Elyria: “Eh-leer-eee-uh”. So sad how the mall & area imploded, going from vibrant, full occupancy, and busy, to this. Worked here, and was like a 2nd home. All the strip stores around it were full back then, too. Ate, shopped, worked, played... good memories. It’s even worse than my last visit a couple years back. Thanks for doing this (I think I suggested it a year or so ago!) and also saving me a drive up there for lunch to look around...ha.
Fire Wood 2000-12. Little by little the whole area collapsed. Walmart plaza, Toys R Us Plaza, TGIF area, all around the mall. That new development at Chestnut really killed it, along with the security problems around the mall. Remember going there as a kid, too in 80’s.
How cool would it be if someone could turn this space into a living facility for veterans? The food court could stay open, and one of the anchor stores could serve as a medical care clinic. There's so much potential.
@@snarky4lyfe144 Problem with malls is that they tend to be built as disposable from day one. Once the roof starts to leak (which, it will, it's just a matter of time), the building's trash.
In order for this to work, blanket immunity from government regulations would be needed, to prevent lawyers from suing for every perceived or actual injustice or slight, while residing at the former mall.
For the record, they didn't show the LensCrafters at all but we are still in the mall and still kicking! For anyone local, lots of people tell us they didn't know we were open anymore.
@amusement420 we do! They completely cut our side of the mall out of the video so you can't see it, we were actually busy the day this was filmed, hence why it was likely cut.
@@pumpkin111496 Somewhat ironic there's another eyeglass place by the arcade he was in. I was told the Finish Line shoe store was remodeled inside. Once they raised Taco Bell's rent they said see ya later we'll go someplace else that was bad thing. That cheap food place was always busy. Another thing is the mall wings are cold because of no heat from the stores. I think there's a sign on Dillards that ways warning Mold hazard. I remember when it was May company they had a sunken gazebo eating area where we got hot dogs and laser disc players on display. You won't see girl scout cookies being sold in the mall anymore either. If I can get away with it I'll take pics of the entire mall before Best Buy leaves. That will be like a funeral to me. My friend's wife's relative has installed stereos there for 15 yrs. one of the security monitor guys is fun to talk to he knows things about the mall such as sears roof needed repairing before they closed it and he told me about the older lady who owned the picture store I always thought was a front for something lol the people who own the wig place own VIP sports clothing I never see anyone in. that's strange the places you never see anyone in are still there. it looked like the nail salon by the old macy's was being repaired but perhaps the mall management didn't want to fix it because then they were gone (?) interesting that gym place takes up a lot of empty stores. maybe he didn't include open stores like yours because he don't have permission to tape people although there were some mall walkers(?) another irony is that 50+yr ago malls made downtowns former shells of themselves. and in some cases outdoor malls like crocker park are much busier. I hate parking garages! I used to like to take the short walk into macy's to walk thru the midway mall.. It seemed like a classier dept store. it may have been the chamfered corners of the walkways.
I miss it. I miss everything about what this mall was in the late 80s - 2010. The 90s was the best decade for this mall too. It was packed and had a waiting list for stores almost a year in advance. I wish they could renovate it and make it look like it did back then. The nostalgia would make me very happy.
I feel like these malls could be saved if they went with a crazy retro 80s theme, focused on arcade and entertainment. They would be better as a sort of amusement park of sorts.
The problem is that would take a lot of money to fully renovate a mall and there's no guarantee it would be profitable or for how long. A lot of dead malls are also in crime-ridden areas where people just avoid to stay safe
Ehh... i think that would last a year or so , then the novelty would wear off. Unfortunately.. we will never recapture the life and times of the 80s or any era.
When Ford and the Steel mill had tons of employees in Lorain county this place was packed with people spending. I cant say it's all online shopping because great northern mall less than 25 miles away in North Olmsted is still packed.
That and you also have Avon Commons nearby. Elyria is the hood there are a lot of bad neighborhoods there people just didn't want to go their for shopping anymore.
@Jayden Gravelle I have watched vedios of driving around that city. I see lots of abounded homes it looks like a mini Detroit. Nearby Lorain is even worse.
I'm surprised we are even worthy of a video. I remember when the Mall was the best place to be. It definitely used to be called Westfield. It's not because people are going online to shop, plenty of surrounding cities have booming malls.
People LOVE to blame it all on internet shopping, which definitely has caused a lot of problems, but is far from the only source. For example: there are too many malls in some areas for the local population (especially in areas that are hemohoraging people because they just don't have good jobs to offer their younger populations as they graduate from high school and college), poor construction at the foundational level and a capitalistic obsession with squeezing out every possible penny that meant they didn't have proper upkeep, people can't afford a lot of the merchendise (despite the claims that the recession ended and the stock market being super high, wages have been stagnant for decades while the cost of living has been skyrocketing), outdated stores that didn't keep up with the times (here's looking at you, Sears and K-Mart), bad management running the malls into the ground again because they are trying to squeeze out every possible penny and then end up squeezing so hard they pop the mall, so to speak, etc.
It's a combination of issues that plague malls today. Online shopping is partly due to the dying malls. It's also the cost of security, utilities (electric, heat, cooling and water) The decline of shops like Sam Goody and Musicland too played a part. When was the last time you bought a physical copy of music?
You guys know this area. The Home Depot opened just south along with at the time Circuit City and a few other free standing stores. I wonder if they received a nice tax break. Plenty of other eateries and other smaller strip malls opened up outside of the mall. I thought I remember a Sam's club west of 57. This mall is facing what a lot of other malls face. Anchor store that are no longer in business or reducing their foot print.
When the mall was built in the 60s, it killed downtown Elyria. As industries left Lorain County, taxes went up, rents increased, Stores couldn’t afford the mall, and the customer base couldn’t afford the stores that could afford the mall. Even the outliers started closing because the customers weren’t there. As the neighborhood development shifted to the south and east, someone got the brilliant idea that that’s where the stores should be to. That’s the complete demise of the mall. Took a lot longer than this paragraph, but there it is.
I live really close to this mall and can honestly say it’s dead. No true anchors are left. Best Buy announced they’re closing soon and a Dunham’s Sports will be the only “big” store left… For now
I remember when you couldn't find a parking spot here. This is why I stopped shopping Amazon. I know I can't stop it, and I know this is one of those times where one person won't make the difference, but I won't be the "one person" that helps to destroy these jobs, and businesses Sometimes, it's just good to go out and be people, ya know. Raise your face out of the phone, get off of the computer and just go walk around a mall, buy from them, be people.
I just love shopping in indoor Malls. Especially in bad weather. So sad how they have deteriorated over the years. Bums me for sure. I'm forever a 70s & 80s girl.
My wife just did a walk through of the mall today. It was sad as we remember what it was like in it's heyday. I was impressed that the structure seems intact. No water stained ceiling tiles, cracked floors, dingy walls. It looks it's just getting ready to open and start booming again instead of fossilizing.
It’s amazing to listen to this particular video and hearing the talk of it being January 2020. Hearing all the plans to come and yet, we had no clue how much our worlds were about to change in just a few months. Great video as always.
Makes me so sad! I grew up riding bikes to this mall, spending hours here hanging out with friends. I loved all the Christmas decorations and store displays. It’s not only the mall that’s drastically changed from the 80/90s. Elyria has also went downhill severely. All heartbreaking.
This kinda hurt to watch, I’ve lived in Elyria my whole life and it was so full of life when I was little, that whole side of Elyria is dying and I haven’t been in the mall for a few months. When I was little only one or two stores were empty and there were always people bustling about, keep in mind I’m only 14. It declined really quickly and it’s sad to see it go
it seems like they're making an effort to keep this mall looking nice. turning some of the empty stores into seating areas and putting some display stuff in the windows of empty stores makes it seem less dead for some reason
It's depressing! Grew up going to this mall, my grandma worked at Sears in the men's department for many years. It was packed on the weekends, and forget about getting a parking space during the Christmas season. This was the place to hang out in the 80s when I was in high school. There was a shoe store when I was little that had a monkey in it. I think it was called Faflik's. The nearest mall in Westlake has overpriced stores no one can really afford. I wish Midway could be turned around, but I don't think it is going to be open much longer. :(
Aaah just brought back an old memory of me driving around the snow filled parking lot in a rust eaten car looking for parking outside the food court. Good times.
The date for Malley's shows 2019. I was under the impression MM closed 2+ decades ago. Had no idea it was still open in 2019. (I went into the Navy and retired in the Norfolk/Va Bch area).
USA malls aren't surviving due to not having the right stores in it like a Burger King, Subway, grocery store, post office, donut restaurant, game and phone stores, etc like Ireland has. Hundreds of people at the mall everyday in Ireland. Always a crowd and events there too. Malls in the US don't even care for promoting themselves anymore either so it's their own fault for not getting customers in the door. Also people shop more online for the same stuff at the stores in the mall. Malls succeed and can make rent if it's not the same stores online. Change the stores and do what Europe does!!
Well, not having the right stores isn't the ONLY reason, but it is absolutely ONE of the reasons. Other reasons include overmalling (too many malls placed too close together, all competing for the same shoppers) and changing demographics. Online shopping does have an effect, but mostly on big box retailers, not on the small specialty shops that are a big part of most thriving malls.
The mall I go to in Dublin is just down the street from the other mall and there's tons of people at both. Malls are very popular in Europe it seems more than the US. I've lived in Ireland off and on for 8 years now and when I come back to the US, everyone seems to be more on their phones and driving in their cars than paying attention to people. There's more walking and biking in Europe. Culture differences too. Everytime I go to their malls, they are always promoting a movie coming out soon, or giving out free samples, and also have a movie theater in their bigger mall. I'm always sweating in them too from having the heat on too high and they do it on purpose from what I've learned to get you to buy a drink.
@@shan4883 Ireland is an underdeveloped economy. It is about 15 to 20 years behind the US. Dublin only has 3 genuine malls in its centre and that is in a city of about 500,000.
Thanks so much for the upload. Sooo many memories here. I remember the Midway Cinema waaaay back in the early '70s. For instance watching the newest James Bond movie with my parents when I was a little kid...
Another empty mall that could be convereted into affordable housing for folks who need it homeless,poor,veterans etc...would make a really nice little gated community equipped with health, shopping,post office daycare and create jobs aswell
I always pass this mall on the way to Cedar Point! I never knew it was a dead mall like this. I actually get excited when I see it cause it means I'm off the turnpike and only about 30 minutes to go! Lol
I remember the car shows, the boat shows the wedding events that used to take place in the center of the mall to draw in business. I work in Higbees when they built the food court extension onto the building we used to run down to peek at the construction. And I loved the smell of the coffee beanery.
Hi to all the Ace's Adventures fans from a fan in the UK 🇬🇧. Another great video. Got to feel for the staff maintaining the mall as it is pristine. It isn't for lack of them trying. Retail is suffering and will keep changing. The UK is just the same. Keep up the good work with these videos.
You have me hooked on your choices for intro music like Duett and this video is no exception. I hope in some way supporting this music helps encourage other groups to offer their music to you royalty free! A win win for you both!
I grew up going to this mall since the 1960s. I've lived my entire life here in Elyria. The name "Midway Mall" came about because it's midway between Elyria and Lorain, Ohio. We pronounce our city in 3 different ways, Ee - Lee - Ree - Ah, Eh - Lee - Ree - uh, or Ah - Lee - Ree - ah. I wish someone would buy the Midway Mall and develop it into a community, (perhaps low-income), housing space. Multiple apartments with shops inside. Would be nice, but maybe not profitable. Thanks for sharing our dying mall. :)
My opinion, I think they should convert it to a food market like the Westside market in Cleveland....also add lots of food courts for the buyers to enjoy.
Having lived in Elyria when the mall went from busy to dead, there were numerous factors. Westlake was built up and people went there instead, also Westfield purchased Jacob's mall properties and raised the rent. Once Westfield left the high rents remained and stores started to close, since people were going to Westlake.
Used to go to this mall all the time in the 1970s, when Higbee's was there with its Attic restaurant and the cool dripping oil fountain outside its front entrance. There was also the jewelry store just inside one of the side entrances that had a large clock in the floor in front of it that I found fascinating. Sad to see it almost empty but that's the retail cycle for you.
Got to visit here today. 'Til Tuesday - Voices Carry was playing while walking in the expansion wing past the food court, and I just was *SMACKED* hard with a wave of nostalgia, even amongst all the closed storefronts. It was just surreal.
Back in the 1960's, 1970' and 1980's this was THE MALL to go to to hang out and shop! In it's heyday it had the most beautiful Christmas displays including the "Talking Christmas Tree". They had the new car shows displayed in the walkways here every year when the new models came out, they had vintage car shows, they had all kinds of events in the large hallways to come and see! I remember my parents taking us to Woolworth's cafeteria to eat. It is very sad for me to watch this Mall die off slowly after all the memories I have at this location. Dick's Sporting Goods which is located in a strip outside this Mall just close up!
BRO! Then till like 2013 this place was amazing! You could eat so much and chill, i went here for a school trip once (you know elyria school system is broke sooo) and it was fun, now its not. Its just, eh. You go there to go potty or get your glasses.
We have an abandoned amusement park in Aurora Ohio. It was Geagua Lake and Six Flags. Cedar Fair, who owns Cedar Point in Sandusky, bought it and then let it go down hill. I don't think you can get in, but it's cool and eerie to look at.
You should also check out Richmond Town Square in Richmond Heights (also northeast Ohio). Not a single anchor store left, probably three restaurants left (the most well known of which is Charleys), 2 CAR PARTS stores (???), a furniture store that has somehow been in liquidation phase for 3+ years, and maybe a dozen stores open. Really weird because I feel like it’s not a bad location.
Surprises meaning Charleston West Virginia Charleston Town Center Mall please, my old stomping grounds🥺😥 before moving to So. Florida in 2002 🙏🙏 great music selection for this one Anthony again, Happy New year ♥️👍
Thats definitely not how I remember that mall when we stopped there to have a waterproof disposable camera developed at Ritz’s camera on our way home from Cedar Point in 2006. 😬 thanks for sharing!
This mall's only saving grace is how clean it appears to be. I think that's what made me think "I don't get that typical dead mall feel." Glad to see the custodial staff is still clearly employed for the time being.
Love the “mall music” soundtrack to this video. This mall was the place to be when I was growing up in the 90’s. I worked at JW and American Eagle. Got hired at Gap but turned it down because I decided to join the Marine Corps in 2001. Great childhood memories at this mall. During a time when life was simple and less digital.
Another thing is that. When these malls were built or developed. This is not an anomaly but . In most major cities. Back in the brick and mortar days of shopping is that. Large cities like Cleveland,Boston,and so on. Had cores of at least three or more major department stores to anchor the malls that were locally owned plus a Sears or JC Pennys if not both. Most local department store chairs were swallowed up by either Macys or Dillards.. Then they close what they deem as unprofitable. Leaving empty spaces.. Without the foot traffic to the closed anchor stores. The smaller stores lost business. Then they had to close too..
I go here with my dad all the time. It’s definitely a very eerie place but l love going around and exploring it. It looks like when this video was filmed the Best Buy was still open. It’s since been closed. It’s really a miracle that the mall has made it this far especially with lockdown and all that.
We just visited a couple weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon. I remember practically elbowing people to walk through the mall... This past time, there wasn't a single person in the food court, and we're pretty sure a group of teens were smoking by the old Sears 😅
I grew up with this mall as I lived in Elyria (pronounced E-lear-re-ah). My friends and I would go to the arcade or just walk around and see all the girls. It's very sad to see this. It's been a long time in the making. It opened in the 1960's I was there that week for the grand opening.
I grew up going here, and my dad took care of the kiddy rides there, I helped clean them , it breaks my heart to see this mall and all the area of Elyria and Lorain turning like this, I just cannot get over it
You should swing by the 3 Crown American malls in the Lehigh Valley when you hit Phillipsburg. They are the South Mall, Westgate Mall and Palmer Park Mall. All three sprang up around Hess' stores that then became Bon-Tons. All 3 are dying. They are locally well known due to Hess' Allentown roots. And they are small enough and identical enough to do a triple feature.
+KRhythm2013 What is happening is that nearly all women now have to work so they do not have time to go shopping during the week. Working people also do not have as much disposable income. We are kidding our self with the idea that all of what we get to day is much cheaper. We get some cheaper items but the overall cost is much higher. Food prices have been growing at above inflationary levels.
@@bighands69 that's a part of it but a lot of people in society have got lazy because they sometimes barely think. For example, i am waiting to see what happens this morning with idiots who park opposite my driveway because they think they have no other way of parking to get to work. Lack of common sense. Same thing goes for retail. People cannot be bothered to get in their cars (or walk) and expect it to be delivered to them because the Internet is easier and "cheaper". L
@@themightywhoosh123 way smaller a country as we are. US malls can be miles in between. Also i believe that the owners of shopping centres are repurposed or knocked down quicker. Down my way i have 2 dead malls. Reading had a shopping centre closed and now opened as a zombie experience, and closer to me is the Galleries in Aldershot. Has been closed for many years and awaiting renovation into flats, but to be honest all of aldershot needs the same
TheMightyWhoosh think it’s mostly the high st here that’s taken a hit,but that being said I’ve been in a few shopping centres here that have a few empty stores.👍🏴
Elyria is my home town. I used to love walking for hours around this mall as a teen. I could tell you where everything was. Sad to see it in decline, but there are other malls thriving somewhat nearby like Great Northern and South Park.
ThattOneKid lol i was there a few weeks ago and was surprised Louis was still open, but i have to say the clothes looked old like clothes from when i was teen shopping there in the 90s
@@hustlehardahthe_wave_king1975 I worked there over a decade ago and even then the stock consisted of either loud & flamboyant or outdated clothes of every style.
Add a walkthrough of this mall to your series, Exton square mall in Exton,PA Chester county if you can. It normally doesn't see much foot traffic, there were a lot of stores there but they all seem to shut down after the mall owner decided to up everyone's rent for that space. To me it looks like a mall on live support
So sad! When I was a kid in the late 80s, early 90s, this mall was happening! Spent so many hours at the arcade. Even in the early 2000s it wasn't this bad! :(
Wow very sad to see this mall die, I pretty much grew up here. I remember on weekends this place used to be so packed, we used to always go out to eat at the restaurants (there used to be many restaurants) and than shop at the mall. There used to be a large arcade room (dave and busters style) that I think occupied the area where Harry Buffalos is at as well, I used to play there a lot too. Man during Christmas you could barely walk in this mall it would be so packed. I remember seeing Steve & Barrys being built that was my favorite store and I had one of their football team style coats for the longest. The movie theatre behind the mall used to be pretty awesome as well used to go alot during highscool. I worked at Sears when I was in college and I was an Electronic Sales associate that made commission, man as an 18 year it was so much money with comission and we are sales number were high (back in 2012) our Store manager used to buy everyone pizza to celebrate. I used to shop a lot Aeropostale and American Eagle on my lunch breaks to the point where American Eagle offered me part time job on the side. Very sad to see this area die out and all the good restaurants close down. Thank you for making this video those times were awesome and I cherish them.
At 6:50 where that pink curtain is it used to be a Malleys where you could buy really good candy. Directly across from that there used to be a small jewelry store, not sure if it's still there. When I was in 8th grade around 2008, me and some friends were loitering around in front of it just talking about what we were gonna do the rest of the day. We got kicked out of the entire mall for it by a guy we called Warlord Banana-Chin. He was a security guard with a really big chin, and later that year we found out he was a substitute teacher as well. Back then the "dead mall" feeling was just becoming apparent. Sears, Macy's, and JCPenny we're still open then Edit: at 14:15 that sun news used to cell cigarettes and shells to minors as long as nobody was in front of the store to see it
Another great video Ace. That security office inside the old Spencer’s has to be the most pathetic thing I have ever seen. Also the Midway Mall logo slapped over the Westfield logo in the play area shows how little money they are willing to invest in this property... how sad.
Its not whats willing to be put into the mall, Lorain is broke. Elyria is going into poverty and if being taken over by section 8. We used to be a nice town, like, a "richer" town but, 2 factories shut down so everyone left and people from Cleveland moved in because the prices on houses dropped because no one lived here in like 2014.
I know it has been two years and a pandemic later so this may not apply. But one thing this mall has that other ones I have watched in videos is it still has a vibrancy to it. I didn't see a lot of the decay that we typically see (though maybe I just missed those shots). I think if we were still in January 2020 this mall could have been turned around if it had opened up to more mixed use applications. I use to work at the Kaufmann's/Macy's in Canton Centre Mall in Canton, Ohio. When we were cleaning out the building I just felt that some of these old department stores could be turned into daycares or open air concept schools or maybe even into places for home-school co-ops. Long abandoned buildings this probably would not work, but recently abandoned buildings probably could be retro-fitted with minimal cost (considering the space).
Elyria: “Eh-leer-eee-uh”. So sad how the mall & area imploded, going from vibrant, full occupancy, and busy, to this. Worked here, and was like a 2nd home. All the strip stores around it were full back then, too. Ate, shopped, worked, played... good memories. It’s even worse than my last visit a couple years back. Thanks for doing this (I think I suggested it a year or so ago!) and also saving me a drive up there for lunch to look around...ha.
Remember the talking Christmas tree they used to have there or are you too young?
mac11380 Yes, I remember that! Always freaked me out as a kid. Ha ha
Please get the name RIGHT!!
I was born in Cleveland lived in Elyria. Mom took me here all the time. So many good memories. When did you work there?
Fire Wood 2000-12. Little by little the whole area collapsed. Walmart plaza, Toys R Us Plaza, TGIF area, all around the mall. That new development at Chestnut really killed it, along with the security problems around the mall. Remember going there as a kid, too in 80’s.
How cool would it be if someone could turn this space into a living facility for veterans? The food court could stay open, and one of the anchor stores could serve as a medical care clinic. There's so much potential.
Or ever transnational housing for homeless singles and families.
They would make for good senior villages too.
@@snarky4lyfe144 Problem with malls is that they tend to be built as disposable from day one. Once the roof starts to leak (which, it will, it's just a matter of time), the building's trash.
there's practically no potential. that's why huge malls cant be sold even for a few cents on the dollar
In order for this to work, blanket immunity from government regulations would be needed, to prevent lawyers from suing for every perceived or actual injustice or slight, while residing at the former mall.
For the record, they didn't show the LensCrafters at all but we are still in the mall and still kicking! For anyone local, lots of people tell us they didn't know we were open anymore.
Angela Smith absolutely! Support those who are still open!
If i could i'd donate to support you - The surviving dead-malls deserve all the support they can get~
They should have a standing sign or two that directs people there.
@amusement420 we do! They completely cut our side of the mall out of the video so you can't see it, we were actually busy the day this was filmed, hence why it was likely cut.
@@pumpkin111496 Somewhat ironic there's another eyeglass place by the arcade he was in. I was told the Finish Line shoe store was remodeled inside. Once they raised Taco Bell's rent they said see ya later we'll go someplace else that was bad thing. That cheap food place was always busy. Another thing is the mall wings are cold because of no heat from the stores. I think there's a sign on Dillards that ways warning Mold hazard. I remember when it was May company they had a sunken gazebo eating area where we got hot dogs and laser disc players on display. You won't see girl scout cookies being sold in the mall anymore either. If I can get away with it I'll take pics of the entire mall before Best Buy leaves. That will be like a funeral to me. My friend's wife's relative has installed stereos there for 15 yrs. one of the security monitor guys is fun to talk to he knows things about the mall such as sears roof needed repairing before they closed it and he told me about the older lady who owned the picture store I always thought was a front for something lol the people who own the wig place own VIP sports clothing I never see anyone in. that's strange the places you never see anyone in are still there. it looked like the nail salon by the old macy's was being repaired but perhaps the mall management didn't want to fix it because then they were gone (?) interesting that gym place takes up a lot of empty stores. maybe he didn't include open stores like yours because he don't have permission to tape people although there were some mall walkers(?) another irony is that 50+yr ago malls made downtowns former shells of themselves. and in some cases outdoor malls like crocker park are much busier. I hate parking garages! I used to like to take the short walk into macy's to walk thru the midway mall.. It seemed like a classier dept store. it may have been the chamfered corners of the walkways.
I miss it. I miss everything about what this mall was in the late 80s - 2010. The 90s was the best decade for this mall too. It was packed and had a waiting list for stores almost a year in advance. I wish they could renovate it and make it look like it did back then. The nostalgia would make me very happy.
I feel like these malls could be saved if they went with a crazy retro 80s theme, focused on arcade and entertainment. They would be better as a sort of amusement park of sorts.
The problem is that would take a lot of money to fully renovate a mall and there's no guarantee it would be profitable or for how long. A lot of dead malls are also in crime-ridden areas where people just avoid to stay safe
Ehh... i think that would last a year or so , then the novelty would wear off. Unfortunately.. we will never recapture the life and times of the 80s or any era.
@@justdog5506 This one isn't though.
When Ford and the Steel mill had tons of employees in Lorain county this place was packed with people spending.
I cant say it's all online shopping because great northern mall less than 25 miles away in North Olmsted is still packed.
That and you also have Avon Commons nearby. Elyria is the hood there are a lot of bad neighborhoods there people just didn't want to go their for shopping anymore.
It all started going bad when the big work plants went down (my dad got fired from one because they went down in 2013)
@Jayden Gravelle I have watched vedios of driving around that city. I see lots of abounded homes it looks like a mini Detroit. Nearby Lorain is even worse.
dvferyance I would like to see that video because I call bs .. I live in Elyria and I have lived in Detroit and that are not even close to comparison
Elyria the hood? All I see in Elyria is druggies and hicks😂 come over to East Cleveland this is where the hood is at
I'm surprised we are even worthy of a video. I remember when the Mall was the best place to be. It definitely used to be called Westfield. It's not because people are going online to shop, plenty of surrounding cities have booming malls.
People LOVE to blame it all on internet shopping, which definitely has caused a lot of problems, but is far from the only source. For example: there are too many malls in some areas for the local population (especially in areas that are hemohoraging people because they just don't have good jobs to offer their younger populations as they graduate from high school and college), poor construction at the foundational level and a capitalistic obsession with squeezing out every possible penny that meant they didn't have proper upkeep, people can't afford a lot of the merchendise (despite the claims that the recession ended and the stock market being super high, wages have been stagnant for decades while the cost of living has been skyrocketing), outdated stores that didn't keep up with the times (here's looking at you, Sears and K-Mart), bad management running the malls into the ground again because they are trying to squeeze out every possible penny and then end up squeezing so hard they pop the mall, so to speak, etc.
It's a combination of issues that plague malls today. Online shopping is partly due to the dying malls. It's also the cost of security, utilities (electric, heat, cooling and water) The decline of shops like Sam Goody and Musicland too played a part. When was the last time you bought a physical copy of music?
You guys know this area. The Home Depot opened just south along with at the time Circuit City and a few other free standing stores. I wonder if they received a nice tax break. Plenty of other eateries and other smaller strip malls opened up outside of the mall. I thought I remember a Sam's club west of 57. This mall is facing what a lot of other malls face. Anchor store that are no longer in business or reducing their foot print.
There's a Westfield out here in Toledo. Only enclosed mall still open.
Westfield is the management firm, the same happened to Southpark Center in Strongsville.
It’s because they charge ridiculous amounts for rent that causes stores to fail.... it’s completely avoidable if they reduced the rent
When the mall was built in the 60s, it killed downtown Elyria. As industries left Lorain County, taxes went up, rents increased, Stores couldn’t afford the mall, and the customer base couldn’t afford the stores that could afford the mall. Even the outliers started closing because the customers weren’t there. As the neighborhood development shifted to the south and east, someone got the brilliant idea that that’s where the stores should be to. That’s the complete demise of the mall. Took a lot longer than this paragraph, but there it is.
The mall also killed downtown Lorain Businesses. Nice mall I spent a lot of time there. since the early 70's
I live really close to this mall and can honestly say it’s dead. No true anchors are left. Best Buy announced they’re closing soon and a Dunham’s Sports will be the only “big” store left… For now
Sethro - wow 😯. Oh, I like your profile picture! 🙂👍👍
It is. Last time I was out there was to hit record exchange. It's a sad looking building.
Erin Bricker - Urban Historian Thanks. Even though I was born in Ohio I am a big West Virginia Mountaineers fan still have a lot of family there
Wild Bill That it is. I can’t remember the last time I stepped foot in there
Bath and body works is still there and will be until the mall tells us to leave
I remember when you couldn't find a parking spot here. This is why I stopped shopping Amazon. I know I can't stop it, and I know this is one of those times where one person won't make the difference, but I won't be the "one person" that helps to destroy these jobs, and businesses
Sometimes, it's just good to go out and be people, ya know. Raise your face out of the phone, get off of the computer and just go walk around a mall, buy from them, be people.
Come to elyria mall, we got Spencer's.
So does the mall by me on long island. Smithaven mall
@@Kgio-2112 I think every mall I've ever been to had a Spencer's
Spencer’s is the cockroach of mall stores...they’ll never die😂
I honestly didn't know their was anything in the mall, I will be visiting Spencer's soon!
Amazon bought a building there
I just love shopping in indoor Malls. Especially in bad weather. So sad how they have deteriorated over the years. Bums me for sure. I'm forever a 70s & 80s girl.
My wife just did a walk through of the mall today. It was sad as we remember what it was like in it's heyday. I was impressed that the structure seems intact. No water stained ceiling tiles, cracked floors, dingy walls. It looks it's just getting ready to open and start booming again instead of fossilizing.
It’s amazing to listen to this particular video and hearing the talk of it being January 2020. Hearing all the plans to come and yet, we had no clue how much our worlds were about to change in just a few months.
Great video as always.
Makes me so sad! I grew up riding bikes to this mall, spending hours here hanging out with friends. I loved all the Christmas decorations and store displays. It’s not only the mall that’s drastically changed from the 80/90s. Elyria has also went downhill severely. All heartbreaking.
This kinda hurt to watch, I’ve lived in Elyria my whole life and it was so full of life when I was little, that whole side of Elyria is dying and I haven’t been in the mall for a few months. When I was little only one or two stores were empty and there were always people bustling about, keep in mind I’m only 14. It declined really quickly and it’s sad to see it go
it seems like they're making an effort to keep this mall looking nice. turning some of the empty stores into seating areas and putting some display stuff in the windows of empty stores makes it seem less dead for some reason
Agreed
Wow, I remember being like 10-11 and always being so excited when my parents would take me here. This place used to have so many awesome stores.
It's depressing! Grew up going to this mall, my grandma worked at Sears in the men's department for many years. It was packed on the weekends, and forget about getting a parking space during the Christmas season. This was the place to hang out in the 80s when I was in high school. There was a shoe store when I was little that had a monkey in it. I think it was called Faflik's. The nearest mall in Westlake has overpriced stores no one can really afford. I wish Midway could be turned around, but I don't think it is going to be open much longer. :(
Aaah just brought back an old memory of me driving around the snow filled parking lot in a rust eaten car looking for parking outside the food court. Good times.
I grew up going there as well. It was such a busy area in the 90s.
the mall in the 90's was nutts
This is my mall....so sad to see this dead. In the 80s/90s it was hoppin
The date for Malley's shows 2019. I was under the impression MM closed 2+ decades ago. Had no idea it was still open in 2019. (I went into the Navy and retired in the Norfolk/Va Bch area).
I live in Elyria,oh, literally 5 minutes from this mall. It's sad that it's dead now when it was very full of life at one point :(
i grew up on warden ave right off 57
I used to work in the arcade in that mall back in the 90s. Blows my mind it's dead now.
USA malls aren't surviving due to not having the right stores in it like a Burger King, Subway, grocery store, post office, donut restaurant, game and phone stores, etc like Ireland has. Hundreds of people at the mall everyday in Ireland. Always a crowd and events there too. Malls in the US don't even care for promoting themselves anymore either so it's their own fault for not getting customers in the door. Also people shop more online for the same stuff at the stores in the mall. Malls succeed and can make rent if it's not the same stores online. Change the stores and do what Europe does!!
Well, not having the right stores isn't the ONLY reason, but it is absolutely ONE of the reasons. Other reasons include overmalling (too many malls placed too close together, all competing for the same shoppers) and changing demographics. Online shopping does have an effect, but mostly on big box retailers, not on the small specialty shops that are a big part of most thriving malls.
True.. If I won a huge Lotto I would revive a dead mall with alot lower rent!
The mall I go to in Dublin is just down the street from the other mall and there's tons of people at both. Malls are very popular in Europe it seems more than the US. I've lived in Ireland off and on for 8 years now and when I come back to the US, everyone seems to be more on their phones and driving in their cars than paying attention to people. There's more walking and biking in Europe. Culture differences too. Everytime I go to their malls, they are always promoting a movie coming out soon, or giving out free samples, and also have a movie theater in their bigger mall. I'm always sweating in them too from having the heat on too high and they do it on purpose from what I've learned to get you to buy a drink.
Ppl in the US don't like to communicate without their phones.... It's a weird world over here nowadays. I hate technology.
@@shan4883
Ireland is an underdeveloped economy. It is about 15 to 20 years behind the US. Dublin only has 3 genuine malls in its centre and that is in a city of about 500,000.
Thanks so much for the upload. Sooo many memories here. I remember the Midway Cinema waaaay back in the early '70s. For instance watching the newest James Bond movie with my parents when I was a little kid...
Another empty mall that could be convereted into affordable housing for folks who need it homeless,poor,veterans etc...would make a really nice little gated community equipped with health, shopping,post office daycare and create jobs aswell
Yeah sunday is awesome to have something fun to watch!! Great job bud! Keep up the good work. Such a crazy time for mall endings right now.
I always pass this mall on the way to Cedar Point! I never knew it was a dead mall like this. I actually get excited when I see it cause it means I'm off the turnpike and only about 30 minutes to go! Lol
The saddest part of all dying malls is that there is less of a chance for Paul Blart Mall Cop 3.
I remember the car shows, the boat shows the wedding events that used to take place in the center of the mall to draw in business. I work in Higbees when they built the food court extension onto the building we used to run down to peek at the construction. And I loved the smell of the coffee beanery.
Hi to all the Ace's Adventures fans from a fan in the UK 🇬🇧.
Another great video.
Got to feel for the staff maintaining the mall as it is pristine. It isn't for lack of them trying. Retail is suffering and will keep changing. The UK is just the same.
Keep up the good work with these videos.
You have me hooked on your choices for intro music like Duett and this video is no exception. I hope in some way supporting this music helps encourage other groups to offer their music to you royalty free! A win win for you both!
Stephen Macomber unfortunately not for me but that’s ok, music is vital to the feel
Pronounced “ee-leer-ee-uh” 😍🥰 I love my city I’m happy to see this! We are up and coming ;) new endings call for new beginnings!!🥳
I grew up going to this mall since the 1960s. I've lived my entire life here in Elyria. The name "Midway Mall" came about because it's midway between Elyria and Lorain, Ohio. We pronounce our city in 3 different ways, Ee - Lee - Ree - Ah, Eh - Lee - Ree - uh, or Ah - Lee - Ree - ah. I wish someone would buy the Midway Mall and develop it into a community, (perhaps low-income), housing space. Multiple apartments with shops inside. Would be nice, but maybe not profitable. Thanks for sharing our dying mall. :)
My opinion, I think they should convert it to a food market like the Westside market in Cleveland....also add lots of food courts for the buyers to enjoy.
Having lived in Elyria when the mall went from busy to dead, there were numerous factors. Westlake was built up and people went there instead, also Westfield purchased Jacob's mall properties and raised the rent. Once Westfield left the high rents remained and stores started to close, since people were going to Westlake.
Adventures with Mike and Avon
Wow didn't expect to see my home town on here lol
LOVE the brick courtyard at the end with the 70’s globe lamps.
So many memories i had walking and shopping at this mall. Born and raised in this town and now to see it like this SMH.
Used to go to this mall all the time in the 1970s, when Higbee's was there with its Attic restaurant and the cool dripping oil fountain outside its front entrance. There was also the jewelry store just inside one of the side entrances that had a large clock in the floor in front of it that I found fascinating. Sad to see it almost empty but that's the retail cycle for you.
Got to visit here today. 'Til Tuesday - Voices Carry was playing while walking in the expansion wing past the food court, and I just was *SMACKED* hard with a wave of nostalgia, even amongst all the closed storefronts. It was just surreal.
Back in the 1960's, 1970' and 1980's this was THE MALL to go to to hang out and shop! In it's heyday it had the most beautiful Christmas displays including the "Talking Christmas Tree". They had the new car shows displayed in the walkways here every year when the new models came out, they had vintage car shows, they had all kinds of events in the large hallways to come and see! I remember my parents taking us to Woolworth's cafeteria to eat. It is very sad for me to watch this Mall die off slowly after all the memories I have at this location. Dick's Sporting Goods which is located in a strip outside this Mall just close up!
BRO! Then till like 2013 this place was amazing! You could eat so much and chill, i went here for a school trip once (you know elyria school system is broke sooo) and it was fun, now its not. Its just, eh. You go there to go potty or get your glasses.
@@CloudSeanie Midway Mall was a more amazing place in the 1970's!!!! I have never seen a better Mall before or since Midway in the 1970's!!!!
Love seeing these Ohio malls. Keeping my fingers crossed to see River Valley mall on your channel sometime!
I am in NE Ohio and it seems that our Great Lakes mall is still hanging on....but I remember this mall when it was thriving 😕
Me and my friends spend an hour driving to malls in other citys because ours is so empty. Thats how bad it is now
We have an abandoned amusement park in Aurora Ohio. It was Geagua Lake and Six Flags. Cedar Fair, who owns Cedar Point in Sandusky, bought it and then let it go down hill. I don't think you can get in, but it's cool and eerie to look at.
Actually, it was going downhill from the owner of six flags.
I grew up there good times.....
That is SO SAD....I remember when going the. Midway mall shopping on the weekend was the "thing to do"...W😱W
No more fishing line with oil droplets coming down it?
Josh B I was looking for that too. Dang. Worked at Sears after school in late ‘60s there.
My favorite part of the mall as a kid...Coming out of Higbee's and seeing that oily magic thing. Can't believe this is the same place.
Those were removed in 1990 when the mall was remodeled.
You should also check out Richmond Town Square in Richmond Heights (also northeast Ohio). Not a single anchor store left, probably three restaurants left (the most well known of which is Charleys), 2 CAR PARTS stores (???), a furniture store that has somehow been in liquidation phase for 3+ years, and maybe a dozen stores open. Really weird because I feel like it’s not a bad location.
Surprises meaning Charleston West Virginia Charleston Town Center Mall please, my old stomping grounds🥺😥 before moving to So. Florida in 2002 🙏🙏 great music selection for this one Anthony again, Happy New year ♥️👍
Thats definitely not how I remember that mall when we stopped there to have a waterproof disposable camera developed at Ritz’s camera on our way home from Cedar Point in 2006. 😬 thanks for sharing!
This mall's only saving grace is how clean it appears to be. I think that's what made me think "I don't get that typical dead mall feel." Glad to see the custodial staff is still clearly employed for the time being.
Its sad i had good memories as a kid and teen there
Love the “mall music” soundtrack to this video. This mall was the place to be when I was growing up in the 90’s. I worked at JW and American Eagle. Got hired at Gap but turned it down because I decided to join the Marine Corps in 2001. Great childhood memories at this mall. During a time when life was simple and less digital.
Come to the Sarasota Square (Westfield) Mall. There are only 14 stores open, maybe less since I checked a couple months ago.
Its crazy how many people from Elyria are seeing this. They’ve actually got an awesome gym in the mall, so I’m hoping we can turn it around.
Another thing is that. When these malls were built or developed. This is not an anomaly but . In most major cities. Back in the brick and mortar days of shopping is that. Large cities like Cleveland,Boston,and so on. Had cores of at least three or more major department stores to anchor the malls that were locally owned plus a Sears or JC Pennys if not both. Most local department store chairs were swallowed up by either Macys or Dillards.. Then they close what they deem as unprofitable. Leaving empty spaces.. Without the foot traffic to the closed anchor stores. The smaller stores lost business. Then they had to close too..
Hey man - who wrote the “If that’s the way you want it” song???
Please tell us, that song is dope
Makes me so sad. I camped out in line for my Playstation 2, PSP, PS3 and Nintendo Switch outside that Best Buy! Great store :( So many good memories
I go here with my dad all the time. It’s definitely a very eerie place but l love going around and exploring it. It looks like when this video was filmed the Best Buy was still open. It’s since been closed. It’s really a miracle that the mall has made it this far especially with lockdown and all that.
The Aesthetics are gorgeous and remind me of a better time in life. Things change though. Those who accept it and move on do better.
We just visited a couple weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon. I remember practically elbowing people to walk through the mall... This past time, there wasn't a single person in the food court, and we're pretty sure a group of teens were smoking by the old Sears 😅
This is a beautiful mall. Such a shame that it is so dead. I love the skylights, those string lights, the aesthetics are nice too.
Sad to see these malls close. Online shopping is killing these places.
That was an awesome video 🙂
I grew up with this mall as I lived in Elyria (pronounced E-lear-re-ah). My friends and I would go to the arcade or just walk around and see all the girls. It's very sad to see this. It's been a long time in the making. It opened in the 1960's I was there that week for the grand opening.
I grew up going here, and my dad took care of the kiddy rides there, I helped clean them , it breaks my heart to see this mall and all the area of Elyria and Lorain turning like this, I just cannot get over it
You should swing by the 3 Crown American malls in the Lehigh Valley when you hit Phillipsburg. They are the South Mall, Westgate Mall and Palmer Park Mall. All three sprang up around Hess' stores that then became Bon-Tons. All 3 are dying. They are locally well known due to Hess' Allentown roots. And they are small enough and identical enough to do a triple feature.
In the UK we are losing some of our very own big anchor stores due to closure, it's all possible that more malls will fall into debt. Sad times
+KRhythm2013
What is happening is that nearly all women now have to work so they do not have time to go shopping during the week. Working people also do not have as much disposable income. We are kidding our self with the idea that all of what we get to day is much cheaper.
We get some cheaper items but the overall cost is much higher. Food prices have been growing at above inflationary levels.
@@bighands69 that's a part of it but a lot of people in society have got lazy because they sometimes barely think. For example, i am waiting to see what happens this morning with idiots who park opposite my driveway because they think they have no other way of parking to get to work. Lack of common sense. Same thing goes for retail. People cannot be bothered to get in their cars (or walk) and expect it to be delivered to them because the Internet is easier and "cheaper". L
Saying that though, the majority of our shopping centres in England are not as dead as the ones you see on this channel. I wonder why this is? 🤔
@@themightywhoosh123 way smaller a country as we are. US malls can be miles in between. Also i believe that the owners of shopping centres are repurposed or knocked down quicker. Down my way i have 2 dead malls. Reading had a shopping centre closed and now opened as a zombie experience, and closer to me is the Galleries in Aldershot. Has been closed for many years and awaiting renovation into flats, but to be honest all of aldershot needs the same
TheMightyWhoosh think it’s mostly the high st here that’s taken a hit,but that being said I’ve been in a few shopping centres here that have a few empty stores.👍🏴
Elyria is my home town. I used to love walking for hours around this mall as a teen. I could tell you where everything was. Sad to see it in decline, but there are other malls thriving somewhat nearby like Great Northern and South Park.
South Park is nice but it's like a 45 minute drive away.
This is one of my favorite videos of yours. If you are ever back in Ohio, visit Severance Town Center in Cleveland Heights.
I grew up going to this mall as little kid, it's where we seen Santa Claus, the talking Christmas tree, and the Easter bunny. Lots of memories here.
Ah, Off Road Challenge, very fun Arcade Racer!!
I like the service area and the outdoor area in the covered walkway. 😎👍
Perfect eyebrows is still open and doing well thanks 🙏
mongali Ghondey good and I hope you continue to do well
Good video. Love the music 😍
I thought that Chapel Hill Mall here in Akron had it bad. They just filed Bankruptcy......
I am from Columbus Ohio biggest mall in Columbus Ohio was City Center Mall n Columbus Ohio I miss that Mall big time
I remember working there in the late 90s at the foot locker store.. Not sure if it's even there. At that time it was still pretty busy there.
The VIP Sports neon sign is gorgeous! 💙💖
Of all the stores to still be open, Louis Cohn is still holding on?! I guess everyone needs varsity jackets and prom tuxes /shrug
ThattOneKid lol i was there a few weeks ago and was surprised Louis was still open, but i have to say the clothes looked old like clothes from when i was teen shopping there in the 90s
@@hustlehardahthe_wave_king1975 I worked there over a decade ago and even then the stock consisted of either loud & flamboyant or outdated clothes of every style.
I've been living in Elyria most of my life and I've only been to the mall twice since the early 2000s both of which to buy cables from best buy
Add a walkthrough of this mall to your series, Exton square mall in Exton,PA Chester county if you can. It normally doesn't see much foot traffic, there were a lot of stores there but they all seem to shut down after the mall owner decided to up everyone's rent for that space. To me it looks like a mall on live support
It's now April 2020 and all malls are dead malls. (great video)
I see Dan Bell is an influence on you.
Sam B absolutely
I used to go to a Christmas breakfast upstairs in the old Higbees back in the 1970's
I did the same! Every year at The Attic...
I used to live in Elyria. The mall was still alive. Then the stores started closing one by one.
The retail part of American dream mall hasn't opened yet but is mostly leased.
The American dream stopped when welfare started to drain the country. The government spends 2 trillion per year on welfare.
Dillard's closed in 2007.
Macy's closed in 2016.
Sears closed in 2017.
JCPenney closed in 2019.
Best Buy closed in 2020.
What's the Waterfront Dining song called (at the end)??? :(
So sad! When I was a kid in the late 80s, early 90s, this mall was happening! Spent so many hours at the arcade. Even in the early 2000s it wasn't this bad! :(
We still have Woolworth in Germany. Same with Toys R Us.
😥 sad to see all these malls closing
Can you please do Columbia Mall in Columbia, TN. It closes on the 25 thanks
Wow very sad to see this mall die, I pretty much grew up here. I remember on weekends this place used to be so packed, we used to always go out to eat at the restaurants (there used to be many restaurants) and than shop at the mall. There used to be a large arcade room (dave and busters style) that I think occupied the area where Harry Buffalos is at as well, I used to play there a lot too. Man during Christmas you could barely walk in this mall it would be so packed. I remember seeing Steve & Barrys being built that was my favorite store and I had one of their football team style coats for the longest. The movie theatre behind the mall used to be pretty awesome as well used to go alot during highscool. I worked at Sears when I was in college and I was an Electronic Sales associate that made commission, man as an 18 year it was so much money with comission and we are sales number were high (back in 2012) our Store manager used to buy everyone pizza to celebrate. I used to shop a lot Aeropostale and American Eagle on my lunch breaks to the point where American Eagle offered me part time job on the side. Very sad to see this area die out and all the good restaurants close down. Thank you for making this video those times were awesome and I cherish them.
At 6:50 where that pink curtain is it used to be a Malleys where you could buy really good candy. Directly across from that there used to be a small jewelry store, not sure if it's still there. When I was in 8th grade around 2008, me and some friends were loitering around in front of it just talking about what we were gonna do the rest of the day. We got kicked out of the entire mall for it by a guy we called Warlord Banana-Chin. He was a security guard with a really big chin, and later that year we found out he was a substitute teacher as well. Back then the "dead mall" feeling was just becoming apparent. Sears, Macy's, and JCPenny we're still open then
Edit: at 14:15 that sun news used to cell cigarettes and shells to minors as long as nobody was in front of the store to see it
Another great video Ace. That security office inside the old Spencer’s has to be the most pathetic thing I have ever seen. Also the Midway Mall logo slapped over the Westfield logo in the play area shows how little money they are willing to invest in this property... how sad.
Its not whats willing to be put into the mall, Lorain is broke. Elyria is going into poverty and if being taken over by section 8. We used to be a nice town, like, a "richer" town but, 2 factories shut down so everyone left and people from Cleveland moved in because the prices on houses dropped because no one lived here in like 2014.
11:13\6 = Those Christmas Decorations are Getting the 5 star treatment, very generous mall staff!!
I know it has been two years and a pandemic later so this may not apply. But one thing this mall has that other ones I have watched in videos is it still has a vibrancy to it. I didn't see a lot of the decay that we typically see (though maybe I just missed those shots). I think if we were still in January 2020 this mall could have been turned around if it had opened up to more mixed use applications.
I use to work at the Kaufmann's/Macy's in Canton Centre Mall in Canton, Ohio. When we were cleaning out the building I just felt that some of these old department stores could be turned into daycares or open air concept schools or maybe even into places for home-school co-ops.
Long abandoned buildings this probably would not work, but recently abandoned buildings probably could be retro-fitted with minimal cost (considering the space).