A Visit to Circle Center Mall

Welcome to Downtown Indianapolis. Circle Center Mall is a live mall with a problem regarding Anchoritis. Can it survive without anchors? Let's step inside & find out.
Minds - www.minds.com/doomiegrunt
Ko-fi - ko-fi.com/doomiegrunt

[@stevekraynik2991]

The mall connects to the convention center and hotels without having to go outside which increases the appeal to convention attendees.

[@terionthesandbar603]

As an ad agency writer on the Simon account, I put untold hours into writing for and about this very special place. To see it fall from grace is heart-breaking.

[@determination0072]

As a person who has an adoration of beautiful mall architecture I can totally agree with your statement. It is heart-breaking. Here’s to hopefully better times ahead if at all possible in this current state of things!

[@PeteyG76]

This place was amazing. The whole 4th floor was the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights. Gators, Flashbacks, and the country place (can't remember its name) were a good place to hangout

[@noahvoris3637]

One of my favorite childhood malls! It may be anchorless, but it’s still doing very well!

[@rattleballs1414]

As a contributor to the construction of this mall, I really appreciated your video. I saw some of my work, and it made me smile. Not sure how things are there now, I've been out of Indy for 9 years....but I hear that the evenings there are pretty sketchy, with groups of rowdy kids hanging out. Also, a shop-lifting problem.

[@petegregory517]

CWP and travel confidently.

[@JoeCnNd]

I worked security there in 2002 to the beginning of 2003 and the kids were horrible on the weekend. Didn't buy anything, just walked around fighting or doing stupid stuff. Probably a big reason I won't ever go back there.

[@Filiral]

Ended up here after seeing that Simon has sold their share of ownership in the property. So many memories of doing Christmas shopping here with my family in the late 90s, as a 10-13 year old this place was amazing and felt so much bigger than it was.

[@jeslowe72401]

Great Video! Interesting mall. I like the escalator fountain thing.

[@someguy23475]

Been in there... it’s kind of bizarre. Hope you had a fun time in Indianapolis. I love visiting the city.

[@hillorisartin6129]

That's what makes it so appealing. At least to me. Been in that mall several times.

[@charlesewing3592]

What made u say that

[@LethaWolfStudios]

Beautiful mall, I wish Simon luck in bringing it fully back.

[@wmw3629]

There’s no chance. Downtown retail is finished.

[@brikshoe6259]

Circle Center isn't going anywhere soon -- waaaaaaaay too much investment in that by the city. Before it opened, downtown Indy was truly Naptown. I used to play the horses at the Sports Spectrum in the hotel that connects and then run upstairs to Slick Leonard's "Boom Baby's" restaurant to watch the Derby on the big screen while having lunch. Circle Center was once a very vibrant place. However, it has seen better days (don't go down there at night). The last time I was there was 2007 and it was so busy, there was barely room to walk down those now deserted aisles. I also remember standing outside the Artsgarden watching as the Colts float came up Illinois -- it was bitterly cold -- and running out to high-five the Super Bowl champs. Thanks for the tour!

[@andthe2become1flesh93]

Circle Center really was a spectacle when it was new. I still remember being there on opening day. That was either the end of '95 or in early '96. It was so overwhelming, my boyfriend, our friends, and I left and spent time at what was left of the Union Station mall at the time, which really just consisted of a video store with Hollywood memorabilia. While I did like Circle Center, even though I had some tough crappy jobs there in my younger years, I do miss the old Ayres building, etc., and I definitely miss what Union Station was in the 80s. Downtown had died, so I see why they thought Circle Center was a good idea, but Circle Center killed off Union Station and hurt other malls in the city, it seems. While it might bounce back, Circle Center won't ever be the same as it was when it was new, had Nordstrom, and was teeming with shoppers. It was a classier mall while still for everyone unlike Keystone at the Crossing, where I always get dirty looks if I visit. Circle Center made me feel like I was in another world, and I spent a lot of time down there as a teenager. My dad even built the Union Jack shaped window frames around the top, so I hope those always remain now that he's gone. So, I have mixed feelings, and I hear that it is like a ghost town now after the riots and because of Covid nonsense. Boarded up windows. No one feeling safe to go eat there. I hope they revive it because if it becomes a vacant ghost mall like so many others, it will make losing all those great old department store buildings in vain. (The L. S. Ayres building really was something else, and I'm so sad it's gone.) Circle Center used to have all those virtual reality games on the top floor when that was the craze, though I wasn't any good at them. The movie theater was one of the nicest I've been in. I believe it also became an IMAX, if memory serves. Most of the stores and restaurants I knew are gone, I'm sure. Seems a lot of people go north to Carmel to shop (yuck) or out west to Plainfield, which is nice. The flight of everyone out of the city isn't helping matters though. Hope the city can be made into something glorious that people can be proud of again. I'd come back for sure.

[@wmw3629]

Your post completely describes my feelings about the mall. I used to buy most Christmas presents at FAO Schwartz and WFYI Store of Knowledge.

[@TrainmasterCurt]

Downtown Malls are becoming more popular because the new trend is to have people living downtown, my City of Winnipeg is experiencing a boom downtown, despite some bad apples and vagrants. They have just built the True North Square and an apartment/retail tower connected to the 1979 Winnipeg Square Mall, and most of our Downtown is connected by skywalks and underground corridors which keep you warm and dry during the Winter

[@carltontaylor6500]

The rebranded Lazarus didn’t make it. There’s a joke in there somewhere.

[@TurboGibby-bh8bu]

You did a great job! Loved the video. You were on point with everything and you did NOT flop on anything! Let's just say you were lucky to make this video when you did. (due to Covid several months after) I don't know if you have been to this mall since the 5 years since the uploading date, but I wanted to share some updates with you worth noting...not all that good stuff. Might be long: 1. Unfortunately, no, I don't think the future is looking all that great for this mall. I have not been since March 2020. (And don't plan on going back) Used to go to Rhythm Discovery Center in the Claypool Court with my grandma on the weekends (direction in the Artsgarden opposite the Mall), haven't been for 4.5 years. Too dangerous. Too much crime. Does not feel safe. People literally get shot dead in the parking garages in the mall. 2. (I'm really into elevators, LOL) And also, to add on, remember how you were saying in the video on how the elevators took awhile to come up to the floor when you called it? Well...yeah....the elevators in the Simon Malls are notorious for being bad and breaking down consistently, and they lack to maintain them regularly. Me and my 81 year old grandma nearly got stuck in one of the elevators in the Claypool Court in October of 2018. (also owned by Simon) One of the elevators in the World of Wonders Garage broken in 2017, and stayed broken until March of 2022. There have been multiple occasions where one has visited the place to find only one of the 3 elevators working. Far as I know, only one of the elevators work, it has a shattered window and cigarette burns on half the floor buttons, and no air conditioning. You can research for more info. Parking garages are pretty creepy and empty in general. On one occasion during a big convention when I was there, two of those elevators you were riding WERE BROKEN. Very rarely was there a time where at least one of those glass elevators were not broken. With all of that having been said, I do love the design and architecture of this mall, I think it is the best! Just wish it would attract nicer crowds and that the management would maintain the place more. Great video again and wishing you a great weekend, Gibson

[@Some5520]

I loved going to the part you enetered which is waht used to be a carsons

[@nancydarling4918]

Great video. Good commentary. This is a very interesting mall. Thanks for filming.

[@snowylyssa]

recently got an update that simon properties sold the mall to bottleworks and that they're essentially turning it into an outdoor area and also some housing. simon properties could have done so much with circle center imho but while i am frustrated with them for that, im glad that there's a new owner who actually cares about doing something to improve indianapolis.

[@judykaymacgreagor4422]

Appreciate this video. Never been through mall, because I came in the exit you did then walked out after shaking my head and being lost.

[@flintfireforge7360]

Nice mall. Enjoyed the changing color fountain.

[@gorillazcash]

huge fan of this mall, while it may seem unpopular i prefer this mall to castleton and the mall that i work at (htc). i attend indy comic con and popcon yearly and it’s great having the sky walk between the mall and the convention center since the mall has more variety and better options and prices for the food compared to what’s at the convention center, which usually leads to it being packed those weekends and lines in the food court being ridiculously long. i never really go here outside of that due to distance (and gas prices) but i think it’s a really neat place and i have many great memories attached to it

[@TrainmasterCurt]

They should keep the fountains ⛲️

[@rwbyfanfix554]

Wow, that mall is very distinctive looking!

[@TrainmasterCurt]

That Neon Tilt Studio is DOPE!! 🥰💙💖

[@Happy00Fangirl]

my mom used to take me to the CC nordstrom as a child. i was a finicky little girl, and i recall the children's shoes section saleslady kindly accommodating my endless "this one is too tight on this foot" or "it pinches my heel" as i was fitted for patent leather shoes. it gets more people than you'd think, since there just isn't really any retail directly downtown. plus the inside walkway to the convention center.

[@MEXICANMOOSE1976]

Reminds me so much of the Rivercenter Mall across from the Alamo here in San Antonio! 🙄

[@dr666demento]

Ah! Right on the light, good shot.

[@wow42022]

I was just there yesterday to pass some time while I was in Indianapolis and it was interesting. I noticed a lot of locally own stores in previous national store storefronts and the emptiness of the 3rd floor. The GameStop was really weird not going to lie.

[@bakerdaniels003]

You should go to Union Station to check out what once was a unique mall is now a tomb. Concerning Circle Center Mall. Having a mall in the middle of downtown Indy seemed like a good idea at the time. It did thrive for awhile with the specialty anchor stores, that hardly anyone in Indy heard of. But when these stores soon left, Circle Center Mall lost a lot of shine. Indianapolis in not, let say New York City, or Los Angeles. Indianapolis is a city that tries to act larger then it really is. So much money is put into the downtown area; I don't really see where the profit from business exists. So many retail stores have come and gone from the downtown mall as well as surrounding close by retail restaurants and stores. No books stores, no record stores are left inside the mall. There were never any chain stores within the mall's walls, such as a Target, Sears, J.C. Penny's and so on. This is why among other reasons the Circle Center Mall is slowly but surely becoming a dinosaur as Washington Square Mall and Lafayette Square Mall is now. No one thought the Titanic could sink, well look what happened to it. No one thinks downtown Indianapolis and it's mall will sink; well never say never. Indianapolis was never meant to be a city on the scale of New York or Los Angeles. Indianapolis will forever be a small town city with big dreams within it's big boundaries, dreams that never will be reached.

[@andthe2become1flesh93]

Yes, I agree. Indy wants to be a big city, but they don't quite seem to understand what it takes to make it that way. They should revive Union Station and have more world class things to attract people to come visit. My dad was an Indy native, and he always said it was just a big cow town. I grew up there for the most part, so I love it in a lot of ways, but I also couldn't wait to leave as a kid. As an adult, I went back a few times to live. The small town ness of it grew on me, but everyone fleeing to Carmel, etc. the neighborhoods in the city are all deteriorating. Some areas look like war zones to me. I sure hope Indy can bounce back somehow, but I think the people in charge have made mistakes for years on what is best for Indy.

[@andthe2become1flesh93]

Can you even go inside Union Station any more? I've only been able to go in the sad excuse for a train/bus station. The old train and bus stations were so much better, as was the shopping and eating experience at Union Station in the eighties...

[@SteveSpikes]

The Union Station "Mall" is now a Crowne Plaza Hotel which incorporates the statuary of the old Union Station Mall. The Crowne Plaza Hotel has classic railcars that are converted to hotel rooms.

[@ismael4027]

That is amazing

[@BoratWanksta]

I sure hope Simon's upcoming renovation, doesn't blandize this mall too much. But I worry, considering I've seen other Simon renovations blandize certain malls they own, i.e. Woodfield Mall. At least it still has a lot of occupied storefronts, and that the movie theater is still going strong. Would be nice if they could try to lure Von Maur to open in either the vacant Carson's or Nordstorm space, or longer shot see if Boscov's wanted to expand west to here. Though as they are only in eastern Ohio with one store for now(in St. Clairsville at Ohio Valley Mall, and soon to have a 2nd store in Niles at Eastwood Mall), who knows if they'd consider opening here? Would be nice if they did, and also on a side note would be nice if they took the ex-Macy's space at Charleston Town Center in Charleston, WV.

[@mr.aaronworld8194]

Hey I just wanted to say that place you passed by at 5:25 was my old school Purdue polytechnic

[@angelm2655]

Beautiful mall.

[@transitdude3352]

I definitely would’ve went in to hooters!

[@dvferyance]

This is the mall in Indianapolis I often forget is there.

[@JoeCnNd]

I haven't been there since I got my job where I work now and quit working security back in 2003. It's like going back in a time machine.

[@journeemj]

We just lost New York and company store it’s closing in January. I work in this mall

[@carriewhite2378]

Had to watch your video on Circle Center Mall. I've been there not in long time. I'm from indiana

[@SteveSpikes]

Me too. I remember when Circle Centre Mall first opened in 1995 with a United Artists Theaters and a Virtual World "arcade" featuring BattleTech & Red Planet Tesla Pods.

[@carriewhite2378]

@@SteveSpikes oh cool. Ya I think I do remember when they had the virtual World arcade. I forgot now what the name of the theater that was there last.

[@katie8099]

Doesn’t need anchors really since it is connected to so many buildings. The top floor kind of scares me though, I went to the premieres of the hunger games movies there

[@JD-dq8zn]

The video could be longer. Great work throughout!

[@andthe2become1flesh93]

By the way, those glass elevators have ALWAYS been extremely slow since opening day. It's really ridiculous.

[@Some5520]

The signage and lights on the third floor have changed and I know this because I live in Indiana near the city

[@BigWood0397]

Malls are kind of dying out nationwide and you can count on one hand how many cities have a mall like this downtown. The Simon’s are the main reason this mall stays open and I’m almost certain they won’t let it close. They’re constantly thinking of creative uses for it. Remember the Simons own most of the malls in the country, including mall of America in Minnesota. Fun fact: Simone visited Houston years ago and saw the galleria. Then he came back and built circle center off the same concept in mind for Indy. He also own both malls now.

[@Some5520]

Was the part you exited the mall the old nordstrom

[@carrieannemichelle3195]

I would like to go to this Mall but I live in Pennsylvania.

[@RaccoonAlarmsVosgra]

I used to go here when I was little but my dad dont feel safe in there any more, also my dad watched the people build this

[@dmuse1981]

The covid outbreak has really crippled this once great mall. Its almost empty now, in 2021.

[@keyshawnscott12]

I agree hopefully we can get the mall back on its feet but safety comes first

[@wmw3629]

It was on life support long before the pandemic. Lots of junk stores are all that’s left.

[@michaelpittman7129]

Is there any designer stores in the mall?

[@youtuber3328]

to be COMPLETELY honest i still EQUALLY really really LOVE landmark theatre lafayette square mall union station keystone at the crossing and you tube ALMOST as much as castleton square mall cinemark theatre regal park greenwood theatre greenwood park mall and circle centre mall

[@thomashouse6090]

The mall has only been open since 95

[@pikalee3492]

Wasn't there a big sun Mosaic on the floor? Also wasn't this mall also call Sun Circle or Sun City Mall?

[@David49305]

You are thinking of a different mall.

[@rattleballs1414]

Yes, they had a "sun" side and a "moon" side to this mall. My memory is that there was a floor mosaic as you describe.

[@Jen6767]

I remember back in the day they had old navy I forget when that closed. I also remember they had nightlife upstairs right around where tilt is. I think they should bring old navy back imagine how well it would do nowadays since it is more popular than banana republic and gap.

[@ChrisCosat]

I wondered about the nightlife. I recall going to someplace downtown where there were different types of music being played in each room. Went there with a friend and had a blast.

[@wlittle84washere]

World Mardi Gras

[@firefighterelijah4288]

How many floors is it

[@SteveSpikes]

Circle Centre Mall has four levels. The first three being comprised of shops, with the food court on the third level, and the fourth level left for the Regal Theaters and the Tilt Arcade.

[@wmw3629]

Nothing but a pathetic ghost town now with no future whatsoever. A destination? For what? There’s not a single decent retail store left. The theater is downright dangerous at night. I was a big proponent of the mall being built and used to shop there often. Rampant Saturday night crime didn’t help matters either.

[@MrNutz001]

You throw a coin, what is your wish?

[@petegregory517]

Skylight resembles Carolina Place but not as cool; cool, just, not as.

[@allbriel4908]

Strarcout mall

[@Thomasdat]

Do you have a patriarch

[@DoomieGruntVentures]

If you mean Patreon, I do not. I do, however, have a Ko-fi page which is linked in the description.

[@pyrobison2002]

Doomie Grunt - Dead Malls & Derelict Digs but will you be my daddy

[@michaelrexrode3759]

Mall seems dead to me. A look through the window shows empty streets outside.

[@pyrobison2002]

Michael Rexrode are you Rorschach

[@David49305]

Downtown is busier than is has been in many decades. There is a ton of housing and hotel accommodations downtown. It really depends when you visit downtown. This mall did great for years but has suffered from the changes in shopping trends. It can't compete with online shopping and people would rather drive to the Northside or Southside to shop than downtown. Nordstrom was a destination store and people came from all around Indiana and Ohio just to shop there. When Nordstrom opened its new store on the Northside the city couldn't sustain two stores so they closed the larger store downtown. This began the exodus at Circle Centre.

[@MCOfan]

Michael Rexrode I used to work for Simon and would stay at one of the hotels connected to Circle Centre when in town for meetings at HQ. That shot of the street was pretty indicative of downtown Indy. It always seemed dead there at all hours of the day. Surprising because the Indiana State House is only a few blocks away.

[@David49305]

@@MCOfan I live in Indy so I can assure you that isn't the case.

[@MCOfan]

ShrinkDavid 1982 You’re right. My perception of downtown based on my 5 visits is 100% wrong. This vid also must have erased all of the cars from the street. Thanks for setting me straight.

[@stache1954]

Please work on your sound quality.