A bit of a longer update. In 2021, prior to Ida, it did reopen briefly post COVID. There were not very many stores left but a small arcade, kiosks, a few local vendors, a Bath & Body works, and more were there. However, the elevators and escalators were all broken. You had to either walk up and down, or drive to one of the raised entrances, to get between the floors. Hurricane Ida sealed the mall's fate. I have not seen any photos of the interior damage, but many of the skylights have been boarded up. Target and Dillard's Clearence reopened as well. The Dillard's entrance to the mall is walled off but you can still see it through the doors in Target. It doesn't appear all that damaged but all the lights are turned off. After Ida, Kenner's City Hall temporarily moved into the former Macy's after theirs was destroyed. However, the newly-elected Kenner mayor had them move to rivertown, which was apparently controversial, especially considering the Macy's was completely renovated on the inside for the city hall (actual rooms and offices were built after some time). The remaining stores have moved to various strip malls in Kenner and the Western side of Metairie. The current plans are for developers to tear the mall down, leaving the Target and Dillard's Clearance as both still attract many people. Mixed Used Developments and/or city centers similar to what was done at Hammond Square and Elmwood are currently planned. As a native to St. Charles Parish, this was the mall my family went to. It truly died when it lost Macy's in our opinion.
FYI, I filmed this in November 2019, pre-covid. But...can any of you understand what Justin Wilson is saying in half of that? I tried my best with the subtitles. Please leave an F below, as I've learned that Esplanade is now down to about 10% occupancy...it's looking grim. Follow me on social media, guys. Links in the description. You all rock.
Wow it's so sad to this mall go down the way it did. I used to go to this mall when I was a kid and the last time I went was 2 yrs before Katrina It was in decline then so Im not surprised to see it further declined so sad, but I read they are tearing it down and building higher end apartment complexes on the property so at least going to be put back into commerce as an apartment complex.
@@ErwinSchrodinger64 I don't know, man. That shopping area on both sides of Esplanade/Chateau is pretty bleak and abandoned. I was referring to retail, not housing.
This was my favorite mall when I moved to New Orleans in 2000. I still have credit for the video game store that appeared in the movie Pelican Brief. It got worse after Hurricane Katrina and after Hurricane Ida it just never opened, I kept standing at the Target entrance to the mall to see what was going on and eventually lost hope when I started seeing a bunch of dead roaches all over the floor. Still hit up the Target.
Sal, I said I’d give you an update, Ida sealed the fate of the Esplanade Mall and the mall shuttered in August of 2021 and has never reopened. I took a picture of the the entrance and it’s cluttered with tree branches, debris and a large sign that says closed. I went into Dillard’s and they sealed off the mall entry with sheet rock. Also the jewelry store that had been open since 1985 just moved to Williams blvd just recently. I wish I can upload a picture but can’t. Thanks
I was just in The Esplanade Mall the day before yesterday. More stores have closed, including Great American Cookies which I used to be manager of. It's never had a toy store which I think would attract more people, especially around the holidays. (There were little pop-up toy shops a few times through the years.) I was there on opening day and it's sad what it has become. It really is a beautiful space.
I went there when they first opened too and it was pretty nice. I thought it was nicer than Lakeside back then, but Lakeside did some upgrading to keep up with the competition and seems to constantly reinvent itself to say competitive. I moved to Baton Rouge 25 years ago so I haven't been there in almost that amount of time. Sad to see what it has become. In the 25 years I've been in Baton Rouge, we've lost 2 malls so it wouldn't surprise me if Esplanade closes soon.
There was a Toys R Us "Express" at least in 2012, and a local toy store that took its place after it closed. It was something like "Toys and Hobbies" or something generic like that, didn't last very long, that was like 2014???
I don’t mean this is an offensive way, but your videos have helped me tremendously with insomnia. Your narration, the music, the editing. I let all of your videos auto-play all night & it’s such a peaceful transition and helped me gain a few hours back already. I’m extremely stressed/anxious which is what is causing me to not go to sleep or wake up every hour. Your videos are extremely soothing!
@@sal i promise once the spring comes & my vitamin d levels increase and depression subsides, I will attentively watch 😂. At least you know ads are being “watched” all night on my screen too haha
I have nightmares about malls and Sal’s, Dan bell’s, and aces vid have helped me too. So don’t even worry about it, your not alone with these guys vids helping with your sleep. 🫶🏼
Worked their for 5 months at in the Target Starbucks and the energy was depressing, worked there from June 2020 to November 2020. Everytime I walked in the mall it was more and more depressing. I got hooked watching your New Orleans content because I am a native to the New Orleans Suburbs too
Minor point: The Dillard Men's store was a former Godchaux's (The Leon Godchaux Co. of New Orleans). Totally separate company from GoUdchaux/Maison Blanche of Baton Rouge. GoUdchaux of Baton Rouge even made this part of an advertising campaign: "The difference is U."
Besides Canal Place and Lakeside, this mall always struck me as being the next nicest in the New Orleans metro area. Aren't all of the other malls that were ever built in the metro now closed for good?
From 1985 to 1988 I lived in Picayune MS and a day trip for me was a trip down to New Orleans and visit all the malls. North Shore Square, Lake Forest Mall, Esplanade -- all interesting day trips. All three of them gone now, as well as the Metrocenter Mall in Jackson MS where I now live. Good times... all the memories of youth...
This is so sad. I loved going to this mall back in the '90s. It was a very relaxing yet thriving environment. It seems like Americans keep "trading down" on where and how they shop. Main Street is dead and now the malls are all almost dead. It looks like the future is working in a warehouse so you can go home, sit at your computer, and order stuff from another warehouse.
God I love the old commercials you put in.. so nostalgic for me as a kid growing up in Metairie in the 80s/90s. Thx for those man.. fun fact I used to work for Merchants security in Clearview mall for a few years in the late 90s. Walked that mall and parking garages soooo much in my life lol. My dad was a New Orleans cop for a very long time, we lived in Metairie..
@@sweetalexandandrea550 omg yeees I use to get those! Hahaaaaa I swear my sister and I still as of today still talk about those they were a strawberry flavor and came in a clear plastic bag tied at the top those were so yummy! I still have that Keroppi stuffed animal they had hanging on their ceiling I was obsessed with that frog
This is a cool mall. I really enjoyed this video. I found out yesterday that the mall I grew up going to, is going to be demolished. I am really sad about it. It has not been documented by anyone. It is a cool, small 1970's mall located in Adrian Michigan. It is sad to see these malls go away. Thank you for documenting the malls. It is nice to see they will be remembered. ^^
I grew up working in the Esplanade. Worked at Gap and Old Navy. Came back as an Asst Mgr at Gap years later. Then was an Asst Mgr at American Eagle. A few years later while being the Store Mgr of the AE in Oakwood, I mentored new Store Managers at the Esplanade AE. I’ve spent a lot of time earlier in my career in that mall. It’s sad to see it like that now. Sal, fun fact...when Target was being built, they wanted to be off of the mall and the exterior wall of that side was torn down and pushed in about 2 feet. We had to have the stockroom at AE redone because of this. Instead of Target just building their exterior wall 2 feet out.
@Xx_lost_or_unheard_trackz_xX it might make it harder because the dillards and target are still connected to the mall, but they just closed off the entrances to it, so they probally have security walking through it still
@@epicpie112 Last I went was a few months ago, the dillards and target are closed off from it, the only security they had was cameras in the parking lot
@@swiloss if I recall right, yes the dillards is closed off their main entry into the mall with a sheetrock wall and idk with the Target, but the bathroom for the dillards is up a elevator that goes into the mall and down a walled in hallway to the bathroom
Cannot believe the state of the Esplanade today.. breaks my heart to see it as I have so many memories in that mall, a lot of memories in Lakeside too, but esplanade was my favorite as I got older
New Orleans had a decent economy once upon a time that would have supported all these malls. By the mid 80s, that was no longer true. Even if the NOLa economy were more dynamic, I suspect some of these malls would have still failed.
Oh my god, I'm so excited. I was literally at Esplanade mall just two days ago. I'm saving this for 3 hours from now to couple with my TV dinner. Thanks, Sal!
@@sal You know those Forest Fair-esque "I feel like I'm trespassing by being in here" vibes? That. Five stores remain. It looks like there are more, because there's a suspicious amount of merchandise left and lighting on inside stores that are absolutely out of business. We're down to Bath and Body Works (of course), a nail salon, a couple urban clothing stores (including that goofy "#hashtag" store) aaaand... an army recruitment place, I think? Oh, and a GNC. So I guess it's six. The food court is abandoned, but the arcade is still there. So.... correction again, it's seven! imgur.com/a/Oy8Ix5Y EDIT: oh, and that abandoned movie theater is now a creepy megachurch.
I'm not sure if my other reply went through, It might have been hidden because I linked to something on it. I have pictures, I'll post it in the dead malls subreddit.
I was actually at this mall about 2 weeks ago. Covid has absolutely ravaged this mall and really the city of New Orleans as a whole. 3.6.5 by images is basically a wholesale store with clothes that range from horrible to actually pretty decent, at a pretty good price. They also sell “past season” Target brand items for cheap too. Since the last time you have been, soooo many more places have closed. There are no food places open in the food court and several of the mom and pop businesses are gone. The café du monde is permanently closed along with the movie theater in the parking lot. It was ungodly hot inside when I went the other day and the Spencer’s employees told me it was always super hot because the mall barely turns on the AC. Spencer’s, the company, had to send their store fans because the employees had passed out a few times. The parking lot looks horrible and so does the inside. The escalators we’re turned off and I was probably 1 of 60 people in the whole mall. It sucks because although I didn’t know this mall at its prime, it’s such a beautiful and cool mall :/
@@joanryder3842 when I went a few weeks ago, the spot where cafe du monde was, was completely cleared of everything. Even when it was open I never saw anyone but the employees there :/
Sal, as someone who grew up in NOLA and then evacuated to the DMV, it is so weird seeing all these malls and areas, but in the reverse order ahaha. Thanks for these, I've seen a lot of places with good memories that I haven't seen in a long time--even that depressing K-Mart, where my parents bought my first horrible, terrible suit lmao
Luckily, I was born & raised in Louisiana, so I had no trouble understanding Mr. Wilson! LOL Nice to know that there is a Cafe du Monde in there as well. I hope someone has commented below about the current status of this mall. Let's take a look... Thank you Sal, I appreciate your hard work!
I remember going to Esplanade mall when I was a kid/teenager but lakeside mall was the one I went to the most and the one I still go to when it comes to malls.
I remember when I was 4-5 years old, my grandma and I used to always go here, just the 2 of us. We used to always go to the small pizza place in the food court..I loved this mall and I still do, the only thing I wish for is that this mall will be more successful than Clearview and even Lakeside mall. I can't even drive past this mall without crying anymore. :/
I use to love ice skating in the Lakeforest Plaza mall in New Orleans east in the 80s. Esplanade was the best mall in the 90s and early 2000s! So sad what happened to it!
So sad to see this. I used to go there back in 1990-96 and it was a really happening place. I haven't set foot in Louisiana since the summer of 2004 when I moved out, I miss it but it now unrecognizable from what I hear.
Just hearing D.H. Holmes brings back memories. My grandmother used to take me every year to the 3rd floor (in Lafayette) around Christmas and I remember the huge Winter Wonderland display. Brings back sweet memories ❤
I was born in 02, by the time I was old enough to remember esplanade it was already on shaky legs and as I got older more and more tenants were leaving. I used to buy shoes from one of the shoe department . Once that store closed it didn’t take much longer after that till the main mall was closed, Dillards closed a while later, for a long while Kenner took over the mall, but I think now they have left it, idk for sure. Everytime I go to that target I look through the glass door wishing I could get in just one more time, when I was little, I used to love going to esplanade not even for the stores, for the decor the fountain the elevator looking over the railing of the second floor, and I used to ask my family why it was losing stores and they always told me it was because of lakeside and that esplanade used to be really popular. It’s sad to look through that glass door now and see it dark on the inside and know that it will be decaying soon, I would just love to explore it now.
All those dead malls are allegedly due to e-commerce but they're really due imo to the American carnage that Trump vowed he was going to stop but instead made it worse and left it to President Biden to clean up
@@sal Lack of advertising was also a factor. Not to mention a shift in clientele. We were running down shoplifters on a daily basis in The early 2000’s on slow days.
One of my first jobs was at the Sbarro pizza there around 1987. At that time, the mall was always so crowded and damn near standing room only. I think the only original store still in operation - other than the Discount Dillards is the Dippin' Dots. And even then, I haven't been in the mall since Covid, either, so it may be gone as well.
Like others had noted earlier, I was nodding off to your soothing speaking voice - until "scumbags." That's not usually a word you use. And then emoting over COVID. I know it's bad. It sucks. But hearing you speak with such frustration...I just want to give you a hug. Or as close as I can get.
watching this late at night early AM in my dark bedroom on my tablet with ear phones, the sound effects in the audio spooked me 😆 Jar Jar Binks is one of favorite Star Wars prequel characters, a long with Chancellor Palpatine.
Sal, do you plan on doing a video on The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, a little northeast of Pittsburgh, PA? It was built in 2005 and is now 80% vacant; it's one of the largest retail centers in PA, 2 million square feet on 200 acres. It was auctioned for $100 in 2017 as part of a foreclosure sale...still open, but a shadow of it's former self, such a shame...
Ohhhhh yes. I have a **HUGE** video planned for Pittsburgh Mills. It’s already been filmed, but not coming out for a bit. Please subscribe and stay tuned.... :)
i grew up in new orleans and went to the esplanade in its heydey and have returned when it became a ghost mall. there was a small arcade, a cafe du monde, and seperate dillards as the video shows. i loved the men's store because i always loved dillard's designers clothes at 80% and more off. it's really sad to see its downfall and never quite could understand why. even the lake forest mall was something to drive to on special occasion. my high school was located near the belle promenade. so many good malls at one time. fortunately, oakwood mall and clearview mall are still around. for some reason unknown to me, everyone gravitates to lakeside mall, a mall that isn't very large or anything special to be honest. i'd go to dillard's and the food court on my lunch breaks.
2023 update from someone who used to work in the esplanade, when Hurricane Ida hit the roof of the mall had collapsed, and they are officially repurposing the building sometime this year
They've filmed a lot of movies in that mall when it started going downhill. They would go to closed shops and build sets. That shoe store at 8:11 is in the 21 JUMP STREET film. JAY AND SILENT BOB REBOOT built a comic store in it. And I remember UNHINGED also there. There's more I believe but that's all I can remember.
Finally watching after many months. Justin Wilson, bestill my beating heart! I loved him as a kid 💖 The 365 store is cheap crappy clothes. The mall is hanging on by a thread. It is *sad.* It's honestly shocking to see how much more alive it looked two short years ago. Nothing at all left in the food court, the Cafe Du Monde is kaput too. The Spencer's is somehow still there, i got a sweet Bob's Burgers tank top there last summer. I was there earlier this year and it was even more pathetic than it was last year.
I had no idea Cadillac Fairview had anything to do with American malls. They are owned by the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund here in Canada and have a fairly large footprint with the ownership of several large scale malls, and obviously have a big interest in the U.S. as well. Recently, they have tagged the names of two big local malls here in Calgary with 'CF' in front of each of the malls names. They are now CF Market Mall and CF Chinook Centre. It seems a bit tacky.
I live in Kenner, and this mall is empty and dead now. Closed all my favorite stores, except Bath and Body Works 😂, don’t know how long that’ll last...
He should've mentioned that wrestling match that took place in there a few years ago where one of the wrestlers did a frog-splash off of the 2nd-level balcony. lol
I have very fond and detailed memories of that mall dating back to the early 90s. Tons of old photos and videos. I have a great video, just prior to covid of the state of the mall with literally everything abandoned - you can sadly hear my mom (who me and her shared many wonderful memories, literally every Saturday since 1992 at that mall) say "I feel like I'm gonna cry" when we saw the empty spot on the second floor near the table we always sat at for lunch (always Taco Bell). The last time I was there I did an entire walk through of the mall in 4k with a go pro. Filmed the entire mall. Was sad, because two individuals whom were clearly (and obviously) stealing from the Dillards outlet were totally ignored by security, but I took a few pics of the abandoned food court and was yelled out by security. To be fair though, I walked over and apologized and explained that I was just conserving history, and I ended up having a wonderful conversation with the security guard, she explained that she worked there for 15 years and I learned a ton of stuff and she explained that the manager is apparently angered by people taking videos and photos (his excuse is that it upsets the vendors, I asked "what vendors?" and me and the guard laughed super hard) I've since learned every detail and square inch of that mall. If you ever want to do another video of this, I'd love to share the insider info I have. Esplanade played a significant role in my life as a kid/teenager/adult. It may sound dumb to some, but is 100% a piece of NOLA history and while it may be dead, the memories my family and I have will live forever. Glad to see it preserved in the digital museum of the internet.
If any of the prequels of Star Wars were any good, I probably would go with _Episode 1: The Phantom Menace._ Episode 2 was "okay" (in some parts); but 3 was kinda how do I say this... A little too "sus" and maybe got a little too "over-exaggerated" and low-key cheesy at times. IMHO -- It kinda turned into a bit of a bad anime that was a bit cliche. A little TOO MUCH cliche! (Sort of like how like "Infinity War" was like near the end...)
More to add: I still prefer the *ORIGINAL* Star Wars movies [like _A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back,_ and _Return of The Jedi]_ over the prequels! Although some of the sequels were okay though. Still maybe not as good as the originals IMHO.
Being a New Orleans native, I instantly recognized the opening footage where you were driving through "Old Kenner" along the riverfront, also called "Rivertown". I also completely understood everything that Justin Wilson was saying. Part of it was "sound effects" for the story he was telling. Only part looks like you really got wrong was where he said his friend "Had 16 or 15 squirrel, and THE LIMIT IS 14".
Also, the guy in the McKenzie's Bakery commercial is none other than Ronnie Virgits, who was a local journalist and commentator, and somewhat of a local celebrity. He did several documentaries about New Orleans area culture and cuisine, and I believe he wrote a few books as well. So it makes sense that he was in that commercial as he was well known for discussing local cuisine, and McKenzie's was by far the largest and most well known chain of bakeries in south Louisiana. ⚜️⚜️
4:02 that prestigious mall cop security go cart pose cannot be beat! "Hey little lady, can I give you a lift to your conveyance or chosen alternative form of transportation?"
Was just in Esplanade Mall yesterday. More stores have closed since this video. Sad to see this has happened. I remember as a teenager hanging out here. Good times. Anyway, thanks for the vid. Very informative.
That large storefront by Dillard's bottom floor used to be F.Y.E., and before that used to be a "Camelot Music" store, which the interior from remains Edit: Some people say F.Y.E. used to be a Sam Goody. I'll assume it was Sam Goody initially, later Camelot, and after Trans World purchased the chain, it became an F.Y.E. All I can vouch for is F.Y.E. as I have memories of it.
@@kitterbug I'm from the area and lived in Kenner near the Esplanade Mall in the early 90s. I remember it always being Camelot Music up until sometime in the early 2000s when it changed to F.Y.E. I also remember Blockbuster Music stores around in 2000s (maybe 2008) then became F.Y.E.
The old theater is a church now. Macy's is now Kenner City Hall, thanks to Ida damaging the old City Hall on Williams at West Metairie Ave and Mayor Zahn. The inside is totally locked, other than City Hall and Target, I think.
Not at all. I just lost contact via lost interest in this type of content. I always enjoy your videos and encourage any other fans to support the channel. I dropped a few $$$ in the tip jar in the hopes of future interesting videos. Cheers everyone!
My wife and I bring our kids to The Esplanade Mall some Saturday mornings because they love the little coin operated kid rides but it's definitely a depressing atmosphere especially when I remember it being the place to be when I was a teenager. One cool thing is we have the mall to ourselves.
Happy new year guy-dem sal, guuud stuff your intro into the dead mall, all dem old stuff, dam funny. Very interesting stuff on dead mall you have👊🏼, yup l’m subscribed.
it's kinda sad, but times change. All I can say is for me, Malls just hold a great memory from when I was a kid. Only time we ever spent any money was when we went to the mall and bought school clothes, ate at a restaurant there or got a slice of pizza. I never went to the mall and came away unhappy. Now sometimes I just go to hear the sounds.
I lived near this mall when it opened. I was in high school at the time and remember it was actually nicer than Lakeside. I moved out of town for about 5 years then came back and had a chance to visit Lakeside and saw they had renovated. Like you've stressed in your videos about NOLA malls, Lakeside constantly reinvents itself and keeps on going. In the 90s, I went through cancer and ended up unable to work for a long time because of it. When I was well enough to go back to work, I bought a new suit for interviews at the Dillards store there. I ended up in Baton Rouge right after that, and am still here today 25 years later. We have lost 2 malls during that time(Bon Marche and Cortana), they have been given new life as an technology office park and the latter to be demolished for an Amazon distribution center. It's sad to see the Esplanade in this state because it was once pretty nice. Hopefully, it can be brought back, but not getting my hopes up.
As a local of the Greater New Orleans area, I can tell you that this video is spot on. No one goes to Esplanade anymore. Lakeside is a much more popular mall.
Simon pulled the same thing on Independence Center mall outside KC. Mall valued at $207mil in the 00s, Simon took out a huge mortgage against it around the time of The Mills deal. Foreclosed on with a $147mil+ default. Pacific bought it, said it had turn around ideas. Believe the takeover by International Growth Properties was a foreclosure on Pacific. Lost Sears (who built the mall via Homart). Losing Macy’s. Dillards will be left. Has the typical dead mall rope climbing area. It’s been in such dire straights that the mall’s signs still use the Simon signage font, and if they since touched it up, label scar from the Simon infinity diamond logo right above the property name. It’s so bad they had to put a super strict minor curfew rule.
I live about 5 mins away from this place, it’s dead as ever if not more cause of Covid, seems like they’ve just accepted their fate and there’s simply no attempts to save this mall. P. S. The old movie theater at 19:27 is now a church.
Mall closed for good 2 days ago:( so many good times spent here. Used to walk around here when it was dying just for nostalgia sake now I can't even do that.... honestly kind of bummed about it chilled there with my buddy outside it during Ida awhile back probably the last time I'll ever see it
This mall was the place to be when I was a kid..I think it went down hill post Katrina. From what I heard it was because the rent was extremely high businesses pulled out putting fly by night stores in its place. The population changed post Katrina in which the mall wasn't the place to shop. Then there was the decline in the upkeep and it became an eye sore. There used to be restaurants inside but then there were only a few food court options remaining. The movie theater that reopened in 2002 was a joke. I went there on a date and it looked like it opened over night with tickets that had circle hole edges lol. THE Grand was beautiful and I'm sorry to see it go. Everytime I went to esplanade I thought of my Sanrio days and shopping at the limited too. I think I had a party there at Ruby Tuesdays when I was 9. The christmas decorations were the best as the reindeer moved. Such an ending of an era!!! I WISH THEY WOULD MAKE THIS MALL AN OUTLET PLACE WITH STORES WE DONT HAVE.
There was also a Bath and Body works, but idk if it is still open. It probably shut down since the mall is struggling, plus it's been shuttered since Ida.
The wing past the former Dillard's Men's store that leads to the former Macy's was phase 2 of The Esplanade and opened in 1986, a year after the original mall opened.
Hi! Legit question...what is the last video you’ve seen of mine, when did it release, and were you notified of my last few? Looking to see if TH-cam is messing with me...
I’m going there soon to walk the mall and will update you. Cafe Du Mond closed and Limited closed. I went in December to Dillard’s and I went out in the mall and all escalators were off so I had to use the elevator but honestly nothing is on the second floor
A bit of a longer update.
In 2021, prior to Ida, it did reopen briefly post COVID. There were not very many stores left but a small arcade, kiosks, a few local vendors, a Bath & Body works, and more were there. However, the elevators and escalators were all broken. You had to either walk up and down, or drive to one of the raised entrances, to get between the floors.
Hurricane Ida sealed the mall's fate. I have not seen any photos of the interior damage, but many of the skylights have been boarded up. Target and Dillard's Clearence reopened as well. The Dillard's entrance to the mall is walled off but you can still see it through the doors in Target. It doesn't appear all that damaged but all the lights are turned off.
After Ida, Kenner's City Hall temporarily moved into the former Macy's after theirs was destroyed. However, the newly-elected Kenner mayor had them move to rivertown, which was apparently controversial, especially considering the Macy's was completely renovated on the inside for the city hall (actual rooms and offices were built after some time).
The remaining stores have moved to various strip malls in Kenner and the Western side of Metairie. The current plans are for developers to tear the mall down, leaving the Target and Dillard's Clearance as both still attract many people. Mixed Used Developments and/or city centers similar to what was done at Hammond Square and Elmwood are currently planned.
As a native to St. Charles Parish, this was the mall my family went to. It truly died when it lost Macy's in our opinion.
FYI, I filmed this in November 2019, pre-covid. But...can any of you understand what Justin Wilson is saying in half of that? I tried my best with the subtitles. Please leave an F below, as I've learned that Esplanade is now down to about 10% occupancy...it's looking grim. Follow me on social media, guys. Links in the description. You all rock.
F . I understood some of it, but the captions were hilarious and accurate enough for me.
F
Wow it's so sad to this mall go down the way it did. I used to go to this mall when I was a kid and the last time I went was 2 yrs before Katrina It was in decline then so Im not surprised to see it further declined so sad, but I read they are tearing it down and building higher end apartment complexes on the property so at least going to be put back into commerce as an apartment complex.
F.
F
I want someone to hold me like Kenner is holding on to Esplanade.
They absolutely need it. The Chateau area is on life support. The death of Esplanade will mean more than just the death of the mall itself.
I feel your pain. Hugs.
😂😂😂😂😂 frfr
@@Turkeyslam Wait a minute. I live in Chateau. Housing prices are stable and going up. New business's are being built all the time in Kenner.
@@ErwinSchrodinger64
I don't know, man. That shopping area on both sides of Esplanade/Chateau is pretty bleak and abandoned.
I was referring to retail, not housing.
This was my favorite mall when I moved to New Orleans in 2000. I still have credit for the video game store that appeared in the movie Pelican Brief. It got worse after Hurricane Katrina and after Hurricane Ida it just never opened, I kept standing at the Target entrance to the mall to see what was going on and eventually lost hope when I started seeing a bunch of dead roaches all over the floor. Still hit up the Target.
@@cooldustin82 Which one, Babbages or Electronic Boutique?
I worked security there from 1998 until 2007. It was beautiful once. It was sad to bear witness to the decline.
Paul Blart!
Sal, I said I’d give you an update, Ida sealed the fate of the Esplanade Mall and the mall shuttered in August of 2021 and has never reopened. I took a picture of the the entrance and it’s cluttered with tree branches, debris and a large sign that says closed. I went into Dillard’s and they sealed off the mall entry with sheet rock. Also the jewelry store that had been open since 1985 just moved to Williams blvd just recently. I wish I can upload a picture but can’t. Thanks
Oh that’s so sad. I’m sorry :(
Esplanade is beyond depressing to walk into now.
:(
While Lakeside is bustling
Yup. Lakeside was ExLog 78
I was just in The Esplanade Mall the day before yesterday. More stores have closed, including Great American Cookies which I used to be manager of. It's never had a toy store which I think would attract more people, especially around the holidays. (There were little pop-up toy shops a few times through the years.)
I was there on opening day and it's sad what it has become. It really is a beautiful space.
There was a Kay Bee Toys on the upper level next to Holmes. It was there until the 90's.
I went there when they first opened too and it was pretty nice. I thought it was nicer than Lakeside back then, but Lakeside did some upgrading to keep up with the competition and seems to constantly reinvent itself to say competitive. I moved to Baton Rouge 25 years ago so I haven't been there in almost that amount of time. Sad to see what it has become. In the 25 years I've been in Baton Rouge, we've lost 2 malls so it wouldn't surprise me if Esplanade closes soon.
@@redstickham6394 Make sure you take a trip to the Mall of Louisiana to see the Sears before the store closes.
There was a Toys R Us "Express" at least in 2012, and a local toy store that took its place after it closed. It was something like "Toys and Hobbies" or something generic like that, didn't last very long, that was like 2014???
I went to the Esplanade Mall in the 1990s and it was great. Sadly now it’s a “ghost town”! Another great mall dying a slow death.
I don’t mean this is an offensive way, but your videos have helped me tremendously with insomnia. Your narration, the music, the editing. I let all of your videos auto-play all night & it’s such a peaceful transition and helped me gain a few hours back already. I’m extremely stressed/anxious which is what is causing me to not go to sleep or wake up every hour. Your videos are extremely soothing!
It’s my duty and my pleasure to create things that help people in a variety of ways, friend. May my voice put you to sleep for decades to come.
@@sal i promise once the spring comes & my vitamin d levels increase and depression subsides, I will attentively watch 😂. At least you know ads are being “watched” all night on my screen too haha
That's what I use them for
I have nightmares about malls and Sal’s, Dan bell’s, and aces vid have helped me too. So don’t even worry about it, your not alone with these guys vids helping with your sleep. 🫶🏼
Worked their for 5 months at in the Target Starbucks and the energy was depressing, worked there from June 2020 to November 2020. Everytime I walked in the mall it was more and more depressing. I got hooked watching your New Orleans content because I am a native to the New Orleans Suburbs too
I worked there in 2016 and yeah it was getting shitty at that point.
Minor point: The Dillard Men's store was a former Godchaux's (The Leon Godchaux Co. of New Orleans). Totally separate company from GoUdchaux/Maison Blanche of Baton Rouge. GoUdchaux of Baton Rouge even made this part of an advertising campaign: "The difference is U."
Besides Canal Place and Lakeside, this mall always struck me as being the next nicest in the New Orleans metro area. Aren't all of the other malls that were ever built in the metro now closed for good?
From 1985 to 1988 I lived in Picayune MS and a day trip for me was a trip down to New Orleans and visit all the malls. North Shore Square, Lake Forest Mall, Esplanade -- all interesting day trips. All three of them gone now, as well as the Metrocenter Mall in Jackson MS where I now live. Good times... all the memories of youth...
This is so sad. I loved going to this mall back in the '90s. It was a very relaxing yet thriving environment. It seems like Americans keep "trading down" on where and how they shop. Main Street is dead and now the malls are all almost dead. It looks like the future is working in a warehouse so you can go home, sit at your computer, and order stuff from another warehouse.
God I love the old commercials you put in.. so nostalgic for me as a kid growing up in Metairie in the 80s/90s. Thx for those man.. fun fact I used to work for Merchants security in Clearview mall for a few years in the late 90s. Walked that mall and parking garages soooo much in my life lol. My dad was a New Orleans cop for a very long time, we lived in Metairie..
Sal, I'm so glad you included Justin Wilson. He was such a great cook!
Loved watching his show.
The space with the red neon used to be a Sam Goody.
I bought some tapes from there back in the day, that store seemed huge back then.
I remember when this mall was busy and I would love going to the hello kitty store.
I use to go to Sanrio all the time there in the 90s that use to be such a beautiful mall so sad
@@tramany7 me too! I use to love Sanrio Surprises and they had these delicious red sour powers that I was addicted to!
@@sweetalexandandrea550 omg yeees I use to get those! Hahaaaaa I swear my sister and I still as of today still talk about those they were a strawberry flavor and came in a clear plastic bag tied at the top those were so yummy! I still have that Keroppi stuffed animal they had hanging on their ceiling I was obsessed with that frog
Great job on the Esplande video. This was my go-to mall when I lived in Kenner back in the 90's.
This is a cool mall. I really enjoyed this video. I found out yesterday that the mall I grew up going to, is going to be demolished. I am really sad about it. It has not been documented by anyone. It is a cool, small 1970's mall located in Adrian Michigan. It is sad to see these malls go away. Thank you for documenting the malls. It is nice to see they will be remembered. ^^
I managed the Champs sports store while in college, then the company moved me all across the country - good Times
I grew up working in the Esplanade. Worked at Gap and Old Navy. Came back as an Asst Mgr at Gap years later. Then was an Asst Mgr at American Eagle. A few years later while being the Store Mgr of the AE in Oakwood, I mentored new Store Managers at the Esplanade AE. I’ve spent a lot of time earlier in my career in that mall. It’s sad to see it like that now.
Sal, fun fact...when Target was being built, they wanted to be off of the mall and the exterior wall of that side was torn down and pushed in about 2 feet. We had to have the stockroom at AE redone because of this. Instead of Target just building their exterior wall 2 feet out.
Blast from the past... I was there opening day... Wish I would have taken pics.
After the hurricane the mall shut down and now it’s a great urban exploration destination
Wait really? I've been wanting to see people urban exploring it, but can't find any photos or videos.
@Xx_lost_or_unheard_trackz_xX it might make it harder because the dillards and target are still connected to the mall, but they just closed off the entrances to it, so they probally have security walking through it still
@@epicpie112 Last I went was a few months ago, the dillards and target are closed off from it, the only security they had was cameras in the parking lot
@@swiloss if I recall right, yes the dillards is closed off their main entry into the mall with a sheetrock wall and idk with the Target, but the bathroom for the dillards is up a elevator that goes into the mall and down a walled in hallway to the bathroom
@@epicpie112 I never knew that, ive been in that dillards a ton i knew the elevator led to the bathrooms but i never knew it connected to the mall
Cannot believe the state of the Esplanade today.. breaks my heart to see it as I have so many memories in that mall, a lot of memories in Lakeside too, but esplanade was my favorite as I got older
Indeed Greater N.O. was oversaturated w/ malls. Other malls not mentioned: Northshore Square, Canal Place, and to a lesser extent Jax Brewery.
New Orleans had a decent economy once upon a time that would have supported all these malls. By the mid 80s, that was no longer true. Even if the NOLa economy were more dynamic, I suspect some of these malls would have still failed.
Oh my god, I'm so excited. I was literally at Esplanade mall just two days ago.
I'm saving this for 3 hours from now to couple with my TV dinner. Thanks, Sal!
How’s it doing? My film is from 2019...but I hear it’s much deader now.
@@sal
You know those Forest Fair-esque "I feel like I'm trespassing by being in here" vibes? That. Five stores remain. It looks like there are more, because there's a suspicious amount of merchandise left and lighting on inside stores that are absolutely out of business. We're down to Bath and Body Works (of course), a nail salon, a couple urban clothing stores (including that goofy "#hashtag" store) aaaand... an army recruitment place, I think? Oh, and a GNC. So I guess it's six. The food court is abandoned, but the arcade is still there. So.... correction again, it's seven!
imgur.com/a/Oy8Ix5Y
EDIT: oh, and that abandoned movie theater is now a creepy megachurch.
I'm not sure if my other reply went through, It might have been hidden because I linked to something on it. I have pictures, I'll post it in the dead malls subreddit.
I was actually at this mall about 2 weeks ago. Covid has absolutely ravaged this mall and really the city of New Orleans as a whole. 3.6.5 by images is basically a wholesale store with clothes that range from horrible to actually pretty decent, at a pretty good price. They also sell “past season” Target brand items for cheap too. Since the last time you have been, soooo many more places have closed. There are no food places open in the food court and several of the mom and pop businesses are gone. The café du monde is permanently closed along with the movie theater in the parking lot. It was ungodly hot inside when I went the other day and the Spencer’s employees told me it was always super hot because the mall barely turns on the AC. Spencer’s, the company, had to send their store fans because the employees had passed out a few times. The parking lot looks horrible and so does the inside. The escalators we’re turned off and I was probably 1 of 60 people in the whole mall. It sucks because although I didn’t know this mall at its prime, it’s such a beautiful and cool mall :/
Hey thanks for the updates! You rock.
The Grand movie theater does really well and isn't permanently closed, its just closed because of covid.
@@joanryder3842 when I went a few weeks ago, the spot where cafe du monde was, was completely cleared of everything. Even when it was open I never saw anyone but the employees there :/
The mall was dead before COVID. I used to go there all the time before it’s decline. Once upon a time it was truly a great place.
I was one of the Spencer's employees that ended up passing out lol, temperatures in the store would often times reach nearly 110°
Sal, as someone who grew up in NOLA and then evacuated to the DMV, it is so weird seeing all these malls and areas, but in the reverse order ahaha.
Thanks for these, I've seen a lot of places with good memories that I haven't seen in a long time--even that depressing K-Mart, where my parents bought my first horrible, terrible suit lmao
Omg. Justin Wilson!! 🤣 Blast from the past!
Im from Kentucky. But I LOVED Justin Wilson!! Watched him all the time!! So glad you included him!!
Luckily, I was born & raised in Louisiana, so I had no trouble understanding Mr. Wilson! LOL
Nice to know that there is a Cafe du Monde in there as well. I hope someone has commented below about the current status of this mall. Let's take a look...
Thank you Sal, I appreciate your hard work!
Cafe du Monde is gone.
@@wintermatherne2524 If CDM is closed, then it is truly over. They have been there since day 1 I believe.
I remember going to Esplanade mall when I was a kid/teenager but lakeside mall was the one I went to the most and the one I still go to when it comes to malls.
I remember when I was 4-5 years old, my grandma and I used to always go here, just the 2 of us. We used to always go to the small pizza place in the food court..I loved this mall and I still do, the only thing I wish for is that this mall will be more successful than Clearview and even Lakeside mall. I can't even drive past this mall without crying anymore. :/
If you were curious, the pizza place was a "Sabarros" (Hope i spelled that right lol)
I use to love ice skating in the Lakeforest Plaza mall in New Orleans east in the 80s. Esplanade was the best mall in the 90s and early 2000s! So sad what happened to it!
I worked at this mall for about 8 yrs. it use to be the place to be in the weekend. It’s so depressing now.
Really appreciate your informative and colorful narrative. Never before heard the term "overmalled", but I sure understand its meaning now!
Wayyyy too many malls in one area...not healthy for organic growth!
So sad to see this. I used to go there back in 1990-96 and it was a really happening place. I haven't set foot in Louisiana since the summer of 2004 when I moved out, I miss it but it now unrecognizable from what I hear.
Just hearing D.H. Holmes brings back memories. My grandmother used to take me every year to the 3rd floor (in Lafayette) around Christmas and I remember the huge Winter Wonderland display. Brings back sweet memories ❤
I was born in 02, by the time I was old enough to remember esplanade it was already on shaky legs and as I got older more and more tenants were leaving. I used to buy shoes from one of the shoe department . Once that store closed it didn’t take much longer after that till the main mall was closed, Dillards closed a while later, for a long while Kenner took over the mall, but I think now they have left it, idk for sure. Everytime I go to that target I look through the glass door wishing I could get in just one more time, when I was little, I used to love going to esplanade not even for the stores, for the decor the fountain the elevator looking over the railing of the second floor, and I used to ask my family why it was losing stores and they always told me it was because of lakeside and that esplanade used to be really popular. It’s sad to look through that glass door now and see it dark on the inside and know that it will be decaying soon, I would just love to explore it now.
Thanks Sal for showing us around as an Australian it baffles me seeing so many dead malls in the US.
Cheers!!
All those dead malls are allegedly due to e-commerce but they're really due imo to the American carnage that Trump vowed he was going to stop but instead made it worse and left it to President Biden to clean up
@@edwardmiessner6502 lost and demented
Biden cleaned up???🤣🤣🤣
This used to be the mall in the 90s THE MOST POPULAR mall in the New Orleans area. Great hunting ground for ladies back in the day!
OMG ... this makes me so very sad ... this was my childhood in the late 80s and 90s ... and the Mckenzies commercial made me tear up :(
I used to work at Macy's in Esplanade...everybody loved the store better that Lakeside...easier parking...but we couldn't compete
"A Real Bank"? Seems legit.
I was just typing this 🤣 i want some A Real Bank merch now
My first thought lmao
Oh mercy, Esplanade. Can't wait to see what you have to say about this place. I have major beef with the manager of the Spencer's in this mall.
Overall, the management is completely responsible for this malls death.
@@sal Lack of advertising was also a factor. Not to mention a shift in clientele. We were running down shoplifters on a daily basis in The early 2000’s on slow days.
One of my first jobs was at the Sbarro pizza there around 1987. At that time, the mall was always so crowded and damn near standing room only. I think the only original store still in operation - other than the Discount Dillards is the Dippin' Dots. And even then, I haven't been in the mall since Covid, either, so it may be gone as well.
Used to love to go Sbarro's. I remember you guys were at the corner of the rear entrance. I was almost like a restaurant with seating and all.
Like others had noted earlier, I was nodding off to your soothing speaking voice - until "scumbags." That's not usually a word you use. And then emoting over COVID. I know it's bad. It sucks. But hearing you speak with such frustration...I just want to give you a hug. Or as close as I can get.
It’s been hard. It’ll eventually all end, I promise.
watching this late at night early AM in my dark bedroom on my tablet with ear phones, the sound effects in the audio spooked me 😆
Jar Jar Binks is one of favorite Star Wars prequel characters, a long with Chancellor Palpatine.
BOO!
Sal, do you plan on doing a video on The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, a little northeast of Pittsburgh, PA? It was built in 2005 and is now 80% vacant; it's one of the largest retail centers in PA, 2 million square feet on 200 acres. It was auctioned for $100 in 2017 as part of a foreclosure sale...still open, but a shadow of it's former self, such a shame...
Ohhhhh yes. I have a **HUGE** video planned for Pittsburgh Mills. It’s already been filmed, but not coming out for a bit. Please subscribe and stay tuned.... :)
i grew up in new orleans and went to the esplanade in its heydey and have returned when it became a ghost mall. there was a small arcade, a cafe du monde, and seperate dillards as the video shows. i loved the men's store because i always loved dillard's designers clothes at 80% and more off. it's really sad to see its downfall and never quite could understand why. even the lake forest mall was something to drive to on special occasion. my high school was located near the belle promenade. so many good malls at one time. fortunately, oakwood mall and clearview mall are still around. for some reason unknown to me, everyone gravitates to lakeside mall, a mall that isn't very large or anything special to be honest. i'd go to dillard's and the food court on my lunch breaks.
Loved that blue plaid dress.
2023 update from someone who used to work in the esplanade, when Hurricane Ida hit the roof of the mall had collapsed, and they are officially repurposing the building sometime this year
They've filmed a lot of movies in that mall when it started going downhill. They would go to closed shops and build sets. That shoe store at 8:11 is in the 21 JUMP STREET film. JAY AND SILENT BOB REBOOT built a comic store in it. And I remember UNHINGED also there. There's more I believe but that's all I can remember.
Looks like they kept it up well
I used to work at Macy’s in the Esplanade mall years ago
Finally watching after many months. Justin Wilson, bestill my beating heart! I loved him as a kid 💖
The 365 store is cheap crappy clothes.
The mall is hanging on by a thread. It is *sad.* It's honestly shocking to see how much more alive it looked two short years ago.
Nothing at all left in the food court, the Cafe Du Monde is kaput too. The Spencer's is somehow still there, i got a sweet Bob's Burgers tank top there last summer. I was there earlier this year and it was even more pathetic than it was last year.
I had no idea Cadillac Fairview had anything to do with American malls. They are owned by the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund here in Canada and have a fairly large footprint with the ownership of several large scale malls, and obviously have a big interest in the U.S. as well. Recently, they have tagged the names of two big local malls here in Calgary with 'CF' in front of each of the malls names. They are now CF Market Mall and CF Chinook Centre. It seems a bit tacky.
The two Fairview malls in Ontario are even worse with CF in front. CF Fairview Mall and CF Fairview Park
7:56 Man that's some smooth camera movement! Almost felt like a drone shot. 🛩️
I live in Kenner, and this mall is empty and dead now. Closed all my favorite stores, except Bath and Body Works 😂, don’t know how long that’ll last...
Excellent history provided about the mall.
He should've mentioned that wrestling match that took place in there a few years ago where one of the wrestlers did a frog-splash off of the 2nd-level balcony. lol
I have very fond and detailed memories of that mall dating back to the early 90s. Tons of old photos and videos. I have a great video, just prior to covid of the state of the mall with literally everything abandoned - you can sadly hear my mom (who me and her shared many wonderful memories, literally every Saturday since 1992 at that mall) say "I feel like I'm gonna cry" when we saw the empty spot on the second floor near the table we always sat at for lunch (always Taco Bell). The last time I was there I did an entire walk through of the mall in 4k with a go pro. Filmed the entire mall. Was sad, because two individuals whom were clearly (and obviously) stealing from the Dillards outlet were totally ignored by security, but I took a few pics of the abandoned food court and was yelled out by security. To be fair though, I walked over and apologized and explained that I was just conserving history, and I ended up having a wonderful conversation with the security guard, she explained that she worked there for 15 years and I learned a ton of stuff and she explained that the manager is apparently angered by people taking videos and photos (his excuse is that it upsets the vendors, I asked "what vendors?" and me and the guard laughed super hard) I've since learned every detail and square inch of that mall. If you ever want to do another video of this, I'd love to share the insider info I have. Esplanade played a significant role in my life as a kid/teenager/adult. It may sound dumb to some, but is 100% a piece of NOLA history and while it may be dead, the memories my family and I have will live forever. Glad to see it preserved in the digital museum of the internet.
This mall hasn’t aged well. Much like Star Wars II Attack of the Clones
That makes it sound like Attack of the Clones was ever good.
If any of the prequels of Star Wars were any good, I probably would go with _Episode 1: The Phantom Menace._ Episode 2 was "okay" (in some parts); but 3 was kinda how do I say this... A little too "sus" and maybe got a little too "over-exaggerated" and low-key cheesy at times. IMHO -- It kinda turned into a bit of a bad anime that was a bit cliche. A little TOO MUCH cliche! (Sort of like how like "Infinity War" was like near the end...)
More to add: I still prefer the *ORIGINAL* Star Wars movies [like _A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back,_ and _Return of The Jedi]_ over the prequels! Although some of the sequels were okay though. Still maybe not as good as the originals IMHO.
Really enjoyed the links and the Dillard’s Clearance entrance. Can’t wait for 80 😎
Being a New Orleans native, I instantly recognized the opening footage where you were driving through "Old Kenner" along the riverfront, also called "Rivertown". I also completely understood everything that Justin Wilson was saying. Part of it was "sound effects" for the story he was telling. Only part looks like you really got wrong was where he said his friend "Had 16 or 15 squirrel, and THE LIMIT IS 14".
Also, the guy in the McKenzie's Bakery commercial is none other than Ronnie Virgits, who was a local journalist and commentator, and somewhat of a local celebrity. He did several documentaries about New Orleans area culture and cuisine, and I believe he wrote a few books as well. So it makes sense that he was in that commercial as he was well known for discussing local cuisine, and McKenzie's was by far the largest and most well known chain of bakeries in south Louisiana. ⚜️⚜️
4:02 that prestigious mall cop security go cart pose cannot be beat! "Hey little lady, can I give you a lift to your conveyance or chosen alternative form of transportation?"
I spent quite a few Saturdays in that mall growing up in the 90s. Sad to see what it is now.
Was just in Esplanade Mall yesterday. More stores have closed since this video. Sad to see this has happened. I remember as a teenager hanging out here. Good times. Anyway, thanks for the vid. Very informative.
That large storefront by Dillard's bottom floor used to be F.Y.E., and before that used to be a "Camelot Music" store, which the interior from remains
Edit: Some people say F.Y.E. used to be a Sam Goody. I'll assume it was Sam Goody initially, later Camelot, and after Trans World purchased the chain, it became an F.Y.E. All I can vouch for is F.Y.E. as I have memories of it.
No, it was Camelot Music before FYE.
@@gman8132 thank you for the correction!
@@kitterbug I'm from the area and lived in Kenner near the Esplanade Mall in the early 90s. I remember it always being Camelot Music up until sometime in the early 2000s when it changed to F.Y.E. I also remember Blockbuster Music stores around in 2000s (maybe 2008) then became F.Y.E.
The old theater is a church now. Macy's is now Kenner City Hall, thanks to Ida damaging the old City Hall on Williams at West Metairie Ave and Mayor Zahn. The inside is totally locked, other than City Hall and Target, I think.
my mom used to take me to esplanade every weekend growing up in the early 2000s but not it’s so dead. good times..
It's been a while since I've seen any content, but I glad I rediscovered this channel.
Oh man, sorry to hear you left! Was it something that you didn’t like about my content?
@@sal Great video! I think he means to say he hasn't seen any of your content in awhile. Also, I mentally repressed watching the SW prequels
Not at all. I just lost contact via lost interest in this type of content. I always enjoy your videos and encourage any other fans to support the channel. I dropped a few $$$ in the tip jar in the hopes of future interesting videos. Cheers everyone!
My wife and I bring our kids to The Esplanade Mall some Saturday mornings because they love the little coin operated kid rides but it's definitely a depressing atmosphere especially when I remember it being the place to be when I was a teenager. One cool thing is we have the mall to ourselves.
Happy new year guy-dem sal, guuud stuff your intro into the dead mall, all dem old stuff, dam funny. Very interesting stuff on dead mall you have👊🏼, yup l’m subscribed.
Thanks!!!
Went here last week. Almost everything is closed. Even Target was eerie with the lack of customers.
You've gained yourself a new sub my guy, great right down to it videos of years past. Keep it up!
It was great to see Justin Wilson again The master of Cajun story telling while cooking
it's kinda sad, but times change. All I can say is for me, Malls just hold a great memory from when I was a kid. Only time we ever spent any money was when we went to the mall and bought school clothes, ate at a restaurant there or got a slice of pizza. I never went to the mall and came away unhappy. Now sometimes I just go to hear the sounds.
Hi I just visited Esplanade 2 weeks ago. They have turned the escalators off and less stores in the mall.
I lived near this mall when it opened. I was in high school at the time and remember it was actually nicer than Lakeside. I moved out of town for about 5 years then came back and had a chance to visit Lakeside and saw they had renovated. Like you've stressed in your videos about NOLA malls, Lakeside constantly reinvents itself and keeps on going. In the 90s, I went through cancer and ended up unable to work for a long time because of it. When I was well enough to go back to work, I bought a new suit for interviews at the Dillards store there. I ended up in Baton Rouge right after that, and am still here today 25 years later. We have lost 2 malls during that time(Bon Marche and Cortana), they have been given new life as an technology office park and the latter to be demolished for an Amazon distribution center. It's sad to see the Esplanade in this state because it was once pretty nice. Hopefully, it can be brought back, but not getting my hopes up.
You should come to Houma, LA to do the Southland Mall. Houma is clinging to that mall for dear life.
yes!!!
I’d love to get back down there!
Live across and go in and out at the food court or sometimes look for sun glasses. Great vlog and storyline! All the best...newly subbed and bell
Thanks for the sub!
As a local of the Greater New Orleans area, I can tell you that this video is spot on. No one goes to Esplanade anymore. Lakeside is a much more popular mall.
Thanks for the confirmation!
Simon pulled the same thing on Independence Center mall outside KC. Mall valued at $207mil in the 00s, Simon took out a huge mortgage against it around the time of The Mills deal. Foreclosed on with a $147mil+ default. Pacific bought it, said it had turn around ideas. Believe the takeover by International Growth Properties was a foreclosure on Pacific. Lost Sears (who built the mall via Homart). Losing Macy’s. Dillards will be left. Has the typical dead mall rope climbing area. It’s been in such dire straights that the mall’s signs still use the Simon signage font, and if they since touched it up, label scar from the Simon infinity diamond logo right above the property name. It’s so bad they had to put a super strict minor curfew rule.
You should check out Gwinnett place mall before they close it. On its last leg. It was very surreal.
I live about 5 mins away from this place, it’s dead as ever if not more cause of Covid, seems like they’ve just accepted their fate and there’s simply no attempts to save this mall. P. S. The old movie theater at 19:27 is now a church.
Mall closed for good 2 days ago:( so many good times spent here. Used to walk around here when it was dying just for nostalgia sake now I can't even do that.... honestly kind of bummed about it chilled there with my buddy outside it during Ida awhile back probably the last time I'll ever see it
This mall was the place to be when I was a kid..I think it went down hill post Katrina. From what I heard it was because the rent was extremely high businesses pulled out putting fly by night stores in its place. The population changed post Katrina in which the mall wasn't the place to shop. Then there was the decline in the upkeep and it became an eye sore. There used to be restaurants inside but then there were only a few food court options remaining. The movie theater that reopened in 2002 was a joke. I went there on a date and it looked like it opened over night with tickets that had circle hole edges lol. THE Grand was beautiful and I'm sorry to see it go. Everytime I went to esplanade I thought of my Sanrio days and shopping at the limited too. I think I had a party there at Ruby Tuesdays when I was 9. The christmas decorations were the best as the reindeer moved. Such an ending of an era!!! I WISH THEY WOULD MAKE THIS MALL AN OUTLET PLACE WITH STORES WE DONT HAVE.
3:57 I want that security vehicle! He has a baton!
Going into the esplanade is a sad feeling. Going to the target right next to it gives me an uneasy feeling
This was the mall Kevin Smith used in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. It was where Brody's Secret Stash was located.
I went to the ice skating rink a few years ago. Sadly, it shut down.
There was also a Bath and Body works, but idk if it is still open. It probably shut down since the mall is struggling, plus it's been shuttered since Ida.
The wing past the former Dillard's Men's store that leads to the former Macy's was phase 2 of The Esplanade and opened in 1986, a year after the original mall opened.
That makes so much sense. It always appeared like an after thought
Good to see you back Sal :)
Hi! Legit question...what is the last video you’ve seen of mine, when did it release, and were you notified of my last few? Looking to see if TH-cam is messing with me...
@@sal 3 weeks ago. I just assumed you were taking a break over holidays :)
Love your channel! Come check out West Oaks Mall in Houston! Epitome of a dead mall!
Thanks!!
The Esplanade is still pitiful. No hope for it. Thanks for the great content.
I’m going there soon to walk the mall and will update you. Cafe Du Mond closed and Limited closed. I went in December to Dillard’s and I went out in the mall and all escalators were off so I had to use the elevator but honestly nothing is on the second floor
Now I want a king cake!
Feel like it's been a bit since Kohan and his mall destroying skills has made an appearance.
Thanks captain sal!