CLOSED - A Visit to Upper Valley Mall

[@slackingpacking]

Update: the mall is scheduled to close in June!

[@JohnTFolden]

When "The Mall at Fairfield Commons" (a much larger mall) opened, around 1993, a measurable amount of Springfield residents began making the trip there instead for major shopping excursions. Not along after, Bechtle Ave (inside city limits) was heavily developed to turn it into a shopping corridor. More than one of the previous mall tenants moved to this area, in fact. So, it wasn't necessarily that the local community has no disposable income but rather that they began spending their money elsewhere too.

[@robynhaerr4600]

Very true. I lived in Enon and the Fairfield Mall became the closest when it opened.

[@martinmurphy4852]

I disagree. All of this is in direct correlation to the stagnation of wages that have been going on in this country for the past 30 years. It is now acceptable to have a large percentage of the labor force working for a non living wage. Poor people don't spend money and the decay begins. When the decay begins even those with disposable income become nervous and stop spending there's.

[@producedrabbit1]

I remember that place being packed in the early 90s. I remember the Showbiz Pizza across the street where my parents would take me for my birthday, and I also remember the Service Merchandise nearby and thought you were somebody if you owned a big screen tv. All kinds of memories flood me when I see this video. The old fountain in the middle of the mall, how my parents would always park on the back side of the mall. Nostalgia at its best. Thanks for the upload!

[@JBlair-87]

I remember there being a Wendy's in the mall across from the Dentist Office my mom used to take me to here. Lol

[@shoplifterfpd]

Never forget Hills across the street!

[@GCoch1015]

I grew up in Springfield, remember when the Mall opened in August of 1971. I also worked at Sears for 6 years during high school and college. You did a great job capturing the transactional history of the stores and their changes. The “creepy” hallway you walked down was where the original Liberal supermarket was located. The Rikes store was the only 2 story store in the mall. Wren’s was a downtown powerhouse of a store with at least a 5 story building downtown. It was a death knell to downtown Springfield when Wrens moved to Upper Valley Mall. Looking back, the construction of the mall was a mistake, taking businesses and customers away from the heart of Springfield, a mistake made all over the country. Thanks for the great video, and thanks for your accuracy!

[@justinmkoster]

This mall was booming when I was a child and teenager (80s 90s). It was so crowded around the holidays that it was unsafe to be in there. It was almost shoulder to shoulder. I still go there sometimes to get food from the Mark Pi's Chinese restaurant. Its the main reason people still go there. Another reason for the downturn in Upper Valley Mall business was the addition of two Walmarts in Springfield and the growing shopping and dining district only a couple of miles up the road on Bechtle Avenue.

[@ShiftyBandit214]

I have fond childhood memories of this mall from back when it was still busy. Sad to see what it's become. I'm thinking of going in their one more time before they close for good and see if I can remember which store went where.

[@jeee1074]

Wow what a sad mall. The odds of this mall coming back to life are slim, but at least there are talks which may keep it alive.

[@jualdeaux]

One of the major, if not the most important item you neglected to mention was the development of the North Bechtle Ave corridor. Meijer started it and then all the newer stores went that way with all the traffic. The mall isn't the only thing that is dead out there. The whole Upper Valley road corridor is pretty much gone, again due to the North Bechtle Ave corridor developments.

[@shoplifterfpd]

Yep, Meijer moving from Burnett (followed by Walmart and Toys R Us) was the beginning of the end. It was pretty clear once Harts, Service Merchandise, Hills, and Gold Circle all went under.

[@Jorpepmom]

I worked at the mall all through high school and college. All through the Rikes-shillito-Rikes, Lazarus eras. I miss that mall. So many memories, even when it opened

[@BlueJay6441]

How am I just finding this video!!? I grew up in Springfield, about 10 minutes away from "The UVM" as we called it. Thanks for documenting it so well. I went the last day it was open and took a few pictures and videos, but this is amazing. So many memories. There were once fountains in the middle space in front of what was once Lazarus. I worked at Lazarus (and when it became Macy's) for 3 years. It was fun, such memories. We had a Friendly's in the mall and a York Steakhouse down at the end by JC Penney. Sigh, now it's an industrial park.

[@Sunny-dq6rd]

Growing up this mall was very popular. I remember there used to be a wendy's and every weekend my grandma would eat at mark pi's and I would get wendy's. My mom would get her nails and hair done here, my best friend and I as teens would shop here all the time. When more and more things started closing, and we could drive, we went to the Beavercreek mall instead despite it being a 30 minute drive. Right now the only reason I ever go to the mall is Epic Loot! Lol. I believe Bath and Body Works is even gone now.

[@shoplifterfpd]

I’ve been meaning to check out Epic Loot for a long time now, but I’m never near that part of town. Seeing this video made me really sad, as I was at the mall almost every weekend in the 80s and early 90s growing up. I have great memories of eating lunch at Woolworth and York with my family.

[@murdoc4794]

Biggest thing left out of this video was the big fountain in the middle of the mall. You can still see the footprint of where it was, and how big it was by looking at the white tiles @2:01 in the video. When I was a kid this mall would be packed! You could barely walk the isles. Lots of cool stores, Gloria Jeans, Casano's, the arcade, pet store, two book stores, two music stores, Orange Julius, The Blue Fox restaurant, Kincades, The World Bazaar, KB Toys, Electronics Boutique, and a Smoke shop! Yes, you could even smoke inside. Weird to imagine now. Mr. Folden in the comments is very right. Fairfield Commons was a big blow, as was Bechtle and Walmart. Poor maintenance of the building, and finally online shopping were the death nails. Very funny to think that the only one of the original shops still open today... Spencer's Gifts!

[@jf275]

Spencer has the good merchandise hidden in the back half of their store.

[@BlueJay6441]

That fountain was epic. I think I have a few pics from the 80s when it was still there. I think they took them out in the early 90s or late 80s... Oh, and they never had Kincaids music store, that was over by 1st street. The one in the mall was called Moeller Music and I took piano there in the late 80s. Had a cool upstairs section with studios for music lessons. The old mall music stores are such a classic thing we lost. I sure do miss this mall.

[@victortrujillo4717]

It really saddens me to see the state of this mall. My family and I would visit the mall frequently in my childhood. After I found out that the mall would be closing down this June, me and my girlfriend decided to walk down it one last time. It was a very strange feeling. I saw these little rides for kids that I so vividly remember riding as a child. Standing outside the old Macy’s I remembered sitting on the floor being mad at my parents for taking to me to Macy’s. I even remember the old Sears and now they were selling the PS3 along with the Spider-Man game. It’s really sad to see it all gone. But believe it or not this mall still gives a chance to have a good time. You see, since no ones ever really goes any more, the parking lot is entirely deserted. And let’s just say a 19 year old with a sports car can have a lot of fun with that.

[@JayYoung-ro3vu]

This mall has/had an identical twin in upper New York state. By the way, Block's, Wren's, Rike's, Shillito's, Lazarus, and Macy's were subdivisions of Federated stores. There were many plans submitted for development. Sears still owns its building. Either they want too much for their former space or aren't interested in selling (at this time)? It seems that Liberty Markets didn't last long as long as the historical society doesn't have much on them. Fast forward a few years, the mall was closed, sold to a developer, and turned into warehouse space.

[@robsmith3628]

I am working inside the former Upper Valley Mall right now! March 27, 2023. I am running new fire sprinkler system for the business park that will be inside the former mall.

[@raeanne1998]

My fiancé, whose lived in Springfield his entire life, mentioned when he was a kid even in the early 2000’s the mall was still jumpin. Since I moved here, I’ve been there one time and honestly, there was like 3-4 stores there. If we want to go mall shopping, we got to the Fairfield mall close to Dayton or the mall at Tuttle crossing which is closer to Columbus. It’s a shame because I’ve heard stories from my mother in law about how great that mall used to be.

[@raeanne1998]

Springfield in itself has grown exponentially since the malls opening, most of the stores that you would’ve found in the mall can now be found on Bechtle. We also have 2 Walmart and 3 or more Kroger’s, Springfield in its entirety as far a retailing goes is massive, it’s no wonder this mall flopped with city growth continuing to skyrocket. I’ve heard talks that they’re turning the Upper Valley mall into a casino, but I don’t know how valid those claims are.

[@ShiftyBandit214]

@@raeanne1998 Before that it was a sports complex, they have no idea what they want to do with it.

[@ashleydonohoe7941]

Back in 2018, I believe, we took our kids trick or treating there since it was a cold year. Not many stores were open then. But my husband grew up in springfield and knew the mall in its hey day. We wanted to show the kids the mall before it officially closed. So sad.

[@DWFan10]

That is the same candy that was there in the 1990's. Same flavors for sure, but by business I would say it was the same exact candies.

[@cliffsta87337]

Definitely a pacsun at 5:00 I love spotting them in abandoned or dead malls. Miss the good ole days of working for pacsun 2010-2014. Not in this mall but at a couple other malls.

[@jf275]

I used to walk around the mall almost daily as a teen and it was packed, box retail stores don't work anymore with online sales, places like this need to go completely into entertainment activities, it could still be extremely profitable if ran correctly.

[@schaumburgviking2723]

GNC still open!!

[@branuminator]

In the late 90's I worked in the Wendy's that was located down that spooky hallway by the entrance, it is sad to see it so empty.

[@BlueJay6441]

I just found this video. Thanks for mentioning the Wendy's, I had forgotten about it, but man, we sure went there a lot! The only one on the west side of Clark Co. for a while

[@JBlair-87]

I haven't been here in probably 12 + years....I grew up in Enon, Ohio right by here. I now live in Texas. I just wondered about the Upper Valley Mall and searched it on KZbin.....and damn, it's not 2005 anymore 😞

[@robynhaerr4600]

I also grew up in Enon. Although I’d argue by 2005 it had already begun to decline. Had it’s real peak in the. 80’s and early 90’s. Always was soooo excited to sing there with the school choir at Christmas.

[@thebobbyparkway1398]

Really great background music on this video, especially towards the end.

[@slackingpacking]

Thanks for documenting! I live very close to this mall and done few videos here too.

[@JBlair-87]

I grew up in Enon, this mall was the hangout spot back in the day... Lol. Crazy to see this now, I haven't been there in probably 12 years

[@codymiller182008]

Also you should visit the Richmond Square Mall in Richmond IN. It was damaged in a tornado in May of 2019. It’s still being repaired but it’s been dead long before that

[@codymiller182008]

It use to have a Sears, which is now a Sports store. Use to have a JC Penny. Had a Dillard’s but I don’t think it’s connected to the mall

[@kelly3014]

It looks a like the Great Lakes Mall before it’s first renovation. It’s a DeBartolo mall, too.

[@larrycollier9274]

Great memories brought back to me from watching your video! Thank you very much for sharing!

[@zeronoshoten4300]

The side hallway at the end of the video used to have a Wendy's that you could get to from inside and outside of the mall.

[@JBlair-87]

My dentists office was right across from that Wendy's lol. I remember being a kid and getting my teeth cleaned and then getting a Frosty afrerwards

[@justinmkoster]

Later the Wendy's was converted to a Readmore book store which sold books, magazines, games and pizza.

[@shoplifterfpd]

@@justinmkoster also was home to Wolf’s Lair Games, who were originally out on Burnett Rd in the center where the old Meijer was, and later on, downtown. I believe that late in the life of Readmore the couple that owned Wolf’s Lair took it over.

[@Aimercat]

OMG! I wanna do my own video now and talk about the events i did there & the stores that were there

[@nancydarling4918]

Gave this video a like. The commentary was very good. Thanks.

[@Westsoid2009]

8:36 Victoria's Secret closed just yesterday. The whole mall is a lost cause. Might as well bulldoze and return it to green space.

[@stephaniestoner7470]

That was "the place" to go in 1977 to make eye contact with teenage boys! I'm sad to see this. Good job documenting though.

[@12wingwfetech]

This is one seriously dead mall

[@JBlair-87]

This mall was the hangout spot back when I was in high school in early 2000's. I grew up 10 mins away from it.

[@space.tel-e-grams]

You think it's spooky being the only people in a mall during the day, try it in the middle of the night LOL

[@DoomieGruntVentures]

I have actually been in that situation before. Its a whole new level of spook.

[@ianmeadows537]

I worked in that mall few years ago and was there late and yeah it’s kinda spooky

[@jeremyburr3718]

I worked as a night shift janitor there as my first job at 18 years old in 2007. It was definitely surreal feeling walking around it for hours with the music playing.

[@MEXICANMOOSE1976]

Hmmm.. The Lazarus Company.. very ominous..The Lazarus Company opened a Hospital/Space Station in the EXACT center of the known Universe for terminally ill patients in Doctor Who's: Terminus!! An early 80s episode!! Highly interesting parallels at work there!!! 😊🔥🔥🔥

[@hillorisartin6129]

Simon is a sign of doom. They own Tuttle mall in Columbus and that one is starting to look like this.

[@makaylamae09]

Before corona, I heard they were gonna put a whole bunch of sports stuff in this mall.. I remember growing up, and everyone atleast wanted to come here and just walk around.. Miss those days

[@dondavis5633]

So sad...and creepy, too!

[@michaelhepp2154]

By the looks of the ceiling tile design before it was even mentioned this mall looks like it was constructed around the early 1970's

[@JBlair-87]

Spot on. 1971.

[@lisaknox4113]

I miss our old mall 🥺.

[@hdalerude]

Amazon is buying up malls and turning them into distribution centers. That would be a perfect use for the Upper Valley Mall. Plenty of space and more jobs for Springfield.

[@leedetrick8940]

Why not turn it into living quarters for the homeless and low income folks? There could be a general store for them to get food. Local churches could put their donations there.

[@WhittyPics]

I don't see anything in there other then the normal dead mall staples. GNC, B&BW and a couple of straggers

[@jeremyburr3718]

Epic Loot and Spencer's are the good stores there now.

[@codymiller182008]

There’s also an Upper Valley mall in Piqua Ohio. Only a few minutes from thus town

[@slackingpacking]

Miami Valley Centre Mall

[@leedetrick8940]

@@slackingpacking When I worked at Buckeye Insurance Group, I would go there on my lunch hour and shop; mostly at Elder Beerman. Is that mall still operating? And what about the small mall on the other side of Ash Street?

[@slackingpacking]

Lee Detrick the mall is still open but Sears and Elder Beerman is closed and JCP is closing.

[@justsomehipsterwithaniphon705]

I live 6 minutes away from this mall 💀

[@lisaknox7722]

I have to agree , the upper valley mall is a dead mall.💀 When the stores all went away and the restaurants Went away too.😢that was sad, especially when Simons mall took it over, they didn't take good care of it. And when they took out the fountain, that really was bad. Simons mall lead our mall into being in poor shape. And I'm truly disappointed.😢😢especially with how whoever got it tore it up.😢 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅 They tore the heart out of our mall .the one we all knew and loved.😢rip upper valley mall.😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@Benzona]

Any progress on the Rolling Acres Doom Project?

[@JenniferEverAfter]

Great video!

[@roymonday5088]

So there Sears is gone also?

[@17z483]

Koki: Dayton, Ohio 11/8/15

[@purifiedworks]

Looks like 2020 Covid Mall , , , Thank you Progress , , , lets all stay at home and do everything remotely on the computer , , , yea That is real progress . Maybe one day we can all just lay in bed and dream the perfect life !!

[@transitdude3352]

Sad.

[@kryli1409]

Hollywood nail is where my dad works lel

[@jcretailexplorations9562]

Their gonna tear this mall down and have it redeveloped

[@dk2614]

Wow that's sad

[@haramanggapuja]

Music is creepy.

[@michaelbaird7636]

Wanna see "creepy?" Go walk through the emergency exits! Those are creepy dude!

[@robynhaerr4600]

OMG. I had to do that with my Grandma when I was about 8. We were late getting back to the store where we parked and they’d already closed the gate. I was freaking out thinking for sure we were going to be stuck there all night when a worker opened a side door and led us through what seemed like a long dark tunnel to a kid. I’d watched tales from the dark side with the crypt keeper, I just knew that’s where we were going 😂. Was never so happy to see the outside and my parents.

[@markvolpe2305]

Man, my DiBartello dead mall (Eastern Hills Mall) is in better shape than this mall!

[@DoomieGruntVentures]

Talking about the one in Buffalo? Expect a video by yours truly on that one soon.

[@markvolpe2305]

@@DoomieGruntVentures yep that's the one! I was there yesterday