DEAD MALL - MIDWAY MALL - ELYRIA OHIO - THE END OF RETAIL AS WE KNOW IT

[@plrivera8605]

This was my favorite mall. My husband and I use to travel from Pennsylvania to Lorain and I loved to go to this mall in the 90s. My husband has passed now and I moved to NC. Thank you for the memory. Brought tears to my eyes. I think the last time we were there maybe 2004.

[@AcesAdventures1]

his memory lives on :)

[@ericfreshcorn3590]

Sorry For Your Loss Hello Beautiful

[@OmeedNOuhadi]

Sorry for your loss.

[@Arbi5577]

I get an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia and sadness seeing this mall again. I grew up in Vermilion and practically lived at this mall, hung out with friends, had first dates, got one of my first jobs there. I haven't seen it in probably over a decade and instantly I recognize every section. Even where babbages used to be and how excited I was to go in there with my mom or grandma. Used to be such a busy nice place to hang out and now it's just a shell. Basically lived out my childhood and grew up there. Time marches on.

[@pepperwesley9983]

I grew up in Vermilion, too. So sad😂. Remember the candy store where we used to get all our Smurf pins for our vests?😢

[@OmeedNOuhadi]

@@pepperwesley9983Where was the candy store? The name, what year? I don't think I remember a candy store after 2008.

[@joemathewson4198]

Growing up in this area this was the spot! Wild how it’s dead now. Sucks. I remember sam goody, pac Sun, kb toys, hot topic. Parents bringing us here during Christmas season. Hanging out with friends here after school. Geez time flies.

[@rclesher]

Thanks for your work and for posting this. Great bit of history. So sad to see this once great mall in its death throws. Like many malls, Miday Mall used to be a mecca in the 80s and 90s. The unfortunate reality, malls are a dying thing. They had a good run, though, from the 60s well into the 90s but eventually they will be no more. I was born in Elyria Memoria Hospital in 1974 and lived in the city until I was 9. This mall was such a fixture in my little kid life. I grew up in this place and have so many memories about Midway Mall. I doubt many will want to hear the musings of an aging Gen Xer and a mall, but why the hell not. I watched this video with a mixture of nostalgia and sadness. It's barely recognizable to me, but I hadn't been there in decades. Some of my random memories of Midway Mall being a kid in the late 70s and 80s include: Getting my picture taken with Santa and the Easter Bunny They used to decorate the hell out of this place during the holidays. Animatronics and everything. There was a huge singing Christmas tree. The movie theater inside playing 80s blockbusters like Ghostbusters and Empire Strikes Back. Camelot Music (my dad was a cop and did security there on the side) Aladdin's Castle arcade and playing Gauntlet and Asteroid and their brass token machines. The Woolworth's lunch counter that opened out into the main mall. The smell of coffee and cigarettes (still smoking back then). Hough Bakery and getting fresh cookies with blue sugar sprinkles. Looking at all the "naughty" things in Spencer Gifts. Shopping for school clothes upstairs in Sears and hiding in the round hanging racks. Hobby Center and looking for model kits to build. There used to be a huge water feature that had floor to ceiling wires down which ran water or oil? The old anchor stores: Higbees JC Penny Sears The Mountain Jack's Restaurant just outside by Sears. Not really the mall, but still. There was a Friendly's restaurant in the mall at one point. A barbershop where my mad would get his hair cut. We moved away from Elyria back in the early 80s. I don't remember the last time I was inside Midway Mall. I'm guessing it was probably sometime back in the early to mid-90s. I will always have fond memories of this once-great retail giant. I think I got to experience it at just the right time in its life. I hope I didn't bore anyone with my (over)sharing.

[@OmeedNOuhadi]

Yes! You visited at the right time! By 2010 they started having those Kiosks middle walkway stations, saturated, it was like the perfume section where the salespeople border on harassment. It felt like every 20 feet or so. The mall kept changing owners, so by 2010 there was not really much decorations for Holidays. Your version sounds much cooler. In fact the Theater was built away from the mall called Midway Apollo Theater. It closed about a year ago. It was a weird location further away from the mall. The Sears huge Auto Shop felt closer to the main mall.

[@Irishgirl528]

@@OmeedNOuhadi, before the stand apart movie theater, the theater was inside the mall. Saw some good movies there with my husband.

[@OmeedNOuhadi]

@@Irishgirl528 Care🥰

[@atomicmom3383]

Another home run for the king of dead malls!!!! Bravo, Sir! I top my hat and applaud you! That rendition of Every Breath You Take... Nothing short of amazing and perfect! 🙏❤️

[@AcesAdventures1]

Thank you :)

[@ericfreshcorn3590]

Hello

[@ericfreshcorn3590]

@@Abigail_Wyatt Favorites?

[@dancalmpeaceful3903]

Grew up going to this mall from the early 70's up until 1982 when I went to college. Came back a couple of times through the late 80's and early 90's and it was doing well each time.....Sad. In it's "heyday" it had Sears, Higbees, JcPenny, Walden Books, Camelot music, Aladdin's Arcade, Woolworths, Gray Drugs, etc.....

[@lou_sassole]

Kaufmanns

[@dancalmpeaceful3903]

@@lou_sassole Yeah....I think they came in the 90's....I was gone by then. Good times though during the 70's through to the 80's...Great Northern was decent too!

[@tabp8448]

There was also a Dillard's and Macy's in the 90's. it even had a movie theater with 2 screens back in the mid to late 80's.

[@anthxnyhc]

KB Toys here in the 90's was my jam. Loved this mall. Some of my favorites memories were spent here with my grandparents. Thanks for sharing.

[@davestever515]

I remember when this was "THE" place to go to hang with your friends. (1971 time frame)

[@pepperwesley9983]

This mall WAS my childhood. Talking Christmas Tree...she was my babysitter. Remember the oil running up and down feature???

[@GushOnline]

I loved the talking Christmas Tree. And I was sad when they took out that dripping oil feature. I always loved that as a kid.

[@TofersCarTales]

This makes my Friday complete. Thanks Ace! Love your efforts to keep these wonderful memories of our childhood alive.

[@AcesAdventures1]

Our pleasure!

[@HistoryBabe531]

I grew up in Elyria. The city continues to go down the drain. It’s so very sad.

[@OmeedNOuhadi]

Yes, they took a lot of the hotels around this mall and turned them into low level housing. 1 step from not having a home and some of them not caring about keeping their area clean.

[@myst20331]

Good memories in this place. With friends that are no longer with us. Was a great place.

[@paulciprus9582]

I remember going to Midway mall with my sister in 1968...just opened...was so cool back then....

[@candievermeulen9858]

Nice job Ace good selection of music to

[@stephsunboxingsnmour4101]

so sad to see this empty like this. many good memories here 😢

[@chasemaples6633]

Great job friend keep up the great work you know your videos are my favorite because this is my favorite channel because I love dj neons malls the music is 100% great keep up the great work ace

[@AcesAdventures1]

Ty!

[@JJMHigner]

I am the town historian by the way and a fan of this page over others because I like to support a local content creator.

[@AcesAdventures1]

if you have any old pics of the mall please let me know!

[@JJMHigner]

@@AcesAdventures1 absolutely. I'd like to help if I can in a possible future video of the site at some point. I'm also on Facebook. PM me if you'd like.

[@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music]

What do you think the future holds for this area?

[@lovelilpeep99]

Nice 👍 Video 😊 nice 🎶🎵 Music 👍

[@ARachelB]

Always love the intros and music choices! Such a vibe!

[@SoonerQueen]

I love the video. Malls are cool places to go. It's a shame that so many are closing. Thanks for showing us places we will never go to.

[@MrMan_71]

Thank you for the tour. So so many good memories as a kid. Hard to see it like that

[@marshaharris4268]

I have lived in Lorain county most of my life and fondly remember going to Midway mall with my mom on many occasions. Was so sad to see it go

[@shellychandler2040]

Love this channel.

[@AcesAdventures1]

Thank you 🥺

[@davidnola]

As always, the soundtrack is on point!

[@robbvader]

Thank you Ace. For specializing in showing us the end of an era of prosperity. Makes you wonder…….how close are we to dystopia?

[@AcesAdventures1]

Very close

[@angelinahemmingway9916]

So sad how malls are closing. So many memories as teenager to go to mall n eat and shop. No it’s online shopping 😢😢

[@seabee73]

Another great video. Once I get done with my cancer shit I'll start donating to your patreon. Keep up the great work as always. I still can't believe you don't have more than 100,000 subscribers.

[@AcesAdventures1]

Thank you so much and I hope you are well.

[@seabee73]

@Ace's Adventures I got my parents to watch your channel too.

[@ksbs2036]

I'm glad they are keeping the roof intact. So many malls let that fall into disrepair and then the water and mould and rot just destroy any chance of rehabilitation. Thanks Ace

[@KRhythm2013]

Interesting fact that I never knew about 48% of the population live within 500 miles of Ohio (which to be honest is nearly the length of the whole of the island we call the UK) but now I get why all the malls seem to be there, and oversaturation would be a reason with many others. We're going to be hearing more in 2023. I dread seeing the demise of Century III and many others as I have been a dead mall enthusiast since discovering everyone's footage and photos of Rolling Acres. Great content as always Anthony (I have been way to busy lately to watch regularly) and keep going. By the way, as we know some malls get repurposed or used in film and TV. This may have happened recently as there was a sitcom called "American Auto" which the pilot episode showed people walking in an office complex but was definitely a mall style layout with a walkway leading round the upper floor of an atrium area. Heavily disguised but this could explain a lot of high security and why such places aren't shutting down completely.

[@Mom2my4blessings]

This mall is still in great shape. There’s a dead mall by me called The Citadel Mall. It has multi purpose uses. There is a huge medical office as an anchor. They have a store where small businesses can use it as a pop up area. There are places where you can take classes to be an entrepreneur I think and there’s a homeschool co-op that meets there. It would be nice to use dead malls in this way. I see gyms opening up in malls as well. Great video as always Anthony!

[@ifgstop5630]

Love this song We know you like to stalk the dead malls 🤣 keep up the great videos.

[@tommyw.7850]

They actually jsut announced today that the Lorain County Port Authority is officially buying the mall to redevelop it, though they do not have specific plans yet as to what that will entail. Hopefully it doesnt turn into another Amazon warehouse like Euclid Square, Randall Park, Rolling Acres, etc.

[@VC32Sniperrifle]

Pet Authority doesn't know exactly what to do with it. Now also theatre closed😢. I was born in 1965, Mall opened up that year or 1966. Very sad what has happened to the mall, and the city in general. Amazon hub would be a perfect place where mall is. Great Northern mall I predict will be the next one this way to close, stores are slowly closing there also. It's too bad.

[@morriganwitch]

These videos evoke this nostalgic happy / sad xxxthank you xxx

[@SynchroSk8]

I like when you revisit locations! Thank you for the update.

[@rjjone2]

So so good! Enjoyed the tour and the music! Those intros are fantastic!

[@randallcunninghamjr.9270]

Happy New Year Anthony! I'm 50 years old, stuck in the 80s and love your videos!

[@stevexray6253]

The awesome intro graphics and the music go well with this mall for that 80s vibe! 😁👍

[@leannefenster6626]

Great video 🙂 and music , thanks Ace !

[@andytaylor5476]

It really does seem massive due to the architecture, layout. and design. I like it. very diffenent.

[@hallking7441]

Great video thanks for documenting these malls!

[@hevblumling4917]

So many lovely mall memories, I wish they could find a way to come back and thrive.

[@rickwitt5735]

Always great content. It's much appreciated!

[@deltaecho5470]

As usual, great job on the opening titles!

[@AcesAdventures1]

Ty ty

[@andrewscott2090]

I love the architecture of this mall it's really neat I'm so sorry that all these stores are going away and that these malls are being torn down such a great architecture gem thank you for sharing with us

[@ramjet-dm3tr]

My high school hang out in the70s. Its been sad for at least 15 years.

[@stphinkle]

That one has a great feel to it. It appears to a dying mall that appears to have plenty of useful life left in the building. It is also beautiful. I think this one would be a great candidate for adaptive reuse.

[@tylerplumb1449]

I grew up going here, it’s so sad to see this

[@silverchocolate2861]

This was my childhood mall. 😢

[@DougTrovinger]

I remember coming to the mall in the early 2000's and this place was booming. Now, it's sad to see this and hopefully they can help bring this back to something good. :) Thank you for all your hard work Ace! =D

[@ivyseal5161]

Hi Anthony from Australia great video It's good to see the mall walkers making use of the mall but so sad to see the mall so dead and not many shops open I hope that mall is used for something else but it is a great video looking forward to the next one

[@AcesAdventures1]

Thanks mate!

[@dene7063]

Thanks for this video! I was actually hoping you would stop here on your travels at some point. Midway Mall is my childhood hometown mall with lots of memories.

[@mikecynic5167]

Maybe I'm weird, but as a very introverted person these videos relax my anxiety.

[@Pubslife]

You are not weird. These videos are soothing and relaxing. Thanks Anthony!

[@mikee2923]

I used to work on the HVAC for JC Penney when it was there. This was during the time Sears was closing down all its stores. I figured this place had closed when the JC Penney closed down. I was surprised to see it’s still open as a mall. I thought it was a nice mall even then. It was always clean. Still looks nice. They should do something with it. Would be a waste to let it fall into disrepair.

[@jholder1966]

Great vid and you pronounced Elyria correctly

[@AcesAdventures1]

Thanks! Lol

[@denese3164]

Thank you for the update on this dead mall. Excited to see what becomes of the revitalization efforts you mentioned.

[@wildwoody1112]

I can't believe I didn't see you there im there every week I love it, that Japanese restaurant there in the food court will be there long after the mall is gone that is the best chicken teriyaki ever

[@Official_ry_Nirvana]

Man I've been with this channel from the way early days. I gotta say these videos are really the best dead mall videos.

[@pdxaviation]

Sad yet oh so fascinating watching these videos. Grew up in the 90’s when malls were all the rage. Sad to see them so empty these days. Would much rather shop in person then online.

[@MrDan708]

I was at a hockey game, so I missed this premiere. Another nice video, Anthony!

[@ratbones620]

I’ve visited The Midway Mall many times with my dad. He was a kid during this mall’s prime in the 80s, now it’s barely hanging by a thread. I’m gonna be sad to see it eventually go. I have many good memories here.

[@theshorts975]

I found your video looking up Loyld Center located in Portland, Or. Your videos show the history of the mall. Great job. 👍

[@HailAres]

What's sad is that malls did this same thing to many downtowns. When Midway opened, downtown Elyria took a hit with places like Sears leaving and consumers all flocked to the new flashier hub. Now, both are dead. I'm 20 years old and even as a kid I remember this place being busy and packed full of shoppers. The decline was sharp, almost palpable.

[@amusement420]

I agree. And sn irony is they were thinking about turning it into an amazon warehouse at one time since it's next to the highway and Turnpike.

[@TahjXSimba]

I walked through here yesterday and it felt like I was in the backtooms.

[@chrissasandlin8344]

This is a striking mall. Even the empty storefronts look inviting.

[@amusement420]

I agree. Clean lines on the architecture. They updated it a number of years ago. The skylights make a difference. I still enjoy walking thru there once in awhile.

[@JB-cs4jt]

I wish i could of been at these malls during their peaks.

[@Ranthra1]

Thanks for documenting this mall on video. The mall I remember growing up with is gone and has been for a while. Parmatown Mall in Parma, Ohio. I was born in Cleveland in 1963. My parents bought a house in Seven Hills (a Cleveland suburb) and I grew up there. I remember going to the May Co. store with my mom in the early 70's. I also remember being kinda afraid of the escalators. While going to May Co. with Mom sucked having lunch there made up for it. May Company at Parmatown Mall had a restaurant at the top of their store. Peanut butter and jelly with no crust. I remember going there (Parmatown Mall) with my father on Christmas Eve to get something for my mom for Christmas. This would have been in the late 60's to early 70's. The mall was just wall-to-wall people.

[@f23948]

love your videos as always thank you

[@carltondexter1651]

Used to work at that Mall at a now failed bookstore chain.

[@meganpaull6140]

Nice looking Mall shame alot of the shops are closed

[@nancyechelberger6347]

We have lost our mall that was built in the 70's. Miss shopping there, I am in my 70's and spent a lot of time there. It has become for the most part a hospital. It was built to give us young people in our twenties to shop in, now it is a place to go to for our illnesses, or to die.

[@AshleySlots]

Love it! Definitely have to visit this mall soon before it’s gone!❤

[@AcesAdventures1]

Absolutely

[@juliehoot3916]

Beautiful mall!

[@AcesAdventures1]

Sure is

[@theposse96]

Thanks for this video. I pass it every once in a while and the parking lot is empty every time. Looking forward to your upcoming content. The hints you’ve dropped are awesome and even though I’ve never visited it, C3 now totally intrigues me. That is the video I think I’m looking forward to the most! Take care and thank you again for this amazing content!

[@saturdaisy8576]

Great video as always!

[@JacksonShredder138]

As always a great vid can't wait for the new stuff to drop

[@Zer0ClarkThirty]

Wife and I pass by this on our travels to Cedar Point. Even in the few years I've passed it on the highway, it has really started to slow down. There used to be a Best Buy in one of the anchors, and the next time I went by it was gone. Such a shame, but there are several abandoned properties around the mall, like a hotel. I hope they can do something with it.

[@SynchroSk8]

I went to college in Ohio in the late 1990s, I could tell it was WAY over-malled even back then when even the smaller malls were still mostly thriving. So strange to see so many dead now - but it absolutely makes sense.

[@donnagray9524]

I used to go here quite often in the late 80s and 90s. It’s sad to see a place that used to be so busy now almost abandoned. I’ve not been inside for years now but everytime I drive by the parking lot is empty. I’ve heard Great Northern has really gone downhill too. Another mall I used to be a mall rat at and haven’t been in for a really long time.

[@alexander2685]

Thank you ace come dance with me with every breath you take cause I will watching you 😉🥰your channel that is hehe.

[@SuperBuickregal]

Thanks!

[@JK-oj7ph]

So sad. The mall is home to me. I just love it. Hope mine stays open for a long time. Kids seem to coming a lot more these days. St Louis has so busy malls I'd say.

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Good video 🥰

[@AcesAdventures1]

Ty

[@mrmonty86]

That's why progress, sometimes, is not a good thing.

[@AcesAdventures1]

Agreed

[@BuffaloChicken]

Clucking love your content!

[@ryanad5566]

Decline started in the late 90’s, when I was a teen. My buddies and I would drive all the way from Amherst out to Westlake/North Olmsted/Strongsville just to avoid “ghetto mall” in Elyria. Or just avoid Elyria all together. We weren’t the only ones. The emergence of Strongsville Mall, Avon Commons and a bit later Crocker Park, in Westlake were the nails in the coffin for this place.

[@3markaw]

Amherst is becoming more ghetto every day . Can't stand that whole traffic mess on 58.

[@logankyer48]

The fact that your calling Amherst not ghetto is beyond me , they might have money ; but that’s where all the drug addicts are .

[@Snakeplisskin440]

​@@3markawthis and with all the constant additions near the intersection it's becoming a nightmare.

[@VC32Sniperrifle]

Ghetto mall?? Midway Mall was not ghetto in its heyday! Unfortunately , too many stores closed and went to Amherst, Lorain, Avon... Who's to blame for not keeping up on business and the thriving of the city?

[@amandagilliams5306]

Really great filming of this mall-how it sadly has fallen by the wayside…. Can you update the Lake Forest Mall in Gaithersburg, Maryland? It’s slated to close next month…many thanks for your great documentation!

[@discoron77]

Back in 2017 I took a mall tour of over 10 different malls in Ohio, but somehow I missed this one while mapping it out. I did happen to see the outside on the way back, but unfortunately didn't have time to stop because we needed to get to Sandusky Mall as it was the final day for Macy's. It was too bad, as I missed the Sears at Midway. I finally got to visit last year and I was astounded at the size of the mall, couple with its emptiness. It felt small at first, but then you turn the corner to discover what seemed like an entirely different mall. This was where the food court was at, so I assume that whole section was added later on. It really was like a dream. The mall itself reminded me of Summit Place in Waterford, MI due to its size. There aren't too many of these bad boys left, and will be thoroughly heartbreaking when we can no longer visit any of them. We must enjoy them while we can.

[@kevinconmy3625]

Hey Anthony,I believe I live right near you,in the Hamburg area.I used to work in Sears at the McKinley mall.I’d like to meet you sometime.

[@bdubb499]

GO BILLS! Thanks for doing what you do. I enjoy watching your videos from Washington State but Im a former WNY'er

[@AggiePhil]

Great job on this one!!

[@AcesAdventures1]

thank you :)

[@TheChemoTech]

I remember this mall from my childhood before they expanded it, the old Woolworth before Best Buy moved in. Its sad to see when I go back to visit family.

[@sillyolryan]

The palm trees are reaching up to the skylights

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

Thanks for the vid! Always professional! How’s the Sandusky Mall doing? I haven’t been there in almost a decade.

[@amusement420]

It's doing fine. Some closed stores. They have carpeting is an odd choice. It's actually not pleasant to walk on. After walking thru Midway Mall it felt odd walking in a mall that was active.

[@Lynx7029]

Good place to go if you are on a budget...

[@discoron77]

Made a stop here again on the way to SummerSlam. I was surprised to find it still open! I was just going to drive around until I saw people entering and leaving. Do you think there will be a "last day" like Lakeside had?

[@justanotherghost62]

That mall does have character unlike the new style

[@AcesAdventures1]

It’s not bad

[@ffsharkboy]

You should make a list of your favorite dead malls you’ve visited and a list for conditions of malls you’ve visited (best to worst condition)

[@r5416]

Id like to add I think not only the difficult access before the bridge removal, most would remember having to basically do a sort of clover leaft to even get here from i90, the fact that walmart left really affected all the shops here.

[@crystalscan2002]

thats sad , that looked like it was nice mall at one point

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

Sucks because this mall is actually on a great piece of land on the Ohio turnpike exit. I always liked stopping here to visit two client stores in the area about 10 years ago. Back then it was hurting, but this is senseless to have it in operation now.