Chesapeake Square Mall | A Fallible Dead Mall | Chesapeake, VA | ExLog 47

[@sal]

Hey guys! Thanks so much for watching! This is the third to last episode in the 2018 NC Chesapeake Dead Mall Tour, with Military Circle and Virginia Center Commons coming up next...then onto ExLog 50!!! Let's see if we can get this video over 1500 likes, and I'll release some amazing New Orleans footage for ExLog 50 for Christmas! Thanks again for watching, and thanks to all my Patrons for the support, and to the entire Legion of Explorers out there! You all rock :) Support the Expedition Log on Patreon, if you like! - www.patreon.com/salvatoreamadeo Twitter - twitter.com/salvatoreamadeo Instagram - instagram.com/salvatoreamadeo Second Channel! - kzbin.info Join the discussion on Discord! discord.gg/g4tKbpu Facebook Page! - facebook.com/QuiteStudios/ Catch up on the full Expedition Log Series! ExLog Series Playlist - kzbin.info/aero/PLeveLKZSrsW5yrdr5vZa1-7oq_g-EuzZt

[@mikemahon4594]

Love the videos Sal! I can't wait to see VCC!

[@funecheeseofficial3576]

What do you think will happen to Vernon park mall and Morrisville outlet center mall i think Vernon park will survive as a two anchor mall with 2 stores and would be on aces channel but it is unclear for Morrisville outlet center mall

[@ItsaRomethingeveryday]

Very much liked this, Good Up

[@Guygin12]

I’ve really been enjoying your channel, Sal. Great history lesson, too. Your father was a real champ for coming with you on that MS hunt. Keep up the excellent work!

[@cheatinjoebiden4806]

13:20 Yea, all of that, and the absence of disposable income due to blue-collar industry being handed to the Chinese Communist Party. Sure.

[@chrisb.1214]

I grew up in Chesapeake just a stones throw away from this mall. I remember when it was woods then the trees were cut down for farmland in the 70's and early 80's before the mall and surrounding development came. It was an exciting time during the building process. We had the mall floor plan for study in drafting class at our high school. I saw many movies at the old Cinemark theater behind the mall. Anyone remember Front Row Joe? I worked at the Family Bookstore and Camelot Music inside the mall in the mid to late nineties and then more recently at the Macy's for a brief time before it closed. When this mall was built it took much business away from another nearby mall in decline called Tower Mall in Portsmouth that pretty much sealed Tower Mall's doom.

[@Tornado1994]

In September 1990, my 2nd Grade teacher brought a Dual Cassette of Famous Children's songs from the Suncoast, she'd play them during class freetime. In Spring Break of that year, I went to see TMNT at Cinemark 10. Took 30 minutes to get in. Saw Darkman that August. In May of 1990, Mom brought Sweatin to The Oldies 2 on VHS . My Stepfather brought BBD's LP Poison on CD and A Music Video Collection of BBD & New Edition. That Christmas, I got Metal Mech for NES and 2 dozen Turtles action figures at the Kaybee Toys. On December 7,1990, My Stepfather took me, his 9 year old son(my Stepbrother) Mom and my little 2 year old brother to see Home Alone at the Cinemark 10. There were very LONG lines and it took 40 minutes to get in! In July of 1991, my Mom's GF's Husband brought Genesis with Sonic 1 from the Funcoland in there. In September of '91 while at Kaybees, I saw Super Nintendo and asked my Stepfather to get me one for Christmas. He balked at the $200 price tag and ironically suggested Action 52! But I told him the games probably weren't going to be good because of how terrible the box art looked. In July 1992, we went to see Class Act & Bebe's Kids at the Cinemark 10. I saw Bebe's Kids 4 Times! On Saturday August 8,1992, Mom took me and my now 4 year old kid brother to buy the Kris Kross gear at the Montgomery Ward, we were going to a Kris Kross Concert at Scope Arena in Norfolk. So MANY Early 90s Childhood memories were made at Chesapeake Square Mall. I am beyond heartbroken to discover what has happened to it.;(

[@iiamkay06]

Omgggg- I remember that cinema!!😌 I was like 3 and many people went. Now it’s just an empty parking lot🙃

[@kirra77]

What an amazing KZbin channel. He’s 20 years ahead of his time. Pure genius. He’s documenting how Americans shop. How shopping malls are going extinct, brick and mortar stores going bankrupt. These are the types of creative videos that deserve recognition. Very much a part of Americana, shopping habits and online shopping. Bravo!!

[@sal]

Thanks, David!

[@kirra77]

@@sal *Coming from a Commercial Realtor in Hampton Roads. I’m mainly focused on industrial property and have not been adversely affected. Every major Commercial Brokerage across the country should follow your channel. From a business standpoint, I see how much work and effort goes into your videos. I’d like to see you find a path to monetization outside of KZbin. Wishing you all the best, and please know that your hard work is very meaningful.

[@sal]

Much appreciated! I’d be grateful if you shared my work out in your community!

[@ameliaantique5345]

This is my mall!!! The food court is my absolute favorite part. All the neon and palm trees. Back in the early 2000s the water fountains were still working and it was gorgeous.

[@Tornado1994]

In September 1990, my 2nd Grade teacher brought a Dual Cassette of Famous Children's songs from the Suncoast, she'd play them during class freetime. In Spring Break of that year, I went to see TMNT at Cinemark 10. Took 30 minutes to get in. Saw Darkman that August. In May of 1990, Mom brought Sweatin to The Oldies 2 on VHS . My Stepfather brought BBD's LP Poison on CD and A Music Video Collection of BBD & New Edition. That Christmas, I got Metal Mech for NES and 2 dozen Turtles action figures at the Kaybee Toys. On December 7,1990, My Stepfather took me, his 9 year old son(my Stepbrother) Mom and my little 2 year old brother to see Home Alone at the Cinemark 10. There were very LONG lines and it took 40 minutes to get in! In July of 1991, my Mom's GF's Husband brought Genesis with Sonic 1 from the Funcoland in there. In September of '91 while at Kaybees, I saw Super Nintendo and asked my Stepfather to get me one for Christmas. He balked at the $200 price tag and ironically suggested Action 52! But I told him the games probably weren't going to be good because of how terrible the box art looked. In July 1992, we went to see Class Act & Bebe's Kids at the Cinemark 10. I saw Bebe's Kids 4 Times! On Saturday August 8,1992, Mom took me and my now 4 year old kid brother to buy the Kris Kross gear at the Montgomery Ward, we were going to a Kris Kross Concert at Scope Arena in Norfolk. So MANY Early 90s Childhood memories were made at Chesapeake Square Mall. I am beyond heartbroken to discover what has happened to it.;(

[@RazorFoxDV]

When Burlington Coat Factory shows up, a mall's days are officially numbered.

[@stevenboswell220]

One of my local malls macys closed in 2017 and sears closed on the first of the month so that mall is definitely having its days numbered.

[@TrillBill]

😂

[@Steve.Cutler]

And you know it's time to run when the dollars stores leave.

[@dorothymurray7244]

Ok, this is sad.l lived in Norfolk from 1977 to 2002,had my daughters n raised them there. Last night l saw the video about Military Circle n now this.We use to go to both these Malls,so sad to see them so empty now.

[@iceman5761]

WOW I remember when it was called Military circle mall back in 1984,I use to hang there and the game room that was right next to it.

[@DarkProMaster]

I use to work at the Chick-Fil-A that was once inside the mall back in 2009 even then the mall was seeing a decline. This video makes me reminisce my childhood and teen years working there. A huge thanks for this.

[@katzfam1089]

Really love the dead mall series. Your research and emceeing is impeccable.

[@heidi9272]

I'm so happy a youtuber like you exists!! I moved away from the US in 2012, and visited again in 2018. It was surreal walking through Montgomery mall, a place where I occasionally went to as i was a kid, and seeing it completely empty (except for yankee candle lol) its great that you shine light on this subject even for people like me, who are too far away from the US to experience all the dying malls

[@heidi9272]

@@savvysharktravel haha should I really tell the fbi? jk, moved to austria. the malls here are still hotspots for shopping and for meetups

[@ReplayStation]

I live right down the street from this mall. It's definitely dead lol Really, the only thing keeping this mall remotely viable is the attached Target store. I used to go to this mall quite a bit when I was a kid and seeing how it has slowly emptied over the years is a bummer. I hope their plan for the future of the mall works out for the sake of both my neighborhood and my nostalgia.

[@amberdellana7416]

The target there sucks and needs to be updated majorly. It’s one of the last targets in the area to look like an original target.

[@jenniferloving9054]

I remember those Chili's commercials growing up! When the restaurant brought their famous ribs back a few years ago, I instantly thought of the "Baby Back Ribs "song.

[@howardg2435]

The first four years of my eight in the Navy were in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area during 1990-1994. I never made it to this mall, but I did frequent the small Pembroke, and the Larger Lynnhaven Mall, which is very close to Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach. At that time, I remember those malls having a good number of restaurants, but have since been replaced with other retail. Lynnhaven seems to be hanging on, but Pembroke looks to be dying, if not dead.

[@budphillips1789]

If you think Pembroke is dying,if not dead, You would think that Chesapeake Square Mall is in the grave.

[@hazegrayprepper4396]

I just left the Hampton Roads area about two years ago when I retired from the Navy, and I can tell you that the Lynnhaven Mall was still holding strong when I departed that wretched state. The Pembroke Mall was dying, though. And the Chesapeake Mall would be considered a catatonic vegetable on life support in my eyes. And Military Circle was just about the same as both Pembroke and Chesapeake Square Mall. They do have the MacArthur Center Mall in Downtown Norfolk that is still doing fairly well.

[@dorothymurray7244]

Same here ,lived in Norfolk from 1977 to 2002,these are all Malls l use to go to with my daughters, sad to see them like this.

[@DulceN]

I live in Western Branch and this has been my mall for the last 22 years. It used to be a busy shopping area with all sorts of stores. It was bad when Legett left and then Dillard's, followed by all the others. It looks like the mall will close at the same time I'll leave the area to start a new life... so many memories.

[@IanTheBuizel]

This place was a big part of my childhood. I'll never forget the fun n games arcade!

[@robd5695]

I grew up near that mall and worked at the Sears there for some time in the mid 90’s. Very sad to see it so empty. It used to be packed.

[@theamerican7080]

That intro was absolutely priceless...

[@FirstnameLastname-gs5xt]

Crushed many a slice from the sbarro throughout my childhood.

[@FranNyan]

I think the biggest thing that always gets me when watching these walkthroughs is how generic and cookie-cutter so many struggling malls look. It's sort of a physical manifestation of the over gentrification of mall shopping that drives so many people elsewhere to find anything unique and interesting. Sort of a stark contrast to how malls tried to style themselves back in the 90s.... It also makes it far more depressing when one of the few malls that had a unique look to it goes under.

[@veronicapace7198]

Our first mall seemed magical but it was the beginning of the end of small downtown shops.

[@winterburden]

You can go to the bathroom in the basement at Eastland Mall, it doesn't look sterile at all 😂

[@veronicapace7198]

@@winterburden Ha!

[@eyesonthey]

1993 , Blind Melon's No Rain tearing up the radio waves, I remember going and hitting up the Dairy Queen and then heading to Electronics Boutique, and Babbages while waiting for the movie to start.

[@razor_wuff]

This is so weird seeing my hometown on a video LOL!

[@brucesi]

Ditto!!

[@xuiz]

LOL FR THO

[@jasonwood1926]

I managed a store in this mall called Gadzooks from 1999 till 2003. I live in Virginia Beach. to see the small go like this. I know about Military Circle as well as Pembroke Mall or both dead malls now. Lynnhaven is definitely still staying alive not so sure about Greenbrier in Chesapeake and I haven't been in this mall in years.

[@oliverjones1845]

Jason Wood greenbrier isn’t dead but not thriving either if that makes sense

[@jasonwood1926]

@@oliverjones1845 another words give it another 5 years and it could be dead

[@rbsmith3365]

It has nothing to do with Internet shopping! And yes owner’s default on mortgage it happened everywhere. Chesapeake became a city in 1963. Portsmouth’s Tower Mall ( 1973) a place where we shopped until, I learned it was razed. So, I have lived at nearby Western Branch at Green Meadow Point. Chesapeake was a rural city but boring. So, after 3 years in Chesapeake and I returned to Texas in 1982. Mall opened 1989 and when, I visited in that area in July 1991 when driving to Williamsburg. I only remembered seeing this mall with Hess’ department store and I can’t remembered at all. Now, you know how economy really sucks. Housing cost up. Gas up. Foods up. And more and our pay went down and we don’t have much money to buy anything. Sad.

[@bboobb1122334455]

I love shopping here, especially during the Christmas season. I can get in, get and get out in a timely manner. There’s a mall 15 miles east, Greenbrier mall also in Chesapeake, and that area is madness after Thanksgiving......no thanks.

[@alyssarasmussen1723]

Perfect mall to go to during Quarantine.

[@Doc263]

Hey Sal, just want to say thanks for the great job keeping these not so old places alive for future generations. These started arriving on the scenes when I was in my late teens so I remember the "Mall Lifestyle" and I'm sad to see it go.

[@dngillikin]

This is depressing. I'm so old, I remember the empty field it was built on as seen in the news video. I grew up one neighborhood to the East from commenter Rbsmith down below. By the time this mall opened, I was living in Newport News. I got to visit it on a few occasions when visiting my younger brother and grandmother before I moved to Texas, and then West Virginia. It was hopping in the early and mid-nineties. It's sad to see how it's declined. This is arguably late nineties/early 2000's Beckley, West Virginia Crossroads Mall bad.

[@sal]

You’re 100% an important part of this malls history, even if you don’t realize it. Thanks a bunch for the comment!

[@michaelbutts2688]

I can imagine how beautiful the land was before it was developed. As open fields or before that a grove of stately loblolly pines.

[@Tornado1994]

In September 1990, my 2nd Grade teacher brought a Dual Cassette of Famous Children's songs from the Suncoast, she'd play them during class freetime. In Spring Break of that year, I went to see TMNT at Cinemark 10. Took 30 minutes to get in. Saw Darkman that August. In May of 1990, Mom brought Sweatin to The Oldies 2 on VHS . My Stepfather brought BBD's LP Poison on CD and A Music Video Collection of BBD & New Edition. That Christmas, I got Metal Mech for NES and 2 dozen Turtles action figures at the Kaybee Toys. On December 7,1990, My Stepfather took me, his 9 year old son(my Stepbrother) Mom and my little 2 year old brother to see Home Alone at the Cinemark 10. There were very LONG lines and it took 40 minutes to get in! In July of 1991, my Mom's GF's Husband brought Genesis with Sonic 1 from the Funcoland in there. In September of '91 while at Kaybees, I saw Super Nintendo and asked my Stepfather to get me one for Christmas. He balked at the $200 price tag and ironically suggested Action 52! But I told him the games probably weren't going to be good because of how terrible the box art looked. In July 1992, we went to see Class Act & Bebe's Kids at the Cinemark 10. I saw Bebe's Kids 4 Times! On Saturday August 8,1992, Mom took me and my now 4 year old kid brother to buy the Kris Kross gear at the Montgomery Ward, we were going to a Kris Kross Concert at Scope Arena in Norfolk. We got 2 Sony Music Video Kris Kross Videos at Camelot Music. So MANY Early 90s Childhood memories were made at Chesapeake Square Mall. I am beyond heartbroken to discover what has happened to it.;(

[@doloresromo199]

Your channel has become a favorite of mine. Sal you have the best information and you have a great narrative voice. thanks for taking us on these journey's through these Malls...It leaves you with sort of a Melancholy feeling but an Historic view. Love the the line about "Big Tall Trees Reaching for Sunshine..but out living the open Mall...Take care and stay safe. Blessed Be.

[@takenitlight]

The second level is gone!!! There was a nice glass elevator in the middle across from the food court. WOW! Other elevators in anchor stores & service areas. I need to go check it out. All that land was nothing but trees then the land where the mall was cleared of trees. I used to ride my dirt bike mall area in 87'-88 (Taylor Rd, Portsmouth Blvd, & Gum Rd on Suffolk side). Trails and mud after trees cut down. Long b4 Rt 664. My Jr High mall days were over b4 this mall was built, but went w/ my little sister. I think kids now are missing out. They definitely wouldn't get how so much happened at the mall in the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"! I really miss malls at the holidays!!! May be biased on my part, but didn't expect this mall to be in 1 of these vids just yet. Thank you for your effort, time, & detailed background! My only disappointed in this video and I haven't been in years; but have to believe there are still much nicer brighter entrances. And one other part tend to make it seem worse off than it is. Others not familiar may think that is the main entrance. That's would not be fair. Thanks Again!

[@lisamarieva3514]

Chesapeake Square Mall never had a 2nd floor, never had an elevator or escalators. It was always a single story mall. I lived near this mall, went to Western Branch High in the 80s and worked at Piercing Pagoda and later at Kay Jewelers. I liked Western Branch before all the development. It was a really nice community. Now, not so much. I moved away and only miss family and friends. Not the traffic though!! And now all the tolls for the tunnels it costs a fortune just to get anywhere.

[@CC-cv2kp]

I love this video. I worked at the Sears here and spent a lot of time at this mall in its glory days. The only correction is you got the Burlington coat factory mixed up. Burlington is the old Leggett store and the movie theater was Hess’s.

[@stevenboswell220]

5:49 hit me a little bit. The last of my 3 childhood sears closed at the beginning of this month and I'm really sad they did. I had many many manu great memories in sears and it just saddens me to wonder about what will they become in the future

[@jackiepeyton9344]

I wish you had been doing these archival videos before Tower Mall (in Portsmouth, VA) had been demolished. Tower Mall's demise was hastened by the opening of Chesapeake Square Mall.

[@pilotgrrl1]

One issue I found with malls was their race towards sameness. When all the malls near you have most of the same stores, it's easy to look for something new and different. And that drive me to Amazon and the like. Amazon's gotten cluttered with cheap Chinese fakes and that's starting to drive me elsewhere, mostly Target. And that's not good for malls, either. Where will those lead us? Mixed use developments with lifestyle centers?

[@jundukes]

Another outstanding production. The attention you pay to establishing context and atmosphere makes every dead mall a beautiful tragedy.

[@expandingthemind5174]

I worked in this mall all through the late 80’s and into the mid 90’s. I remember the large crew of mall walkers. Good times man.

[@oliverjones1845]

The mall was very neon and colorful in the 90s. Way different now

[@NuclearWintr]

So the part of the mall at 6:35 you're walking through has been closed off and is no longer being used as mall space. From what I heard they plan to tear down that part and do something else with it similar to what Hampton Town Center in Hampton, VA is. Also the Cinemark Movies 10 was torn down a few years ago and is being converted to a medical clinic.

[@ayemex5444]

Love your videos man. I feel like the videos you do is so important in capturing the legacy of the malls that were once prominent. It leaves such memories and sadness...

[@BornToPun7541]

I'm from this area and I definitely remember when the mall was being built and when it opened. I wasn't there for opening day, as I was out of town visiting my grandparents. This was during my 8th grade year of school.

[@andysorensen1737]

TLC did a documentary on the funeral of the Baby Back Ribs guy. It was as insane and fun as one would expect.

[@MrsSusieL]

Sometime in the 90’s, I worked as a seasonal employee at Montgomery Wards at this mall. Very sad to hear that it’s gone down so far.

[@ChevyNovaSS-tb3xf]

Always a pleasure Sal!! Your passion shows through on the quality of your logs.

[@mazzycollins9856]

I grew up in this area but only visited this mall a few times. Really enjoying this VA/NC series, Sal. Thanks for the walks down memory lane. Love the music in this one too!

[@KK-ex5zu]

Thanks for another awesome video Sal! Even though I’m from and live in VA a half hour south of Richmond I’ve never been to any of the malls in the tidewater area. But what I’ve heard from friends over the years is that Chesapeake Square Mall was one of the nicer malls in the area back in the 90’s. Thanks again for breaking down the history of the place.

[@takenitlight]

Nice to see another person refer to this area as "Tidewater"! They should've stuck w/ that. It's been changed several times. City leaders don't agree on anything & try anything to be noticed. There was talk again of changing it yet again to "The 757", but then they found out they area is running out of phone #'s which an addition area code would be split or added similar to when we were all "804".

[@eachizzle]

@@takenitlight VA Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, and Hampton Roads will always be Tidewater to me! It aint nothing but a conglomeration of cities in the 757. Just like Northern VA will always be everything north, east and west of Fredericksburg from the state lines to the bay. Or me I'm central VA which is the Richmond metro area plus the Tri-Cities. Of course Richmond plus Henrico and Chesterfield counties with Petersburg, Hopewell, Colonial Heights the Tri-Cities will always be the 804.

[@Celestialplane945]

My grandmother lives in the Churchland area, very close to this mall. My mom grew up with this mall in the 80’s and 90’s as a teen. I grew up in Richmond, VA but we still go here sometimes when I visit. Although, it’s nothing like it was when it first opened, it still has some life and vibrancy on the weekends. The food court still has a chick fil a and other restaurants. One of our favorites is Nori Japan which serves Japanese style hibachi. They still have a target, movie theatre, Burlington’s, men’s formalwear, New York & Company (formally Lerner’s) and other urban/atheliesure boutiques like Jimmy Jazz. I remember coming here as a kid when my grandma would do jazzercise and walk with the other seniors in the mall. I remember throwing all my mom and grandmas pennies into the fountain when it was still in operation. I think my whole extended family (mom, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins) got formal family pictures done here at ThePicturePeople store. I remember there was also a Piccadilly’s Cafeteria here, where my grandfather would loooove to stop and eat at. Probably the coolest feature as a kid was the mega-sized gazebo-like structure that stood right before you entered the food court. It looked like a castle within the mall when i was little. During Christmas time, Santa’s chair would be set up there. I still have a pic with Santa from this mall. I really believe that if they can land one or two more quality anchors, this mall might have a little more hope. Great memories from Chesapeake Square. BTW I was born in 96.

[@Celestialplane945]

EDIT: Also remember the lovely Disney store as a kid. I would get all my Disney gear from there when my mom and I visited my grandparents. Remember I had got a stuffed animal character of one of the ants from “A Bug’s Life” lol. Also, vaguely remember regularly getting hello kitty regalia from the Sanrio store here in the late 90’s/ early 00’s

[@markasflood124]

@@Celestialplane945 What about Super Fresh The Grocery Store beside Rose's In Churchland?

[@heathermoffitt9796]

Chic-fil-a is gone

[@sal]

:(

[@abigailcarroll6982]

I was just visiting this mall today! That whole first half of the mall, is closed off and abandoned now. Right there by the Spencer's. Has been since the start of Quarantine 2020. One of those vacant anchors is a Spirit Halloween though I didn't get inside to see which.

[@supermegusta111]

Check out the Regency Square mall if you're here in Virginia. Regency isn't quite dead but it is getting there.

[@getalongva]

Jackimusmaximus At least they have started redeveloping it.

[@ellendial7607]

Great as always. You are a very talented young man! Love your music as well....

[@dickmiles1]

Wow--- another hometown mall.. It's been 20 years since I've been back but a few memories... Great footage of what the area looks like before it was built. It was literally nothing out there but a 2 lane country road. There was a Kirschmiers country store that was there when I was a kid there at Portsmouth Blvd and Dock Landing Road. WAY back when. Also a Actin animal hospital in front of the mall which may still be there. When the mall opened it was a huge hit-- the closest mall was Tower Mall in Portsmouth and nobody went there. This mall was new and upscale and extremely popular. The auntie Annes pretzels is an original location by the JC Penney. There used to be a tux rental place next door. There was an arcade next door to the Regis hair place . The food court was always packed and nice. I remember everything you mentioned-- even the Montgomery Ward which was the first to close. Walmart built a huge store behind the mall after closing a smaller location across from it. Never went to the Cinemark theatres behind there-- do remember they were closed forever and looked sketchy. Sorry for the length-- just brought back many memories from childhood. Great job as always Sal!

[@sharichambers7333]

Yikes! That mall entrance corridor is creepy! The skylights did let in a lot of natural light. Great video!

[@BoratWanksta]

Actually most malls out there do have hallways, that look like along the lines of how that one Sal walked through at the beginning of this video. Yes they aren't nice looking, and are more like service hallways than a way for the regular public to enter a mall. I imagine before Sears(thanks to google street view, I realized which anchor this used to be) at 5:50 shut down, that likely this side door was definitely NOT an official public entrance into this mall.

[@edgufler1122]

Thank you very much for the video Sal , you always do great commentary for your videos.

[@sprkl5d]

Great video Sal! Love all the mall history you always share.

[@everyhandletaken]

WTH is that “Mall Entrance”.. about? It looks like an emergency exit, at best 🤨

[@redskinmark]

That's where the old pet store and Sears were anchored. Sad how this mall has declined!

[@jasonwood1926]

@@redskinmark it is sad I worked here from 99 - 03 managing a Gadzooks

[@ameliaantique5345]

It’s a back entrance basically lol. I promise you the main mall entrances don’t look like that.

[@dominiquejennings4517]

its a random side entrance. the mall is depressing but there are other entrances but I think this was either picked for effect or to be left alone while filming.

[@nataliekate2176]

Hi Sal! Loved the ex log as always 💜 thanks for putting out such amazing content so consistently - I really appreciate it. Always look forward to your uploads. Keep up the great work x

[@josh_sqlla]

Hey cool to see you do a video on the Chesapeake Square Mall. I work at the Pier1 Imports around that mall, and I go in there from time to time.

[@GasFayce]

Another awesome vlog well done! Kudos for the simulated VCR tracking effects, definitely don't miss that aspect of video tape!

[@houndpuggy4510]

The anchor stores are all that thrive there now, I work at the target there, the mall no longer owns the target space and Fye just announced they were closing their store. Target is the busiest store there and like I said Target owns their store the mall no longer owns that portion of the mall, so target will stay there if the mall closes.

[@BrickImmortar]

Loved it Sal, another good one!

[@Decade8Media]

Well done again Sal. Looking forward to the next Ex Log.

[@brucesi]

This is my home town mall. When I was in high school and college in the late 90s-early 2000s this place was still busy as hell. I worked there in 2003 and the EB Games and it was still rolling. I took some pictures a few years back. It's really died and getting worse. I haven't heard anything recently about the plans to make all those changes you talked about. I hope COVID didn't kill it.

[@narconyx]

I always love the content sal, keep up the good work

[@mia4md]

Pretty cool to hear they’re going for the live to work concept. I used to work at the Morrisons now call Piccadilly. Heck, I even see the ruby Tuesday is closed too. Sadly, the golden corral is still open.

[@MzCorrieB]

Wolf! Lol reminds me of Cadillac Records. I love that movie.

[@Vinnraptt]

My dad remembers the mall as a kid in the 80s.

[@Wingnutcaseman]

So strange seeing a service hallway used as a public mall entrance.

[@DoomieGruntVentures]

Its good to see that the current owners appear to be following through with a redevelopment plan. And in the end, it looks like we may still have a mall, or an enclosed commons.

[@luluvolvio1655]

Doomie, I love your content. Usually other channels don't go into the anchor stores! Keep it up!

[@fargieindra86]

At first I misread the title as “Cheapskate” mall 🤣

[@brentruvio6556]

Not wrong there tho

[@kalilawatson5094]

Thank you so much for this video, it was nice hearing the history behind this mall.

[@Tornado1994]

In September 1990, my 2nd Grade teacher brought a Dual Cassette of Famous Children's songs from the Suncoast, she'd play them during class freetime. In Spring Break of that year, I went to see TMNT at Cinemark 10. Took 30 minutes to get in. Saw Darkman that August. In May of 1990, Mom brought Sweatin to The Oldies 2 on VHS . My Stepfather brought BBD's LP Poison on CD and A Music Video Collection of BBD & New Edition. That Christmas, I got Metal Mech for NES and 2 dozen Turtles action figures at the Kaybee Toys. On December 7,1990, My Stepfather took me, his 9 year old son(my Stepbrother) Mom and my little 2 year old brother to see Home Alone at the Cinemark 10. There were very LONG lines and it took 40 minutes to get in! In July of 1991, my Mom's GF's Husband brought Genesis with Sonic 1 from the Funcoland in there. In September of '91 while at Kaybees, I saw Super Nintendo and asked my Stepfather to get me one for Christmas. He balked at the $200 price tag and ironically suggested Action 52! But I told him the games probably weren't going to be good because of how terrible the box art looked. In July 1992, we went to see Class Act & Bebe's Kids at the Cinemark 10. I saw Bebe's Kids 4 Times! On Saturday August 8,1992, Mom took me and my now 4 year old kid brother to buy the Kris Kross gear at the Montgomery Ward, we were going to a Kris Kross Concert at Scope Arena in Norfolk. So MANY Early 90s Childhood memories were made at Chesapeake Square Mall. I am beyond heartbroken to discover what has happened to it.;(

[@chadschmaltz9790]

I've noticed that adding a Target as an anchor store can sometimes breathe some life into a struggling mall. A small mall near New Orleans was going under and having trouble finding companies to buy spaces until the Target and AMC theater opened.

[@mark-uh8un]

Is that the one in Metairie? Esplanade

[@nickbourgeois490]

Clearview still needs work... esplanade is a dead mall

[@JJ-wk5wy]

They should. Most malls here in Canada have supermarkets in the mall. They really help with the businesses in the mall. You've got customers and employees from the grocery store shopping at the mall, as well as mall employees and customers doing their grocery shopping there.

[@trams66]

Well worth the wait Sal keep them coming 👋👋👋

[@brentruvio6556]

When the sears was open, my dad worked in the Auto center back in 2008-2009. I've Been in the area for 15 years. Literally have watched the decline of this mall. It's kinda sad

[@brentruvio6556]

Part of the problem is when tenants start doing well, they up the rent from the jump. So the tenant never makes profit. Eventually driving out all the small stores

[@ashleybraxton4355]

Oh thats a throw back on channel 15. Whro was the channel back in the day. Makes me miss Williamsburg

[@tendraftsdeep]

Great production as usual !

[@Optopolis]

Another absolutely Beautiful mall! Security can be painful sometimes. Good that the mall was filmed none the less for an amazing video!

[@Zahnclassof95]

this reminds me of our Mall .When I was a kid in the 80s we used to hang out in and now it is been sitting here deteriorating like all these other malls that you're mentioning and yeah there's a lot of reasons why these malls are going away The Mall here .Went out in the mid 90s .It is sad to see Malls disappearing . Especially for people that live in the North and cold climate like myself.

[@conservativehippie9736]

Your videos....BEST!

[@paulsuprono7225]

The 'Magic Mile' . .. a mall on Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT not long after my birth - 1957. Many companies have 'come & gone' in that time . . . however, it still remains . . . the WHOLE mile. The capitolist realm will have said failures, however . . . one must be cognizant, of all competition. Yes - it's a viscous, viscious cycle ! 😱

[@danielgyllenbreider]

Interesting point about why malls failed. My own behavior since many years back is that i think stuff is cheaper on the internet than at my local mall, so i mostly go to the mall to watch stuff and if there is something i like i buy it on the internet. I sometimes try out shoes or clothes at my local mall, then i buy them online.

[@evileyeball]

The Dillards having two locations at this mall is kind of like that period when there were Two Hudson Bay Stores at WEM after Hudson Bay took over the former woodwards location.

[@schuco2]

thank you sal. another great one

[@paulsuprono7225]

That Mall . . . the Magic Mile is from my hometown - Hamden, CT.

[@DBS2Productions]

I loved pure elegance so much, I bought their label.

[@sal]

His voice alone is amazing. Couldn’t resist adding that in!!

[@DBS2Productions]

@@sal Oh yeah. I died. Laughing of course.

[@butterflies9383]

It's always dark and empty inside. They don't even bother to turn on the lights in the daytime. BTW this mall ran Tower Mall in Portsmouth out of business.

[@jasonwood1926]

Wow Tower mall. I'm 38 now but that brings back memories from my childhood I remember how that mall got ran into the ground. There was looking horrible before they tore it down

[@butterflies9383]

@@jasonwood1926 I remember tower mall because when I was a kid my grandparents would go to eat at morrisons every saturday and they would take me with them. Good memories. 😊

[@jasonwood1926]

@@butterflies9383 Morrison's cafeteria was the best

[@crowmigration8245]

Nice, finally one that isnt closing.

[@oliverjones1845]

I used to come here once every blue moon in the 90s. It was so colorful and dope. Now it’s sad

[@oliverjones1845]

The mall used to be very neon. Lights everywhere pre renovation

[@justinreed7093]

I remember coming thru the same entrance and life was everywhere girls girls girls so sad

[@stephenwhite546]

Keep us updated on this mall . Nice to see Target and Penny’s still holding on . Maybe the future not so bad for it .

[@Official.foxy_the_pirate_]

JcPenny just announced they’ll be closing down their store at this mall

[@Noone9227]

The Dillard’s at this mall at one point was a partial clearance store although not designated as such.

[@Tiknuttle]

Gotta do one of greenbrier mall. It is still open and the roof is leaking everywhere. So many stores are gone, only a hand full of stores left

[@baneleaf7025]

I grew up a few miles from this mall and worked there in the early 90s. I moved away in 94 and came back for a reunion in 04 and saw the remodel. However, by then the mall was basically a ghost town. That opening shot of the back hallway was one of my smoke break spots, lol. One major point of contention when this mall opened was the separate movie theater. It was not in a convenient area as you not only have to walk over a quarter mile to the mall, but the grassy area in between was full of mosquitos as that whole area had been a giant field with little streams and ponds in it. The mall had HORRIBLE traffic patterns as nearly every light was out of sequence and it could take you nearly 10 minutes just to get through a light to get out of the parking lot. Also, some mental midget put these 4 ft high shrubs all around the mall. It looked nice but made turning very dangerous as there were devastating blind spots all over. Also, for anyone who is from Va you know well and good that the police like to hide and try to catch people doing any small traffic infraction and these police would literally back their cars into the shrubs (destroying them in the process) and then go shooting out into the road with their lights blaring. This made driving around the mall, even following every traffic law on the books, very stressful as you were bound to get pulled over at least once a month if you worked in the mall. Someone in another comment mentioned the plants as well as the video creator. There was a woman that was in charge of those plants who would literally yell at anyone, customer, employee, little old lady, that got too close to the plants. She had a special water dispenser for them and would go nuclear when people would dump ice from drink cups in them. One more thought. If anyone goes exploring in the back halls of the mall and finds a bottle of vodka stuffed in a wall panel, we had to hide it fast and it has been there since 93 so I could not recommend drinking it.

[@xavierwilliams2228]

I'm a look for it if I get there

[@jasoncarskadon6809]

Great video sal, I think that's great what the new owners want to do with the mall. Too many times you get a moonbeam situation where they just let them go and then you got another rolling acres.

[@exploringwithkevin607]

Great Video Sal. 😊👍❤

[@game_master_rukia]

This mall is doing just fine

[@mikez1701e]

Thx for another great video!

[@mizFahrenheit]

My high school memories hanging here. I'm coming home in a month, I wonder if there will be any ruins for me to walk around

[@dailygrinders89]

Heyyyy this is my city wow didnt know u were coming here. You should go to Hampton Va to the Newmarket mall while your in close range thats the true dead mall that was once great

[@sethschroeder9490]

Great video again Sal! Could you remind me of which mall has the abandoned security vehicle in the parking garage. Thanks

[@andytaylor5476]

Forest Fair Mall in Cinncinati has one

[@NightSprinter]

Hey, Sal, let me know if you are ever in central Florida. If it's still open by then, you would definitely love documenting Lakeshore Mall and its aesthetics (as I've shown a few photos on Twitter).

[@Bigchiefcustomz850]

That mall is so rat and roach infested it’s sad! The health department has closed all the food court tenants down at one time or another due to the infestation! The indoor trees are filled with bugs, and the hallways smell like urine! Kotarides is a joke! Gamblers invade the parking lots scamming people and the shoplifting is horrible! None of the tenants prosecute at all! Knock it down!