I gave Marna covid, whoops. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Who got into a fight with relatives at the dinner table over politics? Subscribe and leave a like and I'll stop being sick thankssssss. Oh, btw, this is the final video at my Baltimore City studio...moving to a new house in December. Give me a minute to get situated and I'll put a new ExLog out as soon as I can.

I never thought this mall would ever die.. It was always so Busy. Spent a lot of time here.. But always loved Forest Fair..

I miss Tri-County Mall. So, so much. I hung out there as a teen and I’m 44 now. I shopped there until about 2012. My last visit was to a Spirit Halloween in the old Sears. Sal, that was a “Safety Town” for kids. We have them here in Hamilton, Ohio, too. You must’ve been there in the summer bc that’s when they do them. They teach kids traffic safety. Thanks for your delightful documentaries. I also like the Forest Fair Mall ones. Keep up the good work. BTW your dad is hilarious.

I remember going to this mall as a young girl. It was always so sparkly with its polished floors and beautiful fountains and felt less oppressive than some of the other malls in the area. Watching the video made me remember how busy it would be not just during the holidays but just any given weekend. The food court would be so packed and there would be so many people, you'd be jockeying for a seat on the garden arrangement near the escalators. Inside the main front entrance used to be a pet store that had all sorts of animals in it (sadly, likely from bad breeding practices like most pet stores) but that was my first experience in finding out you could have skunks as pets. Then on the other side was a Cinnabon (that's still there lol) that would hit you with its smell the moment you got inside, and if you resisted that there was a popcorn place that made all sorts of flavored and candy coated popcorn in every shade of the rainbow. My favorite place was the large fountain that was stepped so the water made just the most gorgeous sound and mist that caught the lights and made it feel magical. However, for some reason the most memorable store for me was a random small perfume store diagonally across from the Disney store; I didn't go in there except once but you could smell it from so far away it was ridiculous. Seeing it in its later state is very sad, but I suppose all good things come to an end.

Very nice! I worked there in a children’s shoe store from 88-94 (I think) It was a beautiful mall after the remodel in 90-ish. They had to put temporary fronts on the stores while the roof was off, made for some miserable winter work shifts. And I could still kick myself for not getting my picture with Santa during the construction because they had him sitting on a backhoe in the middle of all the construction. I also got to tour the second floor before it was finished when they were coming into the homestretch of the project as part of a mall merchants meeting. I have a sentimental attachment to Tri-County. That was my first real job.

I love the howls that rumble throughout the mall in, some of the quiet moments from the children that were there that day. SEEMINGLY they sound like all the kids that ran and played throughout the mall for over 7-decades.

Sal, I visited this mall as a kid many times and had many cherished memories like buying my first switch there or buying large cookies from the cookie store, and even past moving away I thought about this mall a lot. No one had made a dead mall exploration video until you did, so on my behalf, thank you for letting me be able to revisit my memories once again!

Seeing escalators in the mall will always be a sight for me. You know how they work but I find it so interesting that someone decided to invent and design such a thing. The automatic stair.

Well lookie here, My favorite Malltuber covering yet another one of my childhood malls. I moved from Ohio about 10 years ago, and have been missing some of the places I used to visit there, such as Tri-County. Had my ears pierced there as a teen, and even spent my first work check in this mall. Can't thank you enough for your service of preserving the memory of these establishments, as well as how well versed and researched your videos are. Keep up the great work!

Macy’s shuttering was the last straw for this place. I was pretty surprised they left- they remodeled their store with new paint, lighting, a Backstage concept, and self-checkouts just before the pandemic. Shows just how fast things can change.

My job is on the same exit, been there since 2014, I used to go to that Sears all the time since they had an actual Sears Hardware, I used to buy tools online and pick them up there, the Sears Automotive was still open too. After I met my wife and had my kid we would eat at BJ's at times and while we waited to get a table I would walk my daughter down to little rides they had. Good memories but sad as I knew the mall was dying. Kinda cool to see it in one of your videos.

I don't know why I keep coming back to watch these videos and get depressed. I don't even have a connection to this place, but my feelings of nostalgia for a thriving mall gives me a morbid curiosity to see them as they wither away. A mall like this is built like a monument to capitalism and that reminds me of growing up more than it should. Nice job on the video and research as always.

I was in the Surf Cincinnati commercial that you so awesomely featured in this video. I was 14 back then. What a blast from the past! 😮🎉

That little driving school looks like a place we used to have in Richmond,VA called Safety Town. It was next to the Azalea mall. It was for teaching kids road safety like crossing the road. How to walk safely on the side of the road. They used to take elementary age kids there as part of a field trip.

Jungle Jim's is awesome

I worked mall security from 2013-2016. This video unlocked so many memories for me. Thank you. I enjoyed very much!

I moved to Cinti im 1998. Tri County Mall was still a happening place back then...

Jesus! I knew This mall was closed, but I didn't know it went THIS Far! And the Parking Garages are going to be preserved? The next 10-15 years is going to be insane! I'm not AS Local, but I DO Live In the Cincinnati Limits, so I do find myself in the area a couple times. I used to go to a Card Shop in the mall, but it went down with the ship before it even began sinking. At least most of the more important shops (Bath and Body / Claires' / etc, DID move to a nearby plaza across the Street on Kemper.

Man, I loved going here growing up. Sad it's gone. My friend and I still joke about this one Chinese restaurant in the food court that had the best red honey chicken ever made.

11:15 liminal space vibes

We absolutely loved this mall before the second floor addition. I cant remeber going after it was added. It is a driving/ safety school it was at the very north east corner of the parking lot next to Lazarus/ Shilitos in the 70's when i was a kid

Another mall well documented and shared, Thank You!

Hope everyone feels better 💪🏾

Great video Sal it is sad that the shopping malls in the US are dying I hope that something good comes out of this one good to see your father Captain Sal in some of your videos I hope that he be in the next one I'm looking forward to seeing EX LOG 120 and all the best to moving into your new home all the best form Australia and take care

A beautiful mall. Such a shame.

Another wonderful video Sal, I love how you go into the history and the filming,drone footage and narration is first class! I appreciate how busy you are in real life and it is always a treat when you post another video. I am so sorry and worried that you have COVID and I hope that your recover quickly. I hope your move goes well and I love to see captain Sal he is a bloody legend ❤ as always greetings from England,until the next time ,take care😊👍🏻👏🏻xx

The first but with the round balcony reminds me of the Dali Museum in St.Pete. This gave me the 💡 idea, that these Malls should become Museums, like Art Galleries, maybe a Lil Peep Museum 🖼️🎨 with Music 🎵🎶🎼 playing 🎴❤ 💙💖

The tgubg I recall most abot this mall is the narrow space you walk rhrough at 34:10. Used to visit this mall from 2004 to 2006 when I would participate in video game tournaments at a nearby Dave and Buster's. It was thriving then.

Always a joy to see your Dad make an appearance! ❤ Hope you are well very soon.

When I was a kid our town had a kids driving city called "Safety City." Seeing that in this video totally brought those memories back. Thank you. Also I've really enjoyed your content since I found it approximately 2 years or so ago. To notch info, camera work, and editing. Oh, and narration.

Safety Town was around in the early 1980s. I remember I got sick and couldn't attend the one year I was elligble (which I think was maybe age 5). So cool to see it was still there after 40 years. And yes, it's a child safety thing. Like how to cross the street and where to cross the road.

An architectural and design masterpiece. Beautiful. ❤

wow i dont think ive ever seen a pringles vending machine

My kids loved it. They're grown now but we were there last in 2018 and the entire top floor was closed and blocked

Amazing it survived as long as it did. Most malls die in half that time. Oversaturation of malls is one of the causes of them closing. Only the strongest are surviving now.

Man the nostalgia is too much lol I knew every step of that place and where you were in each clip just by memory...It's hard to believe it's not a thing anymore.

Oh I spent hours in this mall as a young woman. And when I retired I pushed my Mim around those places too. We loved it so much. Why is this happening. It makes no sense!

I used to work at the BJ’s at Tri county before it closed down. I work at a different one now. But I remember walking through the mall in 2018 when I interviewed for the job. Even then I knew the mall was on its final leg.

I was in the hospital 3 weeks ago with COVID, stay strong Sal

I used to live walking distance from this mall. so weird to see this pop up in my recommended. Spent so much time here growing up

We used to hang out at Tri-County mall circa 2000. We definitely shopped while we were there. Different people in the group would buy stuff at different stores. Kicking out the kids probably did hurt their business. Plus you think to go back there when you want to buy something. You also tell people about the stores there.

Must have been to this mall 100 times. Last time I was there was 6 or 7 years ago and a lot of shops had closed even then. The only shops that were worth visiting back then were hot topic, Spencer's, and a retro video game collector store. The DVD store was cool too but it became dead because of streaming movie services. Seriously so many memories in that place.

Beautiful mall

Wow another great video love mall walking with you guys so interesting…..such a shame to see them like that !!!so much great history along with your walks thanks❤

That's actually a beautiful mall!

So happy to see a new video!

This is so fascinating. I was looking at photos of the tri county mall and found myself here. Real life liminal spaces. There's nothing all that nostalgic for me here, as I'm only 23 and have never been to Ohio, nor were malls much of a part of my childhood. But something about these huge, gorgeously structured places being empty and devoid of the bustling life that they once held is eerily beautiful to me. Especially that children's road safety course thing at the end, that was so bizarre and cool! The history behind the mall's beginnings leading up to its eventual downfall was also quite interesting, thanks for putting so much work into a captivating video!

It’s been a good few years since I set foot in TCM, but time was I would go there almost weekly. It’s surreal to see it this empty, since my memories of it are frozen at about 2010.

Sal I always like your videos, good videos, and the best of history about the mall you are shooting. You do alot of work to uncover the history of your mall. Thank You!

Another amazing exlog sal. I was beyond shocked to listen to how well the mall was doing up until 2008. Then after that it all came crumbling down. Although the mall is dead i am at least intrigued as to what the future holds for the property and artisan village

Another brilliant episode!

I had several different jobs in stores in that area, but not in the mall. I remember walking in the mall under and around all of the scaffolding when they were adding the second floor. It felt like the set of Blade Runner. Thank you for the video!

What a waste! We need to repurpose these places! Make a senior community of apartments, and small stores in the center. Or even make it for homeless. So much space!

Safety Town was (and still is) a thing as far back as the 1970s in the central Ohio suburb where I grew up--recognized the setup immediately. Basically, it's for preschool-aged kids to know about crossing the streets and other basic kid safety stuff--the kids would drive around in trikes and pedal cars and Big Wheels and the like. But ours was never next to a giant mall--it was in a schoolyard (and still is). That mall location looks rather frightening.

Happy Thanksgiving. Not at TRI county Mall, but I've ordered food by fax before. Our local honey baked ham use to take orders by fax and when we worked Saturdays, a group of us would fax our order in to have it delivered on lunch.

Me and my friends went in there 6-7 years ago because on the website it still said this arcade was still open. The doors were unlocked for some reason, so we just went in looking for the arcade, but some security guard saw us and yelled at us to get out. We just thought all the other stores were just closed down cause we knew the mall was dying, but we didn’t know the whole mall was shut down by that point.

ITs sad that these shopping malls are going away

That background music is so haunting! I really miss this mall. We raised our kids in this mall, especially the Sears store. All my current appliances bought at that Sears store.

They are currently doing the renovation on it now. There are the fences up all around the building. The Mexican restaurant and the BJ 's pub thing are open but the access to parking for them is limited.

Another fantastic production Sal!

Those Dillard's clearance centers were amazing! I do miss Dillards all-in-all though. Tri-County also had the best Forever 21 which was ideal for my teen/early twenties budget.

Sal, You could do a twofer if you make it up north an hour and a half on I-83 to Harrisburg in the next month or so. Colonial Park Mall and Harrisburg Mall (only a few miles apart) are both on the way out.

Yup, like Forest Fair Mall, I don't think you can get inside it anymore. Parking lot is almost completely fenced off now.

Great video Sal!

Sal you should go to Exton Square mall and Plymouth meeting mall

Let’s goooo Sal, I can’t wait for this premiere

If you haven't been, I highly recommend you check out Meridian township mall in Okemos, MI. It was my home mall for my entire childhood until I left across country to Seattle, WA. I visited recently and it's dyeing, Very Sad. I would love to see what you find out about it.

Somewhere around 2010 I had a friend who worked at anything airbrushed there. I would spend hours in there with her just eating food court garbage and drinking coffee while very few, if any, customers came in and out. Her boss probably should have been more strict with us, we stayed until 2am once using the paint and the computer.

I didn't know this place closed down. I used to live near enough to this that I have a lot of memories here. Mostly buying school clothes in the early 2000's. My first pair of glasses. That 'Hot Image' place used to be a card shop where I got a bunch of Yu Gi Oh cards back when I still played. I think before that it was a Disney Store? Or maybe that was next to it? idk.

I work right near there...I spent most of my teen years there, also Northgate and Forest Fair... My fiance and I met face to face for the first time in the food court at the table closest to the escalator

I believe I went to the Gold Star Chili in this mall in 2014!

Ill catch it tomorrow Sal . Didnt get notified again. Night ..

One for the algoritme! Great video Sal Hope ya get settled soon and drop another one! Buuuuyyy! 😁

A Dead Mall lover right here. I just got back from Sallisaw, Oklahoma. I had to buy some headlights. I spent $43.00 for them at O'REILLY'S. Earlier, I was at Ft. Gibson playing at their casino. 🎰 I won $300.00 while there. But, me and my family spent it. It doesn't matter they're worth it. Anyway, thanks for the upload.🩶

Probably 2010, I would walk from my house that was across the graveyard down the street, all the way to the mall to have a sandwich at subway, pretty much right as the mall opened. I was only maybe 12 or 13 but I would do this frequently. I miss the dude who gave out Chinese samples in the food court. “Hey bruh bruh!”. Good times

I think you need a 3rd Sal camera man. I'm that Sal. 😂

Yeah, I’m old enough to remember going there when it was one floor. Nice video!

This mall lost it quaint 1960s look of being both an indoor and outdoor shopping plaza. The redevelopment plan looks like a nice step back into the past.

My friend took me here once when I was on acid and to say it was the erriest thing I've ever done is an understatement

Anyone who grew up in greater Cincinnati, especially in 1960-1970's as I did, spent many days at this mall and all the other surrounding stores. In those days, you couldn't get off the highway easily to even reach the mall for the Day After Thanksgiving sales. Once I got used to online shopping, those days were over for me. Probably been a decade or more since I shopped there. I loved McAlpin's as alternative to the downtown store, and their Sears location was second to none.

Always impressed by these videos. Hoping for more!

I made a video on the Eastern Hills Mall after seeing how poorly yours aged, ish. You are free to use any of my video on it (Just give credit) as Dead malls are defiantly not the main focus of my channel

I’m so glad to hear from you !!a big like always for you great work 👍

Happy Thanksgiving Sal. KZfaq and their bizarre algorithm didn't notify me of this premier. But hey, I found it anyway. Also. Jungle Jims is epic! The closest one to me (West Edmonton Mall) was an unfortunate victim of Covid.

I used to work here, I could name every store that used to be in there from rue 21 to bath and body (they moved twice) this place use to be great

I miss the Sunrise Mall on Long Island, but Roosevelt Feild seems to be the Alpha Mall on Long Island. All the other malls are dead or dying.

Your dad is so cute❤❤❤

Merry Xmas Sal! 🎄🎁🎄

Beautiful mall with a long history. Sorry it's being demolished.

This is the latest on the site, which still sits abandoned and construction fencing sitting around it.

14:33 rare flounder kiddie ride!!

I'm actually surprised that Tri-County was doing as well as it was in 2019. Very sad to see this mall deteriorate and close. Lots of great memories.

Over 200 people watching and only 75 likes. Let's get sal to at least 100 likes

ExLog 119 - I've finally caught up and it's Tri-County. UniComm's Tri-County video was amazing and yours was as well. Now I have to wait (im)patiently with everybody else for the next ExLog.

Captain Sal and his first mate!!

I went here during Covid 2020...it was so eerie

I used to shop at vengeance all the time.. now they moved across the street

Missed your videos, missed the channel Sal

The Texas based company that bought the mall list it in foreclosure in May of 2024, and shortly after the city of Springdale quietly terminated the redevelopment plan. The Artisan Village developer got the money on a loan to an Utah based company called Reefs, which acquired the property through foreclosure. Currently they have until July to refinance the property through a different lender and then they will ask the city to reinstate the development. BJ’s Brewhouse closed the Tri county location on December 30, 2023.

Another really great video Sal. What a beautiful place - the tornado shelter was cool - and elements of it really reminds me of the behemoth not too far from me - The Trafford Centre near Manchester here in the UK. Have you ever heard of it? I often wonder if that will fall too despite being such an impressive place and towns are closing down everywhere. I hope you are feeling better soon!