Crossgates Mall - Raw & Real Retail

[@SavSpdDemon]

One of my favorite malls in NY, tied with Colonie Center Mall. Not just great for shopping, but also for walking.

[@rustydelorean6405]

17:13 is the escalator to the original movie theaters.

[@chaddeez8446]

So glad you used Casino Versus Japan - Aquarium! I've loved this song for years and it goes great with the video!

[@RawRealRetail]

I went out on a limb with that one, so glad it was well received!

[@chaddeez8446]

@@RawRealRetail I discovered it on Pandora years ago. Type in Casino Versus Japan as a station and they'll play similar artists. I really like ambient, downtempo, and electronica.

[@jenniferburchill3658]

I used to go to Crossgates a LOT when I lived in Albany. I would walk there for exercise on cold or rainy days and take it all in while running errands.

[@user-ho3dx3od9y]

I remember when this mall opened. Jordan Marsh and Filene's were my two favourite department stores. Many thought the mall would never survive due to its proximity to Colonie Center. Guess they were wrong as not only did it survive, it’s twice as large as it was when first built. This place was definitely on my list of must visit places when I was in the Albany area. Great to see it still thriving.

[@ItsRailfanAmelia]

This is actually one of my local malls, and this one is personally my favorite of them all.

[@WendyCR72]

I remember when this opened in March 1984. Remember some of the long-gone stores in it, too. Such as Heaven (its logo shirts were big in the '80s, sort of a kitschy nostalgia-themed store specializing in candy and novelties from the 1950s, etc.). Next to that, back around '84, was Merry-Go-Round, the '80s clothing store and is now defunct. Ben & Jerry's and Burger King also had space in this mall but have long since left. Best Buy is now where the old Caldor anchor was. Caldor was two-levels with an escalator. I believe H&M took over one of the levels (ETA: Saw H&M elsewhere, so memory is faulty there. No idea if Best Buy took both levels or split it; I had heard the latter!). I was 11 going on 12 when it opened and went there through college but haven't been in ages. Surprised yet pleased it has not devolved into a dead mall as so many have. Maybe because it keeps the clientele/stores fresh and has evolved? Either way, thanks for the peek at it now. ETA: I am simply stunned that Johnny Rockets is still around! I think that has been around since almost the mall's inception. It also had/has a Pizzeria Uno's which was pretty damned good.

[@DoomieGruntVentures]

Not a terrible looking mall. that skylight & some of the stuff happening with the ceiling gives this mall some charm. The floor of the main concourse, however, kinda detracts from the experience.

[@EquityCall]

Crossgates was the Capital Region mall killer. Once its expansion in 1994 was completed, Clifton Country Mall especially never stood a chance. It was forced to de-mall and and was greatly reduced in terms of foot traffic. Other than that, I actually like crossgates. If it hadn't killed CCM I wouldn't have any bitterness towards it. I did go there quite a bit in college at SUNY, especially the Hooters on the first floor. I hope it stays in good shape and thrives. This mall is actually all the Capital Region needs anymore. I'd rather see one thriving mall that 3-4 struggling ones.

[@Phantom0507]

Everybody's talking about the mall and shit but this music is a bop

[@lifewithtodd7870]

This mall is purely beautiful

[@johnc1280]

Lately it’s been a hot spot for shootings stabbings fights

[@lifewithtodd7870]

@@johnc1280 that’s very tragic. I hope they can get things worked out.

[@Wesley-td3he]

It's a wonderful time for "World of Beer!" at Crossgates Mall.

[@TheAskTrixieChannel]

This looks like what Tri-County Mall in Cincinnati would've looked like NOT dead.

[@LOLMAN9538]

Is the Walmart location separate from the main mall concourse?

[@douggarlock1956]

This music makes me think of CHiPS or The Love boat

[@verwahrlost_aber_frei]

I’m just curious on where you got the news of Lord and Taylor closing? This is the best local mall to me and I haven’t heard ANYTHING about the Lord and Taylor closing locally at all.

[@willyant9474]

Is there any possibility of you covering the Diamond Run Mall in Rutland, Vermont before it closes sometime next month? I used to work there years ago, and the place is now mostly empty with no anchor stores left. I was there last year, and walking through it was a surreal experience. :(

[@RawRealRetail]

Unfortunately Vermont is just not in the cards for this year, I'm afraid. I have really been trying to see if we can make it, it has been on our shortlist for some time now, but life gets in the way sometimes.

[@willyant9474]

@@RawRealRetail I understand. I just wished one of the big channels such as yours got a chance to do so before its time was up. I'm honestly surprised that the mall lasted this long seeing as how it was practically dead for years now. Last time I walked through it, it felt more like a flea market than an actual mall, and the sound of the buzzing lights in place of actual mall music was straight out eerie.

[@CR7659]

I would say it doesn't look a lot different inside than the main corridors of Destiny USA either. I used to pop in here about once a year but the stores I went to, one the chain went out of business, the other after their lease ran out ended up opening a store in Colonie Center.

[@ItsRailfanAmelia]

I’ve been to both, (they are actually my 2 favorite malls), and I will admit... they do feel very similar after all... they are both Pyramid Malls 😅 Crossgates and Destiny USA’s main mall area feel about the same size... however Crossgates is a longer... 2 full story mall while Destiny USA’s main mall area is a shorter... but 3 full story mall

[@CR7659]

@@ItsRailfanAmelia Destiny is probably larger since expansion.

[@17z483]

This is Shimmer and Shine in Saratoga Springs, NY from May 1, 2010.

[@bigtravis6159]

Capital district regional food bank accepting donations at crossgates , local news says “its so easy” but there is no food market at this huge mall, so how “easy” is it really, It’s a pain in the ass around the holidays to get into crossgates so imagine lugging bags of groceries in there #CrossgatesMall