Dead Mall: Washington Crown Center - Washington, PA
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- Опубликовано: 27 май 2021
- Dead Mall: Washington Crown Center. Enjoy a walk through this former Crown American property that over the course of time has slowly fallen to such a low occupancy record. Opened in 1969, this was originally named Franklin Mall and competed with another mall named Washington Mall less than 3 miles away. That mall failed and closed several years ago and sits nearly abandoned as only a couple tenants are open with outside access only. Washington Crown Center is sadly falling in the way of Washington Mall and could eventually see the same fate unless something drastic was to happen to turn the mall around. Hope you enjoy this video as this is one of my local malls I've been visiting for many many years.
Music:
Jasper De Ceuster - "Flare"
Song link:
• Flare
Channel link:
/ @jasperdeceuster
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#DeadMall #WashingtonCrownCenter #WallieB26 
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Washington Crown's the one mall I'm never willing to give up on. Their losses have been matters beyond their control (Sears, Ross, Bon Ton, Macy's) but they still actively try to fill what they can. (They replaced GameStop, that was a big surprise.) They've even rebounded from 2020 nicely - especially Planet Bounce.
And to be honest, when I first started going there - when all anchor stores were open - it was never a *busy* mall. On a weekend it was oddly empty.
Back in the 80s it was busy.
Now the old Falconi owned Washington Mall across town was a different story; it started struggling in the 90s. It was a fun place though back in the day.
I feel the same with Wayne Hills Mall in NJ.
Give up on it. It is as dead as "Uniontown Mall".
If a mall...cannot survive...in Washington PA? It is dead.
Raze it. Make it farmland again and feed people.
Next deadzone? Robinson Towne Center.
That whole area? Post-Allegheny County malfeasance? Is as dead as Jimmy Hoffa.
It is gone.
Sell it. Raze it. Before it becomes...Youngstown
I know this was a year ago buy planet bounce is now at Tanger outlets
The demise of malls breaks my heart. Nice intro with that great music!
Like giant office parks in suburban areas, also 🏢 in large US cites: more business will decrease-stream line. No more lots with 500 employee cars. No more huge lobbies. No more 30 floor corporation hq locations. Gone.
I live in the city limits here in Washington and I remember when this mall was full of stores. 1 thing that put a big dent in the store selection here years ago was when they built and opened The Tanger Outlets out by the Meadows. A decent chunk of the stores ended up relocating there.
I meant to mention Tanger in the video as being a reason this mall went downhill. Completely forgot to mention that place. But I agree. I've been to those outlets. Always busy there. And you obviously have way more selection of stores than at this mall anymore.
@@WallieB26 Been to Tanger too when I come home to visit. Don't like it. In the winter I want to be indoors under a roof where I can be warm and out of the snow and in summer, I want to be indoors where it is air conditioned and I am out of the rain. Tanger has covered sidewalks, but you still need to go 'outside' to get from place to place - not fun when really hot or really cold.
Reason this mall went "downhill".
Socialism.
It is here folks.
Enjoy
I have a lot of memories here. Had my first date with my boyfriend here many years ago. Thanks for the upload!
This mall used to always be busy. In high school (early 2000s) this was our Friday night hangout.
I have not been to the Franklin Mall (even though it’s Washington Crown Center but I still call it Franklin Mall) in a couple of years. It’s no surprise that most of the stores are gone now. Since COVID, the mall is having even a harder time to survive it. I don’t think it’s not gonna last much longer. It’s so sad only because it has brought so much memories when I would go there as a kid and I can’t forget about the Washington Mall either because that has memories there too! Great video, Wallie!
Not from Washington but passed through/stayed over a number of times. I was always fascinated a town Washington's size had 2 malls!
No one from the area calls it the Crown Center. It'll always be The Franklin Mall. Even my 20 year old kid calls it the Franklin Mall. I'm almost 50 years old and I remember the old Funway Freeway arcade. They always had the better games, but the Washington Mall had a convenient Pizza Boy right next door to the Game Hut. The Franklin Mall had Sears, Hills, and Pomeroy/Troutman's/BonTon. The Washington Mall was the go-to for people in Houston/Canonsburg, with JC Penney, GC Murphy, Giant Eagle...but we'd go across town to the Franklin Mall and even South Hills Village on occasion. My mom was partial to the Washington Mall, she would always shop for clothes at Foxmoor and Langs. I loved going to Langs with her because the women that worked there would always give me a pretzel rod.
I can still remember that powerful perfumed smell from Langs! Also, the lunch counter at Murphys next door had lemon juice in condiment packets for your iced tea! I’ve never seen that anywhere else!
I basically grew up at this place and Washington Mall in high school. Sigh... Also, my father grew up near here too and said he used to explore here before there was a mall.
I think I may have seen a photo of the area prior to the groundbreaking for the mall. Looks like it was dramatically different compared to what it is now.
I think my dad and grandpa did the same thing with the Shoppes at Montage before that was even built.
Sucks to lose places that we visited all the time as children!
I might be a kid, but in 20 years... I'd be saying the same thing about Toys R Us!
I grew up in Washington pa. I used to work at this mall at the American eagle for 6 years (2005-2011). Very sad to see how it is now.. it used to be so busy especially on Friday nights that was the hangout for teens. My mom lives 5 min from there. I will definitely have to stop by next month when I’m home. It’s so sad.
I like to see your videos. They bring back memories as I used to work on the air conditioning in a lot of the places you have been to. Used to spend a lot of time at WCC and when it was the Franklin Mall. Did the mall common areas and Sears here. Used to work at a lot of the malls owned by Crown American. I remember when Preit bought this from Crown and remodeled it. Also took care of a lot of the K-Marts you’ve been to. Also did a lot of work in J.C. Penney and the old Montgomery Ward stores in Western PA. Haven’t seen or been to any of these places in probably 20 years. Back then I would have never dreamed they’d all go by the wayside.
This is sad 😥, looks like an awesome mall in its hay day. Love the classic cars in the pics you shown. Guessing they had car shows inside the mall pretty freaking cool. Definitely putting this on my list of malls to see thank you Wallie. Thank you for taking us along.
Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed. Its worth a visit. There is a decent amount of retail and restaurants and whatnot in the Washington, PA area. Just a ride down I-79 to I-70 and its just a hop and a skip off the interstate. That's not to be confused with the abandoned Washington Mall which closed several years ago and is literally on the shoulder of the interstate. They're literally that close to each other.
@@WallieB26 Was Washington Mall built first, before Franklin Mall/Washington Crown Center? I thought that's what I heard, but am not 100% sure.
Your mall visit videos are getting very high quality 👌
Thank you. I'm glad you enjoy. I've been working hard to make them better and better.
Me and my family used to come here all the time.
It’s sad to see it die off so fast.
Malls are very much true to families from the 70s. Sometimes it's very emotional to watch your videos with hardly any customers. Back then people visited Malls by the droves. That was the way of life back then. Wonder video as usual.
It's amazing how malls these days don't see many shoppers.
Great video again bro. Can't wait to see the next abandoned mall.
It's really sad to see a mall that had It's glory days and good times in the 60s and 70s now becoming abandoned and dead...
Very good! One of your best ❤
Thank you!
Wow! What a cool mall, Wallie! It's so nice and huge! I would love to shop there, if the mall was fully open! ❤😘👍 As always, I enjoyed watching your video! Thank you so much!
Thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed!
@@WallieB26 You're welcome!
Also, between this place, Washington Mall and the ill-fated Foundry, Washington PA has had it's share of retail disasters this century.
Used to live in canonsburg back in 2013 to 2016 and McMurray from 2016 to 2017 used to go to this mall how sad about this mall
Good video! This is a big, big mall! Sad to see these malls going away! Like they are!
Thanks for another great video Wallie! I’m with you, I feel bad for the local family based business hit by this mall’s decline. I’d definitely hit up Pretzels Plus for sure! 😋
That strikes me as not a super huge mall. I wonder if they could hijack Harbor Freight and that restaurant from that other mall.... However it seems that every time they try to take a step forward, they get pushed back. On a different note.... Your videos have been popping up quite a bit for me recently. I really like your style, the drive around at the beginning is a really nice touch, and I like hearing the natural sound of the mall behind your commentary instead of it being covered with vaporwave. Subscribed.
That looks like a freaking beautiful mall! So unfortunate it is struggling!
It's quite sad to see this mall in its current state, though it has honestly been going downhill for a while. I grew up going there and have a lot of great memories there, especially at the Hollywood Theater. Hopefully that reopens at some point, but it doesn't look likely.
Thank You for sharing 😊😊
Awesome sound track
Amazing 👏 work 👏
Thank you!
Update: The old Sears section of the mall is being gutted to prepare for something new. We are all anxiously waiting to see what it will be.
update: ended up being a Jeep dealership
YIKES. I remember when this mall was huge!!! Growing up it used to be busy but the last few years it’s fallen off lol
Went here many a time when I was in high school in the late 70's. They had a Bressler's Ice Cream place there then, that I think, was better than Baskin Robbins. Sad what it has become. I have a sister that works at Rural King ... they are the busiest place there by far and have been for awhile. Also - shoulda left the name alone - it was the Franklin Mall forever - I still call it that. No idea why the name needed to be changed.
Trinity?
Remember the days as a teenage when this was the hangout place? Haha. Movies at the end of a Friday night…good times
A year later now there is only a couple stores open now. I'm surprised that they haven't gone bankrupt
Thanks for the Mall video WallieB26 these are my favorite videos to watch
I'm glad you enjoy these. I have a backlog of mall videos. I have 8 or so backlogged. So hopefully I won't disappoint!
This was my mall :( I remember going to the Kaufmann’s here.
I miss This mall having all anchors
Change is the only constant.
Damn, I remember going to Washington Crown Center to go see Snow Dogs back in 2002, and getting a bite to eat at the Garfield's over there. Now Garfield's has shuttered its doors in not just Washington Crown Center, but at the Ohio Valley Mall as well, since they were avoiding to pay rent at those places when the lockdowns were imposed.
And it’s also interesting to see a Joann’s as a storefront in the mall as well.
I've seen them at a handful of malls. Not common though!
So sad. This is a really nice mall. Big and bright. I would have loved to shop at this place.
It's sad because despite how empty it is, it still lights up bright every night. I just think back to even 2018 and it wasn't that bad. And several years before that, this mall didn't have a ton of vacancies. Nowadays you have to walk down a corridor just to see if there is anything down that wing or not.
As always Wally great video can't wait for those railfanning videos
I'm excited to get them uploaded!
The sign part at the beginning, where it was clarified that everything excpet the Marshall's was closed, was sooo depressing! I remember coming here in my early 20s. Let's give up buying on Amazon, Wayfair, Overstock and all other online avenues and get back to the mall! Easier said than done for most, I would guess.
Yeah, especially in these times with the pandemic. I rarely buy anything online unless I absolutely cannot find it in store. I never shop on Amazon. I don't even want to. I'll go to a physical store instead.
@@WallieB26 I'm totally with you on that, where I don't like buying things online except if I absolutely can't find an item at ANY store I check!
The Ross was the Covid-19 Vaccine clinic, but since then it now is vacant. The AT&T store that was in the video, has since closed and is now gated up and vacant. Not sure if you mentioned the Garfields being closed, but it sits vacant as well. But the mall owners are driving the rent up so much that all the tenants are choosing to close, or relocate. Regal, the owner of HollyWood Theaters closed the location permanently, and took down all their branding off the Regal Club website, and App. (Was the only movie theatre left in Washington.) This mall is dying, slowly. There used to be a Books-A-Million, but they announced their closure. Last year Spirit Halloween was suppose to go into the old Macy Building (Macy’s owns this building from the mall), but never made it in that location. My assumption is mold, as when that store was Macy’s it leaked really badly from the ceiling (which isn’t a surprise because Bon-Ton, Sears, and literally half the other stores leaked/still leak) The mall maintenance team isn’t that good….
Update! As of 2/23/22 - Jo-Ann Fabrics Closed for good sometime this past couple months, as did Subway in the food court, and Sbarro is vacant - Charleys left and moved to Walmart.(some kind of ice cream shop is in its place now). Hallmark is going under liquidation as of this month as well. Spencer’s Gifts relocated to tanger outlets. Marshall’s is planning to relocate here shortly soon too. (To somewhere on the other end of town) there’s a place in the old Macys building called MacBid now. (Some kind of auction site?) the former sears (which was closed in this video) is now boarded up with ply wood for some reason in the mall entrance? My assumption is mold outbreak but this could be wrong. This mall is going to be beyond dead. Such a shame…I know my comment isn’t going to be relevant but just wanted to update you just in case you planned to go in again :).
That Ulta Beauty store doesn't seem that old. I'm shocked it closed shop after a few years.
This is just so sad. I was in this area frequently from the span of about 2009-2013. I didn't know anything like this was going on. Also have known this mall for all of my relatively young life....
Thanks Wallie!
Glad you enjoyed!
Great video, sir.
Thank you!
@@WallieB26 You’re welcome, have a great weekend.
Thanks for sharing this Wallie It`s sad that some of these mall are deading like this online shopping are killing the malls
The blame has to start with Walmart.
I last visited this mall in 1993. It had already been redeveloped once in the 80s, and the theater wasn’t there. So much changed since. At least I recognize where Sears was. Bon-Ton used to be (I think) Troutman’s. There was also a pretty good pizzeria on the end near Grant’s/Hills.
It was called Brother's Pizza.
i WONDER if the amount of time money and energy that was put into this to build and maintain it was WORTH IT !! with energy and LABOR costs today companies wouldnt even THINK about building something like this ever again ..
When even the Ross store leaves... that's trouble.
I agree. Though Ross has closed a few locations here and there. Another one that closed in the Pittsburgh area was the Ross Township store on the super busy McKnight Road which is the main highway for retail and businesses in Pittsburgh's North Hills.
For sure, woof!
Chris S.
Nailed it.
"When Ross can't survive? You can kiss Macy's goodbye".
Socialism.
Enjoy it brother.
It is here
Seems like all malls are taking a big hit now on top of the pandemic and people shopping on line now.Kind of sad we just lost our mall the first of the year 2021.The mall was my first job and I remember feeling so sad when it closed.
I grew up in 84 pa that's sad. 😕 but a great video thxs.👍
i go here alot just to walk around and its honestly so nice , despite the fact of how dead it is, i love this mall sm
By the looks of this place, it was renovated twice. Once in 1985 (as seen in those photos of the place when it was still the Franklin Mall) and then most recent one in 1999 to what we see it as today.
Facts. It was practically dead when Hills and then Ames left. They revived it in 99 with the overhaul. Now its dead again
Hey it’s really cool go explore the Dead mall Harlingen
i remember it was around oh say may or june of 2006 when macy's took over kaufmann's. i remember looking around in one just to see what it was like before it got taken over. this was the Pittsburgh Mills mall location. i was there almost a year after it opened. sad to see kaufmann's gone though.
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i remember always coming here when i lived in washington to go to gamestop. fun times
That movie theater was one of the only things keeping that place open.
I drove past this mall once. It is always the small local business owners and local employees who get hit the most.
I used to get dropped of in the early 80s to hang with my friends in the arcade and pizza joint!!
Hey willie I’m watching your video on the cross roads diner being closed I love diners
Before Hill's it was Hess'
Westmoreland Mall in Greensburg, PA is dying off too!
I'm surprised that pretzel place is still there. There was actually one more remodel you didn't mention, close to the time when the theater was built. Before that, the hallway across from the Pretzels Plus (before it was extended for Kaufmann's/Macy's) used to be the food court, with an arcade on the left. There was no arcade from that rebuild until about 2018 or so, which moved into an empty space next to Rural King (signs of the mall dying...). I think the modern arcade ultimately died during the pandemic.
Do you have any plans to visit the old Washington Mall on Oak Spring Road? There are still a few businesses connected to it that function to this day, but most of the main interior space is abandoned.
I cry watching these kind of videos because my childhood is now gone
Love these mall videos and the music you use sounds like it would be music that they might play in a mall
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy!
I remember when it was the Franklin Mall, it was completely full, there was a large fountain Infront of the Troutman's department store.
You should do a video of the live oak mall here in San Antonio,tx
Wow. 2 dead malls in WashPA now.
WOW !!
For a second I thought I was watching a video by ace's adventures judging by the intro then I check the RUclips channel nope its my friend wallie doing an amazing job as usual.
Haha thank you. Ace is a good friend of mine and a huge inspiration to me. Always been a big fan of Ace's work.
@@WallieB26 same here been following Ace for years and yes this is Jason C. from your FB group. FUN FACT my uncle worked on designing the Famous Eat 'N' Park Christmas Tree Commerical that was one of his first big projects when he started in the advertising business.
It’s weird to see Ulta closed.
I assume their lease was up and it was cheaper and more effective to do business elsewhere.
Ulta beauty moved on us route 19 down towards Pittsburgh in Washington at the old pier one imports
Right next to the Office Max that’s surprisingly still opened
Yeah, that's a rare one!
@@Optopolis yah office max is rare I love Washington pa
The franklin Mall almost ided in the 80's when the Washington Mall remodeled expanded. Then the Washington Mall began to decline in the 2000's after teh franklin Mall expanded and remodeled.
Hey small world I have long time friends from the Pittsburgh area - some are in New Castle - driven up there many times over the years
I notice that Pa.,Ohio and NY have so many dead malls!!! :( Is any mall open in this area?
I grew up going to this mall. It’s sad to see the state it’s in today. Was the pants n’at also closed ?
😂😂😂😂
Hess's had The Patio restaurant. Every Easter we would get a strawberry pie.
A great video, Wallie and Kayla! It's really sad when any businesses close. It's more than just the covid19, CEOS AND Presidents of companies don't care whether their employees sink or swim. I know that some do, but the truth is most don't. As for your mentioning the video for railfans, I encourage anyone whom is a rail fan, go down to Cass Scenic Railroad located in Pocahontas County here in WV, in the Monangahela National Forest. At Cass, they have train rides that are so very enjoyable to ride. The train ride to Bald Knob, iscthe best and most popular. I urge anyone to make reservations in advance prior to going, for Cass Scenic Railroad train tickets sell out fast. You can go on Google to get all of the information about Cass. Take care!
Oh! I would love to check that out especially if I can take a ride on a train. That would be a lot of fun!
@@WallieB26 You and Kayla will absolutely love the train ride down at Cass Scenic Railroad. When I still had my parents, we went there a number of times over the years. I honestly can't afford to keep both my apartment and have a car. So, I don't think it's going to be doable for to get a chance to go to Cass. The nearest hotel, is Marlinton Motor Inn in Marlinton, WV. It's about a 45 minute drive between Cass Scenic Railroad and Marlinton Motor Inn. I heard the motelnhas been going through renovations. The hotel acquired a new owner a number of years ago and he's been doing renovations to the hotel. The renovations may be completed. They have an outdoor swimming pool, in ground. They also have an on site restaurant. Now, as for cell phone reception, down in the mountains, you won't have any. Though, you may have pay phones. Cell phone reception is spotty at best. I do believe the Marlinton Motor Inn owner is doing the best he can in getting Wifi, so you may get cell phone reception. I just wanted to pass this information on to you. It's really beautiful in the mountains here in WV, like God's country.
I would think this mall could hang on, Rural King should do well, I traveled I 70 often and go to Uniontown and Indiana to service X ray equipment. I know a lot of construction has been going on with I 70. I stopped at Gander Mountain and had lunch with friends from Pittsburgh in the food court. That's was probably 2016 or so Washington seems to be far enough from Pittsburgh to do well and Morgantown is about 45 miles away. Although if you get on 79. It's pretty much city all the way to Pittsburgh.
I've only been there a handful of times and probably not since 2015 or so. It was hanging by a thread when PREIT owned it.
Nice
I've always thought either of these 2 malls were an excellent destination for either an Amazon warehouse or a New Washington Hospital....
This mall and Washington Mall's situation reminds me of Chapel Hill/Rolling Acres. And seeing a church and a CCAC facility in there: you know that's never a good sign.
Yes- the final throes - community college satellite & a church- 😥
@@cherylsmith4826 I know some malls have survived by converting abandoned anchors to offices but in a COVID and beyond world I don't know how possible that will be since most office jobs are virtual now (something I think will stick).
@@WillCMay I agree that virtual appointments will be the norm now. I dont mind that - especially doctors appointments but I still hold on to mall shopping- 😟
I think it would be cool if they made the stores in these beautiful malls into homes- imagine parking in the lot & walking thru those courtyards to the old Bon Ton that would now be your own residence. There could be small businesses much like a town- imagine no grass mowing-
@@cherylsmith4826 My idea is to repurpose the mall based on it's structure, ie a mall with a lot of skylights (ie Century 3) could be used as a giant greenhouse that relies on natural light from the skylights, potentially farmers could lease the plots and the food courts could be used for farmers markets. Because no matter how the world changes, people will need food. Case in point: Giant Eagle at Parkway Center is still open, even after the mall closed nearly 10 years ago, and it's showing no signs of closing because it serves the community like it always has. In the greenhouse senario, the stores could become appartments and perhaps the anchors could become warehouses or storage facilities.
What's the reason behind the mall's name change?
(Sees Jo-Ann and Marshall's) Reaction: THAT'S all that is left in there?
As for the notable stores on that sign, yes. Bad enough it's that dead but that no effort was made to cover up or remove any of the signage from closed up stores on this sign, the other ones around the property and even the signs on the buildings themselves minus Macy's.
Yup sadly my Sears here closed December 2019, Gander mountain and Macy’s both left 2017, and the gander mountain is now rural king crazy enough the rural king used to not only be Gandermountain before it was Gandermountain it was a ames before that hills, because the original hills in this mall is where the food court is crazy enough, and the bonton I believe used to be a pomeroys or whatever is called and this mall used to have a old navy but not anymore.
@@adamvyondandplotagonmaster7454 I remember the old navy. I do remember a Marshall's a little but would not have known that if not for this video
4:27 Look at the front, where it says *Rural King* real big
LOL!
Thank you too Wallie for the video!
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed!
👍
Washington Crown Center is even worse now. The Chinese place (Stir Fry) is the only place left in the food court.
Hey wille big fan just wondering every video I see your gf/ daughter/ wife has different hair colors or are they wigs
She dyes her hair every few months. I have been catching up on older videos while uploading newer ones at the same time. That's why her hair is often different colors in the videos.
Do you like diners willie
Hey willie I’m about to watch a video on an abandoned hometown buffet in Reynolds burg oh is it hard for you to find abandoned buffet places more then pizza huts being abandoned
Can you do a video on a abandoned diner where you going in like you did on the chucky chesse video
Kaufmann's was a HUGE draw to Washington Crown Center. They attracted shoppers from Morgantown, Fairmont and Clarksburg because it was an easy drive up I-79. They also attracted customers from Greene and Fayette counties. Once Macy Discount Mart came in, the shoppers stopped coming. They closed so many of the Kaufmann's stores they bought out because they don't appeal to shoppers. I don't think anyone would miss Macy Discount Mart if they ALL closed. Their stores are run down dumps and their merchandise is overpriced, poor quality junk. Despise them!
Rent is too high for the stores, which makes the products to pricey.
Lots of empty space to open a few Rax there....that would bring back the crowds....
I'd certainly be there often. Haha
Wonder if that mall is going to be headed to the wrecking ball in the future. Sad to see another one die.
Hey guys ,wallie has anyone thought of turning some old bid box stores into flea markets or antique malls or thrift stores way cool idea love y'all lots like family and may God bless you guys always and forever and always keep y'all extra safe and healthy these days hope to hear back from you guys soon thanks 🐱🐱🐱🐱😊😊😊😊😊🙂🙂🙂😊
I have actually been to a several malls in which old anchors have been turned into antique stores or weekend flea markets, etc. So it does happen! Chambersburg Mall, Eastfield Mall, Eastern Hills Mall are just 3 examples. God bless as well! We are always being safe and keeping as healthy as we can! Thanks for watching!
Worked at bon ton so sad to see how empty it is blame the internet for that
🥇
what if I could say, it might be turn around and profitable again, with a waiting list, would you hear me out.
Just some simple conversion to bring in some needs and real living 24/7.
What if I could show you how to turn it into a chicken, that would laid golden egg.