Who else lives in Knoxville and had mad good memories there😅

I remember when this was built, good ole Eastown Mall. I never got used to calling it Knoxville Center. Great memories there and so sad it went the way of a lot of malls.

Hey there, I am a Knoxville, Tennessee native. Born and raised here all my life and I remember Knoxville center mall quite fondly. It was a great 2 story mall with lots to do. Had an arcade, a giant open food court that you showed at 16:20, a dmv, a theatre, a huge gym, and at one point it even ran a community college. Anyways, This place was quite the hangout for us back in the day. Scored my first kiss there and skipped school to come meet friends here. Lots and lots of memories. Very sad to see it go but, as they say, time doesn’t stop. Also the place you mentioned at 9:45, was indeed a pet store! Wed all go see all of the puppies and kittens there all the time. As always, RIP to one of the coolest malls around. Thanks for the video man. Go Vols

Thanks for this! I wanted to try to go in but didn’t get the chance. My wife and I went on our first date here. So many great memories! Thank you

Thank you for doing this. I'm surprised just how much this place meant to me now its gone. thank you. I kissed a girl for the first time in front of the crystal shop, Nursed my first hangover at the chinese restaurant in the food court. Good memories

The more nervous you got, the more nervous I was... if you had done a jump scare.... I would have died!

Sucks so many memories with my grandma at this mall west town will never compare to east :(

For your own safety Anthony you should have collaborated with another urbex with you to explore a dark place like this.

Please think about bringing one other person with you for back up in case something happens. You had me on the edge of my seat.

Bro, imagine if the flashlight battery died. I would shit myself.

I was half expecting to see a person standing in a corner somewhere in the mall, with their back turned from you...

Extremely sad to see.. my wife used to work at the sears back in the 00s when we were in high school. Many many memories at this mall

This was so emotional for me! I grew up here and with this mall booming, every store you want into or by I still remember the signs 😭

I just got smacked in the face with nostalgia. Spent alot of my teen years here. I can literally still smell the incense from the crystal store and picture the weird little goblin out in front lol.

Holy shit; that was genuinely scary. You go through some creepy situations to get us quality footage. Serious props to you. Nothing at all but your footsteps; genuinely bone-chilling. Also, you always explore with such tact and dignity; respecting the sites and acknowledging the memories they hold- and it was very moving that you honored that anchor at the end. Stay gold, man.

Ghost Town Mall. This mall was so popular while growing up.. it’s sad to see it how it is now. 😔

Damn, this is spooky as hell. I don’t think I could ever do this at night. Great video, though.

Ah, East Town Mall. I went there thousands of times, I remember it being one of the best places to go in East Knoxville. Now, its being torn down. Sad to see such a memorable place go.

Oh man, I was excited to see you cover this mall. I was lucky to be able to see this mall back in May of last year. I'm a truck driver for Belk's department stores and at the time they were using their old anchor store as a storage facility for all the spring time merchandise that they were unable to ship to their stores because of the pandemic shutdown. As a Truck Driver, I would get access to the mall and during the few hours it took for other Belk employees to unload my truck, I'd wonder off and just roam the mall. It was all too surreal whenever I would stop and listen to the silence that had fallen on the mall's corridors. But it also brought to me a feeling of sadness when seeing such amazing place being finally put out of its misery. Belk's ended up keeping their merchandise stored there until November, when they finally started pulling everything out again. I was able to see the Knoxville Center one last time before they began the demolition process.

In situations like this, I personally turn off the lights from time to time to see if there are other light sources nearby. Because if there is possibly someone nearby, then a good assumption is that he or she will not be able to walk in complete darkness either. Admittedly, the moderately inexpensive FLIR camera module that connects to the phone has brought extra security because it sees the heat source in the dark be it a human or a raccoon.

That seems like such a shame for all those blueprints to just be trashed in the demolition. Surely they have some historical value for the city.

This actually made me tear up a bit. My ex wife and I when we were teenagers and first got married us to go there alot. I guess just like our marriage nothing last forever

The early 90s rocked! Aladdins castle and Spencer’s and sbarro pizza

I remember that mall. I used to go there all the time!. It's so sad now. Amazon is tearing it down right now. To rebuild for a Distribution Center. Memories won't be forgotten!!

thanks for showing this, brought back tons of memories.

I was as nervous as you were while watching this video! You were brave going there alone, thank God nothing happened to you! I love these kind of videos but please, if you do another one one day, don't go alone! Keep doing the great work as usual and stay safe!

LOVE the night time mall explores! Thanks!

someone please bring me back to the 80's!!!!

The graffiti mirror reflection shadow moving on the wall at 8:23 creeped me out, good stuff

For those who are interested, I'm pretty sure the store he pokes his head in at 15:53 is the store where the murder occurred in 2008. I don't have any proof except I know the store was walled up after the shooting and never used again, and for as long as I can remember that store front had a white and blue wall in front of it. I didn't even realize there was a store behind it until he looked inside it, and I've been going to that mall since the early 2000s. The shooting is sort of the defining incident that led to the death of this mall. After that people felt less safe going there, the stores and the people there got seedier over time and eventually it started the downward spiral that led to it closing in January 2020, which had nothing to do with COVID by the way. The closure was announced in November 2019 and expected for years before that.

Omg! You couldn’t have paid me to go in there. I was a nervous wreck the whole time watching. Thanks, but please be safe.

Anthony:You are the best at documenting these places. Thanks for the awesome peek inside. 😎

yo, it's the mall I use to hang out in back in the early 90s! damn, time has not been kind to you, Eastowne. I have so many good memories of you from back in your glory days.

You are a class act my friend! The best that does this kind of thing!!!

I grew up near here and went to this mall often. I was even walking it's walls as it was shutting down. Lots of memories and I only live an hour from the place so I still drive by there sometimes. I loved your opening man. Great job! EDIT: I don't know how I feel about knowing that the city of Knoxville left all those files and blueprints behind like that. 🤔

I'm so sad to loose that mall! So many great childhood memories, my first job, and the place I met my husband.

Have you thought of taking the signage and other momentos of these malls and opening up a dead mall museum? I think you’d be surprised at how many people would be interested in seeing these, as many people have fond memories of the mall.

Anthony thanks for coming to film this mall again. at 19:18 was the Hallmark Gold Crown store. It was my first job at 18 and brings back so many memories. I remember vacuuming and mopping the tiles in the front, greeting customers, and doing seasonal floor changes, and slamming that gate hard at closing time.

Thanks for the great video of our beloved East Towne Mall in Kville and for dedicating it to Susan. Will subscribe for more adventures!

I’ve explored some dangerous places over the years, but I could’ve never done this alone. Great job. I think we’d all love to see more. Just bring Sal or someone along too.

Thank you for giving me this farewell look to my favorite Tennessee mall to visit most of my life. It breaks my heart and angers me to know it was treated this way

Thumbs up for another awesome video. Brave to go in there in the middle of the night. Amazed the police said they didn’t care. Soon as you said the video was dedicated to the lady that passed. I knew it was going to be cancer ☹️. It took my grandpa. Too many good friends. And i am battling it for the second time.

This was an awesome video.Thank you so much for making it. It is so sad to see this place go down. I have so memories of me and my best friend hanging out the in the 80's on Friday or saturday afternoons until closing time. Before we could drive our parents which ever ones we were with , we would come in at Sears . The deal would be is that we would all meet at the lower entrance back there at 9:45 to go home. That was the time when you felt safe there , we would always run into several people that we knew as well there. It is such a shame that it lost the reputation it had due to certain happenings and pretty much taken over by moving groups of thugs for the most parts causing it's downturn and most everyone else including us to start moving towards West Town mall. If management could have gotten a hold of the situation early on it would most likely be still a strong operating mall. I think it was wbir who made the Announcement that Amazon would be bringing over 200 jobs to that location. That sounds good and all, but the mall i its day worked a hell of a lot more than 200 , that's for sure.

Excellent work as always. Kudos for going in there and filming. All that work and energy that went into constructing and maintaining such a place now never to be seen or enjoyed again. Sad that even the records, drawings and plans seen in the mall office will likely be bulldozed with the building.

Epic video Ace! The abandoned mall king! Jason went to this mall in 1998 for a baseball tournament for Johnstown, OH ( they won the whole thing) and it was thriving! Their hotel was by the mall and the team hung out there when they weren’t playing a game. He still holds the record for most stolen bases in the 5 day tournament to this day but remembers the mall was a better time than the tournament itself!

I used to frequent this mall as a young child and teenager. It's cool to see it shown here, but also so, so sad. I recognize all the shop front areas.

I would have to say this video was well worth the effort. Thanks for bringing this place to use just before it disappears forever.

It wasnt shaky in the least, it was very very easy to watch. Love your videos and enjoy your love for the 80s and 90s cause so do i!

I used to go here all the time I loved it had so many good memories sad they closed it

You're doing god's work. I'm grateful of the dedication you put into your content. I had headphones on, there were some ominous noises going on for sure. Stay safe, love your work as always!

This video makes me incredibly sad.. I spent some of the best times of my life at that mall hanging out with my friends, going on dates, buying things that I still use to this day.. it's so sad to see the building so empty without a soul. I drive passed it almost svery morning I go to work, and I've not looked in its direction ever since they started tearing it down. It breaks my heart, but thank God for the memories. Those are the things that will never die.

Wow that was intense!! I really like this video. Thanks for risking your safety to provide excellent content!

That is one creepy zombie mall. Anthony you are brave attempting this in pitch darkness!

Wasn’t long ago, East Town was the best mall in Knoxville. I hated seeing it go downhill. Thanks for the vid. Gave me a chance to see it before it’s completely gone.

Ace raises the bar on dead mall documenting! This is an overall great video with the opening music/graphics/mall footage of "happier" days. True words by Ace at the start and of course the live tour/narration. I agree with Ace on the taggers marking stuff up.

I worked in that cinema. Shaped my being. My first kiss was in that house.

Great video Ace and yes, I agree with everyone on this you should of had someone with you especially even in the daytime too. Just to have a backup person. Once again great video this was a nail biter. ❤❤❤

I really enjoyed this video, kudos to you because there is NO way I would do this alone. Always have someone with you...please. Much love from North Carolina!

Loved the outdoor / campground decor in this mall when I lived there. The food court had those big hanging jars that looked like they had fire fly's lit up in them.

Great video. Thanks!

Amazing video, Ace! I had the lights off as well for the full effect!

I recommend keeping a backup flashlight that runs on regular batteries.

Seeing this walk thru brought back many memories. I spent many weekends during my high school year in the 80s. After I graduated I worked at Sears until I got married

This is so eerie, but at the same time it's so interesting to see how it's frozen in time almost.

I’m legally blind and the quality of this vlog is amazing ,thanks for keeping Nostalgia alive ❤️

So many great memories in that place! Christmas shopping with my mom and eating Steak Escape in the food court with my dad. Not to mention the many movies I saw there.

Being born in the early 90s I feel like my generation was the last one to experience malls it's sad to see where they are now

I was Junior Miss Knoxville Center Mall when I was 10! My first pageant ever. Good memories

I enjoyed the Sensitivity and overall Explore. Thanks.

Great video, grew up with this mall, eventually even working 16 years at that Sears. So many memories!

This had me hooked from the intro, which was Gen-X candy, BTW. This is some quality content. Thank you!

Jeebus! When your reflection showed in the glass barrier near the end I about had a heart attack!!!

Great video. My wife and I had anxiety waiting for an apparition to appear.

I could never walk into that place by myself.

I got to go there right before it closed, when the only shop open was an eyeglass store. A friend brought a skateboard -- almost all the shops were totally abandoned, random spots of spray paint on the floors, but they still had a cop patrolling it since it was technically open and she chewed us out for skating in there. What a time. I still have memories of when that place was hopping.

Many years ago there was a high school/junior high being torn down I didn’t go at night time I went during the day. But I saved quite a few items that we’re just gonna be crushed the school bell but would ring when it’s classtime fire alarm pull station and lots of hooks for coats and a piece of the gym floor all utilized when I built my home

Thank you

This absolutely breaks my heart. I spent many a Saturday st the mall with friends and making new friends back in the late 80s. All me and my friends needed was 5 bucks for all day fun !

I live in Knoxville and grew up with this mall lol its a pet store @ 9:30 I remember when I was a kid going to here and looking around at all the doggies and reptiles! Time sure does fly , last time I was at this mall probably 3 years ago it seemed like it was dying then, we only went to eat at Sarku Japan , best teriyaki chicken ever! Thanks for exploring it!

9:05 Waldenbooks. So many good coworkers, so much fun. I miss it, and many of them.

Anthony i will admit it is a bit creepy that dark just glad you made it out safely. It is sad though all the things from when i was a child have been destroyed

I actually used to work here about 6-7 years ago at the FYE that’s on the left side of you at 6:15. I also had my first paranormal experience in that store. Wish I could go back and see it before it gets demolished.

Man I’m loving your content Give us more while please staying safe!

Hope you have a back up light. You are brave! Stay safe!

I’m originally from Knoxville, and remember going here all of the time, during the early 2000’s. It was popping back then, it was east town mall. Sad to see what it’s become🥴🤦🏽‍♀️

This one definitely gives me the same shivers as Rolling Acres by Bell did!

My friend and I were lowkey planning on playing hide and seek in this mall after it closed, west town will never compare

I literally loved this mall growing up. I wanted to cry when they tore it down for Amazon. Like we didn’t need it😭

I worked at Belk with my fiance at this mall, and it breaks my heart to see it this way, I grew up here.

I'm a Knoxville native and I grew up with this mall. Many happy memories and shopped there until it closed. Drove pass the area a couple of days ago and seeing it demolished was a very sad to see.

Great video & thanx!

man I remember going here a lot in the early 2010's

Thank you for this BUT BE SAFE!!!

I've been going there weekly to take pics and videos over the last two months and I have them up on Facebook. I filmed inside the movie theater back in April. Wasn't much left of it earlier tonight when I went. Sad to see it go

the malls at night is so cool you should do a series of night mall tours. the liminal spacing is so cool i could get so, such amzing photos in that place.

I really cant wait to see it!

Omg thanks so much because I thought I’d never seen it again

Yes, the mall was a fun place to visit growing up. The toy store, video game stores were the highlight before going to see a new movie at the mall theater. Great memories. Goodbye Malls. At least most of them fading away it seems.

Thanks! This place is falling through fast.

I live in that city and I cannot believe, absolutely can’t believe, you didn’t see someone else in there. A risky adventure but a nice video. I hadn’t seen the inside of that building since I was around 8.