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In the early 80s there was a small store which offered iron-on logos of sports teams and various other designs. It was located in the hallway just to the east of the Kmart store. Even at that time Kmart was a bit of a laughingstock. "Came-Apart."

Hey I live in the town teens ages I believe 16 and below can’t go inside without adults and Joan’s is apparently closing so it’s sad to say but soon it will be gone I loved going there with my siblings but there all older now I’m 14 and I’ll have to live in town for a while longer it’s so sad to see it slowly die out especially when my parents would go to the mall at my age and hang out and now I can’t do the same so I thank you for going and showing it off it means a lot to me

Worked in this mall at a restaurant in my late teens in the late 70s. Also, modelled at one of the more expensive stores in that mall as well. Good food at the food court and terrific memories of my granny and auntie, uncles and cousins. And the shopping.. real nice.

When I was a kid I thought we'd all live in malls in the future and Radio Shack would be forever.

The hydrotube was AMAZING.

Why haven’t you done a video on Village Square mall?

These weird little malls are so familiar to me, I use to go to these places with my mom in the 90s. Great channel by the way, very cool niche idea

That entryway at Sears did leak a lot. So I understand why they tore it down. It's just a shame they didn't rebuild it after. That was the entrance my friend and I always used when we went to Merle Hay. We could always find somewhat close parking in the Sears parking area (which was a winding, sort of curling parking lot if I recall correctly). The main reason we parked there was actually because the two stores we always visited when we went to Merle Hay was Waldenbooks and GameStop - both of which were very close to that entrance. GameStop has since moved towards the Main Entrance. We stopped going to Merle Hay Mall when Waldenbooks closed. We instead started going to Valley West Mall because they still had a Waldenbooks - until that one closed as well. Then we'd stop at the Borders that was close to Valley West Mall. And then Borders closed... I don't really like going to Jordan Creek Mall very much - at least not as a shopper. Everything is stupid expensive and the only store that I was really interested in until recently was GameStop (and just about every GameStop in the Des Moines area was closer to me than Jordan Creek). The other store that I'm interested in is the Lego Store ofc. Fun fact. The Waldenbooks in Valley West Mall was where I not only got carded for a wrapped 16+ manga, but I also got scolded by the cashier for buying it. "Do you know what's in that?" "Yes, that's why I'm buying it." BTW, that manga? It featured a love story between two boys. The most explicit thing they did? They held hands. I was very disappointed when I got home and read it. lol Edit: There used to be public restrooms in that wing leading to Sears too. I think it was on the western side of the hallway? Now the only public restrooms I'm aware of are down by the Food Court, which is just ridiculous.

In 2000 this Mall was thriving and busy, then the owners went batshit crazy on the rents, stores started leaving and eventually it collapsed Had Younkers, Penny's, Sears, etc as anchor stores

Very Wonderful Video!!! I Love the Fountain/ Waterfall!!! F+L, Corey

Von Maur is gone now too really dead now !

What a neat little mall.

Certain dates/info are not accurate. I lived in CF right next door to the mall at Park@23 between 11/21-11/23. That Ari's (based out of downtown Waterloo, across from the transit center) opened at the same time the Mimi's Bakery did across the hall in 2022. Both were short lived; Lasting 6 months each. Lark brewery wasn't originally in College Sqaure, they've relocated multi times... they were originally on University Ave, just South of Greenhill across from the former Perkins in Waterloo & giant blue watertower, relocated into downtown main street in CF (bar scene), went back to their original location months before the dericho hit (not even 1 year), moved to College Square Mall. Lasted for 2 years there, closed only months before I left. Men's Warehouse was the first to leave when I lived there, at the end of 2021. The mall apparently had 3 fountains in its history, one on each end of the hallway & center. That "Desi" restaurant space had been 2 short lived restaurants during my time one was called "Crab Attack" (lasted for 1 year), they had multiple locations including Cedar Rapids. That "Salon Professional" was previously "La James" Cosmetology; They relocated across University in the shopping strip that previously held Aldi back in early 2021. Majority of what was in that mall moved to the Viking Plaza area 2 miles South.

Store just outside mall at 0:37 was a Baskin Robbins ice cream store in the 80's. Wall with coat hangers at 2:05 was an opening to a big arcade in the 80's.

A classic Mr Burns mall. Alive on the outside, dead on the inside. Beautiful mall inside though. Clean and well taken care of. Another great video Brandon.

Oh yeah, I’ve seen NorthCDogg here! Such a nice mall! (And the fountain is one of the best I’ve ever seen!)

I never understand why these malls don't try popup stores. Let people have a few months rent free, or VERY cheap. Anyone there is better than nobody. Why not make a food hall, which is the big thing. I Just really feel like a lot of management companies don't care, they are waiting for the redevelopment into a faux town.

Wow. What are they 1% occupancy? That mall is the dried husk of a dead mall.

Love the fountain ⛲️

When I transferred from Iowa State University in Ames to Northern Iowa in 2004 this mall was still bustling. This was months after Wal-Mart left. Im a dead/dying mall enthusiast and id come here often to watch the decline. Its sad really. But it has more going for it than the soon to be shuttered and torn down Crossroads in Waterloo.

what a beautiful little mall! thank you for capturing it! EDIT: no actually i'm gonna leave a better comment: i love your genuine interest in these little malls in little towns, in places i've never heard of and will probably never see for myself, but the way you cover these spaces helps me care about them nonetheless. your voice is so soothing and the music you choose is often very relaxing. with how scary things are nowadays i really appreciate your gentle and respectful coverage of these places even more than before. your videos are truly a kindness and i've enjoyed each one.❤thank you for doing what you love and sharing it with the world! i hope your channel grows and grows! 🌟

Hi, Thank you for filming this mall. I grew up going to this mall quite a bit. It feels so peaceful - just wish it wasn't owned by Namdar. The University of Northern Iowa is in Cedar Falls. The campus is not that far from the mall site. I had the opportunity to stop in to see it last fall - mainly the Von Maur though. I think the Von Maur might be the main reason that mall is open still.

I have seen this mall many times. A fellow dead mall TH-camr Northcdogg22 lives close by. I love the fountain! It’s a beautiful mall! I wish they could revitalize it somehow. I would sad if this mall closed. Thank you for this video Brandon! I really enjoy your videos.

Great video as usual! I feel like the metal ceilings usually makes malls look like a warehouse, but not in this case. I quite like the way the metal ceilings and the trees and fountains go together. It makes the mall seem peaceful.

A fountain, live plants and nice aesthetics along with being clean a mall walkers paradise!

They used to be closed on Sundays.

You mean Herberger's WASN'T a women's-only burger joint...?!

What a cool mall! I love the cozy vibe it has with all of the earth tones and, yes, all that carpet. I can see why you like it so much, as it really DOES look like a relaxing place to spend time, even with all of those empty shops. I hope it can keep going, though that's a tall order these days. Great video!

I can't help but be sad about this mall, as it, like so many other dead and dying malls, was once a bustling, successful place. However, your obvious respect for its history makes this a very enjoyable video to watch. (And it also made me one of your newest subscribers!)

Hi! You're right - the inside mall is a great idea. With the winter season upon much of the U.S., I wonder if people have thought of that?

I remember going to this mall when it was brand new in 2004/ early 2005. Place blew my mind. Plus it had an Apple Store.

Very nice mall! I'm glad a former Gander Mountain, was turned into an Asian shops mall. Food court looks really nice, too. As for Burnsville Center, if this mall could ever get out of the clutches of Kohan and be sold to a more competant owner(i.e. like the competant owner of Johnstown Galleria in Johnstown, PA who has encouraged a lot of new mom and pop stores to open there), then I'd have hopes for it to make a comeback. I just fear too many stores have left there for this place to make a comeback, but who knows. Some former regular malls eventually did make a comeback by trying out a new niche for a lot of their stores, i.e. Belvidere Mall in Waukegan.

I remember that mall used to be packed the town died out

Damn I’ve lived 5 minutes down the road from this mall for the past 2 years and had no idea the underground section even existed… Gotta check it out sometime!

As someone who grew up with the malls of Virginia, I’m glad to see your video! Good work man!

Mallways are the only way! 🎉😂

Minnesota has a rich history. I enjoyed the trains being in the video! Lindale here in Cedar Rapids is supposed to have the Sears filled with a sports field. I have a feeling they will have to demo that building for sure. I don't think anything has been done to fill the Younkers on a more permanent basis. With Kohan as the owner I have no faith on it.

I love the model trains! It would be cool to bring your own train and have him run it around his track.

There was a restaurant called the cafeteria there witch I always went to for drinks after I went to LA fitness

The music choice for your Plaza 53 West Footage was absolutely incredible, and Uptown Virginia was lovely too. I have a strong feeling that Plaza 53 used to be some sort of wicked vintage 1970's mall, with wooden storefront galor. I found it odd how in the entrance hallway of Uptown Virginia, theres a white and teal tile planter, which absolutely clashes with the rest of the malls aesthetic. Amazing video as always!

There was a cool little used video game in the mall here in the last couple years here but last I was there, it was it was gone. The same guy who kicks people out got mad at me for walking across his recently mopped floor. I had to as it was the only way out, yet he still yelled at me. I yelled back, what a miserable guy

Thanks for documenting this mall. I work in Virginia. Cazadores is solid, stop by Dave's Pizza for a sub or Saigon for some solid pad thai

I really enjoyed this video. I’m glad you were able to get the second mall documented before getting demolished.

I watched your video when it first came out. It shocked me to see my hometown mall in my recommended videos, but I'm so glad someone is documenting the past. I also wanted to comment to share that I read an article that the old Herbergers space was sold to Willmar Wood Products, and it will become a factory of sorts. Thanks again for making these videos!

such a nice relaxing video! thank you for documenting this hometown mall!

Dang… got some nice view count with this one!! About time more people started watching this channel.🎉

thank you so much. new subscriber here. amazing videos. We will be moving to De Moines this year, please which places are safe to live & raise a family in De Moines or Iowa as a whole? Affordable rentals, good schools, transport system

I went to this mall quite a few times I don't like that its mostly abandoned. And I don't like that they sealed the Walmart entrance

Mostly empty and verh leaky now lol

I don't live in Faribault and have only been to that mall a few times, but I think at one point they demolished part of it to make room for a Walmart. I'm also not sure if I'm thinking of the right mall, but I think this mall used to have a Hy-Vee grocery store attached to it.