COOKEVILLE MALL - Cookeville, TN. What's in there?

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[@TheDuneDovah]

I live in Cookeville and I was not expecting to see this in my recommends lol. I drive by it almost everyday

[@rerod72]

ditto

[@zoe1513]

Same

[@matthewhelm5480]

Same😂

[@bobsakamoto1912]

Do you like living in Cookeville? Is it a safe place to raise a family? Any pros or cons you can think of would be appreciated we are considering moving there thanks!

[@steinravnik8692]

@@bobsakamoto1912 It's a very nice, safe area.

[@ericpigg6518]

Thanks for stopping by my city and checking this out!

[@jeee1074]

For a mall enthusiast, this is the best kinds of reuse we can hope for. This is pretty awesome.

[@tennesseestephani1353]

My Daughter works at Thrive. It’s her first job. I love telling her stories of Cookeville Mall’s glory days.

[@UniCommProductions]

That looks like such a fun place to have a first job

[@QuietJ0Y]

Thanks for visiting Tennessee. This is definitely Cookeville

[@UniCommProductions]

There's more coming--I visited a really lovely, off-the-beaten-path one right before I found myself in Cookeville.

[@327h7]

I used to go to this mall in 1978-79 when I was a student in TTU . I have so many good memories from there and I my sweetheart used to work in JCPenny ( she passed on a year ago ) and I tell you time flies and is a cruel mistress . In my age I am thinking to visit all the places I have been and have a trip in memory lane ! I will be singing and listening to the song … I will be seeing you in all the familiar places .,.,., Thank you for the tour and sorry for long comment .

[@UniCommProductions]

You never have to apologize on this channel for long personal stories about the malls I cover, I love reading every single one. Thank you for watching and telling your story!

[@rerod72]

I remeber the Sound Shop ( later a music store) on the right at 4:56 . The spot where the Time Freak is ,used to be the doorway for the Pirate's Cove arcade (later a build your own hamburger place). The next spot, below the Thrive banner, was a Service Merchandise store.

[@matthewhelm5480]

Flippin burgers?

[@rerod72]

@@matthewhelm5480 that's it! I couldn't remember the name to save my life

[@daviddaniel4297]

Anyone remember the cheese steak restaurant there. Those were tasty.

[@nicholasknowles7036]

Yes it did have a food court, when it had a flea market a few years ago the food court was popping they use to have concerts there every saturday.

[@notofthisworld5267]

That room with wooden door before you turn the corner use to be a Claire’s back in 1996. I remember going here, and honestly in the 90’s it was still booming. There was also a Cracker Barrel there. Malls are a thing of the past nowadays, as ppl have more options. Ty for the video

[@highabovetn]

There are home videos that a guy has uploaded of him and his friends going through this very mall in the late 80’s. It’s so great to watch

[@UniCommProductions]

I found that when I was researching these! It’s like stepping back in time and makes me wish I had a camcorder for some of my own mall shenanigans

[@30roundz]

I...like this place🤷‍♂️ it has a warmth and coziness that I find very inviting!

[@UniCommProductions]

Very much!

[@MichaelAussie05]

I loved this short video. Thanks Kristin. I really like the reuse of this space. There may be hope for other dead malls. Cheers.

[@JazzyBabe56]

that was a cute little mall story....nice a few of these places still exist...thanx for the tour! ♥

[@fisitron7256]

I didn’t even know this place was still around! I figured it disappeared off the face of the earth forever ago. I’m glad to see it actually functioning though. And holy shit, they tore out the carpeting that was there when I first heard about it. That said, awesome vid!

[@mcpivSC]

Spent many paychecks in the Sound Shop that was in that mall back in the late 80's early 90's.

[@davidewald7338]

Thanks very much. The place looks in good shape ready for reuse

[@WhittyPics]

You sure have a soothing voice. You could be a great radio announcer.

[@815scorpius7]

Crackle Barrell, Fun Tunnel, K&K Toys (where i got my Nintendo) and a music store but can't remember the name. Those were there in the 80s

[@ngtflyer]

Nice! Cool re-use of the mall space, though few of those games would interest me. They need a good dozen or so pinballs, but that requires a good, skilled operator that actually cares about them. Excellent video, as always

[@ryanfrisby7389]

Wow, that’s actually a very cool use of space, great video!😸

[@UniCommProductions]

It's creative, and something I think is actually in demand--everyone wants to see kids getting some exercise, even better if they don't know they are.

[@ryanfrisby7389]

@@UniCommProductions definitely!

[@joeaverager]

Glad to see it is being used and kept up.

[@syxepop]

BUENAS TARDES, KRISTIN! 😀 Nice quaint little video for such a quaint little property. At least you got to properly document it. As I've stated in last night's Sal video: GO AHEAD AND SPONSOR YOUR LOCAL MALL!! It belong to us, the local community we live in...

[@UniCommProductions]

and the businesses in them are increasingly run by locals, which I don't think is a bad thing--I think the way to preserve a LOT of rural malls or malls in struggling areas is to make them a sort of "small business incubator".

[@syxepop]

@@UniCommProductions - yea, I think as well. Some mall operators (the former DDR, for example) think in bringing only the NATIONAL RETAILERS, but those would be the first to lay off at the first sign of trouble, while THE LOCAL "PYMES" (small and medium businesses) are in this for the long haul.

[@SynchroSk8]

Oh what a cool concept for a mall this size.Thank you for sharing it with us!

[@roadblock0210]

So strange to see a video about home. Hope you enjoyed your time in Cookeville. It's a nice town.

[@UniCommProductions]

It was!

[@dannymartin1114]

It warms my heart to know that tile is getting a second chance after being covered in gray carpet.

[@UniCommProductions]

Usually once the carpet is down it’s there forever unfortunately

[@MrButch-ls8vl]

That was a fun short video! I especially like the photography of the outside the first 25 seconds ... very professional!

[@UniCommProductions]

Thank you! Sometimes the video only needs to be that length.

[@dannyhassler9008]

Found you a good list of stores within the walls when opened. Bitters Tuxedo, the Sound Shop, Toy Time, Keys and Things, Linda's Lingerie, Lee's Lady Shop, the Place Ladies Shop, Hallmark, Dragon Gate, Merle Norman, Village Boutique, Service Merchandise, Shoe Sensation, Buster Brown, the Cookie Jar, the Smoke Shop, Dots California Concepts, Horner Rausch, a game arcade, a bank, and an upscale dress/bridal shop. There were no freestanding Kiosk. Downfall started in 1999 after the completion of a strip mall across town a couple of miles off the interstate. Not all the businesses moved some just lost their target shoppers due to aging and not being able to adjust to new consumer taste along with some corporate closures like Service Merchandise.

[@Crackrzz]

Ooh I know that first slowed own tune. That floor!

[@MarksKicksOnRoute66]

Watching late on a Route 66 venture. Nice short cruise! Hope your doing well!

[@UniCommProductions]

I am! I hope you are also well!

[@MarksKicksOnRoute66]

@@UniCommProductions I am thanks😃

[@zoe1513]

Didn’t it also used to be called sky high or something bc a mat wall thing fell on my brother 😂😂 we don’t trust them anymore 😅😅 I live in Cookeville Tennessee also

[@foxman362]

They need something like this in rockwood,tn.

[@dannyhassler9008]

J C Penney was at one time said to be paying $100 a year for their space. Peebles moved across town to be near the now defunct Sears location. The mall seemed to be doing well until Peebles left. The snack shop offerings were a cookie shop and a pretzel shop. It once housed a couple of haircut and beauty salons a bank an upscale women's formal dress shop a smoke shop record store.

[@UniCommProductions]

I think a lot of malls are desperate to throw perks at JCP to keep them from leaving-I’ve heard similar things about other locations, especially if they’re the only anchor left

[@dannyhassler9008]

@@UniCommProductions the rent figure was rumored long before the other anchor left. I think it was to attract Penney to the location since there was nothing at this exit at that time except an original Holiday Inn. Someone came up with an idea about 15 years ago to turn the vacant space into an indoor flea market but what they got was a nightmare of vendors with over priced dollar store merchandise bought in bulk from a warehouse in Memphis. Sadly a lot of the business that moved across town for greener pastures are now closed due to lack of foot traffic.

[@stuntmanmike5364]

The Sevan Podcast with Rich Froning brought me here.

[@UniCommProductions]

I need to look these folks up!

[@nomalizar]

what a vibe

[@blucklightfoxartinnovation9357]

great video uinicommporduction great work well done ;0)

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

Great idea for a entertainment complex! The company can open more inline spaces for other games as the business grows or certain experiences are closed for remodel. Hoping they succeed.

[@devinterry4889]

I like that game room with colorful lights

[@CaptWirg]

That... that is an awesome reuse of a mall.

[@UniCommProductions]

I know right? I just thought it was such a fun idea.

[@NeonVice1983]

I miss the retro arcades. :( I memorized the patterns for Pac-Man! I'm a huge retro gaming geek. XD

[@angelm2655]

This is neat. I hope it's doing good.

[@UniCommProductions]

They were hosting a birthday party in one of the obstacle course rooms while I was there so it seems to be going well

[@karlbrito7567]

I live in cookeville I remember growing up going there.

[@androidgaming404yt]

Ah my old hometown that i was born in, great memories

[@funecheeseofficial3576]

Woah! I gotta check this place out now I live bout an hour from this place so i may make a video here soon

[@ryoung6725]

This makes me sad, and is happening all over our country. Malls is where most of us hung out as kids growing up. Sad.

[@UniCommProductions]

It really is. I dont know when the change happened that any time teenagers are seen outside their house its a cause for concern. There was a time when it was the norm for 14-15 year olds to get dropped off at the mall for hours and now almost every mall has a policy against that. Where are they supposed to go?

[@billl1127]

Nice job. You have a very nice soothing voice and delivery. Hope your health is improving.

[@snakeboren4814]

KRIIISSSTTTTEEENNNN!!¡!!!!!!!

[@UniCommProductions]

Snaaaaaake!

[@PatrickMcCardell]

Orlando’s festival bay mall across from the International premium outlets that Mall got converted into dazerland bass pro blocked off the Mall access keeping A few remaining stores as well as keep in the movie theater and trampoline park but then adding go kart tracks and other cool attractions. And it look like they were still adding other things to it.

[@UniCommProductions]

I'm kind of disappointed I missed getting to film that one before they changed it up, but if I ever make it down to Florida I still should check that out

[@beastabuelos6421]

I live here and the place I work has a picture in the break room from what seems to be the 90's of a skateboard competition(?) happening in front of the peebles. I can take a picture of it for you if you'd like.

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

Some Kim Carnes jammin! Very confident that song would be a hit if it was released in any decade.

[@stevexray6253]

It was worth the stop. 😀

[@UniCommProductions]

It’s always nice to have a win on these trips!

[@InformationUnavailable]

Neat

[@kingcookie568]

I live in Cookeville TN

[@markstrouse3101]

Kristen your videos are gggrrreeat

[@WaLoliiiu]

I wish I got to go in there.

[@freedombass2000]

There is video from 1989 show this mall i hope you read this comment

[@UniCommProductions]

I found it shortly after I finished this video thanks to another commenter like you! (Thank you for sharing!...Sometimes I can't respond to every one but I do read every single one!)

[@mst3kanita]

i'm amazed this place survived covid

[@UniCommProductions]

I think it’s a fairly new business that has opened since the lockdowns!

[@yesitsharold]

What do you use to record?

[@UniCommProductions]

DJI Pocket 2, iPhone 11 Pro Max, Sony a6500. Most of this was shot on the Pocket 2.

[@travissmith7753]

That was a fountain not a planter.

[@UniCommProductions]

Ah, even more interesting.

[@lunytunez3634]

That's not a mall it's a giant game room

[@UniCommProductions]

Well…yes. It used to be a mall and this is what they’re using it for now.

[@markrush5013]

still no one there looks like...even back in the glory days 30 years ago the cookeville mall wasnt that great compared to real malls. it became a flea market and junk store haven for a few years after the normal businesses left. l bought a few cds from a store next to jc Penney but that was about it. the arcade used to have a creepy dude who was a bit too eager to grab your hands and show you how to play the various games.

[@JimbobZ17]

This was a great mall pre1999.Just like the entire town. Went to 💩