Marley Station was my local mall growing up. Many memories there from opening till present. This was THE mall during the 90's. People would flock here and the parking lots were jammed packed! I grew up across the street and in other neighborhoods within walking distance so it was always on my route. Skateboarded there many many times. I remember so many stores, KB Toys, EB Games, Game Stop, Suncoast, Walden Books, Hects, Same Goody, RITZ camera. I stood in line for many video game preorder/midnight releases in this mall. Pokemon Yellow, God of War, Halo 2, Dreamcast releases.... I seen the Matrix in the theater here along with Jurassic Park 1, 2 and 3. Terminator II, Pokemon the 1st movie, The Lion King, Star Wars Episode I. So on and so on..... Me and my friends would be broke high school kids, standing around in Suncoast picking out anime VHS/DVDs and talking about if they were good shows are not. Or burn up half of the day reading manga or magazines in Waldenbooks. They would go all out with a huge display every Christmas. A few years they had a "letters to Santa" vacuum where you would write your Wishlist down and put it inside this mailbox/vacuum that would shoot the letter up a pipe into a cloud that was hanging way up in the skylights. If it was actually doing that or just making the sound I have no idea. These days its a shell, but the bookstore in there is fantastic. It is an absolute gem! If you are into rhythm games Gameplay in the mall has many imported machines that are fairly new and well maintained. Thanks for featuring this mall on your channel, I would have never guessed my local spot would have blown up so big decades after its fall from grace.
I also want to thank you SO much for these old photos. I am in awe, I had no idea these existed. You actually found a photo of Vie De France café. @16:00 I have not seen that place since I was a child and I half thought it was a dream. Very French décor and I was very young when we use to go there. I remember thinking it looked so strange. That entire block now shows no sign that café was evern there. Hakky is still there though. @@NorthCdogg22
In 1987, I was one of the openers of Macys. Your video paints a fairly accurate picture of the life and now, near death of Marley Station. I stayed at Macys until 1997, when I moved on to Brookstone in the also soon to be dead Owings Mills Mall. For a few years, Marley was a good place to be, but, as you pointed out, the opening of Arundel Mills was the straw that broke the camels back. Upscale shopping went to Annapolis Mall, about 15 miles to the south. Really enjoyed your video, and will watch a few more.
I remember when Marley Station opened up. It drove several other older malls out of business. The most obvious was Harundale Mall which was only couple miles away from Marley. But for about 15 years, Marley Station was THE place to hang out if you were a teenager in Glen Burnie and Pasadena. By the early 2000's it was beginning to wane. But the death knell was when Arundel Mills Mall opened. I personally have not been to Marley Station in about 15 years even though I only live a few miles away and pass it almost every day. Interesting fact: Anne's Dairy Creme is a small ice cream and hot dog shop dating back to the 60's. When they began construction on Marley Station, the owners of Anne's were offered a permanent home in Marley Station if they would close their current location right next door. The owners refused and Anne's is still running strong even though Marley has fizzled.
They need to treat these malls like historical sites I know someday I'm going to have to explain to my kids what malls were and that kind of makes me sad they are a part of this country's history
They should! I wish they could turn malls especially ones as retro vibey as this into museums, or at least preserve them.. it’s a shame all of this space is put to waste
I don’t think all malls will be gone there is still a market for them and some folks still like to actually try on their clothes rather than blindly buying online and disliking it then going through the return trouble. I simply think there will be less malls with very few dominating in more populated areas like cities.
I currently live in Cincinnati and have thoroughly enjoyed your series of dead/dying malls in Cincinnati. But I am originally from Denver, and as an older gentleman, I saw malls come and go in Denver. Maybe you've heard of Southglenn Mall, Cinderella City, and Villa Italia. Might be interesting to do productions on malls that you can't walk through anymore!
@@NorthCdogg22 I love hearing the history and evolution of the malls. You do that so well. With so much interesting history along the way. This was the era of my teen years. So watching your beautifully crafted archaeological digs is a serious flashback to my youth. You do it better than any of the other ones! Please keep it up. It gives this old man nostalgia and happiness. Sometimes sadness, but fulfillment about the years past.
I actually work in this mall, didn't know it before last year but there's some serious charm and I've come to love it despite the flaws. Some places have actually opened since you recorded, in the old Champs spot upstairs (that one directly across in view from the elevator, actually looked in at 34:46) a small business named Carnage Gaming and Kicks opened, mainly a sneaker resale shop in the mall but we do Yu-Gi-Oh on TCGPlayer (I will admit some bias as this is where I work), also a boxing class opened upstairs in the data center wing). I hope the mall bounces back and people realize it's an affordable place to start up since rent is like half it was everywhere else we looked for a bigger space. Also I love the arcade, especially the Japanese import rhythm games. Actually got to be friends with the repair technician and owners there, I actually help them out on fixing up machines, they also have some storage/workshop in the data center wing (You looked at it briefly, was visible from down the escalator) so instead of liminal space I see that wing as cool place lol
Thanks for this video. Very interesting. My husband and I took my parents to the opening of Marley Station Mall on February 24, 1987. Because of the snow, my parents had lost power. Coffee and snacks were offered throughout the Mall and my parents really appreciated it. Marley Station Mall and North Arundel Hospital co-sponsored the Marley Milers walking programs to promote health. It started at 8am and mileage cards were handed out for people to power walk or stroll.
I lived two miles from this mall when it opened. It was quite a mall at one time. I moved away from Glen Burnie and seeing it now in its present state is sad. I never knew about the body found. Excellent history of the mall, Thank You! I think it will close in the future.
Marley Station Mall was one of my go-to malls as a kid. Sad to see it in the state it is today. At 5:58, on the first floor to the right of the Sears was a store called "Waxie Maxie's", a store which sold music albums and other music memorabilia, eventually getting into the VHS movie market as well. I miss those days.
26:07 the brown wooden store on the left was α subway until very recently. And the empty store straight ahead was called “Mi Pueblo”, which didn’t shutdown but rather moved to α location nearby outside the mall
I'm so happy to see you were back with a new video today. I totally understand needing a break, I'm kind of in a creative slump myself right now. Out of all the "mall channels," you are my favorite. I love your blend of amazing music, your history run downs of the mall and the area along with old photos, and just your spin on the situation. Take as many breaks as you need, but then come back so we can keep enjoying your content.
Born and raised in Pasadena, MD and my fam always frequented this gem for the food, shoes, haircuts, etc.. I’m astounded the Finish Line and Macy’s were still going strong. I wonder how the stores are faring in Fall 2024. So many memories, Sabarro’s was elite.
The checker floor space used to be where they would have the gift wrapping station every Christmas season. It was the information center of the mall. This was my home as a young mall rat 😂 from the 90’s, the video was incredible truly brought me back! Thank you for doing it justice, it really was something special back then
It’s funny to see this as α “dead mall” on one of these channels, as this the only place I get my haircuts at, as long as I’ve been born. I’ve seen this place so many times through the years, basically go to it monthly
I use to work in the Radio Shack there back in 2012. Even then with 3 anchors it was still a pretty active mall. Over the years it is so sad to see it in this state. Sadly the mall is done for, there's no way business will come back to it as companies are downsizing. It's a shame as now the closest mall is about 20-30 minutes away that being either Arundel Mills or Annapolis Mall. This was my childhood mall and I'll miss it.
Watching these videos is so bitter sweet to me. Not only is it a story of dead malls, but a picture of the decline of America in general from an era of excess. I love them keep it up =)
You do such a great job with these videos and narration! I've missed them but completely understand the need to step back at times. My first 4 years of employment was at a mall that was turned into part of a university. The mall culture was so vibrant in the late 80's to mid 90's. Thank you for your hard work!❤
The first entrance was really nice with the chrome look. I think the pink neons do look a lot better. It kinda reminds me of Miami vice back in the day. JC Penney always had that nice looking entrance like granite. That mall is in really good shape to be so dead. Thanks for another great video. Glad you had a nice break.
Dude I'm so mad I didn't know of this mall as a kid! I lived in Columbia, MD, but I would go to Glen Burnie to hang out with my friend. It wasn't till last year I was told that this mall existed there. I can't believe this neon-filled mall wasn't part of my childhood. Next time I'm in MD I have to see this place in person! Thank you for this video and sharing mind-blowing history I never knew about this area.
This is depressing. Marley Station Mall opened in 1987, my senior year of high school. I spent a lot of time there in the early to mid 90s. I still remember some of the old stores. I'm not 100% certain, but I think that Sbarro is one of the original stores that opened with the mall. Just past it was a Ruby Tuesday. The Komida Philipino Kitchen was a Taco Bell, one of the classic 80s style places. The China Bowl has been there since the early 90s; it replaced the original occupant of that corner store, the Vie de France Bakery. I saw plenty of movies there, but the only one I can remember for certain is Die Hard in 1989. I moved out of Anne Arundel County in 2002; I live thirty miles away now in the northern suburbs of Baltimore (I lived through the decline and death of the old Hunt Valley Mall during the late 90s as well), and I haven't been to Marley Station in at least five years. Now, I'm torn between wanting to see the old place one last time before it's inevitably shuttered and turned into luxury condos, and not wanting to see it in such a sorry state. By the way, Arundel is pronounced uh-RUN-dahl, not AIR-un-dell. But you pronounced Harundale correctly (HAIR-un-dale).
I live in arrundel and have since I was born, I heavily recommend checking it out at least one more time before it is gone forever. It could be the last time in your entire lifetime and existence in the future in which you could potentially be at the mall before it is shut down or demolished. When this window closes you will never have α chance to see it again. The mall still has α few stores in it, and the still intact neon is gorgeous.
Yeah, in this video it’s pronounced like Earendil which is a character in Tolkiens book The Silmarillion and I pondered if whoever named it was a Tolkien fan.
I think you really captured the liminal feeling of this place the best out of all the Marley Station videos, from the two shuttered storefronts near Boscov's with the checkered tiles, and the ambience of the entire wing itself later around 27:30. I also think they know at this point that the neon is what makes this mall such stop for many, hence why they keep it on. Great work!
I recommend you go to Northwoods Mall in Peoria Illinois. It used to be a pretty good mall and always busy, but now its a shell of it's former self. A lot of stores closing/already closed in the past year and way less people in the mall.
Why is this genre of music with retro malls such a comforting mood? lol Hey, thank you for making these videos. You are documenting history. Great work! ^.^
My wife and I just moved from Franklin to the Asheville NC area. I had been to the Asheville mall before, but it was probably several years back….As we walked through the mall it felt so nostalgic….We went to the food court to eat and just had a good time….Granted, it was a Saturday, but it was pretty busy…Seemed like a good sign to me….Hopefully it sticks around now that we actually live close to a mall for the first time in over a decade…Your videos encouraged me to go to the mall 😊
Somewhere between 1996 and 1998 I drove over there two Saturdays before Christmas in the afternoon and could NOT find a place to park, the entire place was completely packed. Even those spots all the way up as close as you could get to route 2 were all taken. I drove around for 10 to 15 minutes and got so frustrated I left and drove over to the Columbia Mall to do the shopping. I parked far away from the door but I found a place right away. Two years ago on the last Saturday before Christmas I was at the Home Depot across the street and decided to go to the mall just to look. The lot didn't look all that different than it did in your video that evening. It's so depressing to see it like that.
Thanks for the great video! Very well done! Spent a lot of years hanging and shopping in this mall and have a lot of great memories spending time there with family and friends. You did a great job capturing the mall's unique retro neon vibe. The 2 stores you were asking about in he dead wing with the checkered tile were originally County Seat and Record World. Record World was the one on the right with the white facade and the white pole in the entrance way (Though I believe it had an all black facade when it was record world). The store with the checkered floor to the left of the old Record World between it and the old Macy's with the gate and the blue columns on the right and left with the glass panels on them was County Seat. By the way, if you don't mind me asking, where did you get the old photos that start at the 15:03 mark in the video? Are there any more that you didn't use in the video? They are very old, probably from when the mall opened in 1987. I am putting together a Marley Station Mall tribute page on Facebook and would love to get any pre-2010 photos to put on my page. I am definitely putting a link to your video on my page, hopefully it will get you some extra clicks and a few bucks. I know there a lot of people in my area that grew up with that mall that will appreciate it. Thanks again for the great video! Rob
Hey thank you so much Rob! Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for answering my questions about what those 2 old stores were. As for those old pictures, they were shared to me by a friend online, who himself says he has just had them on his computer forever. I’d be more than willing to share the full images with you if you’d like to contact me thru Instagram!
Great job! Very interesting video. I grew up in in the area and have visited Marley Station Mall countless times. But I actually learned quite a few things here. Back in the late 80's and through the 90's, this place was full of life (especially around the holidays). It's quite depressing to see how it's transitioned into its current state. I'd like to add one thing that I didn't see in the video. Rocky Run was a cool restaurant that was next to the entrance at the end of the food court. I remember that they had a variety of "house beers" that were always quite good. Aside from being a spot to grab a quick bite before/after shopping, it also doubled as a convenient spot for wives to drop off their impatient husbands while they went on their shopping sprees. The longer the women spent shopping, the less the men cared. Of course, the abundance of draft beer played a bit part in that. Anyway, I really enjoyed your video. Keep up the great work!
Glad you're back doing videos. Sometimes it's hard to keep away from you're favorite hobbies. But love the retro mall with the glow of the neon. Only mall around me is Gurnee mills in illinois witch I hope it never die.
I grew up with this mall and admit that this somewhat hurts. I moved from MD in 2006, so I've not even seen the area in 18 years. This mall was crowded in the day, but this was never really any more luxury than Macys. It's not like it had Louis Vuitton or things like that in it. Harundale Mall was old old, and one of the first malls. Marley Station is where I saw movies like Batman and the Matrix. My dad was a fire inspector for the county, so I had the blueprints for it in 7th grade (85-86?) even as construction was beginning. This was originally going to be a 3 story mall (not just the anchors), with (I think) 5 anchor stores. JC Penney or Sears were not in the original launch. Without all the anchors joining for the launch, they had to scale back the project. I think that arcade was a Lenscrafters, but it might have been in that weird dead area. (Uh run dil is how you say 'Arundel' Mills) The theater area was the main entrance that a lot of people used to primarily use. I think that was a Ruby Tuesday and a Rocky Run local restaurant at the movie entrance.
So happy to have you back! 😊 Really enjoyed your video. That mall really has beautiful bones. It is sad about the neons that are broken there. Neon is a dying art. Its 100% hand crafted and the artisans that make it , take years to perfect the craft. Thus its very expensive to replace. Cant wait to see your next vid. 😄
I really enjoyed the history included in this video. Very well done! Marley Station Mall is a special place and it has been very good to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church Holiday Model Train Garden (see 5:00) through the various owners. Despite a very challenging 2023 holiday season, our volunteers are working hard to build some really exciting model train displays for our 2024 holiday season. Please come out and support us this year! Opening day scheduled for 11/23/24.
Wait yall set up in Marley Station? Where at? I love train gardens and go to that mall at least once every holiday season but I haven't seen any set up there in years.
Man, I am glad you are back, and you're feeling a lot better. With this in mind, you made a great documentary of The Marley Station Mall. The music and/or soundtrack just made me more nostalgic of my young years of hanging in malls. Anyway, man, keep going and enjoying making cool Mall documentaries. 😁👍🖖
Welcome back! I absolutely love the neon! I couldn’t decide between the blue or pink, I liked both. The mall is unfortunately a goner with Namdar owning it. I’m glad you were able to get video of this mall. I really loved the 80’s!
I really enjoy your videos, you have a pleasant speaking voice and you do your research and provide nice background on each mall. They are also very therapeutic with the music, I find myself playing them quite a bit for background noise as well. I totally get taking a break but I look forward to future videos.
I’m glad you enjoy them! I try to make them as informative, yet positive as possible (despite most of these malls grim realities) And I’m glad you enjoy the relaxing music! I always try to give each mall have a different musical theme that ties into its overall architecture and aesthetics.. You’ll enjoy what we have coming in the future!
I went to Marley Station Mall A LOT with my mom specifically. Where (if I remember correctly) Macy's used to be an event that has scarred me for life. I was with my family (mom, stepdad, & newly born little brother) inside an elevator and the doors wouldn't open right away. I started crying! As soon as they opened my stepdad informed someone about the issue. I recognize some of the old store fronts. I remember where the lingerie store was. Borders was at the center (the main elevator) then it was a wig and eventually a furniture store. There was a popular restaurant right there net to the entrance/exist. American Eagle seems to have left the Marley as well. *Sigh*
I remember the early days of this mall from my earliest days! I could probably point out on a map where a number of stores from it's heyday were if you're interested.
It’s bizarre how the mall I grew up going to in the early 2000s would become the poster child of interest in lost malls, and doubly strange how this interest has also been co-opted by the Vaporwave community, it’s like both of my worlds colliding at once. Either way yes this place rocked even in the early 00s, my friends and I would spend a lot of time here. It looks virtually the same as it used to but just with far less people and stores inside it. The GamePlay arcade is genuinely worth going to if you’re a fan of Japanese arcade & rhythm games. In the back there is DDR, Sound Voltex, Pop n Music, Jubeat etc. All connected online as well, kind of a hidden gem 💎
This is very much like the former Nashville mall Taubman built, Bellevue Center. I really miss Bellevue Center and this mall brings back good memories. Thanks for your excellent video
These videos make me think of the malls I went to as a kid . One of them , Stratford Square in Bloomingdale Illinois will apparently be shutting down in April . I think I'll have to take a trip down there before that happens .
Glad you're back! A couple months ago you had mentioned on one of my comments that you either had done or were planning to do West Ridge mall in Topeka Ks. It's recently been purchased and it's starting to turn around.
The store at 10:20 I believe used to either be a Frederick's of Hollywood or a dress shop (prom dresses, etc) depending on what year it was - I think Frederick's was upstairs but I can't really remember. I believe the large store was an anchor (Macy's before they bought Hecht's?) and it was gone or nearly gone by the time I moved to that area (2007).
Thank you for checking out my childhood mall. My husband still works there at Curmudgeon Books which I wish you had shown as they seem to be the only store really bringing in traffic nowadays with a live band there every Saturday. Those photos you attached were amazing, I have never seen those! Since you filmed this, Spencer's and Auntie Anne's have closed
I like that song Where We Belong, Where ˞Mountains High, Where The Eagles Fly. I agree like the pink neon & 80s vibes to Marley Station. Surprised that Bath & Body Works got updated since it was a dead mall in the late 2000s.
The former Macys/Boscovs location in the inside would have looked like the existing Macy’s at The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida which is thriving
2:00 - I was never inside Marley Station Mall, but I did walk *around* the mall on the trail. A trail built over a former rail line, a line that in the past apparently had a passenger train station here.
Used to come to this mall every Friday night after 06 when I graduated, met alot of lifelong friends here. Living right up the street it was pretty cool. It sucks that Amazon and all online shopping has killed malls like mine :(
8:22. Clearly a New York and Company. I used to work there about 10 years ago. It was pretty easy since we barely had any customers. 10:41 I believe used to be a store for formal dresses.
The store at 16:10 was a music box store. I wish I could remember the name of it. I worked at Matthews Hallmark and Suncoast Video while in high school and college. Both were up in the empty Hechts/Boscovs wing.
25:16 for many years α chick Fla was to the right here. It was designed very weirdly though. You had the front main counter area, but you would have to follow α hallway on the left side of the place and behind everything was the area where all the tables and stuff were.
These malls are absolutely amazing, I live the detail you put into your videos. And you have inspired me to travel to a dead mall and record it too, im going soon, i hope i go before it closes!
As a former Marley Station mall rat from the day it first opened this video hit me in the feels. Special shout out to Ann's (the hotdog stand) still going strong for more than 70 years.
Used to work at one of the food places in Marley. Remember walking around and greeting all the different store staff after my shift. It was something of a second home. Sad to see it fall so far...
7:56 Shoutout to Ann's Dari Creme and the double dog :D Also The Curmudgeon is a cool book store that I checked out in my visits in 2019 and 2020. MSM is the most beautiful place I ever visited. Love that mall so much.
10:23 I know when the mall first opened in 1987, it was a record shop, which closed in the early 90s, I think. What moved in after that, I don't remember.
Marley Station was my local mall growing up. Many memories there from opening till present. This was THE mall during the 90's. People would flock here and the parking lots were jammed packed! I grew up across the street and in other neighborhoods within walking distance so it was always on my route. Skateboarded there many many times. I remember so many stores, KB Toys, EB Games, Game Stop, Suncoast, Walden Books, Hects, Same Goody, RITZ camera. I stood in line for many video game preorder/midnight releases in this mall. Pokemon Yellow, God of War, Halo 2, Dreamcast releases....
I seen the Matrix in the theater here along with Jurassic Park 1, 2 and 3. Terminator II, Pokemon the 1st movie, The Lion King, Star Wars Episode I. So on and so on.....
Me and my friends would be broke high school kids, standing around in Suncoast picking out anime VHS/DVDs and talking about if they were good shows are not. Or burn up half of the day reading manga or magazines in Waldenbooks.
They would go all out with a huge display every Christmas. A few years they had a "letters to Santa" vacuum where you would write your Wishlist down and put it inside this mailbox/vacuum that would shoot the letter up a pipe into a cloud that was hanging way up in the skylights. If it was actually doing that or just making the sound I have no idea.
These days its a shell, but the bookstore in there is fantastic. It is an absolute gem! If you are into rhythm games Gameplay in the mall has many imported machines that are fairly new and well maintained.
Thanks for featuring this mall on your channel, I would have never guessed my local spot would have blown up so big decades after its fall from grace.
Those are so many awesome memories!! I wish I could’ve seen it in its day, it sounds like it was an amazing mall!
I also want to thank you SO much for these old photos. I am in awe, I had no idea these existed. You actually found a photo of Vie De France café. @16:00 I have not seen that place since I was a child and I half thought it was a dream. Very French décor and I was very young when we use to go there. I remember thinking it looked so strange. That entire block now shows no sign that café was evern there. Hakky is still there though. @@NorthCdogg22
What, no Harundale Mall? ;)
I seen........not to be grammar nazi, but it's I've seen. :/
In 1987, I was one of the openers of Macys. Your video paints a fairly accurate picture of the life and now, near death of Marley Station. I stayed at Macys until 1997, when I moved on to Brookstone in the also soon to be dead Owings Mills Mall. For a few years, Marley was a good place to be, but, as you pointed out, the opening of Arundel Mills was the straw that broke the camels back. Upscale shopping went to Annapolis Mall, about 15 miles to the south. Really enjoyed your video, and will watch a few more.
I remember when Marley Station opened up. It drove several other older malls out of business. The most obvious was Harundale Mall which was only couple miles away from Marley.
But for about 15 years, Marley Station was THE place to hang out if you were a teenager in Glen Burnie and Pasadena. By the early 2000's it was beginning to wane. But the death knell was when Arundel Mills Mall opened.
I personally have not been to Marley Station in about 15 years even though I only live a few miles away and pass it almost every day.
Interesting fact:
Anne's Dairy Creme is a small ice cream and hot dog shop dating back to the 60's. When they began construction on Marley Station, the owners of Anne's were offered a permanent home in Marley Station if they would close their current location right next door. The owners refused and Anne's is still running strong even though Marley has fizzled.
A good decision for Anne’s Dairy Crème as it turned out.
Double Dog FTW
What a beautiful mall. I love the pink neon lights, the store fronts, the shapes... Thanks for your work 😀👍
They need to treat these malls like historical sites I know someday I'm going to have to explain to my kids what malls were and that kind of makes me sad they are a part of this country's history
They should! I wish they could turn malls especially ones as retro vibey as this into museums, or at least preserve them.. it’s a shame all of this space is put to waste
Yeah true also if malla were all gone wouldn't the people like northcdogg22 be out of a job? Also yaaay your back I missed you
Yaaaay your back
If all malls gone wouldn't northcdogg22 be out of a job?
I don’t think all malls will be gone there is still a market for them and some folks still like to actually try on their clothes rather than blindly buying online and disliking it then going through the return trouble.
I simply think there will be less malls with very few dominating in more populated areas like cities.
I currently live in Cincinnati and have thoroughly enjoyed your series of dead/dying malls in Cincinnati. But I am originally from Denver, and as an older gentleman, I saw malls come and go in Denver. Maybe you've heard of Southglenn Mall, Cinderella City, and Villa Italia. Might be interesting to do productions on malls that you can't walk through anymore!
Oh.... and it is Arundel - prounounces "uh-run-dull" 😊
Thanks for the correction!
Best "Dead Mall" videos on TH-cam. The narration makes it. Fascinating.
Thank you so much!
@@NorthCdogg22 I love hearing the history and evolution of the malls. You do that so well. With so much interesting history along the way. This was the era of my teen years. So watching your beautifully crafted archaeological digs is a serious flashback to my youth. You do it better than any of the other ones! Please keep it up. It gives this old man nostalgia and happiness. Sometimes sadness, but fulfillment about the years past.
I actually work in this mall, didn't know it before last year but there's some serious charm and I've come to love it despite the flaws. Some places have actually opened since you recorded, in the old Champs spot upstairs (that one directly across in view from the elevator, actually looked in at 34:46) a small business named Carnage Gaming and Kicks opened, mainly a sneaker resale shop in the mall but we do Yu-Gi-Oh on TCGPlayer (I will admit some bias as this is where I work), also a boxing class opened upstairs in the data center wing). I hope the mall bounces back and people realize it's an affordable place to start up since rent is like half it was everywhere else we looked for a bigger space.
Also I love the arcade, especially the Japanese import rhythm games. Actually got to be friends with the repair technician and owners there, I actually help them out on fixing up machines, they also have some storage/workshop in the data center wing (You looked at it briefly, was visible from down the escalator) so instead of liminal space I see that wing as cool place lol
Thanks for this video. Very interesting. My husband and I took my parents to the opening of Marley Station Mall on February 24, 1987. Because of the snow, my parents had lost power. Coffee and snacks were offered throughout the Mall and my parents really appreciated it. Marley Station Mall and North Arundel Hospital co-sponsored the Marley Milers walking programs to promote health. It started at 8am and mileage cards were handed out for people to power walk or stroll.
I lived two miles from this mall when it opened. It was quite a mall at one time. I moved away from Glen Burnie and seeing it now in its present state is sad. I never knew about the body found. Excellent history of the mall, Thank You! I think it will close in the future.
Marley Station Mall was one of my go-to malls as a kid. Sad to see it in the state it is today. At 5:58, on the first floor to the right of the Sears was a store called "Waxie Maxie's", a store which sold music albums and other music memorabilia, eventually getting into the VHS movie market as well. I miss those days.
26:07 the brown wooden store on the left was α subway until very recently. And the empty store straight ahead was called “Mi Pueblo”, which didn’t shutdown but rather moved to α location nearby outside the mall
I'm so happy to see you were back with a new video today. I totally understand needing a break, I'm kind of in a creative slump myself right now. Out of all the "mall channels," you are my favorite. I love your blend of amazing music, your history run downs of the mall and the area along with old photos, and just your spin on the situation. Take as many breaks as you need, but then come back so we can keep enjoying your content.
Thank you so much! Taking time away from making vids has allowed me to completely refresh and make more, can’t wait to show you what I got cookin!
Born and raised in Pasadena, MD and my fam always frequented this gem for the food, shoes, haircuts, etc.. I’m astounded the Finish Line and Macy’s were still going strong. I wonder how the stores are faring in Fall 2024. So many memories, Sabarro’s was elite.
By the way, pretty sure the store front at 10:40 used to be a Champs sportswear store
Welcome back! So glad to see Dead Malls return to my screen!
Namdar, Kohan, and Moonbeam. The kiss of death trifecta!
The checker floor space used to be where they would have the gift wrapping station every Christmas season. It was the information center of the mall. This was my home as a young mall rat 😂 from the 90’s, the video was incredible truly brought me back! Thank you for doing it justice, it really was something special back then
Ahhh I see, thanks for sharing! I wish I could’ve seen this place back in its prime! The 90s and early 2000s sounded magical!
It’s funny to see this as α “dead mall” on one of these channels, as this the only place I get my haircuts at, as long as I’ve been born. I’ve seen this place so many times through the years, basically go to it monthly
I use to work in the Radio Shack there back in 2012. Even then with 3 anchors it was still a pretty active mall. Over the years it is so sad to see it in this state. Sadly the mall is done for, there's no way business will come back to it as companies are downsizing. It's a shame as now the closest mall is about 20-30 minutes away that being either Arundel Mills or Annapolis Mall. This was my childhood mall and I'll miss it.
Watching these videos is so bitter sweet to me. Not only is it a story of dead malls, but a picture of the decline of America in general from an era of excess. I love them keep it up =)
Curmudgeon is a gem in this mall. Such a great store. Food at Komida is great as well
You do such a great job with these videos and narration! I've missed them but completely understand the need to step back at times. My first 4 years of employment was at a mall that was turned into part of a university. The mall culture was so vibrant in the late 80's to mid 90's. Thank you for your hard work!❤
Glad you like them, thanks for watching!
The first entrance was really nice with the chrome look. I think the pink neons do look a lot better. It kinda reminds me of Miami vice back in the day. JC Penney always had that nice looking entrance like granite. That mall is in really good shape to be so dead. Thanks for another great video. Glad you had a nice break.
Dude I'm so mad I didn't know of this mall as a kid! I lived in Columbia, MD, but I would go to Glen Burnie to hang out with my friend. It wasn't till last year I was told that this mall existed there. I can't believe this neon-filled mall wasn't part of my childhood. Next time I'm in MD I have to see this place in person! Thank you for this video and sharing mind-blowing history I never knew about this area.
This is depressing. Marley Station Mall opened in 1987, my senior year of high school. I spent a lot of time there in the early to mid 90s.
I still remember some of the old stores. I'm not 100% certain, but I think that Sbarro is one of the original stores that opened with the mall. Just past it was a Ruby Tuesday. The Komida Philipino Kitchen was a Taco Bell, one of the classic 80s style places. The China Bowl has been there since the early 90s; it replaced the original occupant of that corner store, the Vie de France Bakery.
I saw plenty of movies there, but the only one I can remember for certain is Die Hard in 1989.
I moved out of Anne Arundel County in 2002; I live thirty miles away now in the northern suburbs of Baltimore (I lived through the decline and death of the old Hunt Valley Mall during the late 90s as well), and I haven't been to Marley Station in at least five years. Now, I'm torn between wanting to see the old place one last time before it's inevitably shuttered and turned into luxury condos, and not wanting to see it in such a sorry state.
By the way, Arundel is pronounced uh-RUN-dahl, not AIR-un-dell. But you pronounced Harundale correctly (HAIR-un-dale).
I live in arrundel and have since I was born, I heavily recommend checking it out at least one more time before it is gone forever. It could be the last time in your entire lifetime and existence in the future in which you could potentially be at the mall before it is shut down or demolished. When this window closes you will never have α chance to see it again. The mall still has α few stores in it, and the still intact neon is gorgeous.
Yeah, in this video it’s pronounced like Earendil which is a character in Tolkiens book The Silmarillion and I pondered if whoever named it was a Tolkien fan.
I think you really captured the liminal feeling of this place the best out of all the Marley Station videos, from the two shuttered storefronts near Boscov's with the checkered tiles, and the ambience of the entire wing itself later around 27:30. I also think they know at this point that the neon is what makes this mall such stop for many, hence why they keep it on. Great work!
Thank you! This mall truly is a dream-like trip!
I recommend you go to Northwoods Mall in Peoria Illinois. It used to be a pretty good mall and always busy, but now its a shell of it's former self. A lot of stores closing/already closed in the past year and way less people in the mall.
Why is this genre of music with retro malls such a comforting mood? lol
Hey, thank you for making these videos. You are documenting history. Great work! ^.^
Thank you for watching! Glad you enjoy them! :)
Glad you are back North. That is some beautiful neon.
My wife and I just moved from Franklin to the Asheville NC area. I had been to the Asheville mall before, but it was probably several years back….As we walked through the mall it felt so nostalgic….We went to the food court to eat and just had a good time….Granted, it was a Saturday, but it was pretty busy…Seemed like a good sign to me….Hopefully it sticks around now that we actually live close to a mall for the first time in over a decade…Your videos encouraged me to go to the mall 😊
Somewhere between 1996 and 1998 I drove over there two Saturdays before Christmas in the afternoon and could NOT find a place to park, the entire place was completely packed. Even those spots all the way up as close as you could get to route 2 were all taken. I drove around for 10 to 15 minutes and got so frustrated I left and drove over to the Columbia Mall to do the shopping. I parked far away from the door but I found a place right away.
Two years ago on the last Saturday before Christmas I was at the Home Depot across the street and decided to go to the mall just to look. The lot didn't look all that different than it did in your video that evening. It's so depressing to see it like that.
Danke! So glad to have you back 😊
Thank you!!!
Welcome back!
It’s so good to have you back. Congratulations on another awesome video
Thanks for the great video! Very well done! Spent a lot of years hanging and shopping in this mall and have a lot of great memories spending time there with family and friends. You did a great job capturing the mall's unique retro neon vibe. The 2 stores you were asking about in he dead wing with the checkered tile were originally County Seat and Record World. Record World was the one on the right with the white facade and the white pole in the entrance way (Though I believe it had an all black facade when it was record world). The store with the checkered floor to the left of the old Record World between it and the old Macy's with the gate and the blue columns on the right and left with the glass panels on them was County Seat. By the way, if you don't mind me asking, where did you get the old photos that start at the 15:03 mark in the video? Are there any more that you didn't use in the video? They are very old, probably from when the mall opened in 1987. I am putting together a Marley Station Mall tribute page on Facebook and would love to get any pre-2010 photos to put on my page. I am definitely putting a link to your video on my page, hopefully it will get you some extra clicks and a few bucks. I know there a lot of people in my area that grew up with that mall that will appreciate it. Thanks again for the great video! Rob
Hey thank you so much Rob! Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for answering my questions about what those 2 old stores were. As for those old pictures, they were shared to me by a friend online, who himself says he has just had them on his computer forever. I’d be more than willing to share the full images with you if you’d like to contact me thru Instagram!
Never mind. I figured it out. I messaged you on Instagram.
Great job! Very interesting video. I grew up in in the area and have visited Marley Station Mall countless times. But I actually learned quite a few things here. Back in the late 80's and through the 90's, this place was full of life (especially around the holidays). It's quite depressing to see how it's transitioned into its current state. I'd like to add one thing that I didn't see in the video. Rocky Run was a cool restaurant that was next to the entrance at the end of the food court. I remember that they had a variety of "house beers" that were always quite good. Aside from being a spot to grab a quick bite before/after shopping, it also doubled as a convenient spot for wives to drop off their impatient husbands while they went on their shopping sprees. The longer the women spent shopping, the less the men cared. Of course, the abundance of draft beer played a bit part in that. Anyway, I really enjoyed your video. Keep up the great work!
Rocky Run sounds really interesting, thanks for sharing! And thank you for watching!
Rocky Run was FUN!! @@NorthCdogg22
Rocky Run was such a great restaurant.
Glad you're back doing videos. Sometimes it's hard to keep away from you're favorite hobbies. But love the retro mall with the glow of the neon. Only mall around me is Gurnee mills in illinois witch I hope it never die.
Thanks for the playlist! These retail beats give me this comfort of melancholy for some reason.
I grew up with this mall and admit that this somewhat hurts. I moved from MD in 2006, so I've not even seen the area in 18 years. This mall was crowded in the day, but this was never really any more luxury than Macys. It's not like it had Louis Vuitton or things like that in it. Harundale Mall was old old, and one of the first malls. Marley Station is where I saw movies like Batman and the Matrix. My dad was a fire inspector for the county, so I had the blueprints for it in 7th grade (85-86?) even as construction was beginning. This was originally going to be a 3 story mall (not just the anchors), with (I think) 5 anchor stores. JC Penney or Sears were not in the original launch. Without all the anchors joining for the launch, they had to scale back the project. I think that arcade was a Lenscrafters, but it might have been in that weird dead area. (Uh run dil is how you say 'Arundel' Mills) The theater area was the main entrance that a lot of people used to primarily use. I think that was a Ruby Tuesday and a Rocky Run local restaurant at the movie entrance.
You're still the best there is. Glad to see you're back, doing better than ever!
So happy to hear that you’re feeling better! I got to see this mall when we lived in Maryland. It’s huge.
So happy to have you back! 😊 Really enjoyed your video. That mall really has beautiful bones. It is sad about the neons that are broken there. Neon is a dying art. Its 100% hand crafted and the artisans that make it , take years to perfect the craft. Thus its very expensive to replace.
Cant wait to see your next vid. 😄
Thank you for watching!! :)
Fabulous video! What a georgous looking mall! Welcome back! 😁
Thank you! 😃
Awesome video! thank you! and welcome back 🗣
Thank you!! 😊
I really enjoyed the history included in this video. Very well done! Marley Station Mall is a special place and it has been very good to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church Holiday Model Train Garden (see 5:00) through the various owners. Despite a very challenging 2023 holiday season, our volunteers are working hard to build some really exciting model train displays for our 2024 holiday season. Please come out and support us this year! Opening day scheduled for 11/23/24.
Wait yall set up in Marley Station? Where at?
I love train gardens and go to that mall at least once every holiday season but I haven't seen any set up there in years.
This was presented to the highest standard. Informative, insightful, jovial, and laid back. Your passion is contagious. Please don't stop.
Man, I am glad you are back, and you're feeling a lot better. With this in mind, you made a great documentary of The Marley Station Mall. The music and/or soundtrack just made me more nostalgic of my young years of hanging in malls. Anyway, man, keep going and enjoying making cool Mall documentaries. 😁👍🖖
Welcome back! I absolutely love the neon! I couldn’t decide between the blue or pink, I liked both. The mall is unfortunately a goner with Namdar owning it. I’m glad you were able to get video of this mall. I really loved the 80’s!
Brings back a lot of good memories growing up....
Great video. You clearly put A LOT of work into it. It shows.
Thank you!!
Yay you’re back 🎉 and what an awesome mall!
i live pretty close to this mall and i remember it being so much more than this. Its really tragic honestly
I really enjoy your videos, you have a pleasant speaking voice and you do your research and provide nice background on each mall. They are also very therapeutic with the music, I find myself playing them quite a bit for background noise as well. I totally get taking a break but I look forward to future videos.
I’m glad you enjoy them! I try to make them as informative, yet positive as possible (despite most of these malls grim realities) And I’m glad you enjoy the relaxing music! I always try to give each mall have a different musical theme that ties into its overall architecture and aesthetics.. You’ll enjoy what we have coming in the future!
Glad you back kept looking for the next video.. Always enjoy them. Another outstanding one
I went to Marley Station Mall A LOT with my mom specifically. Where (if I remember correctly) Macy's used to be an event that has scarred me for life. I was with my family (mom, stepdad, & newly born little brother) inside an elevator and the doors wouldn't open right away. I started crying! As soon as they opened my stepdad informed someone about the issue. I recognize some of the old store fronts. I remember where the lingerie store was. Borders was at the center (the main elevator) then it was a wig and eventually a furniture store. There was a popular restaurant right there net to the entrance/exist. American Eagle seems to have left the Marley as well. *Sigh*
The dead mall KING is back!
Welcome back. Glad you are feeling better.
Still sad to see what’s happening to these malls.
Great video. Looking forward to more. 👍
This mall was definitely worth the wait and man what a beauty she is. Great Video
Thank you!
Vaporwave music in the background YES
hey, love your vids! thank you for archiving these spaces.
Thank you! And the pleasure is all mine!
This was my childhood mall 😢 and it was actually doing pretty good in the early 2010s
I remember the early days of this mall from my earliest days! I could probably point out on a map where a number of stores from it's heyday were if you're interested.
It’s bizarre how the mall I grew up going to in the early 2000s would become the poster child of interest in lost malls, and doubly strange how this interest has also been co-opted by the Vaporwave community, it’s like both of my worlds colliding at once. Either way yes this place rocked even in the early 00s, my friends and I would spend a lot of time here. It looks virtually the same as it used to but just with far less people and stores inside it. The GamePlay arcade is genuinely worth going to if you’re a fan of Japanese arcade & rhythm games. In the back there is DDR, Sound Voltex, Pop n Music, Jubeat etc. All connected online as well, kind of a hidden gem 💎
Glad you are back....enjoyed this video as I visited this mall 10 years ago and it hasn't changed a lot since.
" more choices coming soon" sign has been there for probably at least 20 years that I can remember. Lol.
He's back and he's brought along plenty of neon. 😁
Great Job! Love the narration you do for all of the content. It def separates you from other channels & you do it well.
This is very much like the former Nashville mall Taubman built, Bellevue Center. I really miss Bellevue Center and this mall brings back good memories. Thanks for your excellent video
Thank you for watching!
These videos make me think of the malls I went to as a kid . One of them , Stratford Square in Bloomingdale Illinois will apparently be shutting down in April . I think I'll have to take a trip down there before that happens .
Glad you're back! A couple months ago you had mentioned on one of my comments that you either had done or were planning to do West Ridge mall in Topeka Ks. It's recently been purchased and it's starting to turn around.
Absolutely awesome mall! That neon is beautiful! Great video!
The store at 10:20 I believe used to either be a Frederick's of Hollywood or a dress shop (prom dresses, etc) depending on what year it was - I think Frederick's was upstairs but I can't really remember. I believe the large store was an anchor (Macy's before they bought Hecht's?) and it was gone or nearly gone by the time I moved to that area (2007).
So glad you're back!
Thanks!
Thank you KB!!
Thank you for checking out my childhood mall. My husband still works there at Curmudgeon Books which I wish you had shown as they seem to be the only store really bringing in traffic nowadays with a live band there every Saturday.
Those photos you attached were amazing, I have never seen those! Since you filmed this, Spencer's and Auntie Anne's have closed
I wish I would’ve stopped by! Which area of the mall is Curmudgeon located in? And thank you for watching!
Amazing Video Man! Such a wonderful mall I really hope to visit eventually!
I'm sure you'll get your chance soon, thanks for watching!
I like that song Where We Belong, Where ˞Mountains High, Where The Eagles Fly. I agree like the pink neon & 80s vibes to Marley Station. Surprised that Bath & Body Works got updated since it was a dead mall in the late 2000s.
Omg you mentioned the rolling Giant!!! I love the oldest view!
Love the neons!
The former Macys/Boscovs location in the inside would have looked like the existing Macy’s at The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida which is thriving
thank you for including such beautiful music!! new subscriber! :D
2:00 - I was never inside Marley Station Mall, but I did walk *around* the mall on the trail. A trail built over a former rail line, a line that in the past apparently had a passenger train station here.
Great video this is one of my favorite malls I have been to as well
Same here!
Used to come to this mall every Friday night after 06 when I graduated, met alot of lifelong friends here. Living right up the street it was pretty cool. It sucks that Amazon and all online shopping has killed malls like mine :(
Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed your well-earned sabbatical!
Thank you!!
Also, I'm glad you're doing better.
Thank you!!
Hey!! You’re back!! I’m new here but welcome back
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the vids!
8:22. Clearly a New York and Company. I used to work there about 10 years ago. It was pretty easy since we barely had any customers. 10:41 I believe used to be a store for formal dresses.
16:49 was a Sears
No way
"Sear"-casm?
The store at 16:10 was a music box store. I wish I could remember the name of it.
I worked at Matthews Hallmark and Suncoast Video while in high school and college. Both were up in the empty Hechts/Boscovs wing.
Really solid video North. Great stuff, made me wanna visit this one for sure!
Thank you! It’s a worthy mall for sure!
25:16 for many years α chick Fla was to the right here. It was designed very weirdly though. You had the front main counter area, but you would have to follow α hallway on the left side of the place and behind everything was the area where all the tables and stuff were.
It was a McDonalds in the 90’s
@@sandybrown8698Interesting, I never knew that!
These malls are absolutely amazing, I live the detail you put into your videos. And you have inspired me to travel to a dead mall and record it too, im going soon, i hope i go before it closes!
I hope you get to see it! It’s a beautiful place
As a former Marley Station mall rat from the day it first opened this video hit me in the feels.
Special shout out to Ann's (the hotdog stand) still going strong for more than 70 years.
Welcome back my man!
Used to work at one of the food places in Marley. Remember walking around and greeting all the different store staff after my shift. It was something of a second home.
Sad to see it fall so far...
7:56 Shoutout to Ann's Dari Creme and the double dog :D Also The Curmudgeon is a cool book store that I checked out in my visits in 2019 and 2020. MSM is the most beautiful place I ever visited. Love that mall so much.
missed ya!
10:23 I know when the mall first opened in 1987, it was a record shop, which closed in the early 90s, I think. What moved in after that, I don't remember.