A Visit to Fair Oaks Mall

[@ChelseaEBird]

I’m bitter about the renovations. I loved the fountain when I was growing up. It was so cool to take the glass elevator down into the fountain. It’s so sterile without the planters and seating areas. 😢

[@jscountrygirl85_326]

Yes, I loved those big blue fountains! I used to play with the water in them as a little kid and try to pick up some of the coins people threw in them. :) I also loved and miss the Christmas decorations they used to put on top of the fountains. And I, too, also miss the seating areas with comfy leather seats and nice looking plants!

[@Mapmaker1559]

Agreed. I myself am very bitter about the renovations, and agree that the white tile in place of a colorful fountain gives this mall a very sterile and even off-putting appearance. Not sure who thought these renovations were a good idea, because they really weren't.

[@chadcolomb4260]

Attended Chantilly High School from 1982-1986 and the Fair Oaks Mall was a place my friends and I frequented on a regular basis. From 1985-86 I worked at a restaurant in this mall called Tanglewoods. Fun times!🍻

[@chadcolomb4260]

@corey Babcock Can’t say that I do. Where was it?

[@chadcolomb4260]

@corey Babcock I moved after graduation in 1986, so I was probably gone. I do remember a pizza joint at the Fair Oaks Mall called Italian Delight. They sold 🍕 by the slice. 😋

[@StaPuft99]

Telling my age here but this mall opened while I was in high school and I was there for the grand opening. I went to a store there called 'Video Concepts' a few times. They sold high end home electronics for the time. Classics like VHS recorders, laser disc players, big screen TVs, etc. It was on the upper level near the center court. Thanks for the flashback Doomie! Keep up the great work!

[@gigyoung7181]

Wow, if you’re older than me then you are old. I went to it the first month it opened in ‘83(?). I was in junior high at Lake Braddock SS. and remember Video Concepts, too. Good Times

[@dancarlton7973]

I remembered Video Concepts. This was way way before there was such thing as Facebook.

[@jscountrygirl85_326]

Love this mall! I have many fond memories of coming here a lot with my parents during the late 90's, and before these crazy times, we still went there from time to time. I miss this place so much and can't wait to visit again! I love how a lot of the architecture hasn't changed much since it first opened in the early 80's. It still looks great today and more original than many of today's modern malls.

[@Jennifer-jx8xg]

I grew up in the Fairfax area and this was my favorite mall as a kid in the 80's and early 90's. It was always packed. Going there was such a treat and there was a Sam Goody, Chi-Chi's, Spencer, a dice game store, TGI Fridays and the Kaybee toy store. Loved the glass elevators. too. Geez all the memories. I miss home. Tysons was originally a small mall you could walk in an hour or so and there were no parking garages. Sadly growth and commerce took all the history out of the Vienna/Fairfax area. But will always have fond memories of Fair Oaks Mall.

[@Jennifer-jx8xg]

@corey Babcock Not when we left in 92 but Tysons area has changed a lot I am sure.

[@JRJR-nc7wm]

I use to work at Fair Oaks Mall back in 1994..how sad it looks now. It was always PACKED! A lot more stores were there and now it looks empty in every aspect. Real sad! How i miss my childhood in that mall as well

[@excuse.me.sir.]

A lot of memories for me too man. Spent a lot time walking this place in high school. Remember when u could still smoke in there? Lol. Those standing ash trays they had.

[@rl8429]

It could be packed on certain days, not like the mall is dying since it still has decent stores.

[@jaycunningham4215]

The upper level of Sears is scheduled to be converted to a Dave & Busters.

[@MetalPete_the_metalfan]

Jarrett Cunningham Cool. The upper level of the former Sears at Southridge Mall in Milwaukee became a Round 1. The lower level Sears space became Dick’s Sporting Goods and TJ Maxx.

[@I_ASKED.]

@corey Babcock I think it did or maybe im confusing my malls

[@rl8429]

@corey Babcock Dave & Buster's is still open at Fair Oaks though. The other half of the Sears space became Golf Galaxy and Dick's Sporting Goods.

[@ryanrebello1153]

Dave and busters should come at Tyson corner center

[@hadihatab3126]

It’s easy to tell a Taubman center, from the terrazzo flooring, geometric ceiling, typically wood trimmed railings, and sculptures hanging near the department stores.

[@dancarlton7973]

A pair of motion detectors at each mall entrance during the earlier times, up high on walls.

[@brugelxencerf]

Doomie Grunt is the best historian of American shopping malls!

[@nancydarling4918]

Another good video! Thanks for filming.

[@TB-zz9bq]

Besides Tysons Corner this is my go to mall of choice. It has all the stores I shop and decent food choices. The loss of Lord & Taylor is a black eye, but I am hopeful this mall can hold on for many years to come. Several of many things going for this mall unlike many rural malls is the high income and population to support a mall this size.

[@excuse.me.sir.]

Ahhhhh, Fair oaks Mall. I remember this place so well. I remember walking around this place in the 90s. Back when you could still smoke in there! I still remember the standing ash trays. A time long gone. Haha

[@chrissmith-rv5ro]

I'm 46, and used to walk around Springfield, (Virginia) Mall smoking at 16, crazy. That was 1993.

[@JR_SupportOurHeroes]

The twin of Fair Oaks Mall is Lakefront Mall in Gaithersburg Maryland which is closing end of March 2023. Great video 👍😎👍

[@chrissmith-rv5ro]

I'm born and raised in Fairfax County, 46 years. I don't think I've ever been inside Fair Oaks Mall.

[@misss.o.j.]

I remember Fair Oaks!!!! Thanks for the vid❤❤❤

[@michaelwade379]

I remember cruising Fair Oaks mall in the early 80s though 90 or so and to a lesser extent Tysons Corner. Fond memories of the record stores, toy stores and some of the restaurants (A&W if I recall) among others, not to mention Alexander De Paris! Wonder what that guy is doing now lol. And of course waiting outside Lord and Taylor for concert tickets! Good times back then, seems like the attraction of the "mall concept" was dying even before online retail crushed brick and mortar, who knows, just glad for the memories.

[@evana6425]

The fair oaks mall is a beautiful place especially with the elevators. I really love love there elevators there even though not from Virginia and never have been to that area before

[@TheRedDevil_NC]

Ah...2019....the good ole days.

[@Rainmakers84]

Nice recap mall history. Thank you. Enjoy shopping there, Oddly its one of only full size malls that does not have food court, only a few fast food restaurants scattered here and there. Also bizzare tis the only mall i have been that has two Macy's?? Perhaps mall will benefit from the upcoming expansion of I-66.

[@alexsummy7509]

I wonder what would happen if they tried to turn the abandoned Sears into a concert venue.

[@greenbboos]

This mall looks cool 😎

[@joshwallace2183]

I am from Cincinnati, I remember getting stranded in FF and being forced to be homeless and not be able to leave by the local government for something I didn't do. And eventually was acquitted for. Anyhow...met some good people there at the time and we used to get crunked on hard liquor at this mall all the time..

[@rheeryder2524]

Josh from the Lamb Center? Becky? 😮

[@matthewziegler5364]

Compared to other malls in the area this one kind of paled in comparison (Aesthetics, Stores), I used to love seeing the water fountains back in the day and the center Starbucks for meeting family for coffee, both gone now unfortunately. Went out to Dulles Town Center and its like night and day between the two malls

[@jscountrygirl85_326]

Oh yes, I really miss that Starbucks in the center area! And the water fountains, too.

[@ryanrebello1153]

But Tyson corner center mall needs lot and it will be more nice but I Tyson corner center mall and I love this mall also but this mall now dying

[@MrBigUp]

Belk or Dillards would have been nice

[@seanrenzi7243]

Jc penny’s should be doing goodSince it’s the only anchor in a lot of these malls

[@budgie3668]

Lord and tailor are having a store closing sale

[@DoomieGruntVentures]

Discord - Link Removed due to terminated affiliation Buy me a Coffee? - ko-fi.com/doomiegrunt

[@noahvoris3637]

What are “conservation pits”?

[@arturocuizon69]

I think some kind of experience because since retail stores like Sears and JCPenny aren't doing good at all and they're struggling it would be hard to find other retail stores to replace Sears.

[@rl8429]

They replaced the Sears space with Dave & Buster's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, and a restaurant.

[@WhittyPics]

Other than Sears it looks pretty well occupied?

[@derrickstovall8694]

I think a boscovs or a belk would be a good choice

[@itsdare7791]

The thing is you can’t get into Dave and busters from the mall so it’s still dead over on the Sears end they also need like a box lunch or move the Barnes and noble to the mall

[@rl8429]

@corey Babcock They did build one, check the mall directory. The whole Sears space is fully occupied and they just need to deal with the Lord & Taylor space.

[@lifewithtodd7870]

They need a Boscovs or Burlington in the Sears space

[@BoratWanksta]

Boscov's would work better for the lower level of what used to be Sears, vs. Burlington. I worry that if this mall added Burlington, that it might hurt the image of this mall, and deter certain shoppers from coming here. And to me, this mall might be a little too upscale, for Burlington to open at. Maybe they could try to attract Dillard's or Belk or Von Maur(longer shot and less likely to open here, they don't have many stores east other than one in the Rochester area, and 2 in the Atlanta area), if Boscov's didn't open here?

[@lifewithtodd7870]

BoratWanksta yes I agree, I also think that a Boscovs would definitely work better because they are also a strong anchor store

[@jscountrygirl85_326]

I would absolutely love a Boscovs! Love going to their stores when I'm in Pennsylvania.

[@rl8429]

Maybe at the Lord & Taylor space instead. The whole Sears space has since been filled.

[@MetalPete_the_metalfan]

Quite similar to Southridge Mall in Milwaukee Wisconsin where I am from.

[@tbemayweatheristheg.o.a.t4200]

Has anyone tried to stop you from filming at these malls?

[@DoomieGruntVentures]

Yes. Quite a few times actually. I do mention it happening in the videos relating to the malls in question.

[@tbemayweatheristheg.o.a.t4200]

Doomie Grunt - Dead Malls & Derelict Digs I’m new to this channel but have been watching your content and might I say this is high quality! Keep up the good work!

[@sutterpark]

Why don't they build a Costco or a Whole Foods and Apple Store?

[@rl8429]

Apple is already at the mall. As for Costco and Whole Foods, they already have locations in the same town as Fair Oaks. The Sears space has now been filled and it's now just Lord & Taylor that is vacant.

[@RoundenBrown]

Looks like Lakeforest.

[@TheBebe2214]

Great video! I used to work in that many years ago. I want to film a shop with me video but I only used my phone and it didn’t come out as nice. What do you use to film? It looks so clear and it didn’t look like anyone noticed you filming!

[@lilabrantley916]

Are malls are all the pass but fun shopping in thenwas fun

[@emiliocuevaibanez5468]

Hola #OaksMall soy de Perú, tengo una hermana que vive en Bell, es casada con un Americano. Necesito saber si existe alguna tienda de PELUCHES GIGANTES es para regalo de mi sobrinita de 10 años.. necesito de su ayuda. Gracias. Saludos para todo Florida. Bendiciones.

[@lcomposemusic]

Si. Fair Oaks Mall... ellas tienen. Lo siento, soy malo en español. De todos modos, fair Oaks Mall tienen peluches gigantes en la tienda en la piso de arriba cerrar la tienda “Macy’s” en la tienda nombre “Go! Calendars Games, Toys, Books”