I remember going to the Franklin Mills malls shortly after it opened in the summer of 1989. I remember that because the Batman movie was the big hit that summer and it seems like every place you went was selling some kind of Batman merchandise. Anyway, I remember being 11 years old at the time and thinking the Franklin Mills mall was sketchy 3 months after it opened. I later went back one time 15 years later, and it was a total dump. That was 20 years ago.
In the center court there is now some sort of bear store on the left wrap around corner. It used to be a Swatch watch store back when Ben Franklin’s head was there. I was the store manager. This was 1996. The mall was much cooler then.
Think you are wrong about the location of Sears surplus where the AMC movie theater is now. Purchased several tools & a tool chest at the Sears. Thought it was on the other side of the mall. Would use the doors from the parking lot to enter Sears. First few years Franklin Milks Mall was the largest tourist attraction in Philly. Would have 3 to 8 buses parked at back for out of towers.
The Sears Outlet had two locations. It was originally at what is now the AMC; the map at 5:52 does show it, but it's kind of hard to read the store names because they're so tiny. If you google image search "Franklin Mills 1989", that map should be one of the first few results and you can probably see it better than in the video. The second location was attached to the Marshalls and was only accessible from outside the mall, which is probably the place you're thinking of. It's currently American Freight.
mall is a shell of its former self. it’s sad, wouldn’t be surprised if it gets demolished for either housing or maybe the sixers arena if Chinatown manages to run them out 10:54 wasn’t it a TGI Fridays or is my memory fuzzy there? 14:27 where you were at that little plaza area were tv towers which played ads and music videos. they stopped operating in the 2000s but remained there until the renovations and then they were taken out completely
The mall might hold out for another 5-10 years but I think it'll be gone in the not too distant future. Stores are closing left and right. It was definitely Ruby Tuesday. I think it was another restaurant after that, but I'm not sure which one. Mills TV, I think it was called. I don't remember much about it but I think it was there and also in another part of the mall too.
@@The-Retail-Archivesi’ll give it from now til maybe 2030. i definitely do think they should repurpose it a lil bit and make it mixed use like how oxford valley did and what neshaminy is currently planning too. and also touch up the area a little better, get rid of the homeless camps, repair the roads. otherwise i could see it being an alternative site for the sixers arena considering its in between 95 and the boulevard
I had an MTX speakerbox in my trunk parked right in front of the cameras... at dusk it was stolen! In security I asked what was on camera? They said the cameras were fake!
Montgomery Mall in Montgomeryville, PA has become a dead mall. Food court only has two or three places to eat anymore. Used to be a Chick-Fil-A, and a McDonald's there. That was my first time seeing a McDonald's inside a shopping mall. Also a Dairy Queen/Orange Julius, both gone. Chick-Fil-A had two locations on the mall property, one store inside, and one store outside on mall property. Wasn't sure why that was. They are putting a Raising Cane's outside on mall property, next to.....Chick-Fil-A. Set to open sometime in 2025
Franklin Mills was my favorite go to mall growing up
I used to love that mall! I drove up from South Jersey often to go shopping ☺
Happy New Year 🎆
Wow, I used to shop there in the early 90s when it was hopping every day. So sad….
I remember going to the Franklin Mills malls shortly after it opened in the summer of 1989. I remember that because the Batman movie was the big hit that summer and it seems like every place you went was selling some kind of Batman merchandise. Anyway, I remember being 11 years old at the time and thinking the Franklin Mills mall was sketchy 3 months after it opened. I later went back one time 15 years later, and it was a total dump. That was 20 years ago.
nice info! that was educational
Ahh, gone are the days of Carrefour, JCP outlet, Boscovs and the rest. Was a great shopping experience.
In the center court there is now some sort of bear store on the left wrap around corner. It used to be a Swatch watch store back when Ben Franklin’s head was there. I was the store manager. This was 1996. The mall was much cooler then.
the fact theres a phar mor labelscar tells me enough about the state of this mall
Since the Sam Ash music store closed I have no reason to go there anymore.
Think you are wrong about the location of Sears surplus where the AMC movie theater is now. Purchased several tools & a tool chest at the Sears. Thought it was on the other side of the mall. Would use the doors from the parking lot to enter Sears. First few years Franklin Milks Mall was the largest tourist attraction in Philly. Would have 3 to 8 buses parked at back for out of towers.
The Sears Outlet had two locations. It was originally at what is now the AMC; the map at 5:52 does show it, but it's kind of hard to read the store names because they're so tiny. If you google image search "Franklin Mills 1989", that map should be one of the first few results and you can probably see it better than in the video.
The second location was attached to the Marshalls and was only accessible from outside the mall, which is probably the place you're thinking of. It's currently American Freight.
mall is a shell of its former self. it’s sad, wouldn’t be surprised if it gets demolished for either housing or maybe the sixers arena if Chinatown manages to run them out
10:54 wasn’t it a TGI Fridays or is my memory fuzzy there?
14:27 where you were at that little plaza area were tv towers which played ads and music videos. they stopped operating in the 2000s but remained there until the renovations and then they were taken out completely
The mall might hold out for another 5-10 years but I think it'll be gone in the not too distant future. Stores are closing left and right.
It was definitely Ruby Tuesday. I think it was another restaurant after that, but I'm not sure which one.
Mills TV, I think it was called. I don't remember much about it but I think it was there and also in another part of the mall too.
@@The-Retail-Archivesi’ll give it from now til maybe 2030. i definitely do think they should repurpose it a lil bit and make it mixed use like how oxford valley did and what neshaminy is currently planning too. and also touch up the area a little better, get rid of the homeless camps, repair the roads.
otherwise i could see it being an alternative site for the sixers arena considering its in between 95 and the boulevard
It just got new ownership so we shall see how they do.
I had an MTX speakerbox in my trunk parked right in front of the cameras... at dusk it was stolen! In security I asked what was on camera? They said the cameras were fake!
AMC is now closed
@@Braydensceilingfansandretail Yeah, I heard about that. Apparently their last day was 1/1.
Where Urban Planet is now, that used to be TJ Maxx, The H&M used to be Nordstrom Rack, and Reclectic used to be Bed Bath and Beyond.
Montgomery Mall in Montgomeryville, PA has become a dead mall. Food court only has two or three places to eat anymore. Used to be a Chick-Fil-A, and a McDonald's there. That was my first time seeing a McDonald's inside a shopping mall. Also a Dairy Queen/Orange Julius, both gone. Chick-Fil-A had two locations on the mall property, one store inside, and one store outside on mall property. Wasn't sure why that was. They are putting a Raising Cane's outside on mall property, next to.....Chick-Fil-A. Set to open sometime in 2025
This is going through a name change....again. Will now be known as "Franklin MALL" 😖
Nope...it will always be Franklin Mills!
The zips are trying to run out the sixers but sounds like the city council is approving the project