A Visit to Airport Mall AND Bangor Mall

Airport Mall and Bangor Mall, both servicing the town of Bangor ME. Let's go inside and begin the profile on these two malls, starting with the Airport Mall, and working our way to the Bangor Mall.
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[@pheynx7573]

Still looks the same as when I was a kid in the 80's and 90's. I haven't been there in almost 20 years and I still remember where everything was.

[@pretzelrides3748]

I grew up in Bangor, family owned the Brontaus restaurant in downtown and the Airport Diner. Freezers originally was downtown and consisted of 4-5 floors including elevators and escalators. It was quite the thing back then. Maines version of a Macy’s if you will. Ironic that the down town area has come back while the Mall is dying.

[@tombutts2263]

I worked at the Bangor Mall when it opened in the fall of 1978 at Thom McAn while attending UMaine. Worked there off and on through 1980, often hitchhiking (?) to get to work. A couple years later I worked for a couple years for the Maine Dept. of Human Services by the airport and used to buy records at the Airport Mall.

[@TiffanyMLiving]

The airport mall is small enough to redivide the stores into smaller sizes. Bring in a farmers market in the main halls and let small, artisan shops and sole proprietors sell things that aren't so darn commercial. Something similar to the Ferry Building in San Franciso. I bet it would totally come back to life.

[@MelissaServicePack7Lucky7]

I love the airport mall! I love walking around in there and remembering what it used to look like in the 80's. I'm not old enough to have experienced it in the 70's, but I wish I was! I love looking at all the old store fronts and imagining what it looked like in the 70's. I remember shopping there with my parents when I was a kid, in the 80's. They used to have Freezes department store and Riches. And there was a coin shop and Mr. Paperback. And a shoe store where the motor vehicles place is. If you look really closely at the brick wall of the DMV, you can find places where people signed their names back in the 70's! It says their names and the year on it. I did a video about a few years back. I hate the way the bangor mall is now. All the good stores are leaving because of this stupid covid crap. I miss the way it was in the 80's. I hated when they remodeled it in the 90's.

[@johnashlock3664]

Nice trip down memory lane... I lived in Bangor 1969-1971 and attended Union St Jr High and Garland St Jr High.

[@hubertrhymer3054]

You did two malls in one day! u are a beast man!! U need a coffee for the hard work! cheers! Nothing can't stop U!

[@TheBIGBEAR812]

I was in Bangor from 87-91. The Airport mall was busy and a weekly destination for me and friends growing up. Mr. Paperback had I believe one of the biggest stores there and much of childhood comic collection came from there and the Downtown Mr PB location. I think it was called Twin City Sports and Collectibles, or maybe it was River City Sports? I'd have to investigate further. It was another hot spot for kids featuring team sports wear, hats, posters, all kinds of sports cards... basically a fanatics in storefront form. The last weekly hangout was the Arcade. 1 of 4 I regularly visited in Bangor. They were always busy, and I dropped hundreds of quarters and tokens there. The Smoke Shop now stands in it's place. There was a floral shop there I used to send my grandmother flowers from. Don't recall the name. And in the years since I left and have journeyed back for family things, there's been different stores, but it's far from it's former glory. I was just home about a month ago, and didn't even bother to visit this time. I was in the Bangor Mall. That place is sad. It WAS the destination in the early nineties. While I've seen much bigger and grander malls, that place was a piece of childhood. Sam Goody, Suncoast, Hot Topic, all your basic mall staples. The bigger and better arcade in Bangor at the time. Generally that whole area is down. KMART was long gone. Toys r us dead, Sears replaced by Dicks sporting goods. There was other things I can still see in my mind, but I can't recall the names of. It's weird because that mall is like the heart of the shopping area there, but there's nothing really there anymore. All the thriving businesses surround that area. I took my 5 year old daughter there, bought some stuff from Penneys and Dicks and left depressed. If it ain't dead, it's dying. There has been a revival of vinyl records and one has to wonder if we'll ever revive the way we shop. Desiring to see and touch before we buy. It's easy to point and click, then wait for it to show up at the front door. The Mall used to be an event. You pile into the car and head on over with Family, and kill an afternoon. Clothes, food court, gadgets, and video games. Meet girls and hangout with friends. Everyone is so busy, we don't have the time for such things these days. I feel kind of sad kids don't get to experience that anymore.

[@TheBIGBEAR812]

Was typing while watching. I had Sears in the wrong place, and yeah you pronounced Porteous right. I completely forgot about that place. There were two music stores in the malls I remember. A small cassette tape only store in the Bangor Mall, and a bigger record store in the Airport Mall. There might have been another in the Bangor Mall, but that was 30 years ago... Can't believe I forgot those. I still have a lot of the cassette tapes I bought from those places. The Bangor Mall also had your every mall 80's staple; Kay Bee toys. I don't think it was as popular as the Toys R Us up the road though. Anyway, thanks for the trip down nostalgia lane. Also a great seafood restaurant in the Bangor Mall was owned by Merrill Seafood I think.

[@ellen4441]

Gr8 video 📹! Thx for all that u do , Donnie Grunt ! 🏋🏋🏋👍

[@jrwheeler81]

Awesome video. I am from Bangor, born and raised. I grew up in the 80s and 90s and spent a great deal of time at both of these malls, especially as a teenager in the mid and late 90s. I have a lot of great memories of these malls from the good old days. The Airport Mall has been a total ghost town for many years now, but it somehow still manages to keep going, probably because of the big anchors of Hannaford, Marshall's, Dollar Tree, and Ocean State Job Lots, which all bring in a significant amount of business, but the interior of the mall is absolutely dead, with the exception of the DMV office, a locally owned pet shop that has been there for many years, and Rent A Center. It has probably been at least 5 or 6 years since I have been inside of the Airport Mall, so I'm not too sure what's in there these days. The Bangor Mall, on the other hand, is quickly circling the drain. As of right now, there are only about half a dozen stores left in there. It's almost completely desolate, even on the weekends. I really don't think that the Bangor Mall will make it out of 2021 alive at the rate it's going. It had already been struggling a great deal for several years before COVID hit. It's an extremely sad sight. What once was a bustling hub of nonstop activity with hardly an empty space in the entire mall and the parking lot filled to capacity is now not even a shadow of its former self. I really miss being able to go to the mall on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to just look around in different stores and then stop in the food court for something to eat. Sadly, those days are long gone. With the exception of Wal-Mart and Target, there are hardly any places left to shop in the Bangor area. It's extremely depressing. The Bangor Mall area looks absolutely miserable with all of the empty stores that have closed over the last several years that are just sitting empty and seemingly abandoned. That part of town needs a major overhaul and we desperately need new businesses to come and fill in some of these empty store lots.

[@ellen4441]

Very bittersweet, detailed Bangor Mall post! Hey, what eateries used to be in the food court? So sad that the interior is basically dead !!!

[@jrwheeler81]

It's very difficult to remember them all since so many came and went throughout the years! There was always a Sbarro's pizza place and there used to be a McDonald's in the early 2000s, but that was later replaced by an Asian cuisine place. I think it was called something like Oriental Express. There was also always a Dairy Queen. From 2000-2016, there was a full sized Ruby Tuesday restaurant in the Bangor Mall. Losing Ruby Tuesday was a HUGE blow to that mall because it brought in so much traffic. We also had a Pretzel Time and there was a Starbucks kiosk in the food court. I'm sure I'm missing several of the older ones that left many years ago. The food court at the Bangor Mall was always small, but it at least had several places to get decent food!

[@abigailrandall7520]

@@ellen4441 There was a salad place at one point which later became an Indian restaurant and a pretzel place as well. There was a Dairy Queen/Orange Julius up until a few years ago.

[@Ian45968]

I the vintage look of the Airport Mall. Bangor Mall is a great looking mall, I think they should close off or demolish the Sears wing.

[@williamharris8367]

I have only been to the Airport Mall once, some six years ago. I remember shopping at Ocean State Surplus and a great independent bookstore called Mr. Paperback. I also remember Subway, and I dimly recall another coffee shop there. We mostly shopped at the Bangor Mall.

[@wowhaha4871]

Is it just me, or did the Bangor Mall seem like 2 different malls? It was almost entirely vacant from Sears to the center court. But from the center court to JCPenney, it was near full occupancy. There were stores like Hollister, American Eagle, and Express! I think the Sears wing should be turned into office space, or be filled with local shops. The JCPenney wing seemed very lively, so they should keep that traditional retail. Edit: Oh, and since Journeys is still in the Sears wing, if they turn the Sears wing into office space, Journeys should move their store to the JCPenney wing.

[@BlueLazeMusic]

What about the Funiture Mattress And More Wing?

[@wowhaha4871]

@@BlueLazeMusic not sure what would be there

[@BlueLazeMusic]

@@wowhaha4871 lol

[@BlueLazeMusic]

@jwathas This is sadly very true. Bangor, Auburn and Presque Isle all have dying malls. The South Portland one is the only one doing decent.

[@Turbo231]

The murder of Sears was quite sad. Thanks for the video.

[@butterboiii9810]

Nice. I was looking forward to this.

[@jeee1074]

Damn I stepped away for a short while and had to rewind to see the Airport Mall, that place is small. I like the dark feeling inside of the Bangor Mall, it sucks that Namdar owns the mall. That mall needs a local owner to bring it back to a decent occupancy. You should start an Instagram, that is the best place for memes.

[@jeee1074]

@jwathas Thanks for sharing this information about the mall. Did Simon still take care of the mall during the 2007-2017 years before they lost the property?

[@happyslap2588]

I love the style of filming you use, it's like an 80's kind of style and it's far preferable! It makes perfect sense that most malls are failing chiefly because of Amazon but it's still crazy how busy in the early 2000's the Bangor mall was! I mean when I went every time people were like elbow to elbow in there through out most of the mall and it wasn't like back to school shopping or a holiday, the mall was happening because bored kids, teens, and younger adults went just for the scene itself! It was a common hangout!

[@williamharris8367]

I first visited the Bangor Mall shortly after it opened. It was so very much larger than anything close to where I then lived (in Canada). The last several visits in the 2000s were increasingly disappointing as more and more stores closed. I _especially_ miss Macy's -- on my last visit to that store, I spent several hundred dollars on clothing; the selection of decent menswear was so very good. The very last time that I was there (three or four years ago), I bought some clothes at J. C. Penny. I walked to the Mall entrance, looked at the directory of remaining stores, sighed, and walked out. There was no point in staying any longer. My (now long deceased) Grandfather almost got arrested there. Customer Service provided wheelchairs, so Grandfather simply took one for my Grandmother. He was apparently unaware that there was a rental fee. Mall Security was summoned. Ultimately it was settled. 🙂

[@williamharris8367]

One important point not mentioned was the bus trips to the Mall from the Maritime Provinces of Canada (~6 to 10 hours drive away). The terrible exchange rate eventually brought an end to these organized groups (those Canadians who can afford it now bypass Bangor, and hit the larger malls in Portland). I assume that customers were also drawn from small towns in Maine and elsewhere in Northern New England.

[@markstrouse3101]

Great video Doomie Grunt

[@davecates9095]

Is cool to see the malls here in Maine. I wondered if you did the Auburn Mall cause I know that has been in bad shape for years. And if you come back to Maine check out JFK Plaza in Waterville. It is about like the Turnpike Mall is. Can give you much info as I can about some of the places here. Great work!

[@yl7458]

Macy's was such a great store when it was a tenant at the Bangor Mall. It made the mall a great draw to Canadians. Those days are gone now. 😥

[@BlueLazeMusic]

The bangor mall is getting an arcade/laser tag...basically a entertainment place now. Its gonna take up 5 spaces next to the abandoned sears. There's also now small theaters and has lost Lane Bryant, Cj banks, Christopher and banks, A local craft store, Foot locker, Yankee candle, that cbd store, Hollister, Pink, Victorias secret and the children's place all closed. Also! The jc penny renewed its lease with the mall in 2020 so there's that aswell. There's a Hannaford, staples and Bam which I believe are on mall property as well as Chick-fil-a.

[@danielfife348]

Also those stores closed due to Covid pandemic and those chains of those stores closed many other stores. Not a Bangor thing.

[@jenniferburchill3658]

A vintage mall... I can imagine places like this having a Woolworth's, Murphy's Mart, or a TG&Y.

[@MrSgm111]

Another great video.. poor old airport mall .. what a relic....do those ceiling fans actually achieve anything?... the mall needs to re purpose and quickly...👍

[@CGDubz87]

This stung more than I anticipated :(

[@louisbrownusofa]

I remember a Dairy Queen in the Bangor Mall, which seems to no longer be there. It always had a long line of customers as it was the only eatery besides Starbucks in that mall... Is there any eating places anymore in that mall.. Doesn't seem like it.... I haven't been to that mall in about 4 years and now have no reason to go back...

[@TheComputerNerd]

They still have a Bangor Pizza and Subs, literally the only food and drink place left

[@BlueLazeMusic]

Bangor pizza and subs, they have everything Subs, pizza, chicken tenders, fries lol

[@BlueLazeMusic]

@jwathas Isn't there a DQ Chill and Grill in Old Town?

[@BlueLazeMusic]

@jwathas Wow haha, yeah just looked it up there is one. I always preferred it to McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King.

[@ellen4441]

I'm wondering, as well , about eateries, in the mall. I love your videos, DOOMIE GRUNT, & would also like to see more video chat, & close ups, about eateries in these malls. I see there's only a pizza 🍕place left in there, now

[@Ruuuben]

Ohhh noooo! So sad!!!! So many times I was there in the mall, the only place to go to explore! It was year 1992 when I was based there, in Bangor, as airline crew from Scandinavia....Shopping and good time! Dinners and drinks!

[@willl.3353]

Canadians in New Brunswick made trips to Bangor Mall in the 80s early 90s.

[@Joseph-oy2qk]

It boasted about having 80 stores or more! Back in 78 you could barely walk in it was so crowded , great memories!

[@Joseph-oy2qk]

Especially during the Xmas seasons

[@WhittyPics]

Open the door and the first thing I see is a closed Radio Shack with the signs still up. I know this mall is dead

[@WhittyPics]

With Simon buying JCP I doubt they will put much effort in saving a JCP not in one of their malls

[@wowhaha4871]

@@WhittyPics Brookfield now owns them as well. Brookfield and Simon combined probably own 50% of malls with JCPenney’s in them. But I somewhat agree. I don’t know though.

[@BoratWanksta]

@@WhittyPics That's my big feeling, too. That JCPenney stores at a Simon or Brookfield owned mall will more likely survive, and that ones at malls not owned by Simon or Brookfield will have a high likelihood of closing. I.e. Golf Mill in Niles, IL, Uniontown Mall in southwest Pennsylvania, etc. And of course, JCPenney was soon going to start another round of not yet announced store closings. Not to forget, any stores that made it onto their late summer/early fall store disposition list pdf, will be screwed as well. BTW this is the store disposition list which EVEN includes store #1 in Kemmerer, Wyoming, if you hadn't seen it yet: www.jcpenneyportfolio.com/uploads/1/3/2/3/132304625/jcpenney_-_phase_i-surplus_stores_for_sale.pdf

[@BlueLazeMusic]

Update for bangor mall: There's a new Laser tag place that's open now, it takes 5 spaces next to the abandoned sears. The mall also is getting a photography place, toy store and a yearly haunted house. We also have a new snack place in the mall. The mall is also having the yearly city comic & toy con this year...and they hope to make it their perm home.....so things are looking up

[@TheCNYMike]

I went to school at the University of Maine in the 1990s, and I visit Maine every year. I went to the mall every day at school. I went to the mall last year and I was shocked how few people were there. It's too bad malls did not become multigenerational. After they are gone, maybe people will look back and wonder at what we lost.

[@agingmillennialmainer]

Nicely put together. It always had a better arcade than the Bangor mall. I totally forgot they cut up Ames!!

[@MJA5]

you can tell how dead a mall is by the number of gumball machines and other vending machines it has. If it has a lot, it's in the process of jumping the shark. If it has none at all, it's about to close.

[@archiecampbell3211]

All towns called Bangor are dead even my local one Bangor in Northern Ireland the streets are bare and one of my childhood malls there is abandoned

[@groton27]

Felines was 05 since my local one in CT was split in half top floor is now a bed bath and beyond and lower floor is a Christmas tree shop

[@butterboiii9810]

Hey that’s the Crystal Mall in Waterbury. I remember going there in 2017 with my parents while on a mini vacation.

[@butterboiii9810]

Waterford I mean.

[@groton27]

@@butterboiii9810 yes. I feel Simon is running it into the ground. Charging Rent way higher then many of the smaller tenants can do etc

[@johnp139]

It should have been called “Langoliers Mall”! For more than 1 reason.

[@wowhaha4871]

3:24 That circa late 90s-2000s Regis storefront seemed out of place in that mall. I would’ve expected a vintage one. I’m guessing it had just closed. Regis has been closing a lot of stores recently.

[@wowhaha4871]

@jwathas ohhhh thanks for the history.

[@lauriesmith5008]

Didn’t even know Banger had a mall.

[@megatrends]

I like the Bangor Mall more as it resembles the Auburn mall. Ive never been to the Airport Mall or the bangor Mall but enjoyed your video all the same.

[@dr666demento]

"Shop Local" Former Sears - it seems they all have that tile facade. No labelscar needed. I don't see JCPenny lasting, maybe it'll last another year before bankruptcy again (only that one will be Chapter 7).

[@TheRedDevil_NC]

Triangle Towne Center in Raleigh is almost as crowded as this place

[@GrnArrow092]

The Bangor Mall certainly isn't Maine's largest shopping mall. The Maine Mall in South Portland is much bigger.

[@TampaJohn]

If you’re looking to score some heroine, go to the airport mall.

[@MelissaServicePack7Lucky7]

Who cares about heroin! There’s a radio shack in there!

[@arturocuizon69]

Doomie what I say they should do with Bangor mall is the second thing you said which is they should remodel it and make it a combination of both vintage and a modern looking mall because Doomie I would hate to see vintage malls be gone because it's like your loosing a piece of history for that area.

[@-OPPORTUNITYBARN-]

You can thank Amazon for most malls downfalls.

[@ventiicedcoffee9340]

I just went to the haunted house in the mall and I almost shit myself 😭😭😭😭😭

[@danielfife348]

An Idea of Bangor MAll, turn spots of Empty stores into Sierra, REI and Five Below, and Sears into Dicks House of Sports and the current Dicks into Bass Pro Shops and Quality over quantity of tenants suffice. and what of put Torrids in too.

[@arturocuizon69]

Doomie I see both malls are vintage malls but it looks like Bangor mall has been remodeled did it look the same as airport mall before it was remodeled or did it have a different vintage look of its own?

[@DoomieGruntVentures]

I would presume Bangor Mall had its own unique looks before the renovation. Vintage pictures of malls are difficult to come by, unfortunately.

[@TheComputerNerd]

@@DoomieGruntVentures There are a few pictures of the Bangor Mall before it remodeled, but there's not many. I think they used a different style brick floor, and they had water pond islands with bridges.

[@ty1olimmm751]

The subway is very...odd

[@danielfife348]

I feel the vacant spots need to be addressed and it siad in 2018 when sold they plan to continue as a mall. I agree this won't go without a fight and Bangor needs a proper mall. Its also the same size as Newington Fox run mall. I feel Presque isle mall is worse than this mall.

[@4517onlyglory]

Northern ME DMVs always are the best

[@thisnthat5406]

Bangor has more than two malls....

[@DoomieGruntVentures]

Enclosed malls? Do elaborate.

[@thisnthat5406]

@@DoomieGruntVentures strip malls

[@TampaJohn]

Having lived in Bangor for many years. Bangor does not need a mall. There are enough places to shop.