As someone that lives here, the mall in spring and summer looks even more dead, grass growing in the parking lot, pot holes that make for good suspension, but the mall is not the only abandoned store in this town, there's an Aldi across the street abandoned because they moved closer to Walmart, even the only exit ramp to get inside is left alone blocked by a wall of snow in the winter. However, some places are revived like an old Ponderosa that's now a vet area... I believe, there's a car wash that's right now being turned into something else leaving us with only one car wash left, and some places are replaced like our Dominos is now a KFC, Family Dollar is part of the story to its left.

That was cool to just stumble upon this video of a place that I've been to a bunch of times. I'm a Canadian and went shopping there when it was new a few times. I also use to go play hockey at the rink once a week during the summer when most of the rinks around my area don't have ice in them in the summer time. It sure was quite the place when it was new and busy. I think most of the business was from Canadians because the CDN dollar was high at the time. The Arcade was pretty nice. They had a GNC store there that also got me to go there to buy crap like "Cybergenics" and other crap you don't really need. Imagine how much money it would cost to build something like that today. It would be ridiculous. I haven't been there in years, but at the time there didn't seem to be all that much of a population around that area to support a mall that size without the Canadians coming over to shop and I think when the CDN dollar dropped back down is what really killed it.

De-escalating people like that guy can sometimes work when you have something ready like a question by saying “oh, hey I’m glad you said something. Can you help me? Do you know what some of these stores used to be? I am looking for some help from anyone that knows the history of the mall.” People (even nasty ones) typically want to help and feel valued and respected when someone is giving them positive attention. You usually will even make a new friend! Just some tips, thanks again for your vids!😊

I grew up going to this mall. You're not missing much in the food court area, last I knew the only food establishment left there was a Wendy's and I think even that shut down. The department stores only stay open because they're the only ones in the area

The whole town of Massena looks like it's dying not just the mall.

This is so sad for me because this mall was my youth. I spent almost every Friday here as a high schooler and made so many memories. It's been heartbreaking to watch it die, and it makes me feel that much older to have to wave goodbye to a part of my history..

This was fascinating. I live 10 minutes away from this mall and used to shops here often but haven’t been inside in many years. Sad to see it so run down.

Grew up with that mall. Worked in it back in the 90s. My 10 year old likes to visit when we go back home. When we heard the food court was being demolished, he wanted to do one more walk thru to take a peek and take video. We got similar negative vibes too. The guy in the Mustard Tin was a really nice guy, but one other store owner in particular was being high drama/confrontational. And the signs to not take pictures or video? What person would want to bring their family to that kind of environment? Tear it down already. Move the good store owners into near by Harte Haven or Downtown. It's time. Sad. Lotta memories in that place. Will miss it!

They post on their facebook often that anyone caught filming or taking photos will be banned from they mall- they don't want people to see the leaking ceilings and mold but we all know its there so it just makes them look even worse for getting unhinged about it

I live near here(other side In Canada) it's been dead for a while now. We use to cross the border and go shopping at this mall frequently believe it or not. Back in the day....

Perspective from a non resident. My family has deep roots in the North Country. Mom and Dad migrated in the 50s to greener pastures but we grew up spending a lot of time every summer with family. Continued spending vacations as an adult with my own family. Love the outdoors and my wife grew to appreciate all this region has to offer. Natural beauty, great people, slower pace of life, fantastic fishing and hunting. As we got closer to retirement age we started looking at the real estate market and specific areas for a vacation home or potential permanent residence. After retirement we rented a place in St Lawrence county for several months in the summer. What we discovered due to the high property taxes we were better off renting for the summer vs buying and the cost of maintaining a second home. All of my cousins, nephews and nieces have left this area over the last 40 years. A few return during the summer months like us and rent. It's sad, but the area is in a deep decline for obvious reasons but the state of NY isn't helping matters with the crazy property tax rates. They are 2.5 times higher than the mid atlantic state I reside in. North Country residents seem to be subsidizing the city and recieve very little in return for their taxes. I see no benefits to buying a home here and will continue to rent.

Great video! Thank you so much for doing this! These places need to be documented.

The mall is closed-closed now. Thanks for the video, hard to imagine I'd experience nostalgia for just a year ago.

Great video! This mall was really eerie. Sorry you got kicked out, it happens

Super cool to see this pop up on my homepage. Used to cross the border and visit with my parents when i was younger. It used to be pretty nice, as a kid I remember the arcade always being busy. went back a few years ago for the first time in a while and was completely shocked. Its like a ghost town in there

Back in the day, the mall was a ton of fun and had plenty of stores and things to do. Nowadays, thanks to the closing of the GM plant and other things, the place now is just sad. The last time I went was back in 2017, back when Wendy's was still there. I didnt go back there or even Massena since then, but I heard that it had gotten worse with more stores leaving, dilapidated parts of it, and even half of it being closed off now that all the food places are gone. At this point, im surprised they're still open at all.

I live near that mall. I used to go there all the time when I was younger when it was full of life, and stores. I used to get all my video games and music CDs there.

Apparently it wasn't just a rumor about the storage sheds. They did rent out a bunch of space to a personal storage company, which is wild. I have never heard of a mall doing that before.

Dang o.o .. Blast from the past. I live in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada.. That mall was like 15 mins away.. I remember going to that mall when I was a kid and in my early teens with my parents, used to buy alot of clothing and other things in it. Though to look at it now. o.o Just wow, alot closed due to the covid stuff.. Sweet video though, thanks for sharing your experiances.

The guy who talked to you is just pissed cause he knows hes not gonna have a job soon

Funny to see someone pushing an air hockey through the mall. I bought a pair of Mario Kart Arcades from the Time Out arcade here several years ago. You should have seen all the stares we got from the ruckus of rolling them down the tile floors. Lol

So let me get this right... they can record YOU but you cannot record yourself?

Final nail in the coffin is when Walmart closed their store across the road and built a new one near Hart Haven plaza on the other side of town. Aldi bailed from this side of town and and built a new store near Hart Haven. Other than JCPenney the mall is DEAD

I was there about eight years ago and it was more occupied but felt like an eerie ghost town even then. Its happening directly across the border in Canada now too. It’s sad.

Its sad, im from the area, things like this are a stark reminder of how good things used to be in Up state NY, it shows us how bad things have gotten. I remember when this mall opened. Ive shopped there countless times, i even have fond memories of hanging out there with friends, and bringing my kids there.

Never thought I’d see this mall in a yt video ever☠️

this mall is eerily similar to the aroostook centre mall up in presque isle, maine. a small, rural town in the far north of maine that was built for pretty much the exact same reasons as this mall, and was opened right aound the same time. even many of the stores were the exact same!!!

This is what my nightmares looked like as a kid. Places that were supposed to be crowded and busy instead barren and empty. It's so weird walking through these places now and seeing things that brought me so much joy as a kid no longer there.

I used to go to this mall in the early 90's, their used to be a footlocker/champs sports, jc penny, alaadins castle arcade, the merry go round, the virtual roller coaster, the food court was packed with people. It used to have it all, sites, sounds and people. I wonder what could possibly help this place.

This happened in my home town mall years ago. It's not going to recover.

Good job - your video is excellent ! All of your videos are so interesting ! thanks..

It's funny, many many years ago I was inside of Oglethorpe Mall in midtown Savannah, Ga doing a college research project on retail design with a group of class mates. They had no photography posted on the doors even back then. I had a little digital point and shoot camera and we were actually doing our best to look like we weren't there documenting the mall, just a bunch of college kids out having fun... not stealing their retail secrets or anything. Security came down on us in a swarm! Threatened to have us arrested and escorted us off the property! Crazy! This was twenty plus years ago. I guess malls have been that way a for a while. Now with zombie mall syndrome and the associated dead mall tourists I'm sure it's even more of a policy. Love the vids! Mind blowing to see the implosion of retail spaces everywhere but it's by no means unexpected. They just built one too many malls and then the internet happened.

In retrospect, the mall should have been built between Canton and Potsdam. The influx of thousands of students from the 4 colleges might have helped keep it alive. I think the original owners were Canadian? Some employees at the former retailers told me that the rents kept increasing, until they were forced to either close or relocate (like the TJ Maxx). Local people now go to Watertown or Plattsburgh is we need something quickly, otherwise we have come to rely on online shopping. I have been to JC Penny several times for something specific, and leave empty-handed. The associate sometimes offers to order online for me and pickup in the store, but I need something right away (like clothing for a wedding or funeral). It was risky to build a giant retail location that relied on foreign shoppers - too many variables out of their control.

Me & my sister were just there the other day and the only way I can describe it is it’s like the back rooms 😭😂

i live right across the river from this place, man i miss it. I wish i got to experience it when it was booming. I got to experience it in the 2000's , it was good but not like it was in the 90's.

Oh my god I got this recommended and I’ve lived in massena for almost 18 years

Yea, please see my comments below. I just watched again and saw your are filming with a GoPro on a tripod type stick… dude, you’re basically a Kmart blue light beacon for people that like being pushy and want to exert dominance. Very surprised this cam set up hasn’t gotten you more grief in the past. Love your vids! Please keep them coming, but maybe adapt the rig. 😊

I'm literally across the river from this mall and drive past it going to Massena. Went in once for curiosity and wow...no exaggeration on 'Dead Mall'

I'm not going to be surprized that one day our mall is gonna be dead, but in my opinion it already is

When built it had all the stores the watertown mall had but it never got a bunch of new stores watertown got.

It's weird seeing someone make videos of the stuff around me. I remember when this mall was filled with people.

I have recently been here. It is more deserted and just have been officially closed except for JC Penney.

Great work enjoyed Baltimore streets video keep up the good work great style Ian

Nice video

It's so sad to see my favorite place as a kid to be so dead. LIKE AHHH WHAT HAPPENED

Just went by it earlier. I live in Gouverneur. Now theres tons of weed dispensary’s on the reservation why i was up there.

Local here: areas very private, especially at that mall. It's really a last resort kinda mall since its so empty. Very liminal spacey inside. Sorry for the inhospitality bud

Some people like exerting power over others that they actually do not have. It’s a mental game, but I will tell you to not engage eyes with people passing by as there is a natural reaction for people with that power impulse to test you push you around.

This mall is now officially dead. On April 30, 2024, the mall was closed to the public. JCPenney is staying because it has its own entrance. The rest is now an industrial complex.

It’s worse now! It’s closed isn’t it?

The dude who hassled you might have been a plainclothes guard.

I’ve lived in Massena most of my life and it has been sad to see what became of the mall. When it first was built there were dozens and dozens of stores, a full food court with an arcade and a carousel, national brands had stores here (Spencer’s, The Gap, Foot Locker, etc) and it wasn’t long before they added on the ice rink/arena, which hosted a lot of events. Even in the time since this video, they moved all the store fronts to the section where you entered up to JC Penney and the rest has been converted to storage, and the Shoe Department left. The roof is notoriously leaky, and the building is falling apart. The only reason JC Penney and Maurice’s have remained, if the story I heard was true, is because they basically are allowed to keep those spots for free, as a drawing point. Every other store there is locally owned but there’s not much worth buying. We have a strip mall complex called Harte Haven that is a lot more vibrant and active than this; the mall is just delaying the inevitable at this point. Sad, but the economic reality of this town.

This was my childhood mall 🥲

Now the Mall houses a Small distribution centre

The horse at .45-.55secs 😂

Sucks the mall was the shit when I was a kid in the 90s we used to go there every Friday night

Used to be tj max down that long hall.

There was a cinabon near them tables

Its so wierd just like when i was a kid.

That first store was sears

I’m a resident of St. Lawrence county. The mall was dead before it was built. They relied to much on Canada and not the local population. This man doesn’t know what he is talking about. They should have built it between Canton and Potsdam

Dude… I like your videos, but if you don’t have one already, get an Osmo pocket and hold it against your phone and walk around talking down to your phone like you are having a conversation at a normal tone of voice. People will not engage or give you a hard time when they think you’re having a conversation. Use your hands during this “conversation” mode while filming. This will work for passerbys and some security as their natural reaction is to not interrupt and face an upset customer altercation.

Hey if ever back in Baltimore MD would love for you to tour the Garrett Jacobs Mansion downtown Mt Vernon

the fact that i have been there SO many times now i just go for the arcade and show department 😢

They should strip the place and turn it into an indoor airsoft feild. Its the perfect place and theres nothing to clear out.

Ever heard of hills or ames?

I don't know what that one hall monitor was on about...the mall is still open and I see kids doing their TikTok videos or whatever all the time. One piece of ratty paper taped up on the interior of a public building isn't a law. Not that there was that much left to see, but you shouldn't have let that weirdo rattle you.

What! Was that a horse!!??????

massena is a corporate disaster , but indoor malls have died off everywhere.

Stores stocked and gates closed....makes no sense

I helped build the sears store in that mall.

Used to be mostly rude french canadians back in tge day. Now noone comes down here to shop.

I went to Chambersburg Mall in PA and got yelled at for recording.

I live in Massena and I used to go to this mall all the time and I can confirm this mall is DEAD

Ok, who wants to use this mall as a set for filming a zombie movie!?

Do Marley Station Mall, Glen Burniie, Maryland Jerry

I would have talked to people in any of the open stores instead of walking around with a selfie stick like a creep. No wonder you got weird looks.

the horse 💀

It a shame 😞 to bad this happens. The mall owners, have had a greedy war with, nearby, Massena strip mall Harte Haven. The mall owner's started charging too much Rent , soo stores moved or/ just ??? Went Bank rupt, ??? There are many ideas for stores, that would have saved the Mall. The mail owner's greed has been killing the mall !!! The Ice / lacross/ training/ activities Rink & Complex, how did that die ???

So sad that people have issues with other people filming as long as you aren't being creepy like filming kids you should be ok

The man who asked you to not “video” had an accent. Canadian or Awkwesasne, not a North Country accent though.

Ive lived in massena my whole life place is a shi# hole now lot of us born here are embarrassed to live here are towns been destroyed

I went here before and I know it started on Wendy's and it ended on shoe dept

Wow... I grew up in the area, went to that mall as a kid in the 80's/90's when it was bustling. There used to be a carousel there for kids to ride in. You totally captured it's current creepiness. Lol In all seriousness, the newest owner is trying to revive it very wholeheartedly. They're just very limited in resources. Hopefully the entire area can return to it's former glory one day. 😊

Mold is caused by air conditioning

More closings soon . We move to new war economy? I hope not . This all in just 2 years 😵

I live near Massena, and the reason people were so hostile towards you, was because people are/ were constantly filming in there. It's become sort of a carnival attraction to see the dying/ decrepit mall. Here's an example of one such tasteless video... kzfaq.info/get/bejne/p5qXnqyIktm4lqc.html

Honestly you weren't doing any thing wrong by filming a documentary. So i don't understand why you let some stranger bullie you around i mean why are people so afraid of standing up for them selfs? I know i wouldn't have let any one stop me.

*Promo SM* 💞

As with any "slowly dying malls/businesses" there is important need for all people in being highly potential customers. Most people like yourself choosing to be there ONLY to capture video the experience is viewed as bringing negative value to their ongoing hopes of "staying alive"! Wow! Hahahahaha! O:-)

Dying? That place has been dead for decades. The north country is nothing but a barren wasteland that anyone who can afford to has fled long ago. NY would be best used as a nuclear test range until nothing but moltedn radioactive bedrock remains, and it would be equally as inhabitable as it is now.

Massena in general is a hostile place so you’ll have that feeling. Alot of people thinking they’re something they’re not

You would think as dead as that mall is no one in it when they see somebody, they would treat them decent with some hospitality hoping maybe they would buy something instead of treating them so bad they don’t want to come back. There are blue people here.

I moved up here 26 years ago. I’m poor I’m disable. I’m so depressed. I tried to kill myself two months ago. The people are so cold up here that’s why they treated you like they did. It’s like a move to the moon no one will help you they want to see you down. They are so jealous of one another I’ve never seen people so cold I have not met one decent person up here. Please help me get out of here please they put me on strong painkillers in Florida. That’s why I moved up here. I wasn’t in my right mind. I would have never sold my house and I suffer from PTSD. I’m so scared of the people up here. I go nowhere I won’t even leave my house the people in the hospital are so mean and rude. I’ve never been treated as bad as I have up here in my whole life. They are horrible. People I wish some men there could take pity on me and help me get out of here and I’m so scared. I even tried to go to mental health and Massena wellness center. The people are so horrible. They treated me so terrible no privacy they violated my privacy. They treated me so terrible. I don’t see how they get away with what they do to people I guess when you’re poor and you can’t sue no one they do what they want to you. The coldest rudest people in the world live here don’t come here.😢