Crystal City Underground | Liminal Spaces & Stale Retail Directly Under Amazon.com HQ2 | ExLog 75

[@sal]

Happy Halloween, everyone! Do you have any spooky liminal spaces around you? Let me know if you want to book the fake octopus for your next birthday party, I get a discount.

[@unknownuser..._...]

Awww dang missed the premiere I’ve been watching you videos they are so great I hope me and you could do a collab you deserve 100k subs!

[@Mom2my4blessings]

😂that movie came out the year my mom was born.

[@Decade8Media]

Sal, my mom just passed a few days ago. Much, much too young. As a kid, I spent countless hours with her traversing the many amazing malls and department stores that existed back in the day here in Calgary. Some of my best memories of her are of time we spent in these places. These videos bring to mind those awesome, magical retail wonders and remind me of her.

[@sal]

Friend, I’m so incredibly sorry for your loss. I’m sending you positive energy and kindness through the ether.

[@Decade8Media]

@@sal Thanks so much.

[@annettejordan436]

❤️

[@pilotgrrl1]

Please accept my condolences.

[@daphne4983]

My condolences!

[@LeahLeah222]

I was in a long distance relationship with someone who lived in Richmond, Va. Spent many weekends in the Marriott above this mall. We also visited the Edgar Allen Poe Museum in Richmond, Va. So you reading this poem is like serendipitous for me.

[@LeahLeah222]

I remember loving staying here because it was so quiet on the weekends, we could go downstairs and it was so dead, it was like having the whole Crystal City to ourselves.

[@sal]

It seems that providence compelled me to record the Raven, and for you to watch this video. Thanks for coming by :)

[@LeahLeah222]

@@sal 🎶Thank U Providence🎶 ( sund in the tune of Alanis Morissette, Thank U)

[@PaperMario64]

Thank you for making this video. I worked in Crystal City with my sister for a few years during the late 90s. I lived with her and her shift started really early. We would get there around 6:00 am and walk the tunnels for exercise. Back then there wasn’t many extensive maps, so we would stumble upon new tunnels and shops all the time. It was great. I still dream of exploring those corridors. Back then, we had a small Safeway and could grab groceries at lunch. We also had a bookstore to hang out in and a comic book shop. Crystal City shops had everything you could possibly need. The old movie “Logan’s Run” reminds me of Crystal City. Also, if you watch any Backrooms videos, they remind me of Crystal City as well. I love how different the sections are. It wasn’t until after I changed jobs that I found out there is a stairway that leads to a little above ground park.

[@kamaltv6048]

So I used to frequently walk around the Crystal City Underground when I lived in the area from 2015 to 2017. It was also the place that I would go through whenever I would hit a rough patch. There's just a vibe there that I can't put my finger on, that puts me at ease. Funny story - one time I walked past "Relaxation Station" (25:17) at around 8:30 PM and heard what I can best describe as a "slapping" sound. I just kept walking at a faster pace. Excellent job on catching the essence of the Crystal City Underground!

[@adventureswithjose9739]

Loving those Terazzo floors. That's a very mid-century aesthetic. The ceramic tiles scream 90s.

[@aca2983]

I have walked this place from end to end many times, and I still find corners I hadn't seen before. As an urban planner, it fascinates me endlessly, and its a snapshot of a very specific place, time, economy, etc. It's changing already, so parts of it are going away. At the Morton's, you used to be able to go left and there was a Starbucks on that corner, more stores, a FedEx Kinko's, and a Hamburger Hamlet restaurant. I thought that access farther north was blocked, but you can go around another way following the signs towards the Earth Treks place. (BTW, Earth Treks used to be Sport & Health gym, and I had a corporate membership back in the mid-90's, which is how I first discovered CC). The part which is blocked is where the Alamo theater will be I think. There used to be 1, maybe 2 places where there were "habitrail" overpasses that crossed Crystal Drive, but I think they came down in the 90's. There used to be an Apple store, in the late 80's/early 90's before Apple even had their own stores. It was an independent store specializing in Apple computers, printers, repairs. Had cool neon lighting. "The Landing" had tables & chairs but these were removed b/c covid when you were there, but they are back now. There is always a contingent of nerds there practically 24/7 playing board games and doing nerd stuff. One of the awesome highlights you missed is some mixed-media painted windows in the corridors around Synetic Theater. They are exterior scenes of buildings around Crystal City in the glorious 70's/80's heyday. A very North Korea kind of vibe. The ones nearest the theater are covered over with vinyl graphics for the theater, but there are some close by- I don't think you went down those halls or you would certainly have shown them. To me, those windows are like the sacred spiritual center of the underground. I always go see them when I am there, and when they go away to me that will be the final end of the "old" Crystal City.

[@aLittleBitter.]

Sure brings back a ton of great memories. I was stationed at Fort Myer in the early to mid 90's. This place was so alive & unique when I was there.

[@districtline]

I worked at the KB Crystal City Twin Cinemas in 1977. Distinctly remember the "clack-clack" of my heels down those long, spooky hallways that seemed to go nowhere. Just when you thought you were lost, a massive space would open up. No wonder the theatre closed.

[@Rogue849]

After about a year of binge watching Retail Archaeology, Dan Bell and The proper people, I was looking for another mall related channel. After watching a few vids here and there, I'm adding your channel to my list of dead mall stuff. You have another faithful viewer here!

[@sal]

Hey, thanks! Tons more on the way!

[@alimaleki217]

Sal, this really brings back memories! Crystal City Mall was one of the first malls I visited after moving to VA 30 years ago. Unlike other area malls I never had a reason to go back. It seemed much smaller then and not particularly nice!

[@KeithCindyPanama]

I used to work at the Taylor BLDG from 2003- 2009 and Crystal Mall was the walking way used to get to work they had a Safeway and it was interesting to see shoppers in pajamas since the apartment’s were across from it

[@RhondaO]

Your videos are so soothing with nostalgia...I absolutely love to sit quietly while watching and feel the sense of calm wash over me. Thank you for sharing and inviting us in.

[@sal]

It’s my pleasure, Rhonda.

[@JJ-wk5wy]

I feel the same way, Rhonda. The old commercial clips from the 80"s and 90's, make me feel so nostalgic too.

[@gobbletegook]

In happier times, when I could afford to travel to WASHINTON, D.C., I was limited in my exploration of the city and landmarks to walking, and to using the METRO (which I thought was one of greatest mass transit systems there ever was). It was fast, efficient, and I tried to hit as many stops as I could and walk around the neighborhoods. Between Crystal City and Pentagon City, I used to think that they had the best food courts around. Although I never really bought things, other than clothes, (HARD TO CARRY OTHERWISE) I really enjoyed these places. Hardly ever did you see an empty store front (it was the mid 80's to 2000 or so). I used to wonder how they kept all of that glass in the skylights so clean...when they cared about it.

[@Rickdotfeltdotcom]

That Halloween store is there year round if I recall correctly. Haven't lived there in over a year but it was always there. The Crystal Drive facing portion at the north end of the mall is being repositioned to have an Alamo Cinema Drafthouse as well as a 10,000 foot grocery store shell. There used to be a Safeway in there way back when right around the area 7:30 in, but it's been gone for over 15 years.

[@kimmers220]

Perfect spooky underground exploration of days gone by. The elevator alone was the creepiest thing ever. Amazing as usual!

[@UncommonElevators]

I went there a week ago. There are more people walking through now but not like before. Rite aid and market basket have closed permanently. However, a CVS and Amazon Fresh recently opened down the street, so not a huge loss. Both of these stores, along with the alamo cinema, opened in areas that used be part of the mall. The neon arch on the thumbnail is gone and now there’s just a boring white wall. Surprisingly, the sketchy massage shop reopened and actually has some clients! JBG Smith (the property owner) plans to add some new retail and a new metro entrance at the corner of 18th st and crystal drive. It seems like they are trying to gradually replace the indoor mall with shops that face out towards the street.

[@andrewb4584]

I brought a Tone-Loc CD in those shops. In 1988 (maybe 1989.) On a middle school band trip. I remember thinking how cool it was to have an underground mall, under offices, with a subway attached! I had a lot of friends live in Crystal City post college, while moving to DC. It was in OK shape in the late 90s/early 00s. Time has not been kind.

[@FIXTREME]

Man, Crystal City! So in case y'all didn't know, Arlington is kind of *the* city for Bolivian-Americans. My dad met my stepmother there, and we would drive down from New England to stay in that Econo Lodge next to 395 and hang out in Arlington. I was obsessed with Crystal City as a kid, fascinated by the sight of it... I can't believe I forgot about the place 😯😅

[@robertschaefer3223]

There is another Crystal City Underground in Crystal City Missouri. It's an old underground mine that's used for different things.

[@JimmyEatsFish]

Your reading of the Raven whilst exploring the crystal city shops was a very relaxing combination. Cheers.

[@sal]

Thanks for watching, James!

[@W0lfB0y1981]

Interesting to see how much this mall has changed over time. Strangely this mall is one of my earliest memories. My parents would often take weekend work "vacations" for seminars/meetings and stay at the Crystal City Marriott often. The mall had such a dark feeling with red brick flooring, exposed black ceiling and tight hallways compared to the local mall I was use to going to. I swear "the landing" area you passed by was a food court in the 80s. There was an arcade on the corner not far from it where I would blow through my allowance. So long ago but I still remember it so well. This place had such a vibe, and it was so busy that's hard to forget. Thank you for uploading this, I haven't seen this mall in about 30 years now. This was a nice treat to see how it's been updated (for the worse) and it's current condition.

[@sal]

Thanks for watching!

[@PaperMario64]

You’re right. It was a food court, at least up until 2010 or so. I worked in CC in the late 90s and my husband did until recently.

[@ashextraordinaire]

This mall actually plays a part in one of my favorite memories with my best friend. Oddly, I've never actually been in the bright part of the mall, only the darker metro-stop part. (And that Market Basket is EXCELLENT.)

[@SketchWithSamm]

My mother passed away a few months ago. It’s been a really tough few months for me mentally. A month or so ago I went and saw some friends upstate, and the drive made me think of her because there was no traffic and there was a lot of nice foliage on the trees, both of which she would have loved. That along with seeing my friends helped me feel a lot better. Your story about meeting your friends in this area reminded me about the comfort brought by people we care about. It can be easy to forget about that in times like this. Thank you for that.

[@sal]

I’m so sorry for you loss, friend. I promise to always try being a bright spot in your life.

[@100Sudsy]

Excellent, Sal!! I've been taking a break from the 'Net and been busy busting out some tunes to distract from the COVID mess, so missed your last 3 or 4 Logs. Loved Crystal City. "The Raven" was a great touch . . . brought the audience on an intellectual journey as well. And . . . how cool is the connection between Smith and your degree and Master's Recital! You can't buy that kind of confluence . . . the junction of two rivers, indeed. Thanks for making these as always, my friend. They really help keep us grounded in difficult times. Keep safe, above all.

[@sal]

Hey welcome back!!

[@100Sudsy]

@@sal Glad to be back! The cabin fever was getting to me (BC, Canada just went back to Phase 2 or whatever due to the boneheads not playing by the rules). But, nothing cures like immersing in music for a while and topping it off with some ExLogs :). BTW--I have to ask, was the Scott S. in the end credits moi? Just wondering. I'm not an explorer or spelunker (well, I may have spelunked while on the road at some long-forgotten time ;) ), but you know how much I dig the channel and spread the word. Be safe, Sal . . . we all gotta make it through 'til the spring & beyond so the music can flow once again. Cheers! On to Beltway and Clearview now! Looks like I missed The Mall In Columbia too . . . more delights await.

[@sal]

Probably just a small world, friend. I’ve got lots more adventures to take you on, so stay tuned and be safe up there!!

[@100Sudsy]

@@sal Will do. Looking forward to the Louisiana adventure! Had a quick peek . . . the Lobster guy kills me :). And thanks for the intro footage from 2018 and the airplane. That was back before people had to wear masks, fer cryin' out loud!

[@elizam2119]

Worked here in 1984, and at 14.34 at the end of the hall (the turquoise thingy) was my store, B Dalton Bookseller. We had an amazing assistant manager who read an early printing of Clancy's Hunt for Red October. The Navy Annex had offices above us and at lunchtime staff came down to shop. Our clever man introduced the novel to them, then word of mouth, and we could not keep up with demand. A best seller was born.

[@elizam2119]

Further in , our store was at 32.13. This is so sad.

[@Talendale]

13:47 - The Commuter Store on the right is a transit shop/information desk- much like the rest of the transit system, it's suffered considerably with the pandemic as ridership has dropped to a quarter or so of what it was pre-pandemic (as of 2022, it was worse in late 2020). Still, much of what remains (or is being rebuilt around the hope that Amazon will revive interest in retail space) sleeps down there in the Underground, waiting for life to return to "normal". Will it? It's 2022, we're still in limbo.

[@meepthirteen]

This video has everything that is good. Bela Lugosi, the Raven recital, cavernous deserted mall, the Overlook references, pretty decorations, liminal space explanation! Thanks again 😍

[@sal]

Thanks so much for the kind words :)

[@meepthirteen]

@@sal 🖤

[@jacka.6866]

After about 10-ish episodes of hearing you tell me to subscribe, I finally gave in. Well earned though!

[@sal]

YES! Welcome aboard.

[@kate4508]

There was an AWESOME Comic Shop in there I stopped by after a Gloria Estefan Concert in 1989 I lived in Richmond Va.

[@bladerunner752]

Back in 1993 and 94, I was a senior in high school and was NOT having the time of my life. I would go to the local cemetery on the edge of town and walk the grounds were only birds songs was the only noise apart from the trees whispering in the breeze. Always worked for me. Seems morbid but it was anything buy morbid. Beautiful green grass, lush trees and evergreens. In a place of death there was so much peace and beauty.

[@minttulatte]

The Raven is one of the creepiest poems I've ever heard. Gives me chills every time😱

[@sal]

It’s wonderfully dark

[@yunoyukki7344]

when you read it... you are experience what a man on a brink of sanity loss felt like..

[@sal]

Accurate.

[@techhelpportal7778]

Edgar allen poe

[@danielmonahan6195]

I have found myself sitting in that area near the Market Basket and GNC, drinking coffee bought from the Dunkin Donuts while nervously killing time before job interviews/before reporting for the first day at a new job. For some reason, I have done this at this specific spot several times...without intending to in advance. Just seeing this space brings up that nervous feeling in my stomach again...but thanks.

[@sal]

Did you get the job?

[@danielmonahan6195]

Once yes, once no. I'm still working in the job that I did get 🙂

[@BeruSol22]

Whoa! Great video-the interweaving of Poe's The Raven set the perfect tone. Thanks for the discussion of liminal spaces as well-I have experienced that eerie feeling in empty public spaces, but didn't quite know what to call them.

[@yoyobass100]

This was the very first underground city I ever set foot in my life. On my last visit there a portion of it was closed due to construction of a new building. Also recently a pedestrian tunnel nearby was closed and demolished due to crime concerns and homeless people seeking shelter there.

[@yoyobass100]

There were also pedestrian bridges that connected to other buildings integral to the mall, but were torn down in the early-mid 2010s.

[@TheCubeTube]

18:26 DUDE I HAVE THAT DOORBELL! And idk what’s up with the Tetris music in the intro but I love it!

[@geekygirl2596]

Going through a hard time now. My job is saving me. I work retail at a goodwill. We aren't in a mall, but in an old downtown center where they are (rather sucessfully) trying to bring back window shopping. Most of the buildings are abandoned still, but there is a massive effort to bring retailers into those spaces. Mostly mom and pop shops. The mall across town isn't fairing as well. The owners want to turn it into a strip mall, but I doubt that would work considering a large percentage of the population in my area is elderly. No choice but to see now. Thankfully a mom and pop bakery seems to be bringing some life to that mall. I have fond memories of visiting it as a kid. Is small, but big at the same time.

[@rpimjada1549]

Yes when I was down in life and career I went to a mall I frequent as a young adult, unemployed back then, eager for what life will be. The mall calmed me. Moments later when I calmed down and cleared my mind, I silently cried. Thanks for your awesome videos. Was that The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe? Nice.

[@JeffDrennen]

I've ridden that creepy elevator quite a few times, back in the day. Those white halls with the neon lights were always pretty empty even back in the early 1990's. Thanks for the video Sal.

[@amanacatandhisdog8836]

I used to walk the sea wall in Galveston at night when troubled when I lived in Houston. It goes on for miles on the island. This reminds me of the pedestrian tunnels in Houston between office buildings downtown

[@radford2012804]

Every day that I drive past landmark I think of this channel for just a second.

[@ExtraSalt89]

Yep, you nailed it. Malls are a place of chaos and calm. You can feel among friends while just minding your own business in the food court. Great little escape while still being connected to the world when things are rough.

[@discoron77]

I've been able to visit here quite a few times over the past decade, as my brother lives close by. Even in that time I've seen things change. The last time I visited was January 2020. Hopefully I'll go again soon, but my brother will be leaving the area before year's end to escape Amazon's clutches of the area. So I might get just one more solid go of this place.

[@nordicdraw]

Happy All Hallows’ Sal. Loved your recitation of the Raven. It’s a favorite. This was such an interesting space, as always impeccable research. Great job, loved it

[@ElizabethJManoukian]

Your reading style and cadence remind me of Rod Serling. Really enjoyed the reading of The Raven over the mall footage. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🎃

[@00maytals]

That movie escalated quickly, from a rock rolling down a hill, octopus wrestling, to nuclear annihilation!

[@ItsSoDane]

Back in 2015 my grandmother died early in the morning on a saturday and I really didn't want company but my husband took me to the local mall and we ate some ice cream and people watched. Watching people is fun because some people find themselves so cool but they fail so hard and the results are hilarious. My grandmother may be gone but the little things are sometimes all you need at that exact moment in life.

[@00Mandy00]

My aunt was basically my grandmother. She’d take me to the mall to people watch. I miss those days.

[@lizconnollymusic]

Absolutely loved this. By far my fave mall. Thank you

[@pilotgrrl1]

The Halloween store was great! The rest of the mall looked like forlorn subway tunnels leading nowhere.

[@samhian1]

In the Army during 1999, I was stationed at FT Meade. I used to go to the Center at Glenn Bernie to walk around and shop for games and cloths. It calmed me down, especially after me and my Ex broke it off with each other during that holiday season. It was enjoyable to frequent, but now just a memory.

[@andresgc770]

Some of my friends from college lived next to that Buffalo Wild Wings after graduation, so I used to go to Crystal City often and walk the non-creepy side of the Underground to get to their place. It's crazy how DEAD it is now, compared even to 2013-2016, when I used to visit my friends (and it's not like it was booming back then, either). I was there back in June 2021, I wanna say, and it was a weird experience. Several sections of the Underground are closed for construction, including parts of the path from the Metro to 23rd St. Around where Synetic Theater is, you actually had to walk outside the mall in order to get back into it because of some of the closed areas. Not sure if it has anything to do with Amazon, though. PS: I once decided to explore the creepy side of the Underground and legitimately got lost. Never again!

[@ChristheShrinerdawg]

When I was in High School (Decatur High School, Federal Way, WA, Class of 2002), after school ended for the day, I would ride the city bus to work. I was working at a McDonald’s right across the street from SeaTac Mall (now known as the Commons at Federal Way). Even though the bus brought me within feet of the restaurant, I would get off at one end of the mall and walkthrough (because I still had an hour and half until I had to start work). I would go and hangout at the Cinnabon (enjoying a cinnamon roll) and play my Game Boy Color (Zelda mostly). That Cinnabon is no longer there, but at the time, I was not aware that THAT location was the very first Cinnabon in the World.

[@christinalillbellspark8284]

Yes I used to be in Bethesda Maryland but it brought me some sadness during a time so now I just go to Arlington Virginia which bring me a lot of joy and happiness and I really enjoyed looking at this video it makes me want to explore this area at some point.

[@christinalillbellspark8284]

And you are such a adventurous type of guy which I think your so good at and it is historic to look at this mall

[@sal]

Hey thanks so much for watching!!

[@suave-alpaca8412]

Great content Sal. I would.... surely get lost there. That elevator was surely creepy as hell and I love the shot at 28:44

[@lee4hmz]

I used to go through 1750 sometimes when going from the Crystal City Metro to the Crystal City VRE. The person I was commuting with back then didn't like Metro all that much and preferred to get on and off VRE at Crystal City, but I preferred Alexandria because it seemed like the walk was easier, and as this video noted, the Shops are *creepy*…even back in the 2000s, circa 2005, this place seemed like it was haunted.

[@TechnoColoredMuffins]

i had to go through here from the metro side to the mall side for a convention a few years ago. I feel like the haunted liminal vibes of the mall exemplify the city as a whole. the buildings have this 80s brutalist quality to them, and even though i was going to a large event there was virtually no one around.

[@sharichambers7333]

Indeed! The library became my safe place.

[@angeladelia7472]

Ed Wood. You just reminded me what a great movie it was.

[@sal]

An utterly fantastic movie.

[@lemapp]

When I was in college, I would make the 3 hour drive on Saturdays to Crystal City. Parking was free. The hallways were crowded. During Lunch, that spaced signed as 'The Landing' was a food court. The attached sit-down restaurant was Amelia's. The Metro station was the 7th busiest and the busiest with one entrance. The County provided outdoor entertainment in the park across from the Metro station. It's been like 10 years since I last visited. It was a blizzard that partially shut-down the area. The street level shops and restaurant were open, but even then, the underground was mostly closed and very little foot traffic. Never spent a lot of time in Crystal City, unless I wanted to explore. Usually, it was a convenient way to hop on the Metro with free parking.

[@Keliimaoli]

What an incredible and Dare I say, "unique" architecture. The first half of the mall looked like it was still in the early 90's with the grey tile along the Pillars, I couldn't helped but notice, of how much it reminded me of the architecture from the building in the Gremlins 2 movie. The 2nd half of that mall with black celling, and medieval fonts along the flange signs were just down right creepy. The Long corridors did have a Kubrick vibe to them.

[@fmcevoy1]

One sign of how old the Crystal Underground and the rest is the number of stairs, aka, not really accessible for those in wheelchairs. And I worked in Crystal City (or around it) for 40 years.

[@Drknnja]

Another cool video. Don't forget to lock the radar detector in the trunk while going through DC and VA.

[@sal]

Absolutely. She comes down as soon as I get into VA or DC.

[@techhelpportal7778]

@@sal or just hide it

[@radmom05]

I lived in metro DC in the late '80s. This place was something big back then.

[@rartolak]

Vinny from vinesauce mentioned your channel with a game that was in a mall last week.. Chat gave hearts :)

[@sal]

Hey that’s pretty cool!

[@mikebull7775]

I didn't even know there were payphones left in America, Uck😊, great video for Halloween!

[@Lloyd-Black]

This was a fantastic video. The length of the place is great. Your narration makes it fun. I'm actually into liminal spaces so this was a gem. By the way, I subscribed long ago. Keep up the great work.

[@sal]

You rock, Lloyd. Thanks so much for watching.

[@zjones9876]

This brought back some memories from before I got married. I lived and worked in Crystal City between 2001 (just after 9/11, got a really good deal on rent) and 2007. I didn't own a car and walked 5 minutes to work and there were days I never went outside. I rented a car if I needed one. It wasn't a lifestyle I would want if you had a family to raise but it worked for me at the time and there are days I miss it. .

[@Dr_Monitor]

Just recently finding out about your channel, and so far loving the content here. My go-to “rough patch” place to go is The Briar Shoppe in Houston, TX. I’ve been hanging out there since 2011. All the staff (current and former) know me on a first name basis, and I’m sometimes there often enough other patrons assume I’m an employee, not a regular customer.

[@west_nebraska_dude4527]

Thanks so much for taking us on this adventure. It truly is a creepy expanse of halls and tunnels.

[@Mom2my4blessings]

I am glad you did a video on this mall. I looked it up and apparently it closed this past October. I didn’t see anything about Amazon taking it over. It looked like a neat mall. It reminds me a bit of NYC in the subway stations where there were shops and places to eat.

[@shanehayes9349]

This reminds me of abandoned massive warehouses I've seen on military bases. Just wandering through the dark hallways everything is just empty and rundown. It's like something out of a zombie movie. Your videos remind me of the movie, 'Dawn of the Dead' when they were in the mall hiding out.

[@suchcone]

There's a rat running under the bench at 32:48 - extra spooky! What a great episode!

[@connerhannon]

This is my favorite youtube video of all time

[@SLone3251]

Great exploration and Halloween story. I've always envied these metro underground places on the East Coast. Dead or not, you can just envision the hustle and bustle of office folk and commuters day in and day out from the past and present.

[@ProfessorRetro1976]

There was a mall in milwaukee that I always loved going to as a kid and a teen when it was open that filled me with peace. The mall has been closed for years and it's fate is up in the air since the owner wants to try to redevelop the land but the city wants to just tear it down since it has become one of the cities biggest eye sores. If you havn't figured out what mall yet it was Northridge in Milwaukee Wisconsin . This mall is certanly different but sad as it looks like the beast that is killing it is above it.

[@NikoKourouklis]

Nice video Sal. I find it ironic that it’s underneath Amazon HQ2. I hope to go here someday, as this is the most unique mall I’ve ever seen.

[@QuietJ0Y]

Happy Halloween 👻. Love the spoken word poetry and sponsor!

[@AngloAm]

Just remember it as a way to stay out of the cold/heat between the Metro station and where I worked down at the Taylor Building at the south end of Crystal City.

[@nopenotgonna175]

My job relocated from Rosslyn to Crystal City in January 2020. I was so excited because Rosslyn had gotten so stale and I looked forward to all the things to explore in Crystal City. 🙄 That LA Moves store cracks me up. It used to be in Skyline Mall before it became a Target. I have never seen anyone in that store the entire time I knew it existed, in either location. I’d love to know what actually happens there.

[@Mom2my4blessings]

I looked it up. Apparently it’s a family owned business 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@nopenotgonna175]

@ Oh I’ll bet it is. “Why don’t you buy the wife a nice dress? Cash only.” 🤣

[@Idelia412]

This mall seems like a place you could get mugged.

[@alimaleki217]

There would have to be someone else there to mug him!

[@erichaas]

I was told a part of this mall was closed because it wasn't in compliance with the ADA, you could only reach some areas via stairs.

[@sal]

I believe it

[@michaelimbesi2314]

A lot of the abandoned stores were actually just closed for covid. Though I think the GNC is gone for good. They’ve put the furniture back in the landing now. And the store is called Total Party not Total Fright, and it’s a permanent fixture there. They do stuff for other seasons too, including Xmas, Mardi Gras, etc.

[@michaelimbesi2314]

The Market Basket seems to have also died. Although a surprising amount of stuff survived. I think the reason is that the rents are very cheap. I'm told that JBG Smith keeps the rents dirt cheap to keep tenants in the Underground, because they don't want it to get seedy.

[@kevinquist]

I still love edgar allen poe and the raven. thank you so much for the reading. amazing works.

[@kevinquist]

early 80's. my father had surgeries in Detroit. I was young and the surgery was in a area of the hospital I couldnt go. my mother took us to Trappers Alley. wow. i LOVED that place. i remember the red brick, with the green railings. glass roof. smell of cinnamon and My mom bought me some candy and a stuffed animal. it made me feel good. still have fond memories of that mall. the ONE or TWO times i had been there. (surgery was a failure. bad got worse and the absence of a relationship i had with that man got far worse.)

[@KeithCindyPanama]

The Fair Oaks mall in Fairfax VA seems very empty these days:

[@kuroneko2788]

I used to ride my bike as a teen to this mall as I lived a few blocks away towards the Regan Airport Area. I always liked being underground, especially if the weather outside was bad. You could lose your sense of time, not seeing the sun. I doubt anyone can afford to live in the area now with Amazon being there. Though it was unaffordable before that anyway... but believe it or not, working class families and military families could afford to live around Arlington even up into the 80s. At some point though, DC seemed to become a home for the mega rich. I think our house was built in the 1950s and I'm sure its worth a stupid amount now.

[@sports1st]

Used to hang out there back in the 80's, had good dance music. Good 'ol days

[@sal]

The place isn’t doing so hot.

[@larryhankin4981]

@@sal I went there a lot in the 80s and 90s.

[@sports1st]

Adding to this. Watching, brought back many memories. I used to work in Crystal City and remember walking in the mall. It's changed. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

[@Abigail_Wyatt]

It’s interesting to think Edgar wrote this about his wife who hadn’t quite died yet, she was laying in the other room Dying, and he wrote about how he was Going to feel. Love it too😏

[@seabrook1976]

30:08 I was literally thinking to myself how it looked like you were shooting a Kubrick movie when you said that. Spooky indeed.

[@sal]

Such a creepy place.

[@timwilliams5985]

C means construction on the elevator. it means it stays on the destination floor indefinitely. i also would not touch lol

[@crimsontopaz7198]

My "feel good" spot when I was a teen/young adult was the Lincoln Mall in the Chicago area. When we moved, it was the Northland Mall (now long gone) in Columbus, Ohio.

[@augiemattheiss]

Excellent videography .... I love malls, depressing that they are becoming obsolete but Amazon has redefined convenience and value in retail. I honestly feel sorry for Amazon's competitors. I grew up with indoor mall development in the suburbs of Baltimore, Harundale Mall, Glen Burnie, that mostly destroyed large downtown department store shopping starting in 1958.

[@sal]

Thanks so much for the kind words!

[@joeloliver7599]

Did everyone miss the RAT running under the bench @ 32:49 ????

[@sal]

Good eye!!

[@joeloliver7599]

@@sal I see I'm not the first poster on this... Rats..! :) :) Thanks for all you do! Love the show.

[@foodandhomeprep8425]

Been there many times in the 90s.

[@lukeyznaga7627]

I thought Crystal City was still functional? I saw it last when I was visiting that part of DC about 20 years ago. Isn't there still a train station that goes to "Crystal City"?

[@swampfoxIX]

Yes, it is still functional. I live here. And Amazon is slowly taking over. However due to the pandemic, I would say a good 70% of the people who have offices here are Federal government employees who are working from home, and therefore foot traffic is definitely not what it used to be. And a good 1/4 of the shops have shut down within the past 2 years.

[@lukeyznaga7627]

@@swampfoxIX damn, thats a bummer. I used to like the shops there a lot. But that was decades ago. amazon, huh? Phooey! With Fed Govtm workers, expensive shops will soon set up. Fed workers make better money than you or I.

[@swampfoxIX]

@@lukeyznaga7627 Well, I'm a Federal employee and I'm definitely not rich. lol. I'd earn more in the private sector, actually.

[@mikez1701e]

Truly professional production thanks for your videos friend

[@sal]

Thanks so much, Michael! Lots of work go into these episodes. Your words mean a ton to me.

[@MrPeteykins]

I'm super curious if the new Amazon facility in Crystal City is going to revive this place? Seems like a risky opportunity. I was once quoted in the Washington Post as calling Crystal City a "Ballardian hellscape", LOL.

[@meepthirteen]

I 🖤 Bella Lugosi! And your videos... thanks Sal. Xx

[@luckyotter623]

This mall has an airport vibe. I like it!

[@azmax623]

the red portal gave me the creeps, and I'm siting at my kitchen table in a safe environment.