DEAD MALL - ASHTABULA TOWNE SQUARE MALL - SUFFOCATING SILENCE

[@PhillipWerman]

I grew up in Ashtabula. Had some good birthday parties at that Aladdin’s Castle. Thank you for the good memories!

[@JJ-wk5wy]

You are so right... People don't connect socially like what we used to. Seeing that arcade, made me think of my childhood/teen years. Now in my late 30' s. It is sad to see ppl not enjoying these games like we used to. And another mall ruined by Wal-Mart😠

[@frothe42]

People wanted cheap junk, made in Commie China 🇨🇳, so they are to blame for this.

[@matthewford3447]

Jessica Pugh Don't blame Walmart for that the reason most malls can't stay open is because no one can actually afford to shop at a mall since a lot stores in one have to overcharge for the stuff their selling since they have to paid rent.

[@josephschroeder7778]

Where I live at here in Florida, they just opened a 80's style arcade a few months ago. It was actually doing good until the Coronavirus hit. I hope it can stay afloat, because I enjoyed going there.

[@BananaPhoPhilly]

If you go to arcades in actual nice areas (not in 2020 obviously, everything was closed) they are usually pretty filled with people. The popular arcades near me are the ones where you pay hourly. My friends and I are in our early 20s and we went pretty often before everything went apeshit

[@rentaroo]

I recognized the arcade colors as soon as you turned the corner. I used to be an Aladdin's Castle store manager back in the 90's. This brings back many memories.

[@fana406]

Tell us one of those memories!

[@utubepunk]

Yes, please share some arcade tales!

[@fana406]

We’re here waiting for some good ole tales!!!!!!!!!!

[@copperlapislazuli4156]

Please do share

[@herbiehusker4624]

Which Aladdin Castle? I still have tokens from there in a jar of random coins

[@MuneageDaydream]

A functioning Radio Shack in 2020? I had no idea they were still around.

[@jeee1074]

I think the Radio Shack is a franchise store. All of the company owned stores were supposed to close by early 2018.

[@Titanic19127]

Sears, Kmart, and blockbuster video Is awesome I saw this in person! Love this mall, and I used to go to and like the Super Kmart inside the mall, and it’s always been really clean in this mall.

[@jscountrygirl85_326]

I was thinking the same thing! Didn't know that there were some actually still open.

[@bobert8618]

Breezewood, Pa right near the PA Turnpike.

[@kendallm2008]

Ours has only been gone for a couple of years. I always forgot it was even there.

[@TrainmasterCurt]

Like the late 80’s aesthetics! Especially the Food Court and mall tile

[@sprkl5d]

Great video Anthony. 👍💙

[@retrob9346]

Ace's well done for a min I thought I was watching a dan bell video much respect to your channel keep up the good work....

[@CiaranDillaneOfficial]

I grew up going to this mall and remember just how lively and fun it used to be. So sad to see the state it's in now. Truly unrecognizable.

[@audreylonsinger2678]

This was one of your best updates!!! ♥️Your commentary and game room footage so well done and brought back memories from Ohio♥️ Thanks for the quarantine uplift!!

[@therestorementor7742]

Wouldn’t it be nice if after this pandemic has ended people learn to appreciate actually going out shopping again rather then buying everything online

[@jaybee2344]

Well the newest trends for younger shoppers are. Order it online and go pick the item in the store.

[@JJ-wk5wy]

I hope so too

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

The Restore Mentor - that would be nice 🙂👍

[@TheKingOfInappropriateComments]

The retailers are hell-bent on training everyone to order online so I don't think it's the shoppers that you need to blame.

[@kelly3014]

Restore Mentor, Ohio?

[@kevin12567]

ALL malls are dead right now with the Coronavirus going around. Stay safe out there!

[@crystalscan2002]

most malls are closed

[@redpillmale6518]

You mean the virus being used as an excuse to bring about the end to a global economy that was on its last legs anyways? That virus? How convenient.

[@dnlcast2]

@@redpillmale6518 👍👍

[@logicn.reasoning9744]

@@redpillmale6518 Yes, it's all a conspiracy, because every single thing that's happened since the beginning of the internet is a conspiracy. Huh... there's probably another conspiracy involving that as well. I will now wait for your reply, in which you call me a brainwashed sheeple.

[@doz3r943]

@@redpillmale6518 aluminum foil

[@RetailArchaeology]

That former Alladin's Castle is rad. I saw some real classic in there.

[@utubepunk]

Oh damn, Retail Archaeology in the comments house!

[@patricklawton8135]

Spent a decent amount of time as a kid in there lol

[@SnowBunneh]

Building a huge mall in a fairly depressed country town was their first mistake. A strip mall would struggle to survive, nevermind this.

[@kelly3014]

Snow Bunny Karry Exactly.

[@gooberstankable]

So right. I grew up few miles away from this mall, moved away before it opened but even when it was busy in the 90s I couldn't think why they built it in the first place. Ashtabula never recovered after Rockwall left..fond memories of Saybrook Plaza and Nichols discount city though and the 4 screen cinemas :(

[@genekelly8467]

Agree-the fact is, too many malls were built. I read that about 5 years ago, the USA had 3 times the retail floorspace as the European Union (comparable population).There is no way it all could ever be used. How about the Minneapolis "Mall of America"? It has 4 Macy's stores-all the same-what was the idea that prompted this?

[@go-ham1594]

Ashtabula was actually booming with business before Bill Clinton took office and sent our manufacturing jobs to Mexico and China. Then Ashtabula itself got a bunch of crooked politicians. Then the great recession of 2008 there was no recovering from all that. Ashtabula Ohio, is finally recovering just to head into another recession possibly depression thanks to our current president. Hopefully we can weather the storm this time.

[@tibedog5629]

Ashtabula was actually a HUGE industry of factories, but then the factories were closed and the manufacturing was sent over seas. I lived in the area and grew up in that mall. When everything was sent over seas and all but a few plants got closed everything went under and the mall died

[@shavonnestacia2865]

Ace....Forgot to tell you....I know we grew up in the same decades....One of the lead dancers from Club MTV is now the Mayor of Newburgh, NY....Him and his twin brother used to practice at my neighbors house before every taping....Downtown Julie brown used to dance with them all the time....

[@Idelia412]

Your message at the end of the video says it all.

[@billz4071]

This video was VERY well presented!! Thank You for filming this and putting this together.

[@OhioRedCannon]

I remember the grand opening of this mall. One of the celebrity guests was Big John Studd. Every kid on my street was pumped to go see him. We lived about halfway between this mall and mentor but always seemed to go to mentor. There was a mr hero in the food court in Ashtabula though which I really liked.

[@ZainRenault]

It's so surreal watching one of these on a mall you've been to before.

[@markstrouse3101]

I love these types of videos

[@Disambiguation144]

I basically lived there after school. Its a real shame, soo many good memories. Thanks for the video, very well done! Great research and care. Thanks again. - Nathan from Ashtabula

[@pasadenacatpink]

Great video and thank you for uploading it. Great message by the way about showing others you care for love since tomorrow is not guaranteed. Ever since the Coronavirus pandemic began, we started to lose social connection to ourselves by being quarantined to our homes and we cannot go out to our favorite public places to socialize and have fun anymore due to the virus. I miss those happy days and I want them back! I really hope this pandemic ends so this world would be back to normal!

[@kaylast5686]

Thanks for the video! Stay safe!

[@tylerbrenkus2302]

This mall was awesome when I was a teenager in the 90s. There was 3 record stores,Spencer's and plenty of clothes stores. Aladdin's Castle was fun. We had Mortal Kombat tournaments. Good times. Walmart sucked this town dry

[@derpydog1008]

Walmart sucks in general.

[@utubepunk]

Walmart is death to what makes all these places unique.

[@patricklawton8135]

I only remember sam goody and NrM what was the third?

[@natehawkins2910]

Oh how I miss the arcade at New Towne Mall in New Philadelphia circa 1992. And all of that neon...it was so colorful in the food court. Those were the days!

[@charlesdebarber2997]

I remember the movie theater was among the first things to open before the rest of the mall. One of my earliest memories was us seeing the construction inside when going to a movie there. Fun place in the 90s. I spent a lot of time at Babbages, Aladdin's Castle, Family Toy Warehouse, and Sears. Lots of nostalgia that makes it painful to see it so dead now. When I visited in 2009 and I saw how dead the mall was at that point. My Dad bought me my first computer from Dillards there when they still sold electronics. GameStop (formally Babbages) was among the last original stores to go in the past couple of years to my understanding. Oddly, we still have a RadioShack there and JoAnn Fabrics was also an original store.

[@f23948]

another great dead mall video thank you

[@juleb741]

Ace you always do such a great job at narrating and videoing these malls. I enjoy all the information you gather and the history on them. Thank you for all your hard work! My heart breaks when I see another mall die, in the age of electronics it saddens me even more. Yes, I'm from an older generation. Thank you!

[@SirCuddlesWorth]

Thanks for the video I always enjoy looking at these places, but knowing it's sad how they're forgotten or are run down that people destroy. But it's still a piece of History.

[@JJ-wk5wy]

Take care Ace and everyone!

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

Jessica Pugh take care also, be safe 🙂

[@29A]

I just wanted to say I'm a big fan of your work and love what you do. I've always wanted to personally make video documentation of my local mall but I'm socially awkward and worry about what people think of the guy walking around with his phone up recording. Anyways, I think it's really cool you dig into the history of the mall and its past. You've really taken the #1 spot for me over Dan Bell (who I still love). I'm sorry about you losing work during the virus outbreak and hope everything good goes your way. Stay safe and be well.

[@jezzp2]

HUG!!! I love watching your content

[@dannyfrog]

One thing I can tell about this mall is that it's clean and all the lights are working.

[@mikesexplorations9314]

Dial up and ICQ, yes! I also had MSN messenger. Was not much on AOL. I thought I was the Sh** when I got the call converter box, could get online anytime and if a call came the phone connected to the box would ring and if I answered it then my dialup would go offline. I remember loading like 10 songs to download overnight, woke up next morning to find only 3 or 4 downloaded lol. I got in trouble ALLOT for being online before got that box! Great video, history, personal connections, memories, dead mall, this one has everything great job on this! Can tell you have come a long way since 2016

[@jscountrygirl85_326]

Also loved seeing the former Aladdin's Castle with all the vintage games. Also pretty cool to see a Radio Shack that's actually still open, and a Bath and Body Works with the old school store front, both in 2020! You're also dead on with your comments about how we don't connect socially and enjoy things together like we used to. I really do miss how life was when I was growing up in the 90's. Those were much more fun and exciting times compared to today, that's for sure!

[@animeducky9]

It's lovely how clean and well-taken care for this place still appears. Even those old arcade machines still seem to be in good condition

[@allanrscott]

I LOVE the retro into! Very nice!

[@PeterBellefleur]

The pinball machines in the front of the arcade (stranger things and star wars comic book edition) at least are both 2019 machines, so they are at least adding new stuff.

[@utubepunk]

That Aladdin's Castle was amazeballs! Spent so much time in my local AC as a kid.

[@andrewdavis8709]

Ah yes, Aladdin’s Castle had an arcade at Arden Fair in Sacramento after the renovation in ‘89-‘90 and had to beg my mom to stop in and play a few games when I was 10-12-ish. If I can remember, it closed before the mid-90’s. When I visited Arden Fair this last Fall, the site is now a jewelry store.

[@thomasallen3818]

Stay safe in all you do. We have a very healthy mall in Corpus Christi, Texas, I hope this pandemic we are all suffering through doesn’t end up hurting it. It has a Dillard’s, Macy’s, and JC Penney’s, and is about 90% occupied. There are shopping centers on every side of the mall, but because they keep good main line stores in the mall and are constantly doing maintenance and updating, it stays full of customers. Our NBC affiliate even has a satellite studio at the food court. The mall has been closed for a week now, and there was hopes of reopening in 14 days, but I think the city is looking at another 3 weeks. I pray the businesses can hold on. That goes for everywhere. 🙏🙏🙏

[@GeorgeS1]

I think la plaza in corpus is nice but I really wish it hadn't completely killed sunrise. I went to sunrise like 3 days before they closed it and despite being completely dead I loved it. It truly was a time capsule all the way down to the period correct boombox playing music near the Burlington coat factory. I wish they could have done something more with that mall but there is no way that was going to happen with la plaza literally right across the street.

[@utubepunk]

@@GeorgeS1 Sunrise is gone? Haven't been to Corpus in ages. Loved that mall. Felt old when I was a kid!

[@chrislemaster2695]

Astabula Square Mall was dead back in 2011 My friend longtime friend David is from that area . we would go visit his dad and ride to the mall. The only store worth it was Super K Mart. I was dead back then. Fast forward to 2012 in the spring mall was down to 35 percent occupancy Super Kmart was the only store that was busy. Im surprised this mall hasn't filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy yet.

[@kellyngrey4950]

Hey Anthony, would you consider doing a history of some of the extinct retail stores during the CoVID downtime? Like Montgomery Ward? You do excellent narrative histories with excellent detail, quality scripting, and amazing footage.

[@MrDan708]

3:50 - There was also a Phar-Mor in PA's Fairgrounds Square Mall. After its bankruptcy, the enormous space was divided between Planet Fitness and Super Shoes.

[@thegreatdominion949]

I guess the robot wasn't the only thing that was FUBAR in that place.

[@jasonorme4180]

What a very bad time and to all who read this have good luck be well

[@jonahyue4755]

Once malls are gone this country will be a different place. 😪

[@lt.danslegs9737]

Camped out a couple nights at that mall waiting for concert tickets to go on sale.

[@patricklawton8135]

LoL I bought my powerman 5000 tickets there. Which was canceled and we switched to the pledge of allegiance tour...great trade actually

[@sylkates]

Was there a hot topic here around 2002? I think I went there then...

[@paulkostura6826]

What a nice and well kept mall

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

Our mall is closed now until 2 weeks. 😕

[@boeing_RBLX]

Cool design of the mall, it is so different from the other malls.

[@ronaldhuff635]

went to astabula county once, i loved it

[@sombrashibe]

Thanks for the words of encouragement! Definitely brought a smile to my face. I can't hug a lot of folks right now, but at least I can send them one in a text or a message. Here's some for you all.🌈💖

[@RogerDavid647]

Never said it before but, I LOVE that into

[@spencerjohnson3416]

I am mighty glad to have seen the food court and confirmed my Google Maps suspicion that two counters and a sit-down are still hanging on tightly. I long to try the BBQ, sporting goods store, arcade, and a few other places next time I see Ashtabula, which will be soon. Since 2016 (never stepped into the small shop hall of any mall from 2008 to then), I have been seriously determined to increase my interest in and patronage of numerous malls. Indeed, they are much better than online shopping for reasons of getting social even with distancing, walking for mild exercise, and examining items for yourself. (I go online for hard finds only.) I think a lot about sparking a Save the Malls movement, in graphic sticker form and beyond.

[@rootedexpeditions]

nice video love seeing videos like this

[@TheAmandapanda34]

I grew up in Ashtabula, my grandfather was part of this you even showed him

[@WhittyPics]

I am sure most of these struggling malls won't make it through everything happening now. Hang in there buddy. Tough times never last but tough people do

[@lt.danslegs9737]

My friends and I used to camp out in the parking lot the night before concert tickets went on sale o we could be first in line. Back when ticket master was selling all tickets.

[@rickwitt5735]

There was an Aladdin's Castle at the Summit Place Mall in Pontiac, where I grew up. It was a cool place; one of my favorites. It died long before the mall did, unfortunately. I really hope your (and the overall) situation improves soon. Stay safe, healthy and strong. Thanks for the great content.

[@Cerstani]

For anyone wondering, the song is 'Physical' from Duett's 'Cycles' album (it's nothing but fantastic songs!)..

[@BurtBartlow]

Tbh Walmart could re air that retro commercial as is and it would be a real hit

[@hueyiroquois3839]

I always liked the mall when I lived in Ashtabula, because I didn't have a car, and that was the easiest place for me to shop. I rarely went to Walmart, because I had to go past the mall to get there.

[@ZeeMann_Retail]

Sorry to hear about your job but Hang in there man! It's going to get better! Great video!

[@horseathalt7308]

I love the water fountain.

[@melindaknight9851]

stay safe all my prayers to you

[@tylercogar637]

I live 15 minutes from this mall... it's been like "that" for 15 years

[@patricklawton8135]

Longer actually 🤣 I remember it well even though I moved to Leroy in 2013

[@angelabee626]

have you ever gone to the st. lawrence center mall in Massena,NY? still a lot of the 90's esthetics left and definetly a dead mall. i used to go to the Alladin's Castle there when i was much younger! hopefully when life resumes some normalcy you can visit, if you havent already

[@kelly3014]

Also, the mall didn’t have access to Walmart at first. I remember my Dad being mad because he had to go around to get to Walmart. Enough people complained and access was made between the two.

[@Titanic19127]

Kelly when did they make the access?? I also recall having to go around to get to the mall.

[@megandriscoll2522]

I grew up going to this mall. Probably worked at 5 different places there, lol. I love vaporwave & your editing style - this is tight! Thanks for shining a light on the good old Ashtabula Mall. I also followed Duett because this music was gooood 😎 p.s. I also remember the contest they ran for the mall's sign & logo, that super minimalist early 90s seagull design - people were salty that it won & said it was too simple, but it was iconic!

[@jasoncarskadon6809]

It's sad I'm 36 and I remember those days. It seems like technology has made people less social. I too wish we could go back to those times. I hope when this covid-19 is over the malls will survive. I hope that covid-19 isn't the final nail in the coffin for the malls.

[@patricklawton8135]

Tech didn't kill it, Walmart and it's overpriced rent killed it. It was D.O.A. long before the online retail took over

[@bloodsportsohio8866]

I loved this mall as a kid I live in Ashtabula now but I lived in Jefferson as a kid and it was a huge deal to go here! It’s so sad I wish they would do something with it :(

[@Artsensei86]

great video, sorry i missed the premier

[@Mike1614YT]

Malls were trending down in the 90s after about 20 years of good times. many malls were feeling the strain by 1996, so building a new mall in '92 was looking for trouble. they found it

[@RetroMax85]

Good music by D U E T T ...awesome "new retro" style

[@dorkultra]

i would love to see a long video of all your intros, i could watch them all day

[@kerberos623]

Love that the paper named foobie the robot at FUBAR D robot.

[@Titanic19127]

Been here many times. Love this mall and the style.. and sad it’s so vacant.

[@jasonorme4180]

Hope you and family plus friends are ok

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

Jason Orme 🙂👍

[@BrettHornby]

It looks like a combination of modern and vintage aesthetics. Just how the tiles and ceilings look. Like the looks of the property inside.

[@ohnoitschris]

12:24 man, I'd love to have that Crazy Taxi machine. Shame it's off

[@js0009]

I remember the Aladans castle arcade at the Knoxville Center Mall/East Towne Mall was probably the best arcade anywhere close to where I live

[@brandt4051]

Great video well done definitely deserve more likes :)

[@davidspecht4288]

The road connecting Walmart in the mall wasn't added until a little over 20 years after Walmart opened

[@Mizak265]

Great vid . I’m not too far from here in PA. We must be around the same age I did the AOL thing too lol almost everyday sitting on dialup in the evening ..

[@michaeladams555]

Oh my God! All of those comic short boxes in the thrift store!!!!

[@Sunsetdrivein]

Any chance of finding out what company is operating the arcade games there? I saw two pinball machines there: Fishtales and a Star Trek Next Generation.

[@jellyranger1706]

Should do one on the mall in Macon, GA. Dead with a few stores still open....it’s very strange.

[@bradpeterson7957]

Mill Creek Mall is the only one close enough to me that's still doing pretty well! This mall is very nice too, I wish it was doing well! 😔

[@13dpbrunette]

Now that I realize you do Ohio too, I really want to see you do the Woodland Park Mall in Bowling Green, Ohio. I've been able to be there for the closing of two major department stores and I don't think it has more than a decade left without any real anchors. I'd love to see it preserved in history.

[@MoeLarrycurly1]

Stay healthy and safe 🖖🏽✌🏽

[@lt.danslegs9737]

Grew up in Geneva....that was the hang out 25 years ago......

[@interstate4528]

As of right now, only 32 K-Mart stores remain open in the U.S.

[@tjbeyer9975]

It looks like the owner of the arcade recently invested in some new pinball machines. Stranger Things and Star Wars (comic art) both started shipping in late 2019. Many unattended arcades tend to be saturated with claw games and instant prize games, this one is no exception.

[@MissusAnon]

Dang, pretty big step up over Dan lately. Nice work

[@JazzyBabe56]

that was excellent!

[@drsundae9423]

I worked in that kmart in 2008.

[@neverstoplearning7214]

Wow I dont think I've ever seen a jo anns logo in red I've only seen the green one And the store looks like its stuck in the 90s

[@fernandochavez4312]

In my day we had a party line. Our house was three short rings. Any other belonged to another home. A soda came in a glass bottle and cost 10 cents. Was it better? No, just different. Your kids children will have a totally different life experience. Stay safe my man.

[@kennyswonger5227]

I used to go to the mall .most of the time years ago.that was then.this is now.they still have a movie theater there.and doctors office! Down on the far right corner .ear doctor.and another new business there.but don't recall .I haven't been there since last year.