Love Dead Malls? Check out Dan Bell’s entire Dead Mall Series here : • Dead Mall Series Follow Dan : / thisisdanbell / thisisdanbell / thisisdanbell www.Vine.co/Thi... Photographed and Edited by Dan Bell
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@ThisisDanBell2 жыл бұрын
Attention! Completely remastered episodes of the Dead Mall Series are now being archived in 4K at kzfaq.info/love/fCM_TfrSDMkkMpKuLNWuXA. The remasters have gone through an extensive AI Enhancement process as well as proper sound mixing and colorization. This Dead Mall Series Remastered project has been made possible through viewer support on Patreon. Go over now and watch in glorious 4K. ENJOY!
@griffinartandairbrushing31748 жыл бұрын
Some of my stories... I may have posted this before, but I worked there in 1987. My first job out of high school was at the DEB Shop. I believe DEB was at this point in your video 4:34. Straight ahead (all glass store front). It looks like it was updated or changed to something else. When I worked there it had ugly mirror-like square bubbles all over the front and big purple lit up DEB in the middle. I remember being told to go dust/windex them once a week. So way back when, the store had yucky purple shag carpet that I vacuumed diligently almost every day. We had a pay phone to make calls because the owners didn't trust us. Seriously, we put money in the pay phone to call customers etc. and put it on a paid out log. Chains hung from the ceiling for purses to clip on with S hooks. We received more cash back then than credit cards. Credit cards required a phone call for approvals. We used knuckle busters to imprint the cards. There were no bar codes only sku numbers on the tags, so everything was hand entry. Some of our biggest Christmas shopping days, brought in $6,000.00 in cash or more. Lori and Dori (Reba) the conjoined twins liked to shop at our store. I helped them a few times. They were on Sally Jesse Raphael once. Oh, we played a local radio station for music through the speakers. Stores don't do that anymore. My car was rear ended in the parking lot there, a guy had put his mother's car in reverse stepped on the gas hard, and crammed my 1969 Oldsmobile right into 2 other cars, then took off. Police found him, never got a dime for it. Nice video thanks Dan! Sad that times change...and malls have to die.
@mountainmeowth29918 жыл бұрын
Excellent short story. Two thumbs up!
@bashclassof047 жыл бұрын
there was a deb
@draconiusultamius7 жыл бұрын
Runninghorse Gallop lol, lots of stores in my area use the local radio stations for music. I feel like things like this may just be a problem in America. In my city, we have 4 major malls, 3 or so minorish malls, and a bunch of really small indoor shopping areas. None of them are as dead as this. Even malls that were virtually dead have gotten much better in recent years, even with our bad economy. One mall in my area, Westbrook, was virtually a dead mall when I was virtually a dead mall when I was younger, but it's becoming less dead and recently, a false wall that had been up since I first came was turned into a Mark's. Another mall, Deerfoot mall, would virtually be dead now if it didn't have 4 anchor stores. It always had a Winners and a Sears, but the Sears closed down. A Walmart Supercenter was built in he mall's parking lot, followed by a Cabela's and a Canadian Tire (relocated from nearby).
@TheGreatMoonFrog7 жыл бұрын
I enjoyed reading this. Thanks.
@TvshkaHumma7 жыл бұрын
Runninghorse Gallop Thanks! I enjoyed your story.
@KapitalP735 жыл бұрын
Dead Mall Directory: 1. GNC 2. Bath & Body Works 3. Radio Shack 4. Nail Salon 5. Subway 6. Gum ball kiosk
@brindamarie4 жыл бұрын
JCPenney
@hebesky63554 жыл бұрын
Radio Shack....
@ryanmason93204 жыл бұрын
Don't forget the shoe repair and tailor shops
@coffeekills51744 жыл бұрын
Dont forgot Shoe Department (idk why it was one of the last to close in a dead mall) And Lenscrafters
@Londonfogey3 жыл бұрын
Also: 7. Social Security Office. 8. Karate/Tai Chi/Krav Maga studio. 9. Creche/childminding place.
@TwilightKillerX4 жыл бұрын
2015: Let's not recommend this to anyone 2020: Now's a good time
@dragerdet4 жыл бұрын
I actually looked this up
@MrMeoow914 жыл бұрын
it's depressing tho...
@Graz1904 жыл бұрын
because the the Demolition of the Fairgrounds Square Mall will begin in March 2020 XD
@Mjosephx4 жыл бұрын
😂
@bassrawkers8 жыл бұрын
When life hands you lemons, leave the lemonade machine on
@christyme63958 жыл бұрын
+bassrawkers When life hands you lemons Get mad, then yell "I don't want your damn lemons" demand to see lifes manager, burn down their house....with the lemons.
@fixman887 жыл бұрын
I'm pretty sure that whatever is in that machine isn't lemonade...any more.
@zacharylegaspi75947 жыл бұрын
Christy me "I DON'T WANT YOUR DAMM LEMMONS, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THESE?!?!"
@mcgibs7 жыл бұрын
I bet it used to be crystal clear lemonade, but now it's reduced to liquid mold circulating through the fountain.
@ChrisLynch-MrHumor7 жыл бұрын
yea, who wants moldy lemonaide? I wonder if the malls drinking fountains still work?
@BenSmith-eh5zp7 жыл бұрын
Long after the roaches have become extinct you will still be able to shop at GNC and Bath and Bodyworks.
@WolfpackEntertainmentYT4 жыл бұрын
@olemissfan91 Our GNC in my local mall is dying fast.
@moesyzslak29394 жыл бұрын
The net was created killed these type of businesses all shop on net or enough and with a straight face people are like 😧just like that fake ass immigration promblem the samé people complaing about it was the samé people hiring so called illegals
@BasketballBeaner2134 жыл бұрын
@Ivan Alexander surprised they're still around they are really expensive and there's lots of websites with more affordable options
@Muerte_Anunciada4 жыл бұрын
@Ben Smith I read your comment to my bro... He almost passed out.
@sergeantbigmac4 жыл бұрын
@@BasketballBeaner213 Thats exactly what I was thinking. I just placed an order on VitaCost during their last sale, and cross referencing everything, most products I bought were like 20-30% less than what they were selling at GNC. I dont get it. Maybe people think theyre saving on shipping? But even with shipping its still cheaper overall if you do the math. LOL maybe its because most people dont want to to do the math and arent savvy shoppers.
@jennyswinson4448 жыл бұрын
I always wonder how old the candy is in those candy machines.
@MasaomiKida2517 жыл бұрын
The world may never know...
@forestine_6 жыл бұрын
Me too. As a kid I'd always beg my dad for ancient M&Ms from the machine at NAPA. They were probably ancient.
@ffddbp115 жыл бұрын
Perhaps old enough to chip multiple teeth with one bite 😉
@js36175 жыл бұрын
@@ffddbp11 lol!
@b.g.bbeezo1004 жыл бұрын
B4 Christ old
@juniorcasemiro8 жыл бұрын
Geez, Bath & Body Works is a staple on Dead Malls, it's been in almost every dead mall video you've done!
@bubsmith10678 жыл бұрын
I think it's because no matter where they're at, they'll get business.
@Baldmaxx8 жыл бұрын
Don't forget GNC. Literally will be the last store standing until they padlock the mall for good.
@ESS030198 жыл бұрын
+Junior Casemiro sears, jc penneys and macceys
@DeeBhadest8 жыл бұрын
+Baldmaxx YOU ARE SOOOO RIGHT!!!!
@Bellerose16088 жыл бұрын
It's a staple of malls in general.
@HardChuck3658 жыл бұрын
GNC is also a dead mall staple.
@k.g.alatore3558 жыл бұрын
GNC, Burlington, Bath & Body, ironically sometimes Radio Shacks as well, considering they're basically running on fumes as a company. If Burlington is your anchor, you're screwed lmao
@pp3k3jamail8 жыл бұрын
the most dead staple is JC Penney
@mjg2637 жыл бұрын
Lens Crafters. There always seems to be a Lens Crafters. Here in Central NJ / eastern PA we have sooo many malls on the brink of death. Now that Sears and JC Penny are going belly up the last of the anchor stores will be gone, soon comes the plywood and eventually Dan! Times change, the Internet replaced 'em. Turn 'em back into farmland!
@sireugenecourtney57977 жыл бұрын
These dead indoor malls will be excellent places to grow medical mary jane in Penna. Too bad most of the licenses will go to the politically privileged.
@Automedon27 жыл бұрын
Chinese chair massages and tacky Chinese art and furniture
@tomfeister9 жыл бұрын
That fast food restaurant was an Arby's. I ate there with my Dad after we saw Superman 2 at the theater. Arby's was giving away posters of Superman carrying the American flag. Same theater I saw nearly every one of the great 80's movies I grew up with. The record store I bought my first Sex Pistols album was there. I spent a ton of money at Golden Eagle Comics and the toy section of Bocov's while I waited for my Mom.
@bell_a225 жыл бұрын
@@mayhemmike1789 I know it's been two years but was it a first date or was she an employee?
@grant81645 жыл бұрын
Sex pistols? Is that a Jojo reference
@confirmationofinformation77145 жыл бұрын
@@grant8164 a band stupid kid... Google it
@sarkaztik32285 жыл бұрын
@@confirmationofinformation7714 r/wooooosh
@djexplorations5785 жыл бұрын
Sex Pistols suckkk
@gregorygoelz6986 жыл бұрын
I use to hang out at this mall all the time as a teenager. It was such a great place back in the 90s. Fun fact, the mall is supposedly haunted. Some people have claimed to see an old race car driver wandering around underneath that odd clock.
@youdontwantit5231 Жыл бұрын
sp00pu
@SnickasBah8 жыл бұрын
Dan has a very soothing voice. If there was ever panic and chaos in a mall he was in he could get on the PA and diffuse the situation.
@ianrjm969 Жыл бұрын
🤣
@memesandgasoline8 жыл бұрын
Most of my happy life happens here, but that's long gone, and I'm crying, I grew up here...
@Bellerose16088 жыл бұрын
+AIDS SKRILLEX A FUCKING WHITE MALE
@JackieG89916 жыл бұрын
I know how you feel. There’s a mall I grew up at going every single weekend with my family and I went to check it out a few days ago and now it’s dying. There’s barely any people now. Many of the stores I used to see are gone. I really hope malls become popular somehow again so my mall doesn’t become one of these malls but I’m already seeing it happen. (I think JCPenny closed their doors.) Next is Macy’s and Sears. I’m already seeing Sears struggling with customers.
@Larry9 жыл бұрын
It does seem a lot in these US malls as soon as JCPenney and/or Sears leaves the building, it's pretty much the nail in the coffin for the place.
@BeemerTwelve9 жыл бұрын
***** It's Elvis' fault, he set the trend.
@boopityboopboop9 жыл бұрын
The anchors are what keep the mall afloat. For most, if their anchors go, they're screwed; they usually go in order of highest to lowest price. Stuff like Dillard's goes first, then Macy's, then JCP, then Sears. Sometimes one of the anchors is replaced with a discount store or outlet or a furniture store like in the video. Mall can't sustain without at least a couple anchors, when those die, the mall does. Major, MAJOR source of income.
@Larry9 жыл бұрын
It does seem rather alien to me as most UK malls don't really have an anchor. They usually all have the same stores, occasionally a massive one like a John Lewis or a Boots, but if they go, it never affects the place.
@zetametallic8 жыл бұрын
+Larry Bundy Jr Depends on the mall (shopping centre) in the UK. TJ Hughes and Tesco left Bootle Strand near where I used to work and it is now struggling very hard to survive with a 'dead wing'and the ground floor as quiet as this mall is. I remember it busy about 10 years back so it is shame because the area is economically deprived and so it needs the mall for employment etc.
@Larry8 жыл бұрын
***** Aah, yes. In the UK malls are built the complete opposite way, with smaller stores surrounding all entrances and the bigger chain stores located in the center. So you have to walk past all the other stores to get to the ones you want.
@GovernorRiffRaff4 жыл бұрын
Makes me sad when I see the elderly walking through these dead malls. It’s just signifies the passing of a generation. One day things we all hold dear will be gone and the memories in our heads will die with us.
@0ater5 жыл бұрын
I live near there and I went there as a kid, around 2000-2003, and I absolutely loved it. It was huge and full of stores and neat displays and such, I used to ask my mom to take me there all the time, and now its completely dead. I went a few years ago, I think the same year you shot this, it was so empty I wasn't even sure if it was open. After about 5 minutes of walking around, I decided to go to the Berkshire mall a few minutes away, which was much more cleaned up and actually had stores. I honestly couldn't believe the place I so adored is just barren and dead.
@criticalmass1818 жыл бұрын
The dynamics of this situation are amazing....and a bit perplexing. There has to be some kind of 'tipping point' where the vendors, one by one, left but were not replaced by fresh businesses, causing an eventual landslide. The only thing that seems to come to mind, is that the complex owners got too greedy and cut their own throats. It's highly unlikely that the entire patronage just decided to never come back.
@Automedon28 жыл бұрын
+Marty Smith As a failed retail store owner, I can tell you a few things. One major expense is that, in the mall I was in (I imagine it's general), the costs for heating and cooling the mall are divided among all the tenants based on square footage. Obviously, with all the stores open faced, you couldn't calculate just your own usage. So, that is a huge expense, in addition to the lease, which is much higher than at a storefront property.It is a house of cards. With many stores operating on a very close margin, just a slight drop in traffic can put you under. Once the tipping point is reached (as you mentioned), A-list stores are not interested in risking the considerable investment in locating there. The low end stores that would never have been allowed to lease are suddenly welcomed with open arms, creating an instant look of 'cheap' that attracts no one to the place. The final step is when even the all-for-a-dollar and off brand sneaker shops can't generate even enough to pay the rent, and then that's it. Once the place is half empty, no one in their right mind would risk the tens of thousands it costs to open a store there. They might as well kick the last few struggling bastards out and shut it down.
@criticalmass1818 жыл бұрын
TheLeatherChannel Thanks for the explanation. I'm sorry that your business failed. Best of luck in the future.
@ThisisDanBell8 жыл бұрын
+TheLeatherChannel This is a very interesting bit of insight. Thank you for sharing. I’ve actually been to malls that have cut off their heating and A/C. Owings Mills did in their last few months. It was a sauna in there. My latest video of the Rehoboth Mall, management turned the heat off in that building. It was freezing. Just unreal.
@mrtodd36208 жыл бұрын
+Marty Smith Spare us the g-word. Malls go under for a number of reasons. Changing shopping patterns, economic changes in the area, anchors going bankrupt, nearby buildings going vacant, competition from newer malls being built. It isn't always the landlord's fault. The greater the value of the land, the more choices the owner has for the future of the location. I have seen malls being renovated, daylighted, or completely torn down and rebuilt. Sometimes an area is so valuable that a shopping center revitalizes without much effort (like University Village in Seattle, which once was rather dowdy, and now is a go-to destination for the area). Nearby me a mall was shuttered, torn down, and a Walmart installed in its place. Another shopping center wanted a Walmart, but the city leaders pulled the SJW thing and put in a Lowes, which closed down a couple of years later and sits empty.
@armydude4418 жыл бұрын
+Marty Smith The reason this particular mall went under was the multiple hikes in rent over a short period of time. I had friends who owned stores in this mall and they had to pull the plug when the rent went up a fourth time in 1 year. The fact that the Berkshire mall a much MUCH larger and overall nicer mall is about 10 minutes from this also helped kill the local need. For years many companies had storefronts in both malls but over time they just weren't needed in the Fairgrounds mall anymore. This mall was dying for the last 15 years. About 10-12 years ago they built the biggest and nicest movie theater in the area on to it, but that also lost it's appeal as bigger and better places were built. My point being that they tried over the years to revitalize and refresh but it just wasn't enough.
@ThatKarmaKid8 жыл бұрын
So many dead malls in Pennsylvania damn.
@pp3k3jamail8 жыл бұрын
seem like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Texas has the most dead malls
@Xtragicfever7 жыл бұрын
What malls are dead in Texas? In San Antonio I can only think of two of them. Windsor Park Mall was purchased by Rackspace and turned into their corporate headquarter and McCreless Mall was bought by HEB, a large grocery company, and turned into an outdoor mall. Back in the late 90s and early 2000s, Rolling Oaks Mall was dead, now it's insanely busy.
@Channelaz15007 жыл бұрын
Kelly Holcomb A LOT of malls in Eastern PA are going under either because of crime or because of extreme competition from the King of Prussia Mall- that mall is absolutely gigantic.
@mayhemmike17897 жыл бұрын
Kelly Holcomb every state of the country! not only PA
@BoratWanksta7 жыл бұрын
Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana have a few as well. In Michigan and Wisconsin, a lot of the dead malls are either in the northern part of Wisconsin in very small towns, or in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. For example, Rice Lake, WI, Iron Mountain, MI, Houghton, MI, to name examples. Nebraska, Iowa,and Minnesota have a whole bunch, that haven't been documented very well sad to say. Think like in isolated small town population centers like Fort Dodge(IA), Spencer(IA), Worthington(MN), Fairmont(MN), Ottumwa(IA), Marshalltown(IA), to name examples. Not in the Upper Peninsula, but I really want to get to The Orchards Mall in Benton Harbor, MI sometime. I've heard a LOT about how dead that mall is! And not super dead yet, but Regency Mall in Racine, WI is starting to show a lot of signs of greatly struggling. I'll probably finally get to Regency in a month or 2, I hope. I'm WAY overdue in finally visiting Regency, since I live not too far south in the Chicago area. Ditto with The Orchards, at some point. Wish I could've gotten to Marquette Mall in Michigan City,IN before that shuttered, though I might try to peek at the dead mall entrances and the old mall entrance areas of Sears and Carson's, to see what I can see inside the now closed mall area. Penney's pulled out of there in 2015. Regency has lost Sears and Penney's IIRC, and Orchards lost Sears some years back. A Sears Hometown store opened in Orchards after it lost its full line Sears store, btw.
@BigMatt2028 жыл бұрын
I have a medical issue and I'm stuck to a recliner for the time being. I've spent all day watching the Dead Mall Series by Dan Bell. These are some really good videos. I'm about to head on to your abandoned playlist. Thanx Dan
@1nnu3ndo6 жыл бұрын
"This is something you don't see every day, but here we are... seeing this". That cracked me up.
@ashleyswshr7 жыл бұрын
Like sand through an hourglass, these are the malls of our lives
@themightyparthos4 жыл бұрын
Excellent, but the song was "The Young and the Restless". The irony of the song though.
@tardwrangler4 жыл бұрын
yikes
@elyseeblackstone45973 жыл бұрын
😆
@BeemerTwelve9 жыл бұрын
@7:12 - $0.75 for a refill? No wonder the mall is dead.
@EndlessFunctionality9 жыл бұрын
John Wilkinson hehe, they are trying to make up in as many places as possible
@Deevon9 жыл бұрын
When subway first came to the mall there used to be free refills lol I guess at the time they needed all the money they can get lol
@tytinfinity97828 жыл бұрын
+John Wilkinson That was when it was already closing. I actually used that like three times.
@1000huzzahs8 жыл бұрын
+IDevuhstate Yeah, franchise owners can set certain prices I think, as well as wages, and being a franchisee can suck and be a real drain. It's pretty obvious they took that measure to make up for lack of income elsewhere :-/
@BeemerTwelve8 жыл бұрын
+Riff Chick Valuable insight. But nowadays when pretty much everyone offers free refills charging for something that can be obtained for free is telling the customers: *"GO AWAY"*!.
@gravijiga9 жыл бұрын
Your videos are great! I love the whole presentation of them, the camera angles, the commentary and the distant seeburg sounding music just ties it all together.
@ThisisDanBell9 жыл бұрын
gravijiga Thank you very much!
@turbo1997hsm5 жыл бұрын
This sums up the quality of the videos
@ErinBerlintop108 жыл бұрын
I worked here at Boscovs during my high school and college years. The mall was built onto Boscovs, which was freestanding for many years prior. The Reading Fair was held behind the mall for quite a few years. It is sad, because this was once a busy, bustling place and one that I have very fond memories of during my high school and college years. I can probably answer any questions as to what certain empty spaces once held. Very interesting series!
@ThaMike9 жыл бұрын
A few other comments... Thanks for showing how sad this mall has become. It was the place to be as a kid in the city of Reading in the late 80's and early 90's. They did refurbish the movie theaters there a few years ago and they are pretty decent and do get some good traffic. Muhlenberg township is pronounce like Mule en berg. Finally, it's not the township that supported this mall with customers, it was the city of Reading (pronounced Redding - think of monopoly and Reading Railroad) that supplied this mall with a constant influx of customers when their were stores like Footlocker, Spencer's, Radio Shack, Burger King, Arby's and a ton of other chains. The Fairground Square mall is a reflection of how broke the city has become over the years with little to no jobs. There was also Boscov's there which is a PA based store like Macy's. As well as many others. Quite sad to see it so empty and leaking. You're right though, that is the worst parking lot/road I've ever seen. So many potholes. Thankfully the Reading Farmers Market next store is still doing well.
@loditx77067 жыл бұрын
The leaky roof problem might be why the trees are doing so well.
@pricklypear16434 жыл бұрын
The music. THE MUSIIIIICCCC!!!
@elvisneedsboatsbennett24558 жыл бұрын
I have always thought an old mall would be a perfect college or school. That would be a great secondary life for these spaces plus the school districts could save millions by not building new and picking these up for pennies on the dollar. The infrastructures are there, too.
@BalooUriza8 жыл бұрын
That's what happened to the Dixie Square Mall.
@Xtragicfever7 жыл бұрын
Except that rehab work can be a lot more expensive than building from scratch.
@UserHorologium5 жыл бұрын
The small mall in my hometown did exactly that. When the large mall opened, the small mall (which was at the busiest intersection in the entire city--about 35,000 people passed through it every day) failed, and after it was foreclosed, was converted into a very successful charter school. The area next to the JByron/Upton's became an 85,000 sf branch of the county library system, and served as the de facto school library as well. The layout of the mall was conducive to creating quite a few classroom areas, all converging on the center court (which was where the food court and six-screen theater had been located).There is a plan to move the charter school into a new purpose-built structure, and the community/state college moving in to the old building, which had opened as a mall in 1978.
@donnadreyer25805 жыл бұрын
Elvisneedsboats Bennett why do you millennials want to turn everything into a school ??? You new generation suck ! Its A damn mall ! You don't turn a Mall into a school !!
@mrshitfacemcgee5 жыл бұрын
Donna Dreyer jeez chill out dude you dont even know them
@ShadowFudo7 жыл бұрын
My family always took my brother and I to this store when we were young. The restaurant in question was an old Arbys! There was also a comic book store I went to as a tween in the early 2010s to play competitive yugioh. It's heartbreaking and amazing how whenever I think that mall is dead, it manages to die even more. I hope when the mall eventually shuts down, they don't let it rot away...
@ThatsMe47232 жыл бұрын
Haha Golden Eagle!!!!
@bodasactra5 жыл бұрын
All the contactor work that goes into these malls is amazing. The tile/stone/wood/electrical/HVAC/ceiling/glass/painting/plumbing and design. It is sad to see that work waste away.
@Automedon28 жыл бұрын
what do people DO any more? Malls are deserted, parks are empty, bars and nightclubs are tombs. Apart from major league sports, school sports and minor league teams draw small crowds. Actually the whole country seems to be living in a fog of depression. People seem to just go to work and then home.
@Plasmacore_V8 жыл бұрын
+TheLeatherChannel work so they can afford to go to work tomorrow
@julieerin1158 жыл бұрын
+TheLeatherChannel seems like more people are becoming homebodies and are hooked up in their own little worlds
@Mentorcase8 жыл бұрын
+TheLeatherChannel This is what happens when you ban smoking, a lot of the exciting people won't go there then the rest just follow because the place is too boring.
@Automedon28 жыл бұрын
Mentorcase I think you're right. When you treat half your customers like they're unwanted they don't go
@shannonm758 жыл бұрын
For one thing entertainment used to exist mostly outside the house, now you can play video games or watch movies on a big screen TV. People shop online, we are becoming an anti-social, reclusive, nation at least in the U.S.
@jacktherripper8 жыл бұрын
Man that was a depressing arcade...
@stefb858 жыл бұрын
No loitering? Isn't that the whole point?! Stand around socialize, play a game here or there. I expect that kind of structure in North Korea, but not an american mall arcade
@SFCityKids4 жыл бұрын
At least they got Time crisis 3
@johnbecker3344 жыл бұрын
The arcade in this mall was small even its heyday. It had relevant games but not much overall. Oh, the skeeball memories with my wife though... ☺️
@harryprice2083 жыл бұрын
Remember when Timeout was in the front? Back in the 90's if you're local!
@Londonfogey3 жыл бұрын
But at least no teenagers were riding on the kiddie rides.
@michellerenneisen29639 жыл бұрын
I went to visit this mall today...had to see in person how bad it has become since my husband and I used to run a store in there...we left back in 2002 because we saw the mall struggling back then...the store we ran there closed 4 years later. The fast-food place you wondered about was an Arby's when we were there...they were one of our competitors and the place with the crazy fence-like gate was another competitor of ours, Taco Casa. It's really sad to see what has become of this mall...it had a lot of nice shops when we were there. There is still one food place in the mall though...in Boscov's there's a restaurant called "The Greenery"...you can get to it from the outside or through the infants/girls section. Also wanted to say...the mall is even more dead now...THE ARCADE HAS CLOSED. But amazingly the mall had more people in it then when you did your video... most of the people I saw though were in Burlington Coat Factory, Boscov's, and the Comic Book Store...the Comic Book Store actually had an overflow into the food court. By the way, you may want to do one of these videos on the "Designers Palace" at the VF Factory Outlets...only 1 store in there...Reading China and Glass, I guess the Philadelphia Outlets took away a lot of the business from that building .
@gregoirewoore65357 жыл бұрын
Love the Muzak version of Song Sung Blue!!! Takes me back!
@LauraIsPink7 жыл бұрын
Gregoire Woore I'm sooooo glad someone else noticed that. Love me some Neil Diamond, this version of Song Sung Blue is quite unique.
@thor-ps5qs7 жыл бұрын
Man... the music... sure makes these videos!
@DeL-sm8bl7 жыл бұрын
gotta love the young and restless music
@TheDestiny2428 жыл бұрын
Thanks Dan, my first retail management job was at Fairgrounds Square. I worked at the DEB shop as Assistant Manager, in 1988. From your video, I couldn't quite tell where it had been though. (It's been long time) So sad to see malls dying, and it has an eerie vibe to it, because it's supposed to be full of life.
@Syllacrostics7 жыл бұрын
That empty arcade place was incredibly depressing.
@dixienormous69697 жыл бұрын
k smith yeah, looking at it was kind of disturbing in a weird way, something doesn't feel right about it
@Guanjyn4 жыл бұрын
This is the only mall vid I’ve seen on KZfaq where some security guy on a power trip didn’t tell you you couldn’t film here.
@Gizzard44004 жыл бұрын
Malls nowadays are basically an indoor exercise track for old people
@HungNguyen-lt9dy4 жыл бұрын
I agree
@mjf15174 жыл бұрын
Dizzle definitely true. Almost every mall here in the bay is. Even the crappy ones
@tgordon81364 жыл бұрын
Lol not in Jersey. We love our malls here!
@Zapruderfilm19638 жыл бұрын
I used to work at Met-Ed/First Energy which is very close to this mall. I watched as it slid into oblivion. I never lived in the Reading area however, I commuted from the Allentown area, 35 miles northeast. Our mall, The Lehigh Valley Mall is actually doing extremely well and is over 90 percent occupied. Reading, PA where this mall is located was declared the poorest city per capita in the country by the federal government in 2012. Reading proper reflects this fact.
@ThatsMe47232 жыл бұрын
Facts lol
@Deevon9 жыл бұрын
This used to be my main mall . its was the best on in Reading PA . its so sad to see how it is now from your vid . I miss Taco Casa & the Arcade 😖😖😖 & btw the ceiling damage is from the serious hailstorm we had , the glass shattered on the roof . now the main mall is Berkshire Mall
@Deevon9 жыл бұрын
best in*
@egosomnio8 жыл бұрын
+IDevuhstate Confetti Arcade over in the Berkshire is owned by the former manager of Time Out (before Namco made it an unmanned arcade).
@Willthecow18 жыл бұрын
Berkshire is always so packed :(
@1981jaded7 жыл бұрын
Was Taco Casa where he said if anyone knows what fast-food restaurant was here let me know?
@Deevon7 жыл бұрын
1981jaded nope. it was an Arbys
@padawanfox62137 жыл бұрын
Former stores in the mall include a Chinese restaurant, Foot Locker, Spencer's, Hallmark, Deb, and Waldenbooks. Of all the malls in the dead mall series, this is the closest one to me. It began to struggle around 2013 and is just getting worse. Although the new owner, Hull Property Group, is planning to revitalize the mall.
@lizardwrangle5 жыл бұрын
"The Young and The Restless" TV soap opera theme gives it the feeling of good times lost and only memories remain.
@Emuface779 жыл бұрын
Dan Bell has a unique talent of making something out of nothing. Why did i watch this? No clue. I've been to these places.
@SRMkay5 жыл бұрын
Some of these malls depressingly remind me of what was once the main mall in my area. They opened in the '70s and did really well... until a bigger mall opened about 10 miles away in the early '90s. Slowly, the old mall lost more and more tenants, and the ones that came in to replace them got lower and lower in quality. The last time I was in there before it closed, they had what almost looked like a flea market table set up in the middle of the mall selling discount watches and other junk. The newer mall is still doing well enough, but I worry that won't be true 5 years down the line...
@padawanfox62137 жыл бұрын
I live only 5-10 minutes from this mall. The arcade, New York Department Store, and Payless closed. Schuylkill Valley Sports relocated outside the mall. You were right, Subway and the other eatery were walled off.
@patsflysfan27 жыл бұрын
I cannot believe this has happened. Just 4 years ago, I was there and there were people. I live closer to the Berkshire Mall so it's not that much of a loss, but I really did like this place.
@Wingnutcaseman9 жыл бұрын
I was just there today (July 19, 2015) and I wanted to add a few observations. As already noted, the Family Fun Center is now closed. Also, the lettering from the closed kickboxing gym has been removed and the closed Subway and neighboring eatery have been walled off. Pretzel Gourmet is still in business. But despite a schedule saying they are open Sundays they were closed today. I guess it's just open whenever the owner feels like it. You can smell cigar smoke outside the cigar shop. I totally forgot to pay attention to the trees and that clock up on the ceiling. Finally, I saw no buckets or wet floor signs despite last night's thunderstorm. Did they really fix the roof??
@ThisisDanBell9 жыл бұрын
Wingnutcaseman Weird about the roof. Do you think with everything else here they actually spent the money to fix the problems? Maybe they did. Sounds like from your observations things have plummeted even further down the tubes for this mall. And seriously, what’s up with Pretzel Gourmet? If they are so blasé about their hours, how do they afford to keep the rent paid? It’ll be interesting to see where this mall goes in the next year. I don’t see a bright future. BTW, was Limerick Furniture still open?
@Wingnutcaseman9 жыл бұрын
This is Dan Bell. No idea what the deal with the Pretzel Gourmet is. Their rent must be minimal and the mall feels a part time food offering is better than none. Of the three most well known struggling malls in the upper reaches of the Schuylkill Valley (Coventry, Fairgrounds, Schuylkill), this is the emptiest. But one could argue that Schuylkill is leasing to a lot of non-retail tenants. whereas Fairgrounds is not. Anyway, Limerick Furniture is still open in the former JCP.
@ejRecording9 жыл бұрын
This is Dan Bell. fuck the mall, what about the people? sounds like every ones poor as hell and cant afford mall bullshit? peace
@jerryweinerlicker49388 жыл бұрын
can anyone tell me why in some of his videos of abandon malls, there is people walking around aimlessly?
@ThisisDanBell8 жыл бұрын
+Sam Fleek I have wondered this myself. It’s creepy sometimes.
@AlfredHawthornBennyHill8 жыл бұрын
+Sam Fleek People do it because of memories from when the malls were crowded and some do it for exercise.
@LauraIsPink8 жыл бұрын
Many elderly people walk the mall for exercise because it's a safe environment. It happens at all malls even if it's not a dead mall. The mall I work at is far from dead and in the early morning hours there are elderly people and moms with kids the walk the mall.
@k.g.alatore3558 жыл бұрын
+Sam Fleek It's actually a pretty good way to exercise by walking. Steady terrain, plenty of room with no people around, and it's usually quiet.
@k.g.alatore3558 жыл бұрын
I love mall-walking, honestly. No one ever bothers you.
@KokNoker7 жыл бұрын
Reading PA resident reporting in. Somehow the mall is still open. The Golden Eagle comic shop near the beginning and the Boscov's are pretty much the only places keeping that mall open. The tabled you see in the jewelry store are used for Magic: The Gathering events when the comic book shop needs space. Also, the fast food place you asked about was an Arby's
@sweedy66474 жыл бұрын
9:39 "No teenagers on kiddie rides" ≥20 year olds: ( ͡✪ ͜ʖ ͡✪)
@TheRealDipStick4 жыл бұрын
Old people: "i come here for the music."
@macneoh74185 жыл бұрын
7:13 "Song Sung Blue" by Neil Diamond
@usachristmas54335 жыл бұрын
They tore down a great dirt racetrack, Reading Fairgrounds speedway to build this thing. Track had a storied history. Legends that raced there were Kenny Brightbill, Dick Tobias, Gerald Chamberlain to name a few. Tear down the mall and put the track back!
@ivyreignn5 жыл бұрын
My mom worked in the one hair salon here for many years. I used to hang out here all the time and it was definitely a happening place. It’s so sad to me to see what it’s become, especially because of the nostalgia of it all. Used to hang out in the arcade all day. I visited 2 years ago and it was a ghost town. RIP
@Cybrsk8r8 жыл бұрын
Man, that lemonade @ 8:20 looks nasty.
@ericles9 жыл бұрын
The mall of my youth! I could tell you what many of those stores were back in the day. Only 3 or 4 stores that I saw have been there since the early days. The cinema, pretzel place, arcade and "Your Bet" are all original but that wing had a life of it's own thanks to the movies. Boscovs at one end next to the GNC and a Chick Fil-A. The mall had three jewelry stores at one point. Kay's is now "K's" Gold/Pawn apparently. Very depressing but thanks for sharing.
@elliotmock83916 жыл бұрын
I have been to this mall so many times. That restaurant you were questioning was once a Burger king and even before that an Arby's. I visited this mall about a month ago. I counted and only about 10 stores were left. GNC, New York, Suit Fashion, SV Sports, Le's Nails, Payless ShoeSource, and more have closed. But happily, a kind-of antique shop recently opened in the former FYE.
@fonzo25255 жыл бұрын
these shows are oddly addictive,but still can't put my finger on why i keep watching them.
@MissShey893 жыл бұрын
Nostalgia lol
@davidreadinger15798 жыл бұрын
I recall this mall being built. The area was very different back then. As the years went by the clientele went down hill and no one with money to spend wanted to be here. Those with money went to the Berkshire Mall. Now that this mall is dead, the unsavory clientele are infecting that mall too. The whole area is a victim of the cancer that is Reading - which is ironic because the malls were blamed for killing the former downtown shopping district.
@1515cando4 жыл бұрын
Another racist Trumpster shows up and regurgitates his ugliness. The internet killed the malls you ignorant racist fuck, not minorities.
@joescomedyclub74824 жыл бұрын
SLAPCHOPshamwow yikes bro, that was a pretty cringe comment
@defenestrator39004 жыл бұрын
@@joescomedyclub7482 you managed to top it
@joescomedyclub74824 жыл бұрын
Defenestrator of Prague you don’t know irony when you see it
@defenestrator39004 жыл бұрын
@@joescomedyclub7482 :)
@sarahkrause42708 жыл бұрын
The closed fast food place was an Arby's. This was "my mall" growing up. That Subway was a Chick-Fil-A, then a random Mexican place too.
@BEANZI3xTFMx7 жыл бұрын
I think that was the saddest arcade I have ever seen.
@DayNNyteDJs8 жыл бұрын
You made my day with this one Dan... or depressed me beyond comprehension--not sure. I managed the FYE store you show in this video from 2001-2004. Lots of good times there, but even back then it was a struggling mall. Nobody seemed to care even then & there were constant rumors of closing. Most of the stores were budget & even the JCP was an "outlet" store. Somebody dumped a ton of money into the movie theatre, but that was about it. Everything else just kind of existed...nothing thrived & nobody cared. The karate studio was forced to leave when they got that letter you talk about. They would not renew their lease. I am told they moved to a new location, but I don't know where.
@HappyQuailsFarm8 жыл бұрын
They are playing the theme to Love Story... a song from the 70's about tragic loss
@christianblade20528 жыл бұрын
+HappyQuailsFarm Dan adds the music in post production.
@EphemeralProductions8 жыл бұрын
+HappyQuailsFarm I didn't hear that, but I think you were noticing the song that was pretty high volume near the end. That song is actually "Bless the Beasts and the Children" which later was renamed "Nadia's Theme" and was used for YEARS as the Young & The Restless (soap opera) theme song. LOL
@ProtoMario7 жыл бұрын
LOL 75 cents for refills, I promise you Subway is the grimiest, most greedy place I ever encountered, they are sneaky and sly about it, but they treat their employees terrible, their managers worse, and their practices are borderline illegal.
@joebob3116 жыл бұрын
Stay away from Europe, then 😂😂
@joebob3116 жыл бұрын
Stay away from Europe, then 😂😂
@Fan_Made_Videos6 жыл бұрын
All of their "artisan" breads are soggy and sponge-like too. Their promotions suck big time with their stupid "Free Cookie" incentive. How about just $1 Off your next combo meal?
@wow420226 жыл бұрын
Fan Made Videos subway doesn’t have a lot of things to buy so it would make sense to give away a free cookie.
@Nostalgicguy22426 жыл бұрын
just for your knowledge, Mario hails from Italy....
@Ray_Rhoads7 жыл бұрын
I used to work at this mall from 1995-2002 during summers in high school and college. I worked at the Keyboard World. At the 9:00 mark, the fast food restaurant was an Arby's. Funny story, I actually worked there for all of 2 hours. On a break, I went over to the piano store directly across, and sat down and played (I actually was going to college for music performance) and the guy who managed the piano store offered me a job for .50 more an hour than the Arby's did. So, I went over and quit the job at Arby's and basically got paid to practice the piano all summer.
@stevemyers30824 жыл бұрын
I used to go to Kutztown University in the early to mid 2010s, which is about 20 minutes from this mall. My ex and I used to go here to go to the movie theater because it gave student discounts, and then sometimes walk around the mall afterwards. It was such a weird sight seeing it so empty and devoid of activity. And what Dan said in the beginning is true- I have never seen a parking lot with so many potholes. It was treacherous just to navigate it. It's very surreal to see this mall in such a popular KZfaq video. This video is truly the mall's legacy.
@elliotmock83914 жыл бұрын
This was one of my two childhood malls. The other was the nearby Berkshire Mall, and although they’ve gained the advantage over the Fairgrounds Square Mall, they’re also beginning to decline, particularly due to the loss of anchor stores Bon-Ton and Sears, which left only a few months apart from each other. Unfortunately, they’ve mostly demolished this shopping mall, though I remember visiting here countless times. Golden Eagle Comics & Cards was definitely among the staples, and once the mall closed, they simply relocated to just outside the complex. I recommend that you all check them out, as they’ve got some nice stuff. Also, the once space that Dan Bell questioned was formerly an Arby’s. Also, the Family Fun Center was once the home of the comic book store.
@robertwickstrom9023 жыл бұрын
Last I visited Berkshire Mall (X-Mas 2020) it looked like it was on it's way to follow Fairgrounds. Sad in a nostalgic way but I guess this was all unsustainable in the long run.
@pizzaspy4 жыл бұрын
Every closed store is a crushed dream
@theresatrauger52418 жыл бұрын
😩 I used to hang out here every day with my friends. I used to work at the redners across the street. This mall is home.
@BeifChesterfield817 жыл бұрын
Did I just hear the "Young and the restless" theme? Hahaha awesome
@charlie.hubbard54637 жыл бұрын
One thing I've noticed while binging this series: it must cost nothing to run a B&BW because all these malls on their last leg seem to have one
@AleesaDellaRobbia7 жыл бұрын
I think its also the appeal they try to have with the BBW. Lots of people like the store and everyone needs soap so I suppose they try to coax people in... I'm sure theres only one person working the store at a time.
@sailorsenshi45046 жыл бұрын
Can confirm was just at this BBW last week.
@zisira24697 жыл бұрын
Does anyone know why bath and body works is popular in dead malls ?
@khunopie91597 жыл бұрын
Bath and Body Works offers a solution to people's problems - We're dirty and we stink
@carrara90007 жыл бұрын
cheap manufacturing/charging high prices?
@BoratWanksta7 жыл бұрын
I'm not sure, and honestly I have no idea how true this is. I think GNC has the same setup for their leases in dead shopping centers and malls, too! But I think someone on the facebook group Dead Mall Enthusiasts said they pay rent on a sliding scale, based on how few stores remain in that mall. With Payless Shoe Source finally filing for bankruptcy, I wonder if Bath and Body Works or GNC will ever file for bankruptcy? I'd bet a lot more that GNC files, since they're in MORE dead malls vs. Bath and Body Works. I would say there is a rare point where they pull out of even dead malls, though! GNC did finally pull out of the super dead Charlestowne Mall around 2014 or 2015, but I dunno the exact month it occurred. I know it was there upon my first visit in 2012 or 2013(can't remember exactly the year it was, I'll have to check the time and date stamp on those older pics I have), but it had closed as of my 2nd visit there. Bath and Body Works already wasn't in Charlestowne, as of my 1st visit back in 2012 or 2013. And yep you can totally figure out the old B&BW storefront, when you walk inside Charlestowne. :) And if I recall correctly, GNC closed at Lincoln Mall in Matteson, IL, a little before Bath and Body Works did in the very final years of that mall. It held on till like 2014 I think, and that mall finally closed in January 2015. Demolition is going to start on Lincoln soon, btw. For now, it stands abandoned, and sadly is getting trashed to a little less of the extent, that Rolling Acres sadly got up till when Rolling Acres was demolished at the end of 2016. :(
@maddyandhank7 жыл бұрын
I used to manage at bath And body works and I know that when they sign leases they sign them for as long as they can so rent is super cheap, so even when they are doing minimal business they are still turning a profit. I have been told that is what gnc does too but I can't fully vouch for that because I've never actually worked there.
@BoratWanksta7 жыл бұрын
Ah, I see. Thanks for confirming what I thought! Now that explains a lot, why often you see Bath and Body Works and GNC hanging on at a lot of dying and dead malls. LensCrafters must do this at times too, since they hung on at Lincoln Mall(Matteson, IL) till its end in January 2015. And are still open at Charlestowne Mall, believe it or not!
@mono-no-aware.Lem.7 жыл бұрын
I live about 15 miles from this mall, and occasionally when I don't have anything to do I just like to walk this mall for a little while, almost as an escape. I remember as a kid even 10 years ago or so, this place was always busy and still relatively full of stores. And now it looks like this
@yankeegirl51755 жыл бұрын
The tile with the star design in front of the anchor stores is beautiful!!
@NathanDavisVideos9 жыл бұрын
LOL!!! The Young And The Restless theme 9:21!
@ThisisDanBell9 жыл бұрын
Nathan Davis It was a popular muzak selection. haha
@PAWSUP1995169 жыл бұрын
I noticed that too ! Love the young and the restless.
@ddjmfan9 жыл бұрын
Nathan Davis It's actually called Nadia's Theme but most people know it as the Young and The Restless Theme. It's a very pretty piece of music.
@ds-ns5tn9 жыл бұрын
Lemonade anyone?
@christophercoleman18959 жыл бұрын
This is Dan Bell. Cool stuff Dan how many malls have been closed in the last 10 years ?
@somacruz77598 жыл бұрын
Why was the theme song from The Young and the Restless playing in the background? XD
@jonathanjamesphoto___2824 жыл бұрын
Because.
@somacruz77594 жыл бұрын
@@jonathanjamesphoto___282 :)
@merlinvillarr28797 жыл бұрын
I liked the family "fun" center
@Person-4204 жыл бұрын
It's so cool seeing it still open. It's being torn down now, unfortunately. I remember going here all the time with my family. It used to get super packed.
@EndlessFunctionality9 жыл бұрын
There are places like this in my city, up here in canada My walmart used to be attached to small mall, so you could walk right through them to one another. But walmart moved down the the street to a bran new place, and now the mall is so dead. Can't believe it's still there since walmart moved in 2007. A big box store has even taken over half of it just recently. All that's left pretty much is a Bell store, miniature model place, and some clothing store that's always been there, no idea why they won't move to our big mall in town which is always packed.
@demonicgrinch5 жыл бұрын
I’m in love with your dead mall series thank you so much for making them!
@1515cando4 жыл бұрын
This makes me so sad. I lived just across Rt 61 behind the WAWA off Reading Crest Blvd. I took my daughter to her first movie at the Cinema Center to see Aquamarine. We raised her there in Muhlenberg Twp from 02 to 11 before moving away. My daughter died in a car accident in 2016. She was 17 and in her senior year of high school. Seeing this mall video really hits me hard with a lot of bittersweet memories.
@Spacemutiny7 жыл бұрын
The music in these is just so perfect. I could fall asleep to this old mall music.
@AleesaDellaRobbia7 жыл бұрын
Have you ever been to Midway Mall in Ohio? Its a pretty dead mall. It still has two anchor stores but they lost Sears. Theres quite a bit of small places open but there is also a lot of them missing. The attendence alone to the place is sad. Its mostly always empty and there were even rumors of having it be torn down after it was bought for a childrens hospital of some sort. The mall has passed the rumor and still is here but walking in it is really depressing. It isnt super outdated but its dead. If you ever have the time you should go. Unfortunately its close to the lake so it'll probably be far. Its in Elyria, OH though!
@4exgold7 жыл бұрын
always seems Sears and Macy's are the last 2 anchors standing when these malls start dying
@morpheustek9 жыл бұрын
at 9:00 I'm almost positive that used to be a McDonald's. My grandfather used to take me there when I was a kid.
@jsivco3sivco7855 жыл бұрын
You are POSITIVELY wrong. It was Arby's. No McDonald's has seating like that.
@martinhodge9216 жыл бұрын
For those wondering, music in this video is "Song Sung Blue" by Neil Diamond, and "Nadia's Theme" by Henry Mancini.
@gwendiffenbacher16955 жыл бұрын
Nadia Comaneci: I remember.
@nicholasshade1366 Жыл бұрын
I love the tiling, I love the stars. 🌟
@tonycalp8 жыл бұрын
That "abandoned fast food place" was an Arby's back in the day. Since they left, they haven't reused it since.
@johnyapple84474 жыл бұрын
When you see Radio Shack (5:09), you know this mall has been struggling to get new businesses in its doors.
@rubies2007 жыл бұрын
Love that "Nadia's Theme/Young & the Restless Theme Song" @ 9:22. Vintage, truly.
@xtlm6 жыл бұрын
Missed the thriving Boscovs and Piano store section. Though the mall officially died in May of this year. I found out about it in December of 2017, it's a shame that it died becasue the architecture was beautiful and bright while inside. The leaking problem was not a problem the day I was there.
@DayNNyteDJs8 жыл бұрын
It's a shame they had to destroy a legendary race track to build this mall.
@death138208 жыл бұрын
yes
@jimrapp69558 жыл бұрын
Traveled all the way down from upstate New York to watch races at the Reading Fairgrounds. Tear down the mall and bring back the track !
@DayNNyteDJs8 жыл бұрын
Amen!!
@chrispersinger86595 жыл бұрын
Never knew that
@trashman28294 жыл бұрын
Demolition is planned for it now, the movie theater is remaining but it the race track may have a chance of making a comeback right over the dead hopes and dreams of the previous store owners
@cxcountry098 жыл бұрын
OH the fast food restaurant you asked about was a Arby's, the mall went into decline due to robberies in the 00's after the renovation in 1996
@jbuugi8 жыл бұрын
+cxcountry09 You're quite attractive ;)
@MaddieB6 жыл бұрын
More malls tend to be struggling because of how prevalent online shopping is nowadays, but I think they do still hold a place for those who like the activity of shopping and people who like to try on or see the products they buy in person.
@CJ-rf9jm5 жыл бұрын
That's exactly how I do it. I like to see stuff in person, n when I buy it I have it that day. No farting around waiting or insane shipping fees.
@Bunny-pr8gw2 жыл бұрын
LOL "be smart prepare I think that's a good message for anyone who has a business in this mall" that got me
@okrajoe6 жыл бұрын
The march of progress? My old city had a large, open-air shopping center. Which was then driven out of business by the new enclosed, air-conditioned mall. Which was then usurped by the new mall in a better part of town. Then the old mall expanded and remodeled, and became popular again. Then both malls were bankrupted by new, open-air shopping centers. So we're back where we started.
@FarnsworthOfDM4 жыл бұрын
"The carpark has more potholes than the mall has stores" Tbh having half a dozen potholes isn't that bad.
@dorothysteinruck8697 жыл бұрын
I still stop by this mall to buy my shoes at the store right at the beginning of the tour. Shout out for them, it's a great store. Thanks for featuring my mall. Enjoyed it.
@CockneyRebel19794 жыл бұрын
This reminds me of the mall in Aldershot- (U.K.), six years back. Most of it was dead as a bloody Dodo- (it was a bloody disgrace!)