To me shopping malls represent the 70's and the 80's, to see this is like watching this time period just fade away, shame; I really enjoyed those times.
This was awesome. I worked at Mellet Mall in the 70s-80s first at Orange Julius and then at O'Neils. The mall was such a part of our childhood. I still cringe when we drive by the former O'Neils grand entrance. Thanks for this. It made me cry a bit.
I worked at Kauffman's and closed the building. The Orange Julius was still there, with the metal slats down. That hall was rented to the Belsen Village Kauffman's/Macy's for extra storage and that was the only way to see it when we left.
Your documentaries just keep getting better and better and your narriation is outstanding. Keep up the great work. This is history and should never be forgotten. I'm just sad that it is history. I would rather these centers of social society were still vibrant.
Thank you Sal we don’t quite have the history of malls in the Uk as you do , they hold a fascination from me since the Kickstart Malls Across America . Thank you for contributing as much an important part of America’s cultural history as much as Hopper did with his paintings xxx
Sal the malls don’t have that ‘ hang out cultural thing going on the same as America probably because we are a smaller country and there was no need for a central point don’t know exactly xxx
Not a British, but I think the reason shopping centres (we don't call them "malls" here in the UK) weren't a thing in the UK is mostly due to the economic situation and general public mood. The country changed a lot during the decade - unemployment was massive, rise of the right and downfall of the unions combined with labour strikes mean that British people weren't in the mood to buy useless stuff. From an outsider's perspective, 80s seems to be a relatively dark period in the UK compared with East Asia (where I'm from) and the US.
I remember going here as a kid with my grandparents who lived in Massillon. I think the one fountain had a jack jumping over a candlestick in the center. Good memories! Great video and walk back in time.
Cries. My childhood right here, biking up here from Perry to the movie theater, then later after I got a job at Zayre Massillon to shop here for my first credit card in O'Neils and then pick up D&D's Basic red box at Kay'Bee's. Mom and Dad met because of this mall; he worked at Holiday Shoes and Mom at Petries across from each other in the now-shuttered moldy area, and after I was born, I was in this mall in my stroller quite often. I walked for the first time IN Holiday Shoes' store. So many memories....
Living and growing up in Canton, I hear horror stories about that place, people say it's haunted and others say it's still in use. My uncle says the bottom parking deck is used as an impound lot for the local PD. When I was last in JCPenney, I saw the door and looked in. I saw a few cars in there, and it was just empty. It was spooky, but the place honestly is part of this area's history, and it deserves to be remembered. Thank you.
I grew up going to this mall all the time. The video brought back a lot of memories. There was so much going on there during its heyday. It was more than just a place to shop. There was always something new and unique to experience, be it a car show, craft show, indoor parade, music recital, catch a movie, or watch a glass artist make a sculpture. It was our cheap mecca of entertainment especially during the cold dark days of winter. I can still feel the feels of being there when I watched the video. Sad to see it in such disrepair. It's hard to see a piece of my childhood reduced to a moldy dilapidated shell of what it once was.
I had forgotten about the glass blowing! I remember buying an art piece for mom for Christmas one year. Gram and I would go to Breteans for Sunday lunch (or if I was lucky, to the very 80's themed Eats! right behind it!). It is a memory I'll always cherish and no one else will have. They had the best custard.
Rolling Acres. Sighs. More memories. Excalibur Gifts was my favorite store there, and the glass elevator always made me smile. There are a few great abandoned videos of it here on YT.
As of January 2024, the old Macy's/Kaufmans/May Co/O'Neils building is now CubeSmart, a building filled with rental self-storage units. The JC Penny is still in business. The indoor mall itself, what used to be the main section of Mellet Mall/Canton Centre, is still a sarcophagus. The realty company now considers the WalMart and the strip mall out front to be Canton Centre.
I was there with my best friend, grandma and mom as a kid when the food court opened and I did indeed get to see the balloons fall. It’s a very vivid memory considering I was only 6 at the time.
Shopping malls are how I remember growing up in the eighties. It is so sad seeing these classic shopping icons. I am emotional seeing this era going to the way side. You have great history on these places Sal. Keep up this great work!
This is heartbreaking....I just can not imagine what became of the mall. I worked at Burger King till 95 & the mall was booming. Christmas time was absolutely ridiculous. Wall to wall people in the walkways.
I was there for the Canton Centre Mall dedication. Our high school marching band (Canton McKinley) was invited to perform as part of the festivities. We left school for a few hours, played some songs, then got back on the bus and headed back to class. I remember that there were balloons that didn’t get dropped, but we were gone before they cut them loose. Some people had fished out a few stray balloons to play with, but that was it. What was striking was the food court. It was a large round area lined with vendors - the rest of the mall was blocky so this seemed different. Before the renovation this was end of the mall with the Camelot Music store. My cousin used to work there.
When I was a little girl my mom would look for clothes in that JcPennys as I’d wander around this abandoned mall😂 It was so weird to me how it wasn’t boarded off and how long it took them too (But you’re right it’s boarded off now). I miss looking around, it was so cool to me and I’d try to imagine what life was like back then. I always wondered what happened to it, thank you for this video!
Absolutely fantastic video, Sal. The historical narrative is just as important as the footage itself, and I appreciate the effort involved in researching these places. Just imagine in the coming years as more and more of America's retail environment disappears, how valuable these videos will be.
I worked in the mall at Petrie's for 22 years until they closed. My heart always belonged there, and it still breaks when I drive past. So very sad to watch it die.😢😢😢
spent a lot of time and money in Mellet/Canton Center Mall back in it's heyday..... remember when it opened - was a big event for the area... had one long open air corridor with two grocery stores on each side of the main entrance..... lots of good memories..... sad what has happened to it.....
In the summer of 1967, my boyfriend and I rode the bus to this mall so I could meet his father who managed a men's clothing store there called The Harvard. I shopped there many times. I really like your videos,
At 8:22 fun fact at one point in time this was a public parking garage and was the first one of its kind to be heated. After that section of the mall was closed for at least one year cannot remember if i was as again it was a haunted house attraction
Sad to See It in that Condition. Wonder what Happened to that Grand Chandelier in the Kaufmann store that You looked at Going up the Escalator to the Second Floor, It Was Beautiful! Thanks for this Video!
I grew up in North Canton. I hardly ever went to this mall as BV was closer. But, If you wanted to go to a JC Pennies, this was it! I remember going to this JCP because they sold Boy Scouts clothing and accessories. Also bought jeans from them as they had better prices.
I remember going to wooworths it was so cool with my grandparents . While mu grandma shopped , Grnadpa & i woukd get a snake & a coke at their snack bar. I remember hanging out with my friends in the 80's at the record store, shopping for new clothes. Spencer's was crazy. Loved it in that store. Then when we were in high school the food court came. We would have i One person go to eat food okace and get food then we would put it in the table amd share all of it . Man those were great times
Dear Sal, I have grown up in Canton, Ohio and I watched the opening of the video, how interesting to hear about that time in Canton. Sal I enjoy the history of the mall you have done a fine job. I use to spend a lot of time walking the mall and going into the Radio Shack. In 2012 I suffered a stoke which effects my walking, I built when in HS a stereo floor model, the Radio Shack was where bought my parts. I remember these three doors leading to the parking lot. I also remember it being renamed the Canton Centre, and the new food court, and sitting with my dad in there, what wonderful, wonderful memories. Sal I now live in a nunsing home and havn't been back to Canton, Can I as you a question is the Belden Village Mall still open? Sal that you kindly for a look that has brought back a lot of great memories of this wonderful piece of history. Sir, HAVE A GREAT DAY.
I live in canton and no joke went to this “mall” like a week ago 😂 I like JCPenney and I always went back to the abandoned back end and I loved it since I think it was this mall or Belden Village Mall where both my grandma and my mom worked at one time😉 Sal this must older recording because you can’t go back to that back end of JCPenney and enter the abandoned part of the Mall which is sad . I love that draft that back door of JCPenney gave when you walked though that big glass door to the mall😀
I remember in 70s and 80s hanging out there getting into trouble either playing in the elevator or escalators and playing games in huck fins while my sister was watching a movie. I was there during the re dedication after actually doing some drywall and painting work
Here in N.E.Ohio we have 300 cloudy days,6 months of Brown Trees & 65 days of partial Sun.. Malls in the late 60's were the cat's meow, popping up everywhere, in less than 10years our Strip Malls & parallel parking were practically non-existent. Inside the Mall,near the Anchor Stores inside entrances were lockers. If I remember correctly, the cost was .25¢ ,a little more for a large locker. We would put our winter coats & maybe boots ( sometimes). Walk & shop the length of the mall. Eat at Woolworths, in the 70's, Brown Derby, shop some more .. I never remember the Malls being closed, just shortened hours on Sundays. Further North Cleveland, for specialty shopping. We stopped shopping in the malls during the mid 80's. Our kids were heavily involved in sports, and or they shopped ,we worked ,maybe went to the gym, & boom CRIME.. Unspeakable crime. Possibly Mall Security ,Homelessness, not sure. This video is reminding me of a wet basement due to a huge water flood. Yep.. 300 days of GRAY skies..
Growing up in the 90s, I remember coming here often with my family. There used to be a small chinese store that would sell things from china there. The food court was awesome, there used to be a piano there at one point. I remember one time eating there and someone in a tuxedo playing it. I remember the jewelry stores there with the neon signs, the JC Penney, the payless shoe store, etc. This brought up good memories, thank you.
The movie theater was the coolest ngl I miss this place and the wishing wale pond I always threw pennies in there. Born in 1991 so around 2008 I was 16/15 so I grew up around it’s remaining days. It’s deep
Hi I remembered going to the mall every weekend with my friends after a stressful week at school I miss those days I wish they would tear down Walmart Walmart and rebuild the mall ❤ thank you
Our favorite hang out spot in the seventies.Remember seeing Jaws there. Hot Sam's pretzel and an Orange Julius. We used to do donuts in the back parking lot at night during the winter. I wondered out loud once if it would ever close. One friend said, Hell no, this place will be here forever. Oh to be young and ignorant of the world.
Oh, Orange Julius. I miss them. I worked at Kaufmann's/Macy's. When we closed the store back in 2009 I was in the old hallway that Orange Julius was in. The lights were still in place and the old Orange and Blue was (somewhat) visible. I had a picture but that phone is long lost. :( It is sad to think it was also hit with the water damage.
Excellent video. Thinking back on the demise of this place, it was dead and gone Way before Walmart came around. I can't believe Wards lasted as long as it did.
The various atrium ceiling works in the mall reminded me of the ceiling design @ the Philipsburg Mall in NJ. I miss these types of rad retro designs in malls. The Mellet Mall looks like it was a cool place. It's a shame to hear what became of it. Thanks, Sal for giving the viewers a glimpse of the mall. I really enjoyed the stroll tonight. Have a nice evening.
I lived about a mile from the mall and me, my brother and our friend from two doors over used to spend our summers just hanging out there in the early-mid 90s. Glad you mentioned that Hot Sam’s because that was one of my fondest remembrances of that place.
I have always had great memories of the canton center mall. I remember when it was the Mellet mall. I remember the time when the mall was full of life, and stores. We used to go to the mall every weekend as a family in the 90’s. Still go there often, except now one store remains. Kinda hard to watch this, but I can’t turn away either. It’s kinda cool to go through the comments and see the way others may view it. To me, it was on a downfall in the mid to late 90’s when gang fights became more and more often. Thanks for making this video, I look forward to checking out more of your videos. Keep up the great work.
Being from Massillon, 15 minutes from this mall, and not knowing A QUARTER of the history mentioned about my own town. Watching you drive down and mention streets I am extremely familiar with is just insane to me
I remember my dad taking me through it when I was younger, probably around 2009-2013. It must have been closed by then right? Us tossing coins into that same fountain in eerily silent, empty room is a core memory from my childhood.
Great video. Very sad to see how bad it's deteriorated. I actually got a chance to sneak inside the abandoned mall before it was completely shuddered. The JC Penny there feels spooky because its well stocked but almost nobody shopping there.
Thank you! I've been past this mall so many times I don't even know the actual amount. My dad used to go to this mall when he was little, but he never really told me much about the mall. I've always been curious, as every time we go somewhere I see it because I live near the area. Thank you for showing inside footage that I will never be able to see, as since I've had interest they (like you said) fully closed off the doors. I enjoyed listening to the story behind the mall. Great Job - you earned yourself a new subscriber!
I remember the movie theatre also closing in maybe the late 90s. Then they brought it back and it was a big deal. I remember thinking the mall was going to make it just because the the theatre was back. I worked at that Penneys around 2009-2011. I wish I'd taken the time to go into the mall while the doors were open. I'd occasionally look out, but never walked around. I'll be home to visit family for the holidays. Maybe I'll stop by and see what I can see.
I'm watching this with tears on my face. Once a month we'd go here, just to look around. I'd take two rolls of quarters, and go to the arcade, Hucky Finn's When I was finished, I'd go find them, and we'd get a bite. Then we'd buy some Hot Sam's and go home. Another piece of my childhood, gone.
Belden village mall, which was as said just 10 minutes up the road, was bigger, nicer with a better food court and more stores and surrounded by better restaurants. So anyone who wasn’t in a hurry went there instead of the Canton Centre.
This is sad. Growing up in Canton, I frequented this mall from 1989 up until I left Canton in 1998, I would always catch the #2 West Tuscarawas bus there. KB toys, Aladdin castle, the Burger King, And I can’t remember what the music store was called, places that I went. I even bought my second wife’s wedding ring from the Kay jewelers in there in 2007. I definitely liked it better than Belden Village. To me, Belden Village is a mini mall that just has or had better upkeep.
I love the old ads with reverb added. Walmart is a tick sucking the blood of any business trying to make a profit and not offering discounts and promising refunds. Great video!
In the past years of canton center mall they had an Indian rug sale in the front corner of parking lot in which he sold out of the back of his van. I believe there was also a setup for cement birdbaths and other yard statues. Because of that, I thought it had been closed long before it actually was. There was also a lot of reports of purse snatching going on and little to no security. Once the area around Belden village mall grew, canton center didn't stand a chance...and the Wal-Mart a few blocks down didn't help either.
A great many things died out. I'm glad downtown is beginning to thrive (and still cringe at the Centennial Plaza project. 25 million for a single city block!) but it was scary when I first returned to Canton in 98 with all the abandoned store fronts there too. At least Willie's still here.
I briefly lived in Canton in 1987 to 1988. I did shop in Mellett Mall. I remember going to "Little Professor" book store which was right inside one of the entrances.
I'm from Toledo and we had a few malls that have died. Southwick Mall was a great place, they had old town, which was a part of the mall where they had 10 cent pinball games and other things for the kids to do. In the main center of the mall, where the fountains were, they would actually stock it with trout and would hold a fishing derby for the kids. It was all for fun. Northtown mall was another one they closed, just your average mall but a lot of fun, too. The movie theater was great, they had movies for, I think, 2 bucks. The malls did well up until the low income housing started to spring up near them. After that the crime went through the roof and the stores slowly faded into oblivion. I'm not blaming anyone, just telling the truth. I miss those malls but all things must come to an end. Wish you could of toured them.
The Canton Centre O'Neills/May Company/Kaufmann's (all 3 owned by the May Company until purchased by Macy's) building was replicated by other May Company divisions in northern Ohio (O'Neill's in Akron/Canton, Strouss in Youngstown, and May Company in Cleveland). If you want to know more, hit me up.
What memories of the mall do you have? I have many and that mall is actually a part of why I exist right now! Mom and Dad met there and got married when they worked at Holiday Shoes (him) and Petries (her). :)
I used to service HVAC for JC Penney around 2014 or so for a few years and the Canton store was one I visited frequently. The video is correct that the place probably hasn’t changed much since it opened as a lot of their equipment was mostly dated to the mid 60s. I can remember my first visit there that the large glass doors were open to the main area of the mall. I remember store employees rolling racks of cloths through those doors. At lunch time I walked through the doors into the main area of the mall in search of the food court as per usual since most of the stores I serviced were in large indoor malls. I didn’t get very far as I realized the mall was closed. I did stroll through as much as I could because abandoned buildings always fascinated me. When I came back to Penny’s one of the employees asked my why I was walking through there. So I said I was looking for the food court but realized the mall was abandoned. He said it had been closed for years. Anyways I like watching the abandoned mall videos because they were a big part of my life. I used to hang out in local malls in my early teens and have worked in many more of them as an adult.
great stuff as always. its amazing how vunerable these malls were to just one or two closures having a snowball effect , that leads to a mall closing completely, as you say. that and bad management decisions . cheers. 👍👍
Another interesting chronicle from my backyard. I was born at Aultman Hospital five minutes from the filming location. I saw Ace Ventura 2 at the movie theatre 🍿 when it came out. Pizza slices from the SBarro chain in the food court were a staple. New clothing to start off each K-12 schoolyear came from Penny’s. What’s ironic is that the open air “Strip” shopping center in the wealthier Jackson Township region just 10min to the north on the Interstate is essentially what the Canton Centre started out as...and to which it has now at least partially returned.
This was my home away from home! Right on the bus line. I got my ears pierced here when I was in elementary school, 3rd grade. Spent most of my money on movie tickets, CD's from Camelot music, or the Nickelodeon arcade. My husband and I got our pagers from page plus when we were in highschool, 1999. (143=I love you- we still text each other this daily) there was a pet store back in the early 80's when I was really young, but was gone by the time I was a teenager in the 90's. We always had a blast at The Nickelodeon arcade! Loved going into the KB toy store, or Spencer's to play around for a few minutes. My step-aunt worked the little coffee shop right at the front/food court doors. No one could figure out why I couldn't sleep because I was sneaking, eating tons of chocolate covered coffee beans when no one was looking 🤣😹 Much love and blessings in Jesus mighty name amen. Sad to see no one took care of our once great hangout! Wonderful video, thank you.
Also that part of the mall that’s not sectioned off was not empty of tenants until 10-11 years ago thought there was few tenants left. The last three tenant were the Chase bank before relocating outside, shoe store maybe footlocker, and I think it was a sports hat type place. The fountain part was still filled and running until 5-6 years ago the public rr was open though sketchy and practically unsafe. The Macy’s didn’t stay long cause of the Macy’s at Belden Village. I do remember my dad telling me before they bulldozed the Montgomery Wards the fire department used the space for fire training by filling the store with smoke and practice rescuing people.
"Back at my childhood mall, the Ocean County Mall-" Dude! I didn't know you were from around my area, that is super cool!! The way things are going around here, Monmouth Mall is really headed into dead mall territory, but Ocean is doing okay. Loved your channel before, but now I love it even more.
Used to live one block west of the mall, 69 -71. Used to wander around with other HS kids sneaking beers and joints, I think that was called dating at the time. In the winters at night we would slide our beat up old cars around on the snowy parking lots, doing donuts I think we called it. Hard to believe Penneys is still open
Always look forward to your videos! You have a great speaking voice Sal! I could listen to you all day long! Take care Cheryle Oregon! We have two malls in Eugene/Springfield and both are going strong they both keep evolving and investing as I believe is what really helps! Take care Sal!
Thanks for another great video. Yours, and Retail Archaeology are easily the best dead mall content. Love Ace's and Unicomm, but you guys have a great approach.
i’m from canton ohio still staying here td always wondered abt the canton centre mall drive past it damn nere everyday i never knew it was this deep crazzzzz
My grandma used to take me and my little sister to this mall in 1999 and 2000 to make wishes in the fountain. Awesome memories but that was all we'd do there, we usually went there just after finishing up at JC Pennys
This takes me back😢. My very first job was Deb's & Tops n' Bottom's right next to the food court. Well actually that's where the store moved to because the air conditioning unit in the old store kept going out. The old store would be so hot that they would tell us we could "keep drinks on the floor just hide them". I would get my nails did at the nail shop in the mall too😂. So many memories of my early teen years 2001/2002. Also that's when the food court was starting to severely struggle. 🎶 I wish that I could rewiinnnnd🎶🤟🏼 Who else remembers the man by the food court (when I was little) that did the shoe shining?! Always someone in his chair🤭👴🏿❤️❤️❤️❤️
Even at its prime this mall was underwhelming. Me and my friends spent a lot of time there. Mostly at Camelot, the arcade, Spenser’s and the movie theatre mostly because we could ride there on our bikes.
The common theme with a lot of these Dead Malls is these acquired Macy's that where not Macy's (The Stereotypical Big City Storefronts) in the First Place, and I would love to see a fill-in about the Famous Niles-Massillon Football Classic, even in film.
Sal id like to take the time to thank you for all your videos they are amazing. I'm a mall rat and love what you do. Everytime I watch a walk thru I think of all the people that had fun times and good memories at these malls. Your doing a fantastic job thank you
To me shopping malls represent the 70's and the 80's, to see this is like watching this time period just fade away, shame; I really enjoyed those times.
This was awesome. I worked at Mellet Mall in the 70s-80s first at Orange Julius and then at O'Neils. The mall was such a part of our childhood. I still cringe when we drive by the former O'Neils grand entrance. Thanks for this. It made me cry a bit.
I worked at Kauffman's and closed the building. The Orange Julius was still there, with the metal slats down. That hall was rented to the Belsen Village Kauffman's/Macy's for extra storage and that was the only way to see it when we left.
My dad went there😢
He’s now 43😢
@@pageracing16damn I'm 44 and hung out at mall a lot.
Your documentaries just keep getting better and better and your narriation is outstanding. Keep up the great work. This is history and should never be forgotten. I'm just sad that it is history. I would rather these centers of social society were still vibrant.
Thank you Mark!!
Thank you Sal we don’t quite have the history of malls in the Uk as you do , they hold a fascination from me since the Kickstart Malls Across America . Thank you for contributing as much an important part of America’s cultural history as much as Hopper did with his paintings xxx
Oh man I’d love to dig into the malls out on the UK.
Sal If you’re ever over here, tho I’m in Scotland , come visit We can offer you a bed near Edinburgh xxx
Sal the malls don’t have that ‘ hang out cultural thing going on the same as America probably because we are a smaller country and there was no need for a central point don’t know exactly xxx
Not a British, but I think the reason shopping centres (we don't call them "malls" here in the UK) weren't a thing in the UK is mostly due to the economic situation and general public mood. The country changed a lot during the decade - unemployment was massive, rise of the right and downfall of the unions combined with labour strikes mean that British people weren't in the mood to buy useless stuff.
From an outsider's perspective, 80s seems to be a relatively dark period in the UK compared with East Asia (where I'm from) and the US.
I remember going here as a kid with my grandparents who lived in Massillon. I think the one fountain had a jack jumping over a candlestick in the center. Good memories! Great video and walk back in time.
I grew up in Canton and went to this mall every Saturday with my Mother in the 1970s. It was the place to be!! Thanks for the walk thru.
Cries. My childhood right here, biking up here from Perry to the movie theater, then later after I got a job at Zayre Massillon to shop here for my first credit card in O'Neils and then pick up D&D's Basic red box at Kay'Bee's. Mom and Dad met because of this mall; he worked at Holiday Shoes and Mom at Petries across from each other in the now-shuttered moldy area, and after I was born, I was in this mall in my stroller quite often. I walked for the first time IN Holiday Shoes' store. So many memories....
Living and growing up in Canton, I hear horror stories about that place, people say it's haunted and others say it's still in use. My uncle says the bottom parking deck is used as an impound lot for the local PD. When I was last in JCPenney, I saw the door and looked in. I saw a few cars in there, and it was just empty. It was spooky, but the place honestly is part of this area's history, and it deserves to be remembered. Thank you.
I grew up going to this mall all the time. The video brought back a lot of memories. There was so much going on there during its heyday. It was more than just a place to shop. There was always something new and unique to experience, be it a car show, craft show, indoor parade, music recital, catch a movie, or watch a glass artist make a sculpture. It was our cheap mecca of entertainment especially during the cold dark days of winter. I can still feel the feels of being there when I watched the video. Sad to see it in such disrepair. It's hard to see a piece of my childhood reduced to a moldy dilapidated shell of what it once was.
I had forgotten about the glass blowing! I remember buying an art piece for mom for Christmas one year. Gram and I would go to Breteans for Sunday lunch (or if I was lucky, to the very 80's themed Eats! right behind it!). It is a memory I'll always cherish and no one else will have. They had the best custard.
I grew up there too. I always preferred Mellett to Belden, except they had Walden's! I also worked at Kauffman's until we closed the store.
Wow, sal that water damage wing reminds me of rolling acres. This was another great video and thanks for sharing.
Rolling Acres. Sighs. More memories. Excalibur Gifts was my favorite store there, and the glass elevator always made me smile. There are a few great abandoned videos of it here on YT.
As of January 2024, the old Macy's/Kaufmans/May Co/O'Neils building is now CubeSmart, a building filled with rental self-storage units. The JC Penny is still in business. The indoor mall itself, what used to be the main section of Mellet Mall/Canton Centre, is still a sarcophagus. The realty company now considers the WalMart and the strip mall out front to be Canton Centre.
I was there with my best friend, grandma and mom as a kid when the food court opened and I did indeed get to see the balloons fall. It’s a very vivid memory considering I was only 6 at the time.
Shopping malls are how I remember growing up in the eighties. It is so sad seeing these classic shopping icons. I am emotional seeing this era going to the way side. You have great history on these places Sal. Keep up this great work!
It's as if a consumer based economy is not sustainable. Thank you for the work my friend its very fascinating.
Wow! That one wing of the mall was very nasty! It's sad to see malls decline when they help create so many joyful memories! Great work!
This is heartbreaking....I just can not imagine what became of the mall. I worked at Burger King till 95 & the mall was booming. Christmas time was absolutely ridiculous. Wall to wall people in the walkways.
I was there for the Canton Centre Mall dedication. Our high school marching band (Canton McKinley) was invited to perform as part of the festivities. We left school for a few hours, played some songs, then got back on the bus and headed back to class. I remember that there were balloons that didn’t get dropped, but we were gone before they cut them loose. Some people had fished out a few stray balloons to play with, but that was it. What was striking was the food court. It was a large round area lined with vendors - the rest of the mall was blocky so this seemed different. Before the renovation this was end of the mall with the Camelot Music store. My cousin used to work there.
Class of 91. Bulldogs!!
When I was a little girl my mom would look for clothes in that JcPennys as I’d wander around this abandoned mall😂 It was so weird to me how it wasn’t boarded off and how long it took them too (But you’re right it’s boarded off now). I miss looking around, it was so cool to me and I’d try to imagine what life was like back then. I always wondered what happened to it, thank you for this video!
I did work for JC Penny women’s clothing section about 55 years ago
Absolutely fantastic video, Sal. The historical narrative is just as important as the footage itself, and I appreciate the effort involved in researching these places. Just imagine in the coming years as more and more of America's retail environment disappears, how valuable these videos will be.
Seeing more of these malls barron and abandoned makes me sad. 😔
Man these videos are awesome! They just keep getting better and better!
Thank you so much!!!!
My dad went here when he was young
He’s now 43
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I worked in the mall at Petrie's for 22 years until they closed. My heart always belonged there, and it still breaks when I drive past. So very sad to watch it die.😢😢😢
Lived right down the street from Mellet Mall for 20 yrs. Sad to see it crumble away
spent a lot of time and money in Mellet/Canton Center Mall back in it's heyday..... remember when it opened - was a big event for the area... had one long open air corridor with two grocery stores on each side of the main entrance..... lots of good memories..... sad what has happened to it.....
In the summer of 1967, my boyfriend and I rode the bus to this mall so I could meet his father who managed a men's clothing store there called The Harvard. I shopped there many times. I really like your videos,
At 8:22 fun fact at one point in time this was a public parking garage and was the first one of its kind to be heated. After that section of the mall was closed for at least one year cannot remember if i was as again it was a haunted house attraction
keep doing these. You are the best at it by far. The history. the voice. Very much appreciated.
My grandma referred to Canton Centre as Mellet Mall until the day she died.
I still call it Mellet Mall. I hated the new name
Sad to See It in that Condition. Wonder what Happened to that Grand Chandelier in the Kaufmann store that You looked at Going up the Escalator to the Second Floor, It Was Beautiful! Thanks for this Video!
I grew up in North Canton. I hardly ever went to this mall as BV was closer. But, If you wanted to go to a JC Pennies, this was it! I remember going to this JCP because they sold Boy Scouts clothing and accessories. Also bought jeans from them as they had better prices.
I remember going to wooworths it was so cool with my grandparents . While mu grandma shopped , Grnadpa & i woukd get a snake & a coke at their snack bar. I remember hanging out with my friends in the 80's at the record store, shopping for new clothes. Spencer's was crazy. Loved it in that store. Then when we were in high school the food court came. We would have i
One person go to eat food okace and get food then we would put it in the table amd share all of it . Man those were great times
Glad you're still doing this you are great at telling the story of the area and cause and effect.
Dear Sal, I have grown up in Canton, Ohio and I watched the opening of the video, how interesting to hear about that time in Canton. Sal I enjoy the history of the mall you have done a fine job. I use to spend a lot of time walking the mall and going into the Radio Shack. In 2012 I suffered a stoke which effects my walking, I built when in HS a stereo floor model, the Radio Shack was where bought my parts. I remember these three doors leading to the parking lot. I also remember it being renamed the Canton Centre, and the new food court, and sitting with my dad in there, what wonderful, wonderful memories. Sal I now live in a nunsing home and havn't been back to Canton, Can I as you a question is the Belden Village Mall still open? Sal that you kindly for a look that has brought back a lot of great memories of this wonderful piece of history. Sir, HAVE A GREAT DAY.
I live in canton and no joke went to this “mall” like a week ago 😂 I like JCPenney and I always went back to the abandoned back end and I loved it since I think it was this mall or Belden Village Mall where both my grandma and my mom worked at one time😉 Sal this must older recording because you can’t go back to that back end of JCPenney and enter the abandoned part of the Mall which is sad . I love that draft that back door of JCPenney gave when you walked though that big glass door to the mall😀
I remember in 70s and 80s hanging out there getting into trouble either playing in the elevator or escalators and playing games in huck fins while my sister was watching a movie. I was there during the re dedication after actually doing some drywall and painting work
I frequented that mall From the late 80s till it’s demise…I also ran around the new cinema while under construction 🤘
Here in N.E.Ohio we have 300 cloudy days,6 months of Brown Trees & 65 days of partial Sun.. Malls in the late 60's were the cat's meow, popping up everywhere, in less than 10years our Strip Malls & parallel parking were practically non-existent. Inside the Mall,near the Anchor Stores inside entrances were lockers. If I remember correctly, the cost was .25¢ ,a little more for a large locker. We would put our winter coats & maybe boots ( sometimes). Walk & shop the length of the mall. Eat at Woolworths, in the 70's, Brown Derby, shop some more .. I never remember the Malls being closed, just shortened hours on Sundays. Further North Cleveland, for specialty shopping. We stopped shopping in the malls during the mid 80's. Our kids were heavily involved in sports, and or they shopped ,we worked ,maybe went to the gym, & boom CRIME.. Unspeakable crime. Possibly Mall Security ,Homelessness, not sure. This video is reminding me of a wet basement due to a huge water flood. Yep.. 300 days of GRAY skies..
Growing up in the 90s, I remember coming here often with my family. There used to be a small chinese store that would sell things from china there. The food court was awesome, there used to be a piano there at one point. I remember one time eating there and someone in a tuxedo playing it. I remember the jewelry stores there with the neon signs, the JC Penney, the payless shoe store, etc. This brought up good memories, thank you.
Spent many a happy hour in that mall with a lot of good memories, it really saddens me to see it a shell of it's former self.
The movie theater was the coolest ngl I miss this place and the wishing wale pond I always threw pennies in there. Born in 1991 so around 2008 I was 16/15 so I grew up around it’s remaining days. It’s deep
Hi I remembered going to the mall every weekend with my friends after a stressful week at school I miss those days I wish they would tear down Walmart Walmart and rebuild the mall ❤ thank you
Our favorite hang out spot in the seventies.Remember seeing Jaws there. Hot Sam's pretzel and an Orange Julius. We used to do donuts in the back parking lot at night during the winter. I wondered out loud once if it would ever close. One friend said, Hell no, this place will be here forever. Oh to be young and ignorant of the world.
Spencers, the monkey at the shoe store, Radio Shack, the arcade..Seen Jaws there also.. Big Chuck & Hoolihan too lol..
Oh, Orange Julius. I miss them. I worked at Kaufmann's/Macy's. When we closed the store back in 2009 I was in the old hallway that Orange Julius was in. The lights were still in place and the old Orange and Blue was (somewhat) visible. I had a picture but that phone is long lost. :( It is sad to think it was also hit with the water damage.
Excellent video. Thinking back on the demise of this place, it was dead and gone Way before Walmart came around. I can't believe Wards lasted as long as it did.
The various atrium ceiling works in the mall reminded me of the ceiling design @ the Philipsburg Mall in NJ. I miss these types of rad retro designs in malls. The Mellet Mall looks like it was a cool place. It's a shame to hear what became of it. Thanks, Sal for giving the viewers a glimpse of the mall. I really enjoyed the stroll tonight. Have a nice evening.
The area under O’Neils you visited at 8:25 was used by JayCees to run a haunted house back in the early 1980s.
Great video. Spent a lot of time there as a kid. The theater and Aladdin's Castle. Walking the stores. Even had a haunted house behind O'Neils.
I lived about a mile from the mall and me, my brother and our friend from two doors over used to spend our summers just hanging out there in the early-mid 90s. Glad you mentioned that Hot Sam’s because that was one of my fondest remembrances of that place.
I have always had great memories of the canton center mall. I remember when it was the Mellet mall. I remember the time when the mall was full of life, and stores. We used to go to the mall every weekend as a family in the 90’s. Still go there often, except now one store remains. Kinda hard to watch this, but I can’t turn away either. It’s kinda cool to go through the comments and see the way others may view it. To me, it was on a downfall in the mid to late 90’s when gang fights became more and more often. Thanks for making this video, I look forward to checking out more of your videos. Keep up the great work.
Very interesting! I lived next to this mall (when it was abandoned) for 15 years and never knew the history.
Being from Massillon, 15 minutes from this mall, and not knowing A QUARTER of the history mentioned about my own town. Watching you drive down and mention streets I am extremely familiar with is just insane to me
I remember my dad taking me through it when I was younger, probably around 2009-2013. It must have been closed by then right? Us tossing coins into that same fountain in eerily silent, empty room is a core memory from my childhood.
Great video. Very sad to see how bad it's deteriorated. I actually got a chance to sneak inside the abandoned mall before it was completely shuddered. The JC Penny there feels spooky because its well stocked but almost nobody shopping there.
Thank you! I've been past this mall so many times I don't even know the actual amount. My dad used to go to this mall when he was little, but he never really told me much about the mall. I've always been curious, as every time we go somewhere I see it because I live near the area. Thank you for showing inside footage that I will never be able to see, as since I've had interest they (like you said) fully closed off the doors. I enjoyed listening to the story behind the mall. Great Job - you earned yourself a new subscriber!
Greasy supercenter, best description of a Wal Fart I've ever heard.
You mean Ghetto Mart.
Love the Black Belt Jones typical 70's. The mall looked so badly kept and damp made me shiver.
I remember the movie theatre also closing in maybe the late 90s. Then they brought it back and it was a big deal. I remember thinking the mall was going to make it just because the the theatre was back. I worked at that Penneys around 2009-2011. I wish I'd taken the time to go into the mall while the doors were open. I'd occasionally look out, but never walked around. I'll be home to visit family for the holidays. Maybe I'll stop by and see what I can see.
I'm watching this with tears on my face. Once a month we'd go here, just to look around. I'd take two rolls of quarters, and go to the arcade, Hucky Finn's When I was finished, I'd go find them, and we'd get a bite. Then we'd buy some Hot Sam's and go home. Another piece of my childhood, gone.
Belden village mall, which was as said just 10 minutes up the road, was bigger, nicer with a better food court and more stores and surrounded by better restaurants. So anyone who wasn’t in a hurry went there instead of the Canton Centre.
This is sad. Growing up in Canton, I frequented this mall from 1989 up until I left Canton in 1998, I would always catch the #2 West Tuscarawas bus there. KB toys, Aladdin castle, the Burger King, And I can’t remember what the music store was called, places that I went. I even bought my second wife’s wedding ring from the Kay jewelers in there in 2007. I definitely liked it better than Belden Village. To me, Belden Village is a mini mall that just has or had better upkeep.
I love the old ads with reverb added. Walmart is a tick sucking the blood of any business trying to make a profit and not offering discounts and promising refunds. Great video!
I grew up going to this Mall Great video took me back to fun times a kid
In the past years of canton center mall they had an Indian rug sale in the front corner of parking lot in which he sold out of the back of his van. I believe there was also a setup for cement birdbaths and other yard statues. Because of that, I thought it had been closed long before it actually was. There was also a lot of reports of purse snatching going on and little to no security. Once the area around Belden village mall grew, canton center didn't stand a chance...and the Wal-Mart a few blocks down didn't help either.
A great many things died out. I'm glad downtown is beginning to thrive (and still cringe at the Centennial Plaza project. 25 million for a single city block!) but it was scary when I first returned to Canton in 98 with all the abandoned store fronts there too. At least Willie's still here.
I briefly lived in Canton in 1987 to 1988. I did shop in Mellett Mall. I remember going to "Little Professor" book store which was right inside one of the entrances.
Hot Sam's was awesome. Woolworth's hot pretzels coming in a very close second.
I'm from Toledo and we had a few malls that have died. Southwick Mall was a great place, they had old town, which was a part of the mall where they had 10 cent pinball games and other things for the kids to do. In the main center of the mall, where the fountains were, they would actually stock it with trout and would hold a fishing derby for the kids. It was all for fun. Northtown mall was another one they closed, just your average mall but a lot of fun, too. The movie theater was great, they had movies for, I think, 2 bucks. The malls did well up until the low income housing started to spring up near them. After that the crime went through the roof and the stores slowly faded into oblivion. I'm not blaming anyone, just telling the truth. I miss those malls but all things must come to an end. Wish you could of toured them.
The Canton Centre O'Neills/May Company/Kaufmann's (all 3 owned by the May Company until purchased by Macy's) building was replicated by other May Company divisions in northern Ohio (O'Neill's in Akron/Canton, Strouss in Youngstown, and May Company in Cleveland). If you want to know more, hit me up.
Sal, I remember this mall as a kid in the early 70s. Reminds me of the Blues Brothers car chase
What memories of the mall do you have? I have many and that mall is actually a part of why I exist right now! Mom and Dad met there and got married when they worked at Holiday Shoes (him) and Petries (her). :)
I used to service HVAC for JC Penney around 2014 or so for a few years and the Canton store was one I visited frequently. The video is correct that the place probably hasn’t changed much since it opened as a lot of their equipment was mostly dated to the mid 60s. I can remember my first visit there that the large glass doors were open to the main area of the mall. I remember store employees rolling racks of cloths through those doors. At lunch time I walked through the doors into the main area of the mall in search of the food court as per usual since most of the stores I serviced were in large indoor malls. I didn’t get very far as I realized the mall was closed. I did stroll through as much as I could because abandoned buildings always fascinated me. When I came back to Penny’s one of the employees asked my why I was walking through there. So I said I was looking for the food court but realized the mall was abandoned. He said it had been closed for years. Anyways I like watching the abandoned mall videos because they were a big part of my life. I used to hang out in local malls in my early teens and have worked in many more of them as an adult.
great stuff as always. its amazing how vunerable these malls were to just one or two closures having a snowball effect , that leads to a mall closing completely, as you say. that and bad management decisions . cheers. 👍👍
sir,once again, amazing job! all these information and stories behind these malls are so fascinating. thanks for your great documentaries!
milankooo1978 yes it is!!
Thanks Sal we have missed you! Great Video as usual and your wonderful Narrative voice! Take care
Thanks Delores!!! I certainly hope you saw all my recent uploads!!!
Guud stuff Sal and you go too some tough🥊 ass places, and very natural, and intresting
Another interesting chronicle from my backyard. I was born at Aultman Hospital five minutes from the filming location. I saw Ace Ventura 2 at the movie theatre 🍿 when it came out. Pizza slices from the SBarro chain in the food court were a staple. New clothing to start off each K-12 schoolyear came from Penny’s. What’s ironic is that the open air “Strip” shopping center in the wealthier Jackson Township region just 10min to the north on the Interstate is essentially what the Canton Centre started out as...and to which it has now at least partially returned.
This was my home away from home! Right on the bus line. I got my ears pierced here when I was in elementary school, 3rd grade. Spent most of my money on movie tickets, CD's from Camelot music, or the Nickelodeon arcade. My husband and I got our pagers from page plus when we were in highschool, 1999. (143=I love you- we still text each other this daily) there was a pet store back in the early 80's when I was really young, but was gone by the time I was a teenager in the 90's. We always had a blast at The Nickelodeon arcade! Loved going into the KB toy store, or Spencer's to play around for a few minutes. My step-aunt worked the little coffee shop right at the front/food court doors. No one could figure out why I couldn't sleep because I was sneaking, eating tons of chocolate covered coffee beans when no one was looking 🤣😹 Much love and blessings in Jesus mighty name amen. Sad to see no one took care of our once great hangout! Wonderful video, thank you.
Stay home, stay safe!
Also that part of the mall that’s not sectioned off was not empty of tenants until 10-11 years ago thought there was few tenants left. The last three tenant were the Chase bank before relocating outside, shoe store maybe footlocker, and I think it was a sports hat type place. The fountain part was still filled and running until 5-6 years ago the public rr was open though sketchy and practically unsafe. The Macy’s didn’t stay long cause of the Macy’s at Belden Village. I do remember my dad telling me before they bulldozed the Montgomery Wards the fire department used the space for fire training by filling the store with smoke and practice rescuing people.
My first high school boyfriend worked at Dairy Queen inside this mall...I worked At Taco Bell...the nostalgia is CRAZY for me right now
"Back at my childhood mall, the Ocean County Mall-"
Dude! I didn't know you were from around my area, that is super cool!!
The way things are going around here, Monmouth Mall is really headed into dead mall territory, but Ocean is doing okay.
Loved your channel before, but now I love it even more.
Hahahaha Black Belt Jones, Sal you cad!.... I love it!
Used to live one block west of the mall, 69 -71. Used to wander around with other HS kids sneaking beers and joints, I think that was called dating at the time. In the winters at night we would slide our beat up old cars around on the snowy parking lots, doing donuts I think we called it. Hard to believe Penneys is still open
Thank you Sal for this video, you said something is true, bad management is part of the problem as a one of the reason why malls are dying.
Always look forward to your videos! You have a great speaking voice Sal! I could listen to you all day long! Take care Cheryle Oregon! We have two malls in Eugene/Springfield and both are going strong they both keep evolving and investing as I believe is what really helps! Take care Sal!
Thanks for another great video. Yours, and Retail Archaeology are easily the best dead mall content. Love Ace's and Unicomm, but you guys have a great approach.
i’m from canton ohio still staying here td always wondered abt the canton centre mall drive past it damn nere everyday i never knew it was this deep crazzzzz
A Sal video gets an automatic like. Yea Ace does a good job.
the fact u came to our city and did this video is real💯💪🏼should do a vid about the hoods of canton ohio
Very fascinating Sal. Love that you do so much background and history. Can hardly wait to see your next video! Cleveland! YAY! You rock 😀
My grandma used to take me and my little sister to this mall in 1999 and 2000 to make wishes in the fountain. Awesome memories but that was all we'd do there, we usually went there just after finishing up at JC Pennys
This takes me back😢. My very first job was Deb's & Tops n' Bottom's right next to the food court. Well actually that's where the store moved to because the air conditioning unit in the old store kept going out. The old store would be so hot that they would tell us we could "keep drinks on the floor just hide them". I would get my nails did at the nail shop in the mall too😂. So many memories of my early teen years 2001/2002. Also that's when the food court was starting to severely struggle. 🎶 I wish that I could rewiinnnnd🎶🤟🏼 Who else remembers the man by the food court (when I was little) that did the shoe shining?! Always someone in his chair🤭👴🏿❤️❤️❤️❤️
A beautiful mall, what a sight it must've been.
Sal gets all the best sponsors!
Constant line out my door of potential sponsors
Even at its prime this mall was underwhelming. Me and my friends spent a lot of time there. Mostly at Camelot, the arcade, Spenser’s and the movie theatre mostly because we could ride there on our bikes.
I grew up in the Canton. My dad took me to see Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy movie at this mall in 1990!!
Back in the early eighties, when the place was called "Mellet Mall", we all called it Mellet Morgue. I'm surprised they haven't torn it down yet.
The common theme with a lot of these Dead Malls is these acquired Macy's that where not Macy's (The Stereotypical Big City Storefronts) in the First Place, and I would love to see a fill-in about the Famous Niles-Massillon Football Classic, even in film.
Sal, seems like to me, Open-air malls could make a comeback. If done correctly, I think it would be good.
I legit have been trying to remember that pretzel place for years. Loved it. Was so much better than auntie annes
Thank you for featuring my town!!! Wish I knew you were here, would’ve loved to meet you!
I buy drugs in that mall parking lot all the time, gotta love it
It’s so sad. It was a beautiful mall when I visited Canton.
Another home run! Your ex logs are my favorites! Keep up the stellar work
Thanks for this man.
Sal id like to take the time to thank you for all your videos they are amazing. I'm a mall rat and love what you do. Everytime I watch a walk thru I think of all the people that had fun times and good memories at these malls. Your doing a fantastic job thank you