Hey guys! Thanks a bunch for watching the penultimate episode to the end of ExLog Phase III...Hopefully you're all resting at home, staying safe. During the quarantine, I hope to get a video out every Friday at 8PM Eastern...so please stay tuned! In the mean time, please make sure to subscribe, ring the bell, and check out all the awesome links in my description! Also, be sure to join the Dead Malls of Discord Server (link also in description). See you all soon!
@@gingerkat74 You should check out Ace's Adventures if you havent already, he goes all over but is based out of buffalo so streams from there time to time.
So I work in Tiffin. The one weird storefront you were curious about with the tv's mounted in a post used to be a Tiffin reality office. Also Planet Fitness went in, in November/December 2019 right across from the Mexican restaurant in the old Radio Shack and another empty store front door
Hey Sal, I've been in the Tiffin area for quite awhile. 1st, the store you asked about was a realty office. The drop-down wooden frames at the corner had TVs in it & they played video of the houses the realty agent was selling. 2nd, you said Findlay Village Mall helped drive the Tiffin Mall under. That's COMPLETELY WRONG. The company that owned the mall in the mid-90's hiked the rents/leases to a ridiculous amount, and stores started leaving. Most any store afterward that wanted to open there would get a reduced lease for 6 months to a year, then they'd crank the rates again, driving the new businesses out. Someone in the comments mentioned Label Maker being there, but the Label Maker was only open to the public for TWO WEEKS. They closed up & left after seeing zero customers because no one knew they were there, and an obscured entrance didn't help. The tattoo studio only stayed for about 6 months, then moved downtown, and has since closed. The company that owns the mall now has no real intention of renovating or repopulating the mall itself. The company I worked for built the newer theatre & Asian Grill restaurant that are extended off the mall, both of which were profitable. So now, they're selling off parcels of the parking lot as "build to suit" while the vacant mall just sits there. Build To Suit is MUCH more profitable with the condition of the mall. And the guy who mentioned the pizza place toward the back of the mall, that was East Of Chicago Pizza.
I'm pretty sure the attendance of the mall had been falling for a while before the rate hikes. I know most people that I knew would rather go to the Findlay mall than the Tiffin mall once the 90's came around. But the rate hikes were the death knell, that is for sure. I don't think it's wrong to say that the mall in Findlay didn't play a role, it probably played the earliest role since Findlay also expanded its overall retail exponentially faster than Tiffin did, and people just stop going to Tiffin since it was easy to get to Findlay and there were a lot more options retail wise.
I’ve lived around Tiffin for all of my life. I believe they got Hobby Lobby to take the spot in the mall where the JCPenny is just recently! We will see what happens. I also used to walk around the mall with my grandma and her friends when the mall was still open to the public but barely any stores left.
I love your thoughtful narrative around 15:25, about what draws urban explorers to these places. Very well said! It sparked some thought in myself, too. It took me a long time to understand and articulate why I am drawn to abandoned places, particularly malls; it's like what you said. Reality kinda gives you a little slap, or pinch as a reminder of what we may have to face as time inevitably changes everything. Also, especially for people like myself, who are around 30 years old and older, its a reminder of another era we remember. As we look at the old terracotta tiles, funky colors and geometric patterns, we think about our own childhoods growing up at these places, and the joy those memories brought to our lives. We try to hang on to those memories, and it's very sad to see these places go, and all that remains are those memories.
The room with a drop down ceiling ended up being a call center for quite a few years. Like 10 years or so. Thank you for making this video. So much nostalgia
I remember when the arcade was in the front of the mall on the right of the entrance before they tucked it next to the K-Mart. This brought back a lot of memories, Thanks for posting!
I can never thank you enough Sal! Your videos provide not just a walk down memory lane but a relief from the stress we are all under. I appreciate you my friend. Thank you very much!
Hey man, I've revisited this video a lot over the past few years mainly to get a look inside my first mall, first movie theater, first arcade, and a lot of other firsts. I really appreciate what you do and I'm sure a lot of others do too. I have some update photos of progress on the mall at least from the exterior if you'd be interested, I just wasn't sure where to send them. Thank you so much for making this video
That old JCPenny store is where my great grandma would take me to get new school clothes, that’s back when southpole clothing brand was the coolest style to have. I remember my great grandma also bought me a giant reseases pillow there.
Yeah, you have a point, it's sad that cohan, and moonbeam do things like that. It should be illegal to do this kind of shady business practice. I often think that lately, will the mall actually survive this pandemic, or will it be a thing of the past? Great video sal and stay safe my friend.
I have to watch Blood Debts. Campy Action in the Marcos Era. OH, THE SHOES! Great video, Sal. It was very creepy, and I noticed that this Mall didn't have much going on regarding it's ceiling and design. Nothing made this Mall special, bar the few items that you noticed. When it comes to shopping centres I want to see the skylights and the mixture of different angles to make it feel inviting. Regrettably I fear that this 35% drop in GDP and the massive tax cut is way too little and very late to keep the cogs going for what remained here. How deep is the Lockdown? Here many of the Restaurants must remain closed, but there are some locations that are able to use their kitchens to cook food for delivery via Uber Eats and Deliveroo.I fear for small restaurants within small Malls like this will not be able to wait for Life to gradually reopen, as there are some plateaus, but the numbers of infected but not recovered is gobsmacking high, and recovery for those that have been tested as positive are showing signs of renal, circulatory, respiratory, oesophageal, myocardial and neurological damage indicates recoveries that can last for months. It's the unfortunate part in the outbreak of a novo-C pathogen. We are playing it with very slow progress, but I'm hoping that people will continue to limit the spread. As a man that loves Art in all of its forms (except West End-Broadway Shows)(Please don't take me to one of those!) I have been thinking about you and performances. You have a gift that's amazing, and I hope that you have remained with a high level of dedication to keep your talent of the strings is as strong as ever. I have been quiet. I'm on this Committee regarding the SARS2-CoV-19 Pandemic, and it's draining the Life out of me. Two months of quarantine is doing my head in. It's just me and my cat. I'm not allowed to head out to the public but I have my own garden in the back, so I'm quite fortunate, albeit with a dollop of loneliness and concern for all my loved ones and the Discord Family. These are saving my Life, as I'm thinking about the days when shopping was possible! I was granted full permission by one of the Councillors to finally have a filming of the One and Only Covered Market, I want to ask you a few questions about how I should approach this Shopping Icon. I am deeply concerned that this pause will be the end of many boutique shops that are unique to Oxford, The mood around Oxford is surreal. I really want to get a drone and take some videos of the University's 38 Colleges that are completely empty and the empty City. Westgate's third £768 Million nearly complete demolition, expansion and stunning views (about $1Bn US before Brexit and the C-Word), was only 15 months of very busy traffic for the well-heeled, but now the Westgate Mall didn't need this worst timing ever event. The only part that is open is the Sainsbury's, which they wanted to eliminate due to it not being part of their intended upmarket image. Please keep this weekly treasures coming! Thank you for these moments of well done education and entertainment!
I have a distinct memory of visiting this mall in high school. It must have been 2008/2009. We went to Tiffin for a jazz clinic at The Ritz and stopped at the mall to eat at that East of Chicago. I remember it being completely empty inside and generally spooky feeling. I don't think we saw another person the whole hour or two we were there. It was cool to see it again! I worry about the mall in my hometown these days. They've managed to hold on through some tough times and have tried to adapt, but I don't know if it will be enough.
I used to live in Tiffin nearly 15 years ago, and I loved the Tiffin Mall! The cinema there was part of my childhood, where my friend Brian and I watched our movies, and I haven’t been to the Mexican restaurant in years! I nowadays spend my days at The Shops at Fallen Timbers in Maumee, Ohio. I work for Dillards .
I grew Up in tiffin and during the 80s the mall was hopping. One of the women’s fashion stores even used live mannequins during busy times. That was pretty weird. It was a constant rotation of stores for many years.there was a big lots inside there at one point too. The Kroger that you drove by used to be a stand alone Sears.
No, it’s where the Sears used to be, but it’s a brand new building. I almost forget what that used to look like with the covered breezeway between the mall and the Sears
Better late than never. I don't now I missed this one. What an amazing place. A pleasant discovery to have found a video of yours I had not yet seen to enjoy along with a gin and tonic on a Friday night, Sal.
I have a good friend that is from the area originally. According to her, there were plans to turn the old JCP space into a roller skating rink. There was some legal issues between the rink and the mall owners because there was water leaking from the roof. Again this is just what I have been told.
Thank you Sal! Quality videos during this unprecedented time are a welcome break from all the politician fingerpointing. I live in Cincinnati, and have hope for Arcade Legacy...but not much hope for New York based World Properties who own Forest Fair. Word has it the Amazon delivery vans left, and so has the Ford Escape "security vehicle." Best wishes, and keep going. You're doing great!
I am a huge fan of your content, but this one might be my favorite log yet! There's something about it being mostly dark but with intermittent lights as your exploration progresses that I really loved. And as usual your exhaustive research made for a wonderful narrative. Thank you so much for being one of the bright points of my "sheltering in place" experience. 👏🏻
I grew up in Tiffin and this video brings back so many memories. I worked in the maurices store in high school about 2004. There were still many stores open then, crazy to see how much is gone.
Sal - this may sound strange, but I have to say this to you - thank you, thank you, thank you for being probably the first RUclips video that I've seen that's mentioned Covid-19 and has actually been positive/hopeful about it. Thank you for not being all gloom and doom and saying things like "it's never going to end" and we're going to all be inside forever" like I have heard so many other RUclipsrs say when they have talked about this in their videos. I think I just needed to hear some positivity about this today and your video hit just at the right time so again - thank you. This was also a great video. Stay healthy and safe and I look forward to your next video.
Hi! I am from Tiffin and that actually was a nail salon called California nails. I worked there while I was in cosmetology school. It was a very weird set up, but I do remember it being one of the last vendors to exist inside the mall I know California nails moved across the street into a new plaza, pretty cool!
I am back doing comments on all my unwatched Expedition Logs- wanted to say I love the series and that you do an amazing job of researching these, as well as taking feedback given by all your subscribers.
So Tiffin is my hometown and this is the mall I would go to back in like 2012. Back then there were quite a few stores like a JCpennys and a RadioShack. The Mexican restaurant in the front used to be good but it has fallen off in past years. In the back off the Mall there used to be this really good pizza place, I dont remember the name. I have had some great memories in that mall and I'm so sad to see it in this such awful state. Also since you are in the Northwest Ohio area you should check out the Findlay Village Mall in the nearby town of Findlay.
The Findlay Mall was looking pretty sad when I was there last year. The malls in Bowling Green (can’t remember the name) and Defiance also have seen better days.
Hey Sal, I basically grew up when the Tiffin Mall was thriving and worked in the Movie Theater s we hen it was owned by Regal. So many memories there. Sad to see it looking like this now
That drop down area is where the American Realty company was at I think it was an insurance agency for a bit as well. The Movie theater was briefly used by a local group of younger guys to host game events on the big screens so they are probably the minor reno you saw but even that was probably 15years ago.
ive not seen the inside of the mall in years tho. this video is the most I've seen in a long time. Part of the mall used to have a telemarketing service in it for a time
i grew up here. im 29 now but back then in the 90's and early 2000's this was a fun mall to visit with my Dad and sister. Radioshack was my favorite and loved looking at the stereos! i got lost one time when i was 8 or 9 in jcpenny. i could not find my mom...luckily there was a gang of cheeleaders to help me out:) i also dumped an entire row of clothing racks in that same jcpenny. ahhh it was all so memorable. There use to be a pet store where that arcade use to be and i was bit in the ear by a farret ....i hate those things still !!!! At the same pet store i bought an African giant millipede for 10 bucks! and named him Mortimer....he was my 7th grade class pet. im glad you made this video....ill have to go back and visit soon. i saw a lot of great movies in that theater man. i saw the movie Volcano and also saw Harry Potter there too just to name a couple:) i had my first East of Chicago pizza there but that was not how it originaly looked....so crazy how times change!!!! speaking of Pizza if any of you visit good ol Tiffin Go to Reino's Pizza And Pasta downtown. its the best Italian food you can get. My best friends grandpa started the joint 70 some years ago! please check it out. ask for Johnny Reino and say Jake Dowler sent ya ;)
im actually trying to find out what the old mom and pop videos stores in tiffin were called. no luck finding any info though. there were a few. one on the south side of tiffin by the southside laundry mat.... there was one out by the tiffin mall, one in a grocery store that isnt there anymore call the Pharm and one out by the north end of town i think.
Hi Sal greetings from Scotland UK , am in the 3 week of shielding 1 am , really interested in Mall culture in the USA xxx thank you for an insight into the dystopian world of abandonment xxx
Ohio resident here. Ohio seems to have so many malls! There were a lot within close proximity in northern Ohio. Unfortunately, most of them are meeting the same fate as Rolling Acres and my childhood mall, Mellet Mall (Canton Centre). I'm glad to see Belden Village Mall, Summit Mall, and Tower City Mall doing okay though! Wish we still had Mellet, Rolling Acres and Randall Park though.
For the room you're asking about at 8:30, standalone shops would open up there and those two rooms would be their storage. I used to look at those dropdowns as a kid and always wondered what they were for, i've never seen them in use, but if I had to guess, it was just for simple storage. (These memories are from around 2005, so a hot minute ago.)
Summer of '96 was the last time I saw this mall. Lights were on, Radio Shack and Ponderosa were still there and East of Chicago Pizza was selling a PB&J pizza. What a difference 26 years makes.
aww man, when you went into the old movie theater lobby that really brought back memories for me! i very clearly remember seeing the silence of the lambs poster hanging in those display windows, and also watching jurassic park there with my friend (not sure how that one slipped past my parents - 7 was clearly too young to be seeing that movie, lol). last time i was there was several years ago when the mall itself was still open/had lights on and there were still a few games & crappy decorations in the arcade. i don't live in ohio anymore so i hadn't realized it is now completely closed. though i heard somewhat recently that east of chicago was reopening a restaurant in tiffin - i loved their pizza and was surprised when i heard they had closed!
Regarding the theatre renovation -- the lobby floor wasn't checkerboard, it was rust- colored carpet, and the snack counter used to be painted yellow. But locals went to the CandyTime (near the entrance you went in) and snuck in bulk candy in our purses/ pockets). The draperies on the walls are original, but the word painted windows were not. The walls were navy blue rather than red.
Hey Sal I remember shopping at that JC Penney 🤣 I still have one of the snow globes they gave out on black friday. I can't wait for the roller skating rink to open in the mall!
You can tell your in Ohio just by the looks of that grey rainy weather! I find it so strange that the Mexican restaurant is still open! Cheers from the glass city aka Holy Toledo!
I remember this mall when i was little. I live here, the place was amazing. I was there when all the shops started to shut. My family still goes to the mexican restaurant every now and then.
Back in the late 70s Washington Square Mall in Evansville, IN had a store with a very similar appearance. In the Evansville case, it was a record store.
I’ve been to Tiffin Mall twice in the last few years. First time it was completely open, second it was partially closed off. Maurice’s was a tenant on both locations, visible from the entrance next to the Mexican restaurant at the end of that short hall. GNC was on the large sign but they had moved. I think a church was there too. The cities of Tiffin and especially Fostoria have seen better days. That can’t be helping the mall. Most people I know pronounce Findlay as either “Fin-LEE” or “Find-Lee” (short i), though looking at the name I understand why you pronounced it like you did. That mall BTW was starting to die when I was there last year. Ohio has so many dead malls, just like Michigan.
I remember seeing the first Harry Potter, Monsters Inc, Dawn of the Dead, and more at this theater. I also remember going toy shopping and to all of the other shops. Time has a way of devouring re-expirencing things like this. "Hopefully" someday this mall will be back up and running again.
My wife asked me what I was watching and I said "that dead mall series I love." She said, "dar maw, what's that?" "No...dead and dying malls." "Oh. I thought you said it was something about Darth Maul." She knows me so well.
Another great ExLog Sal, well done! I appreciate all the hard work that you put into your episodes , from the research to the editing and music, you put out a great product. It's interesting to hear about how these properties went from their inception, to their current state, the up's and down's in the economy, the changes in ownership, the changes in the retail world, it's like a soap opera. We have a mall here in Stamford called the Stamford Town Center that's going through some changes right now. Perhaps, some day, you'll take a drive up I 95 and do an ExLog here? Who knows. In the mean time, stay healthy, wash your hands incessantly and I look forward to your next post, peace.
my dance studio was actually in there until 2019/2020, next to the mexican restaurant. we had to move to a larger space right before covid came about. it always looked so eerie from the waiting room but there are still people who go and walk the mall. i hope that eventually someone can turn it back into something nice, like it was in my childhood
I have several seats from the movie theater.. my b/f at the time had bought all the theater seats and we had to unbolt and carry them out..since they had metal in them we scrapped them...but as I said I kept some for myself
In case anyone hasn't answered your questions about that area with the weird wooden thing on the ceiling it was at one point a realtor's office. I grew up and frequented the Tiffin Mall from 2001ish to around 2016. I had a cousin work in the Regis Hair Salon and a Grear Uncle who worked in the Sears inside the mall before it was moved down the road near present day Kroger. In the Mall's hay day there was a Bath and Bodyworks, a nail salon, a Sears, a Dollar General closet towards the Mall's big downfall, a Red Cross room/area where I took classes on babysitting probably around 2007 or 2008. The arcade had several games in it even up to around 2014 or 2015. I believe I watched the screening of Shrek when the first movie came out in that movie theater and probably several other movies. I bought jeans from JC Penny every year before school up until the year I graduated in 2013. The Mexican Restaurant is one of my favorite places to eat and I went to school with a kid that worked there. As a young child (early 2000s, late 1990s) I remember riding kid Rides next to the East of Chicago pizza place where I have eaten several times. There used to be a telemarketer place where that church is I believe and a classmate of mine worked there. I've been in the old Radio Shack that you saw when you first entered. There was a Maurice's I think just beyond that entrance gate you went through by the Mexican Restaurant. At one point the area that used to be a Sears was turned into a used clothes store but I dont think a Goodwill where I bought Halloween outfit attire. Lots of gumball and candy machines throughout the mall as well. I think at one point next to the old GNC store (next to the arcade) there was an Ohio State gear shop as well. Every year a traveling circus would also set up in the parking lot outside and I have pictures of myself as a kid holding a snake and a lion cub at that circus. Best I can remember for now. I'm EXTREMELY jealous that you got to explore this place in depth. I've wanted to for YEARS. Also had plenty of dates at the new movie theater next door 😂
The paneled front store with the oval window at about 8:02 could have been Casual Corner . Foot Locker also had the paneled front (as did many in the late 70’s - late 80’s) but think Casual Corner had the oval window if I remember right . Your brave sneaking past the gate ! I would want to but would be afraid someone would catch me lol .As always great footage . Stay well !
I miss being able to go in there and walk around while waiting to see a movie at Cinemark. I remember watching the first Shrek movie in the old theater and being afraid something was going to jump out from behind the curtains lining the walls in there. Lol
Yes I know what that was, I lived in tiffin for over 20 years before moving to Tennessee, the store your asking about used to be a house realtor I don’t remember the name of the realtor though, I used to go in at night and skateboard if you see any scratches or chips in the benches that’s probably from me and my cousin grinding on them with our skateboards.
As being a "Tiffiner" myself, I have always wanted to know what this abandoned mall looked like on the inside. Now I know and now they have a "Planet Fitness" now. The mall is not really making a comeback but, it might in the future.
I used to live in a small town next to tiffin named clyde. I've been to this mall many times as a kid growing up, I asked my grandparents about the wooden drop down at 8:08 and they said they had speakers there that played the music from the piano player
First, I loved the music in the intro and outro of this one - what is it? Your commentary and footage of the theater in this one put me in mind of my all-time fave video game: The Last of Us. It takes place in a zombie infested post-apocalyptic world, twenty years after a pandemic decimates the world. They did an amazing job on creating a believable, relatable post-apocalyptic world, with lots of familiar structures, including (you guessed it!) a mall - which was especially well done. Thanks again for another great video, history lesson and distraction from pandemic induced boredom!
That movie theatre is where I saw the first fast and furious movie, it was me, my mom, my stepdad, and my step brother, I remember it well, I was like 10 12 years old at that time
Ive lived in tiffin all of my life! My dance studio was actually the one shown in the video. I have a lot of memories associated with this mall and I miss when there were actual stores in it. Since this video I think the only new tenants in the building are the planet fitness that was mentioned, and a Japanese restaurant called Kiku
Hey guys! Thanks a bunch for watching the penultimate episode to the end of ExLog Phase III...Hopefully you're all resting at home, staying safe. During the quarantine, I hope to get a video out every Friday at 8PM Eastern...so please stay tuned! In the mean time, please make sure to subscribe, ring the bell, and check out all the awesome links in my description! Also, be sure to join the Dead Malls of Discord Server (link also in description). See you all soon!
Sal good episode.
Hi Sal i am glad you're stay now all malls are now Dead Malls because of this pandemic.
I'm strangely addicted to your videos...lol. you should come to Buffalo! We have a ton of dead/dying malls here!
@@gingerkat74 You should check out Ace's Adventures if you havent already, he goes all over but is based out of buffalo so streams from there time to time.
So I work in Tiffin. The one weird storefront you were curious about with the tv's mounted in a post used to be a Tiffin reality office. Also Planet Fitness went in, in November/December 2019 right across from the Mexican restaurant in the old Radio Shack and another empty store front door
Staying home and watching exlog is a splendid way to spend your evenings. Listen to the calming tones of sal and just relax. Excellent video.
I gotta be honest here, he is easy to listen to and I'm getting interesting info whilst I relax -
Hey Sal, I've been in the Tiffin area for quite awhile. 1st, the store you asked about was a realty office. The drop-down wooden frames at the corner had TVs in it & they played video of the houses the realty agent was selling. 2nd, you said Findlay Village Mall helped drive the Tiffin Mall under. That's COMPLETELY WRONG. The company that owned the mall in the mid-90's hiked the rents/leases to a ridiculous amount, and stores started leaving. Most any store afterward that wanted to open there would get a reduced lease for 6 months to a year, then they'd crank the rates again, driving the new businesses out. Someone in the comments mentioned Label Maker being there, but the Label Maker was only open to the public for TWO WEEKS. They closed up & left after seeing zero customers because no one knew they were there, and an obscured entrance didn't help. The tattoo studio only stayed for about 6 months, then moved downtown, and has since closed. The company that owns the mall now has no real intention of renovating or repopulating the mall itself. The company I worked for built the newer theatre & Asian Grill restaurant that are extended off the mall, both of which were profitable. So now, they're selling off parcels of the parking lot as "build to suit" while the vacant mall just sits there. Build To Suit is MUCH more profitable with the condition of the mall. And the guy who mentioned the pizza place toward the back of the mall, that was East Of Chicago Pizza.
What was the store next to K-mart in the 80's? Kind of like Spencers. Where the arcade is now
@Breyden Huffman it may have been Elemental, I wasn't real familiar with them. I know the owners of Red Raven, they weren't at the mall.
@@afstud59 it was an arcade in the 80s and a t- shirt store in the 90s
I'm pretty sure the attendance of the mall had been falling for a while before the rate hikes. I know most people that I knew would rather go to the Findlay mall than the Tiffin mall once the 90's came around. But the rate hikes were the death knell, that is for sure. I don't think it's wrong to say that the mall in Findlay didn't play a role, it probably played the earliest role since Findlay also expanded its overall retail exponentially faster than Tiffin did, and people just stop going to Tiffin since it was easy to get to Findlay and there were a lot more options retail wise.
@@afstud59 K-mart, gallery of games, GNC, there was a big lots by JCPenney
The Kmart was 55552 square feet.
They couldn’t spare 3 more feet to make it an evenly odd 55555?
Excellent video once again, Sal.
Maybe they didn't include the janitor's closet.
As soon as Sears bought Kmarts is when they went out .I worked there .
The closing music, along with your narrative, send chills. In a good way. Love your work.
I’ve lived around Tiffin for all of my life. I believe they got Hobby Lobby to take the spot in the mall where the JCPenny is just recently! We will see what happens. I also used to walk around the mall with my grandma and her friends when the mall was still open to the public but barely any stores left.
I love your thoughtful narrative around 15:25, about what draws urban explorers to these places. Very well said! It sparked some thought in myself, too. It took me a long time to understand and articulate why I am drawn to abandoned places, particularly malls; it's like what you said. Reality kinda gives you a little slap, or pinch as a reminder of what we may have to face as time inevitably changes everything.
Also, especially for people like myself, who are around 30 years old and older, its a reminder of another era we remember. As we look at the old terracotta tiles, funky colors and geometric patterns, we think about our own childhoods growing up at these places, and the joy those memories brought to our lives. We try to hang on to those memories, and it's very sad to see these places go, and all that remains are those memories.
The room with a drop down ceiling ended up being a call center for quite a few years. Like 10 years or so. Thank you for making this video. So much nostalgia
2:25 I'm a Filipino, but it's the first time I heard of that movie, "Blood Debts". Will have to check that out. Thanks, Sal.
You must watch it.
My mom managed a video rental store when I was growing up in the late 70's through the 80's. I actually saw that movie.
Check out the RLM review of Blood Debts, it's even better than the movie :D
I remember when the arcade was in the front of the mall on the right of the entrance before they tucked it next to the K-Mart. This brought back a lot of memories, Thanks for posting!
I can never thank you enough Sal! Your videos provide not just a walk down memory lane but a relief from the stress we are all under. I appreciate you my friend. Thank you very much!
Hey man, I've revisited this video a lot over the past few years mainly to get a look inside my first mall, first movie theater, first arcade, and a lot of other firsts. I really appreciate what you do and I'm sure a lot of others do too.
I have some update photos of progress on the mall at least from the exterior if you'd be interested, I just wasn't sure where to send them.
Thank you so much for making this video
That old JCPenny store is where my great grandma would take me to get new school clothes, that’s back when southpole clothing brand was the coolest style to have. I remember my great grandma also bought me a giant reseases pillow there.
Yeah, you have a point, it's sad that cohan, and moonbeam do things like that. It should be illegal to do this kind of shady business practice. I often think that lately, will the mall actually survive this pandemic, or will it be a thing of the past? Great video sal and stay safe my friend.
Awesome, Sal, and well done!
Now I'm off to watch "Blood Debts!" :)
Hell yes!!! Such a weird movie
I have to watch Blood Debts. Campy Action in the Marcos Era. OH, THE SHOES!
Great video, Sal. It was very creepy, and I noticed that this Mall didn't have much going on regarding it's ceiling and design. Nothing made this Mall special, bar the few items that you noticed. When it comes to shopping centres I want to see the skylights and the mixture of different angles to make it feel inviting. Regrettably I fear that this 35% drop in GDP and the massive tax cut is way too little and very late to keep the cogs going for what remained here. How deep is the Lockdown? Here many of the Restaurants must remain closed, but there are some locations that are able to use their kitchens to cook food for delivery via Uber Eats and Deliveroo.I fear for small restaurants within small Malls like this will not be able to wait for Life to gradually reopen, as there are some plateaus, but the numbers of infected but not recovered is gobsmacking high, and recovery for those that have been tested as positive are showing signs of renal, circulatory, respiratory, oesophageal, myocardial and neurological damage indicates recoveries that can last for months. It's the unfortunate part in the outbreak of a novo-C pathogen. We are playing it with very slow progress, but I'm hoping that people will continue to limit the spread.
As a man that loves Art in all of its forms (except West End-Broadway Shows)(Please don't take me to one of those!) I have been thinking about you and performances. You have a gift that's amazing, and I hope that you have remained with a high level of dedication to keep your talent of the strings is as strong as ever.
I have been quiet. I'm on this Committee regarding the SARS2-CoV-19 Pandemic, and it's draining the Life out of me. Two months of quarantine is doing my head in. It's just me and my cat. I'm not allowed to head out to the public but I have my own garden in the back, so I'm quite fortunate, albeit with a dollop of loneliness and concern for all my loved ones and the Discord Family. These are saving my Life, as I'm thinking about the days when shopping was possible! I was granted full permission by one of the Councillors to finally have a filming of the One and Only Covered Market, I want to ask you a few questions about how I should approach this Shopping Icon. I am deeply concerned that this pause will be the end of many boutique shops that are unique to Oxford, The mood around Oxford is surreal.
I really want to get a drone and take some videos of the University's 38 Colleges that are completely empty and the empty City. Westgate's third £768 Million nearly complete demolition, expansion and stunning views (about $1Bn US before Brexit and the C-Word), was only 15 months of very busy traffic for the well-heeled, but now the Westgate Mall didn't need this worst timing ever event. The only part that is open is the Sainsbury's, which they wanted to eliminate due to it not being part of their intended upmarket image.
Please keep this weekly treasures coming! Thank you for these moments of well done education and entertainment!
Roller skating rink has been added as well as the fitness center you mentioned opened recently.
I have a distinct memory of visiting this mall in high school. It must have been 2008/2009. We went to Tiffin for a jazz clinic at The Ritz and stopped at the mall to eat at that East of Chicago. I remember it being completely empty inside and generally spooky feeling. I don't think we saw another person the whole hour or two we were there. It was cool to see it again!
I worry about the mall in my hometown these days. They've managed to hold on through some tough times and have tried to adapt, but I don't know if it will be enough.
I used to live in Tiffin nearly 15 years ago, and I loved the Tiffin Mall! The cinema there was part of my childhood, where my friend Brian and I watched our movies, and I haven’t been to the Mexican restaurant in years! I nowadays spend my days at The Shops at Fallen Timbers in Maumee, Ohio. I work for Dillards .
I grew Up in tiffin and during the 80s the mall was hopping. One of the women’s fashion stores even used live mannequins during busy times. That was pretty weird. It was a constant rotation of stores for many years.there was a big lots inside there at one point too. The Kroger that you drove by used to be a stand alone Sears.
No, it’s where the Sears used to be, but it’s a brand new building. I almost forget what that used to look like with the covered breezeway between the mall and the Sears
Thank you for these videos. They are like slices of societal history.
I love you work, bro. Keep it up. What you're doing is meaningful to people like me.
Thank you Dana!!
A ragtime piano and banjo duet? Must've been Ragtime Rick and Banjo Betsy. 😉
I swear every dead mall has a JCPenney open😂
Edit: It’s closed😂
Better late than never. I don't now I missed this one. What an amazing place. A pleasant discovery to have found a video of yours I had not yet seen to enjoy along with a gin and tonic on a Friday night, Sal.
I’m obsessed with ur vids been binging it since Christmas
Staying home and safe .thank you Sal for entertaining us with your vlogs .Thank you for sharing and stay safe
Thanks for watching!!
I have a good friend that is from the area originally. According to her, there were plans to turn the old JCP space into a roller skating rink. There was some legal issues between the rink and the mall owners because there was water leaking from the roof. Again this is just what I have been told.
Theloogie1019 they are now looking to put the rink in a different building.
@@meapia21 The rink has backed out and will not be coming to Tiffin now.
The rink is going beside JC penny where the other bigger space is. That is if the mall owner decides to fix the problem that happened.
I grew up in Tiffin. The storefront with the box holes used a be a realty company. The boxes had little TV's showing off videos of houses for sale.
Thank you Sal! Quality videos during this unprecedented time are a welcome break from all the politician fingerpointing.
I live in Cincinnati, and have hope for Arcade Legacy...but not much hope for New York based World Properties who own Forest Fair. Word has it the Amazon delivery vans left, and so has the Ford Escape "security vehicle."
Best wishes, and keep going. You're doing great!
Thanks Jesse!! I have hope for Arcade Legacy, too. Such a great place.
I am a huge fan of your content, but this one might be my favorite log yet! There's something about it being mostly dark but with intermittent lights as your exploration progresses that I really loved. And as usual your exhaustive research made for a wonderful narrative. Thank you so much for being one of the bright points of my "sheltering in place" experience. 👏🏻
Thanks for the kind words, Dean!!
Thanks for the video Sal. Its the perfect way to end my long work day at the grocery store.
Thanks for keeping your area fed!
@@sal Your welcome!
Thank you for service in the stores!
I grew up in Tiffin and this video brings back so many memories. I worked in the maurices store in high school about 2004. There were still many stores open then, crazy to see how much is gone.
Was there a kb toys in there?
@@stevengriffith436 not that I remember.
Thanks Sal!!!!!
Waiting 4@@ another awsome video log l,
I grew up in Tiffin and worked in 3 stores all the mall. I did a little investigation of the mall last night as well.
Sal - this may sound strange, but I have to say this to you - thank you, thank you, thank you for being probably the first RUclips video that I've seen that's mentioned Covid-19 and has actually been positive/hopeful about it.
Thank you for not being all gloom and doom and saying things like "it's never going to end" and we're going to all be inside forever" like I have heard so many other RUclipsrs say when they have talked about this in their videos.
I think I just needed to hear some positivity about this today and your video hit just at the right time so again - thank you.
This was also a great video. Stay healthy and safe and I look forward to your next video.
Thanks so much for watching, Karen! We’re going to all get through this!
Wow...well-researched and nicely presented content. Thanx!
Hi! I am from Tiffin and that actually was a nail salon called California nails. I worked there while I was in cosmetology school. It was a very weird set up, but I do remember it being one of the last vendors to exist inside the mall I know California nails moved across the street into a new plaza, pretty cool!
Love the interior decor from the eighties. The white concrete block planters with the brown tile edging and fake plants.
Those fake plants are OG. I remember them from as far back as 1983
I am back doing comments on all my unwatched Expedition Logs- wanted to say I love the series and that you do an amazing job of researching these, as well as taking feedback given by all your subscribers.
There was also a nail salon- "california nails" havnt been in years; not sure what happened when I left after HS. Soooo Cewl!!!!
So Tiffin is my hometown and this is the mall I would go to back in like 2012. Back then there were quite a few stores like a JCpennys and a RadioShack. The Mexican restaurant in the front used to be good but it has fallen off in past years. In the back off the Mall there used to be this really good pizza place, I dont remember the name. I have had some great memories in that mall and I'm so sad to see it in this such awful state. Also since you are in the Northwest Ohio area you should check out the Findlay Village Mall in the nearby town of Findlay.
Tell us one of those memories!!! I have some but they’re XXX!
The pizza place was called East of Chicago.
The Findlay Mall was looking pretty sad when I was there last year. The malls in Bowling Green (can’t remember the name) and Defiance also have seen better days.
@@acertainshapelater on it was a local chain called Padrones
Great posting Sal! I'm glad I subbed to your channel!
Thank you!!!!
Hey Sal, I basically grew up when the Tiffin Mall was thriving and worked in the Movie Theater s we hen it was owned by Regal. So many memories there. Sad to see it looking like this now
Great video Sal, Alot of things are farfetched until they actually occur, then the craziness just becomes normal. Stay safe from the UK
That drop down area is where the American Realty company was at I think it was an insurance agency for a bit as well. The Movie theater was briefly used by a local group of younger guys to host game events on the big screens so they are probably the minor reno you saw but even that was probably 15years ago.
Thanks so much for this series . Your work is truly fantastic
ive not seen the inside of the mall in years tho. this video is the most I've seen in a long time. Part of the mall used to have a telemarketing service in it for a time
i grew up here. im 29 now but back then in the 90's and early 2000's this was a fun mall to visit with my Dad and sister. Radioshack was my favorite and loved looking at the stereos! i got lost one time when i was 8 or 9 in jcpenny. i could not find my mom...luckily there was a gang of cheeleaders to help me out:) i also dumped an entire row of clothing racks in that same jcpenny. ahhh it was all so memorable. There use to be a pet store where that arcade use to be and i was bit in the ear by a farret ....i hate those things still !!!! At the same pet store i bought an African giant millipede for 10 bucks! and named him Mortimer....he was my 7th grade class pet. im glad you made this video....ill have to go back and visit soon. i saw a lot of great movies in that theater man. i saw the movie Volcano and also saw Harry Potter there too just to name a couple:) i had my first East of Chicago pizza there but that was not how it originaly looked....so crazy how times change!!!! speaking of Pizza if any of you visit good ol Tiffin Go to Reino's Pizza And Pasta downtown. its the best Italian food you can get. My best friends grandpa started the joint 70 some years ago! please check it out. ask for Johnny Reino and say Jake Dowler sent ya ;)
Thanks for sharing these memories!!
@@sal forsure man:)
im actually trying to find out what the old mom and pop videos stores in tiffin were called. no luck finding any info though. there were a few. one on the south side of tiffin by the southside laundry mat.... there was one out by the tiffin mall, one in a grocery store that isnt there anymore call the Pharm and one out by the north end of town i think.
If you find out, make sure to join the Discord and let us know!
Was there a kb toys in there?
Good job Sal 👍 thx for sharing with us!
My pleasure!!!
Hi Sal greetings from Scotland UK , am in the 3 week of shielding 1 am , really interested in Mall culture in the USA xxx thank you for an insight into the dystopian world of abandonment xxx
Ohio resident here. Ohio seems to have so many malls! There were a lot within close proximity in northern Ohio. Unfortunately, most of them are meeting the same fate as Rolling Acres and my childhood mall, Mellet Mall (Canton Centre). I'm glad to see Belden Village Mall, Summit Mall, and Tower City Mall doing okay though! Wish we still had Mellet, Rolling Acres and Randall Park though.
17:33 oh look, my hometown!
For the room you're asking about at 8:30, standalone shops would open up there and those two rooms would be their storage. I used to look at those dropdowns as a kid and always wondered what they were for, i've never seen them in use, but if I had to guess, it was just for simple storage. (These memories are from around 2005, so a hot minute ago.)
It was a real estate office and the wooden box held TVs that cycles through the listings they had.
Summer of '96 was the last time I saw this mall. Lights were on, Radio Shack and Ponderosa were still there and East of Chicago Pizza was selling a PB&J pizza. What a difference 26 years makes.
Was there a kb toys there then?
I'm sure there was, but I was also only 12 years old last time I saw this mall, so I honestly cannot remember.
aww man, when you went into the old movie theater lobby that really brought back memories for me! i very clearly remember seeing the silence of the lambs poster hanging in those display windows, and also watching jurassic park there with my friend (not sure how that one slipped past my parents - 7 was clearly too young to be seeing that movie, lol). last time i was there was several years ago when the mall itself was still open/had lights on and there were still a few games & crappy decorations in the arcade. i don't live in ohio anymore so i hadn't realized it is now completely closed. though i heard somewhat recently that east of chicago was reopening a restaurant in tiffin - i loved their pizza and was surprised when i heard they had closed!
Regarding the theatre renovation -- the lobby floor wasn't checkerboard, it was rust- colored carpet, and the snack counter used to be painted yellow. But locals went to the CandyTime (near the entrance you went in) and snuck in bulk candy in our purses/ pockets).
The draperies on the walls are original, but the word painted windows were not. The walls were navy blue rather than red.
Hey Sal I remember shopping at that JC Penney 🤣 I still have one of the snow globes they gave out on black friday. I can't wait for the roller skating rink to open in the mall!
You can tell your in Ohio just by the looks of that grey rainy weather! I find it so strange that the Mexican restaurant is still open! Cheers from the glass city aka Holy Toledo!
Thanks for watching!!
They will never close .They have long time employees and have served our community for a long time .
I use to work there, the food service is just a by product. Hahaj
I remember this mall when i was little. I live here, the place was amazing. I was there when all the shops started to shut. My family still goes to the mexican restaurant every now and then.
How’s the food there?
Was there a kb toys store in there?
Great video! Love the history you provide. Please stay safe on your adventures!
Back in the late 70s Washington Square Mall in Evansville, IN had a store with a very similar appearance. In the Evansville case, it was a record store.
I’ve been to Tiffin Mall twice in the last few years. First time it was completely open, second it was partially closed off. Maurice’s was a tenant on both locations, visible from the entrance next to the Mexican restaurant at the end of that short hall. GNC was on the large sign but they had moved. I think a church was there too.
The cities of Tiffin and especially Fostoria have seen better days. That can’t be helping the mall.
Most people I know pronounce Findlay as either “Fin-LEE” or “Find-Lee” (short i), though looking at the name I understand why you pronounced it like you did. That mall BTW was starting to die when I was there last year. Ohio has so many dead malls, just like Michigan.
I remember seeing the first Harry Potter, Monsters Inc, Dawn of the Dead, and more at this theater. I also remember going toy shopping and to all of the other shops. Time has a way of devouring re-expirencing things like this. "Hopefully" someday this mall will be back up and running again.
Another wonderful episode- Thank you and I look forward to more !!
The titles you give your videos are superb.
your videos are so surreal i love it!!
My wife asked me what I was watching and I said "that dead mall series I love." She said, "dar maw, what's that?" "No...dead and dying malls." "Oh. I thought you said it was something about Darth Maul."
She knows me so well.
Another great ExLog Sal, well done! I appreciate all the hard work that you put into your episodes , from the research to the editing and music, you put out a great product. It's interesting to hear about how these properties went from their inception, to their current state, the up's and down's in the economy, the changes in ownership, the changes in the retail world, it's like a soap opera. We have a mall here in Stamford called the Stamford Town Center that's going through some changes right now. Perhaps, some day, you'll take a drive up I 95 and do an ExLog here? Who knows. In the mean time, stay healthy, wash your hands incessantly and I look forward to your next post, peace.
Label Shopper and Maurices were here as well, as you can see the "maurices" labelscar and an older Google Maps image shows Label Shopper was here.
Maurice’s was one of the few stores open the two times I visited. Even GNC was gone.
my dance studio was actually in there until 2019/2020, next to the mexican restaurant. we had to move to a larger space right before covid came about. it always looked so eerie from the waiting room but there are still people who go and walk the mall. i hope that eventually someone can turn it back into something nice, like it was in my childhood
It looks like there are still a few Radio Shack stores open. I'm self quarantined today because I'm off work. 😁👍
Great and interesting work, as always. Thank you Sal
I have several seats from the movie theater.. my b/f at the time had bought all the theater seats and we had to unbolt and carry them out..since they had metal in them we scrapped them...but as I said I kept some for myself
Great vid as always Sal stay safe and keep up the great work.
In case anyone hasn't answered your questions about that area with the weird wooden thing on the ceiling it was at one point a realtor's office. I grew up and frequented the Tiffin Mall from 2001ish to around 2016. I had a cousin work in the Regis Hair Salon and a Grear Uncle who worked in the Sears inside the mall before it was moved down the road near present day Kroger. In the Mall's hay day there was a Bath and Bodyworks, a nail salon, a Sears, a Dollar General closet towards the Mall's big downfall, a Red Cross room/area where I took classes on babysitting probably around 2007 or 2008. The arcade had several games in it even up to around 2014 or 2015. I believe I watched the screening of Shrek when the first movie came out in that movie theater and probably several other movies. I bought jeans from JC Penny every year before school up until the year I graduated in 2013. The Mexican Restaurant is one of my favorite places to eat and I went to school with a kid that worked there. As a young child (early 2000s, late 1990s) I remember riding kid Rides next to the East of Chicago pizza place where I have eaten several times. There used to be a telemarketer place where that church is I believe and a classmate of mine worked there. I've been in the old Radio Shack that you saw when you first entered. There was a Maurice's I think just beyond that entrance gate you went through by the Mexican Restaurant. At one point the area that used to be a Sears was turned into a used clothes store but I dont think a Goodwill where I bought Halloween outfit attire. Lots of gumball and candy machines throughout the mall as well. I think at one point next to the old GNC store (next to the arcade) there was an Ohio State gear shop as well. Every year a traveling circus would also set up in the parking lot outside and I have pictures of myself as a kid holding a snake and a lion cub at that circus. Best I can remember for now. I'm EXTREMELY jealous that you got to explore this place in depth. I've wanted to for YEARS. Also had plenty of dates at the new movie theater next door 😂
The paneled front store with the oval window at about 8:02 could have been Casual Corner . Foot Locker also had the paneled front (as did many in the late 70’s - late 80’s) but think Casual Corner had the oval window if I remember right . Your brave sneaking past the gate ! I would want to but would be afraid someone would catch me lol .As always great footage . Stay well !
It was Radio Shack (the storefront you asked about) but had become something else after.
Thanks Sal.
Good stuff!
I miss being able to go in there and walk around while waiting to see a movie at Cinemark.
I remember watching the first Shrek movie in the old theater and being afraid something was going to jump out from behind the curtains lining the walls in there. Lol
Yes I know what that was, I lived in tiffin for over 20 years before moving to Tennessee, the store your asking about used to be a house realtor I don’t remember the name of the realtor though, I used to go in at night and skateboard if you see any scratches or chips in the benches that’s probably from me and my cousin grinding on them with our skateboards.
That odd drop down spot use to be where they had tv’s and I think it was a insurance place. I’m from tiffin
❤ your work, the intros and endings are my favorite.
wooooo!!!! my home town made it into one of these things!!!
Fun fact. My grandpa built those benches/planters in the corridor
I miss the mall so much
As being a "Tiffiner" myself, I have always wanted to know what this abandoned mall looked like on the inside. Now I know and now they have a "Planet Fitness" now. The mall is not really making a comeback but, it might in the future.
BLOOD DEBTS. A true classic movie.
Speaking str8 facts about Toby 😤🙏
I used to live in a small town next to tiffin named clyde. I've been to this mall many times as a kid growing up, I asked my grandparents about the wooden drop down at 8:08 and they said they had speakers there that played the music from the piano player
No
TV for the realtor
First, I loved the music in the intro and outro of this one - what is it? Your commentary and footage of the theater in this one put me in mind of my all-time fave video game: The Last of Us. It takes place in a zombie infested post-apocalyptic world, twenty years after a pandemic decimates the world. They did an amazing job on creating a believable, relatable post-apocalyptic world, with lots of familiar structures, including (you guessed it!) a mall - which was especially well done. Thanks again for another great video, history lesson and distraction from pandemic induced boredom!
That movie theatre is where I saw the first fast and furious movie, it was me, my mom, my stepdad, and my step brother, I remember it well, I was like 10 12 years old at that time
East of Chicago pizza- I use to work there in high school! hahaha CRAZY
Ive lived in tiffin all of my life! My dance studio was actually the one shown in the video. I have a lot of memories associated with this mall and I miss when there were actual stores in it. Since this video I think the only new tenants in the building are the planet fitness that was mentioned, and a Japanese restaurant called Kiku
Yikes! That is creepy as hell! Pitch black vacant mall? Spooky!
It was so spooky walking around here...
The corner establishment that you refer to is a reality co. 11:26
Love ya man. Stay safe and Happy Easter.
Hobby Lobby is renovating the old JC penny with a brand new facade.
There is a Japanese stack house the resides in the old east of Chicago pizza
The mall has no new stores been the same. You should check out the east tower soon
Holy shit Sal, your wish for a multi-Spiderman multiverse scenario back in April 2020 came true.
Maybe Sony & Marvel owes you some money!
Sal... Hope all is well with you and your family. Been following your work from the days of only a few thousand subscribers.
I live in Seneca county. I never heard anything about it being haunted. Hobby lobby is opening in the old JC Penny’s