CONCORD MALL SURVIVED ANOTHER CHRISTMAS

[@terrihaleyssugarshack]

I sang numerous times in Concord Mall, in front of Bocov's as a duet and also in front of Sears with my school choir and also worked at the Woolworth's diner in the 80'S. This made me homesick.

[@terrytorbert8357]

Being a life long Delaware resident I remember when the Concord Mall was the ONLY mall in northern Delaware. It used to be the place to meet on weekends nights. At Christmas time it was impossible to find a place to park and the people inside were shoulder to shoulder. But that was long ago. The beginning of the end for the Concord Mall was the opening of the Christiana Mall. Pulled away all of the northern Delaware crowds with new, fancy stores, movie theater, and even a bar. (Duc’s Pub). Sad to see how empty the mall is. Lots of good memories there.

[@hiflyer000]

I worked at Woolworth's here when I was in high school in the late 90's, the the Strawbridge & Clothier (now Macy's) in college. I remember Christmas season you couldn't find anywhere to park there so you had to park in another lot down the street and walk there. How times have changed. Woolworth's was especially notable because we had zero security in the place so you could steal all you wanted and never get caught. The cameras weren't even hooked up and the metal detector out front didn't work. I used to steal batteries like crazy and sell them at school because everyone used a TI-82 at the time and they chewed through batteries.

[@mitchellcrane9809]

I have gone to this mall for fifty years,since I was a child. Just went there after not being there for a few years and it is sad to see what has happened. More stores have closed since this video was shot. Many of the remaining stores have few if any customers. . I feel bad about the lost business and lost jobs. It must be horribly demoralizing to work in a store with hardly any customers knowing the end of their job is probably near.

[@sbake388]

Should have eaten at Cafe Riveria down by the Sears end. Excellent Italian food. Seating & bar in the back. Never had a bad meal.

[@evancortez2]

Well, even a broken clock is correct twice a day

[@chriscg9176]

“Get your eyebrows done here” shows eye lashes 😂😂

[@joeybassbass]

I grew up playing video games in the Space Port arcade in this mall in the 80's/90's. Also, we pronounce it KONkerd, instead of KonKORD

[@richardgazinia5482]

Growing up in Southern Chester County (Kennett Square) this was the mall of my childhood and teenage years. Somewhere in the old photos are pictures of me with Santa at this mall and then 10 years later there are pictures of my daughter with Santa from the Concord Mall. So many memories; Eating with my mom at the Woolworth's lunch counter; One of my first dates was at Concord Mall. She was more interested in the puppies at the pet store than me. The pet store was down near what became Sears. Sears was a store called Almart, not Walmart, but Almart. The only two Almart stores that I recall were at Concord Mall and all the way across the other side of Wilmington on the Kirkwood Highway. Met Dad there after work to help pick out Mom's stocking gifts for Christmas, he bought her Jean Nate perfume for at least 20 years. Hanging with my buddies and going to Space Port and playing Q-Bert and Dragon's Lair. I bought my first computer at Radio Shack in the mall. What is now Boscovs was Pomeroys, another Pennsylvania-based department store. Strawbridges I think was built in the late 1980s and was an addition to the mall. Bought my first black light poster at Spencers. There used to be a great Philly Sports memorabilia store there about 10 - 15 years ago that looks like it's gone. I think it was called Brandywine Collectibles. Christiana Mall gets more people because it's right off I-95. Concord Mall vs Christiana Mall was the big debate for my friends and me back in the early 80s but I always preferred the Concord Mall. Thanks for taking the time to visit tax-free Delaware. My family and I never bought anything over 50 bucks in PA (other than a car) when we were less than 30 minutes from any store in Northern Delaware.

[@1972CB350]

As a kid, the Almart was always a great place you'd hope to go to get one of their soft pretzels in the little snack area within the front entrance. The sit-down cafeteria style restaurant attached to Woolworth's was also the best. We'd go there for their all-you-can-eat Friday's with a choice of baked ham or fish and chips. Herman's Sporting Goods was a favorite for everything sports. We'd run into Hickory Farms for free samples before heading back over to Spencers, the Space Port arcade, or the pet store to view the puppies. I also remember the dive snack bar near what's now the mall entrance to Macy's where you could get a cheap hot roast beef sandwich and fries for $1.50.

[@wsmith4]

Kennett Square native here too! Still there, in fact. This mall and Prices Corner were the only places my parents ever shopped, other than Jamesway right in Kennett. I was born in 1978, so I don't remember Almart. My earliest memories of the mall were when Boscov's was there and I think Bradlee's was at the other end, replaced by Sears in the very late 80's or early 90's. I miss the old mall, so many great stores. I loved Kay Bee Toys, Sam Goody, Wall to Wall Sound & Video, Radio Shack, Space Port, Spencer's, Friendly's, Woolworth's... the list goes on and on. One of my favorite memories of that mall is a restaurant I can't remember the name of. It was basically just quick snack-type foods, as far as I can remember, like hot dogs and soft pretzels... I just have a flash of a memory of being there. It was around where Chick-Fil-A is now, I think. I sure wish I could remember. I've often looked for archive photos of the mall from the 80's or lists of stores that used to occupy it but have never had any luck. Maybe someday. I fear this mall won't make it another year. Although it's a shell of its former self, I'd still hate to see it go.

[@richardgazinia5482]

@@wsmith4 I remember those food vendors. I'm not sure if they were connected and run by the Mall or were separately owned. I think there was a slushy machine that ran continually, or maybe it was like lemonade. It was just past Space Port and before you turned right onto the main stretch of the mall. Didn't that area become a sort of "food court" in the 1990s? I don't think I ever ate at Concord Mall living only 20 minutes (try to make it from Kennett to Concord Mall in 20 minutes now, good luck) away. So my parents drilled into us that we had food at home, etc. When I started to drive in 1981 I would go towards Fairfax and eat at Taco Bell or Arbys. Chik-Fil-A didn't go into Concord Mall until after I left for college in 1984. I miss the old Concord Mall. Do you remember the movie theater where BestBuy is now.

[@Hikneehole]

Woolworth's used to have a gun section in the back, I remember buying a used M1 Grand for $200 back in the mid 80s.

[@ronjay1209]

Christiana Mall is thriving.. They have NYC tourist visiting weekly..

[@richardgazinia5482]

Christiana is right off I-95. Plus it's after 295 merges back with I-95 so no matter which way you travel from NYC you have to go past it. Doesn't hurt that the way to the Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia beaches runs right past it also.

[@ronjay1209]

@@richardgazinia5482 The Mall needs and IKEA and it will be complete.

[@ericsmith4813]

Fun fact ....there is an old Burger King that was closed in the late 90s that the mall just walled over and the full restaurant is still intact and frozen in the 90s decor .....its like mid mall.

[@rece5232]

That’s so dope I wish it was some way to see it

[@MIKEYPOOHBEARJACKSON]

I went there to look for it. Cause my mom wanted to visit her old office place and show me around my childhood years

[@Hikneehole]

Used to be an ice cream stand on the right before the mall was built by the Sears end.

[@michaelaugustine6271]

I remember Almart and Pomeroys and the Pathmark.

[@1972CB350]

I live near this mall, and it still does reasonably well despite stores having lease issues (high costs) with management for decades. The anchor stores, Macy's and Boscov's, are well run and great to have close by. The Chick-fil-A within the north end is also awesome. I'll go into the mall just for this rather than go to any of the standalone locations that are always swamped with people or have cars wrapped around the restaurant for the drive-thru. Long Live Concord Mall!

[@Radkin3548]

The Christian’s Mall is always packed anymore. I try to avoid that area around Christmas time. Lol. Love shopping at the Boscov’s in Christiana near the Christiana mall though. So sad how little is in the Concord mall. It’s been about a year or two since I’ve visited there but I thought it was cool the FYE was still there. Kind of nostalgic.

[@supershoe3643]

Do a tour of. Country junction in Leighton pa

[@theslag66]

I went to college in the mid 80s next to that mall. Brandywine college. Now it’s widener university law school.

[@heathermanning5368]

I haven't been to this mall in ages! Have a Happy New Year!

[@daveassanowicz186]

I worked at the Auntie Anne's at Neshaminy Mall for 10 days, got my first check, and found out it was under the table and quit. Tried to get a job at the Boscov's candy counter

[@chm9935]

Deptford mall i think still has an info desk by boscov's on the 2nd floor staffed part time

[@joangravel2436]

Thanks for the video I enjoyed watching

[@FranklinColinco]

We definitely need a Boscov‘s here in the southeast Virginia/North Carolina area lol happy new year Philly captain!

[@Hikneehole]

Anyone remember the fountain in front of Woolworth's before the first extension to the mall was built?

[@bob4364]

Hey PHILLY CAPTAIN, great video doing the Concord Mall in tax free Del...Good luck moving your CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS upstairs in your home..New Year's coming .TOODLES..

[@wolfy1987]

They've been trying things to keep the mall going. Used to be another mall called Tristate, and when it was announced that mall would be closing the manager of Concord went and poached some of the few remaining businesses. Apparently got 6 to move to Concord, which is good. Though how they can raise rents and attract new businesses I'll never understand. I'd be lowering my rents.

[@sheila182]

Love the mall videos. Not sure if this is too far for you, but the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing, NJ is pretty dead. A lot of closed stores and hardly anyone shopping.

[@BirdFoodIsMyThing]

I remember going to this mall several times in like 2017, 2018, and or 2019; at the time almost all of the stores there were brand names; and not local shops in what used to be a Hallmark or a Payless. Although there are still brand name stores like Rue 21, the area where Sears is almost has none remaining. Quite said In my Opinion.

[@timmyclawmachine1209]

Hey Philly captain. Can you come to the reading fighting Phil’s in 2024

[@DAS-nh5kr]

Man seeing that shit is sad. My grandparents lived around the block from there. So they would always take us to that mall in the 90s early 2000s. Mainly to the kb toys but that place is long gone. I see That chinese joint still there tho haha

[@Mat-tg4fk]

Anyone know what ever happened to the burger king that was left alone since the 80s?

[@johnsonbrandon807]

When did the sears close down?

[@1972CB350]

April 2020. Shutdown was planned and started prior to pandemic. The store actually was well run and always well-stocked for years (great hardware, housewares, appliances), and its closing had more to do with Sears failing overall vs. the store not doing well.

[@johnsonbrandon807]

@@1972CB350 My sears close down and you can’t tell that was even here I was Surprised to see the sign still around

[@JewishKeto]

It’s sad seeing these malls dying…

[@DanaBrady-h9m]

Delaware, I believe Biden helped build the Concord Mall when he was a construction foreman

[@jeremyud]

Based on how badly Covid hit this mall, I'm shocked it's still going now. Its still emptying out, but at slower pace.

[@timfrancis6774]

captain, i had a similar interview with coke going to be a merchandiser. the interviewer was pissed cause she had to drive from a hour away to the local warehouse in a snowstorm. she was bitching before the interview about me, was like i heard all about you complaining about being here. didnt get job