I want someone to hold me like Kenner is holding on to Esplanade.

Esplanade is beyond depressing to walk into now.

I worked security there from 1998 until 2007. It was beautiful once. It was sad to bear witness to the decline.

I went to the Esplanade Mall in the 1990s and it was great. Sadly now it’s a “ghost town”! Another great mall dying a slow death.

Worked their for 5 months at in the Target Starbucks and the energy was depressing, worked there from June 2020 to November 2020. Everytime I walked in the mall it was more and more depressing. I got hooked watching your New Orleans content because I am a native to the New Orleans Suburbs too

This was my favorite mall when I moved to New Orleans in 2000. I still have credit for the video game store that appeared in the movie Pelican Brief. It got worse after Hurricane Katrina and after Hurricane Ida it just never opened, I kept standing at the Target entrance to the mall to see what was going on and eventually lost hope when I started seeing a bunch of dead roaches all over the floor. Still hit up the Target.

A bit of a longer update. In 2021, prior to Ida, it did reopen briefly post COVID. There were not very many stores left but a small arcade, kiosks, a few local vendors, a Bath & Body works, and more were there. However, the elevators and escalators were all broken. You had to either walk up and down, or drive to one of the raised entrances, to get between the floors. Hurricane Ida sealed the mall's fate. I have not seen any photos of the interior damage, but many of the skylights have been boarded up. Target and Dillard's Clearence reopened as well. The Dillard's entrance to the mall is walled off but you can still see it through the doors in Target. It doesn't appear all that damaged but all the lights are turned off. After Ida, Kenner's City Hall temporarily moved into the former Macy's after theirs was destroyed. However, the newly-elected Kenner mayor had them move to rivertown, which was apparently controversial, especially considering the Macy's was completely renovated on the inside for the city hall (actual rooms and offices were built after some time). The remaining stores have moved to various strip malls in Kenner and the Western side of Metairie. The current plans are for developers to tear the mall down, leaving the Target and Dillard's Clearance as both still attract many people. Mixed Used Developments and/or city centers similar to what was done at Hammond Square and Elmwood are currently planned. As a native to St. Charles Parish, this was the mall my family went to. It truly died when it lost Macy's in our opinion.

I don’t mean this is an offensive way, but your videos have helped me tremendously with insomnia. Your narration, the music, the editing. I let all of your videos auto-play all night & it’s such a peaceful transition and helped me gain a few hours back already. I’m extremely stressed/anxious which is what is causing me to not go to sleep or wake up every hour. Your videos are extremely soothing!

I was just in The Esplanade Mall the day before yesterday. More stores have closed, including Great American Cookies which I used to be manager of. It's never had a toy store which I think would attract more people, especially around the holidays. (There were little pop-up toy shops a few times through the years.) I was there on opening day and it's sad what it has become. It really is a beautiful space.

Sal, I said I’d give you an update, Ida sealed the fate of the Esplanade Mall and the mall shuttered in August of 2021 and has never reopened. I took a picture of the the entrance and it’s cluttered with tree branches, debris and a large sign that says closed. I went into Dillard’s and they sealed off the mall entry with sheet rock. Also the jewelry store that had been open since 1985 just moved to Williams blvd just recently. I wish I can upload a picture but can’t. Thanks

Minor point: The Dillard Men's store was a former Godchaux's (The Leon Godchaux Co. of New Orleans). Totally separate company from GoUdchaux/Maison Blanche of Baton Rouge. GoUdchaux of Baton Rouge even made this part of an advertising campaign: "The difference is U."

FYI, I filmed this in November 2019, pre-covid. But...can any of you understand what Justin Wilson is saying in half of that? I tried my best with the subtitles. Please leave an F below, as I've learned that Esplanade is now down to about 10% occupancy...it's looking grim. Follow me on social media, guys. Links in the description. You all rock.

I managed the Champs sports store while in college, then the company moved me all across the country - good Times

Like others had noted earlier, I was nodding off to your soothing speaking voice - until "scumbags." That's not usually a word you use. And then emoting over COVID. I know it's bad. It sucks. But hearing you speak with such frustration...I just want to give you a hug. Or as close as I can get.

This is a cool mall. I really enjoyed this video. I found out yesterday that the mall I grew up going to, is going to be demolished. I am really sad about it. It has not been documented by anyone. It is a cool, small 1970's mall located in Adrian Michigan. It is sad to see these malls go away. Thank you for documenting the malls. It is nice to see they will be remembered. ^^

Great job on the Esplande video. This was my go-to mall when I lived in Kenner back in the 90's.

Sal, I'm so glad you included Justin Wilson. He was such a great cook!

Blast from the past... I was there opening day... Wish I would have taken pics.

The space with the red neon used to be a Sam Goody.

I remember when this mall was busy and I would love going to the hello kitty store.

"A Real Bank"? Seems legit.

Oh mercy, Esplanade. Can't wait to see what you have to say about this place. I have major beef with the manager of the Spencer's in this mall.

Sal, as someone who grew up in NOLA and then evacuated to the DMV, it is so weird seeing all these malls and areas, but in the reverse order ahaha. Thanks for these, I've seen a lot of places with good memories that I haven't seen in a long time--even that depressing K-Mart, where my parents bought my first horrible, terrible suit lmao

After the hurricane the mall shut down and now it’s a great urban exploration destination

Luckily, I was born & raised in Louisiana, so I had no trouble understanding Mr. Wilson! LOL Nice to know that there is a Cafe du Monde in there as well. I hope someone has commented below about the current status of this mall. Let's take a look... Thank you Sal, I appreciate your hard work!

This mall hasn’t aged well. Much like Star Wars II Attack of the Clones

Oh my god, I'm so excited. I was literally at Esplanade mall just two days ago. I'm saving this for 3 hours from now to couple with my TV dinner. Thanks, Sal!

I was actually at this mall about 2 weeks ago. Covid has absolutely ravaged this mall and really the city of New Orleans as a whole. 3.6.5 by images is basically a wholesale store with clothes that range from horrible to actually pretty decent, at a pretty good price. They also sell “past season” Target brand items for cheap too. Since the last time you have been, soooo many more places have closed. There are no food places open in the food court and several of the mom and pop businesses are gone. The café du monde is permanently closed along with the movie theater in the parking lot. It was ungodly hot inside when I went the other day and the Spencer’s employees told me it was always super hot because the mall barely turns on the AC. Spencer’s, the company, had to send their store fans because the employees had passed out a few times. The parking lot looks horrible and so does the inside. The escalators we’re turned off and I was probably 1 of 60 people in the whole mall. It sucks because although I didn’t know this mall at its prime, it’s such a beautiful and cool mall :/

God I love the old commercials you put in.. so nostalgic for me as a kid growing up in Metairie in the 80s/90s. Thx for those man.. fun fact I used to work for Merchants security in Clearview mall for a few years in the late 90s. Walked that mall and parking garages soooo much in my life lol. My dad was a New Orleans cop for a very long time, we lived in Metairie..

From 1985 to 1988 I lived in Picayune MS and a day trip for me was a trip down to New Orleans and visit all the malls. North Shore Square, Lake Forest Mall, Esplanade -- all interesting day trips. All three of them gone now, as well as the Metrocenter Mall in Jackson MS where I now live. Good times... all the memories of youth...

This is so sad. I loved going to this mall back in the '90s. It was a very relaxing yet thriving environment. It seems like Americans keep "trading down" on where and how they shop. Main Street is dead and now the malls are all almost dead. It looks like the future is working in a warehouse so you can go home, sit at your computer, and order stuff from another warehouse.

I remember when I was 4-5 years old, my grandma and I used to always go here, just the 2 of us. We used to always go to the small pizza place in the food court..I loved this mall and I still do, the only thing I wish for is that this mall will be more successful than Clearview and even Lakeside mall. I can't even drive past this mall without crying anymore. :/

I worked at this mall for about 8 yrs. it use to be the place to be in the weekend. It’s so depressing now.

Really appreciate your informative and colorful narrative. Never before heard the term "overmalled", but I sure understand its meaning now!

Omg. Justin Wilson!! 🤣 Blast from the past!

Indeed Greater N.O. was oversaturated w/ malls. Other malls not mentioned: Northshore Square, Canal Place, and to a lesser extent Jax Brewery.

Cannot believe the state of the Esplanade today.. breaks my heart to see it as I have so many memories in that mall, a lot of memories in Lakeside too, but esplanade was my favorite as I got older

i grew up in new orleans and went to the esplanade in its heydey and have returned when it became a ghost mall. there was a small arcade, a cafe du monde, and seperate dillards as the video shows. i loved the men's store because i always loved dillard's designers clothes at 80% and more off. it's really sad to see its downfall and never quite could understand why. even the lake forest mall was something to drive to on special occasion. my high school was located near the belle promenade. so many good malls at one time. fortunately, oakwood mall and clearview mall are still around. for some reason unknown to me, everyone gravitates to lakeside mall, a mall that isn't very large or anything special to be honest. i'd go to dillard's and the food court on my lunch breaks.

Really enjoyed the links and the Dillard’s Clearance entrance. Can’t wait for 80 😎

2023 update from someone who used to work in the esplanade, when Hurricane Ida hit the roof of the mall had collapsed, and they are officially repurposing the building sometime this year

I live about 5 mins away from this place, it’s dead as ever if not more cause of Covid, seems like they’ve just accepted their fate and there’s simply no attempts to save this mall. P. S. The old movie theater at 19:27 is now a church.

I remember going to Esplanade mall when I was a kid/teenager but lakeside mall was the one I went to the most and the one I still go to when it comes to malls.

7:56 Man that's some smooth camera movement! Almost felt like a drone shot. 🛩️

I use to love ice skating in the Lakeforest Plaza mall in New Orleans east in the 80s. Esplanade was the best mall in the 90s and early 2000s! So sad what happened to it!

Thanks Sal for showing us around as an Australian it baffles me seeing so many dead malls in the US.

I was born in 02, by the time I was old enough to remember esplanade it was already on shaky legs and as I got older more and more tenants were leaving. I used to buy shoes from one of the shoe department . Once that store closed it didn’t take much longer after that till the main mall was closed, Dillards closed a while later, for a long while Kenner took over the mall, but I think now they have left it, idk for sure. Everytime I go to that target I look through the glass door wishing I could get in just one more time, when I was little, I used to love going to esplanade not even for the stores, for the decor the fountain the elevator looking over the railing of the second floor, and I used to ask my family why it was losing stores and they always told me it was because of lakeside and that esplanade used to be really popular. It’s sad to look through that glass door now and see it dark on the inside and know that it will be decaying soon, I would just love to explore it now.

This used to be the mall in the 90s THE MOST POPULAR mall in the New Orleans area. Great hunting ground for ladies back in the day!

3:57 I want that security vehicle! He has a baton!

So sad to see this. I used to go there back in 1990-96 and it was a really happening place. I haven't set foot in Louisiana since the summer of 2004 when I moved out, I miss it but it now unrecognizable from what I hear.

4:02 that prestigious mall cop security go cart pose cannot be beat! "Hey little lady, can I give you a lift to your conveyance or chosen alternative form of transportation?"

Being a New Orleans native, I instantly recognized the opening footage where you were driving through "Old Kenner" along the riverfront, also called "Rivertown". I also completely understood everything that Justin Wilson was saying. Part of it was "sound effects" for the story he was telling. Only part looks like you really got wrong was where he said his friend "Had 16 or 15 squirrel, and THE LIMIT IS 14".

One of my first jobs was at the Sbarro pizza there around 1987. At that time, the mall was always so crowded and damn near standing room only. I think the only original store still in operation - other than the Discount Dillards is the Dippin' Dots. And even then, I haven't been in the mall since Covid, either, so it may be gone as well.

I had no idea Cadillac Fairview had anything to do with American malls. They are owned by the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund here in Canada and have a fairly large footprint with the ownership of several large scale malls, and obviously have a big interest in the U.S. as well. Recently, they have tagged the names of two big local malls here in Calgary with 'CF' in front of each of the malls names. They are now CF Market Mall and CF Chinook Centre. It seems a bit tacky.

Good to see you back Sal :)

You've gained yourself a new sub my guy, great right down to it videos of years past. Keep it up!

Feel like it's been a bit since Kohan and his mall destroying skills has made an appearance.

It's been a while since I've seen any content, but I glad I rediscovered this channel.

Besides Canal Place and Lakeside, this mall always struck me as being the next nicest in the New Orleans metro area. Aren't all of the other malls that were ever built in the metro now closed for good?

I live in Kenner, and this mall is empty and dead now. Closed all my favorite stores, except Bath and Body Works 😂, don’t know how long that’ll last...

That large storefront by Dillard's bottom floor used to be FYE, and before that a Sam Goody, which the interior from remains

Looks like they kept it up well

Just hearing D.H. Holmes brings back memories. My grandmother used to take me every year to the 3rd floor (in Lafayette) around Christmas and I remember the huge Winter Wonderland display. Brings back sweet memories ❤

Excellent history provided about the mall.

Esplanade is now "ain't dere no mo" On another note, this was my favorite mall. The elite Hot Topic was here.

Im from Kentucky. But I LOVED Justin Wilson!! Watched him all the time!! So glad you included him!!

I used to work at Macy's in Esplanade...everybody loved the store better that Lakeside...easier parking...but we couldn't compete

it's kinda sad, but times change. All I can say is for me, Malls just hold a great memory from when I was a kid. Only time we ever spent any money was when we went to the mall and bought school clothes, ate at a restaurant there or got a slice of pizza. I never went to the mall and came away unhappy. Now sometimes I just go to hear the sounds.

watching this late at night early AM in my dark bedroom on my tablet with ear phones, the sound effects in the audio spooked me 😆 Jar Jar Binks is one of favorite Star Wars prequel characters, a long with Chancellor Palpatine.

Sal, do you plan on doing a video on The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, a little northeast of Pittsburgh, PA? It was built in 2005 and is now 80% vacant; it's one of the largest retail centers in PA, 2 million square feet on 200 acres. It was auctioned for $100 in 2017 as part of a foreclosure sale...still open, but a shadow of it's former self, such a shame...

Loved that blue plaid dress.

Another great video! ...although it is so weird to see maskless people. I miss malls, and maskless people. Thanks for the great look, at what used to be.

The old theater is a church now. Macy's is now Kenner City Hall, thanks to Ida damaging the old City Hall on Williams at West Metairie Ave and Mayor Zahn. The inside is totally locked, other than City Hall and Target, I think.

Happy new year guy-dem sal, guuud stuff your intro into the dead mall, all dem old stuff, dam funny. Very interesting stuff on dead mall you have👊🏼, yup l’m subscribed.

Now I want a king cake!

My wife and I bring our kids to The Esplanade Mall some Saturday mornings because they love the little coin operated kid rides but it's definitely a depressing atmosphere especially when I remember it being the place to be when I was a teenager. One cool thing is we have the mall to ourselves.

Was just in Esplanade Mall yesterday. More stores have closed since this video. Sad to see this has happened. I remember as a teenager hanging out here. Good times. Anyway, thanks for the vid. Very informative.

Cool video. Was a nice looking mall

It was great to see Justin Wilson again The master of Cajun story telling while cooking

I was skeptical about your videos at first. But ive grown fond of them Edit: OOOOHHHH JAR JAR BINKS GO TO DEAD MALL!! Im so sorry....

I used to work at Macy’s in the Esplanade mall years ago

Worth the wait

Live across and go in and out at the food court or sometimes look for sun glasses. Great vlog and storyline! All the best...newly subbed and bell

This is such a beautiful mall. So sad to see it go!

So, to save the country, find these crooked developers and property managers, and lock them in a theater playing the prequels on a constant loop. With nothing to eat but melted butter off the sticky floors.

Finally watching after many months. Justin Wilson, bestill my beating heart! I loved him as a kid 💖 The 365 store is cheap crappy clothes. The mall is hanging on by a thread. It is *sad.* It's honestly shocking to see how much more alive it looked two short years ago. Nothing at all left in the food court, the Cafe Du Monde is kaput too. The Spencer's is somehow still there, i got a sweet Bob's Burgers tank top there last summer. I was there earlier this year and it was even more pathetic than it was last year.

As a local of the Greater New Orleans area, I can tell you that this video is spot on. No one goes to Esplanade anymore. Lakeside is a much more popular mall.

It has gotten so bad the mall doesn’t even maintain the landscaping around the property. Either Kenner or Jefferson Parish had to begin mowing the grass, placing a lien on the property for that expense every time they do that.

That mall was the shit when I was little

What I have always wondered about all these dead or abandoned malls. Why the hell are the same 2 entities buying all these malls up when they don't have the money, pay their bills, and do virtually no upkeep on the malls after purchase? I don't know who would allow these same 2 people to keep buying companies when we all know what happens.

Love all the Pre-Disney Star Wars

I spent quite a few Saturdays in that mall growing up in the 90s. Sad to see what it is now.

I lived near this mall when it opened. I was in high school at the time and remember it was actually nicer than Lakeside. I moved out of town for about 5 years then came back and had a chance to visit Lakeside and saw they had renovated. Like you've stressed in your videos about NOLA malls, Lakeside constantly reinvents itself and keeps on going. In the 90s, I went through cancer and ended up unable to work for a long time because of it. When I was well enough to go back to work, I bought a new suit for interviews at the Dillards store there. I ended up in Baton Rouge right after that, and am still here today 25 years later. We have lost 2 malls during that time(Bon Marche and Cortana), they have been given new life as an technology office park and the latter to be demolished for an Amazon distribution center. It's sad to see the Esplanade in this state because it was once pretty nice. Hopefully, it can be brought back, but not getting my hopes up.

I’ve been to that Dillards several times and it seems to do pretty well. Always fairly busy. The mall itself though, I took a walk through it about two weeks ago after a trip to Target, and it’s even worse off than it is in this video

OMG ... this makes me so very sad ... this was my childhood in the late 80s and 90s ... and the Mckenzies commercial made me tear up :(

The Esplanade continues to fall lower and lower. The shoe store, "The Shoe Dept." has now closed it's doors. I can't see it being too much longer before it sits empty.

Awesome video sal

This mall was where you took your side pieces to see a movie because you wouldn't run into anyone you knew.

I wasn’t familiar with the Esplanade Mall. I would have paid 15$ for it though. The Malls in that area, their circumstances not withstanding, certainly go all out for the Holidays. You are so good at what you do. I enjoy your videos tremendously. Great job Sal, stay safe out there.

Thanks captain sal!

Sounds like the owners of Namdar. They buy malls at a low price. They fire all management to keep costs low and the property falls in squalor by not investing any money. The community thinks they’re going to invest in the property and make it nice again but they realize they just sell it for a higher value and move on absolutely horrible