I worked there around 40 years ago and it was a filthy pit back then. They tore down some very beautiful buildings and a Paramount theater to build this dump.
Mall... That place doesn't look like any mall I've ever seen. The halls, lighting, and aesthetic is weirdly like public high school/community center or something. It's really off-putting how pedestrian the place looks.
Yeah, it's barely a mall, but I think it still counts. Other than the shops, there's really nothing I like about it though. Even the skylights, which could be a highlight of the building, appear to be filthy too.
Yup. This is why a lot of bathrooms in downtown Salem are closed unless you're a customer and can prove you bought something. You can't even use a coffee shop bathroom. If you're sneaky, you can use one of the hotel bathrooms (if you're quick, in and out) but as for anywhere else? It's either this, a port-a-potty, or a restaurant (if you go to lunch or something)
Originally from Salem, grew up there when it had a bustling downtown. That "mall" has always been awful. The architecture is ugly. Looks out of place. Sadly, historic Salem has become a carnival sideshow.
@@fleabittenadventures its an interesting novelty if you are from here, because you know its just a thing... when you pay all that money to travel here and a place to stay, and the the prices and taxes, it becomes fairly evident that the tourism part is not why you should visit. you have to go outside the city, to the surrounding places, BEVERLY, SWAMPSCOTT, LYNN, NAHANT, DANVERS, PEABODY, etc. and travel around Salem like its nothing special. what makes the north shore great is the actual experience, the air, the aesthetic, the beaches, even the potholes. the people who run the tourism industry dont do a thing for the citizens and they rip you all off, making us look bad.
Carnival is understatement. I only went once in September before most of the halloween stuff was really out and had second hand embarrassment. For all the Salem history it is completely trashy takes away from the experience. It is like the worst parts of Vegas or Hollywood Blvd in new england and "spooky".
I third this! The Visitor Center building has the most immaculate public bathrooms. They're the only ones I ever use when I'm there. And you won't see any homeless people in there. Only problem is they close when the visitor center closes so for some those disgusting mall cesspools are their only option.
That place is in dire need of a renovation, so drab, and that floor tile looks so dated. Kinda strange how it seems to be doing a decent amount of business, yet maintenence is lacking and interior is extremely outdated . Great video Tom, I'm enjoying your channel
@@fleabittenadventures I took a picture in there a few months ago, when I unfortunately had to go so bad I gave in,. someone had smashed long flourescent light bulb on the sink and it was all over the floor and in the sink, on the counter. I live here and they are in fact the worst bathrooms I have ever seen as well.
I’m from Salem. Not a mall, more like outlets with some touristy shops. Admittedly , even growing up in Salem, I quite liked these outlets. It’s as if it is trapped in the 70’s-90’s, and something about that is its own historical appeal. I get why people hate it, it’s definitely run down but it’s a blast to the past. But yes, no one cleans the bathrooms. Don’t go in there. Locals will agree with that statement
Dude I was born in Salem, and grew up in the area! This mall has been there forever (relatively speaking). That movie theater was once legendary. Your cynicism is warranted; it's a glorified hallway, my friend lol. It has absolutely gone downhill, as you so bravely catalogued for us here. Great content!
I absolutely love your walkthroughs and the history lessons of all the malls you visit. This one is no different, it's great, but the mall itself looks like it's in a bad way. Keep it up, good sir. Thank you for all your content and quality work.
For any new visitors to Salem, go to the Salem Armory Visitor Center for a clean bathroom (closed Mondays & Tuesdays though) and another bathroom over by the waterfront at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site (on the way to the House of Seven Gables on Derby St). Like most cities, Salem has its struggles with homelessness and maintenance, but the charm is there and the locals/shop workers are great, interesting people!
Honestly the best and most lively shopping is outside on Essex St That mall is really wierd, it felt like wandering thru a dated medical building more so than a mall
Lived in Salem for about 18 years, and it was always a dive. The little movie theater is cool, and convenient to locals who live in the downtown districts. Salem is a beautiful city cursed by its own history. The witch stuff is just the superficial element, but there’s so much more. The crush of tourists and abysmal schools is what drove me and my family north to Cape Ann. I see Salem as having so much potential, and this forlorn mall is the perfect example.
I remember it as the East Indie as a kid. Used to goto the News stand/ book store for our DnD books...and play games in teh arcade at the movie theater in the 80s.
I’m sure someone explained this, but like any tourist city, most businesses would get over run during the busy season by people just using the bathrooms, thus the no public bathroom signs. This has a lot to do with the current conditions of the mall bathrooms.
I'm surprised you didn't try the 2nd level to see if the elevator served that upper part, so you didn't have to meet the homeless guy on the stairs (which I'm sure the intent of the "NO TRESPASSING" signs are for, but the staff does a good job...lol..).
As far as I could tell, the elevator only went to the parking garage levels. I could be wrong though. And yes, now that you say that, the "No Trespassing" signs probably are aimed at the people sleeping in the mall.
Yea, the name of the mall is kinda weird. I assume the owners tried to make the name “trendy” but without theming or maybe some historical pictures or items to view, it’s just a dirty office center mall that would have been long gone in most other cities without tourists.
I agree. The town is mostly a tourist town at this point, which I don't necessarily think is a bad thing. From what I've seen, this place is a mad house during the few months before Halloween.
😂😂😂 yeah there is a meme that indicates that the bathrooms are how baphomet gets to the ninth circle of hell. ❤❤❤ absolutely love witch city mall spend quite a bit of time there, also worked in one of the shops. All so true, and you don't want to know what I've witnessed over the years!!! your video has made me laugh my ass off. thank you so much for the joy. ❤❤❤
When we were in Salem, we went to a movie at this mall and had a great time. Unfortunately it rained and rained and rained that year, and we initially went there to get out of the rain and stayed for a movie! I agree though about it being dirty! It was a little off-putting!
The homeless shelter not far from the Witch City Mall doesn't treat people very well. The homeless guy was probably kicked out onto the street for simply missing curfew by 1 minute. Did you get a chance to see the retro game store that's a short walk from the mall? One thing to note is that there's no pets allowed in the mall. However, they don't give you that notification at the elevators inside the parking garage. My brother in law had his dog with him as he entered the elevator, got out inside the mall, and was instantly yelled at.
It could be so much better with not that much work. Just hire a cleaning crew that is there daily and probably hire at least one security guard. That would solve most of the issues I saw.
I can relate to the Mall bathrooms. They have looked like that for years and would use them out of necessity because there were no other options unless you wanted to sit down dine or travel into a busy state services building which both might be occupied and would have to wait. With all the overwhelming traffic the city gets, you would think they would have completely renovated them now, but the Mall instead is frozen in time.
I was born in Salem, MA but raised in and still live in CA. I intend to move back to MA. The last time I was in Salem was in 2006. It is disappointing to see such a poorly designed and maintained mall in Salem. It is also disappointing to read negative descriptions of the city itself.
I used to go there frequently. its always was a mall highly focused on tourism around the area, the mall is usually dead outside of fall. The bathroom situation gets extra worse when the mall plans out events to get people to visit because the events gets lots of people but those bathrooms are built for the crowds they get for most of the year outside of fall
If you revisit Salem, The House of Seven Gables is well worth the trip. I strongly suggest you read the novel of the same name first to add to the creepy factor.😮
@@fleabittenadventures Real museums like the Seven Gables and the PEM allow reasonable photography, with limitations for people trying to sneakily use it as a backdrop for commercial shoots without paying. The horror-themed "museums" with big signs banning photography are tourist trap sideshows. They don't want anybody to see their bad wax figures of movie monsters until they've paid. Basically an announcement that there's nothing worth seeing inside.
Thank you for posting this. A few years back I parked in that garage. I took the elevator down and stepped out into that mall. I couldn't get out of there fast enough!!!
The mall has potential, but they really need to work on maintenance, especially cleaning the bathrooms, and security. I may go back in the fall for the Halloween festivities, maybe.....
To elaborate on the explanation at 11:05 - The real reason museums do not allow filming is because doing so gives the wrong person (the bad guy) a virtual map of the whole place, which valuable items are located where, and how to get out quickly after grabbing what they want. This is how museum heists happen. A valid reason why they prohibit photographs, particularly flash cameras, is because its damaging to some items, such as old wallpaper and paintings. When you ask any museum staff why no filming and photos, and they simply say nothing more than "security reasons," what I explained here was the real reasons. I got this explanation from a friend who works in a small museum.
These aren't real museums like the nearby Peabody Essex Museum (which has no problem with people taking pictures, by the way), they're tourist sideshow "museums" with bad statues of Frankenstein or whatever. If people saw pictures of the nonsense inside, they would lose customers.
@@trickster721 The Peabody Essex is one of the best actual things to see in Salem, reflecting the city's long history as a trading port. The witchy attractions are pure tourist traps. The discussion of photography reminds me of my visit to the National Museum in Tokyo: non-flash photography of most of the museum's collection was fine, but there were a few items designated particularly precious cultural treasures for which photography was forbidden.
im not sure if im misremembering and thinking of another place, or i was just dreaming or smth, but i have a very distinct memory of going to this mall with my friends about a year ago or so and we were exploring it and noting how dirty, run down, and plain weird the layout and appearance of the place is, but i specifically remember finding some super weird, almost nonsensically laid out hallway/corridor that connected one section of the mall to another. I don't remember where exactly it started (where i entered) but I do remember it coming out right where the cinema and restrooms are, i even think you went right past it when you said "im not sure whats down there" at the end of the video. I remember that it wasn't a straight corridor, it had multiple turns and corners, and it didn't look like it was meant to be used by the public and overall was very confusing and oddly placed, and overall was very offputting to be in. Like it literally felt like "the backrooms" of the mall or somewhere that you are just not supposed to be. I dont even remember how i stumbled into there, I remember I was kind of there with friends because i like weird abandoned or dead places like that but I dont remember the context of how i found that hallway because it doesn't make sense why it is even there. Seeing this video makes me want to go back there and see if it is actually there or if im tweakin or thinking of something else.
its across from the theater and it runs behind Essex pizza. you're allowed to use it, but it does feel odd when you first find it. I remember that when I was a kid.
I lived there for 30 years. I only went there when Social Security Office was on second floor and I had to change my name from maiden to married and if the kids and I were early for a movie. It hasn’t changed in 30 years. Many homeless and addicts use bathrooms. I don’t even understand how people can pay their monthly rents as even during tourist season it’s not busy. The only place that did decent business was the bagel place that is no longer there
Lived one town over for many years. Moved out of the area about 15 years ago. Still visit Salem every summer and either park in that garage or the lot across the street. When I was a young adult there was an amazing Chinese restaurant with the best food there. But other than that and using the elevator, I’ve never walked that mall and I’m glad I didn’t.
@@fleabittenadventures The Visitor's Center has clean bathrooms but is only open certain hours and the parking garage on Derby St has a public bathroom and it's very clean. During October, there are porta potties around and they are surprisingly clean.
i remember the lines being out the door during halloween in that bathroom. it smelled from down the hall. the mall is kinda good for only one thing and that is just as a cooler place to walk through in the summer and just a shortcut.
You are braver than I. My main interaction with the mall is getting from the parking garage to the bar there and back, and yes, always feels like I'm trespassing.
I was born in Salem and I always went there when I was like 4 or 5, I didn't know the name of it so I nicknamed it "Yellow ceiling mall" because of those dirty sky lights
salem is amazing. i work there. but yeah. the bathrooms at the witch city mall. if you can help it, NEVER go in them 😭 the worst public restroom EVER. like literally ever. worse than what you’re thinking if you’ve never been.
Year-round resident here. Late spring tends to be pretty nice, and far less crowded than summer and October. Sadly this mall is shabby year round, but there are lovely places like the Peabody Essex Museum and Derby Wharf to visit, and neat little shops everywhere.
For as many years as I've ever gone there that place ALWAYS looks like it never gets cleaned (doesn't matter what season it is) the floors bathroom ECT are always gross The only cool thing is silvermoon comics and collectibles.. that store is amazing and the hidden gem of that place
Looks like a county admin office building. If there can’t be one guard and one cleaning person on staff at all times, the place shouldn’t be open if there are known issues in that area of the town. The shopping public (including children) are at risk.
This "Mall" used to be better until the current owners bought it and changed it to "Witch City Mall" and tried to cash in on the Tourist Trap aspect of Salem. Most of those Tourist traps stores used to never be there and this used to be more of a place frequented by locals and the major tourist draw was the Cinema playing Halloween themed stuff in October. You were spot on for the bathrooms though, with the large homeless population in Salem and lack of public restrooms these ones are frequented by them a lot and outside of the Halloween times I am not sure how often if at all they are cleaned hence the sign on that restaurant saying you cant use their napkins as toilet paper because when/if there is toliet paper stocked in the bathroom it is stolen just as quickly. I havent been here in probably 10 years, but I used to work in an office building attached to this mall back then it was much nicer than how it appears here, so it is sad to see such a local landmark turned to the utter shitty tourist trap it has become.
Went there with my wife and kids 2 years ago from Brooklyn, NY. Will never go back there, the hotel was "ok" but the the prices for things were crazy high and that Mall was dirty and smelled of urine, needs a power wash for sure. We saw a lot of homeless and beggars. We took the train into Boston and had a better time there.
I remember going here as a little kid in the late 80s. It felt like an odd mall back then too, and it's the one I always think of whenever I hear vaporwave.
Was just there in September. Just happened to park in the garage. While not the best "mall", the tee shirt shop had some cool designs, the international monster museum was fun and were allowed to take pictures, my husband enjoyed the other museum and the massage chair while i had my nails painted. The couple we were with had some good food at the Polish deli while we did go to the tavern to eat (food and atmosphere were fun). I did not visit the bathroom 😊
My fiance always wanted to go to Salem. We actually came from the west coast this past November. It was the worst city i have been in a long time. Dirty , expensive, crowded, no parking, long lines, homeless ,and on and on. it is one big tourist trap. I would never go back.
@@ChrisCollins068 how do you plan for stepping over homeless. Trash in the streets . Nasty bathrooms. Long lines for boring tours. Ect ect. I have traveled all over the world. And this place stinks. It is just for social media people to take pictures because it is trendy. It is a tourist trap plain and simple.
I've lived in Massachusetts all 38 years of my life and have wanted to visit for a while now. I have some time off and I was just entertaining the thought of visiting forba couple days... not anymore!
i honestly find the mall rather charming. that front area only, though. it feels very empty and i feel constantly lost, but i like the architecture. it’s a little crazy. it’s fun. i’ll be honest, i’ve never seen a good half of this place. i’ve only ever seen the front area that’s busy during the on-season.
I worked in Salem for most of 2019. Every morning I parked in the garage over this mall and walked through the lobby on the way to work. During that time, I heard multiple people comment on how small and crappy the mall is. There's really nothing good there and it always smells weird. Calling it a mall is generous, it has like 8 stores and they all suck. I still walk through it sometimes when I visit Salem.
That store you looked at and mentioned having to enter from the outside of the mall? I know for that particular store it's because the walk thru area is pretty thin and they want the customer flow mostly going one-way.
Use to live in Salem in the 90s as a kid. This place has always been sorta like this. Only difference I remember there use to be a arcade, did not recall the cinema when the arcade was open, then it closed and eventually the cinema opened up after some time showing older movies for $1.50 or something. Also in that area in the back across from the cinema use to be a open space connecting to the other side with seating like a food court, only I do not remember food places in that area. Everything else seems the same as it was in the 90s including the 2nd level being non retail business stuff. Do not recall homeless situation going on though, that might be new. This was always kinda run down even back in the 90s.
I'm from the area and you're right about the public restrooms and especially the ones in the mall being filthy. It's pretty ridiculous that there isn't more public restrooms considering how Salem is a major tourist destination. Random note: In the early 90s the mall was pretty busy and had a fairly decent arcade. Most people go to the North Shore Mall or even the Liberty Tree Mall (a dying mall) which are both about a 10 minute drive from Salem.
I live in neighboring Beverly and have been to Salem many times. I would hardly call this a mall as much as a "roofed pedestrian street with stores". There are more stores outside on the adjoining streets than in the "mall".
The real purpose of this "mall" was just to sell the space beneath the city-owned downtown parking garage, which constantly leaks rainwater. That arrangement, and the fact that it's the defacto parking garage for the major Peabody Essex Museum, probably complicates any attempts to modernize the place.
Its been pretty rough and dirty for 20 plus years. Lack of bathrooms is a major issue in the city and the visitors center closes pretty early. During peak season the city should offer incentives to keep the Peabody Essex open later and have places offer public bathrooms. Its a big tourist turnoff. Its so bad you can buy a Cinema Salem membership which lets younuse their bathroom as part of your benefits.
I often do court work at the Salem Courthouse which is near the mall always end up parking behind the mall in their parking lot there, personally love Salem just don't get down there. A place you should check out is the Willows if you are ever in the area again its really nice but its off the main area
I could definitely eat that whole pizza Interesting little Mall Those elevators are hydraulic probably modded in the last 10 years no clue what brand/manufacturer Thanks for sharing this unique Mall
Glad you liked the video! Yes, if I ever go back, I'll definitely buy a couple slices of pizza instead. You actually seem to get way more pizza for the money that way, which is odd.
I'm from Los Angeles but If I ever get to travel to Salem, I might as well be using the hotel bathroom before I go use the public restrooms.. it's horrible being this dirty.. especially for Halloween season
This mall truly is gross in person. Very dated, too. The worst part? Those bathrooms are some of the ONLY bathrooms in all of downtown Salem that are open for anyone to use. Everywhere else, you have to be a customer and buy something. Let that sink in. You cannot even use the bathroom at McDonalds or a coffee shop without having to show a receipt.
I’ve been a few times when passing through Salem. I only usually go there for Essex Pizza, which is actually quite nice, or unless I really need to use the bathroom. I’ve also been to the cinema there maybe twice before. Other than those two places there’s no reason I’d want to go there.
The only explanation for the restrooms condition is disgusting people with no decency. If people cleaned up after themselves there would be almost no issue.
I live down the street, and it's one of the crappiest malls ever. But it doesn't matter; it's so insignificant. It's not somewhere anyone in Salem ever goes to or even talks about, it's just like 5 random shops that they put "Mall" on the outside. Plenty more to see and do while just completely ignoring "the mall."
The homeless guy might be the same one I've spoken to before. The security allows him to stay there. He has his own little room somewhere i think so might be a different guy than the one u saw.
I used to work at the movie theater when I was 15 in 1997. Movies cost a dollar because they were often just out of the big theaters, I figure they bought them from the theaters when the runs finished. it was the best. one dollar to see a movie in a theater.
I lived in Salem for a few years and from what I could tell, it's mainly due to location. It's attached to the Village Tavern which is a very popular restaurant and Cinema Salem which is the only movie theater in the city. It's also right across the street from the highly regarded Peabody Essex Museum. Nobody plans to shop at the mall; it's just easy to wander into before or after going to one of those three places.
The bathroom isn't always that bad. However I side with the locals. Go somewhere else unless it's your only option. There is few areas for restrooms including restaurants. My opinion go before you visit. There are a few worthwhile stores including a bakery photography store, I believe witch pics and a pizzeria and gem/jewelry store in the mall so its not all a waste. The theatre sells popcorn with real butter not the liquid stuff. The theatre is old-school so don't expect stadium seating. I've been in worse locations but there's also much better. The mall definitely needs an update.
Last time I was at that "mall", last fall or so, the trash barrels were all overflowing to a decent radius around the barrels flowing out onto the floor. It's a shithole. I used to go there all the time back in the day when it was called the East India Mall. It was a decent Mall back then. I believe the Peabody Essex Museum actually purchased it and their neglect of it is painfully obvious.
I was just in there today. It was a windy, raw day so my GF and I went in to warm up. It was pretty drab. I didn't have to use the rest room. It is like a huge Spencer Gifts as a previous commentor stated. The floors didn't look that dirty but it is May. The reason it is still open is the rent is probably cheaper. That pizza place is better than your review says and I don't know how cheap you think pizza should be, but if you want cheap pizza get frozen supermarket pizza. Sadly, every in-town mall I have ever seen have been taken over by homeless people. Suburban malls are not faring much better.
Salem was at one point the biggest city in Colonial New England. It is the city where the first US millionaire earned his money. There was a serious low point for Salem during the 1970s and 80s. The downtown during that period had a lot of drug use and trafficking. Things got better and I believe that is when the mall was developed. When I lived in Salem around 2000-2005 the mall was full. Salem has other issues that affect things:: location, traffic flow and size.
"its hard to see in the video that the floor is dirty" no, its not. They NEVER clean that floor, it ALWAYS has that layer of actual dirt and filth on it. I think it's intentional because most Salem locals detest the tourists and only tourists really go to the mall.
I worked there around 40 years ago and it was a filthy pit back then. They tore down some very beautiful buildings and a Paramount theater to build this dump.
Mall... That place doesn't look like any mall I've ever seen. The halls, lighting, and aesthetic is weirdly like public high school/community center or something. It's really off-putting how pedestrian the place looks.
Yeah, it's barely a mall, but I think it still counts. Other than the shops, there's really nothing I like about it though. Even the skylights, which could be a highlight of the building, appear to be filthy too.
I was thinking the same thing. It's also giving me some government office vibes as well.
It’s basically a hallway
I like its scale, but they could've used something other than dropped ceiling. Maintenance issues aside.
i noticed the high school look too, surprised it wasn't an actual school at some point in the past
Cinema Salem is such a cool little spot though. It’s a small theater but charming and they do a lot of specialty screenings!
Yes, it looked nice! The stores/businesses in the mall were fine, it's just the mall itself that seems to have the problems.
I remember it used to be a 1$ cinema.
Junkies have made public bathrooms their go to get high in pass out areas. I live in Massachusetts and this is a problem everywhere.
Yup. This is why a lot of bathrooms in downtown Salem are closed unless you're a customer and can prove you bought something. You can't even use a coffee shop bathroom. If you're sneaky, you can use one of the hotel bathrooms (if you're quick, in and out) but as for anywhere else? It's either this, a port-a-potty, or a restaurant (if you go to lunch or something)
Originally from Salem, grew up there when it had a bustling downtown.
That "mall" has always been awful.
The architecture is ugly. Looks out of place. Sadly, historic Salem has become a carnival sideshow.
I agree. I don't know the area well, but Salem kind of felt like a Halloween theme park, which is not entirely bad, depending on your point of view.
@@fleabittenadventures its an interesting novelty if you are from here, because you know its just a thing... when you pay all that money to travel here and a place to stay, and the the prices and taxes, it becomes fairly evident that the tourism part is not why you should visit. you have to go outside the city, to the surrounding places, BEVERLY, SWAMPSCOTT, LYNN, NAHANT, DANVERS, PEABODY, etc. and travel around Salem like its nothing special. what makes the north shore great is the actual experience, the air, the aesthetic, the beaches, even the potholes. the people who run the tourism industry dont do a thing for the citizens and they rip you all off, making us look bad.
Carnival is understatement. I only went once in September before most of the halloween stuff was really out and had second hand embarrassment. For all the Salem history it is completely trashy takes away from the experience. It is like the worst parts of Vegas or Hollywood Blvd in new england and "spooky".
The locals will tell you to NEVER use that restroom. Go down the block to the armory visitor center building.
Thanks for the suggestion!
I agree. The visitor center is where I always go to use the restroom.
I third this! The Visitor Center building has the most immaculate public bathrooms. They're the only ones I ever use when I'm there. And you won't see any homeless people in there. Only problem is they close when the visitor center closes so for some those disgusting mall cesspools are their only option.
That place is in dire need of a renovation, so drab, and that floor tile looks so dated. Kinda strange how it seems to be doing a decent amount of business, yet maintenence is lacking and interior is extremely outdated . Great video Tom, I'm enjoying your channel
I agree. It's just not maintained. Glad you liked the video! Thanks!
Those bathrooms are so bad they’ve become local legends.
Worst bathrooms I've ever seen
@@fleabittenadventures I took a picture in there a few months ago, when I unfortunately had to go so bad I gave in,. someone had smashed long flourescent light bulb on the sink and it was all over the floor and in the sink, on the counter. I live here and they are in fact the worst bathrooms I have ever seen as well.
Definitely some problems with that mall. Lighting on the dark side. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, the lighting was poor too. Other than the interesting stores, which I did like, the mall building itself is full of problems!
I’m from Salem. Not a mall, more like outlets with some touristy shops. Admittedly , even growing up in Salem, I quite liked these outlets. It’s as if it is trapped in the 70’s-90’s, and something about that is its own historical appeal. I get why people hate it, it’s definitely run down but it’s a blast to the past. But yes, no one cleans the bathrooms. Don’t go in there. Locals will agree with that statement
Dude I was born in Salem, and grew up in the area! This mall has been there forever (relatively speaking). That movie theater was once legendary. Your cynicism is warranted; it's a glorified hallway, my friend lol. It has absolutely gone downhill, as you so bravely catalogued for us here. Great content!
I absolutely love your walkthroughs and the history lessons of all the malls you visit. This one is no different, it's great, but the mall itself looks like it's in a bad way. Keep it up, good sir. Thank you for all your content and quality work.
Thanks! Glad you like them! This mall needs a good head to toe cleaning, and a security guard!
For any new visitors to Salem, go to the Salem Armory Visitor Center for a clean bathroom (closed Mondays & Tuesdays though) and another bathroom over by the waterfront at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site (on the way to the House of Seven Gables on Derby St). Like most cities, Salem has its struggles with homelessness and maintenance, but the charm is there and the locals/shop workers are great, interesting people!
The mall looks gross and the pizza was way over priced.
It is a tourist trap mall.
Yes, tourist trap is correct. That's probably why all the prices are so high, for the most part.
Honestly the best and most lively shopping is outside on Essex St
That mall is really wierd, it felt like wandering thru a dated medical building more so than a mall
Lived in Salem for about 18 years, and it was always a dive. The little movie theater is cool, and convenient to locals who live in the downtown districts. Salem is a beautiful city cursed by its own history. The witch stuff is just the superficial element, but there’s so much more. The crush of tourists and abysmal schools is what drove me and my family north to Cape Ann. I see Salem as having so much potential, and this forlorn mall is the perfect example.
I miss when It was a dollar. I used to work there.
It really makes me sad seeing the condition of this mall :/ the restrooms are always GROSS
I remember it as the East Indie as a kid. Used to goto the News stand/ book store for our DnD books...and play games in teh arcade at the movie theater in the 80s.
Cool! I wish that arcade was still there!
🍻
I’m sure someone explained this, but like any tourist city, most businesses would get over run during the busy season by people just using the bathrooms, thus the no public bathroom signs. This has a lot to do with the current conditions of the mall bathrooms.
I'm surprised you didn't try the 2nd level to see if the elevator served that upper part, so you didn't have to meet the homeless guy on the stairs (which I'm sure the intent of the "NO TRESPASSING" signs are for, but the staff does a good job...lol..).
As far as I could tell, the elevator only went to the parking garage levels. I could be wrong though. And yes, now that you say that, the "No Trespassing" signs probably are aimed at the people sleeping in the mall.
@@fleabittenadventures ...and those signs work!!!! :D
Yea, the name of the mall is kinda weird. I assume the owners tried to make the name “trendy” but without theming or maybe some historical pictures or items to view, it’s just a dirty office center mall that would have been long gone in most other cities without tourists.
I agree. The town is mostly a tourist town at this point, which I don't necessarily think is a bad thing. From what I've seen, this place is a mad house during the few months before Halloween.
It used to be called the east India mall when I was a kid.
😂😂😂 yeah there is a meme that indicates that the bathrooms are how baphomet gets to the ninth circle of hell. ❤❤❤ absolutely love witch city mall spend quite a bit of time there, also worked in one of the shops. All so true, and you don't want to know what I've witnessed over the years!!! your video has made me laugh my ass off. thank you so much for the joy. ❤❤❤
Glad you liked it! Thanks
And for what it's worth, your video is the cleanest I've seen this place in a LONG time.
When we were in Salem, we went to a movie at this mall and had a great time. Unfortunately it rained and rained and rained that year, and we initially went there to get out of the rain and stayed for a movie! I agree though about it being dirty! It was a little off-putting!
It's strange that the mall is so filthy because, as far as I can tell, Salem is a somewhat "nice" area.
The homeless shelter not far from the Witch City Mall doesn't treat people very well. The homeless guy was probably kicked out onto the street for simply missing curfew by 1 minute.
Did you get a chance to see the retro game store that's a short walk from the mall?
One thing to note is that there's no pets allowed in the mall. However, they don't give you that notification at the elevators inside the parking garage. My brother in law had his dog with him as he entered the elevator, got out inside the mall, and was instantly yelled at.
What a nasty mall, it needs new management.
It could be so much better with not that much work. Just hire a cleaning crew that is there daily and probably hire at least one security guard. That would solve most of the issues I saw.
I can relate to the Mall bathrooms. They have looked like that for years and would use them out of necessity because there were no other options unless you wanted to sit down dine or travel into a busy state services building which both might be occupied and would have to wait. With all the overwhelming traffic the city gets, you would think they would have completely renovated them now, but the Mall instead is frozen in time.
I was born in Salem, MA but raised in and still live in CA. I intend to move back to MA. The last time I was in Salem was in 2006. It is disappointing to see such a poorly designed and maintained mall in Salem. It is also disappointing to read negative descriptions of the city itself.
Hmm, I live in nearby Lynn and never knew that existed!
I didn't know about it until recently. Strangely, it doesn't show up on most lists of malls in Massachusetts.
I used to go there frequently. its always was a mall highly focused on tourism around the area, the mall is usually dead outside of fall. The bathroom situation gets extra worse when the mall plans out events to get people to visit because the events gets lots of people but those bathrooms are built for the crowds they get for most of the year outside of fall
If you revisit Salem, The House of Seven Gables is well worth the trip. I strongly suggest you read the novel of the same name first to add to the creepy factor.😮
I may, if they allow filming. A lot of places said no filming. Thanks for the suggestion!
@@fleabittenadventures Real museums like the Seven Gables and the PEM allow reasonable photography, with limitations for people trying to sneakily use it as a backdrop for commercial shoots without paying. The horror-themed "museums" with big signs banning photography are tourist trap sideshows. They don't want anybody to see their bad wax figures of movie monsters until they've paid. Basically an announcement that there's nothing worth seeing inside.
Thank you for posting this. A few years back I parked in that garage. I took the elevator down and stepped out into that mall. I couldn't get out of there fast enough!!!
The mall has potential, but they really need to work on maintenance, especially cleaning the bathrooms, and security. I may go back in the fall for the Halloween festivities, maybe.....
Maybe the filth was in an effort to embrace the horror aesthetic 😂
The bathroom was definitely horrifying!
Actually the horror is the shi* on the wall
To elaborate on the explanation at 11:05 - The real reason museums do not allow filming is because doing so gives the wrong person (the bad guy) a virtual map of the whole place, which valuable items are located where, and how to get out quickly after grabbing what they want. This is how museum heists happen. A valid reason why they prohibit photographs, particularly flash cameras, is because its damaging to some items, such as old wallpaper and paintings. When you ask any museum staff why no filming and photos, and they simply say nothing more than "security reasons," what I explained here was the real reasons. I got this explanation from a friend who works in a small museum.
These aren't real museums like the nearby Peabody Essex Museum (which has no problem with people taking pictures, by the way), they're tourist sideshow "museums" with bad statues of Frankenstein or whatever. If people saw pictures of the nonsense inside, they would lose customers.
@@trickster721 The Peabody Essex is one of the best actual things to see in Salem, reflecting the city's long history as a trading port. The witchy attractions are pure tourist traps.
The discussion of photography reminds me of my visit to the National Museum in Tokyo: non-flash photography of most of the museum's collection was fine, but there were a few items designated particularly precious cultural treasures for which photography was forbidden.
The whole town is Spencer's Gifts...
Pretty much.
Ok, DEFINITELY NOT going now!!
im not sure if im misremembering and thinking of another place, or i was just dreaming or smth, but i have a very distinct memory of going to this mall with my friends about a year ago or so and we were exploring it and noting how dirty, run down, and plain weird the layout and appearance of the place is, but i specifically remember finding some super weird, almost nonsensically laid out hallway/corridor that connected one section of the mall to another. I don't remember where exactly it started (where i entered) but I do remember it coming out right where the cinema and restrooms are, i even think you went right past it when you said "im not sure whats down there" at the end of the video. I remember that it wasn't a straight corridor, it had multiple turns and corners, and it didn't look like it was meant to be used by the public and overall was very confusing and oddly placed, and overall was very offputting to be in. Like it literally felt like "the backrooms" of the mall or somewhere that you are just not supposed to be. I dont even remember how i stumbled into there, I remember I was kind of there with friends because i like weird abandoned or dead places like that but I dont remember the context of how i found that hallway because it doesn't make sense why it is even there. Seeing this video makes me want to go back there and see if it is actually there or if im tweakin or thinking of something else.
its across from the theater and it runs behind Essex pizza. you're allowed to use it, but it does feel odd when you first find it. I remember that when I was a kid.
I lived there for 30 years. I only went there when Social Security Office was on second floor and I had to change my name from maiden to married and if the kids and I were early for a movie. It hasn’t changed in 30 years. Many homeless and addicts use bathrooms. I don’t even understand how people can pay their monthly rents as even during tourist season it’s not busy. The only place that did decent business was the bagel place that is no longer there
Lived one town over for many years. Moved out of the area about 15 years ago.
Still visit Salem every summer and either park in that garage or the lot across the street.
When I was a young adult there was an amazing Chinese restaurant with the best food there.
But other than that and using the elevator, I’ve never walked that mall and I’m glad I didn’t.
If I go to Salem again, I may check out the mall again, just because it's so small, and has the only public bathroom that I could find!
@@fleabittenadventures The Visitor's Center has clean bathrooms but is only open certain hours and the parking garage on Derby St has a public bathroom and it's very clean. During October, there are porta potties around and they are surprisingly clean.
I worked right next door for 6 years.....been gone for almost a year....I don't miss it at all 😂 the stairwells are pretty disturbing as well.....
I can only imagine....
i remember the lines being out the door during halloween in that bathroom. it smelled from down the hall. the mall is kinda good for only one thing and that is just as a cooler place to walk through in the summer and just a shortcut.
You are braver than I. My main interaction with the mall is getting from the parking garage to the bar there and back, and yes, always feels like I'm trespassing.
I was born in Salem and I always went there when I was like 4 or 5, I didn't know the name of it so I nicknamed it "Yellow ceiling mall" because of those dirty sky lights
Ha ha. Yeah, that skylight is filthy. I wonder what color it's supposed to be
Sad it's so dirty, the architecture is stunningly beautiful. I can imagine this place being mind-blowing at xmas time.
salem is amazing. i work there. but yeah. the bathrooms at the witch city mall. if you can help it, NEVER go in them 😭 the worst public restroom EVER. like literally ever. worse than what you’re thinking if you’ve never been.
I think the no trespassing signs were just part of the theme of the mall
Disappointed he didn’t go to 1 & 2 on the elevator. Now I have to drive 100 miles and do it myself 😅
Ha ha! Could be!
Next time!
its scary how much crowded it gets during october. can you recommend a time to go there not october or late september?
Year-round resident here. Late spring tends to be pretty nice, and far less crowded than summer and October. Sadly this mall is shabby year round, but there are lovely places like the Peabody Essex Museum and Derby Wharf to visit, and neat little shops everywhere.
That might be the cleanest I've ever seen that bathroom. Check it out during peak season. It's astounding 😂
I can only imagine! It was pretty horrifying from what I saw!
For as many years as I've ever gone there that place ALWAYS looks like it never gets cleaned (doesn't matter what season it is) the floors bathroom ECT are always gross
The only cool thing is silvermoon comics and collectibles.. that store is amazing and the hidden gem of that place
Looks like a county admin office building. If there can’t be one guard and one cleaning person on staff at all times, the place shouldn’t be open if there are known issues in that area of the town. The shopping public (including children) are at risk.
Exactly. That guy sleeping in the stairway may have been harmless, but he also may not have been...
This "Mall" used to be better until the current owners bought it and changed it to "Witch City Mall" and tried to cash in on the Tourist Trap aspect of Salem. Most of those Tourist traps stores used to never be there and this used to be more of a place frequented by locals and the major tourist draw was the Cinema playing Halloween themed stuff in October. You were spot on for the bathrooms though, with the large homeless population in Salem and lack of public restrooms these ones are frequented by them a lot and outside of the Halloween times I am not sure how often if at all they are cleaned hence the sign on that restaurant saying you cant use their napkins as toilet paper because when/if there is toliet paper stocked in the bathroom it is stolen just as quickly. I havent been here in probably 10 years, but I used to work in an office building attached to this mall back then it was much nicer than how it appears here, so it is sad to see such a local landmark turned to the utter shitty tourist trap it has become.
Went there with my wife and kids 2 years ago from Brooklyn, NY. Will never go back there, the hotel was "ok" but the the prices for things were crazy high and that Mall was dirty and smelled of urine, needs a power wash for sure. We saw a lot of homeless and beggars. We took the train into Boston and had a better time there.
you should have checked out lynn.
Tourists: Everything in Salem is expensive. Locals: Everything in Salem is average. lol
Except peak hour parking in October, that is just flat out ridiculous.
I remember going here as a little kid in the late 80s. It felt like an odd mall back then too, and it's the one I always think of whenever I hear vaporwave.
I'm so glad you covered that bathroom lol, Wild.
I almost never review the bathrooms, but this one was just too shocking not to mention. It blew my mind.
Was just there in September. Just happened to park in the garage. While not the best "mall", the tee shirt shop had some cool designs, the international monster museum was fun and were allowed to take pictures, my husband enjoyed the other museum and the massage chair while i had my nails painted. The couple we were with had some good food at the Polish deli while we did go to the tavern to eat (food and atmosphere were fun). I did not visit the bathroom 😊
Silent Hill 3 fans like myself LOVE this mall.
This explains why a few "Authorities" in Salem keeps inquiring why I was filming around the mall. That's funny. This video must have had an impact.
They were asking you about filming recently?
My fiance always wanted to go to Salem. We actually came from the west coast this past November. It was the worst city i have been in a long time. Dirty , expensive, crowded, no parking, long lines, homeless ,and on and on. it is one big tourist trap. I would never go back.
Pretty much.
Sounds like you planned really poorly or not at all
@@ChrisCollins068 how do you plan for stepping over homeless. Trash in the streets . Nasty bathrooms. Long lines for boring tours. Ect ect. I have traveled all over the world. And this place stinks. It is just for social media people to take pictures because it is trendy. It is a tourist trap plain and simple.
I live in Salem , I understand 😮
I've lived in Massachusetts all 38 years of my life and have wanted to visit for a while now.
I have some time off and I was just entertaining the thought of visiting forba couple days... not anymore!
That is absolutely despicable that you had to pay $25 for that pizza and two drinks!
$25 for that sorry little microwave pizza is pathetic.
i honestly find the mall rather charming. that front area only, though. it feels very empty and i feel constantly lost, but i like the architecture. it’s a little crazy. it’s fun.
i’ll be honest, i’ve never seen a good half of this place. i’ve only ever seen the front area that’s busy during the on-season.
I worked in Salem for most of 2019. Every morning I parked in the garage over this mall and walked through the lobby on the way to work. During that time, I heard multiple people comment on how small and crappy the mall is. There's really nothing good there and it always smells weird. Calling it a mall is generous, it has like 8 stores and they all suck. I still walk through it sometimes when I visit Salem.
Also one of the 2 parking garage elevators was out of service for months.
I grew up in Salem, and I remember it being lively back in the 80's, but it has been completely dead for the last 20+ years.
That store you looked at and mentioned having to enter from the outside of the mall? I know for that particular store it's because the walk thru area is pretty thin and they want the customer flow mostly going one-way.
Use to live in Salem in the 90s as a kid. This place has always been sorta like this. Only difference I remember there use to be a arcade, did not recall the cinema when the arcade was open, then it closed and eventually the cinema opened up after some time showing older movies for $1.50 or something. Also in that area in the back across from the cinema use to be a open space connecting to the other side with seating like a food court, only I do not remember food places in that area. Everything else seems the same as it was in the 90s including the 2nd level being non retail business stuff. Do not recall homeless situation going on though, that might be new. This was always kinda run down even back in the 90s.
I'm from the area and you're right about the public restrooms and especially the ones in the mall being filthy.
It's pretty ridiculous that there isn't more public restrooms considering how Salem is a major tourist destination.
Random note: In the early 90s the mall was pretty busy and had a fairly decent arcade.
Most people go to the North Shore Mall or even the Liberty Tree Mall (a dying mall) which are both about a 10 minute drive from Salem.
I live in neighboring Beverly and have been to Salem many times. I would hardly call this a mall as much as a "roofed pedestrian street with stores". There are more stores outside on the adjoining streets than in the "mall".
The real purpose of this "mall" was just to sell the space beneath the city-owned downtown parking garage, which constantly leaks rainwater. That arrangement, and the fact that it's the defacto parking garage for the major Peabody Essex Museum, probably complicates any attempts to modernize the place.
Its been pretty rough and dirty for 20 plus years. Lack of bathrooms is a major issue in the city and the visitors center closes pretty early.
During peak season the city should offer incentives to keep the Peabody Essex open later and have places offer public bathrooms. Its a big tourist turnoff.
Its so bad you can buy a Cinema Salem membership which lets younuse their bathroom as part of your benefits.
I often do court work at the Salem Courthouse which is near the mall always end up parking behind the mall in their parking lot there, personally love Salem just don't get down there. A place you should check out is the Willows if you are ever in the area again its really nice but its off the main area
I could definitely eat that whole pizza
Interesting little Mall
Those elevators are hydraulic probably modded in the last 10 years no clue what brand/manufacturer
Thanks for sharing this unique Mall
Glad you liked the video! Yes, if I ever go back, I'll definitely buy a couple slices of pizza instead. You actually seem to get way more pizza for the money that way, which is odd.
The slices are probably cut from larger pies @@fleabittenadventures
I'm from Los Angeles but If I ever get to travel to Salem, I might as well be using the hotel bathroom before I go use the public restrooms.. it's horrible being this dirty.. especially for Halloween season
Your from LA and your talking about Salem that’s funny
This mall truly is gross in person. Very dated, too. The worst part? Those bathrooms are some of the ONLY bathrooms in all of downtown Salem that are open for anyone to use. Everywhere else, you have to be a customer and buy something.
Let that sink in. You cannot even use the bathroom at McDonalds or a coffee shop without having to show a receipt.
That's kind of how Seattle is, with the few exceptions being Pacific Place until about 11pm because of the movie theater and Nordstrom until 8pm.
Only highlight there is the movie theater. Village Tavern is fun at night with a little bit of everything for the college crowd
Had the same reaction when I first went to Salem, all trash cans were overflowing and so much more trash on the ground of the mall, absolutely gross.
I’ve been a few times when passing through Salem. I only usually go there for Essex Pizza, which is actually quite nice, or unless I really need to use the bathroom. I’ve also been to the cinema there maybe twice before. Other than those two places there’s no reason I’d want to go there.
4:53 so far it looks like a bunch of hallways. i love malls. i feel home.in them, this feels stressful
I cut through here to get to the Peabody Essex Museum across the street and yeah, this is pretty accurate.
The last time I saw a movie at that theatre was 2019, and I had a PTSD incident. Haven't been back since.
The second floor is just two of our therapeutic high schools. and everyone knows not to use the bathroom. The bathroom has it’s own social media page
The only explanation for the restrooms condition is disgusting people with no decency. If people cleaned up after themselves there would be almost no issue.
I imagine the large homeless population has filthy restrooms
The floor plan at 3:42 hadn't updated the name to show the name of the new mall.
I live down the street, and it's one of the crappiest malls ever. But it doesn't matter; it's so insignificant. It's not somewhere anyone in Salem ever goes to or even talks about, it's just like 5 random shops that they put "Mall" on the outside. Plenty more to see and do while just completely ignoring "the mall."
The homeless guy might be the same one I've spoken to before. The security allows him to stay there. He has his own little room somewhere i think so might be a different guy than the one u saw.
I used to work at the movie theater when I was 15 in 1997. Movies cost a dollar because they were often just out of the big theaters, I figure they bought them from the theaters when the runs finished. it was the best. one dollar to see a movie in a theater.
Why would anyone shop at such a mall?
Probably tourists like me that don't know any better.
I lived in Salem for a few years and from what I could tell, it's mainly due to location. It's attached to the Village Tavern which is a very popular restaurant and Cinema Salem which is the only movie theater in the city. It's also right across the street from the highly regarded Peabody Essex Museum. Nobody plans to shop at the mall; it's just easy to wander into before or after going to one of those three places.
Classic Witch City Mall vibes 🤣
Believe it or not, upstairs is actually a high school and school district admin offices 😬
Brave man. Did you sample the men's room? One learns to pee while holding one's breath... Shit, I commented too soon. You covered it.
Last time I was there it was the East India Mall and it was just as dead but mildly cleaner.
The bathroom isn't always that bad. However I side with the locals. Go somewhere else unless it's your only option. There is few areas for restrooms including restaurants. My opinion go before you visit. There are a few worthwhile stores including a bakery photography store, I believe witch pics and a pizzeria and gem/jewelry store in the mall so its not all a waste. The theatre sells popcorn with real butter not the liquid stuff. The theatre is old-school so don't expect stadium seating. I've been in worse locations but there's also much better. The mall definitely needs an update.
Yeah, as much as I love Salem, it's disgusting how much they thrive off tourism while also telling tourists they can't use restrooms.
One of the strangest malls that I have ever seen before and with restrooms as dirty as those were I am not sure if I would wanna shop there
I agree. Just make sure you "go" before going!
Went there yesterday as a tourist. It does have slightly dank/creepy vibes.
Last time I was at that "mall", last fall or so, the trash barrels were all overflowing to a decent radius around the barrels flowing out onto the floor. It's a shithole. I used to go there all the time back in the day when it was called the East India Mall. It was a decent Mall back then. I believe the Peabody Essex Museum actually purchased it and their neglect of it is painfully obvious.
This is one of the few areas of my home state i rarely go to...maybe there's a reason why...
Makes sense to me.
I was just in there today. It was a windy, raw day so my GF and I went in to warm up. It was pretty drab. I didn't have to use the rest room. It is like a huge Spencer Gifts as a previous commentor stated. The floors didn't look that dirty but it is May. The reason it is still open is the rent is probably cheaper. That pizza place is better than your review says and I don't know how cheap you think pizza should be, but if you want cheap pizza get frozen supermarket pizza. Sadly, every in-town mall I have ever seen have been taken over by homeless people. Suburban malls are not faring much better.
I'm more surprised that the mall was allowed to be open for as long as it has been.
I say that having lived there for a year and a half.
Salem was at one point the biggest city in Colonial New England. It is the city where the first US millionaire earned his money. There was a serious low point for Salem during the 1970s and 80s. The downtown during that period had a lot of drug use and trafficking. Things got better and I believe that is when the mall was developed. When I lived in Salem around 2000-2005 the mall was full. Salem has other issues that affect things:: location, traffic flow and size.
"its hard to see in the video that the floor is dirty" no, its not. They NEVER clean that floor, it ALWAYS has that layer of actual dirt and filth on it. I think it's intentional because most Salem locals detest the tourists and only tourists really go to the mall.
Cursed with filth? Why is it in this condition? I wonder if the public Health Department has anything to say