This was one of the best malls to visit back in the 90s !!!! Back in the day this mall would have been jammed up with the best stores and movie theater inside. Good memories .
Which movie theater? if you are talking about AMC. Originally AMC/GCC theaters was never part of the mall but there was a small movie theater screen near the food court. Or maybe it was a bunch of TVs.
The true mall experience is just a memory now. When I was in middle school these places were full to capacity and they were weekend hangout spots were you could play video games, go to the movies and meet girls. Those days are gone.
I used to love the Franklin mills mall especially J.C. Penney outlet store bought a lot of clothes and electronics from there. Huge place, worth the trip from ny
JCPenney in Franklin Mills had a nice section devoted to tall men's clothing. Got a lot of nice things there; even got some non-permanent press dress shirts for special events because the quality was second to none.
This was the mall that made me become a mallrat in 2000. It’ll always be Franklin Mills to be and it was the 2nd Mills mall ever built (Potomac, Franklin, Gurnee & Sawgrass).
Fun fact: the guy who designed the Franklin mills logo, entry way and general esthetic of Franklin Mills also did the I ❤ NY logo. He also designed the Sesame place logo and general esthetic you can definitely see the similarities with the Ben Franklin Clock (rip) and Giant big bird entrance that used to be at sesame place.
Damn shame, I never really went to that mall during the 90's. I didn't start going to this mall till about 2009 or 2010, and it would be packed with people. It stayed packed like this till about around 2019 or 2020. That's when the Nike Outlet closed there, and I began seeing a lot of stores start to close. Like the skate park, and the Nike Outlet closing really begin the hurting of this mall, and after the pandemic... Its never been the same. Damn shame because it's a great mall when it's thriving.
I went to Willow Grove Park on 11/24; it is still doing OK. But I watched your Neshaminy Mall video that day. So I noticed every closed store. They closed Brickworks the store I went for
My mom and I were at the Franklin Mills Mall opening weekend plus the Grand Opening of Carrefour which we loved shopping in. Mall was to big to shop in plus the teens on weekends were out of control and large crowds. When we did go we would drive around the parking lot to shop at various stores. Weekday shopping was out because of working.
So I was told Carefour was there before Franklin Mills and I heard people said that they were boycotting for Franklin Mills not to open. I remember it was always jammed packed at Franklin Mills then we went over to Carefour and found out it was hardly anyone in there.
Hey Philly Captain great video from the new name Philadelphia Mall-NE Phila..Still remembering it always as The Franklin Mills..Have a good one either way..
I used to love this mall! My family used to go to Boscovs and hang out there forever! Then we would make our way through the mall to the Burlington coat factory and whatever other random stores. Then when I was a teenager, they had the skate park where I think Dave and Busters is now. What a wonderful time it was!
Also, best things about the mall were, the giant arcade/bowling alley/amusements, the effing Phar Mor lol (That end has been just literally axed now), and the 3 restaurants (Elephant and Castle, Rainforest Cafe, and the Mexican place I can't think of). Oh and that CRT Tower haha.
I remember when this mall first opened and it was always busy. As you noted because it was built as one floor it was rather long to go from one end to the other. That is also why it originally had color coded entrances. If you knew the store you wanted to visit you would try and park near the entrance you wanted. But if you were just looking it was a great place to shop. Unlike some malls Franklin Mills had some lower priced retailers you could shop at. I believe the reason the mall can not use the Mills name on the properly is because the Mills name is trademarked by Simon Reality and only they can use or license the name in use for mall or shopping center use. Obviously this like many malls is hurting for occupants due to on line shopping and the closure of so many bigger retailers. However this layout should make it easier to convert some of the larger areas for other uses like recreational activities or other than retail use.
0:55 - The mall was built by Mills Company, which was bought by Simon Group. The Mills Company built Potomac Mills, Virginia, Franklin Mills, the Block at Orange, California, and similar malls near Nashville, Cincinnati, and St.Louis, and others [?] before Mills was bought by Simon.
6:04 they designed this throughout the mall to better aid traffic and to limit congestion cause it use to be shoulder to shoulder pack in that mall back in the days especially on fri and Saturday, they even had a ramp in the design also. Crazy now it’s ghost mall
PM was one of the first malls that i used to do the digital signage for. We installed and maintained those screens for many years. I have so many memories and friends that i met while riding a scissor lift through there. I am being told that the new owners are going to revise everything soon and plan to revive the mall.
Probably they want to name it KOP Franklin Plaza. The KOP City is a city now, with Gyms, Hotels, Cheesecake Factories, Banks, and Buses to Bus workers from Norristown. That's kinda the Pie in the Sky Mall Prototype. I was homeless in Norristown for 2 months 12 years ago and I couldn't believe how many people bussed from Norristown to KOP for work. Loved the Franklin Mills Mall back in 2000 when everything was new there.
@track1949 I didn't move there until 1992 when it was being developed into 2 into Malls with a walkway between. It was mostly a Sears, Macy's, Bon Ton, and Food Court Shopping Location.
I remember when Franklin Mills opened. It was in the same shopping center as Carrefour's. I think I went into Carrefour's ONCE. All I remember of that place is the picketers outside the store (which was non-unionized) with the signs that said "DON'T SHOP CARREFOUR!"
You should look into seeing Santa Scott in Levittown for your son! He’s so much fun and is such an amazing experience every single time!! I think he’s at the Fairless hills garden center!! He’s amazing!!
#1 forever the Franklin mills mall #2 grew up going to the skatepark in the mall. Crazy to think the community I met there I’m still friends with to this day dating back to almost 20 years at this point. #3 it’s sad to say but the health of a mall is a good test to the local economy and all these malls closing says a lot.
Today, Simon now owns Mills, I haven’t come across a single mall that is not owned by Simon that has the name “Mills” so that’s probably why they changed it to mall
Fun fact partners in kryme the guys that did the turtle power song for the ninja turtles movie did a mall tour and the Franklin mills mall was one of their stops. I was there. So much lip synching lol
I so appreciate your coverage of the.. Franklin Mills Mall old school no doubt as I remember it very well. I really do appreciate your take and views knowledge present past history on it really do appreciate that. I also remember coming up to Franklin Mills Mall many a times from 87 to about 90s to 2000 off and on I would rummage through the mall wasnt exactly a place to catch females well I guess depending on where or what you're looking for I don't know but for me in my opinion it wasn't LOL but I will say it was just a cool calm chilling spot to just max out a little bit buying Stuff Etc like that. But I will say of course the gallery which is now known as the Fashion District. Is nothing like what it was during the same time period of all the other malls of yesteryears great time. And I can't say it loud enough. Great times really really great times especially during the early 90s the Golden Age of Hip Hop era Etc like that of the Almond cars of the Market Frankford L the calmness of Philadelphia of course before where we are currently in the present. But it's such a shame to see so many different hollow spaces, stores and of course the industry of malls across the US. I really do appreciate that keep up the good work I happen to see your Channel just from the title alone from the thumbnail I had to stop with urgency to check out what was going on. stay up my friend stay up definitely Brother stay up.
I think the fye music store used to be "the wall" years ago. I used to go there every weekend back in the early 90s. Take two buses to get there from my house. Lol. Fun times. Me and my girl at the time would cruise the mall. Hang out at the old arcade for a while, then come home. It will never be the same. Online shopping is killing these places.
It was the Mills Brothers who built several malls in the tri state area. It had nothing to do with any type of factory mill . Th decline of the malls around the US is very sad
They probably could do that....Simon Group probably owns the trade mark of "Franklin Mills" so they can't just use that old name again because the new owners would have to buy the ability to use the old name.
Malls used to be the place to be. Especially this one and KOP. But with the advent of the internet, online ordering/shopping options & stores barely carrying inventory anymore, they’re about to be a thing of the past entirely
Loved checking out the mall so thanks for talking the time to do a tour of the mall and tell some of the history of it, now I wanted to tell you about the mall in my are the mall is called Del Amo Fashion Center and it’s in Torrance California it used to be the biggest mall in the US and boy was it great but it got bought by the Simon group and they remodeled the mall it’s now modern looking but I prefer the way it was in the 80s also there was a scene from the movie Jackie Brown filmed in the food court anyway if your interested look up Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance California what it looks like now and what it looked like in the 80s also ask to see a walk through the mall both now and in the 80s peace ☮️ out ✌️
“Mills” is a corporate trademarked brand name for malls. They had “mills” all over the place. Since it has new owners, they have to change the name to avoid infringement.
Captain, that is a great idea!!!! The Sixers get their arena, and Chinatown stays put!!! I don't support the arena being put into a ESTABLISHED location, that the Asian community put all the work into
I know it sounds like a broken record but I still don't understand why the molds are packed. How much more in Columbus it's always packed, inside and outside.
That shit is deserted. LOOOOOOONG gone are the days when I was 15-18 coming here to hang out with friends that lived in Northeast. Long gone is the Franklin Mills Mall atmosphere. This place is dead, as hell. Old folks don’t even go for morning jogs through here anymore. Sad reality. Used to be so vibrant… Willow Grove mall is following in its path!!
Forever the Franklin Mills to me. Appreciate the tour I havent been in decades. I remember the giant Ben Franklin head with kite and key.
Kids today will never experience the mall like we did back in the 90’s I miss those days!
This was one of the best malls to visit back in the 90s !!!! Back in the day this mall would have been jammed up with the best stores and movie theater inside. Good memories .
Which movie theater? if you are talking about AMC. Originally AMC/GCC theaters was never part of the mall but there was a small movie theater screen near the food court. Or maybe it was a bunch of TVs.
This place would be PACKED during the Holidays!
Yesss
Simon property was in default of there to payments they no longer claim this Mall assuming some bank owns it
@@WashinRobits part of the mall and has been for decades.
The true mall experience is just a memory now. When I was in middle school these places were full to capacity and they were weekend hangout spots were you could play video games, go to the movies and meet girls. Those days are gone.
I used to love the Franklin mills mall especially J.C. Penney outlet store bought a lot of clothes and electronics from there. Huge place, worth the trip from ny
JCPenney in Franklin Mills had a nice section devoted to tall men's clothing. Got a lot of nice things there; even got some non-permanent press dress shirts for special events because the quality was second to none.
I still don't get why the move on to pack with people?
I know what we stopped going because we didn't have a car anymore!
its so sad to see empty shopping malls
Clearly we built too many of these places. And as I said few people under 40 or so care about them.
Boycott Amazon.
@@exdemocrat9038probably will be better 4 the economy
It is. The digital age is killing my whole childhood.
Out with the old...
Listen bro, I will always call it Franklin Mills~!
This was the mall that made me become a mallrat in 2000. It’ll always be Franklin Mills to be and it was the 2nd Mills mall ever built (Potomac, Franklin, Gurnee & Sawgrass).
At the north end of the mall used to be Phar-mor. It was my favorite until it went bankrupt in the early 90s
Fun fact: the guy who designed the Franklin mills logo, entry way and general esthetic of Franklin Mills also did the I ❤ NY logo. He also designed the Sesame place logo and general esthetic you can definitely see the similarities with the Ben Franklin Clock (rip) and Giant big bird entrance that used to be at sesame place.
Thanks for the tour! I was only here once in the late 90's !
Thank you very much, this video answered some questions that I did not know I was asking.
Im 30 and this is so sad. Awe the memories 😢
To me, it will always be the franklin mills mall.
It definitely isn’t the same as it was back in the day!
Damn shame, I never really went to that mall during the 90's. I didn't start going to this mall till about 2009 or 2010, and it would be packed with people. It stayed packed like this till about around 2019 or 2020. That's when the Nike Outlet closed there, and I began seeing a lot of stores start to close. Like the skate park, and the Nike Outlet closing really begin the hurting of this mall, and after the pandemic... Its never been the same. Damn shame because it's a great mall when it's thriving.
I remember that circular sitting area back in the 90s with like a stack of TV's around pillar playing different videos.
I used ti love coming to this mall, whenever we had out of country people they would spend hours shopping here.
So many memories at Franklin Mills in the 90's for me!!! This mall taught me how to shop for myself at affordable pricing so thanks for memories!!!
I was going to this mall back when they had a skating rank in there. Many dont remember.
This was awesome! Thank you 😊
I love your touring videos. The one's with Rick the pup, are so sweet.
I went to Willow Grove Park on 11/24; it is still doing OK. But I watched your Neshaminy Mall video that day. So I noticed every closed store. They closed Brickworks the store I went for
Did you goto Montgomeryville Mall or Plymouth Meeting Mall. I think Plymouth Meeting is doing better than MontyVille
When I went Willow Grove Mall was packed like it was the 90s or early 2000s. There were literally no seats in the food court.
Burger King used to be at the other food court near Sam Ash
That’s crazy was busy at one time it’s saf
My mom and I were at the Franklin Mills Mall opening weekend plus the Grand Opening of Carrefour which we loved shopping in. Mall was to big to shop in plus the teens on weekends were out of control and large crowds. When we did go we would drive around the parking lot to shop at various stores. Weekday shopping was out because of working.
So I was told Carefour was there before Franklin Mills and I heard people said that they were boycotting for Franklin Mills not to open. I remember it was always jammed packed at Franklin Mills then we went over to Carefour and found out it was hardly anyone in there.
Hey Philly Captain great video from the new name Philadelphia Mall-NE Phila..Still remembering it always as The Franklin Mills..Have a good one either way..
I used to love this mall! My family used to go to Boscovs and hang out there forever! Then we would make our way through the mall to the Burlington coat factory and whatever other random stores. Then when I was a teenager, they had the skate park where I think Dave and Busters is now. What a wonderful time it was!
I have only been to this mall a few times in my life and I thought it was a cool place back then.
Also, best things about the mall were, the giant arcade/bowling alley/amusements, the effing Phar Mor lol (That end has been just literally axed now), and the 3 restaurants (Elephant and Castle, Rainforest Cafe, and the Mexican place I can't think of). Oh and that CRT Tower haha.
i miss the Franklin head, and the routine it would do i believe every hour
The name 🪁Franklin needs to make that comeback of this mall. This is one of my favorite spots.
I still call it Franklin Mills
Simon's creditors: okay time to pay that money you owe us.
Simon Mall Group: fuck.
I remember when this mall first opened and it was always busy. As you noted because it was built as one floor it was rather long to go from one end to the other. That is also why it originally had color coded entrances. If you knew the store you wanted to visit you would try and park near the entrance you wanted. But if you were just looking it was a great place to shop. Unlike some malls Franklin Mills had some lower priced retailers you could shop at. I believe the reason the mall can not use the Mills name on the properly is because the Mills name is trademarked by Simon Reality and only they can use or license the name in use for mall or shopping center use. Obviously this like many malls is hurting for occupants due to on line shopping and the closure of so many bigger retailers. However this layout should make it easier to convert some of the larger areas for other uses like recreational activities or other than retail use.
That's why I don't do the mall walking anymore. King of Prussia, just forget it lol.
I used to love that store that sold all the college hoodies and t shirts. Was it called Steve and Barry's? Like half my wardrobe I bought at the store
49th Street Galleria was the absolute BEST. I miss how that mall used to be. Bravo the 1990s
0:55 - The mall was built by Mills Company, which was bought by Simon Group. The Mills Company built Potomac Mills, Virginia, Franklin Mills, the Block at Orange, California, and similar malls near Nashville, Cincinnati, and St.Louis, and others [?] before Mills was bought by Simon.
Franklin Mills ❤
The old cookie store was originally the "Fudgery" , they would make fudge and sing , Franklin Millsvwas great when it first opened 😮
The Fudgery was in the middle of the mall. I used to work there. It’s now a Cinnabun.
@ThePhillyCaptain The Sbarro apparently has permanently closed.
It would be great if it can bounce back Captain. It’s so hard to compete with Amazon and the rest of the online stores.
I was a kid when I use to go here and they had Jillian’s! That’s pretty much like Dave and busters before it came out damn that was years ago
Dave and Buster's took over Jillians's I was supposed to have a bday party over there
I remember going there around the holidays.
This brought back strong memories .
I bought so many Jerseys and Sneakers at Franklin Mills
6:04 they designed this throughout the mall to better aid traffic and to limit congestion cause it use to be shoulder to shoulder pack in that mall back in the days especially on fri and Saturday, they even had a ramp in the design also. Crazy now it’s ghost mall
@thephillycaptain just heard the AMC theater closed there too
so kind of you to offer such valuable advice to the kids
First time I went was in 1990 for back to school shopping. Always will be Franklin mills. Mall use to be packed. It was a whole experience.
Everyone from Philly goes to the Cherryhill Mall these days in Jersey do a vid on that one next 😊.
He has gone there recently. Cherry Hill is the oldest mall.
Tbh Philly ppl go to KOP
Ok Ellie @@Delaneyy.elizabeth04
Haven't been there in years
Yep Cherry Hill or Kop or Willow Grove maybe Plymouth too
King of Prussia Malls is Simon owned too.
PM was one of the first malls that i used to do the digital signage for. We installed and maintained those screens for many years. I have so many memories and friends that i met while riding a scissor lift through there. I am being told that the new owners are going to revise everything soon and plan to revive the mall.
Probably they want to name it KOP Franklin Plaza. The KOP City is a city now, with Gyms, Hotels, Cheesecake Factories, Banks, and Buses to Bus workers from Norristown. That's kinda the Pie in the Sky Mall Prototype. I was homeless in Norristown for 2 months 12 years ago and I couldn't believe how many people bussed from Norristown to KOP for work. Loved the Franklin Mills Mall back in 2000 when everything was new there.
KOP, meaning the address, is there because its association with Valley Forge.
In the late 60s/ early 70s KofP was an outdoor strip "mall".
@track1949 I didn't move there until 1992 when it was being developed into 2 into Malls with a walkway between. It was mostly a Sears, Macy's, Bon Ton, and Food Court Shopping Location.
Used to live down the street from this on academy rd, had great memories here growing up
Great video and some very funny commentary
Thanks for awesome video
I remember when Franklin Mills opened. It was in the same shopping center as Carrefour's. I think I went into Carrefour's ONCE. All I remember of that place is the picketers outside the store (which was non-unionized) with the signs that said "DON'T SHOP CARREFOUR!"
I remember the workers would roller skate throughout the store.😊
CAREFOUR was huge. It had like 54 isles. I'm like wow. never seen a store that had 54 isles before
I remember when it was Liberty Bell racetrack, the sky used to light up on Friday night from the track, and the parking lot would be full
I remember the old horse track and then the Opening of the Franklin Mill's and Now it's Name change....well let's see the progress today.
I used to love Filene's basement! I would cop Champion NBA jerseys for the LOW LOW!!!!🤘🏿
You should look into seeing Santa Scott in Levittown for your son! He’s so much fun and is such an amazing experience every single time!! I think he’s at the Fairless hills garden center!! He’s amazing!!
#1 forever the Franklin mills mall #2 grew up going to the skatepark in the mall. Crazy to think the community I met there I’m still friends with to this day dating back to almost 20 years at this point. #3 it’s sad to say but the health of a mall is a good test to the local economy and all these malls closing says a lot.
Today, Simon now owns Mills, I haven’t come across a single mall that is not owned by Simon that has the name “Mills” so that’s probably why they changed it to mall
Simon owns King of Prissia mall.
@@track1949yes
Simon owned alot of Malls including Willow Grove and yes Cheltenham Square.
Look up Santa Scott Fairlees Hills Garden Center. He is the best.
Look like the end...smh. Great memories in the 90s with that mall..,👌🙏
Too much violence to go out shopping
Don’t live in fear.
Violence is everywhere
Fun fact partners in kryme the guys that did the turtle power song for the ninja turtles movie did a mall tour and the Franklin mills mall was one of their stops. I was there. So much lip synching lol
Remembered when that opened up before that was Oxford Valley Mall my Mall was Quacker Bridge Mall
The low prices @ Walmart was an expensive price to pay for malls and mom and pops throughout this nation.
Cellaxs was originally American Tourister where you later worked at.
I so appreciate your coverage of the.. Franklin Mills Mall old school no doubt as I remember it very well. I really do appreciate your take and views knowledge present past history on it really do appreciate that. I also remember coming up to Franklin Mills Mall many a times from 87 to about 90s to 2000 off and on I would rummage through the mall wasnt exactly a place to catch females well I guess depending on where or what you're looking for I don't know but for me in my opinion it wasn't LOL but I will say it was just a cool calm chilling spot to just max out a little bit buying Stuff Etc like that. But I will say of course the gallery which is now known as the Fashion District. Is nothing like what it was during the same time period of all the other malls of yesteryears great time. And I can't say it loud enough. Great times really really great times especially during the early 90s the Golden Age of Hip Hop era Etc like that of the Almond cars of the Market Frankford L the calmness of Philadelphia of course before where we are currently in the present. But it's such a shame to see so many different hollow spaces, stores and of course the industry of malls across the US. I really do appreciate that keep up the good work I happen to see your Channel just from the title alone from the thumbnail I had to stop with urgency to check out what was going on. stay up my friend stay up definitely Brother stay up.
There he goes.the captain and friends mall.
> 5:24
The Burger King was in the other food court closer to Jillian's/ Dave and busters. I remember it well because it always gave me diarrhea 😂
I always wanted there to be like a hockey or soccer match in this mall where the whole goal is to get the ball to the other end of the mall lol
I think the fye music store used to be "the wall" years ago. I used to go there every weekend back in the early 90s. Take two buses to get there from my house. Lol. Fun times. Me and my girl at the time would cruise the mall. Hang out at the old arcade for a while, then come home. It will never be the same. Online shopping is killing these places.
Fye, was next to AMC movie theater. Either I'm getting mixed up with that mall and or Neshaminy Mall
YES ! Build the arena! Save the mall
It was the Mills Brothers who built several malls in the tri state area. It had nothing to do with any type of factory mill . Th decline of the malls around the US is very sad
14:37 You cannot enter the Walmart through the mall, Only the parking lot
Please cover the mall at Atlantic City boardwalk. Ocean One Mall, Shops on Pier One or whatever they last called it. Thanks.
I have, multiple times
Why not call it Franklin Mills Mall?
They probably could do that....Simon Group probably owns the trade mark
of "Franklin Mills" so they can't just use that old name again because the new owners would have to buy the ability to use the old name.
If they put in the trains along the boulevard like they planned half a century ago, a sports arena could work there.
Yep but that's SEPTA for ya
I Miss living up there
The perfect owner would be the Tanger group that has high end outlets in Rehoboth and AC.
The best was arthur treachers fish and chips. By far the best....
I worked for the theater there in the late 90s. I haven’t been back in 26 years.
That place is huge .
The movie theater still there?
Malls used to be the place to be. Especially this one and KOP. But with the advent of the internet, online ordering/shopping options & stores barely carrying inventory anymore, they’re about to be a thing of the past entirely
Loved checking out the mall so thanks for talking the time to do a tour of the mall and tell some of the history of it, now I wanted to tell you about the mall in my are the mall is called Del Amo Fashion Center and it’s in Torrance California it used to be the biggest mall in the US and boy was it great but it got bought by the Simon group and they remodeled the mall it’s now modern looking but I prefer the way it was in the 80s also there was a scene from the movie Jackie Brown filmed in the food court anyway if your interested look up Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance California what it looks like now and what it looked like in the 80s also ask to see a walk through the mall both now and in the 80s peace ☮️ out ✌️
“Mills” is a corporate trademarked brand name for malls. They had “mills” all over the place. Since it has new owners, they have to change the name to avoid infringement.
76ers would be perfect there.
@ThePhillyCaptain
I bet that the new owner's can't use the old name "Franklin Mills" because it is a trademark of Simon Group.
Captain, that is a great idea!!!! The Sixers get their arena, and Chinatown stays put!!! I don't support the arena being put into a ESTABLISHED location, that the Asian community put all the work into
This going to be a good or wild video
I know it sounds like a broken record but I still don't understand why the molds are packed. How much more in Columbus it's always packed, inside and outside.
20 years ago you couldnt even walk in this mall there were so many people
That shit is deserted. LOOOOOOONG gone are the days when I was 15-18 coming here to hang out with friends that lived in Northeast. Long gone is the Franklin Mills Mall atmosphere. This place is dead, as hell. Old folks don’t even go for morning jogs through here anymore. Sad reality. Used to be so vibrant… Willow Grove mall is following in its path!!
All Malls are and now they want to tear down the Shopping district to build an arena for a bad sixers team. Thanks a lot Philly
Idk Willow Grove was so packed on Black Friday I couldn't stay it was so many people there 😂😂
I was there when they broke ground in 1987 never been to shop I live in KOP
Hurts too see it like that
That mall burnt out done for ova wit💭