I can't exactly put the feeling into words, but the interior gives me such peaceful vibes, like the kind of place you'd want to meet with your friends and sit and talk for hours. All that aside, great video!
My Dad used to own the Paul Bunyan Motel in Brainerd back in the early '60s. It was next door to the Paul Bunyan Amusement Park. In '63 Dad moved the family to Montana. I was born in Bemidji.
As a resident of Brainerd/Baxter, our mall is horrible and should just be closed. It's extremely empty and has no purpose. It was bought out a couple years ago with promise of trying to bring new life to it, and it failed. You should've seen this place in the 90s. It was fantastic.
Do you remember the name of the theater? I couldn't find any articles mentioning a theater in the mall, but it makes sense as to the reason why Treasures Found has a small second floor.
@@YodelingLoonRetail We just called it the Westgate theater (as opposed to the Westport theater which over in the neighboring Westport shopping center where Artesian Homes is now). I'm sure both closed right around the time Lakes 12 opened, which I *think* was in the late 90s but I'm not certain about that.
This reminds me of Alpena Mall in how it was attached to an existing Kmart. However, this one is doing far better. The fact that they were able to refill the anchors shows there's still a demand here. Nice video as always.
I only can think of one mall, where it straddles the border between two towns. That is Southlake Mall, which mostly is in Merrillville, Indiana. Although a small part of this mall, is in neighboring Hobart.
Great job, love seeing these Minnesota malls on your channel. If you get back to Mankato, let me know, I would love to meet up with you and have a burger and talk mall stuff. I would be happy to go through the old Madison East mall with you if you would like, or even the downtown mall. Thanks for all the hard work.
Idk what to say about this. The first time I stepped foot in that mall was on 88 when my family moved from Pennsylvania to onamia, MN, I was 13 and the last time must of been in 2000. Doesn't even look the same or bring back any nostalgia. The Kmart was the weirdest one I had ever seen it was smaller then most and being an anchor store living about 50 miles away wasn't there alot but for movies or shopping. Also spent alot of time in the arcade.
I invite you to the Westview Mall in Hastings. Oh, sure. If you're coming from farther than, say, Rosemount, you'll spend more time driving to it than walking around. But then you could bop down to Red Wing and check out the Pottery Place. Roll them into one video and you may make 3 minutes.
Red Wing had a few other malls. The 314 Main St block was storefronts combined into a block-sized mall with an interior corridor. Now offices. St James Hotel on the next block has a shopping arcade. Westview in Hastings was a classic memory. Thrifty White and a County Market. Come back to Brainerd and have a Raffertys. The mall location includes historical photos of many beautiful Brainerd buildings and streetscapes that were decimated by the sprawlscape. It’s why Strong Towns now exists. The East Brainerd Mall was home to JC Penney until the mid 00s when the stand-alone box was built near Walmart and Costco in Baxter (closed only a few years after moving). The old space is now a Habitat Re-Store, and Cub anchors the other end of the strip. Other malls I hope to see, but which may no longer exist: Faribo West Worthington (long since demolished) Cannon Mall in Cannon Falls Kandi Mall in Willmar Marketplatz Mall in downtown New Ulm (built on piers above parking, and connected to a former Herbergers which included multiple storefronts combined. I seem to recall escalators.)
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
So weird to have this recommended to me when I live here 🗿 makes sense I guess
I can't exactly put the feeling into words, but the interior gives me such peaceful vibes, like the kind of place you'd want to meet with your friends and sit and talk for hours.
All that aside, great video!
Agreed.
If the bakery were open, I would have grabbed a snack. There were a few people just chilling in the comfy chairs.
My Dad used to own the Paul Bunyan Motel in Brainerd back in the early '60s. It was next door to the Paul Bunyan Amusement Park. In '63 Dad moved the family to Montana. I was born in Bemidji.
Sal recommended your channel. That speaks volumes. Nice work.
Thanks for coming through, PTV!
Thank you very much!
@@sal Absolutely!
Raffertys is also in Nisswa and Crosslake....
I'll have to check them when I'm back in the area.
Fantastic work, sir.
Thank you!
As a resident of Brainerd/Baxter, our mall is horrible and should just be closed. It's extremely empty and has no purpose. It was bought out a couple years ago with promise of trying to bring new life to it, and it failed. You should've seen this place in the 90s. It was fantastic.
Yeah, I found it cozy, but there was not much to do there. I would have settled for a cup of coffee and a snack.
I never knew Westgate sat in both towns! Also,I miss the old Paul Bunyan Land (Kohls now). My family stopped there on our way to Duluth taking 210.
@4:00 - Treasures Found was the movie theater and the closed store to the right was the arcade. I spent so many hours in that arcade!!
Do you remember the name of the theater? I couldn't find any articles mentioning a theater in the mall, but it makes sense as to the reason why Treasures Found has a small second floor.
@@YodelingLoonRetail We just called it the Westgate theater (as opposed to the Westport theater which over in the neighboring Westport shopping center where Artesian Homes is now). I'm sure both closed right around the time Lakes 12 opened, which I *think* was in the late 90s but I'm not certain about that.
My sister works for the mall....
One of the earliest subs here and man you knocked it out of the park again Brandon. Excellent work and love how you check out an area that few go to.
This reminds me of Alpena Mall in how it was attached to an existing Kmart. However, this one is doing far better. The fact that they were able to refill the anchors shows there's still a demand here. Nice video as always.
I only can think of one mall, where it straddles the border between two towns. That is Southlake Mall, which mostly is in Merrillville, Indiana. Although a small part of this mall, is in neighboring Hobart.
Great video. Thanks.
Thanks for the video. My dad had a cabin on Cross Lake in Brainard. Very nice mall and town.
Already a subscriber. 👍 I appreciate Sal reminding me to check out your craft. Retweeted 🐦
I'm glad I saw unicomm productions's tweet about your channel. New sub!
Kmarts food court and the 3 screen theater! A+
Who ever hired the dick of a secret shopper in 1996 in Kmart can get bent!! Dipshit stopped me 4x in 1 year at there collapse. He knows who he is!
Great job, love seeing these Minnesota malls on your channel. If you get back to Mankato, let me know, I would love to meet up with you and have a burger and talk mall stuff. I would be happy to go through the old Madison East mall with you if you would like, or even the downtown mall. Thanks for all the hard work.
Idk what to say about this. The first time I stepped foot in that mall was on 88 when my family moved from Pennsylvania to onamia, MN, I was 13 and the last time must of been in 2000. Doesn't even look the same or bring back any nostalgia. The Kmart was the weirdest one I had ever seen it was smaller then most and being an anchor store living about 50 miles away wasn't there alot but for movies or shopping. Also spent alot of time in the arcade.
I invite you to the Westview Mall in Hastings. Oh, sure. If you're coming from farther than, say, Rosemount, you'll spend more time driving to it than walking around. But then you could bop down to Red Wing and check out the Pottery Place. Roll them into one video and you may make 3 minutes.
I’ll have to check out what’s remaining. I read Redwing was once enclosed, but I’ve heard it’s all strip now. Pottery Place looks fun.
Red Wing had a few other malls. The 314 Main St block was storefronts combined into a block-sized mall with an interior corridor. Now offices. St James Hotel on the next block has a shopping arcade.
Westview in Hastings was a classic memory. Thrifty White and a County Market.
Come back to Brainerd and have a Raffertys. The mall location includes historical photos of many beautiful Brainerd buildings and streetscapes that were decimated by the sprawlscape. It’s why Strong Towns now exists.
The East Brainerd Mall was home to JC Penney until the mid 00s when the stand-alone box was built near Walmart and Costco in Baxter (closed only a few years after moving). The old space is now a Habitat Re-Store, and Cub anchors the other end of the strip.
Other malls I hope to see, but which may no longer exist:
Faribo West
Worthington (long since demolished)
Cannon Mall in Cannon Falls
Kandi Mall in Willmar
Marketplatz Mall in downtown New Ulm (built on piers above parking, and connected to a former Herbergers which included multiple storefronts combined. I seem to recall escalators.)
Sad to see all the vacant store spaces.
Rafferty's Pizza rocks.
Thanks for sharing! My friend keeps making fun of me for driving to Brainerd and not eating there!
You missed out when you didn't get Rafferty's...
I know, I know! :) I’m hoping to go with my friends, but they might overrule me and go to Maid Rite again.
@@YodelingLoonRetail, I'll never say no to pizza...
I Wonder Why Their Dairy Queen Shut Down?
Maybe Because Of A Lease Form?
I Don't Know.
Or Because Of The One They Have Further Back Up The Road?
@@Masonjensrudwhich one are you talking about? I know the one by cubs and right by the bridge was there a different one or an I crazy