It was incredible at Christmas time. Extra fond memories of the second floor United Artists theater it used to have, you needed to go up an escalator to get to it
Mall management with a sense of history is very rare. One local mall (not yet dead, but decidedly unwell) has some great historic photos from its opening ca. 1960, but these are not displayed in a prominent place.
A local mall to me did that recently during and after the remodel. I took pictures a couple weeks ago. Other malls around here, not so much, except the one most local to me, they did do some TH-cam videos and a little kiosk the week of their 50th anniversary a couple years back. Though I haven't really gone digging online for pics much yet either.
Back when it was first announced the news even talked about it. Apparently it's the first Costco that was ever closed without being relocated elsewhere
Awesome video! I’m 37 and I am a native of Phoenix. I grew up just down the street near Osborn and 15th Avenue. Chris-Town was my first mall that I frequented with my parents before I ventured to Metrocenter as a teenager. I remember the fountains and sand castle sculptures that used to be featured at the entry and at the ends of the mall. My very first job was working as a bus boy at the Chinese restaurant called Yang Dynasty which was next to the old Dillard’s (where Target is now). Before Wal-Mart was built, it used to be The Broadway. Before Costco it was JC Penny’s. Before Ross and Petsmart it was Montgomery Wards. Before the Harkin’s it was the food court with United Artists on the 2nd level (there were escalators that went up to the theater from the interior of the mall). I remember watching Jurassic Park in 1993 when it was released at United Artists. Finally before the Bank of America pad building along 19th Avenue was the old Harkin’s Theaters, where I saw Spiceworld and Contact in 1997. Wow, so many memories - and it sucks that Kimco plans to demo the oldest part of the mall. ☹️
I grew up with this mall. It's only a shell of what it once was. It was once an incredible place. It would be hard to restore it as most of it was demolished in phases leaving the tiny portion that you see now.
I had actually forgotten about this mall. I do remeber the sand sculptures they had there at one point. My parents enjoyed eating at a restaurant that was in the parking lot that was a sort of all you can eat cafeteria. I can't remember what it was called. This was in the early 90s.
The first time I entered Chris-Town mall was in the summer of '70. It felt *so good* walking into a fancy air-conditioned mall after bring out in that 115-degree heat, and having an *ICE COLD* soda sitting comfortably in what felt like 65 degrees. The floor of that mall had rectangular terra cotta tile with thick grout.
I totally agree with you. I thought that closing both Costco and JCPenney would pretty much kill off christown Mall and it would be a dead Mall pretty much overnight. Also, buildings like this should be protected because they are historic. I'm hoping that all of those murals and photos of the mall history will be saved before they demolish the building.
Despite living in Arizona and having seen these places so many times, it's oddly therapeutic and calming seeing these places in your video format. Great work! Keep it up :D
The vintage aerial photos are always a treat. Because you think about what a production it was to get shots like that back in the day needing to fly a helicopter and take shots with film and hope they worked out. I remember over 20 years ago, I worked reception at a company and they were pricing out having it done. Now it takes a drone and a cell phone to accomplish the same task! Ps: congrats on 100k!
dude someone recommended me ur channel but I had NO IDEA that u live in Arizona 😭 that honestly makes ur channel way cooler cause all the places u go r places I’ve been or grew up with, I was just at christown the other week this is crazy
I went to West High school at 19th Ave And Thomas in the early 80's so Christown was our happening place. It was really ruined after they tore down the UA theater and gutted most of the mall.
The coin-op games remind me of the days when pretty much every mall had a good-sized arcade. You're lucky to get a few crane games in a lot of modern malls.
I live across the street from Christown and got the redevelopment plans sent to us. I understand not wanting to lose the history of the mall but I truly feel the redevelopment will be great for the area. The plans seem to resemble something like Westgate. It’s a prime location to bring housing, shopping and entertainment. Interesting side note, I worked at the mall from 1990-1993 as a teenager. That Foot Locker was there as well as that Visionworks. It’s pretty cool to see what has stood the test of time. 😊 Thanks for the video.
I truly love pictures of malls from the 60s. It's always exactly how I pictured the mall when I read 'Ribsy' as a kid. There's something so charming about that style of architecture that's just lost in modern buildings.
Great video and nice to see an update! On your older video I commented that I used to work at the Spencer's Gifts store back in 1985. It was my first job when I moved to Arizona to go to the Phoenix Institute of Technology.
I never went to Christown, but I remember it being one of those places that Wallace & Ladmo always went (a bit jealous!!). But I remember so many malls in the Phoenix metro growing up which are no longer there: Los Arcos, Fiesta (I remember when it was just the Sears), Tri-City in Mesa, Metrocenter (a huge deal if you could convince your mom to dive out there from Mesa, as there was only the 60 & I17) and there was one on Central Ave, just north of McDowell in Phoenix that was dying in the mid-1990s. I can't remember the name, but I do remember buying some great shoes there.
You do a great job narrating your videos! The malls unfold in front of me, & it feels like we're taking a stroll together. It's like you're giving me a personal tour.
I worked at the Radio Shack at the Christown Mall from 1997-1999. Costco was a Dillards clearance center, Walmart had just just opened up and Montgomery wards was just a closed up anchor. Our store was always #2 in sales while Metrocenter was always #1 in the area. At first, I thought I had chosen the wrong Radio Shack to work at but I loved the car shows they would have in the mall and different local events. The first year Walmart opened. we would get people on a daily basis asking if we would price match Walmart, then they would walk out. I was sure Walmart was going put the mall out of business. Last year was my first time in 20 years visiting Phoenix and I thought it was going to be closed or dead. But to my surprise, Metrocenter was the dead mall, Not Christown.
A Winco in the spot of Costco would be great... or even if they made it a Sam's Club. I also agree with turning the JCPenney into a Dave and Busters or Round1. I would rather have a Round1 though since the only Round1 is in Tucson.
congrats on the forthcoming silver play button, i've lived in the Valley of the Sun my whole life and i personally appreciate you documenting the decaying commercial history of my hometown, it's like stepping into an old room that doesn't exist anymore.
Congratulations on 100k subs!!! We didn’t go to school together, but we grew up in the same city at the same time and are right about the same age i think, so I feel like you’re someone who I can relate to when you’re sharing the your videos of the valley. I don’t live there anymore and miss it DAILY. Keep up the amazing work!!
I grew up not far from Christown. It was quite a place to see in the 70's(They did have live birds in the cages). The mall I remember is long gone, most of it was leveled ages ago. There was one store that was outside the mall(I think they moved inside at some point), most people who grew up going to Christown way back when would remember. Charlie's House O Fun.
I have lived in Bullhead City AZ for about 10 years. I enjoy learning about the history of states I visit or live in. I get a good AZ retail history lesson from your content. Congrats on 100k subs!
I can't say I really like or liked going to malls but they have been such a part of my life that your videos just make me feel warm and comfy. Thank you.
I'm 53 and used to go here as a kid in the 1980's all the time and hungout with my childhood friend Peter Billingsley (A Christmas Story) he attended Phoenix Country Day School (PCDS) at the time, we would see movies inside the mall going up the Escalator to the second floor and the outside theatre ...great memories. Also I ate at Piccadilly Cafeteria once a month with my mom and Grandma and of course who can forget the small Chinese restaurant there run just by one man where we would all get a huge Egg Role on a stick dipped in Sweet & Sour Sauce and the amazing monkey that would tip his hat for any amount of change.
Great video, the last time I was in this mall was back in the late 90’s. At that time to me the mall inside seemed dark and not that inviting. Look’s a lot better inside now!👍
Congrats on reaching 100,000 subscribers! In one of your old videos, you and your buddy were grossed out by a musty smelling Sears. -My sister and my niece once refused to wander through a Sears because of the smell. So when I forced my sister to watch your video clip of the musty smelling Sears, it just made her day. And your videos are always a treat for me to watch. Keep up your great work!
It’s interesting to see the changes happening at the mall I work in. It’s a neighborhood mall in Tampa, FL. It seems to be teetering on the edge of life and death but they’ve gotten really creative with it lately. It will be interesting to see how it fares over the next few years.
There is something about the aesthetic that is so appeasing. It's neat that the scar is still there. Also the store with glass window after the Walmart reminds me of Rave Clothing, it was popular in the early 2000s. Also congrats on 100K! I really love that you do research into the background of malls/stores.
I knew Mrs. Harvey. They had a dairy farm there where Christown Mall is now. You can still see piece of that farm on 15th and Maryland. I love this mall so much. Seen it go through a lot of changes over the years. Will miss it a lot. Really sad to see it go.
Question: what draws you to dead malls/shopping plazas? For me it’s kinda haunting, a little bit sad but more so just overall intriguing - I’m a huge vintage clothing/toys/art fan and love seeing items/artifacts/places that tell a story. : )
Originally it opened as a Price Club before it became a costco. I remember when the moved close to Arrowhead mall. The 59th Ave and bell store sat vacant for many years before winco remodeled the building
Remember being a kid visiting the mall with family in 90s look so different than was exciting now basically tone down the atmosphere. Remember their use to be second story where I'll be getting all my Godzilla VHS 📼 tapes across the theater...😄
If you want to see a thriving mall or one that will never go away you should come out to Houston and see Baybrook mall or go see the galleria in Houston. They are both thriving and doing great. Also where I live if you want to see though to an abandoned Radio Shack we have one where I live to. Also this June I’m going to see the last Blockbuster left in the World.
I visited my aunt and uncle when they lived in Mesa. We went to a mall somewhere. They had either a big Best Buy or Circuit City. I think it was the latter. Nothing like that in small city western NY. I like these mall tours. That one is a nice mall. Too bad they are killing it.
Used to have a great ice cream shop at entrance that looked like a fair w round white blinking lights. Army recruitment upstairs, Bullocks which became Dillards, Broadway which became Walmart, Woolworths, Judy’s, a pet store, movie theatre(upstairs), and a man had a small monkey on a leash dressed in a red suit and hat that kids would hold a penny out to and the monkey took the money. It was beautiful at Christmas time. Bobs Big Boy on corner. I used to walk this mall for hours as a teen in the early 90’s.
Congrats on 100K subs 🎉 You deserve much more. Your contents are well done. It would be a darn shame if they tear this down. Winco is a GREAT grocery store. I love their nuts/candy bins.
I arrived at Christown when it was already in lower-economic output ie the Walmart was already there. Used to drive past the Harkins on the way to Costco - cheap gas and bulk purchases. We'd sometimes grab a pizza real quick when hosting game nights at the house. Now it's gone, and what a bummer since Covid-19 is beginning to fade away.
I know a lot of people hate Hull malls here in the southeast, but they do all these old pictures of the mall and the people from the town through years. More malls should do that to make people feel an actual connection to the mall.
My mom tells me I was at Chris Town's grand opening in a stroller - I would have been about a year old at the time! I now live near it again, and I do enjoy going there on a regular basis (although much of my regular shopping included both the Penneys and the Costco), but there are still some good stores left. I agree - there are other things that could be done with the space to help make it more lively.
In Savannah, Georgia, one of the two Targets in the area is attached to a mall, the Savannah Mall (itself a dying mall), with an auxiliary entrance into the mall itself.
A WinCo in Costco makes sense. Even though WinCo would only take like 50% of the Costco location. My suggestion for the other half of Costco should be a Best Buy or Ashley Homestore. For the JCPenney, half of the location should be given to Dave & Buster's like you suggested or John's Incredible Pizza. the other half can be a department store like TJ Maxx, Old Navy, etc.
My Neighborhood Mall . It's Dying a Slow Death! This Mall Is a Warrior . Thomas Mall , Tower Plaza, Los Arcos Mall , Died In the 90s Even Metro Center Died A Slow Death
3:30. It doesn’t vibrate, it’s a machine that tests how strong your grip is. You literally wrap your hand(s) around those things and squeeze as hard as you can
Personally I would put loads of neon, re incorporate a mall arcade, put in a win co or price chopper in the old costco space and put in a movie theater or a kohls in the old jc penney place, with additional retro art and a few or one grand fountain with a huge light feature. And of course replace what need fixing
The Wal-Mart in St.Vital mall in Winnipeg opens into the mall via a long corridor to the shopping cart storage area up front. That has outside access as well.
When I was a kid, the hallway that connected the Walmart to the mall had a couple of arcade machines. The only one I can remember is Primal Rage. During the beanie baby craze, the middle of the halls would be all lined up with table vendors set up in the middle.
That is sad if they are going to tear it down. My Potomac Mills Mall also has a Costco, but you can enter from the outside as there is no mall entrance. Same for the AMC Theater. There also a few restaurants built outside in front of the mall.
I remember Costco was a busy food court where my family went to eat there and still remember JCPenney was there but nothing changed since I was there since 2017 ish, still love GameStop is there.
Great to see Christown. In many parts of the world (i.e. China, South Korea, Russia, UAE), shopping malls or a variant of the shopping mall concept is very much alive. Despite the media's claims, internet did not kill shopping malls. Experts concluded that two factors killed the modern iteration of America's shopping malls: retail corporatization & single-use zoning. With corporatization, most malls began to feel like clones of nearby malls. With single-use zoning, vacancies were difficult to fill, reduces variety. For a variety of reasons, the last of America's shopping malls will become targets for restoration, popular attractions. This same phenomenon making classic cars valuable, historical districts desirable places to live, vinyl records collectible, & retro clothing a new life. I can almost envision art exhibits inside restored shopping malls dedicated to old store signs. Shopping malls should be community-owned, rents should be cheap, all businesses should be welcome, zoning & red tape should be minimal. Shopping malls should be an incubator for new ideas, not a showcase of Wall Street corporations.
I am a Phoenix native, live down the street from the mall. I remember as a kid going there in the 80's for Movies, the LEGO expos, gaming stores, and restaurants. I preferred Christown to Metro's 'too big to walk' size, better parking, and kool Movie theater. The Harkins at Christown is still a very nice theater. A little refacing and moving in some good anchors, and yes, it could be a comeback of the Decade Mall. good memories and more to come if they are smart about it.
Love those historical photos!!! VonMaur ( USA, Iowa ) up until the 90’s used to have Bird cages with Finches by the piano player in the middle of the store. They were in old looking bell shaped cages.
I mainly go to Christown now for the Super Target, since the Target near Camelback and 16th is a mini. It’s a shame the Costco is gone since it was closest to me.
The Walmart was surprising and it would be interesting to know if W is really beneficial to the mall given it is more of a competition rather than a compliment to other stores. I enjoyed seeing the Montgomery store. Wow. I believe malls can still remain based as a retail designation but they must change in ways that keeps them in the present otherwise they will just die slower than malls already dead. An example, a part of their huge parking lot could be used as a drive-in or using a wing of the mall for local businesses. Malls in their slow death have no sense of energy and I believe that needs to change. Trees. Vivid colors. Water fountains. I believe the historic pictures are interesting and becomes a bridge between the old and the new. I enjoyed the video.
Great piece on the mall. I lived in the west valley in the 70s until the mid-80s and Christown was a staple for us, MetroCenter too. I love that Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure featured MetroCenter in its hayday so we can look back. I wish there was something like that for Christown. I remember the fountain inside the front doors and I remember the huge sandcastle that was built. For those who were there in my day, wasn't the Farrell's right at the corner of where Walmart is? That side building? Then if you turned that corner and go down the mall there was the escalator to the theater upstairs. Just to the side was a great pet store. Soooo many memories of that place. Oh and the Miracle Mile Deli. Can't forget that. It's sad to hear it's going to be torn down and I too wish it would stay around for historical sake. Thanks again for the great insight on a once great mall.
Phx native & retired Educator. I still shop here. Grew up on the Westside of town shopping at this mall. I agree it should be registered as historic & shouldn't be torn down.
I remember that Montgomery Ward, and Dillard's. Before Costco and the Harkins, I saw Chicago in the theater that was accessible inside the mall (before that side of the mall was torn down to build Harkins). Went there on and off from childhood to early adulthood. Sad to hear about the redevelopment.
Hey RA did you ever visit the VF outlet when it had the fairly large collection of coin-operated games all gathered in front of the literal VF store? Around the corner was the cart have coin-operated candy/toy machines. I brought the kiddos I babysat there one day with a bunch of quarters. It’s a memory of mine that, obviously, won’t ever leave!
I worked at Yucca Library and we were already back at the full library when 9/11 happened. When I originally transferred over to Yucca we were in the mall. It was during this time the mall name changed I believe the name change must have happened either 2000/01.
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Makes you wish you could go back in time to it's heyday, and see what it was like, especially at Christmas.
It was awesome in the 80s, thousands of people at christmas..
Woah Larry surprised to see you on this side of the pond!
It was incredible at Christmas time. Extra fond memories of the second floor United Artists theater it used to have, you needed to go up an escalator to get to it
Malls back then around Christmas time were magical!
It was everything you could imagine. A great place to shop, dine, hang out, etc. It was everything!
At least they have historical picture for you to share so you don't have deal with looking them up online.
Mall management with a sense of history is very rare. One local mall (not yet dead, but decidedly unwell) has some great historic photos from its opening ca. 1960, but these are not displayed in a prominent place.
A local mall to me did that recently during and after the remodel. I took pictures a couple weeks ago. Other malls around here, not so much, except the one most local to me, they did do some TH-cam videos and a little kiosk the week of their 50th anniversary a couple years back. Though I haven't really gone digging online for pics much yet either.
They did the historic photos a few years back .
Spent lots of time here at this mall , my Costco was an anchor and it closed
A closed down Costco? Never heard of such a thing before!
Back when it was first announced the news even talked about it. Apparently it's the first Costco that was ever closed without being relocated elsewhere
Low income neighborhood unfortunately.
I saw a empty Walgreens 😯. Near Merritt Island Florida. I had to look twice. Most Florida Walgreens shut down to move to newer spaces not close.
It was closed because this was the only Costco where Costco did not own the building. They relocated this one to the one they built in Surprise.
right?
Awesome video! I’m 37 and I am a native of Phoenix. I grew up just down the street near Osborn and 15th Avenue. Chris-Town was my first mall that I frequented with my parents before I ventured to Metrocenter as a teenager. I remember the fountains and sand castle sculptures that used to be featured at the entry and at the ends of the mall. My very first job was working as a bus boy at the Chinese restaurant called Yang Dynasty which was next to the old Dillard’s (where Target is now). Before Wal-Mart was built, it used to be The Broadway. Before Costco it was JC Penny’s. Before Ross and Petsmart it was Montgomery Wards. Before the Harkin’s it was the food court with United Artists on the 2nd level (there were escalators that went up to the theater from the interior of the mall). I remember watching Jurassic Park in 1993 when it was released at United Artists. Finally before the Bank of America pad building along 19th Avenue was the old Harkin’s Theaters, where I saw Spiceworld and Contact in 1997. Wow, so many memories - and it sucks that Kimco plans to demo the oldest part of the mall. ☹️
I grew up with this mall. It's only a shell of what it once was. It was once an incredible place. It would be hard to restore it as most of it was demolished in phases leaving the tiny portion that you see now.
It's sad that malls may be a thing of the past at some point.
Not all malls some will survive
yea :/
Love the pictures of those classic cars. They don't make them like they used to.
All American made cars, when American cars were the best in the world.
I had actually forgotten about this mall. I do remeber the sand sculptures they had there at one point. My parents enjoyed eating at a restaurant that was in the parking lot that was a sort of all you can eat cafeteria. I can't remember what it was called. This was in the early 90s.
Hometown Buffet
I remember there was a Piccadilly that was where the Mandarin Buffet is now.
@@amys0709 yep I'm pretty sure it was picadilly! Thanks!
It totally was a Piccadilly before Hometown Buffet moved in! Piccadilly I think moved south to 7th Ave and Osborn where the Safeway plaza is now.
Picadilly!!!
The first time I entered Chris-Town mall was in the summer of '70. It felt *so good* walking into a fancy air-conditioned mall after bring out in that 115-degree heat, and having an *ICE COLD* soda sitting comfortably in what felt like 65 degrees. The floor of that mall had rectangular terra cotta tile with thick grout.
Wow! I totally remember the terra-cotta tiles with thick grout!
I totally agree with you. I thought that closing both Costco and JCPenney would pretty much kill off christown Mall and it would be a dead Mall pretty much overnight. Also, buildings like this should be protected because they are historic.
I'm hoping that all of those murals and photos of the mall history will be saved before they demolish the building.
Agree
I just love the look of the old 60's malls. they just seemed so classy
I grew up in that mall!! I remember there used to be giant sand castles inside. I got my first NES at the Kay b Toys. So many memories!!
I wish mall fountains would make a big comeback! That Montgomery Ward labelscar is awesome! Congrats on 100k!
Despite living in Arizona and having seen these places so many times, it's oddly therapeutic and calming seeing these places in your video format. Great work! Keep it up :D
bro I feel the exact same way
The vintage aerial photos are always a treat. Because you think about what a production it was to get shots like that back in the day needing to fly a helicopter and take shots with film and hope they worked out. I remember over 20 years ago, I worked reception at a company and they were pricing out having it done. Now it takes a drone and a cell phone to accomplish the same task!
Ps: congrats on 100k!
dude someone recommended me ur channel but I had NO IDEA that u live in Arizona 😭 that honestly makes ur channel way cooler cause all the places u go r places I’ve been or grew up with, I was just at christown the other week this is crazy
I went to West High school at 19th Ave And Thomas in the early 80's so Christown was our happening place. It was really ruined after they tore down the UA theater and gutted most of the mall.
Hi i graduated from there Class of 2019😊but they changed the name to Metro Tech
Not a weight machine, but someone from Florida recently (earlier this year) won 500k from the Powerball using fortune cookie numbers.
The coin-op games remind me of the days when pretty much every mall had a good-sized arcade. You're lucky to get a few crane games in a lot of modern malls.
I live across the street from Christown and got the redevelopment plans sent to us. I understand not wanting to lose the history of the mall but I truly feel the redevelopment will be great for the area. The plans seem to resemble something like Westgate. It’s a prime location to bring housing, shopping and entertainment. Interesting side note, I worked at the mall from 1990-1993 as a teenager. That Foot Locker was there as well as that Visionworks. It’s pretty cool to see what has stood the test of time. 😊 Thanks for the video.
Good point. I grew up in that mall. Good memories. Taking the escalator up to the movies.
I truly love pictures of malls from the 60s. It's always exactly how I pictured the mall when I read 'Ribsy' as a kid. There's something so charming about that style of architecture that's just lost in modern buildings.
Great video and nice to see an update! On your older video I commented that I used to work at the Spencer's Gifts store back in 1985. It was my first job when I moved to Arizona to go to the Phoenix Institute of Technology.
I never went to Christown, but I remember it being one of those places that Wallace & Ladmo always went (a bit jealous!!). But I remember so many malls in the Phoenix metro growing up which are no longer there: Los Arcos, Fiesta (I remember when it was just the Sears), Tri-City in Mesa, Metrocenter (a huge deal if you could convince your mom to dive out there from Mesa, as there was only the 60 & I17) and there was one on Central Ave, just north of McDowell in Phoenix that was dying in the mid-1990s. I can't remember the name, but I do remember buying some great shoes there.
Congratulations on hitting a 100k subscribers! I always found this channel to be one of my favorites on TH-cam, keep up the great work!
I remember Chris town's heyday the eighties were phenomenal . And there will never be another time like the eighties😏👤🐺
Everything was so much better back then...Great memories.
I worked at Musicland, right by the Pizza De Amore and movie theater. 1981 to 1985
Court of Birds is cool, as long as that doesn't include the Court of Owls.
I don't want a bunch of owls judging my life decisions
You do a great job narrating your videos! The malls unfold in front of me, & it feels like we're taking a stroll together. It's like you're giving me a personal tour.
I worked at the Radio Shack at the Christown Mall from 1997-1999. Costco was a Dillards clearance center, Walmart had just just opened up and Montgomery wards was just a closed up anchor. Our store was always #2 in sales while Metrocenter was always #1 in the area. At first, I thought I had chosen the wrong Radio Shack to work at but I loved the car shows they would have in the mall and different local events.
The first year Walmart opened. we would get people on a daily basis asking if we would price match Walmart, then they would walk out. I was sure Walmart was going put the mall out of business.
Last year was my first time in 20 years visiting Phoenix and I thought it was going to be closed or dead. But to my surprise, Metrocenter was the dead mall, Not Christown.
I’ve never heard of a Costco closing down before. How the hell does that happen?
My thinking also! Probably had to do with rent/ lease agreements.
A Winco in the spot of Costco would be great... or even if they made it a Sam's Club. I also agree with turning the JCPenney into a Dave and Busters or Round1. I would rather have a Round1 though since the only Round1 is in Tucson.
Congratulations on reaching 100,000 subscribers.
Keep up the great work with these great videos.
Thank you!
Recently Gamestop appears to be doing well again. I suggest you do a video soon.
congrats on the forthcoming silver play button, i've lived in the Valley of the Sun my whole life and i personally appreciate you documenting the decaying commercial history of my hometown, it's like stepping into an old room that doesn't exist anymore.
Congratulations on 100k subs!!! We didn’t go to school together, but we grew up in the same city at the same time and are right about the same age i think, so I feel like you’re someone who I can relate to when you’re sharing the your videos of the valley. I don’t live there anymore and miss it DAILY.
Keep up the amazing work!!
Really liked the historical mall photos! That seems like a good way to celebrate the local area, which is what I remember malls doing.
I grew up not far from Christown. It was quite a place to see in the 70's(They did have live birds in the cages). The mall I remember is long gone, most of it was leveled ages ago.
There was one store that was outside the mall(I think they moved inside at some point), most people who grew up going to Christown way back when would remember.
Charlie's House O Fun.
I have lived in Bullhead City AZ for about 10 years. I enjoy learning about the history of states I visit or live in. I get a good AZ retail history lesson from your content. Congrats on 100k subs!
Congrats on 100k subscribers btw
Thank you!
@@RetailArchaeology LETS PRAY THIS MALL IS 100% EMPTY BEFORE U HAVE 110K SUBS
I can't say I really like or liked going to malls but they have been such a part of my life that your videos just make me feel warm and comfy. Thank you.
I'm 53 and used to go here as a kid in the 1980's all the time and hungout with my childhood friend Peter Billingsley (A Christmas Story) he attended Phoenix Country Day School (PCDS) at the time, we would see movies inside the mall going up the Escalator to the second floor and the outside theatre ...great memories. Also I ate at Piccadilly Cafeteria once a month with my mom and Grandma and of course who can forget the small Chinese restaurant there run just by one man where we would all get a huge Egg Role on a stick dipped in Sweet & Sour Sauce and the amazing monkey that would tip his hat for any amount of change.
Great video, the last time I was in this mall was back in the late 90’s. At that time to me the mall inside seemed dark and not that inviting. Look’s a lot better inside now!👍
For a mall built in the 70s it looks pretty modern it must have gotten a lot of updates throughout the years
I did security back in the 90's there. It will be sad to see yet another Phoenix icon fade into the past.😢
When in the 90’s? I worked at a store there 90-93 and there was always a nice older man that did security there at night.
I worked there in 93. I recall an older man who worked security. I'm guessing he was in his 50's at that time.
Went here to get a haircut with my brother in law I felt like I was back home it reminded me of the Buena Park Mall back in Cali
Congrats on reaching 100,000 subscribers! In one of your old videos, you and your buddy were grossed out by a musty smelling Sears. -My sister and my niece once refused to wander through a Sears because of the smell. So when I forced my sister to watch your video clip of the musty smelling Sears, it just made her day. And your videos are always a treat for me to watch. Keep up your great work!
It’s interesting to see the changes happening at the mall I work in. It’s a neighborhood mall in Tampa, FL. It seems to be teetering on the edge of life and death but they’ve gotten really creative with it lately. It will be interesting to see how it fares over the next few years.
There is something about the aesthetic that is so appeasing. It's neat that the scar is still there. Also the store with glass window after the Walmart reminds me of Rave Clothing, it was popular in the early 2000s.
Also congrats on 100K! I really love that you do research into the background of malls/stores.
Very well done!! I share your love of Christown Spectrum Mall as well. It needs to be saved.
I knew Mrs. Harvey. They had a dairy farm there where Christown Mall is now. You can still see piece of that farm on 15th and Maryland. I love this mall so much. Seen it go through a lot of changes over the years. Will miss it a lot. Really sad to see it go.
Question: what draws you to dead malls/shopping plazas?
For me it’s kinda haunting, a little bit sad but more so just overall intriguing - I’m a huge vintage clothing/toys/art fan and love seeing items/artifacts/places that tell a story. : )
The Winco at 5850 West Bell Road used to be the Glendale Costco, which moved further west so it has been done before.
Originally it opened as a Price Club before it became a costco. I remember when the moved close to Arrowhead mall. The 59th Ave and bell store sat vacant for many years before winco remodeled the building
Congratulations on 100k
Thank you!
Used to go there when the miller's outpost was down by the Walmart
Congrats on 100k Subscribers
Been Supporting your content since I discovered your Serise video from 4 Years Ago. keep up with the amazing content
I see all those cars yet I’ve been in this mall and I can’t imagine all those people crammed inside here.
I loved going to this mall, My dad taught me to drive in Korrick’s parking lot when stores used to be closed on Sundays
I grew up spending time at this mall in the 1970’s into the eighties!! Good times!
Remember being a kid visiting the mall with family in 90s look so different than was exciting now basically tone down the atmosphere. Remember their use to be second story where I'll be getting all my Godzilla VHS 📼 tapes across the theater...😄
If you want to see a thriving mall or one that will never go away you should come out to Houston and see Baybrook mall or go see the galleria in Houston. They are both thriving and doing great. Also where I live if you want to see though to an abandoned Radio Shack we have one where I live to. Also this June I’m going to see the last Blockbuster left in the World.
rumors Blockbuster Video might make a comeback as a boutique theater chain
@@christopherhindle8371 that’s would be amazing
I think there is still one some where like Washington state up that way.
I visited my aunt and uncle when they lived in Mesa. We went to a mall somewhere. They had either a big Best Buy or Circuit City. I think it was the latter. Nothing like that in small city western NY. I like these mall tours. That one is a nice mall. Too bad they are killing it.
Congrats on 100K! What's been the hardest for you in documenting malls and retail in general!?
Great video Erik and Mark!
Congratulations on the 100K Subs!
Keep cranking out more great videos
Used to have a great ice cream shop at entrance that looked like a fair w round white blinking lights. Army recruitment upstairs, Bullocks which became Dillards, Broadway which became Walmart, Woolworths, Judy’s, a pet store, movie theatre(upstairs), and a man had a small monkey on a leash dressed in a red suit and hat that kids would hold a penny out to and the monkey took the money. It was beautiful at Christmas time. Bobs Big Boy on corner. I used to walk this mall for hours as a teen in the early 90’s.
Congrats on 100K subs 🎉 You deserve much more. Your contents are well done. It would be a darn shame if they tear this down. Winco is a GREAT grocery store. I love their nuts/candy bins.
I arrived at Christown when it was already in lower-economic output ie the Walmart was already there. Used to drive past the Harkins on the way to Costco - cheap gas and bulk purchases. We'd sometimes grab a pizza real quick when hosting game nights at the house. Now it's gone, and what a bummer since Covid-19 is beginning to fade away.
When I was a kid back in the 70's Christown Mall had the BEST visit Santa display and overall Christmas decorations. I loved coming here as a kid.
I know a lot of people hate Hull malls here in the southeast, but they do all these old pictures of the mall and the people from the town through years. More malls should do that to make people feel an actual connection to the mall.
Christown mall is a very nice Mall I always go here I would go to k-Momo to look around
I miss Bob's Big Boy Burgers and the whole Drive up, Park & order from waistreses that came up to your car window concept. 😢
My mom tells me I was at Chris Town's grand opening in a stroller - I would have been about a year old at the time! I now live near it again, and I do enjoy going there on a regular basis (although much of my regular shopping included both the Penneys and the Costco), but there are still some good stores left. I agree - there are other things that could be done with the space to help make it more lively.
In Savannah, Georgia, one of the two Targets in the area is attached to a mall, the Savannah Mall (itself a dying mall), with an auxiliary entrance into the mall itself.
A WinCo in Costco makes sense. Even though WinCo would only take like 50% of the Costco location. My suggestion for the other half of Costco should be a Best Buy or Ashley Homestore. For the JCPenney, half of the location should be given to Dave & Buster's like you suggested or John's Incredible Pizza. the other half can be a department store like TJ Maxx, Old Navy, etc.
My Neighborhood Mall . It's Dying a Slow Death! This Mall Is a Warrior . Thomas Mall , Tower Plaza, Los Arcos Mall , Died In the 90s Even Metro Center Died A Slow Death
That Viacom intro was so perfect 👌
Question for your Q&A video: What malls in other cities/states/countries would be your dream malls to visit and cover for the show? (if any)
I use to shop at Miller's Out Post one of my favorites. Back in 2003.
We went there often when we lived in Phoenix in 1976, and saw it again in 2003,
when we revisited Phoenix in 2003.
3:30. It doesn’t vibrate, it’s a machine that tests how strong your grip is. You literally wrap your hand(s) around those things and squeeze as hard as you can
Personally I would put loads of neon, re incorporate a mall arcade, put in a win co or price chopper in the old costco space and put in a movie theater or a kohls in the old jc penney place, with additional retro art and a few or one grand fountain with a huge light feature. And of course replace what need fixing
The Wal-Mart in St.Vital mall in Winnipeg opens into the mall via a long corridor to the shopping cart storage area up front. That has outside access as well.
Wonder if that was a woolco prior?
When I was a kid, the hallway that connected the Walmart to the mall had a couple of arcade machines. The only one I can remember is Primal Rage.
During the beanie baby craze, the middle of the halls would be all lined up with table vendors set up in the middle.
That is sad if they are going to tear it down. My Potomac Mills Mall also has a Costco, but you can enter from the outside as there is no mall entrance. Same for the AMC Theater. There also a few restaurants built outside in front of the mall.
I remember Costco was a busy food court where my family went to eat there and still remember JCPenney was there but nothing changed since I was there since 2017 ish, still love GameStop is there.
I used to live by this mall! Their parking lot was always packed!
Great to see Christown. In many parts of the world (i.e. China, South Korea, Russia, UAE), shopping malls or a variant of the shopping mall concept is very much alive. Despite the media's claims, internet did not kill shopping malls. Experts concluded that two factors killed the modern iteration of America's shopping malls: retail corporatization & single-use zoning. With corporatization, most malls began to feel like clones of nearby malls. With single-use zoning, vacancies were difficult to fill, reduces variety. For a variety of reasons, the last of America's shopping malls will become targets for restoration, popular attractions. This same phenomenon making classic cars valuable, historical districts desirable places to live, vinyl records collectible, & retro clothing a new life. I can almost envision art exhibits inside restored shopping malls dedicated to old store signs. Shopping malls should be community-owned, rents should be cheap, all businesses should be welcome, zoning & red tape should be minimal. Shopping malls should be an incubator for new ideas, not a showcase of Wall Street corporations.
lol "Oh hi Mark!" surprised you didn't pull off a Cristian Bale on him for getting into the shot =)
I am a Phoenix native, live down the street from the mall. I remember as a kid going there in the 80's for Movies, the LEGO expos, gaming stores, and restaurants. I preferred Christown to Metro's 'too big to walk' size, better parking, and kool Movie theater. The Harkins at Christown is still a very nice theater. A little refacing and moving in some good anchors, and yes, it could be a comeback of the Decade Mall. good memories and more to come if they are smart about it.
CONGRATULATIONS ON 100,000 SUBSCRIBERS!! 🥳🎉🎉🎉
I worked at Musicland, right by the Pizza De Amore and movie theater. 1981 to 1985
Love those historical photos!!! VonMaur ( USA, Iowa ) up until the 90’s used to have Bird cages with Finches by the piano player in the middle of the store. They were in old looking bell shaped cages.
I mainly go to Christown now for the Super Target, since the Target near Camelback and 16th is a mini.
It’s a shame the Costco is gone since it was closest to me.
The Walmart was surprising and it would be interesting to know if W is really beneficial to the mall given it is more of a competition rather than a compliment to other stores. I enjoyed seeing the Montgomery store. Wow. I believe malls can still remain based as a retail designation but they must change in ways that keeps them in the present otherwise they will just die slower than malls already dead. An example, a part of their huge parking lot could be used as a drive-in or using a wing of the mall for local businesses. Malls in their slow death have no sense of energy and I believe that needs to change. Trees. Vivid colors. Water fountains. I believe the historic pictures are interesting and becomes a bridge between the old and the new. I enjoyed the video.
Heads up RA, this weekend is rumored to be THE LAST for Paradise Valley Mall
Wow thanks for the heads up
I wish they would have turned that Costco into a rollerskate rink or indoor skatepark
Laser Tag or Paintball
Why would they that doesn’t have any profit to be made
@@halo12345678ful I know, but the floors just look so nice to skate on 🤣
@@halo12345678ful neither does an empty building
@@christopherhindle8371 but no one has to dump money into an empty building
Great piece on the mall. I lived in the west valley in the 70s until the mid-80s and Christown was a staple for us, MetroCenter too. I love that Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure featured MetroCenter in its hayday so we can look back. I wish there was something like that for Christown. I remember the fountain inside the front doors and I remember the huge sandcastle that was built. For those who were there in my day, wasn't the Farrell's right at the corner of where Walmart is? That side building? Then if you turned that corner and go down the mall there was the escalator to the theater upstairs. Just to the side was a great pet store. Soooo many memories of that place. Oh and the Miracle Mile Deli. Can't forget that. It's sad to hear it's going to be torn down and I too wish it would stay around for historical sake. Thanks again for the great insight on a once great mall.
Phx native & retired Educator. I still shop here. Grew up on the Westside of town shopping at this mall. I agree it should be registered as historic & shouldn't be torn down.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christown, everywhere you go...
I remember that Montgomery Ward, and Dillard's. Before Costco and the Harkins, I saw Chicago in the theater that was accessible inside the mall (before that side of the mall was torn down to build Harkins). Went there on and off from childhood to early adulthood. Sad to hear about the redevelopment.
Hey RA did you ever visit the VF outlet when it had the fairly large collection of coin-operated games all gathered in front of the literal VF store? Around the corner was the cart have coin-operated candy/toy machines. I brought the kiddos I babysat there one day with a bunch of quarters. It’s a memory of mine that, obviously, won’t ever leave!
I worked at Yucca Library and we were already back at the full library when 9/11 happened. When I originally transferred over to Yucca we were in the mall. It was during this time the mall name changed I believe the name change must have happened either 2000/01.