Century (Deserted) Mall in Merrillville, Indiana - Inside & Outside View - Filmed Fall of 2023

[@cfs89]

This was originally Goldblatt's from 1979-82,then a liquidation store called Global for less than a year. Then the building was subdivided for Burlington Coat Factory and Service Merchandise and a few smaller stores. Service Merchandise moved out in 1994,but Burlington Coat Factory stayed here until 2010. The Century Mall portion to the left of the building was torn down sometime in 2002,about a year after Montgomery Ward closed. A portion of the Montgomery Ward building was torn down and rebuilt for Old Time Pottery,which is still open. The 2nd entrance to the right of the building with the gate originally was for Goldblatt's and it was near where the meat counter was. That entrance was closed to the public in 1982 when the building was subdivided. The last business here was a seasonal Halloween City about 5 years ago.

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Thank you for that information. It’s very important to me and it means a lot when people participate in these videos. I would like to thank you so much for letting me know what was going on with that building. I will pin it to the video so other people can see this, once again thank you so much. I appreciate you and I hope to hear more from you soon.

[@cfs89]

@@TheSteelCityStorm You're very welcome. My family and I shopped at this Goldblatt's quite often in the 3 short years it was open and I remember following the history of the stores there. I remember the Global Liquidation store that was there in 1982 used nearly the entire footprint of the Goldblatt's space,which was quite large and all the fixtures were still in place,including a neon "JRs" sign that was on the wall of the "Juniors" clothing department. They even used the lettering from the GOLDBLATT'S sign to create the "GLOBAL" sign. Burlington Coat Factory opened around the fall of 1982 and that's when the Goldblatt's space was fully subdivided,with a few smaller stores (I recall a health food store,a clothing store and possibly a shoe store)then the rest of the space to the right of it became Service Merchandise in the spring or summer of 1983. When Service Merchandise moved to Hobart Crossings in 1994 and those smaller stores closed,Burlington Coat Factory expanded into the entirety of the space,moving its Bed & Bath and Baby store there(which was in a separate space in Century Mall,the former R-Way Discount Drug Store). There was a shoe store (possibly Designer Shoe Warehouse or a knockoff brand) for a few years in that separate entrance with the decaying archway in the mid 2000s. The building has had no permanent stores since Burlington Coat Factory moved out in 2010 and until 2019,only the seasonal Halloween City setup shop in the space. There were plans by the Town of Merrillville to turn that space into a convention or event center a few years ago,but so far haven't seen any more news if those plans are actually going forward.

[@USHighway66]

Bought my first PC at Service Merchandise, located here, in 1985. Thanks for the video!

[@carriestmyers]

I remember shopping here. Great video!

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Me too however, I never really cared for the place. Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed the video Carrie. 🌸😉❤️

[@tonycox7802]

​@TheSteelCityStorm Funny, you should say this. I never cared for this place either.

[@cubsbears1983]

Lots of good memories as a kid! Still remember the cookie smell from the food court

[@donnahouston4193]

I appreciate you! I just found you. Awesome job! Thank you!

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

I appreciate you also Donna thank you so much. Your comment put a smile on my face. ❤️🌸🫵🌺⛈️💯 I love when good people find the channel it makes it all worth doing

[@janegrant4396]

Claimed the black bracelet,you put on the fire hydrant at 3:30pm-10/26/23. Thank you.

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

That is awesome Jane I appreciate you letting me know you found it. I hope you enjoy it and thank you once again for letting me know you claimed the wristband. By the way, they were great is cupholders in groups too. 🌸😉‼️⛈️

[@polarisjustdothework2258]

Thanks!

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Thank you so much I really appreciate that donation. 🫵😉❤️🌸⛈️‼️

[@polarisjustdothework2258]

@@TheSteelCityStorm you're welcome 😊🙏🤗

[@filastyle84]

Hey Storm! I remember the food court; with a Shakey's pizza outlet, and the arcade across from it. Lot of good times there! Thanks for sharing and take care!

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Lotta good memories are Filas style I appreciate you letting me know you were enjoying the videos. You take care also and hope to hear more from you soon. 🫵😎🫵💯‼️⛈️

[@pin-monkeypinball3548]

Had a pizza pizazz, subway, Jimmy's popcorn, a Chinese restaurant all across from Super Fun arcade. I worked at wards auto express and go to super fun at lunch everyday and get a vanilla coke at Jimmy's. Now I live 2 minutes from there.

[@shandi6246]

I remember going to this mall as a kid!

[@snakeboren4814]

🆒 Video Dudes..!!!!

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Much appreciate that snake Big shout out to you!!! 🫵😎🫵💯⛈️‼️

[@freebird1292]

It was a great little mall back in the 80's. It had everything plus a cool arcade.

[@ericprentiss5177]

I was the first employee in that arcade! I spent many hours sitting on the mall map thingy that sat in front of the arcade. I met my wife there. She worked at several stores.... Montgomery Wards restaurant, the toy store, and a food court restaurant.

[@freebird1292]

@@ericprentiss5177Very cool bud!

[@lorenpost2026]

good job

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Thank you Loren 🥰🌸⛈️⛈️💯❤️

[@ericah1898]

I was in here a few times as a kid and it was pretty dead even back then. I know it was pretty small in comparison to Southlake but wasn’t there an upstairs level in this mall?

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

I remember it back as a kid too Erica and I always had the same impression. It was pretty lame and dead and I do not believe they had an upper level floor because I do not remember any elevators inside of here. However, I could be wrong, but like you said, I would usually go to Southlake Mall that’s where it was happening at with all the good stores. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. Hope to hear more from you soon. 🫵😉🫵🌸

[@cfs89]

Century Mall,as well as the anchor stores (Montgomery Ward and Goldblatt's,later Burlington Coat Factory and Service Merchandise)did not have an upper level.

[@ericah1898]

@@cfs89 thank you, that was driving me crazy!

[@Madinfidelprepper]

Holy cow this is where I got my Atari 2600 in about 1980.

[@lanettafreeman5437]

Where did all the stores go - Crown-point, Valporaso??

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Not really sure where they went, but it’s a shame for sure Lanetta 🫵😉❤️

[@7viewerlogic670]

Everyone uses Amazon for a store now.

[@dianesaari3034]

Malls used to be the place to go. Many are just memories😢

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Very true I’m just grateful that I was old enough to enjoy the good days. The drive-in theaters and cruising was also a big thing back in the day.

[@polarisjustdothework2258]

❤

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

❤🫵😉‼️

[@Thebadgaymer]

I actually worked at a Halloween store in that building in 2018

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

That sounds like it was a fun job

[@SIMPLY_DIFFICULTT]

Gary ……. Destructed !! Merrillville……Under Destruction !! Who’s Next CROWN POINT ??

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Too many cops out in Crownpoint for all that nonsense. However, I’ll agree with you on the Gary and Merrillville and as far as my opinion of who is next. From what I can see it looks like Hammond is starting to look a little bit rough around the edges lately too.

[@SIMPLY_DIFFICULTT]

@@TheSteelCityStorm Im currently in Chesterton and i know they’re NOT coming this way anytime soon …. If you know what I mean 😂👦🏿🔫👻👮‍♂️😂

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

@@SIMPLY_DIFFICULTT me and my wife are out in Chesterton all the time our favorite place to eat is the round o’clock

[@SIMPLY_DIFFICULTT]

@@TheSteelCityStorm oh dang for real ? Haha a while ago we owned the gas station right next to it …… 😮

[@Kara_Kay_Eschel]

@@TheSteelCityStormhas been going downhill since the 90’s.

[@barbarawissinger]

What a shame. My sister worked at Montgomery Ward there during high school. Are the medical officers still across from the hospital? I used to see Dr. Brinco once a month.

[@williegoff]

Shout out to that taco joint inside...y'all don't know how Gary is and was da sh@t! Storm in the hood more than these so-called tough rappers lol! Shout to Gary and Storm!

[@songcraftproduction1244]

First Gary, now Merrillville? What is going on in northwest Indiana? Is the cancer now spreading to Merrillville? I know you're asking if we're enjoying it. It's tuff to say I am. But if you didn't record it we wouldn't know about what's going on in Merrillville. Thanks for the footage. You're doing an amazing but sobering documentary job.

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

I totally understand what you were saying it’s hard for me at times also but I just know it’s important to see what happens when people just turned a blind eye to things. I really appreciate your comment and it’s good people like you that make me keep wanting to do more videos. Thank you so much. You are much appreciated.. 💯🫵😎🫵💯

[@NinaRossBusiness]

Looks like it's been closed for awhile. 😞😞

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

I was surprised myself to see the conditions inside. It does look like it has been close for a while now.

[@dawngmyrek-xc8qh]

Century Mall

[@pin-monkeypinball3548]

2 minutes from me

[@lorenpost2026]

that holds a lot of homeless people for th

[@juan745]

😂