When I was a kid in the early 2000s I loved coming here! I frequently went to Altamonte Mall but when we got to change it up and come here it was always exciting. Last time I came here was a few years ago (pre-COVID I think) and it was really sad to see it the way it was.
Kohan sold the mall and the deal just closed about 3 weeks ago. Vacancies are through the roof though. There are only three spots left open in the food court and the mall itself is likely below 30% occupancy. Hopefully the new owners can turn it around but it's going to be a major uphill battle.
This mall is mallsoft vaporwave personified. I'm thankful you were able to capture and document it, because with Kohan at the wheel, it doesn't look good. In this footage, you could hardly tell it was five days before Christmas, other than around the food court. For a mall that size and style, I thought the place would've been doused in Christmas decor. And so few shoppers! Awesome video, Andrew. Keep up the good work!
I’m a Central Florida resident and would visit this mall quite often as a kid in the 2000s/early 2010s. It was thriving quite well up until that point. I distinctly remember the Disney Store that was there, and you know a mall was doing well when it had one lol! It’s a shame to see it as empty as this, but hopeful they can keep it up and turn things around!
@@ERA_Productions Of course! You always do an amazing job! I remember passing by this mall when I was traveling to Orlando. From the Interstate, you can see the former Sears, now Elev-8 and the abandoned Macy's. Ever since I saw those buildings, I wanted to check this mall out. Pumped to see it through your video!
When you enter, you pass John's Heel and Sew on the left. That place is truly a time capsule within a time capsule. Pretty sure it's one of the only original remaining tenants. I'm short so I used to come with my mom to get my jeans hemmed there all the time.
Thanks for the video! We moved to Sanford in 1991, so I remember when the mall opened. It was so cool to have our own mall in Sanford. Wow, is that really almost 30 years ago now? A lot of additional retail and restaurants have been built in the general vicinity of the mall, so that end of town is very popular, but just not the mall itself anymore. It seems that some malls are being repurposed or renovated as apartments, offices, etc. - so I hope that the space can be put to good use.
I heard the mall is being restored this coming January, I’m gunna be visiting a lot soon to get some last pictures and sounds from this mall to hopefully make a full one to one remake online for VR so I can still visit this place
Damn this place is beautiful. I love how all the buildings in florida look. So cozy and nostalgic. Makes me so sad tho. My grandparents and aunts and uncles live in deland so i would always visit to florida from new york during the summer for my birthday as a kid and when i started getting to late elementary/early middle school my birthday present would be shopping for cool new clothes for that upcoming school year at this mall. I'm about to be 23 now, have to work everyday just to survive, i miss my family and don't know when i'll be able to take time off to visit again. I'm so glad i got to experience those times growing up and vaguely remember the last moment malls were really popping off. I still go to the malls where i live now, i just have always loved the ambiance and aesthetic of them, especially 90s ones like this. I hope i can go here again before something happens to it, this will be my second dead mall experience after coincidentally checking out the Cincinnati mall right before that one shut down lol
I was there yesterday. I always go in the summer time to walk. No air conditioning , JC Penny’s had great discounts on all stock . It was sad I don’t think it will recover
I was just in this Mall 2 months ago and a lot more stores were gone or moved out. My Lenscrafters and all eyeglass places too. Yankee Candles has left also. They did not have the AC on in the Mall just stores left in there. Zales was still there. This has always been my go to Mall along with The Altamonte Mall and Millenia Mall! Thanks for doing a video on this Mall. Also visit the one in Lake County Fl, go to the Lake Square Mall!
I went to this mall last year on a Saturday and was so shocked to see how empty and vacant it was. The escalators were closed and it was like a ghost town.
My wife and I decided to walk around the mall today, very sad to see it SO devoid of people bustling around and side stepping each other because it’s a crowded Sunday afternoon, the Food Court had 3 restaurants open, and the former bar is closed as. (10/22/23)
Damn. It’s sad to see how this place is now. I remember going here a lot when I was a kid. This place used to always be packed even during the early 2010s. Heck I still have many pictures on my dsi that captures moments where the mall was lively. I wish it wasn’t like this
This was the best place in Sanford, Florida to go to shop and hangout. My favorite places that were in Seminole Town Center: SunCoast Motion Picture Company, Borders Book Store, Waldenbooks, FYE Music, GameStop, Funcoland Arcade, Panda Express, Subarro Pizza, Auntie Annie's Pretzel, Brookstone. I wonder if Hot Topic is there in there?
Eyy the mall i used to go so much its sad seeing the state its in I went yesterday and more is closed or gone It used to be sooo lively and alotta fun events used to happen there i know this mall in and out, and some og stores are still left I think the mall isnt gonna make it especially after what i saw recently which breaks my heart 💔 but thanks for covering one of my fav malls and awesome video I know theres other malls i can go to but this one ive been too for yeaaars ah so wild
I live in Deltona and this is the closest mall and after that, Altamonte Mall. Obviously you can’t compare the two because they’re like night and day. The Sanford Mall is so sad and very similar to many malls across the country. I do like to visit Dillard’s because it’s closer than Altamonte Mall. I read in another article that when malls get to this point, they turn off escalators to save on utilities. Some also adjust the A/C to save. So sad what’s happened to so many malls that used to really draw the crowds. That’s social media and the internet for you… 🤷🏼🤷🏼
This mall comes right after Forest Fair Village in my list of malls I’ve always wanted to go to. The white trees in front of the anchor stores aren’t only in this mall. I saw them in another mall (i can’t remember which one but it’s near Tallahassee
@@ERA_Productions No problem! Here in Florida, we also have an Outlet Mall in Vero that has recently all but died. Others like the one in Ormond Beach are being expanded. You might want to cover those too maybe?
Aww...Funny to watch a little 😺 go to the mall & post a "BE KIND" warning....Im an IRONWORKER who BUILT that mall...Grow some BALLS & get a JOB that isn't air-conditioned...😆
What are your thoughts on Seminole Towne Center, and what do you think it's future holds?
This mall is genuinely something special
When I was a kid in the early 2000s I loved coming here! I frequently went to Altamonte Mall but when we got to change it up and come here it was always exciting. Last time I came here was a few years ago (pre-COVID I think) and it was really sad to see it the way it was.
Kohan sold the mall and the deal just closed about 3 weeks ago. Vacancies are through the roof though. There are only three spots left open in the food court and the mall itself is likely below 30% occupancy. Hopefully the new owners can turn it around but it's going to be a major uphill battle.
This mall is mallsoft vaporwave personified. I'm thankful you were able to capture and document it, because with Kohan at the wheel, it doesn't look good. In this footage, you could hardly tell it was five days before Christmas, other than around the food court. For a mall that size and style, I thought the place would've been doused in Christmas decor. And so few shoppers! Awesome video, Andrew. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! I hope this place still has a chance of survival, but it’s hard to tell with Kohan at ownership.
I remember this mall being packed back in the late 90’s early 2000’s
I’m a Central Florida resident and would visit this mall quite often as a kid in the 2000s/early 2010s. It was thriving quite well up until that point. I distinctly remember the Disney Store that was there, and you know a mall was doing well when it had one lol! It’s a shame to see it as empty as this, but hopeful they can keep it up and turn things around!
I love to see 90's remnants!
Great job!
Me too! Thank you for the support!
@@ERA_Productions Of course! You always do an amazing job!
I remember passing by this mall when I was traveling to Orlando. From the Interstate, you can see the former Sears, now Elev-8 and the abandoned Macy's. Ever since I saw those buildings, I wanted to check this mall out. Pumped to see it through your video!
When you enter, you pass John's Heel and Sew on the left. That place is truly a time capsule within a time capsule. Pretty sure it's one of the only original remaining tenants. I'm short so I used to come with my mom to get my jeans hemmed there all the time.
Yeah, it’s one of the last original tenants of the mall.
Thanks for the video! We moved to Sanford in 1991, so I remember when the mall opened. It was so cool to have our own mall in Sanford. Wow, is that really almost 30 years ago now? A lot of additional retail and restaurants have been built in the general vicinity of the mall, so that end of town is very popular, but just not the mall itself anymore.
It seems that some malls are being repurposed or renovated as apartments, offices, etc. - so I hope that the space can be put to good use.
I heard the mall is being restored this coming January, I’m gunna be visiting a lot soon to get some last pictures and sounds from this mall to hopefully make a full one to one remake online for VR so I can still visit this place
Damn this place is beautiful. I love how all the buildings in florida look. So cozy and nostalgic. Makes me so sad tho. My grandparents and aunts and uncles live in deland so i would always visit to florida from new york during the summer for my birthday as a kid and when i started getting to late elementary/early middle school my birthday present would be shopping for cool new clothes for that upcoming school year at this mall. I'm about to be 23 now, have to work everyday just to survive, i miss my family and don't know when i'll be able to take time off to visit again. I'm so glad i got to experience those times growing up and vaguely remember the last moment malls were really popping off. I still go to the malls where i live now, i just have always loved the ambiance and aesthetic of them, especially 90s ones like this. I hope i can go here again before something happens to it, this will be my second dead mall experience after coincidentally checking out the Cincinnati mall right before that one shut down lol
I was there yesterday. I always go in the summer time to walk. No air conditioning , JC Penny’s had great discounts on all stock . It was sad I don’t think it will recover
I was just in this Mall 2 months ago and a lot more stores were gone or moved out. My Lenscrafters and all eyeglass places too. Yankee Candles has left also. They did not have the AC on in the Mall just stores left in there. Zales was still there. This has always been my go to Mall along with The Altamonte Mall and Millenia Mall! Thanks for doing a video on this Mall. Also visit the one in Lake County Fl, go to the Lake Square Mall!
I went to this mall last year on a Saturday and was so shocked to see how empty and vacant it was. The escalators were closed and it was like a ghost town.
It’s sad to hear that honestly. I hate what Kohan is doing to this mall. :(
My wife and I decided to walk around the mall today, very sad to see it SO devoid of people bustling around and side stepping each other because it’s a crowded Sunday afternoon, the Food Court had 3 restaurants open, and the former bar is closed as.
(10/22/23)
Amazing video as always Andrew!
Damn. It’s sad to see how this place is now. I remember going here a lot when I was a kid. This place used to always be packed even during the early 2010s. Heck I still have many pictures on my dsi that captures moments where the mall was lively. I wish it wasn’t like this
This mall is beautiful! Go to the Albany Mall in Albany, Georgia.
This was the best place in Sanford, Florida to go to shop and hangout. My favorite places that were in Seminole Town Center:
SunCoast Motion Picture Company, Borders Book Store, Waldenbooks, FYE Music, GameStop, Funcoland Arcade, Panda Express, Subarro Pizza, Auntie Annie's Pretzel, Brookstone.
I wonder if Hot Topic is there in there?
yeah hot topic is still in there. it’s pretty updated too
Eyy the mall i used to go so much its sad seeing the state its in
I went yesterday and more is closed or gone
It used to be sooo lively and alotta fun events used to happen there i know this mall in and out, and some og stores are still left
I think the mall isnt gonna make it especially after what i saw recently which breaks my heart 💔 but thanks for covering one of my fav malls and awesome video
I know theres other malls i can go to but this one ive been too for yeaaars ah so wild
amazing video as always:)
You're the best! ❤️
Woodland Hills in Tulsa will be on this list someday.
Thanks for the recommendation! Hopefully I can make it up there sometime
I live in Deltona and this is the closest mall and after that, Altamonte Mall. Obviously you can’t compare the two because they’re like night and day. The Sanford Mall is so sad and very similar to many malls across the country. I do like to visit Dillard’s because it’s closer than Altamonte Mall. I read in another article that when malls get to this point, they turn off escalators to save on utilities. Some also adjust the A/C to save. So sad what’s happened to so many malls that used to really draw the crowds. That’s social media and the internet for you… 🤷🏼🤷🏼
Altamonte Mall is still packed, so opposite of the mall in Sanford, very strange
This mall comes right after Forest Fair Village in my list of malls I’ve always wanted to go to. The white trees in front of the anchor stores aren’t only in this mall. I saw them in another mall (i can’t remember which one but it’s near Tallahassee
You're thinking Governor's Square Mall. They were both owned by Simon at one point.
I guess i never noticed how neon lighted it was. Keyword WAS. Mom invited me last week didnt even want to go.
this place use to be amazing
Guest starring: Rain 🤣
For real, it was crazy with that weather in December 😂
Nice walk down memory lane. BTW, Burdines was pronounced Bird-Die-ns 😊
Thank you! I’m not a Florida resident, even though I visit frequent. So I appreciate the help!
@@ERA_Productions No problem! Here in Florida, we also have an Outlet Mall in Vero that has recently all but died. Others like the one in Ormond Beach are being expanded. You might want to cover those too maybe?
I'll have to see if I can get them next time I'm in Florida.
I doubt a turnaround under Kohan's ownership is possible.
Aww...Funny to watch a little 😺 go to the mall & post a "BE KIND" warning....Im an IRONWORKER who BUILT that mall...Grow some BALLS & get a JOB that isn't air-conditioned...😆
it not dead its js very little ppl go there