SCHUYLKILL MALL - THE COMPLETE HISTORY

My documentary on the history of the Schuylkill Mall
/ acesadventures

[@JJMCB26]

It's weird how this mall has been erased from existence, the only thing that's left is a big massive slab in the fog.

[@jc1979af]

I was born in 1979, so this mall came and went within my lifetime.

[@JenniferJones-qn6lg]

@@jc1979af I was going to say the same thing, I was born in 1980

[@ryszard68]

I don't really get the point of erasing it so completely, unless the land is to be re-purposed which seems unlikely. Why not have simply left it, instead of costly demolition.

[@jc1979af]

It is for legal reasons. At some point the county will condemn a building if not upkept. Then the owner has to either demo the building, repair it, or pay fines. Also, empty buildings are magnets for people (urban explorers to homeless bums). Any injuries that happen due to building neglect can result in a lawsuit. Finally, there are taxes. Buildings are taxed at a greater amount than barren land. Longer the buildings exist, the more taxes are paid.

[@ashleynicole3391]

@@ryszard68 they bought the mall just for the sole purpose of the land. They are building a distribution center. I heard rumors of it being Amazon

[@jc1979af]

Given the intro was filmed in 1980, those old ladies were probably born in 1910.....to them the mall must have been a big deal.....an entire downtown with air conditioning.

[@jerknorris2483]

James Carpenter I like your mind dude

[@JenniferJones-qn6lg]

Lol, I kinda figured the opposite, the old curmudgeons that hate change!

[@IP0Monsturd]

James Carpenter and when those 3 old ladies kicked the bucket there went half the malls customers.

[@scottonasch8819]

My grandmother was from that generation. She absolutely loved malls, thought they were the greatest thing ever. And they pretty much were then.

[@JJMCB26]

I love those old ladies from 1980 that were interviewed, I'd give them all a big hug if I could :)

[@MK-ge2mh]

Great documentary! I always love the background music because that's EXACTLY how it sounded in those malls when I was a kid.

[@jc19766]

That part of Pennsylvania (Frackville, Pottsville, etc.) has been in decline for several decades. The demolition of the mall symbolizes the economic turmoil in the region.

[@stevenfetzer4911]

It ain't called "the rust belt" for nothing.

[@DavidJones-ct7fw]

Thanks to idiots electing Democrats for the last 30 or 40 years.

[@smaashbro]

I live in minersville/Pottsville now and you’re right. It’s so sad. I’m only 20 but even I remember the area being much nicer and close knit as a kid. It’s completely dead now

[@aaronweaver1535]

I love that old picture of the Hess's mall entrance that you found. So rare to find color pictures of a store that hasn't existed since 1994

[@ItsaRomethingeveryday]

Please don't delete this either, I've noticed a lot of youtubers have been deleting Livestreamed vids, and it's a real bummer to us that watch, have a blessed day Ace

[@JoshuaBishop93]

As a Skook local, I thank you Ace for doing a great job of documenting the Mall’s history as well as showing a lot of its best times while it was around

[@uncleelmer]

I spent a considerable amount of time in the Pottsville and Frackville and Schuylkill Mall areas and can say that all through the 1980's and into the 90's and into the first decade of 2000 to 2010 this was a hot stuff Mall. The Schuylkill Mall had a lot of attractions--the latest movies at their cinema, a Pharmore drug store, Walden bookstore, good food offerings (the first Chik-fil-a I ever saw in these parts). There were a lot of mall walkers who tended to be older. The Mall was always busy. Very busy. I noticed after 2010 the Mall declined. The movie theater did not have stadium seating, Pharmore drug store went out of business, the internet started to eat profits from the mall, there was the rise of Walmart and on and on. The Schuylkill Mall to the most casual observer of Schuylill County was one hot place in it's time and a bevy of activity.

[@esw01407]

You are 100% correct, and many people really ignore these things. It was never the greatest mall, but it was a good one for a very long time. Arcade was good too. Steve and Barry's was a solid stop too when they were open.

[@JenniferJones-qn6lg]

Exactly, cant entirely blame the internet, simply put, the recession shifted the focus on spending on keeping a roof over ones head and keeping food in the belly. Sadly, in most demographics, the retail sector never recovered and cost of living is getting higher.

[@Cre80s]

Thanks for the interesting personal viewpoint.

[@marisam9803]

The recession and the slow recovery probably didnt help.

[@KHWendy28]

heartbreaking too see a mall that has been there for 40 years just gone in days its really sad too see.

[@tehee-]

I love the new American pastime of being fascinated with the past, the old stuff that made "America Great" in the first place. I'd never think so many people would be interested into what this stuff was about.

[@AcesAdventures1]

tehee i love creating this library of the past

[@andrewkowalczyk1156]

That last bit with the fog is really something, especially with how some of the sidewalks are still there. Great work!

[@JJR93]

And what remains of the old loading dock....the one identifiable structure I could make out.

[@Cre80s]

Your best one. Such a complete, wrap-around editing mindset. Well done. Oh my God, I was freaking a bit when Centralia guy popped up there. I was like, "do I know that guy? Why is he so familiar? What??" until your clarification popped up, and it made sense, but then it was even MORE amazing that HE of all people is commenting on a dying mall... the insane, mind-boggling, crushing irony! Thanks so much, my friend!

[@milankooo1978]

exactly the same experience with the Centralia guy ! HE"S THE LEGEND

[@as6110]

He's in like the same outfit too 😂

[@Cre80s]

Why would he need an elaborate wardrobe?

[@as6110]

@@Cre80s he doesn't it's just funny

[@Cre80s]

Ashley Sayers Maybe he was there hoping to buy his first fashion upgrade in decades, but getting a haircut sounded better. 😝

[@B_Y22]

Great video! The best part was the pictures of the mall from back in the day. I remember getting candy from the peanut shack and playing the baseball arcade game that dispensed baseball cards when I was a kid.

[@esw01407]

Such a good game, Knoebels and Boardwalk Blvd in Muncy also had them.

[@tomjohn3364]

I worked at that KMART for many years. I saw first hand as store's moved out. I'll miss the leaky roof and the buckets on the floor.

[@deralmighty8011]

The Schuylkill Mall! We're deader than ever! We're deader than ever for YOU!

[@kellychuang8373]

Yeah that fits the mall's new slogan now. As for those shoppers and future ones they're either dead or now going to Amazon.com to do their shopping in this day and age.

[@crixxxxxxxxx]

And so are those old ladies at the beginning.

[@JJR93]

As a Gen X'er, these videos fill me with some sadness....suburban Malls like this were part of my youth and young adulthood. Looking back, some of it is cringe, sure, but they were also the main "hangout" places for teens back in the day....nothing like hitting up Sam Goody with friends to buy a new album on cassette, then chill out at the food court, and maybe catch a matinee movie.....it was a way of life that's largely just not a thing anymore.

[@salve_reginaaaa]

This mall was such an important part of my youth, and I miss it so much every day. So many memories with family and forgotten friendships. Before having internet, this mall fed me all the pop culture of my childhood. Before social media, this mall was the place to be with all your friends. It will live forever in my heart, and I have a small piece of one of the broken bricks among my personal treasures.

[@sal]

Fantastic video, dude. Really well done!

[@kellychuang8373]

Yes it really is though I think I may be to late but Rolling Acres Mall could also be good for looking back like Schuykill.

[@RedShadowKick]

Such a well put together video! I'm loving all the vintage footage and images. Nearly cried when I saw the Phar-Mor. There was one in my childhood mall too and I loved it dearly. I still have my Phar-Mor video rental card!

[@Garwulf74]

me too.

[@kristenkinnan4943]

Power buying saves, save at Phar-Mor! Man do I miss that place, our Phar-Mor is now an ollies bargain outlet

[@DavidJones-ct7fw]

Didn't last long at the Schuylkill Mall. Might of had something to do with being understaffed and have little security. Some called it the steal more.

[@chadhoy7489]

I worked maintenance there in 2012-2013 mostly doing garbage removal after the mall had closed for the night. It was spooky up there sometimes when I would have the whole mall to myself. Lots of creaks and bangs...

[@Gabreya]

Great documentary. Seeing the huge empty lot of where the mall used to stand was haunting.

[@ronniem.4048]

Ace adventures awesome video! Sad to see all these malls closing!

[@tyralikadiamondstar8960]

The reason malls close is because they don't change with the time.

[@kellychuang8373]

Yeah really sign of the times now and people these days are mostly going online on sites like Amazon than going through a mall and malls really didn't stand a chance with smartphones and Internet now. Also I'm pretty sure Rolling Acres is also as that mall is only much earlier.

[@mayspondmogul]

Wow sweet retro vid and pics that old lady before my time in 1980 said it Best when I want to shop I come to the mall. You heard it right people support your local stores and malls! If I had a delorean Id time travel to the 80s and just be a mallrat basking in 80s neon!

[@TrainmasterCurt]

J the Batchelor Then you’d like Portage Place in Winnipeg, lots of pastel colours, neon and a huge fountain!

[@TrainmasterCurt]

J the Batchelor kzbin.info/www/bejne/ep-WeoiwhrB9naM

[@TrainmasterCurt]

J the Batchelor kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6SUo4mXbLGkgcU

[@djdonovan26]

I'm with you, man. I'll bring the music. :)

[@SenileOtaku]

The 80's, just like the 70's before them, were not as exciting to live through as you might think.

[@kayterssss]

Wow, seeing Phar-mor really brought back memories. Ours was an outlying store from our mall but that and Hills were almost always certain on the list when we went.

[@TopolskiOpinion]

Spent a lot of time here growing up. When I heard you were making this video I couldn’t wait. So many memories. Thanks for doing this!

[@SallyQueen2112]

love how it first comes on and said s Aces Adventure s 💖

[@klee8960]

Nothing last for ever, but the earth and sky, Kansas, Dust In The Wind, so true!

[@10191927]

You’re best video ever Anthony, really well done.

[@Karmy.]

Wow Rotting Acres lasted longer than this mall before being torn down

[@esw01407]

These new owners didn't wait around when it finally got started. Took awhile to start though due to anchors still closing.

[@thedoctor9138]

"Rotting Acres" XD

[@Catmannj1]

One of your best, and what a great history lesson about this mall. The 80s photos and ad gave me major flashbacks to my mall adventures with the Jersey Malls. Sad that most of the stores are gone and, in the case of Sears and KMart, may soon be gone :( It's a great blending of your awesome work, your friends video work and the news reports. Sad too: all that work and effort put into a mall that only lived 38 years. Now it's an empty space like a tornado ripped through and oblitered the whole place. Thanks for doing these videos so people can remember the malls and their purpose in our lives. One of the best clips you walking into the fog and disappearing into it. The sound of your walking shoes on the gravel: dramatic and no words needed. As a few others said hope you do more of these "the history of" videos. But Damn I missed the live viewing of this documentary!

[@scottonasch8819]

Another (sad, but) fantastic video. I can see the passion in your work. You do an amazing job of pulling things together.

[@markstrouse3101]

Great video Anthony, I used to drive from Allentown every weekend just to go this mall. Thanks for taking me down memory lane.

[@DarkTapes]

WOW! you couldn't have asked for a more abysmal day to shoot the aftermath! Great episode! Really setting the bar for what a DMV could be!

[@MarksKicksOnRoute66]

Your videos are so on point! The music is such a fitting fit. It reminds me of my old Kmart management days when the tapes started dragging as they aged.

[@sherryk.spicklerstein8337]

This was an awesome video to watch from the beginning to the end. I remember it well from back in its heyday. Thanks for bringing back some great memories!

[@gregkarris6869]

Great documentary! Hope to see more like this one!

[@GhostReaper2043]

Wow at 12:05 it just looks like what you see in the movie Mist with all that fog out there. Great job looking forward to seeing more videos from you.

[@DRNicholasJones]

Too be honest I got the feels when I switched to what’s left, so sad to see these once great places disappear .

[@ItsaRomethingeveryday]

The Pearl movie theater was a true gem in this mall, Great compilation of this mall, Really glad to see this video also, Thumbs Up!!?

[@andytaylor5476]

Really wonderful video! This was so well crafted, Thank you!

[@KennySooeyFromDebbahDooey]

EXCELLENT video! Sad though. I had wonderful memories of this mall growing up. The first thing I'll always remember is the smell of the hot, greasy buttery popcorn as you walked through the main doors. One of the first movies I saw there was: FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR (1986). My Mom and Grandmother usually shopped while we watched a movie. One of the last movies I saw there was: BEAVIS & BUTT-HEAD DO AMERICA (1997) during the Christmas holiday. I loved listening to the water fountains! We used to eat @ the BONANZA there. It was right outside of K-MART. They used to have live entertainment while you dined. The man played an acoustic guitar. He was from our local area. Sadly, he passed away this past year. My Grandfather knew him. We used to tip him before we left. My favorite stores were the music stores! I wish the kids today could have experienced malls in their heyday. It was a fun time to be with friends and family. Sadly, the internet has ruined human interaction with one another. Thus, is one reason for the malls of yesteryears' demise.

[@itrack4u]

Very clever beginning! Excellent, Ace.

[@jqueen1380]

OMG! John Lokitis! He looks great! Nice surprise! Overall, excellent video!

[@1955gaylord]

Wonder what his life is like now . Do a follow up on where he is now .

[@betamax80]

This is a really nice piece Ace. Big thumbs up on this one!

[@oneshoeshort]

I wanna see more videos like this one! From the vintage footage from the malls early beginnings to the news footage of their progressive decline to what it looks like now. This video was your best one yet and I cannot wait to see what else you have in store :D

[@Themightymoze]

An exceptional documentary. Thanks for posting.

[@RobbDelman]

You've outdone yourself, Bubba! Being a former Buffalonian I have always enjoyed my virtual trips back in time via your videos...and the trip thru the one-time Sheridan branch of A.M. & A.'s r-e-a-l-l-y hit home cuz I worked there way back when.👏👏

[@kennyoconnor7]

Awesome vid, and great job documenting the history. My (now) wife and I would go to the Schuylkill Mall when we were dating during college. Kind of sad...

[@ParadigmShifted]

I grew up in hazleton - so we went down here as often as we would go up to the Wyoming valley mall in Wilkes-barre…I remember wanting to sit at every water fountain every time we went. Good memories.

[@theradiodreamer]

Great video Anthony really enjoyed it 👍🏻

[@warren1994]

I seen that throw back on my tv when WNEP news 16 showed it on the air Nice video

[@nancydarling4918]

Great video. It was very interesting. Those were great photos of the mall back in the day. Thanks for making this vdeo.

[@morriganwitch]

How weird you interviewed John the star of one of my fav documentaries about Centralia . One of my heroes xxx

[@BethanyB86]

Great video! It was very well done. I loved seeing the history, I never went there, but it is still hard to watch the downfall of yet another mall. I left Akron before they demolished rolling acres I was last there in October 2010. Malls are dying everywhere sadly.

[@coolgc1]

I’d rather see them torn down than them become almost vacant or being abandoned and then vandalized.

[@scottlillis4849]

Excellent documentary of the Schuylkill mall. I remember going to this mall in the late 90's. I would say at least half the stores were closed at that time.

[@jc1979af]

Thats a pretty quick downfall given the mall was built in 1980

[@geoboe84]

Great documentary! It's a shame this mall is no more.

[@4g16er]

Alot of the video in your piece (the old television video) I was responsible for archiving from the old degrading umatic video tape to digital format archive. Glad you made some great use of it. Interesting piece, grew up only a half hour form this mall and can remember it fondly, in fact i had the opportunity to visit the site a few months before demolition. Thanks for preserving some memories.

[@DavidJones-ct7fw]

Around 2008 it started to get that zombie video game feeling in different sections.

[@thebipolarbear1]

OMG as a kid this was it.throwing change in the fountain and making a wish. The Rides outside of Kmart. The time I was in the batmobile from the original TV show. There used to be baseball card shop and venders in the middle of isles with table's. I had a Shaq and Ken griffy rookie cards I cashed in and got a bike. Good times. Now it doesn't exist. Demolition a year or so ago. A real shame.

[@RobRobertTheMusicMan]

Holy Crap. They really didn't change anything since 1980. =P The natural aesthetic.

[@sailorsenshi4504]

RobRobertTheMusicMan not much of skook has changed since 1980

[@saturdaisy8576]

This was excellent, Anthony. It was great to see what the mall looked like in its prime. Such a shame that places like these are being mismanaged and falling into disrepair, or like this one, torn down. So sad.

[@Nicole-rj4xz]

Really enjoyed this thank you 😊

[@luissdstuff6381]

One of the best! It made me so sad. But things change.

[@maryw3643]

I'm loving the soundtrack on this video.

[@yakko100]

Excellent video!! :) Well done!!

[@spencelean]

well done Anthony!

[@ambernodine5776]

The theme song is Back, just got it out of my head from the first video! Anyway, its really sad to see small malls like this struggle. I have seen in my own town that there is one completely dead and two struggling.

[@kristenkinnan4943]

Omggg I loved deb!!

[@NateGerardRealEstateTeam]

I moved to Gordon in 1985 for my junior year of HS at NS. I worked at Arby’s in the Mall and for a bunch of small towns that surrounded the mall, it was the only public gathering spot we had. A vibrant place when I moved there and was still going strong when I moved to Allentown in 1992. When I was back in 2012 for my HS reunion it was a shell. Much of the Skook isn’t what it was. Still plenty of good people though.

[@unchainedsilver9702]

malls were one stop shop until Amazon came along the evolution of retail went from having to drive downtown to a short trip to the mall now we can get what we want from our houses at the click of a mouse or touch of a smart phone . These malls were a sign of more simple times gone by .

[@thomasc6868]

Great memories coming to this mall when visiting my grandparents. I was always amazed looking at the after fountains. I remember eating at Long Johns, getting Costas York club crackers and getting samples at Chick Fil A.

[@hhluvzmagik]

The heavy fog and the mist over the empty lot is kind of eerie. Strangely metaphorical and symbolic in a way.

[@jezzp2]

eerie and creepy once it was demolished.

[@ejw1799]

Thanks!

[@taylorward3773]

That Video Vault segment reminded me so much of Stranger Things 3

[@BDBD16]

That fog gives it a Fallout vibe.

[@McLovin_2007]

I loved malls since I was a kid, and we had 3 of them on RT. 61 in Frackville, Pottsville, and Cressona. But it's sad they are in decline. I saw a news reports months ago which said in the next few years, only about 120 malls may exist in the United States. The obvious reason for the decline in malls is online shopping. But in theory, it makes sense to think malls would still offer things you can't get online, like restaurants, grocery stores, bowling alleys, gyms, skating rinks, and tailor shops that require you to be there for measurements. It makes sense to think these kinds of businesses would take over the malls when retail stores leave, but in reality, that doesn't seem to be happening. Another issue is that sometimes you can't always wait for an item to arrive in the mail. Suppose you go on a trip, and forget your neck tie. You can't order online because it would be sent to your house, and you're far away on a trip. You need to get to a retail store right away.

[@BrettHornby]

Couldn't of pick a better day to capture the final segment.

[@lynnclayton2748]

verry well presented

[@CarmenShields]

Awesome video, thank you for sharing all of this information on Schuylkill Mall. Looks like they had a McDonald's in the mall at some point, I have always wondered why there used to be so many McDonald's in malls compared to now. Maybe a video on the history of various fast food chains in malls may be an interesting idea to pursue :)

[@drewconway7135]

This was VERY well produced. Kudos to you on a fine documentary film. I wonder what the people who bought the mall plan to do with the property. If they went through the expense of demolishing it, you’d think they’d put the land to some kind of use.

[@Kirakappukeki]

It's so sad this mall is torn down. It was my favorite mall.

[@PandorasFolly]

Phar More! It's like a fever dream. No one remembers those anymore

[@MEXICANMOOSE1976]

Absolutely disgusting all that history..gone forever..like it never existed!!

[@RobbDelman]

That's exactly the way I felt watching the videos (not Ace's) of the demo of the Palm Beach Mall.

[@crixxxxxxxxx]

History? It was just a mall. It wasn’t someone building condos on the Gettysburg battlefield.

[@Mike1614b]

this is lightweight history at best. all history is gone forever, only remembered for a while, then sometimes written about. by the winners

[@user-py6td6kg5w]

Amazing video

[@thomasc6868]

Around 1981-82, Bob Eubanks hosted an episode of the Newlewed Game here. I was there. I remember. That was a cool memory.

[@markmyjak7739]

There's the Fairlane Village Mall down in East Mines, PA. This mall is busy. I took a ride up there a few years ago to check it out Schylkill Mall only to find it gone.

[@Idelia412]

Very good video!

[@caitlin_day]

awesome video!!!!

[@marvelousme5]

Does anyone have that Schuylkill Mall jingle stuck in your head?! I have been walking around my house singing that jingle from the commercial!!!! I can't stop singing it!!! They did excellent with the jingle!!! Now I wish the mall was still open and I lived closer!!!! This was an awesome video as always Anthony!!!! I love your videos!!!! Thanks so very much!!!! Take care and stay awesome!!!! 👍🏻😬

[@JisINSANE3]

music 2:50 waterfront dining, try hard. Original sample from Audrey Wheeler - Try a Little Harder

[@AcesAdventures1]

JisINSANE3 ooh thanks for that!!

[@TheScaryDruid]

JisINSANE3 thank you so much, had to scroll down a bit and didn’t think someone would give the name

[@bertram_oredrock]

Very good video Ace. Many other malls will see the same fate in the next five years or less. Malls aren't the draw they once were. Too expensive, items out of stock, and crime are the leading factors. The iconic Century III Mall near Pittsburgh Pa will look like this in a few years most likely.

[@butterflyzero0]

My mother's family is from this area. I've been to this mall so many times. It's really weird that I can't go anymore.

[@user-it2co8go8x]

Sad to see it go. .spent a lot of time there. .from 1980 to 2015.. it was beautiful during the holiday season...1 dollar movie night at the theater tuesday nights...lol..

[@alanogle4873]

This will be a great space for an Amazon Distribution Center.

[@lifewithtodd7870]

0:22 that’s our local news station WNEP

[@notofworld2513]

That broke my heart when they knocked it down...a lot of childhood memories from 90s...I feel it should of still been a good hangout for young people and older people still love to shop. I hate how kids are always on their phones and shopping is mostly online now. It sucks now ...I miss the 90s

[@cheshire-yu4nz]

Wow that was wicked.

[@cosettehoyt8232]

she is gone like saying goodbye to a good friend rip i am in tears now she is gone