The Most Depressing Mall in America, Bloomingdale Illinois, Stratford Square Mall
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
- Bloomingdale, Illinois is the home of the once flourishing Stratford Square Mall which today stands as a victim of changing consumer patterns and the devastating economic consequences of continued coronavirus lockdowns. Over half the stores that once occupied Stratford mall are now gone, replaced with activity stores such as escape rooms and throwing axes. There is even a wrestling and BJJ gym occupying the vacant store fronts. We visit Bloomingdale to check in on this dead mall in March 2022.
Like Mall videos?
Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg is alive and kicking it!
Full mall tour!
• Woodfield Mall Schaumb... 
Развлечения
This hurts my soul. I remember this place used to be packed. The fountain outside FYE, Cinnabon use to be by Hot Topic, GameStop by Carson’s. JCPenny used to be an anchor. To have slowly watch this place die over the years is sad.
I had not been in many years (over 5) so I was really shocked. I remember being in elementary school and listening to Eminem on one of the first MP3 players on the elevator. Vivid memories of this place.
Yes, I got one of my dresses from hot topic for 8th grade dance. So cringy…. But good memories.
@@paragon_moon8400 hot topic school dance dress? I thought they only sold emo t shirts.
My middle school had dances. They weren’t like prom at all. It was just a thing for kids to have fun. I remember the emo girls had like plaid/checkered dresses.
@@deathmetalpagan makes sense. And some black lipstick :p
I grew up at this mall. I was there when it first opened, I was 10 years old. It was a hangout for kids and teens. It was a gorgeous mall with a big water fall by the main entrance. Little fountains throughout the rest of the mall. Then in the mid 1990s they ruined it by taking out all the water and fountains and put some ridiculous water jet thing. That lasted about a year. Then they put in a kiddy ride, again, it iasted shortly. I would say the mall started dying when they renovated it. It's a shame too, that while attracted a lot of people. I know that Walmart and the internet have a lot to do with it. I still think they would still be drawing a bigger crowd if they had the waterfalls and little fountains. They really should just tear the entire Mall down. It's over 1 million square feet! It will probably just end up being an apartment condo or more homes. Again, it's a shame that was the greatest Mall in Illinois for sure!
I miss the water features too. They had a nice one with fish in woodfield too. I guess it was the maintenance of all the fountains. The food court had the best bourbon and blackened chicken at Stratford. Wish we had some videos about those days at Stratford. Laying around in a vhs somewhere. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Same man it’s sad to see
I grew up at that mall as well in the 80s and 90s but I think Woodfield Mall is the best mall in Illinois.
@@Avionyx those are fighting words on this video :p
Remember the fountain and used to go to theater all the time
This mall used to have huge trees and these epic fountains that went from the main floor up to the top level. They were loud. They lit up with lights too. All of us kids made our wishes in those fountains. The fountains made the mall smell a little like an indoor pool. I still remember that smell.
Yes, I was young but I do remember the fountains. It’s one of my best memories growing up.
I remember that chlorine smell intertwined with Sbarro's pizza, and Cinnabon.Ahh.....
This mall’s biggest problem is about 12 miles to the north: Woodfield Mall. It’s size, location, and mix of higher-end stores brings in shoppers from all over the midwest, whereas Stratford Square is mostly unknown to anyone who isn’t a local. As the retail landscape changes, this puts it in a somewhat hopeless situation.
Sad but true. Woodfield is a destination! We went there, didn’t make a video, but we were shocked just how busy it remains.
@@MorAcro Woodfield still ranks as one of the largest shopping malls in the US.
@@patricklebeau6584 top tier!
@Bill Fukkayommamanigga I actually thought about modifying my post to include Oakbrook. You are spot-on.
Oakbrook is nicely sized but not as large as Woodfield. Plus a lot of Oakbrook stores are high end.
I went to this mall so much as a kid. My grandmother took me here for Christmas shopping. We'd see movies, eat lunch at the food court, go to the arcade and sit and watch the fountain. I liked to hang at this mall with my boyfriend. Was so sad to see practically everything go because of Covid... This mall was my childhood and had so many memories attached to it.
I remember when the parking lots were completely filled and it was absolutely crowded with teenagers and young adults. Hard to say what went wrong, things were declining even before the pandemic but the pandemic really made things worse. Shutting down the AMC theater sucked, that was the thing that drew a lot of people to the mall and of course people liked hanging out after their movie. My thing was catch a movie, go downstairs to FYE (surprisingly they’re still there) and then eat at Red Robin.
Fye is actually a pretty good store, i bought stuff there last time.
I blaim tik tok. Thats why no teenagers or young adults are there
That is also what I thought, but actually they are trying to tore it down and build townhouses, so once your lease expires, they don't renew it. Killing the mall is on purpose. I can imagine how busy it used to be back in the days. It's so sad. Such a beautiful place!
Really a shame. Lots of memories thwre! Plenty of townhouses already
There's another dead mall that's going to be torn down for townhouses and that's Charlestown mall. Makes this even sadder.
So that's what's killing it? No renewal of leases. Makes sense and very sad. It hurt to watch this. I'll have to visit to make my own video but it's going to be difficult. That was home.
That was an Upscale Mall and Full of Life....!!! 😮 I Would never Believe it was to be that Empty and Sad if Someone from nowadays went back to the 90's....
It is crazy, i have many memories as a kid there
The last time I remember this place flourishing without all the entertainment was in 2012, I remember there was so many people there. I personally had a lot of great memories there with friends. When it was 2013 I noticed a drastic population difference. Then Round 1 opened in either 2015 or 2016 and basically saved the mall. Then Round 1 closed in about 2018 and the mall population plummeted and then covid happened in 2020 - leaving us what we have now… a dead mall.
RIP, i had not been much in the past decade, my era was the 90s here.
Round 1 closed in 2020 because of the pandemic
@@HaikesXO I completely missed round 1, what was it exactly?
@@MorAcro they had a bunch of arcades and you could go bowling. It was our last hangout after they started closing everything down
@@demonride15 sounds like a good time. Growing up in the 90s I missed the arcades of the 80s. Kids now days missed growing up with blockbuster and family video.
I used to love this mall, i always went there and it was so fun.
after COVID it was just a wasteland and there’s no point in going there anymore.
It’s sucks to see somewhere that was so alive and fun to become a shell of its former self
Yes, it is tragic and depressing....I do not know what to say or do!
Stratford Square closed its doors for good two weeks ago. It's sad , I grew up really close to it. So many memories there. I was there at its grand opening. It was at one time the best looking mall in the Chicago land area. With its waterfalls and all the fountains and live plants throughout the mall. The natural sunlight that shone through the skylights. It's really a shame that it went the way it did. So many great memories there. It will be missed.
Thanks for the info! So sad
This was the mall me and my entire family would go to when we lived in Carol Stream.
I absolutely love Gloria Jeans! the Mocha chiller drinks were my favorite.
Back in the early 1990s I used to buy all kinds of flavored coffee beans at the Gloria Jeans at Brookfield Square Mall in Brookfield, WI suburb of Milwaukee. Miss those days.
I went yesterday. It was so dark in the mall. At least they still had the lights on in this video. No music. It was so depressing. Only walked through Kohls. Most of the stores that are in this video are now closed. Seeing the mall dead, remembering when I’d go to the theater there and all the life and people, I cannot explain how sad I was leaving. I went to Fox Valley Mall in Aurora and the place was booming! Packed full of people. I don’t know why this place couldn’t open back up.
Interesting. I hope i can go back to stratford before they pull the plug. Did you go to woodmans?
@@MorAcro my daughter works at this mall still at one of the kid’s places. It is very sad that most of the stores that are in this video are gone. Its all because of the owners they don’t care about the mall anymore. They don’t fix anything (ie. ac and heat) it gets very hot in there in the summer and cold in the winter. She has spent quite a bit of the winter wearing her coat/ heated jacket just to stay warm also had a blanket a few times.
@@Jennifer-zj9ol that is so sad! I Wonder if it will still be there in July when we are back
@@MorAcro as far as I know it will be there.
@@Jennifer-zj9ol i will bring my kid then!
Spent my childhood at this mall and worked at it for my teenage years into my twenties. Lots of great memories there.
Oh yeah, sad to see it going!
walking into this mall a few months ago was probably the most heartbreaking thing i’ve ever witnessed. my mom told about how her and her friends used to always shop there and how the place would be PACKED, looking at it now, it sad tbh
It really is...I have fond memories there as well! Hopee it makes a comeback?
i remember that mall being built. My first retail job was in that mall. It was so busy it added Kohls then later added Sears. It was a 1 mile bike ride to the Entrance by the theatres
How did you find this video? Was it posted in some group for former employees of Stratford? I hear this story a lot!
Back in the day they had a water fountain that would shoot water upwards almost reaching the ceiling, was right in the middle of the mall where the food court and fye are at. I remembered i took an old gf to the century theater to play at the arcade and walk around. But that was 10 years ago.
That wasn't even original. That was in the later 90s early 2000s. In that area they had a downstairs movie theater and waterfalls.
Great memories. It’s sad the water installations of both woodfield and Stratford were removed!
I don't remember water at Stratford, but Woodfield's was cool. They made it like a fish aquarium style that you could go thru ending by the so called pond? (Not sure what to call it)
I can still smell that fountain haha. The side of the FYE was an arcade
@@jmonta21 haha it did have a slight chlorine smell no? And a whole lot of coins in there!
2:11 Yes, the rest of what was Mongomery Wards. :P Im almost 40 years old and havent been in this mall in like 15+ years but I still know the damn layout like the back of my hand, although it does look like it was remodeled slightly in that time, the walls are all different. I still have dreams I'm in the mall.
Wow! You must have spent a lot of time there! I loved that food court growing up. And of course Aladdins castle!
I spoke to a few store owners and agree with one of the comments below. I was told the owners wanted to have the mall torn down to turn into housing so they keep rent at a crazy rate… otherwise honestly I think the mall would be similar to Yorktown.
Sad, it’s a land lords world and we are just living in it!
SAD
I was single-handedly keeping that theater in business when I lived around there. Dirt cheap $4 tickets, good times😂😂
Ha, and how much was the popcorn. I was a classic cinema guy down the street. Dollar hot dogs!
@@MorAcro Aye man, it’s Stratford. They were lucky we showed up. We came with our own dollar store snacks, they let us right in every time. Never an issue. Couldn’t give you a price😂😂
@@TheBiGMeer Dollar store snacks always!
I grew up going to Stratford bc it was never as big of a pain in the ass as woodfield but had all the same good stores. But dude, how in God's name is this place not hemorrhaging money? The amount of money it must cost in just rent and utilities... there's not a CHANCE IN HELL that they are bringing in even ENOUGH money to cover the costs of opening the damn place every day and keep it running. I don't get it. Its creepy now. I really seriously dont understand how its still open
Glad he finally showed were the theater was located. That was the place that I spend most of my time when I went to this mall. I'm not surprised to see that it's closed. I haven't been to this mall in decades. I grew up in one of the neighboring towns, and, like everyone else who grew up there, was super excited about it when it opened. It was a great mall back in the day. Are there still fast-food places around the outside perimeter of the mall parking lot?
Yes, there is McDonald’s and Taco Bell on the west side. The area around the mall is very busy. Now the woodmans next door draws all the traffic!
Hi. I do remember it as a young child in the 80s. I do remember the water falls. Good. Times.
Namdar, the developers that bought this property, have absolutely sucked the life out of it. And with intention.
What was the intention?!
Doubt it’s there fault malls have died all over the US
I can't believe there were still 40 stores just a year and a half ago. There are essentially none left now.
At least some escape rooms are left?
I only go here because of the FYE store. The only place in the area that still has big collection of music cd's and movies. :)
I love the selection there. Really a good collection of pop culture. I bought a blockbuster movie game there :)
I'm here right now. Can say COVID was the final nail. Once the theatre here closed it went down even further. FYE is still standing for who knows how long. I remember back in 2009 packed midnight shows were amazing. The entire top floor for the theatre were filled with so many people
It is hard to believe a crowded mall is what we have become nostalgic for. It is a cozy thought though
@@MorAcro I get crazy nostalgia for that place. I spent a lot of time there as a kid/ teen. Such a great place to go to hang out.
I lived in the area during my high school years in the 80's. That place used to be PACKED! There was of course no online shopping and the mall wasn't surrounded by miles of mini malls at the time either. I wonder if there's footage online somewhere of that mall in the 80's.
Would love to see it! The time before cell phones as well. The place to see and be seen before everyone hid behind social media.
I was there on day one in 1981. I heard they are going to level it to build a subdivision. In the 1980’s I never would have dreamed malls would be ghost towns. If you’d like to see a more depressing mall go about five miles west on Rt. 64 and check out Charlestown in St. Charles.
I cannot wait to check out that one! Hard to believe how kuch has vhanged!
I remember when that mall was being built, we were so excited our town was getting a mall. I would go there to get my hair done. To shop, when my kids were small to see Santa, and the show. They had the best show in that mall. When my kids grew up they both got jobs there. Carson’s was a great store. It’s sad to see a once beautiful mall with gorgeous stores gone now.
Yep - we went to the construction site with the 8th grade shop class on a field trip. When Batman opened in 1989 the whole upstairs was "the line" and it played on every screen in the theater.
One stop shop for everything. From the comments it feels like there were a lot of pleasant memories from this place. I know I spent a lot of family time there as a child.
I miss a good movie premiere with a lot of hype! I think I saw toy story here…
@@markwatson1497 Omgosh yes! The entire upstairs was Batman everything!! My kids went crazy and how long the lines were to see that movie.🙂
@@MorAcro my daughter was in love with toy story, we bought her the doll she wanted it for Xmas, but her fav was the pee wee Herman doll collection… had to get her him, the talking chair Barbie car…miss those days.
I was last here in 2020. It was in better shape just two years ago. The movie theater was still in business and more shops.
I bet. The virus did not help the mall, that is for sure. I had not been in over five years as I had left the country.
I know this was written a year ago but people were talking about how vibrant Woodfield is. Surprisingly I was there last week and even it has changes. When a store closes they have a hard time finding a replacement so it turns into an activity place. For example Rainforest Cafe closes and Peppa pig opens. There are more activity places. Many of the stores even here don't have enough merchandise.
Interesting! They added a food court too. I always preferred stratford because the food court.
@@MorAcro Stratford was the place to go. Especially in the 80s and early 90s!
I haven’t been to Stratford since 2013 when I went to a movie and it was pretty empty then. I’ve never been a mall person but the axe throwing place seems like fun, a good stress relief😂.
Haha. I think I need to go toss a few! It’s been a long time since I’ve been there for a movie. I prefer the one outside the mall.
I was there in January 2022 for the last day of Sbarro Pizza. No more reason to go visit the mall - very sad.
RIP Sbarro. That food court deserved a spot in this video. It was just too sad. I will always remember great american steak and potato. Head to woodfield for your sbarro now :/ or 90 oasis belvidere
I used to think maybe Stratford could stand a chance at being an indoor mall but thanks to my last visit just 2 weeks ago it’s time to try something new.anything.when Burlington leaves that will be unfortunately be the nail in the coffin.it started with the closing of the JCPenney in April of 2014.the mall started on a slow but immediate state of decline.Macy’s was next in 2017 and so on.I will mention when Cinemark closed in 2021 and then Round One you couldn’t deny what was happening.I don’t blame Covid but that didn’t help matters any.Streetmac had good intentions and was on the cusp of a huge renovation plan that never really got off the ground floor.the truth is that maybe more attention should have been given in 1995 when woodfield was expanded.but I feel the action wasn’t enough.I’m thankful for the memories that became here.I’m happy that both my daughters got to see my childhood mall.after 41 years there’s not much of a choice,but to replace and repurpose.best wishes to and for each and everyone in the western suburbs of Chicago.you deserve something that starts a new beginning.
Thanks for the nice and insightful comment Mark, I have MANY memories here as well. I grew up in Schaumburg, but Stratford was a preferred mall for many outings due to it's great food court...sadly I did not show that here, though it deserves a shoutout. Only two stands left there...
They been bleeding money since the late 90s. Stratford's immature additions with no substantial renovations hasn't helped. In 1980 when Stratford opened business was crazy there. Throughout the 80s malls did well. Cellphones and computers killed the malls in reality.
@@anthonydio7829 I had no idea.there’s nothing you can do I’m afraid.I thought at one time it could have been saved.even before the closing of JCPenney in 2014.Feldman properties from what I’ve been able to learn raised the rent on most of the tenants leading to the exits of Abercrombie and Fitch,Charlotte Rouse,to mention a few.this also reduced the foot traffic of Stratford Square and everyone who was a teenager went to woodfield.this was the first mistake.it was the first sign Stratford was in trouble.the 2nd was the closing of Macy’s.this lead to more closures especially in that particular wing.they still had the movie theater and now the Sears wing for only a while and a short while at that maybe a year.but then in 2018 the closing of Carson’s.the domino effect was difficult to ignore.Then Sears in November of 2019.then not a year later we all know what.more strategic and more bad news.today not 15 stores left and two eateries in the food court.and soon only one anchor left by fall of 2022.41 years and countless memories.thank you for being a gift and a blessing on this journey Stratford.
The penny vortex is like Stratford Square... something on a slow entropy into a black hole
Haha. Where money goes to die! At least it was a penny and not a quarter.
Anyone remember the old movie theatre with red walls everywhere and the wacky ticket taker?
I think I’m too young for that!
If you think this is dead, you should travel to Indianapolis. They've got one with a movie theater converted into a church. Another mall became a paintball arena. Even Waukegan's Belvidere Mall has more life than the ones I saw in Indy, though Stratford Square still beats Belvidere Mall. At least Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills is being remodeled. Should be interesting once it becomes mostly outdoor.
Mall paintball arena actually sounds really cool, especially if they just left stuff the way it is! Outdoor mall is pretty silly if you ask me for Illinois climate, I like the outdoors, but Christmas season, forget about it! Another reason why I left to live in Morocco!
It was the mall owners fault i heard as something about terms of raising rent
Interesting. Maybe they got a little greedy!
Another thing is the food locals were so good I remember going to this little food place with nuggets and fries runed by this man and son
They really had some family businesses on here. It was nice!
Nothing interesting has happened in that mall since 2010. Go to Woodfield, you can actually drive your car right through it!
Haha. That’s the most popular videos on RUclips for woodfield. The car driving through. We made a video there for comparison.
I used to love this mall. It is in a expensive community and why it ended up like this? Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg IL is hanging on because it is so big and they have all the expensive designer stores even though it lost big anchors of Lord n Taylor and Sears that are big spaces that are empty.
True, bloomingdale is an affluent area…woodfield mall has lots of space for future renters I guess. Poor management must be for this mall
Very sad to see. Grew up in this mall.
So many of us!
I grew up in this mall. Sad to see it looking like this now
Yes I agree. It was a shocker!
It’s crazy how the Cinnabon just closed right before you posted this 🤦🏻♀️ It just closes bit by bit.
i used to go here all the time as a kid.
I used worked JCPenney in Bloomingdale second floor kids department and man. They closed 2014.
Sad to see it go, hope you have good memories there!
Beautiful fountain ⛲ train ride not anymore.
Man back in the 80’s n 90’s this was THE place to be.
It was PACKED wall to wall. If you went to the mall you were BOUND to see someone you knew, go to the food court, shop or see a movie.
Used to be an awesome arcade called Aladdin’s Castle down stairs below the theatre.
Used to spend hours at the mall.
Now it’s a scummy place where scummy people hang out.
Scummy people making videos :p thanks for ringing the Aladdins castle bell. I had forgotten that name and place! I will always remember the bourbon chicken at the Cajun place with the purple neon lights.
Thanks for sharing your memories
Damn I forgot about the arcade lol granted I was young, don’t remember when it closed.
Bro you just brought back my childhood! 😭😭😭
So nostalgic! This hurts
Yes, a piece of our youth is fading into a wrecking ball.
@@MorAcro yes. I’m 41. I remember using the pay phone to call my mom to be picked up
@@charleseggebrecht6754 oh wow, that is something as a 32 year old I could never experience.
dang i worked at Dakota watch company near the Auntie annes wow its super dead i worked there in 1999 or so
Wow! Did this video bring up some memories?
Chicago Fire just did a scene a couple months ago at this mall!
Oh wow! I would like to see that. It’s perfect for filming movies or tv that is for sure!
This is so sad. Lived in Bloomingdale for 20+ years. Spent many weekends there. And no, it's not dead b/c of Woodfield. Retail tanked and this got hit the hardest.
Sad to see, at least I bought some stuff at FYE and Burlington this trip :)
#savestratford
@@MorAcro now even Burlington is closed here. It's really depressing.
This was my mall as a kid. It makes me sad. But this is every mall that's not a woodfield. The Disney store has been gone for prob like 15 years. No one ever took the space. What's a shame is all the woodwork on the ceiling. Lots of time and money went into that.
Also we bought my wedding band from that gold store in 07.
Also the movie theater, they dumped a TON of money to totally redo it like 10 years ago.
A lot of memories here… i prefer the woodwork here than the sterile and glitzy woodfield. I remember carlos sweeneys Mexican restaurant long time ago!
When was Disney here? I only remember the Woodfield one!
Trippy. I grew up walking distance from this mall and went there all the time. I worked there for years. It was going downhill even by the early 2000s so this video isn't surprising.
Glad to bring back some memories. I’m sure this place employed hundreds in the 90s. Now not so much!
Same here in crook county Niles golf mill shopping center same here mad nax thunderdome !!
Will have to visit there then!
This was my go to mall growing up it had a lot more life before covid
That is very true, i was split between here and woodfield. They had a food court here so that was the winner.
I used to live less than 5 minutes from that mall about 3.5 years ago and Stratford Square was dead then!! There was hardly anything left.😢😢😢
I wonder what it is like these days…
A lot of the machines n coin operated stuff I remember. Plus the swirly one you tried! Too bad you couldn't try the train! I vaguely, vaguely remember that! Do you have an idea of when it was put in? I think last time I was here was between 1990-1994. Then, we moved. I always wondered what happened to one of my favorite malls! Thanks for the video of some now bittersweet memories. Especially after seeing this! I'll just remember when it was a happy place! I barely recognize the inside of it. Except, that I always thought it was a nice airy mall vs Woodfield which was always crowded!
Long live Stratford! I am happy we could both experience this mall at its prime in the 90s :)
@@MorAcro I practically lived here, in the 80's. By the '90's I was barely, sadly, going. Then we moved away! 🥺
I worked there when it opened as a teen. Sad. It must have been the pandemic that hit them because I don't get the point of outdoor malls. The whole idea was you had somewhere to go when the weather was bad. Running from store to store in December here sucks. Parking must also suck. On off with the coat. You can't try everything on before you buy with online stores. Makes you stick to a brand and not try anything new once you find it.
Sad! Which store did you work at? Being in Illinois the weather is bad most of the time, so these malls are a safe haven!
Haven't been there since '12
Usually would hit up the red robin with friends
Was an end of an era when the sears finally colsed
Time flies by! It seems many of as have fond memories of this mall. Who knew we could morn a mall.
The saddest part of this video isn’t actually the mall, but it is that this is just before gasoline skyrocketed to $5 a gallon and everything in this mall inflated up 10% in price. Absolutely mortifying 💀 💰⬆️
We only ended up at this mall because we went to woodmans for cheap gas :P
Saw beetlejuice and karate kid part 2 when i was 7 and 8 with my friends, so awesome!
That is a memory for sure! It would be a lot cooler if it was karate kid 1 :p
@@MorAcro true that movie was one of the best!
This mall and the first store reminds me of Zellers' last days in Canada and Target's failed attempt in Canada. Also, the interior decor is like from the early 2000s. Those coin/donation 'boxes' and massage chairs in the middle of the mall... I only ever see them in fairs or shops that are looking to sell massage chairs... Mall needs a makeover.
Haha yeah, it is a bit of a relic at this time. It is as I remember in the 90s. Can’t believe target failed in Canada!
@@MorAcro It failed in Canada because Target increased their prices on items sold in Canada instead of matching items with the US prices (but obviously in Canadian $), aka the Walmart method. However, the prices were so substantial that it was cheaper to buy those same items by driving down to the US. This is evident during the Christmas and Boxing period. Furthermore, Target tried to sell those high priced items in low income neighbourhoods because their lease from taking over the Zellers stores were cheap.
Stratford opened in 1980 and was popping through the 80s. The additions they did make were silly or abruptly halted as quick as they began. Cellphones and the internet killed the malls.
Loved this mall one of my favorites I discovered from Oaklawn in 1994 ! Covid de Troyes so many jobs and businesses
So sad!
I have many memories there so many also I think the mall started to go down when covid started I will always miss the place
Yes. It holds a special place in our hearts!
@@MorAcro agree
Come back to Morocco where l am at the moment.
They need the tourists so much.
So great to be back,life so simple and lovely warm sun.
I cannot wait, but I need to work now to save up some money to enjoy...Rumi needs to meet the family as well!
Nice to see you again
Welcome back!
You walked by the movie theater. But I liked the old one. I remember seeing titanic opening night there. The line was out the door. There also used to be a 2nd theater down the stairs where FYE is. It was the best they had waterfalls then. I remember me and my friend couldn’t get into see Scream the movie. We went down the stairs and saw jerry meguirre* which was also rated R but we got in. I eventually saw scream on video.
Thanks for sharing your memories of growing up in the 90’s! A great time for cinema and malls!
I saw “ The Replacements “ At the original theaters
40 stores. Isn't it down to like 6 now?
It IS depressing… but if you think that’s the MOST depressing, you’ve clearly not been to St Charles, lately! 🥺
No I have not, drove by, didn’t stop. Couldn’t tell if it was open or not!
This mall was still doing ok at the beginning of 2020, despite having lost 4 anchors at that point. Then the covid lockdowns hit and doomed it. The cinema and bowling alley closing simultaneously that October was the death blow.
Covid was the worst
Trust me this mall still has life compared 2 Lincoln mall just a empty void
Lincoln Mall closed in 2015. Unfortunately, Stratford seems to be headed in the same direction. I grew up with Lincoln Mall and have known Stratford over the past 10 years and it’s like déjà vu.
Hmmm I have never been to Lincoln mall, let alone here of it. Lincolnshire?
We were there all the time as kids and teenagers. This was jammed in the 80s and 90s. I have videos of Stratford back in the day. I should post it - from the late 80s.
That would be awesome. I would watch, i bet a lot of people would appreciate it
@@MorAcro I'll look for the footage.
@@RotterStudios subscribed and waiting
@@MorAcro ;)
It's almost insulting that the Woodman's Food Market built in place of the old Macy's has no entrance into the mall. I'm surprised the mall owners allowed that, although they were probably desperate to get anyone there.
Sad! Stratford Square used to be a good place to shop
So true, only two spots open in the food court, very sad!
Let me tell you all the department stores that closed in this mall. First jcpenney closed in 2014 then Macy's closed in 2017 and then Carson's closed in 2018 and then sears closed n 2019 and in 2022 they are atually closing the Burlington in here and they are relocating to Stratford crossing if you dont know what that is Stratford crossing is a plaza across teh street from Stratford square mall RIP all teh department stores Kohl's will be the only department store left in this mall. So sad I remember going to sears century theatres Round1 Jcpenney Macy's and Carson's Man this mall is so sad while woodfield mall is having so.kich visitors then Stratford square mall I just want this mall to have a renovation or something they closed so many stores
I moved away in 2015, it's WILD to me it went downhill this quickly, it was still pretty vibrant then. I celebrated my birthday at that Round 1, I broke my ribs and had nothing better to do then just wander the mall so it's like upsetting hahaha I miss the art deco movie theater
The main reason this mall died rests fully on its owner namdar. They were going to let it die and sell it off for a loss. But woodmans somehow stopped that. Plus they raised rent on the stores so muchvthey couldn't pay. They also tried to cut all the pay of the mall employees to $9.00 per hour. After the sale to the city of Bloomingdale, namdar trid to take the computers that controlled the building.
Namdar sounds like a crook. Cannot wait to return to woodmans :) and this mall!
You're not wrong. My friends and I make fun of it all the time. Why does it still exist? How does it still exist.
It’s a mystery…axe throwing and escape rooms!
Theyve been in decline for at least 15 years if not more. I work about 1/2 mile awsy and shop at the Woodman's in there parking lot. I don’t even bother to go inside anymore since Sarku Japan left.
Was that in the food court? Sounds good, we love woodmans
@@MorAcro Yes, they cooked on a big grill right in front of you, it was always the busiest stall in the food court. I was taking my son to that mall since he was a baby, he's 25 now. It's probably been 4 or 5 years since I've been inside, definitely sad. Remember when they had the fountain shooting water in the air?
@@roberttaylor6030 oh yeah, my favorite food court was the Cajun place serving up bourbon chicken and blackened chicken with rice!
@@roberttaylor6030 I am 33 now, so my mall memories go a bit deeper into the 90s!
@MorAcro I had the bourbon chicken, long ago, lol. It was good. I think that place was gone long before Sarku left. In fact I think Sarku took their spot, probably used the same grill even.
Danimal rides look pretty cool. Look it up if you don't know.
Quite depressing indeed my friend 😄
Yet I still want to go back for a walk some cold day!
Bloomingdale is a upper middle class town. There’s No Blight. I am sure the lock down accelerated the closures.
No blight or no light?!
Blight.
Wow looks even worse then I quit working there during the first 5 months of the pandemic
It's crazy that the Woodman's is doing great.
I wanted to make a woodmans video but my wife deleted the footage…
Don’t like woodmans , prefer Mariano’s , Woodmans cheaper but a lot of junk. Worst deli ever.
Wow, I used to go here often when I lived in Carol Stream about 16 years ago. Let's go Brandon!
Haha, Brandon is doing a great job!
lol, this mall was dying way before Biden
@@Salukis40 I cannot confirm that.
As bad as this mall is Charlestowne Mall was/is worse.
We will have to check that out then!
@@MorAcro I think they have already closed the main part of Charlestowne Mall off, even though the building is still there. So you might have to be clever on how you get inside. Some RUclipsrs have managed to get into shut down malls but they take a huge risk.
Now I'm hearing 12 stores and one restaurant court tenant left. Burlington Coat Factory is leaving and Kohls will be the last anchor store.
I hope to make a follow up video here.
Um have you been to the Charlestowne mall? Way worse
No we drove past it the other day on the way to Batavia. It looked like the theatre was still open…
It closed years ago at st Charles theatre and von Maur only anchor stores left
I second this! I wager it's even worse that Stratford.
The blue place was a rolled ice cream shop last year.
I bought my first cell phone at Ameritech where that Jolly express is located. Many great memories there but yes very very dead
That Burlington used to be a Montgomery awards they moved in after monkey wards went out of business but they didn’t need the whole space.
That movie theater used to be horrendous and then they opened the Cinemark and then Covid Killed it
They had the cheap one down the road too
All the memories!
Very sad 🙁
Really is Jane!
It used to be hopping!
Oh yeah, a destination for the area!
Sad, I have many pictures of us in the fountain , and the carnival ☹️ I think I still have one of the punch cards from the carnival to get a free ride after idk how many rides 🥺
It’s the nearest mall for me , so I used to go so often . Mostly when they had the Sarku Japan 😋 oh man I wasn’t some now 😩
It s not juste depressing it s scaering
توحشناكم
Yes, zombies at any moment!
@@MorAcro hahahah
The potential..😪
It is ready for filming a zombie movie.
Online shopping n crazy high property rent is leading to the decline of these malls in many parts of the world ... Progress ?
Doubtful progress, you are tracked with your online shopping, and people are further put into little boxes, segregated from contact!
@@MorAcro True ...I prefer, when I can to shop in person ..face to face ...We have a massive mall in East London called Westfields which seems to be bucking the trend of online shopping ...so there mite still be hope for the world ( of shopping :) )
Very huge funs for you 💯🌹🌹❤️,🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
Thank you Yassine!
Very sad. They all seem to be going this way.😒
Oh no!! Not the Auntie Ann’s!!!!
A tragic loss!
even rumi got bored in the mall 🤭
Haha she was relieved to leave that place!