I was born in 1974, this was our go-to mall of my childhood. I definitely remember the ramps and the food court sunken in the center where the merry-go-round is now.

Another nice mall tour. Maplewood Mall was my teenage mall. 40 years ago it had most of the things a teen would want in a mall. The only thing it was really missing was a good hobby store like Har Mar and Northtown had. I remember having to walk through the upper level of Powers to get to Circus from the inside of the mall. The cool 1970s ramps and decor will always be missed.

My childhood mall too! I was a Vadnais Heights kid so it was always maplewood for me and occasionally Rosedale.

Thanks for the post. This was the mall we went to when I was a kid in the 80’s. Looks so much nicer now. We would go to Rosedale too because they had a Daytons. So many memories hanging out. 😊

I grew up in Maplewood, this is my mall. I remember it used to have 2 movie theaters in 2 separate buildings on each side of the mall. Maplewood cinema 1 and 2 This brings back memories

I used to work in Maplewood Mall in the early 90s! The "computer stores" mentioned were actually software and console game stores Software Etc (where I worked, at 7:24 in this video) and Electronics Boutique (4:58). Suncoast Motion Picture Company store was across from EB (4:48). Yes, there was a "switchback stair" (same type as the others throughout the mall in this video) located closer to Kohl's before, and there used to be very large openings between the food court and the stores across from it upstairs with railings. Back when the mall opened through the later part of the 1980s, the food court used to be in the center of the mall where the elevators and merry-go-round were, but this is before my time. I didn't grow up going to Maplewood Mall, but I do have fond memories of it as a teenager for both work and shopping. What absolutely _amazes_ me is that the storefronts of both Software Etc and Suncoast are _still_ there! Only the tenants and how they decorate the space has changed!

I used to go there a lot as a kid. I don't remember any ramps, but I remember going to the Stride Rite shoe store and begging my mom to let me ride the carousel. I went there recently and it was nice to see stores still open and running, but sad seeing some of the spaces in the dark. Great vid!

The absolute best mall ever. I was born in 1981. I lived about a block outside of Maplewood in Vadnais Heights. I used to bike up to the mall several times a week. It's amazing how packed this place would be every night. Mall owners nationwide really messed up by not evolving with the times over the last 20ish years. My buddies and I would come up here to Circus Pizza and Aladdin's Castle and spend hours in the arcades. You're correct about the slightly spiral staircases. There were a few in different spots. At 7:09 there was a Software Etc and a hair salon on the opposite side where they've covered that entire hallway with walls. And there was an Electronics Boutique upstairs at the corner opposite of Kohl's.

This was my childhood mall: Sbarro with orange neon lights and cheeses hanging from the ceiling. Mr Bulky for candy and novelty pencils. B. Dalton bookstore was cozy and comforting. Au Cotton had all the best baggy shorts and t’s. Skeeball at Circus. And the sunken lounge with the red-orange carpet ramps was the absolute best!! Thanks for bringing back some sweet 80s memories

The barns and noble at this mall use to kick ass I use to go there with my dad all the time I got some of the first manga I read from here

The food court in the 80's was in the center of the building. You walked there via gigantic curving ramps. Baskin Robbins was down there. Sbarros was on the 2nd level near the food court. That hallway where Kohl's is located didn't exist.

This was my childhood mall from the 90’s until I moved out of n.s.p. In ‘14. It never had ramps from what I remember. I would always try to sneak away to Aladdins castle or radio shack. So many great memories from here.

You’re correct about Kohl’s, it went to where that row of small square lights are. I’d seen behind one of the doors once and it is simply former Kohls space. At some point a large indoor accessibility-minded playground was going to open in this area but never seems to have happened. I liked the old fountains they used to have, but the updates restoring the natural light were much needed. The Miami Vice look was dated pretty quickly

I have a love/hate relationship with shopping malls. The really big malls from the 70s and 80s were very nicely constructed and decorated with plants, fountains, waterfalls, seasonal displays, nice seating areas to chill, and nice, feel good happy background music to sooth and escape from the days hard work.

I remember Circus Pizza, but it was NEVER where Barnes and Noble is. It was an add-on on the north side of the north anchor, and that space no longer exists.

Wow, I need to go to Maplewood. It looks so nice inside, but the problem is I live kind of far away…

Like how you’re going personal in this video. Please continue with your videos.

I worked at Southdale mall at Ms Frills and Games by James. I enjoy your content!

Thank you for sharing your stories and all the hard work you put into making these!

This was my Mall. The food court used to be in the main area in a pit (center court?). They moved the food to the Kohl's wing and filled in the pit in 1988. I mainly went there to play video games. Aladdin's Castle and Circus were the two places I hung out in. I did go to the music stores, Spencers, bookstores, and Sears.

Thank you for making this video. This mall was a large part of me growing up, I had my 8th bday party at Circus Pizza, beat House of the Dead with my bro at Aladdins Castle. KB toys was my favorite toy store, and I got my favorite coat from the Macys at the mall. I saw Men in Black and Tomb Raider at the theater that used to be where the transit center is now. It bums me out to see whats happened to this place.

Okay, the thunder bolt was obviously a Suncoast (Which I worked at). Across there was like a wood working home good store that often had carved blues brothers statues outside. The was an electronics boutique across the hall from the Suncoast. They was a candy store one or two further along. Food court had taco bell, burger king, sabaros, some kind of potato fries place. The cinnibon still being there was hilarious. Sam Goody wad upstairs next to the Sears on the corner. There was an Arcade I think called Aladin's Castle near the Macys on the first floor before the barnes and nobles went in.

Another mall I spent a lot of time in, mostly in the 90s and 2000s. I see the merry go round is still there, looks like it's still doing pretty well. Good video!

I just subscribed to your videos. I was born and raised in Minnesota until 1971 when we moved out of state. I still have all of my relatives in Minnesota. I visit there at least every year or two years. I love the mall of America. On occasions as a child. I went to the Maplewood mom great mall. 🛒

Pretty nice mall. The configuration of the mall reminds me a lot of Ingram Park Mall in the San Antonio area.

This was my childhood hang out in the mid 70s to the late 80s when the food court was on the bottom floor in a circle and there was alcoves to hang out and chill I miss them days I heard it's gonna close down sometime soon .

I used to work there for 6 years as a janitorial. My last day was jun 6, 2020, i quit because the mall will file a bankruptcy, so i will not wait to get laid-off and after a year I was right. Every co-worker i had from my team housekeeping from mall management, all the way to security, was laid off 😢 sad

1993 I use to work at Only Deals bottom floor right side of Kohls directly in front of Kohls was a huge water fountain and across was mall security we use to watch them bring shop lifters back

i used to manage the Orange Julius there

7:55 I totally remember that red carpet and the ramps!

Omg this is amazing. This is my childhood mall. There’s a petting zoo there now I’m going to soon.

Speaking of Centerplace Galleria/University Square Mall, that’d be a fun one if you ever make your way to Rochester.

Thanks for the video! Who owns this now? Hoping Namdar or Kohan doesn't gain this. An Iowa update for you - Valley West is in the news for redevelopment. I don't know much with that yet.

Great mall, thanks for what you do ...and I stayed till the end : )

Yeah, Sears going under was not good for Malls. I miss the Craftsmen Tools.

Before circus was showbiz it was the best hangout along with farrels

The mall used to have two movie theaters in the parking lots. Maplewood I and Maplewood II. I think they went away in the mid 90s. When I was a kid going to Circus Circus or Showbiz were the pinnacle of life! Recently, I went there with my family to go to the safari. It was pretty cool but the mall itself was a mere shadow of itself. The demographics have certainly changed and I didn't feel entirely safe there.

With all the malls around the twin cities dying, I wonder what the maplewood Mall is doing differently to survive.

Interesting how they used the old auto center as a covid testing area. When you went into that elevator in Penny's, I automatically thought of mervins. Penny's took over the old one in Rosedale as well.

Worked at the American eagle here. Dated my manager. Good memories lol

Up for sale for about $6 million! You can own the whole place including parking!!

Could you do a update on it

Snow in October wow.

If I am correct, there are very few ICINGS left Claire’s does own Icing

This mall is for sale for $6 million, if not lower price.

Loon, you are a good local Ace. :)

Good mall

Doesn't every mall nowadays have a dead Sears? Lol also Maplewood Mall bathrooms are disgusting.

Time to hop in the old motor coach now

Love your south dale vid. But the music here is very distracting.

Oh, the circus pizza location in Burnsville is STILL empty

✊ Word

Sorry, not feeling it. Don't know how those stores are surviving. I'll give it 10 more years max.

False memories are interesting. I know people who claim up and down that the ChikFila at this mall was there in the 80's, but research told me that the first ChikFilA at my state didn't open until 1993.

Ham flambé!

Pioneer Press did an article on how this mall is dying. I don't think this mall will get any better. Nicer stores won't move in due to the demographics.

Mandela Effect: The Mall Video...

yo i was just there 20 mins ago

Why no in mall anchor access?

There are a lot of people walking around if this video was taken in Jan