A Dead Mall Walking: Paradise Valley Mall | Retail Archaeology

[@RetailArchaeology]

Update: It has been announced that Paradise Valley Mall will close on March 31, 2021 for redevelopment 😔

[@Hopscotchlemonadespritz]

Those ceilings and skylines are incredible!

[@idoldigikyryn1253]

Rip

[@paulhenryxray]

I'll go glass half-full and say mixed-use is better than being repurposed as a warehouse or something of the sort. It'll still have some retail and dining. The housing in that area is on the more expensive side, so I wouldn't be surprised to see something like a Postino or a Fox Restaurant Concepts product go into the new space.

[@b4804514]

Torn down for condo development my guess

[@NoWay1969]

I can't find what Y95 was raising money for in '88-89, but a quick internet search does show that Glenn Beck was hosting a morning show for them in '86. I bet you could find what the fundraiser was for if you looked around for more than a couple of minutes.

[@bassage13]

These videos are so depressing, yet fascinating at the same time. I grew up in the 80s and 90s when malls ruled every city.

[@andrefecteau]

yeah I worked at a Chi Chis near a big mall in 84....what a party

[@N_g_er]

​@@andrefecteauI'm so bricked up my nigga

[@bladerunner752]

Imagine turning one of these dead malls into a giant roller skating rink, with some shops and 70s 80s nights music going on, it would be a regular Xanadu. 😆

[@cornjobb]

worked in mall in the 80's and we did that after the mall closed.

[@redwillow79schippers94]

That would be a dream come true for me

[@Muertenoir]

Roller skating is back in style!

[@ArtistKarlaMagana]

OOoOoOoohhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

[@its__Ev]

Wait that's way better than the apartment idea. Plus they already have a food court that's not gross. (I don't know about you, but I've never been to a skating rink whose snackshack was anything above questionable)

[@N.G.H.]

I was gonna crack a joke about the fortune teller store. They probably left early cuz they... saw the future.

[@williamhaynes7089]

you beat me to it

[@eekns]

Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha. They suck as fortune telling because they moved in “knowing” it was gonna close. I’d seek a teller at a long established location.

[@artlopez2404]

Hahaha

[@liviniarose5]

For someone who grew up at this Mall, I know it's dying a slow painful death but it's because it's so empty that my friends and I love going through it. I'm said it's going to go down, but I'll have the happy memories.

[@TheRealCaptainFreedom]

So the mall is dying because you and your buddies love going through it? You jerks operate a shoplifting gang or something?

[@liviniarose5]

@@TheRealCaptainFreedom ... Buddy we buy our stuff. "Going through it" refers to walking through the mall, window shopping a bit, and popping into certain stores to buy something we find cool (Like Spencer's, that one rolled ice cream shop that's no longer there so RIP). Don't know where you got shoplifting from but I guess my wording wasn't too specific. Just went there and bought two replica swords from the sword shop actually, so I'm satisfied with my purchases!

[@TheRealCaptainFreedom]

@@liviniarose5 Read your initial post again, genius.

[@liviniarose5]

@@TheRealCaptainFreedom I did, and I see that you're taking my words out of context (that I gave you) to start an internet fight for... Some reason? I honestly don't know why but whatever, I hope you have a wonderful day while I hang up my swords!

[@sleepythemis]

@@TheRealCaptainFreedom You misunderstood what he said. "it's because it's so dead that we love going through it" means that they love going through it because of how dead it is.

[@AutismFamilyChannel]

I know malls are very materialistic in nature, but there's something about them bustling with people that's a sign of good times vs. when they are run down with shuttered gates over their entrances. Thanks for documenting these malls.

[@airaero5473]

Who else was getting more and more jealous of how much fun the 80s and 90s was. Like, a Nintendo event in a food court where you get to buy games on the spot and play on demo units!? Seriously, when was the last time something like THAT happened in a mall? Especially in times like these?

[@RickPotvin54]

Demonstrations of equipment is a mainstay of sales-- and still ought to be but for some reason, the younger gen buys without a proper demo. I can't understand it. I see plenty of returned stuff go back to Amazon at the local UPS store here and UPS owner says its wrecking his business.

[@JJ-wk5wy]

I was around in the 80's but was just a kid. Looking back, it looked like such a fun time to be a teenager or young adult.

[@mrjohnnyk]

I have fond memories of going to my local Funcoland to play all the demo units

[@AFishNamedBob]

Growing up in the '80s and '90s was the BEST. Toy R Us used to have Sega and Nintendo display set-ups in the video game section. We would ride our bikes there and take turns playing Mortal Kombat on the Sega.

[@davidshepherd265]

The 80's and 90's were where it was AT. Today is just sad in comparison...nothing at all like the future we were promised.

[@felinef4022]

Sad to see old PV Mall go. I grew up just a few blocks from the mall. My mom worked at the Dillards. Growing up in Phoenix in the 80s, there were really only two things to do during the summer - swim in the pool and go to the mall. Many fond memories watching this video. The old Superfun arcade that used to be down in the food court (where I spent many a quarter), the Hobby Bench where I used to play board games with my best friend on Saturdays, and the movie theater where I saw Return of the Jedi for the first time.

[@csn6234]

Superfun ... thanks for mentioning that place! I had a lot of fun there as a kid. I'd grab a roll of quarters and ride my bike from our house at 57th and Thunderbird to the mall during the heat of the summer. As you said, it was either swim or go to Superfun!

[@jamesfields2916]

I saw Return of the Jedi there too opening day May 1983! Shadow Mountain HS!

[@mgrsdgfsdafsdgrsdgfsdg6980]

There used to be this weird guy (he worked there) who would stand on a podium in the front of Hobby Lobby and creepily flip pages. I think he was disabled or something. Oh, and the name of the arcade was Pocket Change.

[@DUNEATV]

I did too. I lived on Sharon Drive just a few blocks north on 46 street. I remember when they open the mall…

[@karissaexplainsitallxo]

your videos are so therapeutic to me with how calming your voice is and the music lol. any time i feel anxious i just turn on one of your videos

[@TheAlchemy87]

Agreed. Weirdly soothing ♥️

[@its__Ev]

Same. I've decided that I think it stems from the camera angle he uses. Since usually he has to pretend like he's not filming the camera tends to be lower in almost makes you feel like you're walking around the mall at kid height. Brains are weird.

[@karissaexplainsitallxo]

@@its__Ev yes!!!

[@artlopez2404]

Great video sad situation

[@stevewalter1090]

Karissa you are gorgeous 😍! I'm so soothed by your bold expression, soft perfectly color toned skin and professionally hit blonde hair. Forgot this was a dead mall video. PS I attended this mall as a child.

[@lycheens]

It’s a shame that malls haven’t been redesigned to survive, strip malls are an eyesore and are designed around cars. Malls in Asia are still going and they have grocery stores as anchors and also tend to be near office parks. My local mall in Bangkok was always the place I went for errands, I could pay my internet bill, pick up hardware supplies and get groceries all while walking in air conditioning.

[@Tempora158]

The closest arrangement that exist in America is a shopping center or a mall with a Target store in it that sells grocery.

[@jthom0027]

The only idea that companies in the US have is "lower costs to bring people in". There is very little creativity here when it comes to businesses.

[@pilotconnor4732]

@@jthom0027 I’m sure the 10’s of millions of dollars these mega corporations spend on RnD let them understand the market a little better than you

[@jthom0027]

@@pilotconnor4732 You mean the 10s of millions of dollars they spend on purchasing r and d done in our universities? Don't give too much credit to companies, they don't deserve it.

[@FelineSublime]

I still can't believe the Watch Out shop has been in the exact same location with the same sign since at least 1992 all the way to the end. Luby's used to be where Chompy's was, and usually the first stop when Dad got off work on Thursday or Friday, then we'd wander to Waldenbooks, Suncoast, and deeper into the mall before the weekend started. We only ever went into the anchors for holiday and back to school shopping. Dillard's would go ALL OUT for Christmas time in the 90s, especially the second floor.

[@FelineSublime]

I remember my friends and I getting kicked off those platforms off the sides of the ramp in the food court so many times, and PPD had to kick everyone out of the food court when it flooded all the way up to the ground level during heavy rains in '94 or '95 when they were doing the renovations. Miss the fountain down there and the arcade at the corner by the restrooms. McDonald's was at the end with the retro art and Taco Bell at the far end. There was a Phoenix Suns Pro Store in the middle until maybe '96 or '97. We'd hit the food court usually if we caught a movie, and Hobby Bench was at the first turn into the next corridor before the facelift. It moved down near Penny's right next to the B. Dalton's Booksellers and Kay-B-Toys, so those were usually our last stops before going home. I'll need to ask Dad about the fundraiser tiles. Mayor Terry Goddard was his immediate boss with the City of Scottsdale when he was Finance Director there, and I'm surprised the City or the staff didn't have their own tile with his.

[@rasierra]

The closed storefront that you liked was an olive oil specialty store. Pretty niche.

[@SimplySage854]

All the olive oil specialty stores closed in my area, so did the specialty salt kiosks. Remember the black lava salt craze???

[@SimplySage854]

@Albert Menendez Good times !

[@jezsmith199]

Only in America....just olive oil! Bad as shops just selling cards! 😂weird!

[@crowmigration8245]

The Coke Carousel should be moved to a museum!

[@jezsmith199]

...Or Costa?

[@mr.e5289]

I was raised in this mall I live super close. My mom always tells me the story of when i hit a kid in the play place lol! A classmate worked at the spencer’s until it closed and another classmate’s family owns the pet store. I hung out here in elementary school and some bullies chased my friend and I through the macy’s and we got kicked out. My grandma got me stuff for christmas a year or so ago from that Sear’s and their sales trying to get everything out. Soooo many more memories I can’t even remember. I’ll really miss this place(especially the Chompies)

[@SuperiorAutocraft]

Damn, this one cuts deep. This is the mall of my childhood. I grew up in the 85254 and even now I'm just down the road.

[@DZ-nb2vp]

The malls in America are dying, but the malls in Cebu, Philippines are 3-5 floors of stores, restaurants and TONS of foot traffic. When the pandemic ends you should make the time to fly down there and sightsee/video their malls. You'll be amazed! And the hospitality=AMAZING!

[@csn6234]

16:30 fun fact, Glenn Beck was a DJ at Y95. He actually called his show the "Y95 Morning Zoo".

[@RC-1148]

I worked there in 2019. I first shopped there in 2005 when I was only 10 years old. The 2008 recession hammered out the life of that mall, and the 2020 lockdown finished it off.

[@SatansYardsale]

Haha, know what I just remembered? In addition to being one of my main hang-outs I took my GED in this mall too. At around 2:40 you can see the corridor that leads to the bathroom but those stairs to left (you can only kind of see them) is office space and conference rooms. They used to do GED testing in them and I took (and passed) my GED there. I'll have to go see the old place before they tear it down. I just got my bike fixed so perhaps I'll ride down this weekend. And hey man, you're closing in on 100K subs, that's awesome, you deserve it.

[@csn6234]

That was the Rio Salado CC area, right? Never went up there, but those stairs didn't look inviting.

[@SatansYardsale]

@@csn6234 Yes! I knew it had a name but I couldn't remember. Thanks.

[@Pugetwitch]

Man, I miss the early 2000s when I used to live in Tuscon. So many strip malls and shopping complexes throughout the whole region. Place was a time capsule back then.

[@donutman.24]

I came here last week and again, very sad with an almost vacant food court and around half the stores closed. R.I.P. I came here when I was younger and it was still vibrant and a cool mall to go to. We won't forget you, PV Mall. Edit: Also, congratulations on reaching 100K subscribers!

[@agnesg]

Really vibing to this soundtrack. Its like a dream.

[@666lsb2]

these dead malls are mesmerizing i can't help imagining wandering at these malls with some vaporwave music in my headphone...

[@moonie7155]

Malls gave us memories and experiences with our family and friends. I remember being a child and riding on the carousel and waving to my mom watching me and then as a teen hanging out outside and goofing around. I’m truly nostalgic and teary eyed from this video. I’m going to miss this mall.

[@7JANEWAY]

HOW can they tear down such a beautiful mall???!!! And yes, I’m with you about the sky lights!!! The fact that there are still people that are going there is a testament that it’s still somewhat popular as a place to go. It seems to me that there should be some sort of workable solution that at least keeps some of the mall’s esthetic without destroying the whole thing. I’ve said it before: this is, above all, a testament to the death of an era. So why is it that we don’t appreciate an era, a time, until it’s gone.....

[@jeniferreeves5526]

I so agree 💯 percent 😁 that mall was my hang out in the early 90's

[@DUNEATV]

So sad. I lived at 46th St. and Sharon just a few blocks north of this mall. I went to Village Vista Elementary school also just a little north west of the mall. I remember when they open this mall and the Phoenix public library. Amazing something so popular could go out of business..

[@josephn9639]

12:22 Yup, that's an Orange Julius. The last time I was in that food court I looked at the options and decided Orange Julius was my best bet. The thing I liked about this mall was the kinks in the hallways. When shoppers walked through the mall, instead of seeing long, boring mall hallways we would keep turning corners and seeing new parts of the mall. Like I commented on another video, an employee at that Dillard's told me that what killed PVM was the opening of Kierland Commons a couple of miles east. I assume when they tear down PVM that the replacement shopping will be upscale/open air like Kierland.

[@TheMillionaireManifester]

I walked through the PV Mall today for one last time. I lived one street North of the mall growing up (44th st and Pershing). I was 5 yrs old when the mall opened and I remember walking through the mall each day after school. I miss the old Walgreens store that used to be inside. That was a LONG time ago. lol I'm not sad that it's going because the entire NE Phx area needs a re-vitalization! I'm happy to see some new stuff coming in. The mall has been remodeled over the years so it's not even the same mall I grew up with anyway. One cool memory for me is being able to sit on our back porch (before the condos were built) and see the 4th of July fireworks that used to be shot off at the mall. It was a cool time to be a kid.

[@raymondmasullo3386]

I lived in Scottsdale from October 1995 to April 1996. I spent a lot of time at this mall during that time. It really was a nice mall. Sad to see it gone.

[@DelaniaAndTheDogs]

Don’t know why these dead mall videos are fascinating to me but they also make me so sad.

[@maineiacman]

My local dying mall had the same kids ride with the same spooky laugh track. Thankfully someone has recently turned it off.

[@coreym162]

It was like the ghosts or essence of children having fun from days past.

[@CommodoreFan64]

@@coreym162 The Aiken Mall in Aiken SC which close a couple of years back had those dang rides, and it was creepy AF when I walked by them.

[@jezsmith199]

We have them across the pond....

[@thejusticemike]

For some reason, one of the names on the tiles really caught my eye: Donna “Shopper” Warren. “Shopper” must’ve been her “street name” when she was at Paradise Valley. LOL

[@dopemopey]

Got a weird request. Could we get tracklists for your background music? Because it's fantastic. Especially that tune that's playing as you walk up to JCPENNEY.

[@alexnjohnston]

Yes!!! Anyone that can identify any song in this video would be my hero

[@johnsmart964]

Very impressive, as ever. One can only agree, the geometric patterns at the entry and indeed throughout this mall are both impressive and pleasing to the eye, certainly they are in no way dated. The amount of natural light coming in was most acceptable and worked well with the patterns in the roof, you can see that much thought had been put into the design of the mall. As ever those that are involved in keeping the mall clean have done such a lovely job of keeping the floors polished, I would call these people the unseen heroes of keeping a mall spick and span. It is sad to see these places, that were once the focal point of the area, go.

[@kraziivan_]

I grew up here and have so many memories...I worked there in the year 2000.

[@SeanMCannon]

So sad. My friend and I road our bikes to that mall in mid summer from 32nd st and Thomas circa 1992. It had to have been over 110 and when we finally got over the hill and made it to the mall we were so relieved! Then we went to Hobby Town and lusted after the RC10 cars for an hour or so before we got the strength to ride back. Great memories...

[@JaredJonesAZ]

My childhood mall. I actually walked through it yesterday to say goodbye, so many memories. The emptiness of the mall really highlighted it's beautiful ceiling features and design. Seeing it as a dimly lit liminal space made me weirdly emotional. I remember the mid-90s when I was a boy, the mall couldn't have been more packed at Christmas time. The mall remained attractive for decades, I forgot it was built in the '70s. I will always have the good memories there, framed in the sunshine pouring through the ample pyramid skylights

[@thefoolishhiker3103]

Sad to see this go. I remember walking through this mall with my grandmother. We would take her walking with her wheelchair because in the summer it was a good air conditioned space for window shopping and a snack.

[@ej7362]

That mall is stunning! I used to have this secret wish to buy a mall and live it in and this video just brought that back. I get that malls are dead but they should be able to do something with that beautiful building!

[@jthom0027]

It would be neat to see an apartment complex built from the bones of an old mall.

[@phaethonkirk]

So many memories from there. Every Friday night a group of is used to hang out here. Wayne was a friend from long ago, he was in a wheelchair. Every Friday we would pick him up and go to his favorite place, P V Mall. Wayne passed away in Feb 2019. I would go here to reflect on the great times we had. Rest in peace Wayne Christenson. Rest in Peace P V Mall. Ty for a great childhood.

[@chrisdkramer76]

I would be interested in seeing you do a compilation video of a mall like this where you have visited multiple times over the years to see the changes. Keep this up you and Sal are my favorites.

[@jeebs621]

Also last time I ate at that Chompies some guy was bolting out the door after a dude who stole his wallet. That was probably the second robbery I’ve witnessed at PV mall lmao

[@prodbyluzi5890]

yo when they closed the whole mall down lol

[@thedumasgroupllc]

Love the music Playlist!

[@squarebee4000]

I had a high school teacher who was so proud of the fact that he helped designed the architecture of this mall and he wouldn't let us forget it lol. He would be happy seeing you appreciate the skylights so much. My girlfriend and I also broke up at that same table with the four people sitting at it by the fountain at the food court lol. This video brought back a flood of memories.

[@studiokohl1]

One of the great things about Facebook in the old days....thats a joke...is that you could still check into places that had been closed for decades...like Baxters. My favorite bar in the 80s and early 90s. Man my friend and i had fun there back in the day. The whole P.V. mall experience followed my lifes progression. I was a preteen when it opened. High School was p.v's hay day and now im in my 50s, my friends are dying or downsizing. The story of my life.

[@teddyruetz3889]

Just walked through this mall with my grandparents for the last time .... so sad. 🥲

[@NotTheAverageGamerz]

Came back here after your latest JCPenney's video to see how the mall used to look like. I'm guessing that JCPenney will also be closed down in the next few years.

[@Moonbeam143]

It's extra sad to see a childhood mall that's dead. The one near where I used to live closed, and was torn down a few years ago, and it was so sad to see it go.

[@ItzyBellababy]

My daughter used to love that kid's play area. She wanted to spend a lot of time there!

[@SimplyyLovelyy3]

Life’s really changing! I worked at a mall from 2015-2017. At the beginning it was a lot of fun. By 2017, I saw a decline in customers throughout the whole mall.

[@Get2TheDeLorean]

I moved to Scottsdale in 1999 as a kid. My dad moved out here first for work and got the lay of the land. He took us here countless times, and to all of the restaurants around it. 70% of the clothes I grew up wearing came from this mall, the rest probably from the now closed sports authority across the street.. don’t get me started on the toys r us :( So many memories in this area that is now so so dead. Dad passed away In January. This video hit home. What a welcome to 30 this past year has been. Blink 182 had it all wrong. THIS is growing up boys and girls, and it sucks a lot worse than a teenage romance 😞

[@WhittyPics]

Starting to look like a ghost town. It appears this mall is in decent shape

[@MrDan708]

1:55 The old Sears still has its sign? Unusual...

[@nickmoney]

If they have sale like Metro, be sure to buy the Coca Cola Carousal.

[@ohglobbits]

🥃

[@everyhandletaken]

Lol Put it in the backyard ? 😂

[@Ozzy_2014]

Maybe Elon Musk wants it for his kid?

[@nickmoney]

@@Ozzy_2014 His kid has six already

[@swindle3561]

i love your videos, sooo relaxing yet still interesting. great way for me to drift to sleep or watch casually. you helped me take a 20 minute nap earlier so im back to re-watch hahah

[@ricktalley3820]

In the 80s phoenix was all about the malls makes me so sad to see dead malls like this lived across the street from the mall and now I live a few miles from metro looking forward to seeing what the redevelopment brings.

[@raymondmartin6737]

When we returned to the Phoenix area in 2003, I remember that they had torn down The Los Arcos mall around Scottsdale. Before we moved to Phoenix in 1976, we stayed near there at the Papago motel, to look for an apartment in Phoenix, then moving to E.Colter and 16th Street in NE Phoenix. The apartments were part of the Schultz Apartments back in 1976.

[@Zoritos64]

Classic mall, love to see it return on the channel!

[@TragicMTG]

That Nintendo place was awesome, spent many hours there. I need to walk through again before it closes. Thanks for showing it off!

[@JordieSama]

I used to work at the Macy's in this mall. They told us that the mall wouldn't be shutting down and that if it did then the Macy's store would remain open, as it was an anchor store. When they told us 3 months later that it would be shutting down they expected everyone to stay until closing and told us there would be NO transfers to other stores after the closure. Very sad this mall is gone, not sad that the Macy's is gone.

[@ihearttoronto]

@16:30 my husband worked Dillard's in August 95-January 96 and he confirms yes, this was for a charity drive

[@ourevilone]

I really like the background music

[@codexnecrogeddon]

Just went here last weekend to try and grab anything left at Macy's. It feels like walking through a ghost town. Also, that Dillard's isn't closed, just that particular entrance - you have to go outside and walk around via the door to the right. They're trying to liquidate everything just like Macy's.

[@7531monkey]

Did you ever realize he said that in the video?

[@thejuiceisloose]

I loved this mall since the first time I visited in 2008. Shame to see it so dead and about to be turned into some soulless lifestyle center. Ugh. Thanks for recording this piece of valley history!

[@KhurtKhave669]

All of Phoenix is a soulless lifestyle center. **sad lol**

[@GaryGeat28]

I lived in North Phoenix, in 2013 and I used to go to PVM quite frequently. It was definitely in the process of dying. I went back in 2016 and I was sure that it was on its last breath.

[@ShamikaLMoore]

I worked at Silver Effects near the food court around that time. We had some $100 days and some $1000 days. It varied so much. 😭

[@found_at_midnight]

This place was pure magic for me. My first visit was in 1978. My mom would drop my brother and I off there and we would spend hours wandering around. Later I would ride my bike there or skateboard there and get girls numbers and hang out with friends. I bought my first beeper and my first pager here at one of the shops. I have spent easily over a thousand hours in this mall. Very sad to see it go.

[@jeffp3495]

That storefront with the awesome faux stone and wood was custom built specially for an olive oil shop a few years back. Don't think it lasted a full year before closing.

[@mathewmclean9128]

LOL I just happened to be drinking a Coke while watching this video. thank you for all of these great videos of these places around the valley.keep up the great work and documenting these places with videos. I am doing the same with photos and uploading photos of these places to Google maps.

[@csn6234]

18:27 That was CC Peniston, Phoenix native who hit it big in the early 90s with a song that was on top 40.

[@commonsensefan]

Your videos are great, so nostalgic, brings back some fun memories of being a child on up through the teen years. Great work! I look forward to viewing more content.

[@TheRanchNumber51]

Thank you for the skylight shots. Do you remember when the Dillard’s had an upstairs restaurant? I thought it was fancy, but I was a kid so who knows. I remember the huge triangle alcoves in the ceiling having different colors at one point. I was always looking at the ceiling while being dragged around by my mom, lol.

[@MrSugeWhite]

Hey man thanks for documenting this. Would have paid good money for a walk through in the 90’s. This was the mall I lived at as a kid on weekends. The before Costco pv mall was top tier!

[@CoinSnobz]

That sad arcade was either a Zales or Helzberg diamonds. You were spot on about it being a jewelry store! I remember spending entire days in PV Mall in the mid 90's. Got my GED at the Rio Solado College that used to be up the stairs in the corner of the food court. Just a couple spots to the left of the Panda Express. I could write a book with all the memories from about 1990 til about 2004 I made in that mall! It;s gonna be sorely missed. I definitely need to go there soon and pay my final respects....😭

[@phedingsfield]

Lived across the street from it and worked at paradise bakery when it was where the carousel is now and there used to be a Walgreens inside

[@boardst8086]

Thank goodness Arrowhead Mall (Arizona) is still going strong

[@haydenh3015]

I’ll be honest, I didn’t realize PacSun ever had a full name

[@monique451]

Then let me guess.. you aren’t from Cali?

[@rvndiemvrie6498]

@@monique451 was about to say the same thing lol

[@3bcgy16]

That food court is gorgeous!

[@victorsardon64]

I used to live in Scottsdale from 1979 to 1983 when this mall was new. I saw Star Wars "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Return of the Jedi" at the movie theater there. Next to the theater was my favorite hobby store called "The Hobby Bench" where I would buy all of my plastic model kits and model railroad stuff. I moved to the SF Bay Area in 1983 and in 1988 I got engaged, so I took my now wife to meet my mom for the first time and we went to PV Mall. In this video at 4:01 there is a beige store front that I believe was a Native American store in 1988, where my wife and I bought my wedding ring. Such a shame, but this is also the sign of the times as Amazon is killing the retail business. Last week after Christmas 2021, my best friend who lives in Phoenix sent me pictures of the demolished mall....so depressing.

[@vedved82491]

The storefront with the stone-like texture that you said looked nice originally was for an olive oil store. After they left the space, a soap store took its place. Beyond that, I don’t know if anything else was housed there. I have a lot of memories of this mall growing up, so it’s definitely a bit sad seeing it die, but on to bigger, better things.

[@wildweasels]

When stationed at Luke AFB around 1980 I visited Metrocenter Mall several times, either to visit probably the Barnes and Nobles or see a movie. I probably also visited Paradise Valley Mall as well. I would have found myself driving east on Thunderbird/Cactus Rd to Scottsdale. I did visit a couple of the parks in that area. Yeah, don't know if the tiles where there in 1980.

[@csn6234]

Thanks for doing another video on this mall. It's fascinating to see this mall's decline over the years just by watching your videos. I haven't been in PV Mall in at least 20 years, so this is really startling to me. I worked at Cooper's Children's Shoes near JC Penney during the summer of 1996, and it was busy -- even in the summer.

[@begaylp]

Thanks for documenting these. I’m interested in this bygone era. I remember as a kid visiting different malls throughout the Phoenix Valley. A lot of them don’t exist anymore. Like, now as an adult, I drive trying to find these places but they’ve been completely torn down or converted into something else.

[@jasonlederman315]

I was just at a dead mall here in CT. So many stores have closed down and Macy's is closing down as well leaving only JC Penny's as the only large dept type store left. It was dying before Covid, but the acceleration in the last year has really made it a sad sight.

[@erinmarsh3934]

I think the last time I went here was in 2015-2016 because my brother's friend told us that the mall would be closing at that time. I bought a vest at JC Penney lol. Great video as always and I like the new intro with your dogs!

[@protomoon]

Petition to see the Patreon membership levels renamed and for the $10 patrons to become "Coca-Cola carousel riders". $1 patrons can be "abandoned drinks" and $5 patrons can be "90s neon signs".

[@davidcook3116]

"Picture Show." I love mall cinemas and their history. A highlight in most of your well-made episodes.

[@sirbobfive]

Loved this video. The mall is truly a unique architectural location. It's a shame it's being redeveloped. Thanks for documenting and sharing!!

[@Supramedical68]

23:00 Sad when Things Remembered has now become Things Forgotten.

[@12Mantis]

Puts me in mind of the Cary Towne Center mall here in North Carolina, whenever my grandmother went to get her hair done at that mall she'd give me and my brother a few dollars for the "hole in the wall" type arcade that was basically hidden around a corner near one of the entrances. When we ran out of tokens we'd wonder around looking through the Radio Shack, Hungates, Suncoast and Natural Wonders shops. *Sigh* ......I miss the 90's with malls like that and places like Union Station (when it was kind of like a mall) in Indianapolis, IN. Like most of the malls you covered it's a dying mall. Last I heard it closed a couple of months back, though I'm not exactly sure what was going to happen to the place, one story I heard mentioned it becoming a mixed use area with apartments and shopping/restaurants while another story mentioned it being bought by the EPIC games company for their new headquarters so I don't know if EPIC games is going to take over the entire property or just a portion of it with the rest becoming mixed use.

[@thpokemontrilogy]

I’m Phoenix born and raised and it’s been a shame seeing all these classic malls I grew up in going under. At least Chandler Fashion seems to be thriving, I recall that being the coolest mall in the Valley behind Scottsdale Fashion Square. If I see any dying places in Tempe I’ll be sure to let you know 🤟🏼

[@marniemarns]

Once upon a time... that food court was designed to look like an outdoor country market. The ceiling originally designed to look like a starry night sky. There use to be era themed food carts, there was a piano added at one point, music would play during the lunchtime hours. The biggest draw use to be the 2 bookstores, and you’d always see parents and kids reading while having their meals. That merry go round was once at arrowhead malls food court and has been a Coke sponsored ride. It was a big deal when moved to PV Mall, no sure why.

[@cool78666]

I love your videos. Keep them coming!

[@Arrr-Boe]

I lived pretty close to PV Mall from the late '80s into the '10s so it was kind of "my mall." Those cubes over the entrance are iconic and a lot of the interior tile was replaced with stone tile containing fossils that looked pretty cool when I was a child. Seeing the mall now sparks some memories! The mall pizza place of the '90s was Pizza D'Amore. I noticed that they had a tile, interesting to see that extended into the eighties as well. I wonder if the bus transfer station will remain there. I used to ride the Blue Line over there with friends in high school.

[@carvermicheal3110]

I remember when malls used to put a good amount of focus into the arcades I think that definitely was good for business

[@carefulconsumer8682]

As America dies, malls in China, Thailand and even Vietnam are beautiful and booming. The world is changing faster then i thought it would.

[@robertfowlerii4756]

At 25:37 the wall separates in the center and there is storage behind there. Like kiosks and chairs and stantions.

[@pfink70]

12:35 - Orange Julius was originally where that Panda Express is, and Hot Dog on a Stick was just to the right of it.

[@ichigokarasu]

What I wouldn't give to be in a warm, sunny place right now. Your videos are about as close as I can get at the moment, so thanks 😁😂

[@maggiemcmac8273]

I agree that the ceiling architecture is really unique. Sayings aside, I also love the tiles in the food court. Thanks!!

[@mhowell9915]

Land of the lost! So sad. Thank you for your videos.