I'm literally sitting here watching this with tears in my eyes, thinking about all the good times my family had during shopping trips to the mall. Kids' clothes for the new school year, all the crazy stuff at Spencer's Gifts, the food court with Cinnabon and Gloria Jean's Coffee, Christmas gift shopping, etc. It was Woodfield's "little sister" ... smaller, more friendly and more accessible. Wow! how times have changed. I hadn't been to the mall in years so I shouldn't be surprised, but the video really hits home.
I loved this place. I was a mallrat here, I worked here, I visited my friends who worked here, I shopped here. It's been "my mall" for almost 20 years, so it's sad to see it slowly decline but I could have guessed it would happen. People choose to go to the other bigger, better malls with more stores. The restaurants here were never that spectacular. The best anchors left. The movie theater does ok now that it's here... but people just don't need to go to smaller malls anymore when they can go to a big one, shop online, or head to a single department store. Around 5-10 years ago they were in talks to sell Springhill to make a college campus or something, I always thought it would be the smart choice cause even then it was feeling lifeless. But still, sad to see it going.
Barnes and Noble was the last reason I loved coming to this mall. Now that thats gone, whats even left after they stupidly closed down the food court years ago?
I used to frequent the mall in HS during the late 90’s. Lots of memories as a kid there with my parents and grandparents. Always begging to go into KB Toys, Mr Bulky’s candy store, having my first Cinnabon in the food court with my grandma. A lot of memories. Back in 1999 they hosted a huge sand sculpture of Star Wars characters in the center of the mall.
Still feels like yesterday that place was still busy with Barnes and Noble and that food court and arcade. Even when it was in decline it was still busy until the last 5 years or so. I remember back in the day the Food Court had a potato skillet place where everything they served was potato-based, it was the best! The Algonquin Commons probably took away all over their traffic.
I was born and raised here, this town has turned into a complete shithole. All the stores DID leave here to go to algonquin because they saw what what was happening with the decline if the towns around it
I drive by this mall every day. It's been a slow death for sure. In a way I'm surprised it's been holding on for so long. All of these dying malls make me nostalgic. They served a purpose for healthy social interaction that goes far beyond simple buying "stuff". When a mall dies it's just not the same for the local community. Something of value is lost.
It's so weird getting recommended a video about a place I used to go to before it closed down. I guarantee I still have pictures taken there somewhere. I miss those weird little fountains, they were cool
My parents took me trick or treating there in the 80s when it was raining on Halloween. They had “bad weather” trick or treating there. All the stores had bags of candy and you could go store to store. Lots of fun times at that mall - prom dress shopping, food court, having to find a pay phone to call home for a ride in middle school. I got my first cat in 1987 (I was four) at the pet store that used to be in the Carson’s wing (it was Bergner’s then).
Sears was so big...it was the largest retailer in America and employed over 350,000. The Homart Development Division you mentioned was in place solely to develop real estate for future Sears store and for ownership of future expansions in malls. Freaks me out to see these malls today, and the decline of everything. If only Sears had kept the catalog division, they could have rivaled Amazon. And then there is Macys...who bought out all the competition and then closed so many of the stores (like Marshall Fields).
I'm making an updated version soon... I was there about a month ago. TODAY is the day that everything needs to be vacated.... except for the Kohls and Cinemark
I work at the journeys here now at 18, and I remember coming here with my grandma all the time as a kid. There are still some pretty good stores staying strong here but definitely much slower than it used to be sadly.
I was one of the ppl using the mall as an indoor walking path during the winter. I was bored so i counted how many stores were empty. Over half i believe and that was 2 years ago.
The only thing that still has me going back is the hot topic and the new otaku store Honestly it’s sad to see the mall my family basically raised me in slowly dying
I got my first job out of college nearby and drove past the mall when it was being built. We took the kids there especially during the Christmas season. It is sad to see it fade away. I cannot remember the last time I was there. Generally speaking malls are not enjoyable places to go any longer.
How sad my local mall too. I remember in my teens going to the arcade there all day with my friends, we’d bike there play DDR all day. This was the place to be. Sad times 😢
I remember going there and eating in the food court, and there were birds that would fly around inside. And if we behaved my mom would get us each a honey straw from gloria jeans coffee
It's honestly so sad to see all the stores gone. Last time I was there was specifically for a pretzel dog. But it doesn't look like auntie Anne's is still open
Just a few days I go I thought at around 8pm man it be nice to walk around just not outside today where else? The Mall! Oh I’m on my way I go in through the dragon buffet entrance only to find out the mall closed at 7pm… I just said damn I used to be here almost every other week or so with my mother as a child riding that pace bus but oh well 25 year old me slowly saw it crumble and without an idea as to how rip lol
I remember Wiebolts reopening at Spring Hill when it was built. I spent much of my life there. Even working on remodels installing lights and those chandeliers you see in this video. Over the years i saw it slowly steered away from my demographic.
Can someone explain to me why companies buy up these dying malls only to let them rot? Is it just to leach whatever money they can from the remaining tenants and then sell the property for more money?
I truly believe a driving factor leading to the demise of malls are those horrible play areas, which started being added to malls around 2010. All that this did was attract the dumbed-down lame excuse for parents and their screaming, screeching, out-of-control ADD kids. It used to be that these social miscreants were typically only seen at Walmart or McDonalds, but as soon as these idiotic play areas were added to malls this acted as a magnet for these unsavory, sales-ruining people. Believe it or not there was a time when malls were a place where adults went to shop to get away from screaming kids.
I'm literally sitting here watching this with tears in my eyes, thinking about all the good times my family had during shopping trips to the mall. Kids' clothes for the new school year, all the crazy stuff at Spencer's Gifts, the food court with Cinnabon and Gloria Jean's Coffee, Christmas gift shopping, etc. It was Woodfield's "little sister" ... smaller, more friendly and more accessible. Wow! how times have changed. I hadn't been to the mall in years so I shouldn't be surprised, but the video really hits home.
I loved this place. I was a mallrat here, I worked here, I visited my friends who worked here, I shopped here. It's been "my mall" for almost 20 years, so it's sad to see it slowly decline but I could have guessed it would happen. People choose to go to the other bigger, better malls with more stores. The restaurants here were never that spectacular. The best anchors left. The movie theater does ok now that it's here... but people just don't need to go to smaller malls anymore when they can go to a big one, shop online, or head to a single department store. Around 5-10 years ago they were in talks to sell Springhill to make a college campus or something, I always thought it would be the smart choice cause even then it was feeling lifeless. But still, sad to see it going.
Barnes and Noble was the last reason I loved coming to this mall. Now that thats gone, whats even left after they stupidly closed down the food court years ago?
I used to frequent the mall in HS during the late 90’s. Lots of memories as a kid there with my parents and grandparents. Always begging to go into KB Toys, Mr Bulky’s candy store, having my first Cinnabon in the food court with my grandma. A lot of memories. Back in 1999 they hosted a huge sand sculpture of Star Wars characters in the center of the mall.
I loved Mr. Bulky's! Candy and Beanie Babies!
this was the mall i worked at from 1991- 1994, i grew up going to Speiss for seeing Santa and the Easter Bunny. sad that it’s dead now too.
Still feels like yesterday that place was still busy with Barnes and Noble and that food court and arcade. Even when it was in decline it was still busy until the last 5 years or so. I remember back in the day the Food Court had a potato skillet place where everything they served was potato-based, it was the best! The Algonquin Commons probably took away all over their traffic.
Even now though, the Commons is starting to lose a couple of businesses though, mostly due to high lease rates.
I was born and raised here, this town has turned into a complete shithole. All the stores DID leave here to go to algonquin because they saw what what was happening with the decline if the towns around it
Commons is dead
I've missed the Barnes and Noble and the Food court section too.
I drive by this mall every day. It's been a slow death for sure. In a way I'm surprised it's been holding on for so long.
All of these dying malls make me nostalgic. They served a purpose for healthy social interaction that goes far beyond simple buying "stuff".
When a mall dies it's just not the same for the local community. Something of value is lost.
It's so weird getting recommended a video about a place I used to go to before it closed down. I guarantee I still have pictures taken there somewhere. I miss those weird little fountains, they were cool
My parents took me trick or treating there in the 80s when it was raining on Halloween. They had “bad weather” trick or treating there. All the stores had bags of candy and you could go store to store. Lots of fun times at that mall - prom dress shopping, food court, having to find a pay phone to call home for a ride in middle school. I got my first cat in 1987 (I was four) at the pet store that used to be in the Carson’s wing (it was Bergner’s then).
Hi my new friend and great video
Thanks so much!
Went here all the time as a kid! I've recently went again with some friends and I couldn't believe it, same with Stratford Square mall
I just loved Carson's Pirie Scott...😔 Great channel, I miss Chicagoland. Hate to see they gone. Keep it up!☘️
My grandpa was on the construction crew that built Springhill Mall.
I worked at the Funky Munky in the 90s.
I was sad to hear it closed down.
The original anchor was not Carson Pirie Scott's but Bergner's. Also, the Macy's was a Marshall Field's.
My local mall, oh how it has fallen
Used to live in the area .I hadn't realized it had died
I've used to go there too.
I remember spring hill back in the day being awesome.... So sad to see how far its fallen.
Sears was so big...it was the largest retailer in America and employed over 350,000. The Homart Development Division you mentioned was in place solely to develop real estate for future Sears store and for ownership of future expansions in malls. Freaks me out to see these malls today, and the decline of everything. If only Sears had kept the catalog division, they could have rivaled Amazon. And then there is Macys...who bought out all the competition and then closed so many of the stores (like Marshall Fields).
I've really had good and decent memories going there when I was a kid, now it's dying really fast.
I'm making an updated version soon... I was there about a month ago. TODAY is the day that everything needs to be vacated.... except for the Kohls and Cinemark
they messed up taking the food court off 🤦
They sure did.. They also took the stores that were there.. It was cool you could walk thru to mobile and be in the food court..
I work at the journeys here now at 18, and I remember coming here with my grandma all the time as a kid. There are still some pretty good stores staying strong here but definitely much slower than it used to be sadly.
Someday I’d love to see it come back to being a full fledged mall, I think it has that potential.
I was one of the ppl using the mall as an indoor walking path during the winter. I was bored so i counted how many stores were empty. Over half i believe and that was 2 years ago.
I still come to this mall for the Kohls and the theater but that's about it
Walked through it yesterday. The food court is now between Hong Kong buffer and sabarro. Sabarro the only business that was there in the 80-90’s
went there when it opened as a kid, use to be the hangout ( 805 bus) but it became a gang infested , street brawl - that was the downfall
The only thing that still has me going back is the hot topic and the new otaku store
Honestly it’s sad to see the mall my family basically raised me in slowly dying
I got my first job out of college nearby and drove past the mall when it was being built. We took the kids there especially during the Christmas season. It is sad to see it fade away. I cannot remember the last time I was there. Generally speaking malls are not enjoyable places to go any longer.
How sad my local mall too. I remember in my teens going to the arcade there all day with my friends, we’d bike there play DDR all day. This was the place to be. Sad times 😢
I remember going there and eating in the food court, and there were birds that would fly around inside. And if we behaved my mom would get us each a honey straw from gloria jeans coffee
It's honestly so sad to see all the stores gone. Last time I was there was specifically for a pretzel dog. But it doesn't look like auntie Anne's is still open
Back on my days, it was flooded with modern stores & over a hundred people talking & screaming with excitement.
Now.... it's this. 😔💔
Just a few days I go I thought at around 8pm man it be nice to walk around just not outside today where else? The Mall! Oh I’m on my way I go in through the dragon buffet entrance only to find out the mall closed at 7pm… I just said damn I used to be here almost every other week or so with my mother as a child riding that pace bus but oh well 25 year old me slowly saw it crumble and without an idea as to how rip lol
I remember Wiebolts reopening at Spring Hill when it was built. I spent much of my life there. Even working on remodels installing lights and those chandeliers you see in this video. Over the years i saw it slowly steered away from my demographic.
Kohan is a horrible company.
I used to go here all the time w my parents. Damn this makes me so sad :(
Can someone explain to me why companies buy up these dying malls only to let them rot? Is it just to leach whatever money they can from the remaining tenants and then sell the property for more money?
You are correct!
Good news, i hear the mexican flee market is taking one of the anchors, and big d's moved into where zoomies was
Spring hill mall is closing on march 22 2024 rip spring hill mall 1980 2024
Gee, I wonder if limiting the hours and closing early during Covid did anything to hurt the businesses.
/sarcasm
I truly believe a driving factor leading to the demise of malls are those horrible play areas, which started being added to malls around 2010. All that this did was attract the dumbed-down lame excuse for parents and their screaming, screeching, out-of-control ADD kids. It used to be that these social miscreants were typically only seen at Walmart or McDonalds, but as soon as these idiotic play areas were added to malls this acted as a magnet for these unsavory, sales-ruining people. Believe it or not there was a time when malls were a place where adults went to shop to get away from screaming kids.
Is this a Seinfeld bit?
This post should be in a textbook about "causation vs correlation"
Blame Walmart and Amazon
Thats what happens when you push out the demographic that lived and shopped here...