You said the land was changed to be mixed use. They should take advantage of that. Rip up some of the desert surrounding the mall and make it into a place for people to come hang out. Add residential apartments into the empty anchors as well so that people are right there instead of having to travel to the mall. Add some other businesses that would help them too, turn it into a tiny town almost.
I remember when there were fountains and a sunken rest area. Baskin and Robbins, Gray Drug, Dr. X Pet Center, Hallmark, Hot Sam's, Whoolworth's. Lazarus Restaraunt, O'Neals Restaraunt, and Whoolworth's restaraunt. It breaks my heart every time I walk through it. Ultimately now that AVITA has purchased the old Sears building, I think we'll eventually see the anchors become the hospital and the inner mall become more like the mall at Cleveland Clinic.
I grew up in and went to college in Ashland in the early 90s, so this mall played a huge part of my life from my teen years through my early 20s when I moved away. So many memories of this place. I don’t live anywhere nearby anymore, but it is still kind of sad to see it fading away. You’re doing good work documenting these forgotten places.
I grew up in Ashland and worked at the Mall at Waldenbooks since 1986 till 2001 and this just breaks my heart. So many memories...I had been coming to the Mall since the 70's.
When I attended OSU Mansfield campus back in the early 1990's I used to come here if I had a break between classes to get lunch. There was also a nice music store and arcade I frequented. Sad to see how much this mall has slowed down over the years.
Fun nostalgia fact: The arcade in the mall used to be called Aladdin’s Castle frequented by lots of us kids in the day. This is the same arcade that a writer named Ernie Cline would later draw some inspiration for his now famous book, “Ready, Player One.” Later it was turned into the movie by the same name directed by Steven Spielberg. I met him a few times at the library in Ashland where he grew up. Nice guy and the book was so much CB better than the movie, especially the references to our local mall.
I still go to this mall sometimes. It kind of sucks! The one in Sandusky is more alive. You have to go to Columbus to get malls that still feel like old malls. I visited here often as a kid. Most of the time was spent looking through the used games in babbage's/gamestop, which is now down the road and is much less appealing for that purpose these days. I go to this mall more than gamestop in fact. I also grew up around the Rolling Acres mall in Akron. The fountain and the clear elevator was cool.
I lived around these parts all my life. In the 80s, the movie theater was outside the mall, backside and drove business alot. Lazerous and all the typical anchors were there. Arcade, Hot Topic, Game Stop, KBToys, Spencers, all of it. ChuckeCheese came later, after Sears left. Now the Hospital owns much of it, and will likely continue to buy the remainder. I was told the owner of the mall Defaulted on his payments even though the vendors were paying so the bank offered Avita the opportunity to buy it.
It now has new owners who have big plans for it. Though I think they should bring back an arcade, I only live five minutes away. They should never have removed the fountains.
I used to hang out at the Richland Mall with my friends when I was young, but I haven't been there in probably twenty years at least. There's just no longer any reason to go there. Malls have been dying for years, partly due to online shopping, which is killing brick and mortar stores in general, not just malls, and partly because mall rent is generally high (always has been) and high rent means high prices. Malls have become a relic of a way of life that no longer exists, and I don't think it'll be long before they're gone for good.
I've lived in this area my entire life and have many memories of this place. I stopped really going there after Sears closed. Recently I did take my children there to play in the kids area as cabin fever was getting to us. When I told my 5 year old son we were going to the mall he was confused and asked me what mall... He's probably only been there two or three times in his life.
It's sad, I worked here as a teenager. As a kid, this mall was PACKED anytime we went to it. On Fridays and Saturdays, all of our friends would meet up here, go to the arcade (which is not what you see in this video, there was an Aladdins Castle by the food court when I was younger). KB Toys, Babbages, all of the anchor stores (Macys, Kaufmans, Lazurus and JC Penny) were popping off, totally packed.
I used to hang out at this mall as a kid....there actually was another mall like 5 minutes from this one called Kingsgate I believe. I remember going to both of malls as a kid. I went to the one in Marion alot as well since it was closer and my mom worked at the Joanne fabrics there for a bit.
The shopping center on Park Avenue West where Kroger is, as I recall, began as an outdoor shopping area and then became a closed-in mall and then reverted back to an outdoor shopping area, when Kroger opened up there.
I grew up walking that mall.... but it was nothing like now. Zales, Alladins Castle, Spencer's, Kay's. Sbarros, steak escape, Auntie Anne's. Oh the memories here.
I used to come from Chardon to Mansfield to the flying machine as concert venue back in the day, that's a really depressed area these days. Was thriving then, God bless from Chardon Ohio
I really dont understand why the food court was as empty as it was, especially knowing the hospital is literally in walking distance. In terms of competition, polaris is about an hour away as well as the Tanger outlet 30 to 45 minutes away in Delaware, both of which are very much alive.
The Pretzel Maker isn't even in the Richland Mall anymore. Oriental Express is the only food spot that's still holding on. They do hold a farmer's market every Friday, though!
I worked in the mall for a while. One ownership you sort of slipped on was that the mall was owned by Centro-Watt for a time, they then dropped the Watt and went to Centro, before shifting to the other owners down the road.
Ive been seeing for rent posts on fb for store fronts in there. Theyre 2k or more. Lol. That place was booming when i was a teenager. Fun fact: Victoria secret wasnt about to hire 17 year old me. Haha
This is the story for most malls scattered across the US. Retail stores in America are dying. An inflated economy, and stagnant wages for the majority of American workers doesn't help.
This place is depressing, and my hometown mall. Occasionally, something interesting will set up shop here for a bit. A couple of years ago, it had a pretty good used PC parts shop where you could get cases, used cards, CPUs and other used electronics. Right now it has a decent retro videogame store that is worth checking out once every little while. The only reason this mall is surviving though is because of the hospital. That food court really sucked in its hayday, and was in my opinion the start of the decline. This mall had a Burger King and a Little Caesars and they were replaced by a Sbarros and a few other pretty bad food court choices.
@@ERA_Productions last I heard was Avita was trying to buy the whole mall and try to breathe some life back into it - haven't heard where it stands right now. If you think it was good on your first visit you should have seen it when it was new. I can remember being 7-8 years old in the early 70's going there with my grandma and shopping with her then getting something to eat at either O'Niells or Lazarus. They both had really good restaurants in them!
What are your thoughts on Richland Mall, and what do you think it's future holds?
You said the land was changed to be mixed use. They should take advantage of that. Rip up some of the desert surrounding the mall and make it into a place for people to come hang out. Add residential apartments into the empty anchors as well so that people are right there instead of having to travel to the mall. Add some other businesses that would help them too, turn it into a tiny town almost.
Malls in Asia have supermarkets in them.
@@Optopolisthe area actually has a lot of new housing and some great restaurants and housing. But I like some of those ideas.
i use to hangout there in 1982,wow like a different mall. they use to let u smoke too.
I remember there use to be a Burger King and a Toys R Us plus a arcade and you could smoke inside
I remember when there were fountains and a sunken rest area. Baskin and Robbins, Gray Drug, Dr. X Pet Center, Hallmark, Hot Sam's, Whoolworth's. Lazarus Restaraunt, O'Neals Restaraunt, and Whoolworth's restaraunt. It breaks my heart every time I walk through it. Ultimately now that AVITA has purchased the old Sears building, I think we'll eventually see the anchors become the hospital and the inner mall become more like the mall at Cleveland Clinic.
I grew up in and went to college in Ashland in the early 90s, so this mall played a huge part of my life from my teen years through my early 20s when I moved away.
So many memories of this place. I don’t live anywhere nearby anymore, but it is still kind of sad to see it fading away.
You’re doing good work documenting these forgotten places.
Ahhhh the infamous Chuck E Cheese replaced by Spirit. That one anyway.
Yeah, I’ve noticed they went in there a lot over the past few years
I grew up in Ashland and worked at the Mall at Waldenbooks since 1986 till 2001 and this just breaks my heart. So many memories...I had been coming to the Mall since the 70's.
When I attended OSU Mansfield campus back in the early 1990's I used to come here if I had a break between classes to get lunch. There was also a nice music store and arcade I frequented. Sad to see how much this mall has slowed down over the years.
Bath And body works is one of my favorites still holding out!
Fun nostalgia fact: The arcade in the mall used to be called Aladdin’s Castle frequented by lots of us kids in the day. This is the same arcade that a writer named Ernie Cline would later draw some inspiration for his now famous book, “Ready, Player One.” Later it was turned into the movie by the same name directed by Steven Spielberg.
I met him a few times at the library in Ashland where he grew up. Nice guy and the book was so much CB better than the movie, especially the references to our local mall.
@@Roscoetherev Wow, I didn't notice the references of this mall in the book! I'll have to reread it!
I still go to this mall sometimes. It kind of sucks! The one in Sandusky is more alive. You have to go to Columbus to get malls that still feel like old malls.
I visited here often as a kid. Most of the time was spent looking through the used games in babbage's/gamestop, which is now down the road and is much less appealing for that purpose these days. I go to this mall more than gamestop in fact. I also grew up around the Rolling Acres mall in Akron. The fountain and the clear elevator was cool.
I lived around these parts all my life.
In the 80s, the movie theater was outside the mall, backside and drove business alot. Lazerous and all the typical anchors were there. Arcade, Hot Topic, Game Stop, KBToys, Spencers, all of it. ChuckeCheese came later, after Sears left. Now the Hospital owns much of it, and will likely continue to buy the remainder.
I was told the owner of the mall Defaulted on his payments even though the vendors were paying so the bank offered Avita the opportunity to buy it.
It now has new owners who have big plans for it. Though I think they should bring back an arcade, I only live five minutes away. They should never have removed the fountains.
Wow, this was a cozy, quaint looking mall. I hope it can power on for a while longer. Great video!
I hope so too! Thank you!
Wow look at that. Such potential
I used to hang out at the Richland Mall with my friends when I was young, but I haven't been there in probably twenty years at least. There's just no longer any reason to go there. Malls have been dying for years, partly due to online shopping, which is killing brick and mortar stores in general, not just malls, and partly because mall rent is generally high (always has been) and high rent means high prices. Malls have become a relic of a way of life that no longer exists, and I don't think it'll be long before they're gone for good.
I've lived in this area my entire life and have many memories of this place. I stopped really going there after Sears closed. Recently I did take my children there to play in the kids area as cabin fever was getting to us. When I told my 5 year old son we were going to the mall he was confused and asked me what mall... He's probably only been there two or three times in his life.
It's sad, I worked here as a teenager. As a kid, this mall was PACKED anytime we went to it. On Fridays and Saturdays, all of our friends would meet up here, go to the arcade (which is not what you see in this video, there was an Aladdins Castle by the food court when I was younger). KB Toys, Babbages, all of the anchor stores (Macys, Kaufmans, Lazurus and JC Penny) were popping off, totally packed.
Nice work Andrew
Between O'Neill's and Kaufman's the store was called May Company.
I am here as promised to watch my favorite TH-camr. Great video as always Andrew, my really good friend
Wow, thank you man!
They're mostly turning it into a medical center now
I used to hang out at this mall as a kid....there actually was another mall like 5 minutes from this one called Kingsgate I believe. I remember going to both of malls as a kid. I went to the one in Marion alot as well since it was closer and my mom worked at the Joanne fabrics there for a bit.
Grew up in Marion & southland mall in the early 90's & would come to this mall for "a change*.
The shopping center on Park Avenue West where Kroger is, as I recall, began as an outdoor shopping area and then became a closed-in mall and then reverted back to an outdoor shopping area, when Kroger opened up there.
Kingsgate
Looking pretty sad in here. That old school anchor is really sweet looking though
Indeed! Love those old O’Neil’s facades! The past few years really haven’t been kind to this mall
I hope they can turn things around. I actually really like the Avita's facade. Loved the video as always, Andrew
Agreed! However the Lazarus facade from before is just so much better in my opinion.
is the JCP becoming a clearance center or already is? bc last time i was there, everything was like 20-30% off
I don’t think it is, but I feel like it will probably close down soon.
I grew up walking that mall.... but it was nothing like now.
Zales, Alladins Castle, Spencer's, Kay's.
Sbarros, steak escape, Auntie Anne's. Oh the memories here.
Hey, Spencer's is still here XD but it's just them and Hot Topic
I live in Mansfield currently. It's a retail black hole.
I used to come from Chardon to Mansfield to the flying machine as concert venue back in the day, that's a really depressed area these days. Was thriving then, God bless from Chardon Ohio
@@Lola_the_Cavapoo I live here too
im homeless in mansfield lol hi
I really dont understand why the food court was as empty as it was, especially knowing the hospital is literally in walking distance. In terms of competition, polaris is about an hour away as well as the Tanger outlet 30 to 45 minutes away in Delaware, both of which are very much alive.
The Pretzel Maker isn't even in the Richland Mall anymore. Oriental Express is the only food spot that's still holding on. They do hold a farmer's market every Friday, though!
Spent my teen years there. I'm 55 now.
Great vid, you have an amazing channel. I love the music choices in your videos too. I've subbed 👍
Thank you so much!
I grew up going to this mall in the late 90s and early 2000s. I wonder what will happen to the hospital if the mall did close?
I worked in the mall for a while. One ownership you sort of slipped on was that the mall was owned by Centro-Watt for a time, they then dropped the Watt and went to Centro, before shifting to the other owners down the road.
Ive been seeing for rent posts on fb for store fronts in there. Theyre 2k or more. Lol. That place was booming when i was a teenager. Fun fact: Victoria secret wasnt about to hire 17 year old me. Haha
This is the story for most malls scattered across the US. Retail stores in America are dying. An inflated economy, and stagnant wages for the majority of American workers doesn't help.
Ah. This was my mall as a kid. Didn't go that often, but this is still painful to see.
Local here, every year we all wonder "How TF is this place still open"
It seems like they have more businesses opening there just from doing a quick google search!
man, this is sad. This mall was the spot in 1990's.
This place is depressing, and my hometown mall. Occasionally, something interesting will set up shop here for a bit. A couple of years ago, it had a pretty good used PC parts shop where you could get cases, used cards, CPUs and other used electronics. Right now it has a decent retro videogame store that is worth checking out once every little while. The only reason this mall is surviving though is because of the hospital. That food court really sucked in its hayday, and was in my opinion the start of the decline. This mall had a Burger King and a Little Caesars and they were replaced by a Sbarros and a few other pretty bad food court choices.
The mall recently was sold, supposedly the new owners are going to bring in more stores
Do you by chance know who bought it?
@@ERA_Productions last I heard was Avita was trying to buy the whole mall and try to breathe some life back into it - haven't heard where it stands right now. If you think it was good on your first visit you should have seen it when it was new. I can remember being 7-8 years old in the early 70's going there with my grandma and shopping with her then getting something to eat at either O'Niells or Lazarus. They both had really good restaurants in them!
What song is that? I like it
All music used in the video is Linked in the description!
Ive been getting fb ads to rent spots here $2,000/ month for dead mall space. No thanks. That place was booming in the 90's when i was in high school.
my childhood mall.......fml
now its dead
Malls peaked in 1995! Last 30 years they have slowly declined into nothingness! Gone are the days spending hours going from store to store! 😮😢
I remember there use to be a Burger King and a Toys R Us plus a arcade and you could smoke inside