tell you man, it’s honestly just dumb luck. I’ve heard so many horror stories about insane criminal security here, we were just lucky to not have ANYONE bother us.
@@NorthCdogg22 yeah I’ve had some insane encounters at this mall recently where I thought I was going to have to get violent to protect myself. Anyway they got pay back when I forced their security car into a giant crater rendering it destroyed. 🤣🤣🤣
@tiltedtripod they did split shifts traveling to multiple locations the last year so it was very accessible for 2/3 hour rotating periods, it took me years to get a shot inside as well to finally avail after waiting so long, unfortunately it’s fenced all around as of today so you can’t get to the building anymore
@@TiltedTripodMediaChris bro what’s up?! How’s dating other men?!
@@TiltedTripodMedia Chris I heard you can box at this mall bro.
15:03 is the place to be!
😮
Let’s all imagine what’s living in that water. 😮
Mmmmm, just take a nice quick dip and taste the natural freshness! 😂
Sears closed completely on September 3, 2017! I was shopping there that day and it was really empty and sad
Fascinating and depressing.
That background music was downright creepy! How did get that effect, where the music is all sour pitchwise?
Watch out bro! Security will be jealous!
If anyone sees this Westland Mall is no more. has been tore down.
I remember being in their karate class as a child at the mall
I'm an idiot, I was like "why did someone write 'file transfer protocol' on the wall"
How did you get in there? Were the doors locked or unlocked?
I clicked because I thought this was about the Westland Mall in Westland, Michigan. Maybe next time.
Oh I have a video about that mall on the channel! Check out Season 5 Episode 5!
@@NorthCdogg22 Nice! I'll check it out.
What?? You don’t wanna grab some chips and salsa at chi-chis? 💃
If only it was still open😔 sounds so good right now
If you ever make it out to Virginia I know a handful of good dead malls, although our two most famous dead ones alexandria landmark and virginia center commons are both now gone.
Hopefully I’ll make it out there one day!
OMG, I thought this was Westland Michigan's mall. I was shocked and thought, did my childhood mall die and I didn't know. 😅
It is barely alive, but last I was there, a few stores seem to be busy.
While not Michigans Westland, I HAVE covered that one before! Hope this helps! ruclips.net/video/JPOvLB63BLQ/видео.htmlsi=SQE6nTgEH1vQme4L
I will have to watch it. Thanks.
I miss the way it was, but its gone now. The only building still standing is the old JC Penny store. Everything else is gone now
Nice video
Apparently you have no fear. Very scary 😮
What do I think will happen to Westland mall?? Well considering you posted this video AFTER it was already demolished……. 😂
Eastland Mall I'm assuming? Epic video as slways though
You got it! And thank you!
You welcome!
Did you know that Kmart Corp brought Glamour Shots in 1992. Kmart Corp closed all Glamour Shots stores by 1995 and put them in their own stores. I guess they did this to cost cut.
Really?? I didn’t know about that, but that’s really interesting! Thank you
I’m with the people who warned you. Much too dangerous.
14:50 sus
Rest In Peace Chi Chis
I live here in columbus, ive never been inside of
I think I visited that mall about 20 years ago
2:50: looks like that used to be a Chi-Chi's Mexican restaurant.
And now all gone I barely walk through the store in the 80s me and my friends cut west high school
“No no no no no”
-Meghan Trainor
Sorry, I had to.
That was seriously freaky. Imagine having a friend with diving equipment that says “I’m going in”….. or even pumping out the water and seeing what has grown underwater for years. Unfortunately the walls would probably collapse.
Right?? That’s what I’m thinking is, just what all lies down there?? And how rotted has it become?
@@NorthCdogg22 unfortunately the pressure of the water against the walls has created a real issue… when the area is drained, the pressure of the water not pushing outward might make the walls collapse inwards and the levels above will cave also. This is a huge problem when basements in homes get flooded bad.
You are taking your life in your hands with this one? It is rough for sure. How long has it been closed. I saw one video that was a security guard riding around on a tricycle in a mall. It may have been this mall. I remember him saying one store was leaking like a sive
It probably was this mall, this was the one I was warned security shot people on site. Which I found a little ridiculous, but luckily there was nobody around the day we went.