Fiesta Mall: The Fiesta Is Over - DEAD MALL in Mesa, AZ Mini Documentary

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7 жыл бұрын

Fiesta Mall is located in Mesa, AZ and is a dead mall. This footage was captured September of 2016. I was harassed by security guards while filming so had to do most of the filming incognito.
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@Larry 7 жыл бұрын

Jewlery stores are normally pretty dead mall resistant because of all the high-end stuff they sell, all they need to do is sell one ring a day and they're all set for profits that day.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

That's a really good point. They'll probably be the last stores to go, lol! btw, I love your channel, I'm a subscriber on my retro gaming channel :-) Thanks for watching!

@fillipibrondiva6765 7 жыл бұрын

ehLahoi hirry Bundy Jr

@Larry 7 жыл бұрын

Retail Archaeology Ah cheers dude, muchly appreciated Sir :)

@OrangeCounty92 7 жыл бұрын

They're ser for that month...lol

@4exgold 7 жыл бұрын

good point, but how in the hell do THREE jewellers all within a few yards of each other manage to keep going strong? That's really amazing to me.

@manchesterunitedno7 7 жыл бұрын

the sign of a mall on its last breath. Kiddie rides, massage chairs and GMC.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

LOL! That's funny you mention kiddie rides. My next video has a lot of them in it.

@websuspect 7 жыл бұрын

Brian Fantana you forgot radio shack.

@manchesterunitedno7 7 жыл бұрын

Retail Archaeology Can't wait. Keep up the good work, Sir!

@utube4lif3 7 жыл бұрын

dont forget black light neon putt putt

@jayz4evr 7 жыл бұрын

gmc?

@garrukjace 7 жыл бұрын

been here recently, the best buy is closed now

@Deep_Armageddon 7 жыл бұрын

garruk jace the best buy is closed now????

@ericadam8383 7 жыл бұрын

garruk jace yeah. stumbled upon this place a few weeks ago.

@TheReverendStrange 7 жыл бұрын

It closed at the end of last October.

@likeumyeah 7 жыл бұрын

garruk jace amen

@v-mekka144 7 жыл бұрын

And to think fiesta mall used to be jam packed

@jaredhaden1989 7 жыл бұрын

DJsmileyface1 used to be, 😔

@eligio7907 7 жыл бұрын

DJsmileyface1 .kiceked out all the illegals that would buy

@jesusesquivel5783 7 жыл бұрын

Elijha 717 🖕🏼

@RangerRickTV 7 жыл бұрын

DJsmileyface1 you can thank the internet for that.

@nasirb3914 7 жыл бұрын

Metal Fingers DOOM you would think one of the reasons why a mall like this would die is because of the politics, but like everything else, it's more complicated. It's happening to malls all over the country, malls in neighborhoods that never had large numbers of immigrants... malls in wealthy neighborhoods where people can afford to throw money away.

@ChristheShrinerdawg 7 жыл бұрын

My dad was born and raised in Mesa, I still have a lot of family there. Whenever we went to go visit my grandparents, I would love to come here. The last time I visited this mall was in 2002, I remember it being a hopping place. I think every lot had a store there.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

Chris Sirrine The decline has been quick for sure. Thanks for watching!

@IMRROcom 7 жыл бұрын

When Hot Dog on a Stick can not keep open in a mall you know the mall is going down. Fiesta Mall lost it's Hot Dog on a Stick a year or so back.

@PinkAgaricus 6 жыл бұрын

Those are corn dogs and they sell things other than hot dog on a sticks (Fried Zucchini or Fish...and the sides Fries or Funnel Cake sticks).

@aguynamelex3146 5 жыл бұрын

Bull, when Superstition's hot dog on the stick closed down it is still getting people to this day

@systemsless 4 жыл бұрын

My mall near me in Oregon is always packed and the hot dog on a stick left years ago

@MasterMayhem78 7 жыл бұрын

If the rent was dropped to like $100 mo. There would be plenty of stores filling those empty slots. More stores means more sales which would keep it alive for a bit longer. An end of an era.

@liamwade8537 4 жыл бұрын

yeah but how is a mall to survive on $100 a month rent from their stores? they have a huge amount to upkeep.

@monkeywkeys3916 3 жыл бұрын

@@liamwade8537 They would do what Scamazon does. Take a percentage of sales

@DuckOfRubber 2 жыл бұрын

Crazy that Sears was ultimately the final holdout. Over the last 15 years or so, Sears closing was typically one of the first signs that a mall was in trouble.

@Steve.Cutler Жыл бұрын

I think the biggest absence in all these dead malls is youth, no teens or young people walking around. Society is just evolving away from this type of shopping.

@Baldmaxx 7 жыл бұрын

Excellent video and your choice of background music was perfect. Dying malls is a subject very dear to my heart having grown up in malls in their heyday in the 80's. As each one drops, it feels like I just lost another old friend. You Sir have another subscribe. Thanks for posting. 😆🖒

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching and subscribing! Check back Friday for a new video :-)

@marykacyy6802 7 жыл бұрын

Baldmaxx If you love dead malls especially 80s style I HIGHLY INSANELY VERY MUCH request for you to watch The Dead Mall Series by Dan Bell his channel is This is Dan Bell and click on his dead mall series category, he's one of the very first if not the first youtuber to have started this whole dead mall thing and he's stated many times he's been and loving dead malls waayyy before he decided to video and document them Again I highly recommend his video's to you and anyone reading this there very well made and great to watch

@amsandison5015 7 жыл бұрын

BaldMaxx I feel the exact same way! Makes my heart hurt. The music definitely is fitting for the videos

@isaiahadrian7136 7 жыл бұрын

BaldMaxx are malls really dying that fast in America? I haven't noticed any closing here in Australia...

@ynr4404 7 жыл бұрын

Isaiah Adrian There's a mall in my town called La Plaza Mall, and it's always packed, so I'd say malls in America overall aren't really dying. It depends on where you live

@brianrs78 7 жыл бұрын

Re:Jewelry stores - I can't figure out how the jewelry stores of even very busy malls stay open! I rarely see people buying anything from them.

@TheBikemaster94 7 жыл бұрын

brianrs78 overpriced for big profit. You get $80 worth of silver but slap on a fancy name like "Eddie Bauer" and sell it for $400. I used to buy the expensive brands all the time but they're made in China and Bangladesh just like the generic stuff. In comparison I also had a lot of cheap clothes, and a shiny $20 watch when I was in high school and I remember people always thought I had big money. Even now an (6 years later) an old classmate tried to do me wrong pretending she was interested in dating. She visited me only one time and saw that I drove a regular old car and worked an average job. She always seemed busy or just didn't answer the phone after that, it was clear that she wasn't interested in me as a person. She probably had a title pawn or college debt .

@lanacastillo49 7 жыл бұрын

TheBikemaster94 thats a funny story😄

@RJARRRPCGP 7 жыл бұрын

Reminds me of most Beats headphones...

@as6110 7 жыл бұрын

I was with my husband when he bought my engagement ring 7 years ago. I'm not supposed to know what he spent, but he only paid like 45% of the sticker price on it. the markup is ridiculous.

@workwillfreeyou 7 жыл бұрын

brianrs78 Many jewelry stores make good money buying stolen jewelry from drug addicts for pennies on the dollar.

@chetpomeroy1399 7 жыл бұрын

The business cycle really took its toll on Fiesta Mall. People tend to snap their wallets shut when they're out of work, or are otherwise scared of losing their jobs.

@davecates9095 7 жыл бұрын

Great video. I watch a lot of Dan Bell and Ace's Adventures vids and yours is really good. Great job.

@RA2Channel 7 жыл бұрын

Louden Noxious Thank you and thanks for watching! More coming soon!

@davecates9095 7 жыл бұрын

Cool look forward to it

@websuspect 7 жыл бұрын

Louden Noxious I think Dan bell is gay or.something his videos are creepy but if you get an eerie bad feeling in these places, owning mills.mall was going this way in the 1990s. Dan bell put up a video of this mall being bulldozed recently. these developers spent.millions on these failed malls. what are they going to replace them with.

@marykacyy6802 7 жыл бұрын

HELL YES! DAN IS THE MAN, HE'S VERY FUNNY SO IS HIS GROUP AND HIS VOICE IS JUST SO DAMN SOOTHING YALL HAVE TO WATCH HIS VIDEO'S ESPECIALLY THE DEAD MALL SERIES AND HIS NEW "ANOTHER DIRTY ROOM" SERIES AHH HE'S JUST THE BEST 😍😃 HIS CHANNEL This is Dan Bell HE'S GOT ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT CONTENT THERE FOR EVERY TYPE OF PERSON.CAN'T GO WRONG WITH WATCHING HIS VIDEO'S

@ddm220 7 жыл бұрын

He blabs to much

@kenkobra 7 жыл бұрын

I remember going to Aladdin's Castle by the food court when I was a kid. Fiesta Mall was the place to be back in the day.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

I remember Aladdin's Castle! I miss the mall arcade! I used to play at Pocket Change at Superstion Springs mall too. Thanks for watching!

@pauljohnson7548 7 жыл бұрын

There was an even better arcade in the strip mall on the other side of Southern Ave. My friend and I figured out that you could use centavos in the machines instead of tokens, which you could get like 100 for $1 at the time.

@kenkobra 7 жыл бұрын

It was called Wonderland Nickle Palace where all games cost 0.05

@TheLastRaven6 7 жыл бұрын

HOLY FUCK! That's a wave of nolsatgia, had one in the mall near me, its not Aladdins Castle anymore its just pool hall with a few arcade games. Used to go there all the time for my Bday back in elementary. RIP Arcades as well. The mall also used to have a FYE, but RIP FYEs, its some womens clothing store now. The one thing keep the mall afloat is the fact it has a big cinema in it. Used to be a JCpennys as well but that closed.

@Body_Dropped 6 жыл бұрын

I'm with ya brings back memories 💯

@curtholloway4158 7 жыл бұрын

I moved to AZ in 1986 and grew up in that area. I used to cruise that mall in the early 90's constantly. great memories of my teen years.

@TheAnaitisX 7 жыл бұрын

Used to work at this mall in the late nineties, early 2000's. Sad to see it like this. At the same time, the upkeep on this mall has been mild at best. The top floor always bothered me, the floor would bounce with foot traffic often. Like bounce-bounce. lol Thanks for video!

@beamarla8218 7 жыл бұрын

when you find a mall with phone booths, its fate has already been sealed.

@KoubuPilot 7 жыл бұрын

I grew up going here too. Used to go to Sears. Got haircuts at the old Mod Hatter. Get ice cream at Swensen's in the food court where Sarkura is located. Dillards used to be Diamonds. The shuttered anchor was originally Goldwater's, then JW Robinson's, then Robinson's May, finally Macy's. It's supposed to be turning into office space. Best Buy closed Oct 29th. Posted one Instagram inside and the day they took the sign. Dick's above closed earlier in the year. They knocked down the previous Macy's (originally The Broadway) to build this stacked anchor. Sears opened ahead of the mall. Notice the smell in there? I've got a few low key videos on KZfaq and some Instagrams. You grew up here? Where and when did you go to high school? I'm Mesa High class of 1999. If you remember, that's when the mall unveiled its Day In the Desert theme.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

Red Mountain class of 1999 :-) I grew up going to Fiesta Mall and also Superstition Springs. By 1999 I was mostly going to Superstition Springs because I had a lot of friends in high school that worked there. I was at Superstition Springs not to long ago and that mall looked like it wasn't doing good either. Not nearly as bad as Fiesta mall, but you could tell business is down. I filmed some there as well for a show called Arcade Hunter I do on my other channel. If you search for Arcade Hunter Superstition Springs you should find it. Thanks for watching!

@KoubuPilot 7 жыл бұрын

Retail Archaeology Same age. My Moreno cousins went there. I went to Brimhall. Did you go to Brimhall or Fremont? Yeah, Superstition had problems but is nowhere near as bad as Fiesta or Metro. The old Mervyns is problematic. Sports Authority moved from across the street only to shut down within a couple years. A furniture store moved in to the lower level. I was last there right after Halloween whrn Spirit was having its end of season sale so it can move out. The escalators and elevator were removed, so now they uave to figure out what to do with half an anchor. The store in Industrial's old spot closed. a couple empty stores on the lower level nearby. Old dollar store and Sam Goody are vacant. Rue 21's old location will need a new tenant since they moved to a bigger location just caddy corner. Aeropostale outlet is closing since those are all closing (I was surprised when I saw thw Scottsdale Fashion Square location closed, so I knew something seemed off). The old Ruby Tuesday has walls up around the interior facade. Old Thomas Kinkade sits empty. I'll have to check out that video. I'm guessing it's about the old Pocket Change? I used to go there a lot. Who knows? Maybe we've crossed each other's paths in our youth? Or even recently as I mall walk for exercise while I was on medical leave. We should meet for lunch one Saturday and chat about malls!

@KoubuPilot 7 жыл бұрын

***** Ah, that's what happened to it. I remember going ther in the 80s, but not the 90s.

@KoubuPilot 7 жыл бұрын

***** Some mergers and buy outs are remembered or reported incorrectly, like when Kmart bought Sears or when Norwest bought Wells Fargo.

@01anyanka 7 жыл бұрын

Mesquite High Gilbert Class of 2003. Always loved this mall. My friends and I would hang out there. It was always super packed.

@warrenadams45 7 жыл бұрын

Five Points Mall in Oshawa Ontario back in the eighties it was a busy mall now today most of the stores are closed 🔐

@jayz4evr 7 жыл бұрын

oshawa is a dump and most people who live there are cheap and trashy

@georgebush1870 6 жыл бұрын

I moved there in 1980 and this mall was packed all the time, so sad.

@theczarhimself1800 7 жыл бұрын

I love the logo you made. so sad, because I remember going there too. You should make a part 2 going upstairs in the Dillard's.

@jaredhaden1989 7 жыл бұрын

яиду домой don't remind me please, 😔

@PepperTreeVilla 3 жыл бұрын

After 4 years of wonderful content, it's great to revisit where it all started. Congratulations on 100K subscribers, Erik. It's well deserved. I've enjoyed your content since finding your channel in January 2017.

@gagemoss1075 7 жыл бұрын

1 Thomas Mall 2 Tower Plaza 3 Los Arcos 4 Colonnade Mall 5 Park Central ....and soon Fiesta Mall...

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

Don't for get Tri City Mall! Thanks for watching!

@JaredJonesAZ 3 жыл бұрын

The 4 story Scottsdale Galleria with IMAX theater

@XboxJoint Жыл бұрын

I always seem to come back to this video. The background music, your voice, and me remembering a bygone era make this video feel so nostalgic. We truly don’t know what we have until it’s gone..

@MayanAztec13 7 жыл бұрын

About two years ago, I had to do training at fiesta mall for Express (which has left now) until my store opened at a better mall. It was extremely difficult, as they expected around $1000 in sales an hour when at most you had 2 or three customers walk in within that time who are the type who won't buy unless it's basically free. The whole area just felt dead, I'm not surprised major stores fled that mall like a disease

@vapeking466 7 жыл бұрын

I think it's Walmart, Costco, Sam's club, online shopping and the dollar stores putting the hurt on these malls.

@focusedfreebird 7 жыл бұрын

VapeKing once the cinnabon goes it is really done!!!

@dvddmc 7 жыл бұрын

Shopping Online and the best deals there are the ones that killed Most Malls

@kazanyemmi 7 жыл бұрын

usually has more to do with a shift in population, economy and demographic. when so many of these stores move out of the units or the mall charges way too much to rent out these units, they make it hard for smaller business to compete and close. the more closed stores, the worse it looks for the mall and people start to notice and come back less and less until eventually this happens. Im originally from Michigan and we have a small mall in the center of town (with two much larger ones on apposing sides of town) they started having issues like this- all started when KB toys closed their doors. they charged more for rent then they could justify with attendance in the mall. eventually the shift in cost was adjusted, more stores could move in and it started to liven up a little more like it did in the late 80's and early 90's, it never was the same but did a lot better then it was in the mid 2000's

@nancyaguilar8846 5 жыл бұрын

This use to be everything 🥺 this was the hang out bro all the memories

@gabrielpaulsmom 7 жыл бұрын

GNC's and those massage chairs are always found in dead malls.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

I'm starting to notice that, lol! Thanks for watching!

@SoCalUrbex74 7 жыл бұрын

gabrielpaulsmom GNC is everywhere, not just malls. It's s franchise so you will see them everywhere

@Flameancer 7 жыл бұрын

gabrielpaulsmom there are GNC and message chairs at all the malls. even the high end and newely opened malls, except those outdoor outlet malls.

@KrishnaDasLessons 4 жыл бұрын

Jonathan Harris Yeah massage chairs are everywhere in malls. Like a lot of malls are still doing decently well, and they have massage chairs and GNCs. So just depends on the demographics.

@Sulfen 7 жыл бұрын

When even my parents are buying their clothes online you know that shit is going down. Malls need to use the internet somehow to bring in customers. Otherwise they're done for.

@monkeywkeys3916 3 жыл бұрын

Lazy

@eliaalmazan4259 5 жыл бұрын

I used to go here all the time (about 6 years ago) I moved and I cant believe that its closed and abandoned bc all of my memories are filled with it being so filled!

@JimmyConway60 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for making this. I also was a fan of the Fiesta Mall, although I was frequenting it in the late 90s when it went through an overhaul. Back then it was still pretty busy and most of the stores were open. Fiesta Mall was always my favorite mall in the east valley. I remember my daughter made me bring her there in the early 2000s to see Avril Lavign. I still drive past there often and I do go to the Dillards, but feel like I will show up one day and it will be gone. So sad.

@newwavetheo 7 жыл бұрын

One mall that I used to go to as a kid was the Sharpstown Mall in Greater Sharpstown area of Houston, Texas. The Sharpstown area now is a lower class area of Houston, with crime and other bad stuff, although it used to be a really thriving place well before I was born. The last time I was in the mall, probably late 2007 or very early 2008 before it was closed. I remember only 6 or 7 businesses open. Macy's anchor closed in March 2008. Burlington Coat Factory anchor to my knowledge is still operating today. JCPenny was long gone by the late 1990s. Everything else was local. About 3 businesses remained in the food court. The second floor was completely vacant, although the elevator worked and could go up there if you wished, but nothing up there to visit or buy. Escalators were non-operational, but were not walled off if you wanted to walk up. In 2009, a new owner purchased the mall and renamed it "PlazAmericas". It still operates today as a Latin-themed, more of a plaza now than it is a mall anymore.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

At least they found a use for it instead of leveling the place. Thanks for watching!

@hihowareyou7900 7 жыл бұрын

Theo T. hey did you ever know why they closed down the gulgate mall near 610 in Houston texas?

@Crazy-Horse-Tx. 7 жыл бұрын

Francisco Prado ; Gulfgate Mall decline in customers in 2002. So it eventually was level . I remember shopping there in the late 90s & early 2000. It was full . Now , it has a bunch of retailers in a outdoor setting. Just like Northline Mall on I 45.

@hihowareyou7900 7 жыл бұрын

BigBrownNativeAmerican oh ok thanks I was wondering because I used to go there when I was very little and don't remember much and I was also wondering because I live nearby within walking distance

@mrtodd3620 7 жыл бұрын

There was an old mall near me that is now gone and a Walmart-anchored shopping center put in its place. The two stores that hung on forever until its last days were Zales and GNC.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

It's always Zales (or Helzberg, ect) and GNC, lol! Walmart stores have no character :-( Thanks for watching!

@ChristheShrinerdawg 7 жыл бұрын

My dad is from Mesa...every once in a while, when we flew down to Mesa to visit family, we would come here. Last time I was here was 2002, seemed to be doing alright then.

@bluwolf098 5 жыл бұрын

Dude, I bought a coffee table set from a small store there and my parents even went to the trouble to make sure they got glass that wasn’t scratched, the tables are still doing well, but man I kinda miss this place. I still kinda remember the smell, if I went back with my friends and broke in and started exploring I might break down because I had a good time there as a kid, so many memories.

@enpointeannie2225 7 жыл бұрын

I thought it was pretty depressing when I lived there in the 2000's.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

It keeps getting worse over there. Tons of empty retail space. Thanks for watching!

@broswerjrer 7 жыл бұрын

Retail Archaeology do superstitions spring mall

@StupidSiren 7 жыл бұрын

This is a great video! I love watching people tour dead malls. Can't wait to see more! By the way, what's the name of the music you used in the background? It fits so nicely with the footage.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

The song is called Bet On It and the artist is Silent Partner. Thanks for watching!

@StupidSiren 7 жыл бұрын

Retail Archaeology Thanks for the reply!

@pyrobison2002 7 жыл бұрын

StupidSiren your narration is very relaxing

@garynullandvoid2107 7 жыл бұрын

great job! glad to see a video with great footage and nice commentary. can't wait to see more of your work!

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you and thanks for watching!

@HANSIHANZEN 5 жыл бұрын

i watch your mall tours to relax! I LOVE the music, and your voice is so calming.

@226050lunch 7 жыл бұрын

please do metro center in Phoenix lol I also live in PHX and that mall has been going down over the years

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

I have plans to get over there soon. Thanks for watching!

@RA2Channel 7 жыл бұрын

jose rojas jr the metrocenter mall video is up now :-)

@Official_ry_Nirvana 7 жыл бұрын

I really hope you are going to do regular uploads because out of Dan bell and aces this is my favorite

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

I do plan on doing regular uploads, a new video will be up tomorrow morning :-) Thanks for watching!

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

That's an amazing compliment btw, Dan Bell's stuff is amazing! If you like what you saw spread the word :-D

@SRW_ 4 жыл бұрын

Don’t know who will read this but I’m diggin the background music. It encapsulates the 90s feel. I live in Niagara Falls and remember going into niagara square mall. Stores upon stores just empty.

@4knewmusic554 7 жыл бұрын

The music in this is just so beautifully nostalgic. Thank you.

@JTube571 7 жыл бұрын

I've been in Fiesta a few times this year but I only go in to the Hot Topic store and then leave. You should hit up MetroCenter in Phoenix. Pretty barren as well.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

It's been many years since I've been to Metro Center. I will definitely be checking that one out. Thanks for watching!

@chayden153 7 жыл бұрын

Jason Miller there used to be a Justice in there, but I don't remember a Hot Topic being there

@JTube571 7 жыл бұрын

chayden153 You can see the Hot Topic in this video.

@DEMONX62 7 жыл бұрын

me2 but i only went to the zuimez

@Chooooty 7 жыл бұрын

Amazon's killing the retail giants

@Bluebonnets373 6 жыл бұрын

I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for your work!

@marzipanfuntime66 7 жыл бұрын

this is a facinating series, thanks for making these. really intereating change in our cultural landscape

@victorfox 7 жыл бұрын

I lived on South Stewart St. Just across Southern Ave. I remembered when Fiesta Mall opened! I lived in that area from 1979 until 1987. The biggest problem with that area, is that the local are went down hill. It became a distressed Area ! The worst was Fiesta Village, Just on the Northwest corner of Alma School and Southern. That village shopping area closed in 1998, and has been vacant ever since! So sad the entire area was a really nice area to live. Too Bad!

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

What's even sadder is the the City of Mesa just dumped a ton of money into trying to revitalize the area. Everything is labeled "The Fiesta District" and looks really nice. There's even some great mosaics in the intersections now and stuff. But not of it has helped, there's still no business. Everything looks great in that area but is dying. Thanks for watching!

@RaymieHumbert 7 жыл бұрын

They're trying, but the mall is going to be the last thing hanging on. I also suspect they're trying to improve the surrounding areas (and attract some office tenants) before preparing to convert the Fiesta Mall property to offices in the future.

@jaredhaden1989 7 ай бұрын

Update: They completely demolished it a couple of months ago

@Nazrininator 6 жыл бұрын

I used to go to this mall with my family when I was a little kid living in Arizona. It's sad to see malls declining.

@rrumzis7899 7 жыл бұрын

Oh my gosh, this is so sad. I used to go to Fiesta Mall when I was a kid in the early 90s. I had no idea it had gotten this bad! I remember how it used to be hoppin, especially on the weekends! Geez. So depressing.😢

@m9ovich785 Жыл бұрын

Some one just posted a Video just a few days ago walking around in there just before the Demolition was to start.

@owenrichards1418 7 жыл бұрын

Good vid, nice explanation and some insight into what it was like before.

@owenrichards1418 7 жыл бұрын

Claires is actually in the UK.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! If you liked this one I think you'll like this coming Friday's video :-)

@owenrichards1418 7 жыл бұрын

Cool! I subbed. This reminds me of the Granite Run Mall in Pa. that I used to go to. It was a cool and happening place that I had a lot of memories of. It was shut down and recently was torn down.

@sebastianponce9658 5 жыл бұрын

Shopping malls have been such a part of my life from Christmas shopping to back to school shopping, to years of hanging out with my friends and spending hours at the arcade and Sam goody listening to sample CD albums...I really can't imagine what life would have been like growing up without these stores.

@jawajuice7009 6 жыл бұрын

The entire mall is pretty much closed now. It opened one year before I was born and was my hangout mall for a good part of my youth. Thanks for getting some footage before it closed completely.

@boobaloo009 7 жыл бұрын

Also the youths used to hang out there, see stuff, ask parents for money to buy and get it. Also they fueled the food courts. Don't see many of them in the mall anymore. Guess they do all their socializing with text, Facebook and such now.

@emgee4509 6 жыл бұрын

boobaloo009 it’s usually Instagram and Snapchat...

@its__Ev 5 жыл бұрын

Besides that, teens aren't welcome anywhere anymore.

@Polemodrome 7 жыл бұрын

Great theme for a channel! Let's be part of your followers =) For living in a foreign country, I can tell you that dying malls isn't an all American specificity. The world's socio-economical context is adjusting as it undergoes mutations. Among the first victims are malls. They used to be not unlike social institutions. After school or work, many people gathered in these places to stay in touch with what's hot, chatting around drinks. It was the social network of then. Now, the necessity to go to these places faded away. Internet stores are cheaper, offers more choices, consumer reviews and allows one to not budge a butt cheek for shopping.

@nomoredamnnamestouse 7 жыл бұрын

Yeah. Internet shopping was the first heavy blow to the traditional mall/retail format, but it is the smartphones and streaming that really did these places in. For cash-strapped high schoolers a smartphone is still way cheaper entertainment than spending money at malls.

@AP-bc7mg Жыл бұрын

They recently started demolition on it, had to come back for a nostalgic watch of where we all used to gather as teens.

@aussi3212 7 жыл бұрын

sweet videos mate, and the running commentary is good for people not familiar with any of these places. cheers

@chase520f5 7 жыл бұрын

So sad makes me want to go there and buy something :(

@jeffdo9195 7 жыл бұрын

This is result of internet shopping

@Body_Dropped 6 жыл бұрын

So many good memories at this mall wow thinking back at my young teen/kid flashbacks so sad thank you for this video 💯👊

@erinmarsh3934 7 жыл бұрын

I worked at the Forever 21 back in 2008 and I can't believe it closed. I was really surprised when Best Buy closed because it hasn't been there for that long. I haven't been to this mall in years and got curious about it after watching some of Dan Bell's videos. Nice video!

@SpeedyDePalma 7 жыл бұрын

Had to look this place up turns out they shut it down for good last month and it's being turned into some sort of nursing/medical campus. There was a junior high school down the road from this place that they did the same thing to, Powell is what it was called what a shithole that place was. When I went it was so ghetto they had a police dispatch station right in front of the place and it didn't help, that is to say they did little to nothing when the older brother of one of my neighbors was killed in the parking lot by a rival gang member at a football gang.

@robertvanderschraaf3217 7 жыл бұрын

Go to the Village in Orange Ca

@chrisbrittain8104 7 жыл бұрын

thank you so much. I'm from pa. I have family who lives a few block's away from the mall.I was there twice during the weeks of march 30 to april 10 2017. I was totally creeped out that I saw a mall worst than mine. So I did get some footage was caught buy the guard. thank u for this it's cool to see a few more food shops an stores still open in my video there is only 3 stores an 2 food stores left.

@Sparky871 7 жыл бұрын

I remember coming here as a kid in the mid to late 90's and this place was so alive and packed. I have so many great memories here like going to KB Toys and eating at my favorite restaurant Sbarros! Its so depressing seeing it like this and knowing it most likely wont get any better😔

@alivargas4756 7 жыл бұрын

The era of the mall is dead, sad!

@ilackedtheheart 6 жыл бұрын

True. I feel like an old curmudgeon now. "Back in my day, we used to spend our free time in malls!"

@ikaikamaleko8370 5 жыл бұрын

Yep

@RichLux713 7 жыл бұрын

that has to be the most dead mall in the world

@kirk1968 7 жыл бұрын

Fiesta Mall was a weekly stop for my brother and I in the 90s, and I bought my first computer (Atari 520ST) there at Babbage's around 1989 or so. Quite sad to see it a ghost town now. Thanks for the upload.

@parmabuddy 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video! So sad...I lived in Mesa in the mid 80s and went to Rhodes Jr. High. My friends and I would spent quite a few hours at this mall. I always remember it being packed, especially in the summer and around the holidays. It was an exciting place to go. Malls were such an important part of being a young teenager in those days. A little bit of freedom away from your parents. A lot of fun!

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

I spent a lot of my teenage years in this mall and Superstition Springs mall. It really is sad to see it go like this. Thanks for watching!

@SnakeCIA1 7 жыл бұрын

Retail Archaeology It's so sad and empty that you can probably have sex with a girl in this mall and most likely not get caught.

@Drew1701D 7 жыл бұрын

What do you think killed the mall? looks like a nice mall...is there a new open air concept nearby? or another mall kill it? Or probably crazy lease rates?

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

This mall has been declining for years because a few newer malls have opened up over the years nearby. Each time a new one opened it hurt this one more. They recently put a bunch of money into remodeling and such, but it didn't help and the decline has accelerated. There's also quite a bit of empty retail space in the shopping centers around this mall which isn't helping. I think retail was just way over built in the area around this mall. Thanks for watching!

@michael85225 7 жыл бұрын

Andrew Darrow There have been newer and larger malls that have opened in the neighboring suburbs like Chandler Fashion Center which has taken all their customers and also the shopping plazas nearby have mostly closed down and there is no purpose for anyone to go anywhere near that mall.

@frankytravels 7 жыл бұрын

I've always been curious as to why mall's have such strict restrictions on filming. It seems like no matter what dead mall you try to film, security always gets involved. Anyone have the answer? I'm guessing they just don't want negative publicity.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

They claim it's for "security reason", they're afraid people are casing the place. That's silly though, a dead mall is a dumb target. I think it's more about the negative publicity. Thanks for watching!

@frankytravels 7 жыл бұрын

Retail Archaeology they always say stuff is for "safety" but it sounds like we both agree on the real reason they probably mind filming. loved the video!

@4exgold 7 жыл бұрын

it just gives them an excuse to look important, to seem like they're actually doing something. that was probably the only exercise that guard had all day.

@RJARRRPCGP 7 жыл бұрын

It seems that supermarkets are the worst, like they're trying to hide a critter infestation so they don't get closed... I'm so sick of their copyright-like "laws"... But, I think that's just obstruction. Copyright=My ass! Are the supermarket high-ups (especially Massachusetts-based chains, Market Basket and Shaw's) afraid that someone's going to see mouse excrement and report it???

@PubliusAfricanus 7 жыл бұрын

+Frank .... I got kicked out of a dying mall once for filming. They were trying to sell the place so I just assumed they didn't want the deplorable condition being publicized.

@goofygoober8323 7 жыл бұрын

Randomly stumbled on this video, bought school clothes for my uniform school there in Junior high back in 2009. Lived in Mesa for half a year lol. Back in Canada now.

@TheCardBoard-Box 7 жыл бұрын

this makes me want to cry man, grew up at the fiesta mall, the toy place that was near the play area was my favorite

@charlielz1719 7 жыл бұрын

back in the 2000s when I was a kid this place used to be full

@charlesyoung9980 7 жыл бұрын

The only people who still go to malls are shoplifters

@benrippel3993 7 жыл бұрын

1. I love the background music you use. It's so relaxing! (sorry to exclaim about relaxation) 2. I've seen you slip into both of these Dillard's clearance centers. Too bad you don't know an employee to take you through one of the ways to access the other floor(s) of the store.

@malcolmdrake6137 3 жыл бұрын

Fiesta Mall was one of the nicest Malls to go to during the holidays. Some years they really went all out with decorations, and it was a favorite for "seasonal" stores to set up. Some of the most intriguing seasonal stores I've been to were at _Fiesta._

@LeviDSmith 7 жыл бұрын

This is what eight years of Obama will do to a country.

@radicalgamer74331 7 жыл бұрын

Levi D Smith Leave politics out of it. Can you do anything else other than rant about how much the president sucks?

@radicalgamer74331 7 жыл бұрын

Levi D Smith And besides, look what less than a year of Trump did.

@PubliusAfricanus 7 жыл бұрын

+TheGuy .... Make everything better?

@radicalgamer74331 7 жыл бұрын

PubliusAfricanus Nice try, but no.

@PubliusAfricanus 7 жыл бұрын

+TheGuy... Examples?

@TheQuadLaunchers 4 жыл бұрын

The area I’ve lived in for the past few years has a PACKED mall, but it’s because that mall has updated and made it all about the experience. It seems to be what keeps it alive.

@snowandice8804 7 жыл бұрын

The music fits perfectly. Enjoying the show!

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you and thanks for watching!

@tichdaddy1 6 жыл бұрын

Enjoying your channel. Youre doing a great job..

@Rogue849 4 жыл бұрын

Starting the binge watch just now. Here we go.

@lisawargal 4 жыл бұрын

I grew up going in the late 80’s and early ‘90s too. Tempe High 1993 graduate here, and that mall was life. It’s painful to watch this, especially now in 2019 knowing it’s gone. Acquired by the community college, I believe, which is sad because they are revitalizing that area. Too much too late, I’m afraid. #RIPFiestaMall #RIPmychildhood

@chrismyghostwriter 7 жыл бұрын

I live near this mall and worked at the Just Sports there back in like 08, I believe. Back then the mall was pretty busy for the most part. Even 3 or 4 years ago when I went to that Zales to get my wife (gf at the time) a Christmas present, it was quite packed during the holidays. Not so much now. It's sad but I'm glad it's being turned into a medical college and being of use to the community. Thanks for the video!

@higbees31 6 жыл бұрын

That mirrors pretty much the malls all over the US. I lived in Phoenix and Mesa for close to 13 years. I am from Cleveland originally and several have gone under (Randall Park, Parmatown,Severence Center) to name a few. I do remember Fiesta Mall and when I did live there (94-07) It was pretty busy.. I am now in Honolulu and even the Macys here is cutting hours (Closing at 7 Sunday through Wednesday) .

@firestormthereddragongamer4539 7 жыл бұрын

I like your videos. Keep on making the great videos. Thank you 😊

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you and thanks for watching!

@superray21 7 жыл бұрын

If you get down to Tucson, check out the Foothills Mall. It did still have decent foot traffic, but a lot of the stores were gone last time I went.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

I will definitely check it out soon, I have some plans to go to to Tucson to do some video game hunting in the near future :-) Thanks for watching!

@siarrahkallai 7 жыл бұрын

That's crazy! I remember also going to the pop up carnival there every year.

@BridgeJet 4 жыл бұрын

I used to shop here all the time with my grandma so sad now we have to go to Scottsdale fashion square for all the fun mall activities lol

@Allthingshotels 9 ай бұрын

Security didn't want you to film how dead this dead mall truly is.

@patd4u2 7 жыл бұрын

Wow, Brings back memories, I left the UK with my new British bride for my second assignment to Williams AFB back in 1979. We moved into an Apt in Mesa off of Main St. We used to go to the Fiesta mall quite often. I have not been back to it since 1981, but I still remember the food court and some of the stair cases. They had some really good baked potatoes in that food court. I also remember quite clearly that one of the upstairs stores sold projection TV's, back then they were really awful, three CRT tubes projecting a image back onto a curved screen. They had Battlestar Galactica playing when we were walking past, I had to go in and have a look, but the TV's were very expensive and she told me no-way... I'll never forget that, happy times. Thanks for posting this video, very sad indeed.

@RetailArchaeology 7 жыл бұрын

I remember those old projection TVs! I haven't seen one in ages. Thank you for the cool story, stories like these are why I make these videos :-) Thanks for watching!

@alexis.rodriguez 5 жыл бұрын

i’m actually really sad fiesta mall closed, it was my favorite mall to go to because i thought it was the prettiest mall ever!

@bluwolf098 5 жыл бұрын

alexis rodriguez It was, the play area was the most lit place as a kid ngl. Me and my family use to go to the Longhorn Steakhouse and In-N-Out near there, we also frequented the Best Buy since it was where we were the most comfortable when buying electronics.

@vincelupone 3 жыл бұрын

6:54 IIRC that small store you pan by on the second floor was an EB Games and eventually a GameStop in the 2000s. I spent a lot of time in that store 20 years ago!

@Sweepout 7 жыл бұрын

Yes I know exactly what you mean! The Kokomo Mall in Kokomo, Indiana sat about a decade almost empty the last few years the only store open in the entire was was JC Penny. Very interesting video!

@gwesco 7 жыл бұрын

We've had a couple die here in Tucson over the decades. I remember going to the Galleria when all it had left was a second run movie theater and a deli store. I thinks it's now a charter school. It was eerie wandering all over and seeing all the closed shops. Another one was a VF outlet mall. Eventually it died and is now owned by Bookmans.