4:53 I used to work at KB Toys, which was in this store next to the food court, about 20 years ago (can’t believe it’s been that long). The store went out of business while I was there, quite a ways before other stores started following suit. The smell of the food court still takes me back to those days. I met my first love working there. I also worked at a couple other locations you’ve filmed - Von Maur at College Hills mall (shortly before my KB Toys days), and briefly at the old Biaggis (I think a few years later) as holiday season help selling gift cards. Thanks for the videos 🙂
I remember going to that mall with my Mom and Grandma a bunch of times in the 80's and 90's. My God the memories. Eastland mall was a magical place back in the day. Thanks for the upload.
Four years ago this mall was actually still pretty lively. Now the only big store still standing in the mall is Kohl's. They turned the old JC Penny's into a Planet Fitness that I work out at, and the old Macy's is a Spirit Halloween in the fall so at least they're trying to still do something with the space.
Wow....this is really sad, but thanks for the walk-thru. I was there for the grand opening in the late 60's, and rode my bike to this mall every Saturday for years.
Very sad indeed with 4 anchors gone. I remember in 1997 there was a Woolworth and the Sears was extremely vintage looking. This was a great mall at one time. I can't wait to do an update on it, but carefully next time.
This mall was my childhood from 2009-2013 before we moved into galesburg
4 ปีที่แล้ว +2
I have visited that mall many times . Now it seems just a shell of its former self. The glory days are over. They used to have a great Karmelcorn shop and even indoor trampolines. The flagship store for Beernuts used to be a great place to stop at too. The Limited and Victoria's Secret always seemed busy back in the day too.
Karmelcorn. Thats a classic store. Beer nuts are good.
4 ปีที่แล้ว +2
I remember a Corvette rally in the parking lot there one year, and an Xterra rally later. Now everyone seems to be shopping online instead of at the malls. Lower overhead for online sales shifts consumers buying habits as consumers vote with their pocketbooks. . People shop where they can get the best deals.
Even if that stupid 'Blart' did stop you, I'm glad you did get most of this mall filmed. I used to attend Illinois State, and would occasionally visit this mall from time to time. My vague memory of going here years ago, was that the mall office was somewhere on the west side of the mall off a north side hallway not too far from Bergner's. Back in the mid-2000s(when I went to ISU), this mall was in good shape back then. Shame that fortunes haven't been good for this mall in the last few years, and that it's losing as many stores as it is. I wonder, had you done any walkthrough videos of Northwoods Mall in Peoria, or the mall(forget the name of it) in Mount Vernon, IL? I'm glad you do all the efforts you do to film retail stuff in central Illinois, and sometimes southern Illinois(with Illinois Star Center in Marion, before closing).
At least you got some. My parents had a kiosk there in the late 90s I remember working there and the pretzel twister. There was always a lot of people there. Great steak and potato co. Had awesome fries!
I would say next time you want to get a feel for what irs really like in there, go in when it's actually open and the merchants are open. That way you can see which ones are still operating. A lot has changed since this video was posted. Maybe a follow up is due.
Yeah. They just sneak up from behind. I remember when this mall was hopping. If Bloomington is the first place that a chain chooses to close a store, something is wrong. 4 anchors are lost now. Thank you for watching.
This mall is dead now which is sad cuz I used to go there with my mom all the time and get popcorn at a old popcorn stand that used to be there and now where sears used to be there’s a planet fitness and I know that u can just shop online but I would rather be able to shop in stores than online
Isu not siu
4:53 I used to work at KB Toys, which was in this store next to the food court, about 20 years ago (can’t believe it’s been that long). The store went out of business while I was there, quite a ways before other stores started following suit. The smell of the food court still takes me back to those days. I met my first love working there. I also worked at a couple other locations you’ve filmed - Von Maur at College Hills mall (shortly before my KB Toys days), and briefly at the old Biaggis (I think a few years later) as holiday season help selling gift cards. Thanks for the videos 🙂
I remember going to that mall with my Mom and Grandma a bunch of times in the 80's and 90's. My God the memories. Eastland mall was a magical place back in the day. Thanks for the upload.
Sears and Bergner’s are both now gone. The only anchor store that remains is Kohl’s.
Four years ago this mall was actually still pretty lively. Now the only big store still standing in the mall is Kohl's. They turned the old JC Penny's into a Planet Fitness that I work out at, and the old Macy's is a Spirit Halloween in the fall so at least they're trying to still do something with the space.
Keep doing the good work Buddy. The security guards probably saying do you want fries with that now.
Yeah with all the stores closing down there they probably are. Stay tuned for a 2021 update of this. This was done in 2018.
I haven't been in a mall in years. These videos bring back memories
Wow....this is really sad, but thanks for the walk-thru. I was there for the grand opening in the late 60's, and rode my bike to this mall every Saturday for years.
Very sad indeed with 4 anchors gone. I remember in 1997 there was a Woolworth and the Sears was extremely vintage looking. This was a great mall at one time. I can't wait to do an update on it, but carefully next time.
This mall was my childhood from 2009-2013 before we moved into galesburg
I have visited that mall many times . Now it seems just a shell of its former self. The glory days are over. They used to have a great Karmelcorn shop and even indoor trampolines. The flagship store for Beernuts used to be a great place to stop at too. The Limited and Victoria's Secret always seemed busy back in the day too.
Karmelcorn. Thats a classic store. Beer nuts are good.
I remember a Corvette rally in the parking lot there one year, and an Xterra rally later. Now everyone seems to be shopping online instead of at the malls. Lower overhead for online sales shifts consumers buying habits as consumers vote with their pocketbooks. . People shop where they can get the best deals.
This was a good video!!
Thank you. This summer im doing a revisit since only half the mall was flimed and more things have closed.
Even if that stupid 'Blart' did stop you, I'm glad you did get most of this mall filmed. I used to attend Illinois State, and would occasionally visit this mall from time to time. My vague memory of going here years ago, was that the mall office was somewhere on the west side of the mall off a north side hallway not too far from Bergner's.
Back in the mid-2000s(when I went to ISU), this mall was in good shape back then. Shame that fortunes haven't been good for this mall in the last few years, and that it's losing as many stores as it is. I wonder, had you done any walkthrough videos of Northwoods Mall in Peoria, or the mall(forget the name of it) in Mount Vernon, IL? I'm glad you do all the efforts you do to film retail stuff in central Illinois, and sometimes southern Illinois(with Illinois Star Center in Marion, before closing).
Yes there are more of those malls on my channel. Northwoods and all that. Thank you for watching these.
You have an impressive amount of mall vids in your playlist, checking em out now, Liked
Thank you.
At least you got some. My parents had a kiosk there in the late 90s I remember working there and the pretzel twister. There was always a lot of people there. Great steak and potato co. Had awesome fries!
I would say next time you want to get a feel for what irs really like in there, go in when it's actually open and the merchants are open. That way you can see which ones are still operating. A lot has changed since this video was posted. Maybe a follow up is due.
Good video. Interesting mall. Sorry about the security guard. Thanks for filming.
Yeah. They just sneak up from behind. I remember when this mall was hopping. If Bloomington is the first place that a chain chooses to close a store, something is wrong. 4 anchors are lost now. Thank you for watching.
It’s sad everything is closing there. Visited the other day. It looks worse off now
Wow. I'll have to check it out sometime but next time watch out for security.
How is this mall looking now?
I haven't been down in about a year but Kohls is the only anchor left.
Both are closed....
This mall is dead now which is sad cuz I used to go there with my mom all the time and get popcorn at a old popcorn stand that used to be there and now where sears used to be there’s a planet fitness and I know that u can just shop online but I would rather be able to shop in stores than online
Security guard was wearing sandals???
That was me.
😆 😆 😆
Wow that mall is going to be a dead mall did you see my video of the sears closing there bye
We are actually NOT home to the SIU, we are home to ISU and IWU
Yeah I realized that after I recorded this.
I live in Bloomington
I managed to film here
It is shameful how vandals have sprayed graffiti all over that historic site.
Sears Closed
I know it did. It closed earlier this year. 1 anchor left.
What in the HELL is this world coming to?