This is my childhood mall. I’ve been coming here since I was a baby. I come here all the time. About a month ago the Movie theater reopened. I met the Manager there last year and he was nice.
One of my oldest/first mall memories is the Pyramid mall, the one this mall replaced. I remember being very upset as a kid when that mall was torn down because it was SUCH a vibe. This mall used to be something great but, it's definitely not what it used to be. The Food Court definitely has suffered, remembering back when it had every spot filled, especially with a Pizza Hut, McDonalds, the two Chinese/Asian spots, etc, as well as the giant Merry-Go-Round. The Arcade was across from where it is now, too, and had a lot more game options. Genuinely once Sears was lost, that's when the "dying" became real to a lot of us who would frequent the mall.
2:22 the store that says HOPE used to be a pet store, and right next to that used to be KayBee Toys. across next to what used to be payless shoe store was a Radio Shack. I agree with you that the hospital thing doesn't feel like it should be in a mall, but the other plan is to turn it into apartments which is a horrible idea. The fountain is used as a fountain in the summer months. I believe it's full of water right now. The Wow arcade used to be Waldenbooks. across the hall where Spencer's is now is where the original arcade was. The movie theater recently reopened, so that's nice to see. The corner closed store at 10:04 used to be a McDonald's. the Chinese restaurant next to it has been there for a long time. they're always giving out free samples.
We live just 2! miles from this mall! Usually pretty dead even on the weekends. They do have a nice farmers market during the winter months with local produce and craft products, live music as well.
A local developer has plans on buying the north end of the mall and property adjacent to it. The plan is to make upper end apartments there. The Saratoga/Wilton area is really thriving. The Belmont Stakes is happening at the race track this weekend.
I used to come here all the time as a kid. The arcade used to be a bookstore - I want to say Waldenbooks? Also, the vacant space across from Auntie Anne's next to Kay Jewelers used to be an EB Games/Gamestop.
Yes, it used to be Waldenbooks, then it became a beauty supply store, I’ll have to check the paperwork. Then Wow! took it over after the old arcade (which is now Spencer’s) closed. I believe that was either 2014 or 2015. It has taken me YEARS to find the name, but the old arcade was called Just Fun. Sounds like some money laundering scheme.
@@Sprikers The original arcade was a "TIME-OUT" operated by Edison Brothers Stores. (I ran that arcade as the manager for about 3-4 years before getting transferred to our MASS location). Edison Brothers went belly up and our division was sold to NAMCO's USA arcades division. The arcade was located next to the old A&W food court store-where Spencer's is now located. I miss that location, it fell apart a few years after I relocated due to several issues.
@@fleabittenadventuresWilton Mall once had two book stores. The one occupied by an arcade now was a B. Dalton, the Waldenbooks was in another part of the mall, past Bath & Bodyworks.
September 2006 I was 10 years old and got the Complete Atlas of World History at the bookstore here (Borders? Waldenbooks?). Helped spark my love for history.
Coming to this mall in the 90s, the food court had a big carousel with long lines every weekend. The food court used to have many options and well I'm sure it's the same story with a lot of these malls, but yeah, it used to be a real mall haha. Nowadays, I'm glad it at least has a Whole Foods-type of place connected to it in Healthy Living.
I remember visiting this mall in 2016/2017 ish and the fountain was operational. The pictures don’t do it justice - it was massive, like a swimming pool in the middle of the mall.
This mall used to be packed in the mid to late 90’s through the early 2000’s. Not my childhood mall, but I had friends in Wilton and would come here from time to time. Remember the carousel in the food court and the water fountains was the distinguishing features. Used to buy some of my first PC games there in a video game store called Babbage’s. Yes, there was construction in the mid 2000’s, maybe around 2005-2010 to build that section, so that building is new.
This was my childhood mall. The space where JC Penney is now used to be vacant for the longest time. But it was just a vacant plot of construction land. Like it wasn't a parking lot with an entrance to the mall, but it also wasn't a raised building with empty space. It looked like a plot of land that was ready for construction to begin but just never began. To my knowledge I believe it was just kinda expansion space or maybe it was an anchor tenant like Montgomery Ward was supposed to move but when they went out of business the construction was put on hold and it just sat there for like 10-15 years. I believe this was the space where Boscov's was supposed to build their store that ended up moving down to Clifton Park Center instead. I graduated high school and moved on from the area by the time JC Penney moved from the front of the building where the GYM and Health Foods Store was to that location where it is now. It's so sad, this was such a nice mall in the 90s and early 2000s.
Looks like a slowly dying Mall reminds me of a summer day when everyone is at the beach not the beginning of a holiday season having a supermarket was a great idea an added convenience to shopping but probably not enough. I hope things pick up and I agree with you if they knock down part of the mall to build housing the rest will probably follow just curious how many stores were there during its peak not sure if you've ever been to the Salisbury Mall in Maryland Perry this looks very similar thanks for making the video it was very informative you did an excellent job👍👍
Sad. This was a nice mall. The death of Sears took it with them 😢 me my dad and mom went up there fairly often, and my mom is now gone. 😞😢 It is north of us a bit. I already miss those days. 😞 I loved the Chinese restaurant that was on the right when you entered the food court. The arcade was a book store originally. Wish I could have those days back. 😢 this is a pretty good mall to wheel around in my chair. Heartbreaking. 😭
Great video! The mall has quite the 90s charm! I love the center court of the mall with the fountain! The floors in here really bring some color to this place. It reminds me a lot of the Marketplace Mall in Rochester that I filmed recently.
I grew up in Saratoga and was like 15 when this mall was built. I lived there on the weekends in the early 90s. Saratoga Mall was already kind of on the way out before the Wilton Mall, but I'm sure its demise was expedited by it too. It's a bit weird going there now, as a lot of the space is used for non-traditional mall type stuff, as your video showed. Still, it's better to see the space being used than just a bunch of closed vacant spaces. I've heard the theater recently reopened there after being closed for a couple of years. I still go there once in a while to get a plate of food from the buffet place by the movie entrance. It's literally the only place in the food court that's been there since Day 1 of the mall. Pretty sure the same married couple own it and work it still. The fountain was a huge selling point for my friends and I as there were a ton of tables and places to hang out around it, the food court and arcade and CD store were right there. It was a pretty area with the cool high ceilings and sun roof. There was a big fair-sized merry-go-round in the food court for at least the first decade or so the mall was open. My hoodlum friends and I would often pay the fifty cents or whatever it was to ride it while waiting for a movie to start. A LOT of really good teenager memories are attached to that place. First dates, $10 quarter rolls being used at the arcade to beat specific games, and hundreds of happy memories. The JC Penny building I think maybe was an add-on. I remember there was a big half-built spot that was an anchor store that was vacant for several years. But it was eventually developed.
I was surprised that both "Arcades" actually had Electro-Mechanical pinball machines in them. Those are rare even in vintage arcades (or arcade bars I've seen).
I grew up going to this mall. My mother used to own the local bars on modeling and we regularly for several years used to put on various fashion shows: Back to School, Wedding, etc…
@@fleabittenadventuresBow Tie was bought by the COO, Joe Masher, and he has renamed it Scene One Cinemas. The old CEO of Bow Tie had no faith in the movie business and sold the company
WOW Arcade had some really different machines you rarely see in the wild at a random mall arcade. These are all vintage machines that you would typically see only at a collectors type arcade. Waterworld Jacks Open Seawitch Fish Tales Coney Island Bride of Pinbot Sorcerer Very rare to see electro mechanical pins like Gottlieb Jacks Open at a mall arcade and also Seawitch is a very desired solid state, high value pin that was recently remade by Haggis Pinball. Fish Tales and Bride are very popular Waterworld is a horrible game, but cool to see in the wild. Sorcerer is an awesome game during the era when pinball was coming back with games like Space Shuttle and Comet from Williams.
I remember going to both Wilton mall, and Saratoga where Montgomery Ward! On weekends this mall could turn into a small city real quick! I use to get a pan pizza from Pizza Hut in the food court!
One of those games in the second arcade wasn't a pinball machine. It was alley bowling game similar to a shuffleboard game. Think that one was from the early 90's and would have been one of the last of its kind made. It was called "Gottlieb's Strikes & Spares".
It’s still considered a pinball since you interact with the ball with flippers, it’s just in a bowling style. It could be considered a novelty pinball. It’s one of my favorites. It was a poor seller and nobody wanted one, they were blowing them out at the factory for $1k back in 1996! I have always loved it and finally got one and put it out.
I grew up in this ball in the early 2000s I can remeber what almost every store in there used to be. The jc penny building was built later than the rest of the mall.
Nice video. The mall staff has done a great job to keep the place from looking rundown. Enjoyed the theater on many occasions and miss the bookstore. Surprised to see so many chain stores still in Wilton. One wonders how long J.C. Penney can hang on. I'm as much to blame as any shopper. It's too easy to push a few buttons and your item is on the way.
I'm 50/50 ..some malls are dead during the weekday and are more crowded Friday night, Saturday and Sunday. I notice you typically go on the deadest mall day of the week.. Next time try the weekend
I would if I could, but this was the only time I could get there. I live about 4 hours away, so this was part of a 2 day upstate new york mall filming trip.
This was a sister mall to Rotterdam Square Mall. The layout is close to identical, except for Foodcourt, and Theater placement. In comparison its doing a lot better than Rotterdam, but no where near where it was 20 years ago. I was a mallrat here 2002-2003 spent a lot of time in the old arcade which is now a Spencers at the foodcourt. The Wow arcade was a bookstore. Right in that area was a Hot topic, and a video game store. Raised a lot of hell here as a teen in that era. In the theater that party room is a display. The other Bow Tie Theater in Schenectady does the same thing. Keeps the party room set up on display.
I used to spend all day in the arcade at cross gates. $20 got you $30 worth of tokens, and I would always get a meatball sub at the deli next to the arcade for like $3. Man I miss those days. The arcade was always fairly busy or completely packed. Now it's gone as far as I know
The fountain gets drained for the christmas setup and then refilled. This mall gets pretty busy during the Saratoga racetrack season. There is alo a pretty large elderly community who still regularly shop this mall as well as myself
Is there a possibility the hospital system is taking space in the mall because it’s a location on a bus line? Sometimes various healthcare workers and support staff are bus or train riders and having this located at the mall was advantageous for transportation of staff that might not have vehicles?
Saratoga hospital wanted to build a new office building behind the hospital but the neighborhood that is back there threw a fit about it so I believe using the mall was the backup option.
Lots of shopping and restaurants on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. Also more fun to walk around there. Clifton Park Center Mall a few exits down on the Northway was converted to a strip mall and is thriving.
I remember going to the Saratoga Mall just once in the summer of 1989 while I was on vacation in Lake George, perhaps the same time this mall was under construction next door. I have a scale to rate malls based on economic success - healthy (A), surviving (B), struggling (C), dead (D), corpse (F). Based on standards for the 2020s and what I see in this video, I would give this mall a C+.
@@fleabittenadventures there used to be a dairy queen in the food court and a pizza place there and a subway. I didn't know the movies were gone. I always went to the movies there. And FYE used to be there I guess it went out of business. And bon ton I remember was there and sears. I guess only thing that was still there is jcpenney and dicks sporting goods.
Odd that I do not remember the carousel. Not saying it wasn't in the food court- Just something I do not remember from my time when I ran the arcade in the food court. Short history: Mall was conceived and built by "Wilmorite". Wilmorite decided to pull out of the mall business and sold the NYS malls to Machrich. Now fun fact: Machrich wanted nothing to do with the "lower end" malls (or what it thought to be 'lower end') They had their sights set on the upper crust malls, but Wimorite said "Buy all, or none". And he also gave himself a way to repurchase the properties in Rochester, NY (which they did) Movie Theater started as a "Hoyts". Then to "Regal" when Hoyt's pulled out...Bowtie was after my time. They had a decent sit down restaurant on the right side taking up the bulk of that wall. A&W (next to the TIME-OUT I used to manage). I want to say Arby's was next to that...and then Cajon Cafe'...Chinese rest...
Yes, the carousel was in the food court area. I’m not sure, but it might have been moved, because I do remember it more in the center section, but not sure.
I used to go to this mall a lot. Especially when FYE was there (I’m a film buff and collector). I haven’t been there much since it closed. Funny enough yesterday was the first time going there in over a year and I think it’s doing alright, not thriving like crazy, but living.
This mall is absolutely dying. I lived 5 minutes away from Wilton Mall and worked next door for over a decade. It is sad watching more and more stores leave. There used to be an Express, Victorias Secret, Aeropostale, Bon Ton, Charlotte Russe, Forever 21, Gymboree, etc. Every time I go to visit this mall another store is closed. The shoe store just closed (shoe depot?) not too long ago. Stupid gift shops keep moving in. I met my fiance at this mall. Supposedly some expensive luxury apartments are supposed to go in where Bon Ton was, but it was a while ago I heard that so who knows. The cat store is pretty awesome though.
What is the anchor store that you keep mentioning called? Addison Day or Bay?? Bc Addison Bay is a company started in Philadelphia not long ago by one of my neighbors that lived on Addison St. I’m wondering did they buy the name for name recognition bc she named her brand Addison Bay or is it different?
The old Saratoga Mall used to be called Pyramid Mall. It was a booming place back in the 70's and 80. When Wilmorite built the Wilton Mall Pyramid Co pretty much gave up on the Saratoga mall.
I grew up going to this mall, it’s holding on but barely. My knowledge is rusty but good. JC Penney had its current location built for it I believe. They drain the fountain in the winter to be Santa’s village, etc. it’s running currently. The OG Arcade was where the Spencer’s is now, the arcade on the old food court was a Walden’s books. Every opening/flat wall in the food court was a different food stop. The bank was a McDonald’s. I believe the carousel is elsewhere in Saratoga, because it’s historic importance. The pandemic really did a lot of stores in, which is too bad. The goal of the apartments is to create a proper mixed-use property. When I was recently there I recognized multiple stores that used to be downtown now in the mall. I think there is a chance for smaller stores that support third-spaces for the renters to socialize and build community. At least that’s what I’d love to see.
On the pinball wiki it says 1500 Water World pinball machines were produced as promotion for the film. So it's definitely not common, but common enough that I'd believe most people if they said they had seen one within their lifetime.
The old Saratoga mall was very much a small mall, and even though it was a traditional mall. it was the size of a strip mall. One of its anchor stores was an old department store named James Way. The mall also had a service merchandise and an OK arcade.
That mall had a lot of stores but Aviation was closer so it was rare we went there back in the day. When we did it was mostly to visit the only golden coral close to us and my little sister liked the carousel. In your video where the santa is. That was all water and had a water fountain. It was also where people made a wish and threw their change. My uncles cd player interface fell out of his pocket by it one time. He had it on him because those got stolen regularly back when. Christmas shopping was done there sometimes and you would see a lot of Military shopping. 2019 felt like the worse that mall has ever been and seeing it for the first time since, through your youtube. I'd say it got better considering there were more than 20 people in your video and more than 1 working arcade game that wasn't dusty. Seems to be much cleaner and fixed up also.
In my day this was the new mall. It barely looks like anything I remember from when it first opened. I remember when the old mall, Pyramid Mall, was first built and then when the new addition was built featuring kaybee toys, Casual Corner with Montgomery Wards being the anchor.
Putting in more trees, plants, flowers (that are REAL) would definitely help the atmosphere. There is a cost factor but it is what makes the experience as fountains do or sculptures in the white space areas. Having just seating available is not enough.
This is actually my local mall. Funny you tube recommended me this video. I'll make some comments as I watch. I've lived here my whole life, 30 years now. The Hospital being in the mall is actually very convenient. The parking is super easy. Lots of times I need to make other stops. They have some specialist offices in there. Podiatry, something else and a primary care clinic. JC Penny did indeed move somewhere around 2010. That was actually a brand new addition to the mall for JC penny. It took forever. The center fountain is drained by Santa for his pictures. Otherwise it's always operational year-round. It's quite pleasant. That arcade was a book store for like 30 years. When that went out a beauty supply place moved in and then the arcade IIRC. The food court has been dead for at least 10 years. I have no idea why they can't keep restaurants in there. There's probably been over a dozen different pizza places in the one corner spot. We used to have a Subway, Arbys, McDonalds, and the Zumiez was an old fashioned diner way back in the day! The carousel was moved down to the Congress Park downtown Saratoga. Since this video was taken there has been a new theater put in. It's very nice. The party room has always been setup, no matter if there was a party there or not. It's just a display. I don't think its as dystopian as you mentioned. The BonTon redevelopment is a mixed bag among locals. I think it'll be good. It will drive a ton of money into the property, more businesses will want to be there. Maybe the food court will repopulate. By coincidence, I think I was actually at the mall the day this was filmed. I am pretty sure you can hear my kid yelling in the background at about 15:58 & my wife saying his name. Probably getting an eye checkup. Haha. Never seen that antique store open myself. It was actually a Famous Footwear for many many years. It moved across the street to another plaza. Those 2 Wow arcades actually get updated quite frequently surprisingly. They swap stuff out every few weeks as far as I can tell. The second small one was a Jewelry store for many years. IMO with the impending BonTon project, I think the mall may see it's second wind in the next few years. It's certainly been much much emptier than you saw here. This video was oddly satisfying to watch. It's neat seeing your hometown in video.
Also, a small point. This was filmed at the slower time of year for Saratoga. Even though it's a college town with Skidmore around the corner, Saratoga is truly a summer town with tons of local springs and the annual summer horse racing meet at the Saratoga Race Course. They also move the farmers market indoors here near the old BonTon in the halls during the colder months. It's pretty cool.
They have a target and planet fitness dicks sporting goods And a 99 restaurant. They are in much better shape than Wilton. Which is weird because Wilton always used to be the better mall.
I honestly can't say that I see it lasting long, even with their plan to put luxury apartments and a gated townhouse community in. How that will help the mall, I have no clue since the apartments are going to start $1,800 to $2000 for one bedroom. The mall hasn't even added new stores for shopping, what they've put in is a batting cage, a ju-jistu class, and another gym by planet fitness. It looks more and more like they're trying to slowly covert the place into a micro community and hope no one raises complaints instead of maintaining the place as a shopping mall.
This mall is as good as dead with the Theater closed. Saratoga has plenty of customers but without any entertainment venues it is as good as dead. Crossgates has a focus on entertainment and Colonie Center has a focus on restaurants and both have open theaters.
The green brick area next the party room was a bank and before thay a McDonald's. Spencer was an arcade with DDR right in the enterway. Right next to Spencer used to be a HotTopic
This was my childhood mall... it still looks exactly the same, but store-wise there's almost nothing the same. I'd like to do a giant post with timestamps of all the stores I can remember, and any other thoughts - probably this weekend. What I will say for now in reference to the apartment proposal... Who wants to live next to a dying mall? Someone using it for office space would be preferable. I'd love to have my office in a mall, a climate controlled place to walk year round!
@@fleabittenadventures What the malls sometimes do would be to drain the fountain's and use that space for their holiday setups. It's a good use of space. (Plus they can also do extended maintenance after Christmas on the 'pond')
It's not dead, but when you see a theater group renting space it's a bad sign. It means giveaway rent levels. Government offices too, because they're cheapskates. There are people in there if not a ton. I'd keep my eye on it.
The wow arcade use to be where Arby's and another store or 2 was in the foodcourt_ McDonalds is now the bank and alot of the paintings are false walls with paint
I was there on a Saturday night this past year for pictures with Santa and the place was empty. Prime time on a Saturday during Christmas season. I'd say its dead
The old carrousel was beautiful!
The fountain get drained for xmas time only.. Im actually the manager for that xmas santa set!
Great to hear! So the fountains will reopen in Spring?
@@NexxisStudio they refill immediately after xmas
This is my childhood mall. I’ve been coming here since I was a baby. I come here all the time. About a month ago the Movie theater reopened. I met the Manager there last year and he was nice.
That's so weird that they reopened after 4 years. What took so long? Is that table in the party room still set?
It's a different movie company that moved in.
@@fleabittenadventuresyummy
@@Eternalaccessi got touched in the dressing room here lol
@@Eternalaccess same company they restructured and changed the name
One of my oldest/first mall memories is the Pyramid mall, the one this mall replaced. I remember being very upset as a kid when that mall was torn down because it was SUCH a vibe. This mall used to be something great but, it's definitely not what it used to be.
The Food Court definitely has suffered, remembering back when it had every spot filled, especially with a Pizza Hut, McDonalds, the two Chinese/Asian spots, etc, as well as the giant Merry-Go-Round. The Arcade was across from where it is now, too, and had a lot more game options. Genuinely once Sears was lost, that's when the "dying" became real to a lot of us who would frequent the mall.
Pyramid Mall was definitely a vibe. I can still smell the Papa Gino's.
I agree about the pyramid mall..."such a vibe"
I've been there recently. Saratoga is much busier in the summer. The entire town changes with the seasons.
I volunteer at Hop on Home bunny sanctuary at this mall. I think this is a perfect reuse of dying malls.
2:22 the store that says HOPE used to be a pet store, and right next to that used to be KayBee Toys. across next to what used to be payless shoe store was a Radio Shack. I agree with you that the hospital thing doesn't feel like it should be in a mall, but the other plan is to turn it into apartments which is a horrible idea.
The fountain is used as a fountain in the summer months. I believe it's full of water right now.
The Wow arcade used to be Waldenbooks. across the hall where Spencer's is now is where the original arcade was. The movie theater recently reopened, so that's nice to see. The corner closed store at 10:04 used to be a McDonald's. the Chinese restaurant next to it has been there for a long time. they're always giving out free samples.
We live just 2! miles from this mall! Usually pretty dead even on the weekends. They do have a nice farmers market during the winter months with local produce and craft products, live music as well.
Worked at the Sears auto center at this mall for 11 years, many great memories. Met Louis CK and worked on his car there
A local developer has plans on buying the north end of the mall and property adjacent to it. The plan is to make upper end apartments there. The Saratoga/Wilton area is really thriving. The Belmont Stakes is happening at the race track this weekend.
I was going to add a similar comment. That could be a turning point for the mall if they play their cards right.
I used to come here all the time as a kid. The arcade used to be a bookstore - I want to say Waldenbooks? Also, the vacant space across from Auntie Anne's next to Kay Jewelers used to be an EB Games/Gamestop.
Thanks for the info!
Yes, it used to be Waldenbooks, then it became a beauty supply store, I’ll have to check the paperwork. Then Wow! took it over after the old arcade (which is now Spencer’s) closed. I believe that was either 2014 or 2015. It has taken me YEARS to find the name, but the old arcade was called Just Fun. Sounds like some money laundering scheme.
@@Sprikers The original arcade was a "TIME-OUT" operated by Edison Brothers Stores. (I ran that arcade as the manager for about 3-4 years before getting transferred to our MASS location). Edison Brothers went belly up and our division was sold to NAMCO's USA arcades division.
The arcade was located next to the old A&W food court store-where Spencer's is now located. I miss that location, it fell apart a few years after I relocated due to several issues.
@@fleabittenadventuresWilton Mall once had two book stores. The one occupied by an arcade now was a B. Dalton, the Waldenbooks was in another part of the mall, past Bath & Bodyworks.
September 2006 I was 10 years old and got the Complete Atlas of World History at the bookstore here (Borders? Waldenbooks?). Helped spark my love for history.
Coming to this mall in the 90s, the food court had a big carousel with long lines every weekend. The food court used to have many options and well I'm sure it's the same story with a lot of these malls, but yeah, it used to be a real mall haha. Nowadays, I'm glad it at least has a Whole Foods-type of place connected to it in Healthy Living.
I used to work in this mall at a part time job at Hot Topic!
I remember visiting this mall in 2016/2017 ish and the fountain was operational. The pictures don’t do it justice - it was massive, like a swimming pool in the middle of the mall.
I wish I had seen it back then.
The fountain still works. It’s drained for Christmas and Easter
This mall used to be packed in the mid to late 90’s through the early 2000’s. Not my childhood mall, but I had friends in Wilton and would come here from time to time. Remember the carousel in the food court and the water fountains was the distinguishing features.
Used to buy some of my first PC games there in a video game store called Babbage’s.
Yes, there was construction in the mid 2000’s, maybe around 2005-2010 to build that section, so that building is new.
It was a racehorse-themed carousel if my memory is serving me...
@@jenniferburchill3658 th-cam.com/video/Op9LHA41hnc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=MkFWcV8ag3nMzme0
This was my childhood mall. The space where JC Penney is now used to be vacant for the longest time. But it was just a vacant plot of construction land. Like it wasn't a parking lot with an entrance to the mall, but it also wasn't a raised building with empty space. It looked like a plot of land that was ready for construction to begin but just never began. To my knowledge I believe it was just kinda expansion space or maybe it was an anchor tenant like Montgomery Ward was supposed to move but when they went out of business the construction was put on hold and it just sat there for like 10-15 years. I believe this was the space where Boscov's was supposed to build their store that ended up moving down to Clifton Park Center instead. I graduated high school and moved on from the area by the time JC Penney moved from the front of the building where the GYM and Health Foods Store was to that location where it is now. It's so sad, this was such a nice mall in the 90s and early 2000s.
Looks like a slowly dying Mall reminds me of a summer day when everyone is at the beach not the beginning of a holiday season having a supermarket was a great idea an added convenience to shopping but probably not enough. I hope things pick up and I agree with you if they knock down part of the mall to build housing the rest will probably follow just curious how many stores were there during its peak not sure if you've ever been to the Salisbury Mall in Maryland Perry this looks very similar thanks for making the video it was very informative you did an excellent job👍👍
Once a year, maybe twice, in downtown Saratoga, there is a huge pinball show. Which could explain all the pinball machines
Ok. That makes sense!
Sad. This was a nice mall. The death of Sears took it with them 😢 me my dad and mom went up there fairly often, and my mom is now gone. 😞😢 It is north of us a bit. I already miss those days. 😞 I loved the Chinese restaurant that was on the right when you entered the food court. The arcade was a book store originally. Wish I could have those days back. 😢 this is a pretty good mall to wheel around in my chair. Heartbreaking. 😭
Great video! The mall has quite the 90s charm! I love the center court of the mall with the fountain! The floors in here really bring some color to this place. It reminds me a lot of the Marketplace Mall in Rochester that I filmed recently.
Thanks! Yes, the floor tiles are very 1990s, probably original to the mall.
I grew up in Saratoga and was like 15 when this mall was built. I lived there on the weekends in the early 90s. Saratoga Mall was already kind of on the way out before the Wilton Mall, but I'm sure its demise was expedited by it too. It's a bit weird going there now, as a lot of the space is used for non-traditional mall type stuff, as your video showed. Still, it's better to see the space being used than just a bunch of closed vacant spaces. I've heard the theater recently reopened there after being closed for a couple of years. I still go there once in a while to get a plate of food from the buffet place by the movie entrance. It's literally the only place in the food court that's been there since Day 1 of the mall. Pretty sure the same married couple own it and work it still.
The fountain was a huge selling point for my friends and I as there were a ton of tables and places to hang out around it, the food court and arcade and CD store were right there. It was a pretty area with the cool high ceilings and sun roof. There was a big fair-sized merry-go-round in the food court for at least the first decade or so the mall was open. My hoodlum friends and I would often pay the fifty cents or whatever it was to ride it while waiting for a movie to start. A LOT of really good teenager memories are attached to that place. First dates, $10 quarter rolls being used at the arcade to beat specific games, and hundreds of happy memories.
The JC Penny building I think maybe was an add-on. I remember there was a big half-built spot that was an anchor store that was vacant for several years. But it was eventually developed.
I was surprised that both "Arcades" actually had Electro-Mechanical pinball machines in them. Those are rare even in vintage arcades (or arcade bars I've seen).
I thought so too
Thank you! I try my best. EMs are a ton of fun and we run a Sunday pinball league with a little bit of everything for everyone!
@@Sprikers When I was a kid, when the electronic tables were a thing, I thought the EMs were dumb. With age comes appreciation.
I grew up going to this mall. My mother used to own the local bars on modeling and we regularly for several years used to put on various fashion shows: Back to School, Wedding, etc…
Even when I was a kid in the 90's they would drain that large fountain for the Christmas setup then refill it again.
I’d vote dying as well, but that party room is pretty surreal.
I agree. Kind of sad.
The bow tie cinema is open now it reopened on March 13th of this year
Really? It reopened after 4 years? That's unusual
@@fleabittenadventuresBow Tie was bought by the COO, Joe Masher, and he has renamed it Scene One Cinemas. The old CEO of Bow Tie had no faith in the movie business and sold the company
WOW Arcade had some really different machines you rarely see in the wild at a random mall arcade. These are all vintage machines that you would typically see only at a collectors type arcade.
Waterworld
Jacks Open
Seawitch
Fish Tales
Coney Island
Bride of Pinbot
Sorcerer
Very rare to see electro mechanical pins like Gottlieb Jacks Open at a mall arcade and also Seawitch is a very desired solid state, high value pin that was recently remade by Haggis Pinball.
Fish Tales and Bride are very popular
Waterworld is a horrible game, but cool to see in the wild.
Sorcerer is an awesome game during the era when pinball was coming back with games like Space Shuttle and Comet from Williams.
I'll bet there was an old arcade that shut down and WOW Arcade just took over the old machines.
I remember going to both Wilton mall, and Saratoga where Montgomery Ward! On weekends this mall could turn into a small city real quick! I use to get a pan pizza from Pizza Hut in the food court!
One of those games in the second arcade wasn't a pinball machine. It was alley bowling game similar to a shuffleboard game. Think that one was from the early 90's and would have been one of the last of its kind made. It was called "Gottlieb's Strikes & Spares".
Oh ok. Thanks for the info!
It’s still considered a pinball since you interact with the ball with flippers, it’s just in a bowling style. It could be considered a novelty pinball. It’s one of my favorites. It was a poor seller and nobody wanted one, they were blowing them out at the factory for $1k back in 1996!
I have always loved it and finally got one and put it out.
I hate seeing parts of malls get torn down because they almost NEVER DO ANYTHING WITH IT!
It's usually a sign that the rest of the mall will be torn down next
@@fleabittenadventures yeah :c
The store to the right of sears was a pet stop then a Payless shoes
I grew up in this ball in the early 2000s I can remeber what almost every store in there used to be. The jc penny building was built later than the rest of the mall.
Nice video. The mall staff has done a great job to keep the place from looking rundown. Enjoyed the theater on many occasions and miss the bookstore. Surprised to see so many chain stores still in Wilton. One wonders how long J.C. Penney can hang on. I'm as much to blame as any shopper. It's too easy to push a few buttons and your item is on the way.
I'm 50/50 ..some malls are dead during the weekday and are more crowded Friday night, Saturday and Sunday. I notice you typically go on the deadest mall day of the week.. Next time try the weekend
I would if I could, but this was the only time I could get there. I live about 4 hours away, so this was part of a 2 day upstate new york mall filming trip.
Coolest and saddest you said it i'd like to check out this mall.
This was a sister mall to Rotterdam Square Mall. The layout is close to identical, except for Foodcourt, and Theater placement. In comparison its doing a lot better than Rotterdam, but no where near where it was 20 years ago. I was a mallrat here 2002-2003 spent a lot of time in the old arcade which is now a Spencers at the foodcourt. The Wow arcade was a bookstore. Right in that area was a Hot topic, and a video game store. Raised a lot of hell here as a teen in that era. In the theater that party room is a display. The other Bow Tie Theater in Schenectady does the same thing. Keeps the party room set up on display.
The fountain is still there, it was removed for the holidays I guess
Is it full of water?
@@fleabittenadventures yes it is
Saratoga is a summer town. You come in the end of Nov. And wonder why it's empty. Visit in summer with the racetrack, SPAC concerts.
I used to spend all day in the arcade at cross gates. $20 got you $30 worth of tokens, and I would always get a meatball sub at the deli next to the arcade for like $3. Man I miss those days. The arcade was always fairly busy or completely packed. Now it's gone as far as I know
The fountain gets drained for the christmas setup and then refilled. This mall gets pretty busy during the Saratoga racetrack season. There is alo a pretty large elderly community who still regularly shop this mall as well as myself
Is there a possibility the hospital system is taking space in the mall because it’s a location on a bus line? Sometimes various healthcare workers and support staff are bus or train riders and having this located at the mall was advantageous for transportation of staff that might not have vehicles?
That I don't know. It would make sense.
Saratoga hospital wanted to build a new office building behind the hospital but the neighborhood that is back there threw a fit about it so I believe using the mall was the backup option.
Lots of shopping and restaurants on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. Also more fun to walk around there. Clifton Park Center Mall a few exits down on the Northway was converted to a strip mall and is thriving.
I remember the Montgomery Ward coming soon sign was there for years!
Fleabitten Adventures, the former JCPenney at this mall (1990-2011) only had one floor, as far as I know.
Ok. It did look pretty small.
I remember going to the Saratoga Mall just once in the summer of 1989 while I was on vacation in Lake George, perhaps the same time this mall was under construction next door. I have a scale to rate malls based on economic success - healthy (A), surviving (B), struggling (C), dead (D), corpse (F). Based on standards for the 2020s and what I see in this video, I would give this mall a C+.
If the rents are cheaper in a mall, I have no problem with a medical or IT facility filling the empty spaces vs having vacant, dark storefronts.
This is the 3rd mall built. The first original mall was called the Pyramid mall. Many memories. The first regular job I had was there in 1983.
pyramid mall is the greatest of all time
The pyramid mall was just renamed the saratoga Mall in the early 90s
@@coolbluelights not true it was totally remodeled.
@@SlikMc Yeah they remodeled it but it was the same building. not a third one
@@coolbluelights the building doesn’t need to be knocked down to be a new mall. They even added a food court with a pizza hut and a diner.
Changed soo much since I was in high school
What kind of changes have you seen?
@@fleabittenadventures there used to be a dairy queen in the food court and a pizza place there and a subway. I didn't know the movies were gone. I always went to the movies there. And FYE used to be there I guess it went out of business. And bon ton I remember was there and sears. I guess only thing that was still there is jcpenney and dicks sporting goods.
This looks like a carbon copy of a mall near me called Market Place mall in Henrietta . It’s creepy how close they look
Odd that I do not remember the carousel. Not saying it wasn't in the food court- Just something I do not remember from my time when I ran the arcade in the food court.
Short history: Mall was conceived and built by "Wilmorite".
Wilmorite decided to pull out of the mall business and sold the NYS malls to Machrich. Now fun fact: Machrich wanted nothing to do with the "lower end" malls (or what it thought to be 'lower end') They had their sights set on the upper crust malls, but Wimorite said "Buy all, or none". And he also gave himself a way to repurchase the properties in Rochester, NY (which they did)
Movie Theater started as a "Hoyts". Then to "Regal" when Hoyt's pulled out...Bowtie was after my time.
They had a decent sit down restaurant on the right side taking up the bulk of that wall. A&W (next to the TIME-OUT I used to manage). I want to say Arby's was next to that...and then Cajon Cafe'...Chinese rest...
Yes, the carousel was in the food court area. I’m not sure, but it might have been moved, because I do remember it more in the center section, but not sure.
There was a carousel I remember it from when I was a child. Probably around 2005-2007
I used to go to this mall a lot. Especially when FYE was there (I’m a film buff and collector). I haven’t been there much since it closed. Funny enough yesterday was the first time going there in over a year and I think it’s doing alright, not thriving like crazy, but living.
It has to have the most pinball machines in any mall in the country. I wonder what the average was, for malls, back in the early 80's?
If not the most, it's got to be up there
I try my best! 😂
My wife and I went to see Twister at the movie theater last Saturday.
This mall is absolutely dying. I lived 5 minutes away from Wilton Mall and worked next door for over a decade. It is sad watching more and more stores leave. There used to be an Express, Victorias Secret, Aeropostale, Bon Ton, Charlotte Russe, Forever 21, Gymboree, etc. Every time I go to visit this mall another store is closed. The shoe store just closed (shoe depot?) not too long ago. Stupid gift shops keep moving in. I met my fiance at this mall. Supposedly some expensive luxury apartments are supposed to go in where Bon Ton was, but it was a while ago I heard that so who knows. The cat store is pretty awesome though.
shoe dept encore is still open
What is the anchor store that you keep mentioning called? Addison Day or Bay?? Bc Addison Bay is a company started in Philadelphia not long ago by one of my neighbors that lived on Addison St. I’m wondering did they buy the name for name recognition bc she named her brand Addison Bay or is it different?
The Marshalls used to be a Ruby Tuesday. I miss their Martinis, getting a buzz and walking around the mall spending all my money...
The old Saratoga Mall used to be called Pyramid Mall. It was a booming place back in the 70's and 80. When Wilmorite built the Wilton Mall Pyramid Co pretty much gave up on the Saratoga mall.
Party rooms are typically left like that to showcase it. It helps for those interested to see how the setup looks.
Christmas bells aren't ringing at this mall. It's fading out.
Looks like it.
My local mall was redeveloped with new outside stores. My other mall which is huge is struggling.
I grew up going to this mall, it’s holding on but barely. My knowledge is rusty but good.
JC Penney had its current location built for it I believe.
They drain the fountain in the winter to be Santa’s village, etc. it’s running currently.
The OG Arcade was where the Spencer’s is now, the arcade on the old food court was a Walden’s books. Every opening/flat wall in the food court was a different food stop. The bank was a McDonald’s. I believe the carousel is elsewhere in Saratoga, because it’s historic importance.
The pandemic really did a lot of stores in, which is too bad. The goal of the apartments is to create a proper mixed-use property. When I was recently there I recognized multiple stores that used to be downtown now in the mall. I think there is a chance for smaller stores that support third-spaces for the renters to socialize and build community. At least that’s what I’d love to see.
On the pinball wiki it says 1500 Water World pinball machines were produced as promotion for the film. So it's definitely not common, but common enough that I'd believe most people if they said they had seen one within their lifetime.
The fountain is still there, as of a few days ago. Its where Santa's village was in your video.
The old Saratoga mall was very much a small mall, and even though it was a traditional mall. it was the size of a strip mall. One of its anchor stores was an old department store named James Way. The mall also had a service merchandise and an OK arcade.
That mall had a lot of stores but Aviation was closer so it was rare we went there back in the day. When we did it was mostly to visit the only golden coral close to us and my little sister liked the carousel. In your video where the santa is. That was all water and had a water fountain. It was also where people made a wish and threw their change. My uncles cd player interface fell out of his pocket by it one time. He had it on him because those got stolen regularly back when. Christmas shopping was done there sometimes and you would see a lot of Military shopping. 2019 felt like the worse that mall has ever been and seeing it for the first time since, through your youtube. I'd say it got better considering there were more than 20 people in your video and more than 1 working arcade game that wasn't dusty. Seems to be much cleaner and fixed up also.
Was this the mall that had the really cool soda shop?
Once they took out the Hot Topic and the FYE I didn't really have any reason to go there anymore when I'm in that area.
JCPenny wing was added somewhere between 98 -2000, it used to be additional unused parking
In my day this was the new mall. It barely looks like anything I remember from when it first opened.
I remember when the old mall, Pyramid Mall, was first built and then when the new addition was built featuring kaybee toys, Casual Corner with Montgomery Wards being the anchor.
The Mall you call Saratoga Mall was called Pyramid Mall before that.
I would say dying mall. I never saw a mall with so much white space. It's very strange.
I agree.
Putting in more trees, plants, flowers (that are REAL) would definitely help the atmosphere. There is a cost factor but it is what makes the experience as fountains do or sculptures in the white space areas. Having just seating available is not enough.
It may not be dead but it is definitely on life support.
Yeah, it's not looking good, bit not bad compared to some others.
its for sure struggling / slowly dying. Though not too many empty store fronts, maybe rent is cheap there
It could definitely be worse.
This is actually my local mall. Funny you tube recommended me this video. I'll make some comments as I watch. I've lived here my whole life, 30 years now. The Hospital being in the mall is actually very convenient. The parking is super easy. Lots of times I need to make other stops. They have some specialist offices in there. Podiatry, something else and a primary care clinic.
JC Penny did indeed move somewhere around 2010. That was actually a brand new addition to the mall for JC penny. It took forever.
The center fountain is drained by Santa for his pictures. Otherwise it's always operational year-round. It's quite pleasant.
That arcade was a book store for like 30 years. When that went out a beauty supply place moved in and then the arcade IIRC.
The food court has been dead for at least 10 years. I have no idea why they can't keep restaurants in there. There's probably been over a dozen different pizza places in the one corner spot. We used to have a Subway, Arbys, McDonalds, and the Zumiez was an old fashioned diner way back in the day!
The carousel was moved down to the Congress Park downtown Saratoga.
Since this video was taken there has been a new theater put in. It's very nice. The party room has always been setup, no matter if there was a party there or not. It's just a display. I don't think its as dystopian as you mentioned.
The BonTon redevelopment is a mixed bag among locals. I think it'll be good. It will drive a ton of money into the property, more businesses will want to be there. Maybe the food court will repopulate.
By coincidence, I think I was actually at the mall the day this was filmed. I am pretty sure you can hear my kid yelling in the background at about 15:58 & my wife saying his name. Probably getting an eye checkup. Haha.
Never seen that antique store open myself. It was actually a Famous Footwear for many many years. It moved across the street to another plaza.
Those 2 Wow arcades actually get updated quite frequently surprisingly. They swap stuff out every few weeks as far as I can tell. The second small one was a Jewelry store for many years.
IMO with the impending BonTon project, I think the mall may see it's second wind in the next few years. It's certainly been much much emptier than you saw here. This video was oddly satisfying to watch. It's neat seeing your hometown in video.
Also, a small point. This was filmed at the slower time of year for Saratoga. Even though it's a college town with Skidmore around the corner, Saratoga is truly a summer town with tons of local springs and the annual summer horse racing meet at the Saratoga Race Course.
They also move the farmers market indoors here near the old BonTon in the halls during the colder months. It's pretty cool.
Where the wow arcade is, is where the old book store, Walden Books, used to be.
It’s a lot busier than the aviation mall for sure
Gotta do aviation mall in queensbury. It's way worse. None of the locals know how it's still open
Oh nevermind! Didn't notice you covered that already until now
They have a target and planet fitness dicks sporting goods And a 99 restaurant.
They are in much better shape than Wilton.
Which is weird because Wilton always used to be the better mall.
The water fountain was back after the holidays and the movie theater had been running this year .
Reducing the rent will make a miracle
I'm sure it would.
Sir, cmon.. that mall is on its last breath. You can always tell by the food court lol
Not sure if it's on its last breath, but it definitely needs to see a doctor. I've seen much worse malls than this.
I honestly can't say that I see it lasting long, even with their plan to put luxury apartments and a gated townhouse community in. How that will help the mall, I have no clue since the apartments are going to start $1,800 to $2000 for one bedroom. The mall hasn't even added new stores for shopping, what they've put in is a batting cage, a ju-jistu class, and another gym by planet fitness.
It looks more and more like they're trying to slowly covert the place into a micro community and hope no one raises complaints instead of maintaining the place as a shopping mall.
This mall is as good as dead with the Theater closed. Saratoga has plenty of customers but without any entertainment venues it is as good as dead. Crossgates has a focus on entertainment and Colonie Center has a focus on restaurants and both have open theaters.
That party room was always like that
The green brick area next the party room was a bank and before thay a McDonald's. Spencer was an arcade with DDR right in the enterway. Right next to Spencer used to be a HotTopic
This was my childhood mall... it still looks exactly the same, but store-wise there's almost nothing the same. I'd like to do a giant post with timestamps of all the stores I can remember, and any other thoughts - probably this weekend. What I will say for now in reference to the apartment proposal... Who wants to live next to a dying mall? Someone using it for office space would be preferable. I'd love to have my office in a mall, a climate controlled place to walk year round!
I would also love to have my office in a dead mall, but I don't think I'd want to live there.
I was there a few weeks ago and the fountain still working.
Really? I'm sad I missed it.
@@fleabittenadventures What the malls sometimes do would be to drain the fountain's and use that space for their holiday setups. It's a good use of space. (Plus they can also do extended maintenance after Christmas on the 'pond')
It's not dead, but when you see a theater group renting space it's a bad sign. It means giveaway rent levels. Government offices too, because they're cheapskates. There are people in there if not a ton. I'd keep my eye on it.
Yes, not dead, but struggling/dying.
why do all malls have the same entrance, i was still thinking i was gonna see the staples store on the left.
The wow arcade use to be where Arby's and another store or 2 was in the foodcourt_ McDonalds is now the bank and alot of the paintings are false walls with paint
Do cross gates mall next in albany
I actually already did Cross Gates Mall. Check it out! Thanks.
They just announced they are looking adding new non-retail tenants: apartments and what not.
This won't make it. Too many empty stores. A lot of lights turned off.
Wow family entertainment used to sell hair salon products
My father used to own a store here called kids stuff
When you walk in, to the left is all wall. Those used to be stores
This mall has mall of NH vibes
Life support
There were several NEO GEO machines around this area.
The mall looks like it doing good
Hard to say.
I was there on a Saturday night this past year for pictures with Santa and the place was empty. Prime time on a Saturday during Christmas season. I'd say its dead