I'm only 19 now, but I remember being a little kid and getting so excited to go to this mall. My dad owned/managed a few stores here back in his day, so a lot of the older employees remember him. Recently, I went back there with a few friends, and I saw that the place in the food court where my dad's last friend that worked there was, was gone. It's kinda making me tear up right now. This mall was my childhood and to see it like this hurts. Thank you for making this video, it means a lot to me.
💎 You are very sympathetic people. Your optimal, not to fast movement of your camera and not too many or too few comments, transports the fascinating atmosphere of a dying or already dead oldschool mall perfectly. Thank you very much for your great work! Best regards from switzerland
I grew up in RI and remember when this mall opened. It was definitely a destination for Christmas shopping and packed throughout the 90s. The first major downfall for this mall was when Providence Place Mall opened in late 1999. After that, like all malls, it steadily declined. To be fair though, 2pm on a weekday was a dead time for most malls even in the 80s.
To be fair, though, in the 80s, the Sears store would have been open, and the chain back then was one of the biggest retail operations; now a rotting corpse of a company. And back then, the mall wouldn't have had nearly this many closed storefronts. The entire third floor of this mall appeared to be dead.
Same, I'm from Cumberland so Emerald Square was literally the next exit up 295 and took like 10 minutes to get there. My mom used to manage the Sweet Factory on the second floor by either Filene's or JC Penny, I can't remember which anchor was at the back. Anywho, she would meet my stepdad who used to set up his SR2 simulator ride on the first floor as he went from mall to mall and charged admission to make his living. She ended up quitting her Sweet Factory job to help him run the business when they got together and we moved to his house in Attleboro so I spent a huge chunk of my life in this mall. It's really sad to see it like this.
This mall brings back a lot of memories growing up in the 90s/early 2000s...xmas shopping with the fam, buying clothes for a special occasion like school dances, and hanging out with friends, buying cds. Was always packed! Kids even had birthday parties at the food court! . Kind of spooky to watch !
I haven’t been in that mall in over 20 years, but I do remember the carousel in the food court. It was where the roller coaster simulator was. I’ve heard that they may convert the top 2 floors into office space, so since everyone works remote now, you may be able to do another video of the abandoned office space in a few years.
Covid really hit this mall hard. I still remember visiting in 2019 when this place was much more alive. Back then it was really only the 3rd floor that was showing any real sign that the mall was going downhill. Now the 3rd floor is pretty much a ghost town and the burger king they had in the food court is gone, the only good burger king in the area I knew of 😟
I spent a lot of time at this mall in the 90’s and early 2000’s-whether buying things or just hanging out with friends. I remember going to the grand opening in 1989 when I was 8. They had all of the main characters from the Wizard of Oz in full costume to dedicate the mall’s opening. G.Fox was one of the anchor stores where Macy’s is now. In the 90’s, there were people everywhere. You were guaranteed to run into someone you knew. Now it’s just a shell of what it used to be.
I remember when it opened too. I was 5. I bet you remember Suncoast Video being on one of corners of the first floor. Remember when it first opened there was a Cinnamon bun place there called TJ Cinnamons? Place was so good but it was only there for a couple years or so. What really hurt was seeing that Umi of Japan finally shut down in the food court.
this mall was smashing and lively throughout the 90's, every store space always full until I moved out of the state in 2002. Since then, no mall is doing well...interesting to see how fast things changed after e-commerce dominated the market.
@@dwlang001 corporate profits for some are thru the roof.. but there have been records layoffs .. hundreds and thousands or employees at a time 86ed. Don’t try to defend Bozo the career criminal.. the unelected dope is indefensible.
@@jerrysanders9101 those layoffs only further the profits of companies like CVS Health, Proctor and Gamble, Hasbro, etc. All of this is due to the 2018 tax cuts which no longer penalize such wanton profiteering. That profiteering has led to the record high inflation with over 50% attributed to corporate profits. I do wish the President could do something to stop it - but he is not a King. I doubt the current house of representatives would dare to anger their corporate donors.
Commie regime commie tactics the People must wake up and turn the e commerce monopoly inside out. Technology moving faster than the blink of an eye to think that no average middle class citizen could forsee how the e-commerce would effect the back bone of this country destroying small businesses across the country! Should never have happened
Thanks for visiting "my mall". A few stores have closed the last time I visited in the winter and it looks like most of the escalators are still broken. The skylight and the roof leaks when it's raining. I have seen buckets on the first floor. The JCPenney is the oldest original store remaining in the mall. The Macy's parking garage is scary to park at. The levels are uneven and it doesn't feel right. I'm glad you did not drive up there. It's sad to see the mall in this state since I went there in its hay day in the 1990s. I haven' been back since the winter and I might not get the chance from the looks of it.
This mall has a special place in my heart... I remember going here countless times with friends and even my grandmother. My grandmother and I would go to school shopping at JC Penny or go there to take photos with Santa. It's so sad seeing this place go downhill because it's a staple of my childhood. Also, you know a mall has gone downhill, and there was a dentist office in the mall, or you see the shell of Abercombie and still can smell the memory of it when you walk by. Also, my fiance and both worked here for a brief moment in time... crazy. Anyone know if they're still turning this into apartments?
I remember when this opened in 1989. The traffic was so bad that it was hard to even get in there, both on Route 1 and 295 there would be a long wait. In 1989 at least, there was a pervasive rumor around town that they built the mall too quickly and it was sinking. 🤣 It was interesting seeing the video - I moved away from the area 25 years ago and for some reason this mall popped into my head and I googled it, finding this video. Thank you for documenting!
Sigh… twenty years ago this was one of my favorite places in the world. It was so lively and there was SO MANY fun places to go. We could check out something subversive at Spencers Gifts, cuddle puppies in the pet shop, find something eclectic and witchy at The Silver Dragon. I couldn’t tell you how much time I spent there It’s SO FUCKING SAD to see it like this As for the decline of malls… I think what a lot of young people don’t realize is this: it’s not about the shopping. As a tween and teen it was your first real taste of freedom. Even if you played outside all day unsupervised, there was something new and liberating about your parent handing you $20 and dropping you and your friends off at the door and being like “later!!!” It was a big rite of passage
This is true. A lot of things are about the ritual. Malls were one of those things. Kind of like going to Blockbuster and selecting a movie as opposed to just sitting down and clicking a button. We've lost a lot in a short amount of time.
Thank you for the great walking tour of this once amazing mall. I really appreciate the visual documentation of the slow but complete decline of this form of American retail. Sad to see malls of this scale decline and eventually dissappear.
This mall opened when my wife and I were first married. Throughout the 90's and into the early 2000's, this mall was always busy. In December you were fortunate to even get a parking space in the evening or weekend. Last time I was in there was about 2 and half years ago and I did a similar video. I couldn't believe how empty it was for early December, or any other time of the year for that matter.
I grew up at this mall. Some of my best memories are from here either while we were there or on our way there. My group of friends went here every single Friday night like clockwork. Definitely very sad to see it almost gone. The real heartbreaker for me is toysrus across the street being gone. Almost every toy I owned as a kid came from that store. Sad how things change and not for the better
@@RoccosVideos we were there in the early 2000’s in high school or just after graduating. We knew everyone who worked at every store and used to spend money like crazy back then. It’s where my immense cd, dvd and bluray collection spawned from
@@4eyesover2 I used to buy CDs there sometimes too. We went in middle school though so I mostly just hung out. Haha. There was a big electronics store on the first floor kind of near the middle if I remember correctly. I graduated high school in 2003 but we moved in 2000. I lived right down the street in South Attleboro before we moved. Once we moved I stopped going.
@@RoccosVideos I was there around 06-09 or so, so we only missed each other by a few years. I never really go over that way anymore, even more so now I dated a girl from South who was SOMETHING ELSE so I’d rather not run into her again
Awesome video. I am 60 and my daughter was born in 1996. We went there all the time as she grew up. There was a Carousel in the food court . Multiple Kiosks on the first floor and ever store front was occupied and busy. I even got to work there as stores changed , renovating the space for the new store. Very happy memories. 👨🏻🚒👍🏼
This is a weird eerie one. It’s DYING for sure. When Komar buys you it’s like a funeral. The lights is an obvious save money tactic, and tacky. But Macys is still open. A decent amount of the main stores still around. It doesn’t have a ton of mom & pop stores that keep some dead malls open though….. I cannot call it DEAD because honestly I have seen worse. That said it’s DYING…let me know when Macys shutters. That will signal the end is coming. In the meantime my advice would be to move out the top floor. There’s no need for 3 stories. Get the few remaining on top like Newbury Comics a spot elsewhere and more convenient.
There were two malls in my hometown, a big one and a small one. The big one is definitely a dying mall that's become a shell of itself. It lost Nordstrom in 2018 and JcPenney's closed amidst the pandemic. The little one did lose its Macy's anchor, but they demolished the anchor and replaced it with a strip mall with a Ulta, Sierra Trading Post, DSW, and Hobby Lobby -- all really popular stores that have revitalized the mall. I guess what I'm trying to say is that its sad to see your childhood mall die, but its always fascinating to see how malls can be salvaged, revamped, and turned into something new if you play your cards right. Here's hoping they can give this mall a much-needed revamp, too.
Usually these bigger malls are redeveloped into housing, distribution centers, or medical offices lately :/ there’s only so much room for retail especially now as more goes online.
This video popped up on my thread. I know this mall very well and live close. The past few years ive seen such a decline it's truly sad. Just like all the mom and pop stores that go under because of the big box stores. I truly enjoyed this mall I've had decades of holiday shopping here. I truly wish we could go back years ago when life was much simpler. Thank you for caring about these places in decline that were once upon a time magnificent. ❤ New subscriber.
@glennsilva2631 Yes, that is my birth year! Grew up in NA. Still not too far away. It truly is sad I call RT. 1. The strip it's all stores, mini malls packey's and liquor stores! The one that was the saddest was Benny's. I miss that store so much. I'm glad to see this channel posts locally. Truly sad times we are in. I'm sure they will turn Emerald into all apartments no one can afford. Take care. ✌️
Malls and video stores are what I miss most of my childhood. Also at the 20 minute mark you can see a woman walking for exercise. That’s how you know a mall is in decline
Reminds me of a lot of the Silver City Galleria before it went down hill. The anchor stores left, the food court went barren, half the stores were empty, and when I'd go there on a weekend it was like I was the only person in the mall.
We just went to this mall 2 days ago. They put a brand new arcade down stairs and finally fixed all the escalators. But it made me sad , because this mall, Was one of the top malls in the early 2000’s. And seeing all the stores closed and barely anyone in there. Was sad.
Used to go here with my buddies back in high school and even earlier with my parents to go clothes shopping. It's taken it's toll over the years but I'm glad it's one of the few remaining malls still open. It is kinda cool to explore it when it's basically only you though. The shops that are there are still opened and staffed, it's like going to a theme park where you're the only guest.
It's also unfortunate that most of the escalators are closed. They were prone to breaking down, not sure why, but from what the video shows, it looks like they don't care to repair them anymore.
I still go to this mall from time to time to buy things and I like the quiet atmosphere. However, it is beyond depressing the state it is in. I was actually worried you were going to get stuck in the elevator and the squeaky escalators in the anchor stores only are pretty sketchy too. I also noticed there were no security guards in the mall just a custodian or two cleaning. Whenever I go there it amazes me that certain stores are still in business and wonder who is going to close next. Any guesses?
Def had a carousel in the center of the food court. I have a photo of it from 2008, but I know it lasted until at least 2013. Up until at least 2013, the mall was very very busy.
Grew up in this mall. Crazy the memories I have here. Walked around the mall last week and I was honestly getting a little choked up walking around. I know, sounds dumb but great memories
13:06 The only reason I go to Emerald Square Mall now. When i was younger, we used to go to either Emerald Square or Natick Mall near Christmas. My Sister and I would take off and go out own separate ways to get ideas of what we wanted for Christmas as well as do out own shopping, then meet back up with our parents in the food court. I liked how the vendors would be out in the stalls showing off their gadgets like the mini RC Copters, Plug and Play Games, etc, and going to stores like Discovery Toys, and Natural Wonders. I think one of the big problems with malls is that there are not too many novelty stores left. 90% of them are clothing stores. It's over saturated with the same thing over and over again. Also, they need to come up with ways to entice new Anchor Stores to come in. When Sears at the Natick Mall closed down, it was replaced by a Dave and Busters.
I was there last week (July 2023). There was either no air conditioning or very poor air conditioning. I completely agree they must be running on low-power mode there. There are only three eateries open in the food court. A depressing experience overall. There were sad-looking people sitting in the massage chairs in the middle of the mall atrium. I thought the Newbury Comics would have life to it, but it is more like an "Express" version of the store, not even much music and no DVDs or Blu-ray. There was a depressing Lana Del Ray song playing over the store stereo called, "Money, Power, Glory." A sad, and ghostly - albeit beautiful - song. Just like the Emerald Square Mall. Sad, but still somehow beautiful.
How sad… it makes me cry to see how this mall is dying little by little. When I came to the United States from Colombia that was my first mall to go to… Then my daughters were born and this was the place to go shopping. My daughter played many many times in the playground. Food court was packed and sometimes it was difficult to find a table. I remember the Burger King and other restaurants. Along with the carrusel where my daughters asked to get tickets for the ride. Good memories. Very very sad to see Emerald Square Mall dying.😭😭
Hi! Late to the party with this video, but I worked here from 1997-2000. I worked at the candy store Mr Bulky Treats and Gifts (2nd floor where the AT&T Store is currently). It was so nostalgic and sad to see what was once a BOOMING place so dead. Some stores are still there and some are gone. And YES, there was a carousal in the food court! I remember when they put it in. I was 16 when I got my first job there, and lasted all through high school. Then, my first summer home from college I got a job at the restaurant Charlie's Eating and Drinking Saloon (now Bertucci's. Not sure when that took over). Wow, what memories this brought back. Thank you for that.
My dad did electrical work on this mall as it was being built in the late 80s. Growing up, my parents brought me here to take photos with Santa and the Easter Bunny, and every time I think of Christmas decorations I think of this mall and it's gigantic streamers and inflatable ornaments hanging from the glass ceiling. I still remember when they had the carousel in the food court, and when they got rid of it and how upset I was. In middle school and high school, this was the place to be on a Friday night, you felt cool if you were invited to hang out at Emerald Square. I was there today and it feels practically abandoned at this point. I feel all my memories when I'm there but it's just so upsetting to watch it die right before us like this. It would be so devastating to see this mall demolished, I really hope they find something to do with the space, its too beautiful and important to just be leveled into nothing.
It’s kinda silly but I love the giant ornaments at Christmas time. Would go there on Black Friday sometimes and would be feeling all festive seeing them
Great video I was just there today and agree with the dark place. They didn’t even open the doors exactly at 10 o’clock. A guy took a sweet time to open the doors near Macy’s and the lights very dim was dark. A lot of stores are not open. Lotta the escalators are still broken. I don’t like going up the stairs either. Don’t feel safe. I did notice though right where Macy’s is there’s a pillar outside that has damage to it so someone it take care of it I noticed a lot of RVs parked out around the back too. I don’t know if they’re renting spots for people to shame. It had good bones. They came up with a better planter revive it I don’t know, but I agree with you with all the things that you’ve mentioned.
They Sell RVS there from a Local Dealer, I've heard they sell really good there!Go figure right? Can't sell 20 dollar Shirts or Umi Chicken but people will drop 75k on a temporary toy! CRAZY
The problem with Malls in America isn't Amazon, it's urban planning. In Europe, Malls are thriving, because they are built and integrated into city centers. In America you have to deliberately drive through shitty traffic to get to the store. In Europe you could stumble upon it, as you walk among the plethora of other sites and stores, or it could be "oh, while I'm here."
Malls were once in cities in the U.S., but they began to die, mainly due to lack of parking, and fear of crime. These urban malls aren’t far from the cities. The Providence Place Mall was the very last urban/city mall built in the U.S. So far, it’s doing ok, but there have been many stores that have come and gone since it opened in 1999.
@@rickberglund2134 Except America is suburbized, meaning much of the Americans who can afford the mall, also live in suburbs. Which live roughly a 15 minute drive outside of the city. "Lack of parking" Let me guess, we just need more lanes and that'll solve traffic right?
@@rickberglund2134 Agreed. Malls in both the suburbs and city centers have been dying for quite some time. The Galleria and Greendale Mall in Worcester have rolled over and died a long time ago. Wouldn't be surprised of the Auburn Mall is next. Simply too many shopping malls were built in their heyday - whether it made long-term sense or not.
I found this out when I went to Oslo. I was at the Radisson Blu next to Oslo Central station, and there were malls everywhere with repeating stores. All were thriving, and they were all within 5 minutes of the hotel. Even the mall I went to in Tromsø on Easter weekend was busy, the country shuts down then. I'd be amazed to see the parking at Emerald Square mall to be even 25% of what it was in the oughts
@@maxjn0709 I've always wanted to visit Norway and really just Europe in general, seems nice over there. It's amazing when you dive into it, how much of society and our daily lives, psychology, interactions are determined by urban planning (how cities are built & designed)
It's so unfortunate cause I grew up in this mall basically. I have so many good memories in this mall. To this day as an adult I live down the street from it. I wish it wasn't like this
I visited this mall this past June and the third floor is now completely dead. They moved some of the stores to the first floor. The food court has no food other than pretzels. The second floor only has about four stores or so. It's all on the first floor now.
My friend and I saw the title of this video about a month ago and thought it was being overdramatic. We went today and I was genuinely shocked at just how empty and lifeless the mall was. I remember just 3 years ago it being just like any other mall. It filled me with an immense sense of dread today. I will never doubt you again lol
Oh man that's so sad 😭 my son's dad used to work at lens crafters when my son was born and I would take my son to the mall to visit his dad , my son's dad passed away in June 29'th of this year so watching this video is really sad 😭
I have so many memories as a teenager there. 45 now. Walking past the arcade on the second or 3rd floor and seeing Mortal Kombat by the entrance, when it first came out. Early 90's. So many others. I remeber it being so busy around holidays that i would be brushing shoulders, weaving in and out of people. Weird to see it like this, but its a new world
Was a mall rat for this place back in early 90’s and there was never a Lechmere. That location was actually a newly built add on for Lord and Taylor. Then it became Filenes and then Macys.
I remember going to this mall as a kid. It was so cool and fancy. I think once Providence Place opened in 1999 it changed the volume of the mall then the recession and the increase in online shopping has just changed it. It's kind of sad to watch the decline of a space that people loved and used at one time.
I grew up in North Attleboro and used to get dropped off with $20 from my mom in my pocket and my little friend group all the time when I was a kid! We’d walk around and shop at the same stores 3-4 hours a visit, had Umi Chicken or Charley’s Cheesesteaks in the food court often, even having my first kiss with my ex-boyfriend at the arcade. I’d get some of the best boba tea at Tutti Frutti too. Haven’t been there since 2019. So sad it’s been declining over the years like so many other malls, yet it still looks the same, just more empty…
This kills me. Back in the day I use to frequent “Eric Fuch’s” game and hobby shop allot. It was hard enough to find sanctuary as a DND kid, now truly a magnificent wonder has died so the strong may survive. “sign”… Four winds take me!
Providence Place also had an effect on this mall, keeping much of the Providence people in the city. Silver City Galleria in Taunton, and Swansea Mall are completely gone. Interestingly, Providence Place Mall and the Warwick Mall seem to be holding their own.
RI also HAD Rhode Island mall which turned into all anchor stores. I often wonder what happened to the inside. That mall died in 2011 but had been on its way out for years before. It was quite early to the dead mall series..
I brought my young daughter to this mall last week, on a Saturday the first floor was still decently busy but it is depressing how empty the third floor is, and the second floor is getting there. The food court used to have a really nice carousel in the middle and now it’s pretty much empty. This was the mall to go in the area for years.
When I was a kid in the late 90s I used to hang out here. It was insanely popular then. It used to be so crowded. It's weird to see it empty like this. The entire month of December traffic was backed up on Route 1 because everyone would shop here for Christmas gifts. Honestly I'm a bit sad to see it like this.
I’m surprised that both Macy’s locations are still open! I would not be surprised if they close off the third floor in the future. Probably within a couple years at most. Kohan is a notorious slumlord that does not take care of the malls they obtain. My guess is Macy’s will probably consolidate into the old Filene’s space since it’s a three level store, and probably close off the third-floor entrance. JCPenney will probably do the same. I mean, this is of course if the stores themselves don’t close…
When I moved to Walpole about 6 years ago, this was my go-to mall. However, the place fell into disrepair and the owners, regardless of ownership group, didn't care to keep it in any way. Food Court is baren, only three shops I ever visit are all that's worth seeing, escalators are shit, and the fact some signs of dead tenants are still up is proof this place is dying steadily. It's gotten worse: the website is now non-existent (now just some gambling thing) and they haven't updated their social media since October. Very sad to see this really.
The Walpole Mall used to be a great little mall too. Bradlees on one side, and Almy’s on the other. Had some great restaurants too, Thackery’s and Pewter Pot, along with Newport Creamery and Papa Gino’s.
I said this in response to another comment but I wanna directly address you and thank you for making this video so I can see what the mall looks like now. The last time I set foot in here was before I left my hometown for the last time back in 2010. I'm from Cumberland which is the town that borders Attleboro on the RI side so Emerald Square was literally the next exit up 295 and took like 10 minutes to get there. My mom used to manage the Sweet Factory on the second floor by the JC Penny. Anywho, she would meet my stepdad who used to set up his SR2 simulator ride on the first floor (also in front of the JC Penney, so all she had to do to see it was walk out and look down) as he went from mall to mall and charged admission to make his living. She ended up quitting her Sweet Factory job to help him run the business when they got together and we moved to his house in Attleboro so I spent a huge chunk of my life in this mall. It's really sad to see it like this. There's also a little bit of an error in your info about the Macy's anchor. After G Fox It was a Filene's from the early 90s until the late 90s (it was a FIlene's for most of my childhood and I spent about 10-12 years from 89-2001 shopping there) and THEN it became a Lord and Taylor before finally a Macy's. I don't believe it was ever a FIlene's Men's at any point in its history.
I lived in Franklin in the early to mid 90's and at that time Emerald Square Mall was doing very well, it was a great place to shop. Moved to the South Shore years ago so stopped going, I had no idea it was doing that badly which is sad but it's the fate of many malls these days. On the South Shore they tore down the Hanover Mall that had been there since the 70's and built an open air retail plaza which is actually doing just ok, still has a lot of empty store fronts after having been open for almost a year. A little further south Kingston Mall is still open but just hanging on. The Macy's and Target are still there along with the movie theatre and a few chain stores (Newbury Comics for one) but the food court is almost dead and little pop-up shops seem to come and go. A lot of the mall now is taken up by recreational space like a Billy Bee for kids and a huge sports bar/bowling alley and arcade. I think they're the only things doing ok in the mall. During the week the largest group of people you see there are older people walking circuits around the interior. On the weekends it's still kind of busy but nothing like it once was. On a side note; you walked by an FYE...I thought those were all long gone!
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles had a sub office there back in the day. By any chance, did you have a chance to do Lincoln Mall in Lincoln RI just over the state line? I have not been there in quite a few years but my clients tell me it's a ghost town. Too bad. Thank you for making this video. You did a great job.
I remember going to this mall when it first opened in 1989, I remember years of traffic backed up on the off-ramp from 95, I remember when Providence Place Mall stole some of its thunder, I remember working there in a music store for a bit, and have watched it steadily decline over the years. The last time I went there to go to the Macy’s men’s store, I saw quite a few people… exercising. They weren’t shopping. Retail malls are dying a slow death and Emerald Square is not immune to the disease.
I worked at that JC Penny back in 95 as a floor planner right after high school. I remember it was full from the time it open until it closed. The mall was just on fire then. It has awesome stores always decorated beautifully.
Hi, I commented in the community section under your post about the other channel about all (or most) of the malls I've been to around CT and MA, and I mentioned this mall being one of them. I started going here with my husband (I think) around 1999, 2000. It was not in this sorry of a state back then. It wasn't even half as bad as this the last couple times we went here, which was on my daughter's birthday in March of 2019, and New Year's Eve 2019. I had gone here on birthdays (the first visit being on my birthday), Valentine's Days, and anniversaries. There were a couple favorite shops of mine that closed down a long time ago, both gift shops, called Noah's and The Silver Dragon (Noah's used to also be in Silver City Galleria and the Danbury Fair Mall, and Silver Dragon also used to be in the Rhode Island Mall). I'm glad that Elite Ideas is still there, at least that's one of my favorites that remains. There used to be a leather/biker shop a few doors down from Hot Topic on the first floor that used to be owned by an aquaintance of mine, who had her shop first at the Swansea Mall. That doesn't look to be there anymore. I feel devastated that this mall, too, seems to be going the way of Swansea Mall and Silver City Galleria, as well as other now extinct malls around the country.
Thanks so much for sharing your excellent work. I go this mall at least three times a month over the past 10 years. They ALWAYS turn ALL THE LIGHTS on at night. Even back in better times The Carousel you're thinking of is in the Warwick Mall. It is an actual carousel it is a good size but not as big as the outdoor
Thank you for posting these videos just to document the sad state of local malls. I had business in Saugus a few months ago and needed something to do for a few hours. I decided to visit the Square One Mall which is much like this Mall. It looked a lot like this video. I hate to see these malls die but i know it's inevitable.
I grew up in North Attleboro and like many of the other comments are saying, this place was amazing in the 90's - early 00's. Just hanging around as a mallrat kid doing nothing was beyond important on a Friday night haha. Really sucks to see it shriveled up and dying like it is now.
I remembered the mall when it first opened. It was packed with people coming from miles away to see it. At the time it was the largest mall in New England. I used to go there akit also when I lived in Providence RI, I used to go there alot. Great video as always.
I used to live in this mall in the 90’s as a teen. Right in front of that hot topic, with an EB Games somewhere nearby. Getting Burger King fries in the food court. Loitering at that entrance next to Bertuccis. Going with girls from my school to American Eagle while they shopped. Making friends I only ever saw at the mall and we hung out every Friday night like clockwork. I haven’t been on this side of MA for well over a decade now. Just wild to think about.
This was my old stomping ground in the mid 90's when I was in high school. Geez the money and time I spent here was crazy! I can't believe what a ghost town it is!
I can remember riding around those lots for over 30 minutes for over 30 minutes trying to find a parking space. Time has clearly not been good to this place. Sadly not too surprising, though. Malls are so last century.
Cool videos growing up in the 80s and 90s it was just like the opening of "fast times at ridgemont high" even pre COVID it was so crowded to go to the mall. But sadly the last mall I went to a lot of the stores were closed
this really hit me where it hurts😢 so very depressing compared to it being The Place to shop for many years. so many great memories from going there, especially at Christmas! such a shame
Remember it from the 1990s. Back in the 80s/90s, teens used to hang out in malls. They meant a lot more foot traffic and spending in food court, arcade, certain stores. Todays teens have their phones and gaming, and many are over "stuff." I'm a Boomer, we used to be pro shoppers. Now headed to the finish line and are shedding possessions. Millenials and Gen X are crushed by inflation, food, housing, child care, college costs. So, no shopping. Add online shopping and its a recipe for dead malls.
COVID really killed this mall I remember living in Massachusetts from 2017 -2019 and this small was alive and well always packed I can’t believe that in such little time it’s so dead very sad 😔
I’m 28 now and have been eating at that ruby thai kitchen for my whole life. I begged my mom to bring me to “the blue area” all the time which is the main area when we were at sears. The smoke detector is beeping and the carousel was taken out sometime between 2010 and 2013. Working at the mall as a passive second job was one of the best experiences I’ll ever cherish. So many good employees over the years from all the stores. Security was awesome and it was always upbeat. It fell apart pretty quick after 2015 sadly with the rent hikes. It cost $3k a month at one point to run one of the outside stands
I moved to Rhode Island in 2001 so I spent some time at this mall. It was very busy back then, and I remember being here around 2006 or so when Hulk Hogan's daughter Brooke did a "concert" here, if you want to call it that. I think the last time I was there was 2012. If this isn't a dead mall, it's damn close.
Not everyone wants to, or can drive all the way to a mall, park and walk to the stores, and walk around in a mall for hours, just looking for the couple of stores they want to go to.
Oh, wow. I remember this mall being really busy. Like most Gen X, I lived my teen years at the mall, Emerald Square being the mall in question. I remember every store front full, everyone milling about, every food court stall full. In reference to the carousel, yes; it was there in the late 90’s in the middle of the food court. There were also a lot more tables in the food court, with tables along the atrium windows overlooking the parking lot.
This was another mall I was dragged to as a teenager when it was new. When my Mother, and Sister wanted to shop, Dad, and I suffered through it. Worse being this was three stories. I just remembered it was hard to keep a good footing, as the tiles were very slippery, especially the food court. Last time I was here it was doing decently, and that mall elevator's floor counter put on a better malfunctioning show than you got.
Used to go here a lot as a kid. Went a good couple times around 2018/2019. Finally went post-covid with my girlfriend, and the place was a desolate wreck like it is here. In just 3-4 years the place really hit the fan. Can't imagine it has much time left. It is quite the shame.
In case anyone is wondering too, it was in December of 2022. Right in the middle of holiday season, and I could easily count the number of people total in the mall on my hands. The place look more lively in this video. There's more closed stores on the second and third floor now. I swear they get bot reviews online to try and pad the rating. There's just constant random five stars between genuine reviews too. The owners respond to the google reviews and say silly stuff too lol. I recommend taking a look.
The sad part is Simon also owns the Auburn mall over in as you guessed it, Auburn,Mass and that place is barely breathing. A five below was recently put in and a carnival on the outside was just put on a few weeks ago. However it's the empty parking area where Sears used to face that had the carnival in it. A few similar things with this mall is the crappy beat up massage chairs in the middle of the mall, Macy's and a couple jewelry stores and wormtown trading. Idk how malls like this stay afloat when Amazon is out there being Amazon.
The Emerald Square Mall interior is so similar to CambridgeSide Galleria before 2020. Right down to a nearly empty 3rd floor (which is now being converted to office space).
I'm 35 and I grew up nearby in Rhode Island. My sister and I both grew up going to this mall. I came here recently (2024) and it's even worse than in this video. Only 2 restaurants are left in the food court. The 3rd floor has maybe 3 open stores and the 2nd is well on its way to that. It's incredibly sad for me to see this mall decline this way. It used to be the place for us teenagers to hang out at
This was THE mall in the area back in the day; I still remember the first time our family went there, they had traffic backed up to the highway offramp to get to the more local streets the mall was on, which were pretty substantial themselves. It was just far enough away that we didn't go there on a regular basis, especially since a mall very similar to this opened up in my hometown... which ironically has since closed, while this one still at least teeters on the brink. Basically, it was like this mall in basically every way, except it only had 2 levels instead of 3.
I'm glad you like it! I really appreciate that. I think most people don't go to these malls because you can buy most of this stuff online for less money and more conveniently. Also, the pandemic really didn't help. Thanks for watching!
It's like walking through a ghost town, now. I remember when there were wall to wall people! Sad. I think the outlet mall had a huge effect, too. I never saw a carousel there. It seems awful that they are heating this huge huge mall full of empty stores.
A message to mall explorers. Online research can be done on restaurants around the dead malls by typing Restaurants along with the street address of any dead mall in the search box of Google.
When I lived in RI, I'd take a trip to this mall almost every other weekend. It was very popular in the 90s and early 2000s. My sister still lives up North and she has told me it's dead.
I visited it in the early 90s. Judging from your video, I’m surprised that the doors are still open at all. I’m surprised that Newbury Comics is still open. WOW! That food court is gonzo. I don’t remember a carousel being there, but I could be wrong. Sadly, after seeing your video, I won’t be visiting here anymore.
I remember the mall well, going there all the time in middle school to the hot topic and fye. it's a huge mall as you show and was actually doing ok until the 2010s but building Patriot Place, The Crossing in Mansfield and Smithfield, The Wrentham Outlets renovation/expansion just stole all the foot traffic a mall that size needs
As a kid the Emerald Square Mall was our go to mall... we lived about 45 minutes away. Haven't been there since I was 21 (30 years ago). Providence Place Mall is now the mall of choice. Taunton mall (silver city) opened shortly after this on and then that became our go to mall... it is now closed and has been torn down. Dartmouth mall is still hanging on.
I remember that arcade! Back in the day it had Mortal Kombat 2 playing on this special big screen. It was famous for 100 miles around with kids, who would line up to the door to play it. Sucks to see how sad it got. What I don't get is why they charge such outrageous prices for those arcade games now. They're ALWAYS empty. Tons of people would pop in for a quick game if they were still a buck or less, and it would still generate more money than zero.
They could take these closing malls and turn them into condo developments (or 55 and over) with restaurants, supermarkets, clothing stores, gyms, tennis courts, game areas, etc.
This mall reminds me of the circle center mall in Indiana how some stores close but some still open but not to busy but not that many people there but has a good amount of people there
This was the Mall I used , and Lincoln Mall too. I don’t go anymore because I buy online. My husband and I had our first date there ,we met for coffee that was 1995 . Still married 28 years later. Been to the Mall in White , My Dad is from Peekskill NY
Lincoln Mall has evolved. All of the inside is gone, transformed into a gym and a nursing school and a movie theater (the only movie theater in northern RI that I know of). All of the stores are outside now, like a massive plaza, and that is how it's survived. The landlord charges hefty rent so only big names settle in. They just opened an Ulta where the Party City once was.
![SahBabii - Viking [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/D37cL92JX0I/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm only 19 now, but I remember being a little kid and getting so excited to go to this mall. My dad owned/managed a few stores here back in his day, so a lot of the older employees remember him. Recently, I went back there with a few friends, and I saw that the place in the food court where my dad's last friend that worked there was, was gone. It's kinda making me tear up right now. This mall was my childhood and to see it like this hurts. Thank you for making this video, it means a lot to me.
This is called Bidenomics- please vote accordingly in 2024. The country/economy is crumbling beneath our feet.
I remember the food court. It wasn’t big, but the variety was good.
With which shop your dad's friend is working?
Well ya that kinda makes sense seeings how it most recently got this bad, was probably around 2015.
Learn proper vocabulary it will be beneficial to you and those around you someday
💎 You are very sympathetic people. Your optimal, not to fast movement of your camera and not too many or too few comments, transports the fascinating atmosphere of a dying or already dead oldschool mall perfectly. Thank you very much for your great work! Best regards from switzerland
Thanks!
I grew up in RI and remember when this mall opened. It was definitely a destination for Christmas shopping and packed throughout the 90s. The first major downfall for this mall was when Providence Place Mall opened in late 1999. After that, like all malls, it steadily declined. To be fair though, 2pm on a weekday was a dead time for most malls even in the 80s.
Yeah, I would say you can't get an accurate depiction of its dead-ness unless it still looks like that outside of work/school hours.
To be fair, though, in the 80s, the Sears store would have been open, and the chain back then was one of the biggest retail operations; now a rotting corpse of a company. And back then, the mall wouldn't have had nearly this many closed storefronts. The entire third floor of this mall appeared to be dead.
Same, I'm from Cumberland so Emerald Square was literally the next exit up 295 and took like 10 minutes to get there. My mom used to manage the Sweet Factory on the second floor by either Filene's or JC Penny, I can't remember which anchor was at the back. Anywho, she would meet my stepdad who used to set up his SR2 simulator ride on the first floor as he went from mall to mall and charged admission to make his living. She ended up quitting her Sweet Factory job to help him run the business when they got together and we moved to his house in Attleboro so I spent a huge chunk of my life in this mall. It's really sad to see it like this.
This mall brings back a lot of memories growing up in the 90s/early 2000s...xmas shopping with the fam, buying clothes for a special occasion like school dances, and hanging out with friends, buying cds. Was always packed! Kids even had birthday parties at the food court! . Kind of spooky to watch !
It’s really sad how badly this mall declined. This mall was amazing back in its day. All the stores close at 7pm if there even open at all.
I haven’t been in that mall in over 20 years, but I do remember the carousel in the food court. It was where the roller coaster simulator was. I’ve heard that they may convert the top 2 floors into office space, so since everyone works remote now, you may be able to do another video of the abandoned office space in a few years.
they got rid of that carousel so long ago, i remember riding on it as a kid
Yoo I remember the rollercoaster simulator that shit was dope
Covid really hit this mall hard. I still remember visiting in 2019 when this place was much more alive. Back then it was really only the 3rd floor that was showing any real sign that the mall was going downhill. Now the 3rd floor is pretty much a ghost town and the burger king they had in the food court is gone, the only good burger king in the area I knew of 😟
Yooo. I forgot about that burger King! I miss Spikes haha
it was on steady decline prior to covid. i only know because i worked at the mall for like seven years.
BK is the best fast food burger and Travis Kelce confirmed it! hahha
I liked Umi chicken.
I spent a lot of time at this mall in the 90’s and early 2000’s-whether buying things or just hanging out with friends. I remember going to the grand opening in 1989 when I was 8. They had all of the main characters from the Wizard of Oz in full costume to dedicate the mall’s opening. G.Fox was one of the anchor stores where Macy’s is now. In the 90’s, there were people everywhere. You were guaranteed to run into someone you knew. Now it’s just a shell of what it used to be.
I remember when it opened too. I was 5. I bet you remember Suncoast Video being on one of corners of the first floor.
Remember when it first opened there was a Cinnamon bun place there called TJ Cinnamons? Place was so good but it was only there for a couple years or so.
What really hurt was seeing that Umi of Japan finally shut down in the food court.
this mall was smashing and lively throughout the 90's, every store space always full until I moved out of the state in 2002. Since then, no mall is doing well...interesting to see how fast things changed after e-commerce dominated the market.
And then an even more rapid decline in last 3 years of BOZONOMICS- 🤡vote accordingly
@@jerrysanders9101 is that why Corporate profits are through the roof?
@@dwlang001 corporate profits for some are thru the roof.. but there have been records layoffs .. hundreds and thousands or employees at a time 86ed. Don’t try to defend Bozo the career criminal.. the unelected dope is indefensible.
@@jerrysanders9101 those layoffs only further the profits of companies like CVS Health, Proctor and Gamble, Hasbro, etc. All of this is due to the 2018 tax cuts which no longer penalize such wanton profiteering. That profiteering has led to the record high inflation with over 50% attributed to corporate profits. I do wish the President could do something to stop it - but he is not a King. I doubt the current house of representatives would dare to anger their corporate donors.
Commie regime commie tactics the People must wake up and turn the e commerce monopoly inside out. Technology moving faster than the blink of an eye to think that no average middle class citizen could forsee how the e-commerce would effect the back bone of this country destroying small businesses across the country! Should never have happened
Thanks for visiting "my mall". A few stores have closed the last time I visited in the winter and it looks like most of the escalators are still broken. The skylight and the roof leaks when it's raining. I have seen buckets on the first floor. The JCPenney is the oldest original store remaining in the mall.
The Macy's parking garage is scary to park at. The levels are uneven and it doesn't feel right. I'm glad you did not drive up there.
It's sad to see the mall in this state since I went there in its hay day in the 1990s. I haven' been back since the winter and I might not get the chance from the looks of it.
Kohan maintenance program, HAHAHAHA
This mall has a special place in my heart... I remember going here countless times with friends and even my grandmother. My grandmother and I would go to school shopping at JC Penny or go there to take photos with Santa. It's so sad seeing this place go downhill because it's a staple of my childhood. Also, you know a mall has gone downhill, and there was a dentist office in the mall, or you see the shell of Abercombie and still can smell the memory of it when you walk by. Also, my fiance and both worked here for a brief moment in time... crazy. Anyone know if they're still turning this into apartments?
I walked the 3rd floor a few weeks ago, 37 stores were closed
Gotta put the illegal immigrants somewhere away from prying eyes
@@MopBucket1014well they’re not putting immigrants there. Sorry to burst your racist bubble.
@@companyman6208how am I being racist by not wanting the first thing people do coming into the country is breaking the law?
@@MopBucket1014 so what does that have to do with Emerald Square mall? Your kind interjects politics into every fuccun video.
I remember when this opened in 1989. The traffic was so bad that it was hard to even get in there, both on Route 1 and 295 there would be a long wait. In 1989 at least, there was a pervasive rumor around town that they built the mall too quickly and it was sinking. 🤣
It was interesting seeing the video - I moved away from the area 25 years ago and for some reason this mall popped into my head and I googled it, finding this video. Thank you for documenting!
the mall is built over swamp lands
Sigh… twenty years ago this was one of my favorite places in the world. It was so lively and there was SO MANY fun places to go. We could check out something subversive at Spencers Gifts, cuddle puppies in the pet shop, find something eclectic and witchy at The Silver Dragon. I couldn’t tell you how much time I spent there
It’s SO FUCKING SAD to see it like this
As for the decline of malls… I think what a lot of young people don’t realize is this: it’s not about the shopping. As a tween and teen it was your first real taste of freedom. Even if you played outside all day unsupervised, there was something new and liberating about your parent handing you $20 and dropping you and your friends off at the door and being like “later!!!” It was a big rite of passage
This is true. A lot of things are about the ritual. Malls were one of those things. Kind of like going to Blockbuster and selecting a movie as opposed to just sitting down and clicking a button. We've lost a lot in a short amount of time.
We have some of the same memories. I miss it, just the atmosphere on a Friday night, the best
Silver dragon ❤❤❤. 25 yrs later I still have my Celtic cross 😂❤
@@LG-lk5esme too
Thank you for the great walking tour of this once amazing mall. I really appreciate the visual documentation of the slow but complete decline of this form of American retail. Sad to see malls of this scale decline and eventually dissappear.
This mall opened when my wife and I were first married. Throughout the 90's and into the early 2000's, this mall was always busy. In December you were fortunate to even get a parking space in the evening or weekend. Last time I was in there was about 2 and half years ago and I did a similar video. I couldn't believe how empty it was for early December, or any other time of the year for that matter.
I grew up at this mall. Some of my best memories are from here either while we were there or on our way there. My group of friends went here every single Friday night like clockwork. Definitely very sad to see it almost gone. The real heartbreaker for me is toysrus across the street being gone. Almost every toy I owned as a kid came from that store. Sad how things change and not for the better
My friends and I used to do the same thing. We went there every Friday night. This was in the late 90s.
@@RoccosVideos we were there in the early 2000’s in high school or just after graduating. We knew everyone who worked at every store and used to spend money like crazy back then. It’s where my immense cd, dvd and bluray collection spawned from
@@4eyesover2 I used to buy CDs there sometimes too. We went in middle school though so I mostly just hung out. Haha. There was a big electronics store on the first floor kind of near the middle if I remember correctly. I graduated high school in 2003 but we moved in 2000. I lived right down the street in South Attleboro before we moved. Once we moved I stopped going.
@@RoccosVideos I was there around 06-09 or so, so we only missed each other by a few years. I never really go over that way anymore, even more so now I dated a girl from South who was SOMETHING ELSE so I’d rather not run into her again
@@4eyesover2 I can understand that. Haha
Awesome video. I am 60 and my daughter was born in 1996. We went there all the time as she grew up. There was a Carousel in the food court . Multiple Kiosks on the first floor and ever store front was occupied and busy. I even got to work there as stores changed , renovating the space for the new store. Very happy memories. 👨🏻🚒👍🏼
This was my local mall growing up. I was just there recently and the 3rd floor feels like a ghost town now 😢
It's kind of like a tree. The leaves die at the top first and work their way down. Thanks for watching.
This is a weird eerie one. It’s DYING for sure. When Komar buys you it’s like a funeral. The lights is an obvious save money tactic, and tacky.
But Macys is still open. A decent amount of the main stores still around. It doesn’t have a ton of mom & pop stores that keep some dead malls open though…..
I cannot call it DEAD because honestly I have seen worse. That said it’s DYING…let me know when Macys shutters. That will signal the end is coming.
In the meantime my advice would be to move out the top floor. There’s no need for 3 stories. Get the few remaining on top like Newbury Comics a spot elsewhere and more convenient.
There were two malls in my hometown, a big one and a small one. The big one is definitely a dying mall that's become a shell of itself. It lost Nordstrom in 2018 and JcPenney's closed amidst the pandemic. The little one did lose its Macy's anchor, but they demolished the anchor and replaced it with a strip mall with a Ulta, Sierra Trading Post, DSW, and Hobby Lobby -- all really popular stores that have revitalized the mall.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that its sad to see your childhood mall die, but its always fascinating to see how malls can be salvaged, revamped, and turned into something new if you play your cards right. Here's hoping they can give this mall a much-needed revamp, too.
Usually these bigger malls are redeveloped into housing, distribution centers, or medical offices lately :/ there’s only so much room for retail especially now as more goes online.
My local mall just lost its last anchor which was a Macy's... didn't even make it 20 years.
This video popped up on my thread. I know this mall very well and live close. The past few years ive seen such a decline it's truly sad. Just like all the mom and pop stores that go under because of the big box stores. I truly enjoyed this mall I've had decades of holiday shopping here. I truly wish we could go back years ago when life was much simpler. Thank you for caring about these places in decline that were once upon a time magnificent. ❤
New subscriber.
@glennsilva2631 Yes, that is my birth year! Grew up in NA. Still not too far away. It truly is sad I call RT. 1. The strip it's all stores, mini malls packey's and liquor stores! The one that was the saddest was Benny's. I miss that store so much. I'm glad to see this channel posts locally. Truly sad times we are in. I'm sure they will turn Emerald into all apartments no one can afford. Take care. ✌️
Malls and video stores are what I miss most of my childhood. Also at the 20 minute mark you can see a woman walking for exercise. That’s how you know a mall is in decline
Reminds me of a lot of the Silver City Galleria before it went down hill. The anchor stores left, the food court went barren, half the stores were empty, and when I'd go there on a weekend it was like I was the only person in the mall.
We just went to this mall 2 days ago.
They put a brand new arcade down stairs and finally fixed all the escalators.
But it made me sad , because this mall, Was one of the top malls in the early 2000’s.
And seeing all the stores closed and barely anyone in there. Was sad.
Aaaand the escalators are broken again 😂
Used to go here with my buddies back in high school and even earlier with my parents to go clothes shopping. It's taken it's toll over the years but I'm glad it's one of the few remaining malls still open. It is kinda cool to explore it when it's basically only you though. The shops that are there are still opened and staffed, it's like going to a theme park where you're the only guest.
It's also unfortunate that most of the escalators are closed. They were prone to breaking down, not sure why, but from what the video shows, it looks like they don't care to repair them anymore.
I still go to this mall from time to time to buy things and I like the quiet atmosphere. However, it is beyond depressing the state it is in. I was actually worried you were going to get stuck in the elevator and the squeaky escalators in the anchor stores only are pretty sketchy too. I also noticed there were no security guards in the mall just a custodian or two cleaning. Whenever I go there it amazes me that certain stores are still in business and wonder who is going to close next. Any guesses?
Def had a carousel in the center of the food court. I have a photo of it from 2008, but I know it lasted until at least 2013. Up until at least 2013, the mall was very very busy.
I guess I was a decade too late. Oh well. Thanks for the info and for watching!
Grew up in this mall. Crazy the memories I have here. Walked around the mall last week and I was honestly getting a little choked up walking around. I know, sounds dumb but great memories
13:06 The only reason I go to Emerald Square Mall now.
When i was younger, we used to go to either Emerald Square or Natick Mall near Christmas.
My Sister and I would take off and go out own separate ways to get ideas of what we wanted for Christmas as well as do out own shopping, then meet back up with our parents in the food court.
I liked how the vendors would be out in the stalls showing off their gadgets like the mini RC Copters, Plug and Play Games, etc, and going to stores like Discovery Toys, and Natural Wonders.
I think one of the big problems with malls is that there are not too many novelty stores left. 90% of them are clothing stores. It's over saturated with the same thing over and over again. Also, they need to come up with ways to entice new Anchor Stores to come in.
When Sears at the Natick Mall closed down, it was replaced by a Dave and Busters.
Agreed! The toy vault is awesome. Unfortunately, the mall isn’t as it used to be.
I was there last week (July 2023). There was either no air conditioning or very poor air conditioning. I completely agree they must be running on low-power mode there. There are only three eateries open in the food court. A depressing experience overall. There were sad-looking people sitting in the massage chairs in the middle of the mall atrium. I thought the Newbury Comics would have life to it, but it is more like an "Express" version of the store, not even much music and no DVDs or Blu-ray. There was a depressing Lana Del Ray song playing over the store stereo called, "Money, Power, Glory." A sad, and ghostly - albeit beautiful - song. Just like the Emerald Square Mall. Sad, but still somehow beautiful.
How sad… it makes me cry to see how this mall is dying little by little. When I came to the United States from Colombia that was my first mall to go to…
Then my daughters were born and this was the place to go shopping. My daughter played many many times in the playground. Food court was packed and sometimes it was difficult to find a table. I remember the Burger King and other restaurants. Along with the carrusel where my daughters asked to get tickets for the ride. Good memories. Very very sad to see Emerald Square Mall dying.😭😭
Hi! Late to the party with this video, but I worked here from 1997-2000. I worked at the candy store Mr Bulky Treats and Gifts (2nd floor where the AT&T Store is currently). It was so nostalgic and sad to see what was once a BOOMING place so dead. Some stores are still there and some are gone. And YES, there was a carousal in the food court! I remember when they put it in.
I was 16 when I got my first job there, and lasted all through high school. Then, my first summer home from college I got a job at the restaurant Charlie's Eating and Drinking Saloon (now Bertucci's. Not sure when that took over). Wow, what memories this brought back. Thank you for that.
Man, this is just sad. Anyone else remember, due to corporate mergers, when they had not one, but TWO KB Toys, and TWO GameStops?
There was two GameStops and an Electronics Boutique and they were all super busy.
My dad did electrical work on this mall as it was being built in the late 80s. Growing up, my parents brought me here to take photos with Santa and the Easter Bunny, and every time I think of Christmas decorations I think of this mall and it's gigantic streamers and inflatable ornaments hanging from the glass ceiling. I still remember when they had the carousel in the food court, and when they got rid of it and how upset I was. In middle school and high school, this was the place to be on a Friday night, you felt cool if you were invited to hang out at Emerald Square. I was there today and it feels practically abandoned at this point. I feel all my memories when I'm there but it's just so upsetting to watch it die right before us like this. It would be so devastating to see this mall demolished, I really hope they find something to do with the space, its too beautiful and important to just be leveled into nothing.
It’s kinda silly but I love the giant ornaments at Christmas time. Would go there on Black Friday sometimes and would be feeling all festive seeing them
It’s very unfortunate that this mall is on its way out. Keep up the great content!!!
Thanks! Glad you liked the video!
Great video I was just there today and agree with the dark place. They didn’t even open the doors exactly at 10 o’clock. A guy took a sweet time to open the doors near Macy’s and the lights very dim was dark. A lot of stores are not open. Lotta the escalators are still broken. I don’t like going up the stairs either. Don’t feel safe. I did notice though right where Macy’s is there’s a pillar outside that has damage to it so someone it take care of it I noticed a lot of RVs parked out around the back too. I don’t know if they’re renting spots for people to shame. It had good bones. They came up with a better planter revive it I don’t know, but I agree with you with all the things that you’ve mentioned.
They Sell RVS there from a Local Dealer, I've heard they sell really good there!Go figure right? Can't sell 20 dollar Shirts or Umi Chicken but people will drop 75k on a temporary toy! CRAZY
The problem with Malls in America isn't Amazon, it's urban planning. In Europe, Malls are thriving, because they are built and integrated into city centers. In America you have to deliberately drive through shitty traffic to get to the store. In Europe you could stumble upon it, as you walk among the plethora of other sites and stores, or it could be "oh, while I'm here."
Malls were once in cities in the U.S., but they began to die, mainly due to lack of parking, and fear of crime. These urban malls aren’t far from the cities. The Providence Place Mall was the very last urban/city mall built in the U.S. So far, it’s doing ok, but there have been many stores that have come and gone since it opened in 1999.
@@rickberglund2134 Except America is suburbized, meaning much of the Americans who can afford the mall, also live in suburbs. Which live roughly a 15 minute drive outside of the city.
"Lack of parking"
Let me guess, we just need more lanes and that'll solve traffic right?
@@rickberglund2134 Agreed. Malls in both the suburbs and city centers have been dying for quite some time. The Galleria and Greendale Mall in Worcester have rolled over and died a long time ago. Wouldn't be surprised of the Auburn Mall is next. Simply too many shopping malls were built in their heyday - whether it made long-term sense or not.
I found this out when I went to Oslo. I was at the Radisson Blu next to Oslo Central station, and there were malls everywhere with repeating stores. All were thriving, and they were all within 5 minutes of the hotel. Even the mall I went to in Tromsø on Easter weekend was busy, the country shuts down then. I'd be amazed to see the parking at Emerald Square mall to be even 25% of what it was in the oughts
@@maxjn0709 I've always wanted to visit Norway and really just Europe in general, seems nice over there.
It's amazing when you dive into it, how much of society and our daily lives, psychology, interactions are determined by urban planning (how cities are built & designed)
It's so unfortunate cause I grew up in this mall basically. I have so many good memories in this mall. To this day as an adult I live down the street from it. I wish it wasn't like this
I visited this mall this past June and the third floor is now completely dead. They moved some of the stores to the first floor. The food court has no food other than pretzels. The second floor only has about four stores or so. It's all on the first floor now.
My friend and I saw the title of this video about a month ago and thought it was being overdramatic. We went today and I was genuinely shocked at just how empty and lifeless the mall was. I remember just 3 years ago it being just like any other mall. It filled me with an immense sense of dread today. I will never doubt you again lol
Ha ha. Thanks!
Oh man that's so sad 😭 my son's dad used to work at lens crafters when my son was born and I would take my son to the mall to visit his dad , my son's dad passed away in June 29'th of this year so watching this video is really sad 😭
I have so many memories as a teenager there. 45 now. Walking past the arcade on the second or 3rd floor and seeing Mortal Kombat by the entrance, when it first came out. Early 90's. So many others. I remeber it being so busy around holidays that i would be brushing shoulders, weaving in and out of people. Weird to see it like this, but its a new world
Was a mall rat for this place back in early 90’s and there was never a Lechmere. That location was actually a newly built add on for Lord and Taylor. Then it became Filenes and then Macys.
Love the variety on your channel, keep up the good work
Thanks!
I remember going to this mall as a kid. It was so cool and fancy. I think once Providence Place opened in 1999 it changed the volume of the mall then the recession and the increase in online shopping has just changed it. It's kind of sad to watch the decline of a space that people loved and used at one time.
I grew up in North Attleboro and used to get dropped off with $20 from my mom in my pocket and my little friend group all the time when I was a kid! We’d walk around and shop at the same stores 3-4 hours a visit, had Umi Chicken or Charley’s Cheesesteaks in the food court often, even having my first kiss with my ex-boyfriend at the arcade. I’d get some of the best boba tea at Tutti Frutti too. Haven’t been there since 2019. So sad it’s been declining over the years like so many other malls, yet it still looks the same, just more empty…
This kills me. Back in the day I use to frequent “Eric Fuch’s” game and hobby shop allot. It was hard enough to find sanctuary as a DND kid, now truly a magnificent wonder has died so the strong may survive. “sign”… Four winds take me!
Providence Place also had an effect on this mall, keeping much of the Providence people in the city. Silver City Galleria in Taunton, and Swansea Mall are completely gone. Interestingly, Providence Place Mall and the Warwick Mall seem to be holding their own.
RI also HAD Rhode Island mall which turned into all anchor stores. I often wonder what happened to the inside. That mall died in 2011 but had been on its way out for years before. It was quite early to the dead mall series..
I brought my young daughter to this mall last week, on a Saturday the first floor was still decently busy but it is depressing how empty the third floor is, and the second floor is getting there. The food court used to have a really nice carousel in the middle and now it’s pretty much empty. This was the mall to go in the area for years.
When I was a kid in the late 90s I used to hang out here. It was insanely popular then. It used to be so crowded. It's weird to see it empty like this. The entire month of December traffic was backed up on Route 1 because everyone would shop here for Christmas gifts. Honestly I'm a bit sad to see it like this.
What a shame! Fairly well? More like wicked busy at Christmas. Insane traffic on Routes 1 & 295. That's all a memory now. Too bad.
I’m surprised that both Macy’s locations are still open! I would not be surprised if they close off the third floor in the future. Probably within a couple years at most. Kohan is a notorious slumlord that does not take care of the malls they obtain.
My guess is Macy’s will probably consolidate into the old Filene’s space since it’s a three level store, and probably close off the third-floor entrance. JCPenney will probably do the same. I mean, this is of course if the stores themselves don’t close…
When I moved to Walpole about 6 years ago, this was my go-to mall. However, the place fell into disrepair and the owners, regardless of ownership group, didn't care to keep it in any way. Food Court is baren, only three shops I ever visit are all that's worth seeing, escalators are shit, and the fact some signs of dead tenants are still up is proof this place is dying steadily.
It's gotten worse: the website is now non-existent (now just some gambling thing) and they haven't updated their social media since October. Very sad to see this really.
The Walpole Mall used to be a great little mall too. Bradlees on one side, and Almy’s on the other. Had some great restaurants too, Thackery’s and Pewter Pot, along with Newport Creamery and Papa Gino’s.
I said this in response to another comment but I wanna directly address you and thank you for making this video so I can see what the mall looks like now. The last time I set foot in here was before I left my hometown for the last time back in 2010.
I'm from Cumberland which is the town that borders Attleboro on the RI side so Emerald Square was literally the next exit up 295 and took like 10 minutes to get there. My mom used to manage the Sweet Factory on the second floor by the JC Penny. Anywho, she would meet my stepdad who used to set up his SR2 simulator ride on the first floor (also in front of the JC Penney, so all she had to do to see it was walk out and look down) as he went from mall to mall and charged admission to make his living. She ended up quitting her Sweet Factory job to help him run the business when they got together and we moved to his house in Attleboro so I spent a huge chunk of my life in this mall. It's really sad to see it like this.
There's also a little bit of an error in your info about the Macy's anchor. After G Fox It was a Filene's from the early 90s until the late 90s (it was a FIlene's for most of my childhood and I spent about 10-12 years from 89-2001 shopping there) and THEN it became a Lord and Taylor before finally a Macy's. I don't believe it was ever a FIlene's Men's at any point in its history.
I lived in Franklin in the early to mid 90's and at that time Emerald Square Mall was doing very well, it was a great place to shop. Moved to the South Shore years ago so stopped going, I had no idea it was doing that badly which is sad but it's the fate of many malls these days. On the South Shore they tore down the Hanover Mall that had been there since the 70's and built an open air retail plaza which is actually doing just ok, still has a lot of empty store fronts after having been open for almost a year. A little further south Kingston Mall is still open but just hanging on. The Macy's and Target are still there along with the movie theatre and a few chain stores (Newbury Comics for one) but the food court is almost dead and little pop-up shops seem to come and go. A lot of the mall now is taken up by recreational space like a Billy Bee for kids and a huge sports bar/bowling alley and arcade. I think they're the only things doing ok in the mall. During the week the largest group of people you see there are older people walking circuits around the interior. On the weekends it's still kind of busy but nothing like it once was.
On a side note; you walked by an FYE...I thought those were all long gone!
Appreciate your time for the video. Still check it out once in a while when passing by. Times sure have changed
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles had a sub office there back in the day. By any chance, did you have a chance to do Lincoln Mall in Lincoln RI just over the state line? I have not been there in quite a few years but my clients tell me it's a ghost town. Too bad. Thank you for making this video. You did a great job.
Lincoln Mall is still alive. Someone genius revived. The stores are now looking outside. Target, Starbucks, Job Lot, and other stores are there
I remember going to this mall when it first opened in 1989, I remember years of traffic backed up on the off-ramp from 95, I remember when Providence Place Mall stole some of its thunder, I remember working there in a music store for a bit, and have watched it steadily decline over the years. The last time I went there to go to the Macy’s men’s store, I saw quite a few people… exercising. They weren’t shopping. Retail malls are dying a slow death and Emerald Square is not immune to the disease.
I worked at that JC Penny back in 95 as a floor planner right after high school. I remember it was full from the time it open until it closed. The mall was just on fire then. It has awesome stores always decorated beautifully.
Hi, I commented in the community section under your post about the other channel about all (or most) of the malls I've been to around CT and MA, and I mentioned this mall being one of them. I started going here with my husband (I think) around 1999, 2000. It was not in this sorry of a state back then. It wasn't even half as bad as this the last couple times we went here, which was on my daughter's birthday in March of 2019, and New Year's Eve 2019. I had gone here on birthdays (the first visit being on my birthday), Valentine's Days, and anniversaries. There were a couple favorite shops of mine that closed down a long time ago, both gift shops, called Noah's and The Silver Dragon (Noah's used to also be in Silver City Galleria and the Danbury Fair Mall, and Silver Dragon also used to be in the Rhode Island Mall). I'm glad that Elite Ideas is still there, at least that's one of my favorites that remains. There used to be a leather/biker shop a few doors down from Hot Topic on the first floor that used to be owned by an aquaintance of mine, who had her shop first at the Swansea Mall. That doesn't look to be there anymore. I feel devastated that this mall, too, seems to be going the way of Swansea Mall and Silver City Galleria, as well as other now extinct malls around the country.
Thanks so much for sharing your excellent work.
I go this mall at least three times a month over the past 10 years.
They ALWAYS turn ALL THE LIGHTS on at night. Even back in better times
The Carousel you're thinking of is in the Warwick Mall. It is an actual carousel it is a good size but not as big as the outdoor
Thank you for posting these videos just to document the sad state of local malls. I had business in Saugus a few months ago and needed something to do for a few hours. I decided to visit the Square One Mall which is much like this Mall. It looked a lot like this video. I hate to see these malls die but i know it's inevitable.
Glad you like them! Thanks!
I grew up in North Attleboro and like many of the other comments are saying, this place was amazing in the 90's - early 00's. Just hanging around as a mallrat kid doing nothing was beyond important on a Friday night haha. Really sucks to see it shriveled up and dying like it is now.
I went in there like a week or two ago and I was floored. I felt like I was in a movie with one of those apocalypse settings..
Canada. I enjoy Mall walks and enjoying watching our once dead mall coming alive once more!
Thanks for the videos!
Thanks!
I remembered the mall when it first opened. It was packed with people coming from miles away to see it. At the time it was the largest mall in New England. I used to go there akit also when I lived in Providence RI, I used to go there alot. Great video as always.
the mall of my childhood ever sense i was born. R.I.P Emerald Square Mall 1980-2023
1989 I believe
I used to live in this mall in the 90’s as a teen. Right in front of that hot topic, with an EB Games somewhere nearby. Getting Burger King fries in the food court. Loitering at that entrance next to Bertuccis. Going with girls from my school to American Eagle while they shopped. Making friends I only ever saw at the mall and we hung out every Friday night like clockwork. I haven’t been on this side of MA for well over a decade now. Just wild to think about.
This was my old stomping ground in the mid 90's when I was in high school. Geez the money and time I spent here was crazy! I can't believe what a ghost town it is!
I can remember riding around those lots for over 30 minutes for over 30 minutes trying to find a parking space. Time has clearly not been good to this place. Sadly not too surprising, though. Malls are so last century.
I rarely went because of parking..
Cool videos growing up in the 80s and 90s it was just like the opening of "fast times at ridgemont high" even pre COVID it was so crowded to go to the mall. But sadly the last mall I went to a lot of the stores were closed
this really hit me where it hurts😢 so very depressing compared to it being The Place to shop for many years. so many great memories from going there, especially at Christmas! such a shame
Remember it from the 1990s.
Back in the 80s/90s, teens used to hang out in malls. They meant a lot more foot traffic and spending in food court, arcade, certain stores.
Todays teens have their phones and gaming, and many are over "stuff."
I'm a Boomer, we used to be pro shoppers. Now headed to the finish line and are shedding possessions.
Millenials and Gen X are crushed by inflation, food, housing, child care, college costs. So, no shopping.
Add online shopping and its a recipe for dead malls.
COVID really killed this mall I remember living in Massachusetts from 2017 -2019 and this small was alive and well always packed I can’t believe that in such little time it’s so dead very sad 😔
I’m 28 now and have been eating at that ruby thai kitchen for my whole life. I begged my mom to bring me to “the blue area” all the time which is the main area when we were at sears. The smoke detector is beeping and the carousel was taken out sometime between 2010 and 2013.
Working at the mall as a passive second job was one of the best experiences I’ll ever cherish. So many good employees over the years from all the stores. Security was awesome and it was always upbeat. It fell apart pretty quick after 2015 sadly with the rent hikes. It cost $3k a month at one point to run one of the outside stands
I moved to Rhode Island in 2001 so I spent some time at this mall. It was very busy back then, and I remember being here around 2006 or so when Hulk Hogan's daughter Brooke did a "concert" here, if you want to call it that. I think the last time I was there was 2012. If this isn't a dead mall, it's damn close.
Wow I remember the Brooke Hogan concert as well, Selena Gomez appeared once as well in her late teens…
Being acquired by Kohan, Namdar, or Moonbeam is the kiss of death for a mall, the slow-motion coup de grace.
Just remember when you purchase from Amazon you are contributing to the closure of businesses 😮
Not everyone wants to, or can drive all the way to a mall, park and walk to the stores, and walk around in a mall for hours, just looking for the couple of stores they want to go to.
Oh well prices went up and amazon can offer lower bargains
Oh, wow. I remember this mall being really busy. Like most Gen X, I lived my teen years at the mall, Emerald Square being the mall in question. I remember every store front full, everyone milling about, every food court stall full. In reference to the carousel, yes; it was there in the late 90’s in the middle of the food court. There were also a lot more tables in the food court, with tables along the atrium windows overlooking the parking lot.
This was another mall I was dragged to as a teenager when it was new. When my Mother, and Sister wanted to shop, Dad, and I suffered through it. Worse being this was three stories. I just remembered it was hard to keep a good footing, as the tiles were very slippery, especially the food court.
Last time I was here it was doing decently, and that mall elevator's floor counter put on a better malfunctioning show than you got.
Loved this Mall.. So many memories for about 16 years that it was Thriving! ;)
Used to go here a lot as a kid. Went a good couple times around 2018/2019. Finally went post-covid with my girlfriend, and the place was a desolate wreck like it is here. In just 3-4 years the place really hit the fan. Can't imagine it has much time left. It is quite the shame.
In case anyone is wondering too, it was in December of 2022. Right in the middle of holiday season, and I could easily count the number of people total in the mall on my hands. The place look more lively in this video. There's more closed stores on the second and third floor now. I swear they get bot reviews online to try and pad the rating. There's just constant random five stars between genuine reviews too. The owners respond to the google reviews and say silly stuff too lol. I recommend taking a look.
The sad part is Simon also owns the Auburn mall over in as you guessed it, Auburn,Mass and that place is barely breathing. A five below was recently put in and a carnival on the outside was just put on a few weeks ago. However it's the empty parking area where Sears used to face that had the carnival in it. A few similar things with this mall is the crappy beat up massage chairs in the middle of the mall, Macy's and a couple jewelry stores and wormtown trading. Idk how malls like this stay afloat when Amazon is out there being Amazon.
The Emerald Square Mall interior is so similar to CambridgeSide Galleria before 2020. Right down to a nearly empty 3rd floor (which is now being converted to office space).
Just visited this mall yesterday (im on a trip from australia) and yeah first time being to a dead mall, did enjoy some of the remaining shops though.
I'm 35 and I grew up nearby in Rhode Island. My sister and I both grew up going to this mall. I came here recently (2024) and it's even worse than in this video. Only 2 restaurants are left in the food court. The 3rd floor has maybe 3 open stores and the 2nd is well on its way to that. It's incredibly sad for me to see this mall decline this way. It used to be the place for us teenagers to hang out at
This was THE mall in the area back in the day; I still remember the first time our family went there, they had traffic backed up to the highway offramp to get to the more local streets the mall was on, which were pretty substantial themselves. It was just far enough away that we didn't go there on a regular basis, especially since a mall very similar to this opened up in my hometown... which ironically has since closed, while this one still at least teeters on the brink. Basically, it was like this mall in basically every way, except it only had 2 levels instead of 3.
Lovin' the content Tom, mall after mall are in this sad state. What is keeping folks away from these centres, would love to know.
I'm glad you like it! I really appreciate that. I think most people don't go to these malls because you can buy most of this stuff online for less money and more conveniently. Also, the pandemic really didn't help. Thanks for watching!
@@fleabittenadventures You mean the Plandemic.
@@fleabittenadventuresYou hit it right on the head. COVID-19 and online shopping was the double whammy that killed a lot of malls coast to coast.
It's like walking through a ghost town, now. I remember when there were wall to wall people! Sad. I think the outlet mall had a huge effect, too. I never saw a carousel there. It seems awful that they are heating this huge huge mall full of empty stores.
A message to mall explorers. Online research can be done on restaurants around the dead malls by typing Restaurants along with the street address of any dead mall in the search box of Google.
I know, but it's fun to explore blind. Thanks for watchin.
When I lived in RI, I'd take a trip to this mall almost every other weekend. It was very popular in the 90s and early 2000s. My sister still lives up North and she has told me it's dead.
I visited it in the early 90s. Judging from your video, I’m surprised that the doors are still open at all. I’m surprised that Newbury Comics is still open. WOW! That food court is gonzo. I don’t remember a carousel being there, but I could be wrong. Sadly, after seeing your video, I won’t be visiting here anymore.
I remember the mall well, going there all the time in middle school to the hot topic and fye. it's a huge mall as you show and was actually doing ok until the 2010s but building Patriot Place, The Crossing in Mansfield and Smithfield, The Wrentham Outlets renovation/expansion just stole all the foot traffic a mall that size needs
As a kid the Emerald Square Mall was our go to mall... we lived about 45 minutes away. Haven't been there since I was 21 (30 years ago). Providence Place Mall is now the mall of choice. Taunton mall (silver city) opened shortly after this on and then that became our go to mall... it is now closed and has been torn down. Dartmouth mall is still hanging on.
Providence Place is dying. They just went into receivership actually.
Despite the emptiness, this seems like a cool mall to walk through.
36:02 Wow, that huge empty parking garage 😟
I remember that arcade! Back in the day it had Mortal Kombat 2 playing on this special big screen. It was famous for 100 miles around with kids, who would line up to the door to play it. Sucks to see how sad it got.
What I don't get is why they charge such outrageous prices for those arcade games now. They're ALWAYS empty. Tons of people would pop in for a quick game if they were still a buck or less, and it would still generate more money than zero.
27:25, yes there was a carousel, don’t remember the date of taking it out. So many of the table and chairs were removed to I see.
They could take these closing malls and turn them into condo developments (or 55 and over) with restaurants, supermarkets, clothing stores, gyms, tennis courts, game areas, etc.
I wish they would, I'd move there
Reno the stores into housing and create a retro-nostalgic mall scene XD. I'd live there
It is actually kind of busy on the weekends, nothing like the old days, but it's pretty active
This mall reminds me of the circle center mall in Indiana how some stores close but some still open but not to busy but not that many people there but has a good amount of people there
This was the Mall I used , and Lincoln Mall too. I don’t go anymore because I buy online. My husband and I had our first date there ,we met for coffee that was 1995 . Still married 28 years later. Been to the Mall in White , My Dad is from Peekskill NY
Lincoln Mall has evolved. All of the inside is gone, transformed into a gym and a nursing school and a movie theater (the only movie theater in northern RI that I know of). All of the stores are outside now, like a massive plaza, and that is how it's survived. The landlord charges hefty rent so only big names settle in. They just opened an Ulta where the Party City once was.
@@kathreath1 I’m from Lincoln, but Ulta makes me so happy.
@@dolivier Cool, I'm from Lincoln as well but mass makeup stores make me want to hurl. Why couldn't they have installed something cooler?