A farewell walk around Lakeforest Mall.

Рет қаралды 19,629

Жыл бұрын

Lakeforest Mall was a super-regional mall located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Built in 1978 by Taubman Centers, it would be the textbook definition of a Taubman mall, with a skylight-scattered ceiling, a grand center court with a fountain (that was unfortunately removed in 2013), several planters, and multiple conversation pits located throughout the mall.
Unfortunately, the mall suffered a rather quick death, with the first nail in the coffin being Simon opening their Clarksburg Premium Outlets in 2017. Two years later in 2019, Lakeforest would lose three of its four anchor tenants over less than 365 days. In 2020, lockdowns would force the mall to temporarily close, and many tenants opted not to reopen with the mall after lockdowns were lifted. Lakeforest ultimately reached the point where even local public officials were supporting redevelopment of the mall, and this is when Lakeforest started to really near the end.
The mall is now closed, and this beautiful structure is expected to demolished next year in favor of new mixed-use buildings that will likely be devoid of any kind of beauty or pleasant aesthetic.
Rest in peace, Lakeforest Mall, 1978-2023
Intro/gallery music by Alex Nes. Any other music used is coincidence and I do not own any of it; all copyright goes to their respective owners.

Пікірлер: 61

@Mapmaker1559Retail Жыл бұрын

Chat with me and other mall enthusiasts about this mall and more over on Discord: discord.gg/HAhFHh4n3X

@ronverduin1979 11 ай бұрын

Interesting story about the sculpture piece at your opening sequence if you're interested. 😊

@10baileyb Жыл бұрын

This mall and the conversation pits are so beautiful my heart is so broken for the community and I'm so sorry🥺💔💔

@christie140 Жыл бұрын

I feel so sad about all of these dead and closing malls. Regardless of what you think of huge commercial centers like theses, they were great places to bump into people and socialize. Some of them really brought community together. A by-gone era now.

@belieber3502 9 ай бұрын

I believe people should go back to in store shopping so these malls don't all close

@BackroomsSlayer Жыл бұрын

I walked this mall 20 years ago.

@ajlovecars 9 ай бұрын

Pretty creepy how the music still plays when nobody’s in the mall!.

@EC4U2C_Studioz Жыл бұрын

Although I never went to this Mall, it sucks that it had to close. Good memories for those who went to this Mall.

@dvferyance Жыл бұрын

It is because it doesn't leave many malls in metro DC on the Maryland side. The Virginia side has plenty of malls the Maryland side doesn't even before this one closed. I really don't know what the factor was for this malls demise. Anyone have any thoughts as to why it went under?

@LoydKline-uw4no 9 ай бұрын

Indoor mallused to be the ultimate hangout

@ThomasGrillo Жыл бұрын

Very sorry to see that mall go. Would loved to have checked it out. Thanks for sharing this.

@resentertainment1990 Жыл бұрын

I used to go to lake forest all of the time when I was a teen in the mid to late 2000’s. Can’t believe it’s now closed. 😮🥹

@couponsdude Жыл бұрын

Watching this video, this mall does not look bad. I wonder how many of these merchants pushed through until the last day.

@janecarolhogue3140 Жыл бұрын

Such a shame . Nice mall and so clean. I don't like shopping online. I bought some tops online found out to return the item they charge me $10.50 per item. I will buy my skechers online but not clothes

@paposwing2925 Жыл бұрын

Funny how the one in Meriden CT have the same exact entrance with a Ruby Tuesday next to it. The only difference is the Lakeforest sign. We also have one similar to this one in Farmington Ct that still holding so far. I feel privileged to be part of a booming era of the malls, and now witness the end of that era 😥😥

@robertjohnson6601 8 ай бұрын

Hats off to the maintenance crew for keeping it up. It looks like this mall was once the place to hang out in it's prime. Like so many others because of Amazon and Ebay it is going out of business.

@NICHOLEWILLIAMS123 Жыл бұрын

This is really sad 😢😢😢

@Gustavo-fl3eg 9 ай бұрын

i love this type of vídeo and i got SO happy when i noticed "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" by Coldplay, playing. i swear, i just imagine myself listening to this song in an abandoned mall, just jumping and being myself bcz no one is seeing me, like, just happiness inside a sad place...

@jaypsull6229 Жыл бұрын

Good video, derserves a subscribe, greeting from Ireland

@DyingRetail Жыл бұрын

Nice video. Keep up the good work on your content.

@desroth 6 күн бұрын

God I almost thought this was Lakeside for a moment based on the thumbnail before I read the name. Sad to see the Taubman malls disappearing one by one.

@LevilleFon 11 ай бұрын

that's the future of this country

@Overlandparkgirl 11 ай бұрын

Reminds me of a mall called regency square near me in Virginia

@user-uc4yu6hd3y Жыл бұрын

So very sad to see that this mall is dying I worked in this mall in the 90's for almost 2 years some good memories, I wish someone will buy it and find another use for it. A pity these malls closing and left abandoned and not being used, surely some of these young businesspersons can think of using these structures for something other purpose that would not cost too much. Looks like Lakeforest has been very well maintained, Lakeforest should be saved.

@deborahdesanto2313 9 ай бұрын

I enjoy mall shopping. 😢💔

@jonathanselevators Жыл бұрын

Reminds me of Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights, MI

@Mapmaker1559Retail Жыл бұрын

They do have very similar designs. They were both built by the same developer so that definitely has an influence.

@simoneleles5209 Жыл бұрын

One of the saddest moments is to watch a mall closing. After that, the attack of subhumans vandals.😢

@Mapmaker1559Retail Жыл бұрын

Vandals are indeed some of the most subhuman. As depressing as it is that the mall will likely get demolished, my hope is that it can remain in respectable condition until a demolition permit is issued. Landmark Mall in Northern Virginia managed to stand in a similar manner.

@coolcat365 Жыл бұрын

Another Taubman master piece withers away

@Mapmaker1559Retail Жыл бұрын

😭

@gianpolignano2632 Жыл бұрын

Has Taubman addressed this issue?

@coolcat365 Жыл бұрын

@gianpolignano2632 Taubman no longer owns the property. Therefore, it is not in their hands. Most malls these days that have the Taubman design are no longer owned by the company.

@LoydKline-uw4no 9 ай бұрын

Alfred Taubman dye long time ago

@curtiscarter7860 Жыл бұрын

It's weird seeing how US malls are struggling and becoming dead, whilst in Europe, malls are packed and they are doing well.

@Mapmaker1559Retail Жыл бұрын

I think it's a combination of mismanagement and weird trends on how to develop property.

@personzorz Жыл бұрын

Difference between driving destinations and walking/transit destinations

@jsmurd Жыл бұрын

@Mapmaker1559Retail Excellent Video! Hope you keep making more videos like this one. Thumbs up!

@Mapmaker1559Retail Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@deepwoodguy2 Жыл бұрын

looks like an interesting channel..........any chance you could "talk" as you are walking the Mall??... explaining the different stores, what's good , what's bad.. etc.... thanks... 👍👍

@Mapmaker1559Retail Жыл бұрын

I have considered doing voiceovers in the past, and I may in the future, but for now my style is a raw style where I give you a realistic glimpse into a mall at a moment in time with little to no editing.

@Gordon_2000 11 ай бұрын

Why would anyone prefer to go to an outlet open mall, and walk in the heat or cold, to shopping in a closed mall, nice and cozy.

@gianpolignano2632 10 ай бұрын

Any possibility this can be restored and made into a museum?

@Mapmaker1559Retail 9 ай бұрын

I wish.

@robert2628 11 ай бұрын

this place must have been packed back in the early 1980's.

@Mapmaker1559Retail 11 ай бұрын

I believe it was.

@ruby055 10 ай бұрын

Yeah their used to be corner drug stores that served lunch and milk shakes, their used to be small auto dealerships, their used to be fur stores, their used to be candy stores, and record shops, their used to be TV and appliance fix it shops, and independent hardware stores and privately owned pet shops, and places with silver smiths and guys who would shoe your horse all gone..Malls a 60 year phenomena gone the way of the horse and buggy.

@glennfjenkins2702 9 ай бұрын

This looks like Ascene out of A horror movie weird 🤔

@438019 9 ай бұрын

Did someone think to dig up and relocate all the plants in the mall? Plant them outside where they can get sunshine and rain and at least stand a chance of surviving? If just abandoned and left in the mall with no water they will soon all wither and die, that's not great, they were planted inside the mall for the shoppers and now they are just left to die.

@Mapmaker1559Retail 9 ай бұрын

A lot of the plants were taken by patrons on the last day of the mall's operation. A few were unfortunately left to die.

@aaroncoal28 Жыл бұрын

It'll be a community college by Monday.

@user-uc4yu6hd3y Жыл бұрын

Lakeforest Mall is located is great it is central downtown business area. It would be a shame to for this great structure to remain abandoned,

@RoundenBrown 11 ай бұрын

13:21 Alessia Cara!

@bromharlock7992 Жыл бұрын

Wild it has the exact same architecture and layout as Fair Oaks Mall Virginia does back in the 80's. Parallel universe? =P

@Mapmaker1559Retail Жыл бұрын

The layout is a little different, as Lakeforest only has four wings while Fair Oaks has six, but the architecture is very similar, as both were developed by the same company. 👍

@maryduska Жыл бұрын

So what next tear it down or be destroyed my kids that don't have anything else to so like Again a beautiful mall bites the dust farewell 😢😢😮😅

@durudadlani1931 11 ай бұрын

So sad! Can't you build some affordable houses in the vicinity, add a bus route and a school, and you'll have a ready made village....Let a few hard-working and enterprising immigrants in, and the economy will be productive. It's saddening to see so many Malls lying closed - You gotta put them to productive use. Many people overseas would love to come and settle in America.

@sandeshupreti6600 11 ай бұрын

Americans mall don’t have any architecture. People in Europe go to malls and still just because of the architecture, you want to be there all the time. On the other hand, American buildings are life less.

@Gordon_2000 10 ай бұрын

Idk I used to live in Europe and malls are nice but much smaller and get too crowded. American malls are much nicer inside, bigger and more enjoyable to walk even if there´s no real arquitecture outside.

@andreabarker197 11 ай бұрын

Hello there. Thanks for showing this. The reason that I disliked this video is because you were so silent. I am not able to see what each store is or what you are passing.

@Mapmaker1559Retail 11 ай бұрын

If you don't like my videos then don't watch them. This channel uses a more raw style, essentially filming first-person time capsules for each of malls documented, focusing more on the architecture of malls than the stores. If you want commentary and a focus on stores, then go watch Dan Bell. We can't all have the same filming style.