As a Midland resident, I can say that the Midland Mall is making a bit of a come back. The Mall has new and LOCAL ownership. Safety and maintenance have been/ are being addressed. The Mall now has well over 90% occupancy rate with all anchor spaces full. The Mall just last weekend hosted a Comic Con bringing hundreds to the mall. This mall is not going away anytime soon.
I grew up in central Michigan about 45 minutes north of the Midland Mall through all of the 80’s and 90’s. When this mall opened in 1991, I was there with my family opening week and it instantly became our closest mall. I was 12 at the time, and I can tell you, it was an absolute revelation. Michigan had many malls built in the 70’s, with lots of amber light, and dark harvest tones that even by the late 80’s felt old. But the Midland Mall felt SO modern and like a breath of fresh air in comparison. Light colors, high ceilings with skylights, palm trees, neon, etc. At the time there weren’t really much of any, if any at all, malls north of this either. So the Midland Mall gave us central and northern Michiganders our own little oasis of big city places. In its first year I can remember most of its retail slots full, and the whole place absolutely booming with business. It was a beautiful place, sparkling brand new. The area immediately surrounding it too, didn’t have much development, and so there was beautiful landscaping and trees all around it. Especially in the cold dark Michigan winters, you could go there, take off your winter coat and put it in a locker, shop at the huge array of stores, and eat there too either at the food court or the attached Ruby Tuesday for a sit-down option. It could be an entire day affair. Just in the parking lot too was a Chi-Chi’s and a Burger King. I can remember going to the Chi-Chi’s on my 16th birthday, and getting my high school varsity jacket as my main present. I could go on and on with my stories of this mall. It was just the right place and time for me. Even though I no longer live in Michigan, my parents still live just east of here in Mt. Pleasant, and I occasionally stop by the Midland Mall. But…it’s very VERY sad for me. A total shadow of how vibrant and beautiful it used to be, now littered with empty slots, dirty exteriors, and stores that are basically flea markets. No gleaming name brand stores selling new merchandise or lots of middle class families shopping. I think about this mall all the time, and wish I could go back in time to 1991-1995 or so, and soak up the mall again in its heyday.
I am a local to this mall and there has been some changes since this filming. The local hospital has taken over the former sears as an office space. The Fantastic Finds moved to the former Pink Victoria Secret and express spaces as Hobby Lobby was planning on opening a store in the former Younkers, that was just confirmed as of a few days ago. The fire alarm problem has been resolved as of today.
This is close to Birch Run yes? I used to go there, and the Tangiers on our way to Detroit at the end of the summer. My brothers and I would spend the entire season with our grandparents in Houghton Lake, and every year we'd get our school gear on the way home. I miss those days, before everything turned digital.
Love seeing another dunhams hopefully doing well in these dead malls across the region. I miss their stores in Pittsburgh. Having Dick’s as the only option in many cites (including Charleston) is horrible.
1990's to the core, this mall is a refreshing look back. Even the retro Target mall entrance sign is something rare these days. The burgundy and blue floor tiles and red neon are awesome. I wonder if more of the mall had neon back in the day like many 90's era new malls or 90's era remodels.
Always have enjoyed your videos Doomie for nearly the past three years now and I can always agree with your opinion. Older mall architecture is so much more pleasant especially that neon 🤩
Good video! I worked at this mall in the late 00s, at American Eagle. Back then, there was Aero, Express, Victoria’s Secret, Finish Line, Yankee Candle, and others. You’re right about the decline, 2015ish is when it started. Hobby Lobby will be moving into the Younkers space, was announced in the Midland News yesterday! So, it’s trying, which is notable for a Kohan property. Midland has an affluent customer base; Dow Chemicals World HQ is about ten minutes from here. That’s why this mall has fared (somewhat) better than its neighbors in Bay City and Saginaw which are predominantly lower income and blue collar. Thanks for uploading!
I love seeing the old Spencer's store front. And if I remember correctly, where Buckle is used to be a Things Remembered and another store and sometime around 2009-10ish, Buckle took the spot and TR moved into a kiosk in the hallway. That was the only time I've ever been to that mall
Update: Doomie Grunt, I just thought you might like to know that Military Circle Mall here in Hampton Roads, Virginia will actually close its doors for good in nine days on January 31, 2023.
I love Midland Mall. One of the unique malls in Michigan. Shoutout to the pizza place there with Mac and Cheese stuffed pizza. :D Also there was a game store next to the former Sears that moved to a bigger location and a recurring trend in the northern and western malls of Michigan are the inclusions of Barnes and Noble and Dunhams. There's even a GNC which is a rare sight nowadays.
I like the info especially the father/daughter fake cash incident. This is not a bad mall. Love the palm trees and the neon lights in the food court. Older architecture is just way more creative than nowadays. Modern just can't compare.
Not sure if you’ve done it yet or if you’re even willing to make the trek, but the uniontown mall in Uniontown PA is a pretty much dead mall. It definitely didn’t used to be but oh boy has it died.
The annoying claw machine with the video of the kids is just another way to get their attention and to get money from the parents to maybe win some amazing garbage.😂
As a Midland resident, I can say that the Midland Mall is making a bit of a come back. The Mall has new and LOCAL ownership. Safety and maintenance have been/ are being addressed. The Mall now has well over 90% occupancy rate with all anchor spaces full. The Mall just last weekend hosted a Comic Con bringing hundreds to the mall.
This mall is not going away anytime soon.
I grew up in central Michigan about 45 minutes north of the Midland Mall through all of the 80’s and 90’s. When this mall opened in 1991, I was there with my family opening week and it instantly became our closest mall. I was 12 at the time, and I can tell you, it was an absolute revelation. Michigan had many malls built in the 70’s, with lots of amber light, and dark harvest tones that even by the late 80’s felt old. But the Midland Mall felt SO modern and like a breath of fresh air in comparison. Light colors, high ceilings with skylights, palm trees, neon, etc. At the time there weren’t really much of any, if any at all, malls north of this either. So the Midland Mall gave us central and northern Michiganders our own little oasis of big city places. In its first year I can remember most of its retail slots full, and the whole place absolutely booming with business. It was a beautiful place, sparkling brand new. The area immediately surrounding it too, didn’t have much development, and so there was beautiful landscaping and trees all around it. Especially in the cold dark Michigan winters, you could go there, take off your winter coat and put it in a locker, shop at the huge array of stores, and eat there too either at the food court or the attached Ruby Tuesday for a sit-down option. It could be an entire day affair. Just in the parking lot too was a Chi-Chi’s and a Burger King. I can remember going to the Chi-Chi’s on my 16th birthday, and getting my high school varsity jacket as my main present. I could go on and on with my stories of this mall. It was just the right place and time for me. Even though I no longer live in Michigan, my parents still live just east of here in Mt. Pleasant, and I occasionally stop by the Midland Mall. But…it’s very VERY sad for me. A total shadow of how vibrant and beautiful it used to be, now littered with empty slots, dirty exteriors, and stores that are basically flea markets. No gleaming name brand stores selling new merchandise or lots of middle class families shopping. I think about this mall all the time, and wish I could go back in time to 1991-1995 or so, and soak up the mall again in its heyday.
I am a local to this mall and there has been some changes since this filming. The local hospital has taken over the former sears as an office space. The Fantastic Finds moved to the former Pink Victoria Secret and express spaces as Hobby Lobby was planning on opening a store in the former Younkers, that was just confirmed as of a few days ago. The fire alarm problem has been resolved as of today.
Yay!
This is close to Birch Run yes? I used to go there, and the Tangiers on our way to Detroit at the end of the summer. My brothers and I would spend the entire season with our grandparents in Houghton Lake, and every year we'd get our school gear on the way home. I miss those days, before everything turned digital.
Couple hours I think?
Nice looking mall. Perfect size.
Great video! I feel like it’s just all up to Kohan with how this mall ends up
Love seeing another dunhams hopefully doing well in these dead malls across the region. I miss their stores in Pittsburgh. Having Dick’s as the only option in many cites (including Charleston) is horrible.
1990's to the core, this mall is a refreshing look back. Even the retro Target mall entrance sign is something rare these days. The burgundy and blue floor tiles and red neon are awesome. I wonder if more of the mall had neon back in the day like many 90's era new malls or 90's era remodels.
Midland Mall looks awesome! I love the neon in the food court and the architecture reminds me of a few malls I have visited. Great work, Doomie.
Beautiful mall! Hope it makes it! 🤞
Always have enjoyed your videos Doomie for nearly the past three years now and I can always agree with your opinion. Older mall architecture is so much more pleasant especially that neon 🤩
You are the greatest at doing your videos.
Good video! I worked at this mall in the late 00s, at American Eagle. Back then, there was Aero, Express, Victoria’s Secret, Finish Line, Yankee Candle, and others. You’re right about the decline, 2015ish is when it started.
Hobby Lobby will be moving into the Younkers space, was announced in the Midland News yesterday! So, it’s trying, which is notable for a Kohan property.
Midland has an affluent customer base; Dow Chemicals World HQ is about ten minutes from here. That’s why this mall has fared (somewhat) better than its neighbors in Bay City and Saginaw which are predominantly lower income and blue collar. Thanks for uploading!
I love seeing the old Spencer's store front. And if I remember correctly, where Buckle is used to be a Things Remembered and another store and sometime around 2009-10ish, Buckle took the spot and TR moved into a kiosk in the hallway. That was the only time I've ever been to that mall
Having Kohan in charge is never a good sign.
Bon- Gone. LOL! Love it. Good one Doomie.
Update: Doomie Grunt, I just thought you might like to know that Military Circle Mall here in Hampton Roads, Virginia will actually close its doors for good in nine days on January 31, 2023.
I love Midland Mall. One of the unique malls in Michigan. Shoutout to the pizza place there with Mac and Cheese stuffed pizza. :D Also there was a game store next to the former Sears that moved to a bigger location and a recurring trend in the northern and western malls of Michigan are the inclusions of Barnes and Noble and Dunhams. There's even a GNC which is a rare sight nowadays.
That gnc has been there for a longgg time!
I like the info especially the father/daughter fake cash incident. This is not a bad mall. Love the palm trees and the neon lights in the food court. Older architecture is just way more creative than nowadays. Modern just can't compare.
Not sure if you’ve done it yet or if you’re even willing to make the trek, but the uniontown mall in Uniontown PA is a pretty much dead mall. It definitely didn’t used to be but oh boy has it died.
Nice video
Looks like they have dry walled over a lot of empty spaces?
Kohan get on top of maintenance ? NOT A CHANCE
The Dunhams space that faces the interior is largely dry walled over.
@@WhittyPics The drywall is more of a Hull thing.
The annoying claw machine with the video of the kids is just another way to get their attention and to get money from the parents to maybe win some amazing garbage.😂