A Visit to Southlake Mall (IN)

Southlake Mall is something of an anomaly in Northwest Indiana. NW Indiana is one of the poorer parts of the nation, and is home to the classic American tragedy, Gary. Yet, just a dozen miles away stands the Southlake Mall, which is bucking that trend of decline & decay so far.
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[@dave0z96]

It’s near Gary but it’s also near Crown Point, Valparaiso, Chesterton, Schererville, Munster, Highland, Portage, and Dyer so that area is not dying . Gary is still very relevant when it comes to heavy industry and most the people that work those jobs live in those nice suburbs . That mall is pretty dang busy on the weekends .

[@humanvideosponge4529]

Munster? Like Herman Munster?

[@redpanda5566]

It’s always nice to see a classic mall like this do well. It seems like most of this mall has original architecture, the skylights, the older style flooring, etc. Hopefully, malls like this can adapt to the changing retail world and continue to thrive.

[@ms.zelman3032]

I hope so too.😊🧡💛

[@oatmeal813]

Been going to this Mall since the late 70's. Aside from the original fountains & mobiles that used to hang from the ceilings, it really hasn't changed much.

[@simonuhrick7674]

I miss the carousel. Haven't been since probably late 2019 but it was still looking nice then. super interesting that they haven't changed much even though we're from 2 entirely different generations

[@timothyhennon1510]

This is the last surviving mall in Northwest Indiana, AFAIK. Century Mall in Merrillville, Woodmar Mall in Hammond, and Marquette Mall in Michigan City are all now long gone.

[@TheRedDevil_NC]

A classic mall. Great video and description. I hope they can keep it going.

[@kysmaee]

this is my mall! it has become less and less lively over the years due to the stigma of the area and the overall economics :( but it’s still nostalgic and holds a place in most of NWI residences hearts. Maki of Japan is legendary in the surrounding communities for their bourbon chicken and pleasant sampling man

[@1776gunpunk]

Still gets packed round Christmas time

[@kysmaee]

@@1776gunpunk very true! and of course Black Friday 💀 lol

[@Sleeve_Did_It]

I remember Southlake Mall well. I transferred to a small college in Crown Lake (actually Schererville), and I visited that makl a few times. Still remember when the Woodmar Mall in Hammond was bulldozed to make way for a Walmart. I know what you mean about Gary. The locals don't call it "Scary Gary" for nothing. The only part of that town that doesn't scare me is the Black Oak section. Haven't been out that way in 20 years, so it was good to see the mall hang on. Thanks for the video, and keep up the good work.

[@BoratWanksta]

Besides Woodmar Mall, Southlake also outlasted the Century Consumer Mall in Merrillville, which was slightly west and south of the US 30 exit in Merrillville. Century Consumer Mall was owned by Simon btw, so interesting to think Southlake outlasted Century. Century I believe more aimed for attracting discount chains and discount stores when it was open, unlike Southlake.

[@andegrace6935]

Walmart is a little west of where Woodmar was. There was suppose to be a new shopping center built on the Woodmar lot. It was never built . The main shopping area around here is south of Hammond in Highland on Indianapolis Blvd.

[@cubsbears1983]

Loved going to this mall on Christmas in the late 80s and 90s! We’d go see Santa with the talking reindeer, oh to be a kid again! Down the road at century mall was nice too, I still remember the cookie smell from the food court

[@dvferyance]

I visited this mall back in the spring of 2018. It was doing well then but with Carson's liquidating and knowing Sears was likely not going to be there much longer I wonder who it would be doing in a few years. Good to see it's still doing well.

[@genereynoldsactual]

"NW Indiana is one of the poorer parts of the nation" In reality, not at all. NWI and Indiana as a whole has a very average median income. Yes, there is Gary and other poorer parts of NWI, but it's by no means "One of the poorer" parts of the nation.

[@clintjensen]

Right, its not even close to being one of the poorest counties in Indiana lol, let alone the whole nation.

[@coolcat8867]

It fills me with joy to at least see SOME of these malls doing decently and being kept up!!

[@30roundz]

A fine looking mall... not warm and fuzzy but not at all lifeless ether. Also that center cort with the big checker board and other yard games is a nice touch 👌

[@SnarkticonDM]

I haven’t been to Southlake in years. Last time I was there was when I went to see Weird Al at the Star Plaza. It was still doing very well then, but man were the kiosk and aisle shop owners aggressive.

[@Mapmaker1559]

That was definitely a nice mall. Glad to hear it's doing well. Jacobs malls always remind me of Taubmans, which is probably the biggest reason I like them.

[@slackingpacking]

Chesterfield Mall vibes ❤ I love the aesthetics of these malls

[@ms.zelman3032]

I searched up on KZbin Chesterfield Mall and got thumbnails, and yes you're right. All the indoor architecture is almost a copy.

[@BoratWanksta]

Both this mall and Chesterfield Mall were designed by Jacobs, yep.

[@Phillybean15Productions]

northwest indiana is not one of the poorer parts of the nation, but ok

[@Mapmaker1559]

I wonder if the emergency stop on that escalator was caused by that person standing at the top of the escalator.

[@ms.zelman3032]

The skylights and the octagon shaped decoration at 10:00 to 10:10 make me think of the Northridge Mall. Very similar design idea. I like this mall even though it's a little too white. I would shop here. It's good to see it's not dead and at least in limbo.😊🛍👜💵

[@BoratWanksta]

Northridge was a Taubmam designed Mall, and Southlake was Jacobs. That said, I like the typical design that both companies used for their malls in the 1970s.

[@Nabbit-Mario]

This is the mall I used to go to as a kid.

[@elleyw3908]

I remember being little and going to this mall (I still do). I remember going on the carousel and playing in the kiddie area then finishing the trip with some pretzels and some shopping (not all visits were in that order, but I digress). Thank you for covering my childhood mall where I made so many great memories.

[@humanvideosponge4529]

I recall visiting this mall around Christmas time many years ago when it was much more active. They are magical places when everything is just right. I have to admit I'm kind of afraid to go to malls now due to how common violence is these days. Maybe it always was and I just wasn't aware of it.

[@cfs89]

The LS Ayres here never was renamed Lazarus. It continued as LS Ayres until it turned into Macy's in 2006.

[@timothyhennon1510]

I lived 15 minutes from this mall for 25 years, drove by it several times a week, and I don't ever remember LS Ayers being "Lazarus". Like you, I remember it going from LS Ayers directly to Macy's, at least in terms of outdoor signage.

[@cfs89]

@@timothyhennon1510 I've lived here for 52 years and remember when LS Ayres first opened and clearly remember when it became a Macy's. The closest Lazarus was 90 minutes away at the Tippecanoe Mall in Lafayette,which was torn down to build Dick's Sporting Goods and Circuit City and that was the only Lazarus I had ever been to. The Macy's there also was originally LS Ayres.

[@charlesbonkley]

Long live LS Ayres: a truly great department store. It was Indiana's answer to Chicago's Marshall Fields (which also was bought-out by Macy's).

[@curtmagee]

L.S. Ayers was bought by Famous Barr. All of them didn’t get renamed Lazarus like some of the other location.

[@george.h5530]

Thank you, great video as always!!

[@andthe2become1flesh93]

Weird. I don't even remember Ayres or Lazarus being up north at Southlake. This mall was amazing in the eighties into the early nineties though. I especially remember The Children's Place with a short tunnel you could crawl through to the side of the front entrance of the store. ❤

[@Mega_Mikey]

I can tell you’re not from the region because you pronounced ‘Merrillville’ correctly 😂 we tend to say either “merry-ville” or “mare-uh-ville”

[@AmeeMax]

and Ho-bart... we say Ho-bert

[@thewadeeffect]

Dang I worked here too 😂

[@ms.zelman3032]

I wish this mall had more colour and I wish it had a ⛲. That's all that's missing IMO.

[@BoratWanksta]

Southlake Mall like a year or 2 ago, posted an old picture of what their center court used to look like in the 1970s. There used to be a stairway close to Carson's, and near the location of where the center court elevator is today.

[@EBthere]

What are you talking about? ....... "despite being in a rough region of the state" NW Indiana is one of the three best economic areas of the state. The stretch of US30 and I65 is full of successful businesses and eatery's. I don't think you did any research.

[@urbanethology2506]

Middle school, this is where we would hang out. I still visit a few times a year.

[@almond6520]

So this is what Northridge Mall would probably look like if it was still doing well. I approve!

[@BoratWanksta]

For Northridge, that mall would probably be like Tuttle Crossing(Columbus area) or MacArthur Center(Norfolk area) if it were still open. These 2 malls were built as Taubman malls, btw. Which btw, are both fading quicker than Southlake.

[@almond6520]

@@BoratWanksta I was just trying to say that aesthetically speaking, this felt similar architecturally to Northridge mall with the octagonal sky lights looming over the center court and the 2-level design of the mall itself. Not to mention the elevator and escalator placements going to the center court felt similar as well. However, I see what you're saying.

[@jeee1074]

With the reputation of nearby Gary, it is a surprise this mall ia doing fairly solid.

[@dvferyance]

Not all of Lake County IN is declining. The Westfield Crown Point area just south of here is growing.

[@MetalPete_the_metalfan]

I tried filming at this mall and unfortunately got kicked out. How'd you not get caught or stopped by security?

[@WhittyPics]

Looks like it is doing alright but I am never impressed when they don't remove the Sears signage after a store closes. There are a few vacancies scattered around

[@BoratWanksta]

The weirdest Sears sign I've noticed since closing down, is that the inside Sears sign at Stratford Square is still backlit to come on at night! I wonder how much money Namdar would save lol, if they turned that inside Sears sign off at night?

[@DougMcDave]

I grew up going to the Southlake Mall. I have visited in more recent years. It is not what it used to be! Blame online sales. P.S. I miss the old fountains. But this mall is on a very strong, busy part of U.S. 30 and I 65. This mall has been super strong!

[@brianmurphy2695]

I liked it, but then again I love on line shopping!

[@Phillybean15Productions]

i go to this mall why am i still watching the tour

[@calvinnapier9977]

I grew up going to this mall they used to have a Burger 🍔 King and always would eat there. My favorite place was Gloria Jeans Coffee wonder if it's still open? Although it might be near Gary, Merrillville always seems to be a safe area!

[@CommodoreFan64]

I like the look of this mall, so I hope it keeps doing well, and on the gun incident I'm taking a guess that with it being teenagers they got the gun from either their father, or grandfather who's probably a collector, or had a bring back gun from WWII, Korean war, or Vietnam war as they were supplied to a lot of communist countries as military aid from the Soviet Union, and to my understanding the Vietnam war was the last war the guys could do bring backs. In fact I have my grandfather's bring back WWII Luger pistol he took off a pilot they took as a POW, along with some Nazi coins, as he was a US Army anti aircraft gunner sent to England to shoot down Nazi planes over Dover, and the English channel.

[@OBSDany]

That mall is popping everyday mostly weekends obviously, but I still like to go to River oaks in Calumet city in Illinois for when I don't want to see many people lol

[@HighSierraDawn]

My mother loved this place more than her children.

[@susanna5916]

HAD A DREAM A FEW YEARS AGO THAT THIS MALL BECOMES AN OUTDOOR ONLY CANOPY AND BOOTHED RETAIL SALES VENUE IN THE PARKING LOT ONLY SIMILAR TO AN OUTDOOR FLEA MARKET.

[@BDUBZ49]

Maybe angle the camera more towards the stores instead of straight ahead....we're seeing mostly floor tile and ceiling light fixtures.

[@TheLordOfNothing]

What about Northlake Mall, in Atlanta, GA?

[@samrodriguez9653]

Looks like the mall from the original "Dawn of the Dead" 😅 All joking aside, I still go there 👍

[@markmatuga2595]

Looks like Aaron’s were running some errands .lol.

[@nole8923]

I like the design of this mall, but not the white purgatory color scheme. The columns and contours of the ceiling need like painted stripes. For instance, the columns need something like a couple of circumference stripes at the top and base similar to what the now closed Gwinnett Place mall in Georgia had. Something to break up and contrast the white purgatory appearance.

[@Matt-xy6cf]

nwi a rough area of the state lol are u serious? Valparaiso one of nicest towns in indiana. And feels good to make over 200k as a union machinist millwright.

[@ArtyParty1589]

I live a few streets away. I still go there for pizza, but that’s usually it. Maybe some cheap tees and H&M

[@mattdeman5200]

Nice mall

[@johnburke1317]

Nice video 😊

[@Pincurl213]

Scary Gary, as they often call it lol

[@ktchelseafamily3314]

Cute

[@marin.cmoreno7028]

Let's get let's get with the the fractions the mall was being planned in 68 and development 69 and groundbreaking was in the seventies at 73 there was still building on it until 74 and we have marriage that did not go on board right former mayor Richard Gordon Hatcher who wants who did not want to bring his bring the Gary transit the inner city lines division of Gary transit buses out there I've been more Revenue to the Gary Transit for Merrillville he wants everything to be in Gary Gary Gary stuck in this he's the one that destroyed the city for not providing police protection in the downtown area a lot of blacks were praising they were praising him what else is new this is disgusting area Wildlife people were leaving out of Northwest Indiana the NWI

[@marin.cmoreno7028]

Stores that close in Gary Indiana in downtown area from 68 to the 80s H Gordon and Sons I said Sears JCPenney Tom McCann Milgram shoes Saks shoe stores record the music I said music music shops okay shoe stores Big Ben discount shoe stores WT Grant SS Kresge elfish furniture furniture stores Walgreens cigar and tobacco stores financial and Banks Azar's restaurant George's cake box Bakery linton's the YWCA the cafeteria did John will Anderson's Boys Club okay stores and shops on 7th Avenue around Adams Street does the State movie theater the Palace movie theater Walgreens agency drug store Chuck wheelers dog house Gary Hobart water Corporation payment center hfc Seaway Financial A&P okay the hardware store on 7th Avenue on the east side of the city going towards Emerson High School these are the areas that the first black mayor messed up come on Dancing in the Street there were dancing Street they were destroying and Cochran and destroying the city of Gary Indiana same like Barnes I said clay Freeman Wilson Prince and now Melton showboats

[@marin.cmoreno7028]

Gary wasn't the same since then a lot of people moving slowly but surely from 1967 from the primary when Hatcher won the seat for mayor be the first black mayor in Gary and Gary and Lake County Indiana in the state of Indiana and the United States the city was not the same then only going to take a miracle to get to City under control Eddie Melton is not doing a thing just going to are going to concerts and and being the star of star of the party deteriorating the city of Gary like its predecessors not paying attention Gary got 52 parks in the Park and Recreation Department streets and sanitation Public Works I said maintenance department and other Departments police department and Fire Department and the city judge and the city clerk what else is new all of them are black no Hispanic in the in the mix no white ethnic what else is new Gary no parochial schools in Gary are public schools are owned by the state the Catholic Catholic elementary schools are chartered public transportation and chaos like the whole old Northern Indiana area that's why people want to get The Living Daylights out of here if you if you agree with me say yay or nay

[@marin.cmoreno7028]

Why why did this really happen a lot of people going to school special night school being kicked out of regular day school because the counselors and the teachers didn't give a damn instead instead of caving in they caved out and then they were fighting to get a bus going back home and this is about 71 and 72 how far is is 73 there are robbing people the change if they got change and stuff like that and people say yes they getting the last of their money what's for robbed and I'm saying right now as of right now people we're in trauma does blacks specialty men don't give a damn who that hurt at all it was during the drug war of 71 and 72 and 73 under a black mayor a lot of people left this area for good they ain't going to come back at all is affecting all Gary and Lake County I said Indiana affecting Porter and LaPorte County affecting the whole state public transportation what else is new

[@mozarama]

​@@marin.cmoreno7028"Yay or Nay"

[@WhittyPics]

Second

[@waynebyarlay8421]

Super lame compared to how it was in the 70's.