Of all the dead malls you've done, this one is the most tragic to see go. The architecture was a work of art.

This is the saddest mall I think I've ever seen. No just because it's absolutely dead but because the person who was responsible for it's existence obviously really put his/her all into it. Looks like it was a project of passion and dreams unlike most square bland malls. Even the employee area was nice with the balcony to smoke on. Shame that this goes down in flames and any Walmart anywhere is succesfull.

this place should be made into apartments or condos - beautiful architecture and so unique! I"d love to see that place myself...

It would be gorgeous as an office complex with that huge open space. Or make it as a school for children with a huge space to play at.

Looks like Conrad and Imagine sold clothing "Fashions by Imagine Gallery and Conrad Leather Boutique at El Pederegal at the Boulders will be modeled." from the Arizona Republic Newspaper published on February 12, 1999.

i know it’s tacky but i love all the turquoise and coral highlights everywhere

That is a really cool retail mall and I'm still surprised it's not doing better with that resort near.

I attended nearby Cactus Shadows HS in the early 1990s, and I remember El Pedregal was doing very well back then. Sure, business was slower in the summer -- the Boulders shut down for the summer season -- but overall, people still shopped and dined there. It had great restaurants and lots of unique galleries and shops. It is a shame to see it suffering like this.

Wish more malls would have unique architecture. This sets its self apart because of its uniqueness.

If it's a failure as a mall, I think making it maybe into some kind of community center could be the way to go. That place just looks way too unique not to do something with it to attract people towards.

Since I've been watching Dan Bell and now Retail Archaeology, I've been inspired to get out and document at least the neon signs and other older retail spaces in my hometown. I'm still kicking myself that I didn't take a look at the two story chinese restaurant that had been around for nigh on 30 years before it was shut down and now turned into a sports bar. You just don't know when these things will go away or be redeveloped.

a dead mall in my town got re-purposed as a branch of the community college and its now a super cool campus, i can totally see someone doing something similar to this place

It's one of the most (actually I guess the most) beautiful malls that I have ever seen. Too bad I am living 8700 km away from it. Would love to visit. If you would pick this complete complex up and place it over here in The Netherlands, you would have an instant success and great tourist attraction. I can't believe how gorgeous it is. On one hand I am very glad that I can 'visit' these kind of places through your videos. But on the other hand it makes me sad, although I probably won't come near it ever in my life haha. I feel bad for all the people who put in their hearts and souls to make this a success. They didn't fail regarding the design. Thanks for sharing. Seen a lot of your video's. This is the best yet.

"El Pedregal: The Dead Mall With JRPG Aesthetic" - Make it into an Anime/Video Game Convention space.

I agree, it’s a lovely place architecturally. And if it’s next to a resort, I wonder why it’s dead? Btw- I hope you clean your camera after sticking it in that koi pond. Don’t catch any amoebas!

Glad you returned to El Pedregal. Honestly, the appearance makes me want to refer to it and other places like it as a... "dormant mall." Somehow by some impossible chance, I wonder if/when it would have a ''revival."

It's a shame it's not more active. The architecture and landscaping are still well maintained and beautiful.

Wow, that is one of the more beautifully designed shopping malls I have ever seen! It is a shame that it's not doing better than it should! It certainly looks like a destination mall where you can hang out and enjoy all the lovely views! Another great video!

There's the Tanger Outlet near Casa Grande that has been closed for a while now. There's a Wendy's in the parking lot that has been closed, also for a while ... yet you look into the windows and the menu boards are still there, all of the chairs are placed on the tables in the dining room ... just looks like it's waiting for the opening crew to come and open for the day. Stuck in time.

These videos are so relaxing.

I love that you guys ate at the restaurant!! I feel like it's giving back to this poor, pretty, lonely mall

If this place got used as a film set It'd be a great first step to any revitalization efforts

I feel like the resort owns this & keeps it up- in their best interest to keep it nice.

You should do a little 10 second raw audio of Mall's Court yard to give us a little feel of how it would be to be there and take it all in.

I can imagine when the Arizona weather is tolerable just sitting in this courtyard, sipping on a beverage and either writing or drawing enjoying the day passing by.

Your videos and your commentary make me so happy. I’ve been binging all of your videos whenever I feel more depressed and it’s so comforting, idk how to explain it

Grew up and still work near El Pedregal. When I was younger it was always a mall for kids not to touch anything. Upscale mix of clothing shops and interior design.im glad you captured the fountain as it is the certerpeice of the whole mall.

What's sad is how this is almost entirely dead, yet so beautiful. I don't understand why someone isn't trying to recreate it into something cool. You could turn it into a Photoshoot place. A Convention Center. A school. There's so many different options of what you could do with this space!

I agree with you. I love AZ desert. I like that adobe look even if it is fake

LOL ''Sunday bowls'', does that mean they were to be used for sundaes or only _on_ Sunday? We may never know. It's sad because it is so nice. A possibility might be the fact that it isn't enclosed. Walking around shops in triple digit temps does not sound like a pleasant experience. Good thing Koi are pretty hardy fish, as long as the water's fairly clean and not completely frozen over and they have food, they'll survive.

yeah you know it did seem right out of a JRPG! loved the underwater shot of the koi pond, how cool!

I loved your first video! I always talk about how this is my favorite dead mall ever. It looks pristine like there was an apocalypse and it was left in perfect condition

Beautiful mall with beautiful landscaping. The Fish 🐠 are a nice touch

This place would make the best School. Jr College

I loved this place. So many unique shops. Gone.

I wonder what happened to this mall since this video was taken. An update video would be good.

If it's maintained so impeccably, it isn't really abandoned. It's just closed for commercial business.

The one with the pretentious sign would have been clothing since they were selling NYDJ.

Staying at boulders, shopping center is so nice but still looks just as dead! Spotted donkey is thriving as its owner by boulders and highly promoted by the resort, there’s an art exhibit and boulders gift shop/store but nothing else!

BEST THING TO HAPPEN TODAY

This is so beautiful ! Excellent video, very well done ! It's so sad to see what has happened in our country ! I'm so thankful to all the guys doing this ! We all need to see what's really going on !Keep up the great work !

Great explore, guys! Love seeing these empty or old malls!

Seriously. Thank you for that tour. I really enjoyed it.

Love your videos. Thanks for all the effort. You have the perfect vouce for this and great nusic choices. Miss AZ and look forward to moving back. Really enjoy your work. Well done sir

This could be a fabulous movie location. Hope someone buys it or they find a way to reboot it. It'd be a shame to demolition it. At least now, it's online.

this video was awesome, i love the aesthetics of that mall.

So happy to see this, it's a damn shame that malls with such beautiful scenery are dying. What's weird is the mall near me was damn close to dying, but they poured ALOT of money into it, and traffic is actually improving, and there are less empty stores. They gutted the macy's and they're doing 3 million in renovations. I can't wait to see what comes of it. Since I started watching this I've become more and more interested in brick and mortar stores.

Also, what a gorgeous spot this place is!

I was straight hoping you would go here again! Thank you!

Looks like a town in Phantasy Star 4.

I love coming back to this video. 😌💕 Such an amazing mall!!

I first visited El Pedregal in the summer of 1989, a year out of college, and it looked recent then. I went many times I was in Phoenix, and it was always thriving...until a decade passed in 2018 and it was mostly abandoned. Apparently the owner changed a couple times. It's classic southwest, circa 1980's.

This might be the most beautiful Mall that I've ever seen! What a terrible waste this Retail Apocalypse is. This was a loving tribute by you to a wonderful retail space. Good Job!

Wow who would dislike this video ? Awesome video been watching since last year.

This is kind of unexpected to come across. Wasn’t expecting they would shut that place down.

I wonder if they rent out the center area for events. It is too beautiful and well-maintained to go unused. Also: I gasped when your camera took a dip into the pond! 😳

I grew up in the Cave Creek/Carefree area and remember this place. I didn't go there often but it was definitely a sight to behold. Haven't thought about it in years, thanks.

Astonishing that such a beautiful place could be abandoned.

Thank you so much for this video i only just found you but i’m gonna watch every single one of your vids

Yaaay I love your videos, so relaxing ☺

This mall is really neat, I love the unique style, it’s so nicely done.

Omg that fish 🐟🐡🐠pond with that waterfall was so impressive and the layout makes me want to go visit arizona I'm from Texas and am so impressed great video 😎Man that mall is so artistic beautiful and unique hoping one day it might come back to life🤔😆😃The mountains is something that adds charm to the state😃

These videos are so much damn fun and this place is SO aesthetically satisfying. Also, I was genuinely worried for a second when the camera went straight into the koi pond, tho it was a really cool shot

I wanna film that elevator! It's an 80s Dover Impulse! I love the interior and the doors.

I love this place! Great explore, Dan. Love the Koi!

As a fan and owner of Cosmic Fantasy 2....I salute you.

I am loving the footage of the underwater fish! That's so cool!

740th like, I played on that very stage 4/4/14 A corporate party with the Michelle Lynn band. I have pictures of us on stage, it was a great gig, paid very well. Also used to work in the boulders area building custom furniture from the mid eighties through 2008 Very upscale area. Couldn't believe it when I saw the mall was in decline. Thanks for the post. John.

I am glad the Koi fish is taken care of, and the courtyard maintained, looks nice. Guess the 1 Restruant that is still open is taking care of the landscaping and fish

I’m a security officer at the boulders, I walk through el pedregal at night it’s weird.

Awesome mall! Crazy it’s in such amazing condition.

I love the uniqueness of it. With a resort there it's surprising it's not been able to be a repository of restaurants if shops didn't work out. The restaurant you went to looked good.

Darn it, now I want an action RPG set in a dead or abandoned mall! Something like Dead Rising but more eerie feeling and abandoned instead of packed with early Xbox 360 zombie models.

Man your camera records at such good quality! I want to visit Arizona just to see all of these quirky, cool dead malls

I have been to this mall, around 12 years ago and it was dead even then, but a few shops were still open on the bottom along with Ben & Jerry's. Anyone thinking of going to take a look at the mall should, it is really quite impressive to see in person.

OMG Cosmic Fantasy 2! I knew I loved this channel!!!

A very nice and unique mall, great video!

I want to visit! It looks like a lovely place to spend an afternoon.

That little door next to the Mineral and Fossil place could’ve been an apartment. Most of the stores in my city’s downtown area have apartments up top for either the shop’s owners or some of the college kids.

beautiful !!!!

Good video. Very interesting. Nice mall. Thanks for filming.

One of the things about this Place is that when ppl see things in shops at a Resort, now days, is I don't have room for it in my luggage (over weight charges) or Duty Fees! If the stores mail your purchases, domestically, you might not be there bc you're traveling! Or think you could just buy something like it online for a cheaper price! Using a SPA outside your Hotel is inconvenient! Plus it's just HOT in AZ for so many months if the year, ppl don't want to stroll around in the Heat! Or even go to AZ bc it's so Hot!

Reminds me of Casa Mila in Barcelona, the soft wavy feel like where the bench was.

Aw, I was hoping you would have a boss fight at the end! But I had fun watching none the less!

Grew up in Scottsdale/Paradise Valley and never knew this place existed. Now seen both ends of Scottsdale, Rd.

Love the videos these places are unique. I'm in Colorado so we can have some southwest design but this is awesome. Sad to see it so dead, it's better maintained than many well off malls.

great for wedding photos

> enters mall > immediately walks into random encounter > "Kiosk Worker uses 'Aggressive Sales Tactic'!" > "Critical Hit! 9999 DMG!" > fuckin die and start over at save file 2 hours back

It’s like Louran from Terranigma: the illusion of a thriving town hiding a reality of shambling undeath. ETA: Having seen the rest of the video, I think it’s less “dead” and more “repurposed.” Less mall, more venue. You don’t spend that much money to maintain a space that isn’t bringing in profit.

This is my favorite, definitely visiting if I'm ever in the area. We need an El Pedregal 3! See if the pizza board is still there!

7:36: aw, little evian umbrella

Very beautiful!

Love the Southwestern Adobe style! What a waste it’s just rotting away but I’m assuming it’s run of the mill for Arizona.

Next time I visit my hometown in Az I might have to stop by to take a peak. Seems pretty interesting.

Great video...really cool place! I agree it must’ve been awesome back when it was doing well...and definitely glad the elevator doesn’t smell like piss lol

That was a paddle from dazed and confused Bannon !!!!!

Good video! Thanks

Beautiful design especially if you're from the desert like me ..!! Nice work 👍👍

All those lights left on SRP must love them

Looked at some trip advisor reviews and the oldest one is from May of 2012 and even since then, the reviews mention that most stores are either on a closing sale or just empty. So yeah, sad to see that happen. Also, Brugo's seems to have moved out either in late 2015 or Jan of 2016, as they announced their reopening on the February 4th of 2016 in Cave Creek.