And GNC - the cockroach of dead and dying malls. The 70's look is strong in this one.

Sensational as always!! I'm an 80's teenager, anything neon I'm hooked!!

“Dragon Chaser’s Emporium”...I’m very shocked there was something drug related going on in there. Shocked!

I miss Roman Delight. Seriously some of the best pizza, hoagies, Italian food, that I've had in my life. Been gone for almost 10 years now, and nothing has come as close in quality.

In the boscovs there, back in 2010, they had a parrot in the children's clothing section. It's no longer there, but i loved it growing up.

That candy stand is epic!

I love the old Boscovs. The two Levittowns closest to me (Willingboro, formerly Levittown, NJ & Levittown, PA) had open-air shopping malls with Boscovs that used to look pretty much the same inside. Fortunately, the one in Moorestown Mall still has a lot of the neon and other goodies, including a candy counter where they make fudge in-store :)

Boscov's always has their tent sale starting May 1st through the summer ~ it's a tradition! That store seems to stand the test of time. I used to love shopping at the Value City store then grabbing a pizza at Roman Delight. The last time I was at the Fairlane Mall was in 1993 to see the movie Schindler's List. I knew the Seitzinger's and bought my first car from their dealership. Thanks for producing and sharing this video!

I grew up in Pottsville. It seems like both of my childhood malls will be gone soon. Well one already is.

You really do this well. I love the back ground story you do.

“Just passed 300 subscribers”. DUDE!!! So awesome! You’ve come so far. I’m just passing through a few older videos getting to Ex log 27 that goes with the one you just released.

There was an error in this presentation. Fox 1&2 were the first theatre at the mall.

The back-story at the beginning of the video about the Seitzinger Brothers from Pottsville and the naming of the mall was quite interesting. Fairlane Village and Schuylkill Mall in Frackville are only 7 miles apart. Over the years both malls cancelled one another out. Schuylkill County has been declining in population since 1930. There is shopping available in Reading to the south and Hazleton to the north and east. In my opinion there is too much retail along PA 61 in that area in an area which has not experienced population growth in almost a century. One more comment Sal, your videos are interesting and I am looking forward to watching more of them.

I wish I had advice to give ya.. you definitely seem to nail everything that an enthusiasts like me comes to see and enjoy ..!! KEEP IT UP👍👍

I love hearing the history of the malls. I awalys look forward to your videos!!

Just watched this now where you say “we passed 300 subs.” What growth. You deserve way more than 54k!

Great video! The duplex movie theater was originally called "Fox 1&2" (I saw many films there as a child and teenager), owned by Fox Theaters in Reading, PA. They also owned the Capitol Theater in Pottsville and the nearby Deer Lake Drive-In. I believe it's a family business that still operates 2 theaters in Reading and 2 in Ocean City, MD. The Boscov's renovation was a major facelift, with (I believe) the only remnant from the 70's being the glass chandelier that you featured. Back in the 70's, the toy department had a maze that ended in a huge sliding board that the kids could use. Also, the boy's department resembled a mine shaft to go along with the local coal mining heritage. I have many memories of that mall, but a few that come to mind are: Space Port Arcade, Thom McAn and Kinney Shoes almost directly across from each other, Paperback Booksmith (which later became Waldenbooks) and McCrory's, a 5 and Dime with a grill. My Mom used to "Boscov" all the time, so I spent a lot of time there! A high school friend of mine used to work at the pretzel stand. It was originally called "Adam's Pretzels" (the signage just said "Pretzels/Hot Dogs) and I remember the manager "Georgia"! Keep up the great work! I'm a new subscriber and look forward for more docs!

Yup, gotta love the neon etc and they still have at the old Echelon Mall in NJ; Even a small candy counter. When the Mall opened in 1970, it was Lit Brothers, then changed to Gimbels, Sterns and lastly Boscovs… I think 1990 or so... Another with the classic Neon is up in Scranton Pa at the Steamtown… Not sure of the Candy but it has a lot too offer and with the Neon!!!!

Sal, your videos are simply fantastic! Your research for each video is jaw dropping with relavent and interesting facts. Dead malls are my passion and you , Dan Bell, and Ace's Adventures are the best on KZfaq.

Actually, this mall is coming back from the dead because the Schuylkill Mall up the road (7miles) is no more. A huge sports store was just added and a new plush theater with a bar is planned. So many come back in a year and take another look.

oh wow that chandelier in the boscovs I remember as a kid the A&S in Eatontown had something like that

I've watched several channels doing dead mall videos. I wish that you guys would talk to the customers that still shop at these places. It would be interesting to get their perspectives.

please forgive me if i repeat anything already in other comments. i grew up here. i can still picture where most of the stores were when the cressona, fairlane village, and schuylkill malls opened. the theatre was called fox theaters as far back as i can remember. carmike bought them out. the mall and boscov received gut renovations at about the same time. oh, and the chandeliers came from the flagship hess department store in allentown which closed around the same time as the remodel.

The Boscovs in the moorestown mall in nj is the same way. That mall was on the verge of failure, but is being redone with new stores and restaurants hoping to keep it alive.

Thanks for this video. My wife and I had our first date here back in 2001 at this mall. It was a bit depressing watching this. We had dinner at one of the restaurants you where in. It was an Arby's. After dinner we watched a movie at the theatre. Alot of memories as a kid at the Schuylkill Mall, especially the arcade.

Great video, really gives a Tom Explores LA vibe, and that's a good thing! That Boscov was super cool, major 50's/70's vibe with the Neon.

So impressive! Absolutely love your work!

I wasn't from this area. I was only at this mall once, in 1989 or 1990. I recall that at that time, the Boscov's anchor store was even more original/vintage than it appears in your video. Actually, it looked identical to a Boscov's at another area mall, The Susquehanna Valley Mall. That Boscov's was built/opened in December 1977. So, if ground was broke for this mall in '73 or '74, this Boscov's would have been about 4 years older, yet aesthetically looked identical (the chandalier type ceiling fixtures, etc.). I remember both Boscov's had an incredible toy department, back in the day. Much bigger than it was, in later years. It had a cool record & tape section, too.

I do love seeing anything related to Pennsylvanian.

Wonderful video, thank you. Spent a lot of time in that mall growing up.

Excellent research. Best I've heard in all the dead mall videos. Thanks.

I grew up closer to the Schuylkill Mall but also not far from the Fairlane Mall. I spent a lot of time at both malls. Let me tell you how much I hated the Boscov's tent sale as a kid and my mom dragging me there for back to school. I hate shopping to this day. I got to work with Al Boscov years later when I was serving on Reading City Council. He was an incredibly charming man and his brain never stopped working. He had retired briefly leaving it to family members and he had to unretire and come back to save the chain. His employees speak so highly of him. He has since past but I believe now his nephew has followed in his footsteps.

I adore those aesthetics in the boscovs man

the radio shack that was there was that one empty store you showed with the carpet tile on the floor. I remember shopping in there. They also used to have a computer store that sold computer hardware. i still that light up case with LED's that i bought back then. the guts have been upgrade but i kept the case.

I went to PSU Schuylkill and went here one or two times. This includes the now closed/demolished Schuylkill Mall.

That Boscovs was amazing. Great video Sal!

Always fascinating videos, well researched and informative. All the best from Southend on Sea in England

I grew up in Pottsville and as a teen in the late 80s to early 90s the mall was always packed. Every lot was taken. You mentioned Nirvana's closet, that was right next to an arcade called "Space Port." Friday nights we packed that place. Roman Delight was an icon of the mall. So sad to see what it is today.

I live near colonial park mall and the Boscovs there has the same inside lights and chandeliers. Very cool!

Great work on this. I loved the brief tour of Boscovs at the end. Reminded me a lot of old Hudson Bay department stores from the 80s and 90s, particularly the candy counter.

5/13/18.....i've spent Mother's Day watching most of your YT dead mall videos. I've been reliving all the times as a kid that my Mother took me shopping at the 1st ATL mall---LENOX SQARE on Peachtree Road, where else? Then growing up & finishing school/college & working & going with co-workers & friends shopping at Lenox as well ascthe additional Atlanta area malls/shopping centers. NOW I'm retired & moved to an area with no mall but many shopping atras/strip malls. I wonder how much longer we will have retail stores as more people shop online & get 2 day/next day/overnight delivery as they wait for drones to start delivering pizza within 30 min + items within 4 hrs. I used to enjoy looking at Granny's Sears catalog but I've always loved window shopping & food courts with various types of food & searching for/feeling the texture/ finding the right piece of clothing & taking it home to show family members. I'm too old fashioned & "lost in the past" to shop online & open the door as the drone brings my purchase! Sal, thanks for the info as well as the pleasant memories of these quickly disappearing malls.

love the neon here

Yeah it's unchanged since the 90s renovation. That mall is another lost treasure from my childhood. When Value City closed as an anchor in the 2000s, it sealed the death of the mall.

I still shop at this mall! :)

Great video, again, something spooky happening in our great country

I loved malls since I was a kid, and we had 3 of them on RT. 61 in Frackville, Pottsville, and Cressona. But it's sad they are in decline. I saw a news reports months ago which said in the next few years, only about 120 malls may exist in the United States. The obvious reason for the decline in malls is online shopping. But in theory, it makes sense to think malls would still offer things you can't get online, like restaurants, grocery stores, bowling alleys, gyms, skating rinks, and tailor shops that require you to be there for measurements. It makes sense to think these kinds of businesses would take over the malls when retail stores leave, but in reality, that doesn't seem to be happening. Another issue is that sometimes you can't always wait for an item to arrive in the mail. Suppose you go on a trip, and forget your neck tie. You can't order online because it would be sent to your house, and you're far away on a trip. You need to get to a retail store right away.

That Boscovs store especially was awesome. Great video look forward to the next one.

I love your vids! I love the research you do. Internet shopping I think is killing malls all over. I used to live in the Franklin mills mall area..on the county line of bucks and Philadelphia county. Is it still alive? Also shopped at boscov's in bucks county. Smaller store but I loved shopping there!

Soon Pennsylvania will officially have more outdoor drive-in theaters than they have indoor shopping malls!

Love it! Thank you

Love Dead Malls or maybe I just love Malls. Well done. Music was interesting as well. Thank you. :)

I live in Pottsville currently, and I can say that the main mall is mostly dead. Boscov's mostly acts like its own place, and there's a ton of closed rooms and such in it. Anyway, this is an amazing video.

Thank you, i love your videos.

The Bos Covs in the York Galleria is the exact same way!

damn, i bet that manager knows how to make a good pretzel.

Great video. Thanks.

Of the two remaining Schuylkill County indoor malls, this one seems to have the best chance of surviving. I think it will but it will have to add a few useful non-retail functions to fill the empty spaces.

Loved it! Favourite part? Definitely the Boscov’s!

Hi I've been watching your channel for about a month now it's very good. Why? Because your covering malls that haven't been "covered to death". You are very clearly putting some genuine effort into this thanks, carry on.

Don't knock the tent sale!!!

your first nine videos the sound was very poor but you have really gotten sooo much BETTER! THaks for all your hard work and worn shoe leather. it truely is a labor of love. --Rick

It's always a good sign when an anchor closes their internal mall entrance...

I hope Georgia with the Village Pretzel from 75 until its closing had a good 401k matching program.

New follower from the Midwest . Chicago area . We have seen lots of mall closers here . Most recent was the first indoor mall west of the Mississippi. Evergreen Plaza . Worth looking up it’s history FYI . Very sad to see the downward spiral of the indoor mall .

Woah were you guys escorted out? Thanks for the upload and sporadic facts!

The Boscov’s is a typical 80s store with the chandeliers and neon. York Galleria and Camp Hill Mall are just like this. It’s quite elegant looking. Even though they are more of a discount type chain they want the stores to look high end. They also don’t remodel very much. Camp Hill looks nearly identical to what it looked like in the movie “Mannequin”!

My childhood hangout place. So sorry to see this area go down hill but it is the economy and Amazon influencing the market.

I still Boscov at Fairlane and own a Ford Farilane. I really miss radio Shack And Sears, though.

I recall a coffee shop that sold out of state lottery tickets until it was not allowed in Pa. I recall Fairlane Village Mall having a strip mall look to it. I do remember Roman Holiday restaurant and the movie theaters too. My memory is that the Frackville Mall was really the big deal in Schuylkill County and Fairlane Village Mall was a "little brother mall." I think both movie theaters at Fairlane Village Mall and Schuylkill Mall were deeply impacted by (1) the spread of movie rentals (Blockbuster) (2) the failure of some of the anchor stores (3) the popularity of stadium seating theaters. It cannot be over stated how much the Frackville Mall was a social center for the area with daily mall walkers and people meeting everyday at the coffee shops or sitting around on the mall benches. I think Phar Mor failing was a blow to the Frackville Mall as that store did fantastic business and drew people to the Mall. The main office of Phar Mor went out of business so they had to leave Frackville.

Adding links to the mall website and social media would be interesting.

Great video keep it up 😀

2 malls to check out. 1 The mall at Steamtown in pa, 2. The Brass mill mall in waterbury, ct

I LOVE BOSCOVS !!!

So you've got Schuylkill mall six miles in one direction, and Cressona five miles in another. Anyone aside from me see part of the problem? Toss in some big Walmarts here and there.. Too many malls, and the teens no longer drag their parents there.

love some boscovs

You got a good channel. .i like mall videos to be kind of long, about 30min up to an hour for a big mall . Lots of Vaporwave music. In formative but also kind of sad.. lots of architectural details. ..

Just wanted to know. Did you ever visit the Cressona Mall? It was right down the road from Pottsville.

Why would a Theatre change hands 5 different times? I mean either new ownership or the name of the Cinema alone??

Did you Boscov's today?

You could have gone there from Frackville, and Cressona is also nearby.

u got me sal 3 out of 4 malls I went to as a kid gone.. only one going is Susquehanna... i can't believe the drug shut with dragon emporium and nirvana s closet...wtf last time I was there in 2010 I def visited nirvana s closet...wow...

Pottsville is home of yuengling beer !

Walmart killed the malls!

What is the album by telepath you're playing? I've tried looking for it. Thx

I really enjoy your videos. Just wish that they were not so sad. It is so hard to watch all of these really cool places abandoned, left to die, and then fall on on themselves. I wonder what will take the place of Amazon? One day it will collapse of its own weight and something new will replace it too!

Sal I’m gonna enjoy this one old stomping grounds.By the way what kind of camera do you use looks good.

What's the name of the track featured by T e l e p a t h? Great score.

I’m pretty sure those ice cream cones are made of fudge! Not fake!

I think some of the folks posting here are missing the point which is that malls are failing for assorted reasons and not because management doesn't know what they are doing or the internet or shopping patterns are changing. Fairlane Village Mall looks well kept here and in good shape. Folks are shopping elsewhere for many reasons. I worked a booth at an expo in the late 80's at Fairlane Village Mall and this mall was hopping busy as was our expo. A lot of exhibitors and lots of activity. Times change. And change quickly. And it isn't because the mall is not managed well or the mall looks a certain way to you--sometimes it just happens.

The Italian place had/has the best garlic French bread. At least in the 80/90’s

What is the second song titled that is playing when you are in the mall?

No comments about schuylkill valley sports? Only store worth mentioning there.

The mall is making a comeback. They just put Dunham’s in and boscovs , lowes, harbor freight are there. All they need to do is replace the parking lot and dr the entrance way to be easily accessible and maybe a couple bigger names and more traffic will come. One of the dumbest things I seen them do is close off a section to walk through the mall from the Chinese restaurant to the other side. You have to go outside to walk around. I hope they read this, they probably won’t.

My mom worked at Value City and still buys us gifts from Boscovs.

Wasent the ford dealer like on the side of a mountain ?

So is Cressona mall dead yet? I remember Hills and Laneco(sp)? Closing.

I’d like to see where you get your info. I worked in this mall and the Schuylkill Mall for about 10 years. Some of your information seems a little off.

Did you boscov today?

Anyone remember the fairlane motel ?

Thank God I live in Southern California.