Dead Malls Season 4 Episode 8 - Tri County Mall

Located right along bustling I-275 in the Cincinnati suburb of Springdale lies it’s crown jewel. Now abandoned and waiting for demolition, today we take a look at Tri County Mall.. a Cincinnati classic. Once being the 2nd open air mall in the city, Tri County changed many times over the years to keep up with an over-saturating mall market. But over the years, the overmalling of the city, changing times and retail demographics, had Tri County Mall falling out of favor. Anchors left, tenants closed in exodus. And we’re left with the remains.. Take a tour with me today as we explore the massive 1.3 million square foot Tri County Mall, in its final days, and tell the story of the old giant..
Music used
Meet Her at the Plaza - VHS Dreams
Seeburg Background Music of 1966
June 87 - Marvel83
Music from Dan Masons Miami Virtual
Ray of Light - Madonna
Never Ever - All Saints
Chateau - Djo
Virtuality Tape - Vaporwave Mall
Don’t You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
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Links
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Patreon - / northernfilms
#northcdogg22 #deadmall #deadmalls #northernfilms

[@biobrat86]

For me the creepiest feature was that the mall was so clean and well kept - most places on the verge of closing skip cleaning and changing lights - the crew running this one didn't. It was almost like they were just going to give the mall a vacation and then everyone would come back.

[@SynchroSk8]

Loved the Lazarus at this location. I also remember buying a GAP sweater here in late 1999 that I still actually have. The food court was the first time I tried Chick-fil-A, thanks to my roommate insisting I try it. It was still fairly busy in the early 2000s, the last time I was there, sad to see it like this.

[@stevebayt145]

Of course,,, A Bath and Body in a dead mall....when all life is over on this planet, the only thing left will be a Bath and Body

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

- Dan Bell

[@alb.spotter]

so true lmao

[@renegarza23]

🤣😂🤣😂

[@paposwing2925]

Because their body washers and handsoaps are like heroin. Once you try them, you're hooked for life 😅

[@moonpupstr1]

And don’t forget GNC.

[@ashtonwest3649]

The nostalgia is so real for me. I grew up going to this mall, as a kid getting pictures with Santa and the easter bunny, and later at 16, my first job was here. Sad to see it go but it was definitely time. RIP Tri-County Mall

[@skittles8961]

Yeah.

[@skittles8961]

mE too.

[@NicholasShade-eq1ts]

🎇 The 🎵 colors 🎇 and 🎵 the 🎇 music 🎵 at 🎇 the 🎵 first 🎇 were 🎵 spectacular 🎇.🎇🎵 Making me feel GREAT.🐯 Did you see all of that glass???🍷 The snakelike lights in the mall, really caught my eye. ⛎ 🐍 💡 ⚾ 👁️

[@danielschell3839]

love the music pure mall nostalgia

[@NorthCdogg22]

Hell yeah man

[@iSpyCars]

Shoutout to you for having Najee playing in the background. I recognize many of the smooth jazz songs youve had playing in your videos

[@jimmyv5494]

It’s insane, I moved into Cincinnati about 7 years ago, and this mall was so lively and cool, since I’ve never been to an actual “retro” mall before. I still remember the classic mall santa taking pics with kids, interesting stores like a retro game stores, fye stores, etc. I would go there with my family once a month. And just like that, seemingly overnight, the mall just died out. A few stores stuck around but it was so jarring to see a mall just fizzle out, from one month to the next. Great vid!

[@brikx9619]

This breaks my heart I grew up 5 miles from tri county in the 90s Got my ear pierced there It was crowded all the time I use to work at BJs which is a restaurant in the mall And that was in the 2000 You could hardly walk through there Sears before they closed And then it just was going down down down as years passed Every time I went home for vacation and asked my dad about it he said “Yeah Tri County ain’t doing to good” Man…. Different time

[@bikerajg]

Absolutely gorgeous mall.

[@Mapmaker1559]

Nice one man. Cool to hear Tri-County's full story from beginning to end. Very well put together too!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you!

[@renegarza23]

Holy moley, man, I like this mall. I can't believe the 90s was it's downfall and became a complete deadmall.

[@brycelakes5701]

Krazy city was phenomenal as a kid it felt like it had so much unique activities from rides to panning for rocks, it was one of the highlights of my childhood. I feel like I also remember a Disney store that had this giant tv screen that’d play Disney clips while you shopped all the accessories. Such a nostalgic video wish I had a Time Machine to experience its prime same with cincy mills

[@jacobwalters2948]

Going back through the playlists on your channel and I always come back to the cincinnati ones. It's both exciting and sad to see all the malls that I grew up spending countless hours at as a kid close and be demolished. I remember when both Forest Fair and Tri County were always crowded and bustling. Thanks for documenting these so that people like me can continue to relive the memories!

[@helios1912]

Hello from a new fan. I grew up close by. 1963--outside Shillito's there was a kid's village. Kids (me) could drive gasoline powered cars, not on rails, but real steering, through the town. Street signs, traffic signals. A "gas station." An innovative go-kart like destination fun place of the early '60s. The open air setting added to the wow experience.

[@lapservice25]

I love Cinnabon's too! I can't wait to see your video on Forest Fair Village 😉The aesthetic language of Mills Malls were a recipe for bankruptcy from the outset.

[@remyleonhart213]

Talk about nostalgia. I' grew up here in the 80s. I live in New Orleans now but this was the mall my family dropped me off at as a teen many memories here

[@Caseytify]

I remember when the mall was open are back in the 60s. I even remember shopping and many of the stores mentioned, including Kresges and Fanny Farmer. I also remember when they roofed it over. The mall I see in the video is one I don't recognize at all. I stopped going there a long time ago after they added the second floor.

[@superdave3506]

I worked at the Suncoast Video in this mall back in high school(1997). Of all the Cincinnati malls it was my favorite. We moved to the mountains of North Carolina about 11-12 years ago. I miss some of the people and the sports teams, but certainly not the weather or traffic. Ugh lol….

[@wesleypeters4112]

It is really sad to see it in this condition. Forest Fair didn't fair much better after 2008.

[@marvelousme5]

I love this mall!!!! I am so sad it is closed!!!! I absolutely love the 90's asthetics!!!! I don't understand why they couldn't keep the beautiful store fronts and the beautiful floors!!!! I love the music and your videos!!!! You do a wonderful and fantastic job as always!!!! Thank you so very much for documenting this mall before it closed. I am so sad it closed. The asthetics are beautiful!!!! Thanks again so very much for the wonderful videos and songs and music!!!! Take care and have a wonderful weekend!!!! 😬👍🏻

[@map3384]

The 90s was the bomb.

[@ieattofu68]

I was one of those types that would spend EVERY weekend visiting EVERY MALL in town...malls were my hobby...I'd spend up all my money and still come back broke next weekend just to walk around and wish.

[@michaelgrow8630]

On my vacation I used to visit malls on my trips and have a food court snack and sit there for an hour or two.

[@everyhandletaken]

14:53 The missing 'C' changes everything!

[@bmanfitz]

8:29 Flatliners...how appropriate...😬

[@NorthCdogg22]

Ikr..

[@tjcraven]

This mall was so fun and it gave off a very 80s vibe! (My favorite vibe 😉) i remember going there as a kid and it was a blast 🩷

[@Genecaster]

Man, this place used to be awesome. They had two really good independent game stores, one of them hung on for a long time while the mall was on the decline. I didn't spend as much time here as a kid, as I did in Northgate and Forest Fair (Cincinnati Mills) malls. The red and green store to the mid-left of the frame at 11:12 used to be one of them, called Game Swap. The other was much smaller but was tucked away into a very small retail shop. Super dense but they had all kinds of stuff.

[@oneaburns]

This video makes my heart ache. So many memories there. I remember going into that Sears as a 10 year old and getting my first Transformer. And the McDonald’s in the lower level which also had a basement with a merry go round. It’s where I had my first Big Mac with my Mom and brother.

[@Jynx316]

TriCounty Mall still hurts. I used to work there (KayBee Toys in the late 90s), my mother used to work there (Lazarus in the late 80s), and various friends worked there. To see its decline so rapidly still stings.

[@abbyfinth362]

The stairwell at 5:50 , i remember being on my older brothers shpulder as he ran up those. He is no linger here and its one of my favorite memories with him

[@CRYDERSB]

Very nice narration

[@brandondiericks]

Wish there was a Cinnabon in my local mall !! My favorite parts of this mall were the skylights and the domes

[@msimpson6833]

Another great video. Look forward to the next in the coming weeks.

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

Great vid! Thanks for posting!

[@justinmeyer5034]

Love your videos, quality content, great job

[@BoratWanksta]

At long last, I finally got through all 25-30ish minutes of this video! This was really good, and looking forward to your Forest Fair/Cincinnati Mills video.

[@scottDchicago]

Awesome episode!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you!

[@jaeannstewart]

This makes me so sad as I worked in several stores in this mall , and had my first manager's job here.

[@nancydarling4918]

Good video. Great footage.

[@ERA_Productions]

This video was incredible! By far one of the greatest dead mall videos I’ve seen

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you so much!

[@detectivesunshine1760]

Another quality video! you do such great work man! I hope you continue to find success with these great vids!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you!

[@Steve.Cutler]

Our modern day version of the pyramids...lol

[@cshubs]

This was one of my malls. I finished high school in Cincy, not far from here. The malls need to be repurposed. The options are endless. Gyms, with long running tracks. Clinics. Colleges or universities. Skate parks. Laser tag. Senior centers. Community centers. Homeless shelters. Low-cost housing. Spas. Live theaters. Bumper cars. State fair games. Something needs to be done with all this good space in dead malls and closed box stores.

[@jeffp7328]

I worked at the Taco Bell which was one of the new food locations in the expanded first floor food court when the addition happened. I grew up in the area and went many times as a kid when it was just the one level, and of course for many years after it became two levels. It was crazy though that three large malls were all within 4 exits of each other on I-275...Northgate Mall, Forest Fair Mall, and Tri-County. I also worked at two locations in Forest Fair Mall when it first opened. I was a bar back at Jackass Flats at the America Live Entertainment complex. I also worked for the Mole Hole for many years. Looking forward to your episode on Forest Fair Mall.

[@nightfire43]

I really enjoy this video this is pretty good make more videos like this very interesting

[@Noone9227]

This used to be by far the best middle class mall in Cincinnati until the area became ghetto. Kenwood and Tri-County were the places to go back in the day.

[@nole8923]

Most of this mall looks 80s with the sparkling marble floor and round columns. The part that looks 90s are the parts of the 2nd floor with the square columns, the white purgatory feel and the over abundant skylights going down the center of the ceiling. This mall definitely kept a large part of the 80s design and I like it, especially the beautiful floors.

[@jeee1074]

Hmmmm, the next episode may be Cincinnati Mills, Forest Fair Mall, Cincinnati Mall, or all of the above. I really enjoyed your coverage of the Tri-County Mall, this place certainly fell on hard times.

[@stevebayt145]

There are so many dead malls in Cincy that unicomm has like 12 videos, nearly enough for a new youtube channel just for Cincy.

[@kateblack4498]

My friends and I would go here all the time in the 20-teens. They had security everywhere and the shop workers were strickt on the curfew. When we would see a security guard near us we would whisper "avoid authority" and run behind the nearest adults and act like they were one of our parents. Very fun memories. You always knew the "type of person" someone was from what mall they shopped at in Cincy. Kenwood, Northgate, Tri-County, Eastgate or Florence.

[@CoolCatProductions-365]

Incredible video North! Most certainly your next video is Forest Fair Village, the mall was one of the famous dead malls in the U.S. with Century III and Rolling Acres.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Bingo! And yeah literally one of the most famous dead malls of all time

[@jonathangamer7606]

8:50....EPIC FAIL. Well done Sir.

[@Ironman79]

I lived in the Mallard Lakes townhomes not too far from this mall. So sad to see it like this. It was so alive when I lived there.

[@tuxer88]

I rly enjoy your episodes, good quality and fun to watch. Hopefully the KZbin copyright music algoritm don't take them offline some day. Keep up the good work, greetings from Belgium, Europe

[@JenniferinIllinois]

Oh look, Bath and Body Works is open. 🤣🤣🤣 My ex is from Cincinnati so I have been to some of the malls (not sure exactly which ones though, besides Kenwood).

[@ItsaRomethingeveryday]

Liked very much the video

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you!

[@outoftheashesmh]

You know what gets me? Everyone that says we need many more apartments built to level out affordable housing here in the US. Right now in our country hundreds/thousands of these so called dead or abandoned malls exist. These massive buildings are all there, and could be turned into viable living communities and many apartment homes. communities with various community centered venues and store fronts etc. Some of the malls are so elegant with marble floors and more than enough parking for all, plus you could also build outdoor areas like a splash pad, gardens, and other outdoor communal spaces. There could be a laundromat or other services. Each apartment could be like a whole home! I think a lot of problems would be solved if we all start to think outside of the box.

[@Artessnow]

If turning old malls into affordable housing was profitable don’t you think someone would have done it?

[@karenvanauken2409]

in many ways, this mall reminds me of Circle Centre, downtown Indianapolis In.

[@patrick39432]

Cinabon moved to the Kenwood Towne Centre Mall near me, the only mall really flourishing in Cincinnati nowadays. Good move for Cinabon😂

[@lambo485]

I wish I was a jumper. I would definitely go to this mall!

[@detectivesunshine1760]

14:51 lmao that is pretty dark

[@NorthCdogg22]

That’s what I thought😭😭

[@RobotBlueprint]

I'm a little astonished by this one as a former Cincinnati resident who happens to make his way back to the city every so often. Forest Fair going under? Of course. Northgate/Eastgate? Sad, but understandable. But Tri-County Mall was *busy* the last time I visited. It had a lot of open stores! It had foot traffic!

[@janecarolhogue3140]

Absolutely beautiful mall. So sad to see empty. The mall by my house in Indy is so sad . But the only reason I go there is for bath and body works orTarget

[@davidconrad3681]

They need to make malls into mix use. Some school, some housing, some stores. Non profit areas, libraries and such

[@kitw76]

Wow the mall looked nice! Too bad to see it close but welcome to how things are in 2022. Developers did see a downfall with a mall across the street?!?!?! They just see $$$$$$

[@NorthCdogg22]

I know right!

[@michelleford2837]

Working in this mall at this time would be very spooky to me!!

[@moonpupstr1]

A lot of videos I will see a mall in deteriorating condition and think oh that’s sad but I can understand why it closing but this just baffles me it’s in turn key condition, it’s architecture is pleasing to the eye. It’s a mall I would have spent my weekends as a mall rat in the 80s.

[@HenryRoss-wu4lo]

Another one!

[@funkyfreshyt2824]

My guesses for the next episode. Eastgate Mall. Cincinnati Mall.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Bingo!

[@paposwing2925]

There has got to be an use for all these wonderful architectural structures besides retail stores.

[@TheUluxian]

It should be called The Mall with No Cohesion. Seems like everywhere you turn, there's a different tile pattern, a different motif, a different texture. It's architectural dissonance.

[@AnthonyCuozzo-dd4yj]

Interesting video but to correct a small fact. Shillito's didn't acquire Rike's. All three stores (Shillito's, Rike's and Lazarus were divisions of Federated Department Stores operating separately in markets less than 100 miles apart from each other but each having separate administrative functions, including buyers, advertising, billing, accounting, inventory management, etc.... Shillito's and Rike's were initially combined into one unit to reduce administrative costs and achieve efficiencies. A few years later, since Lazarus was the larger chain, they combined all three stores under the Lazarus umbrella. This trend started in the mid 1980s in every major retail organization (Federated Department Stores, Associated Dry Goods and Allied Stores). That is also how and why Associated Dry Goods combined Pogue's into their Indianapolis based L.S. Ayres division. Both served similarly sized and economically similar markets so it all boiled down to reducing redundant expenses to achieve efficiencies and greater return for the shareholders.

[@Hyperion509]

Wouldn’t it be great if these malls were converted into shelters and/or affordable housing?

[@NorthCdogg22]

That would be awesome!

[@superdave3506]

There are several contributing factors as to why malls are closing and declining, but there is one in particular that seems to be the ongoing culprit…. I’m a mail carrier for the postal service and our office just started receiving Amazon about three or four months ago. Our work load has more than doubled since it started.(we also took a massive pay cut). It’s so much easier and in many cases cheaper to order through Amazon. Brick and mortar stores, are unfortunately unable to compete…..Amazon has been the death nail for malls across the country, and it’s killing the Post Office as well 😠

[@feliciafath8243]

I won't buy from Amazon!

[@warrenholmes3311]

All that you needed to know was where in the part of town, was this mall. Know that it was in a relatively HIGH crime area (still is). It was inevitable that it was going to fail and that 'shop-lifting raids' had happened in the past etc. Know that its plan to provide housing? Well that is going to go bad -- as well, and it will fail. A blight on the city -- if you will.

[@johndevanwayne4272]

So how many shopping malls closed in the last 10 years in the USA ?

[@alexnicastro469]

I had my first kiss in this mall hahaha I'm so old

[@leet7489]

how the heck do the stores that are still open stay in business?

[@chrislemaster2695]

This is so clean why can this not be turned into medical and Dr offices and insurance agencies offices etc.

[@map3384]

That’s the problem with building so many malls. They go hog wild putting up as many as the areas actually needed. When the boomer moved off to Florida and the other southern states they took their wealth with them. Todays it’s the smaller outdoor shopping plazas which are being built.

[@djpcan77]

On your Patreon I was looking at what is the dead Polaroid bonus . Just curious

[@NorthCdogg22]

Good question, so every month I’ll send you a dead mall polaroid taken and signed by me, these Polaroids are from the dead malls I’ve been to all over the country some are malls you haven’t even seen in this series yet..

[@alecstarkey7835]

Eastgate mall ?

[@Atoasterinthedesert]

This looks a lot like circle center mall in indianapolis

[@jordancook6140]

When will we be blessed with the Forest Fair Mall episode?

[@NorthCdogg22]

This Saturday at 6PM CST!

[@suzjon]

@@NorthCdogg22 Just got locked

[@flawed1]

Yeah, kick teenagers out on weekend nights. That will save your struggling mall. I’ve always feel bad for teenagers. People treat them like children and then chastise them for not acting like adults…. 🤔

[@je55777]

14:51 HAHA NOOO

[@NorthCdogg22]

😭😭😭

[@WhittyPics]

What a massive waste. I think Kristin has done a video on this mall? I see there is a Bath & Body Works still open? What else can you ask for?

[@alecstarkey7835]

Forest fair mall next? Formerly Cincinnati mall.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Bingo!

[@alecstarkey7835]

@@NorthCdogg22 yay, I’ve been doing A LOT of research on that mall. I really wish they try to add stores to it since Tri country mall went out of business they don’t have to compete now I don’t think.

[@pepsi_man4962]

Hey North I have an idea for some music! You could use some old 80s cassette tape test demos or old mall/Kmart shopping music cassette tape recordings. A good one is the Certron Ferex C-90 type demo video by Fardemark. I recommend you check out his channel bro!! 😎

[@dansimon1100]

Next one will be Cincinnati Mills I guess honestly they should take old malls like this and turn them into businesses like I don't know doctors offices dentist offices anything Insurance offices stuff like that or convert them into Apartments it would be a kind of a cool concept then take the old anchor spots and make them into like a community center or something for the apartment complex or something like that I don't know I was just thinking of that

[@alecstarkey7835]

Maybe new towne mall in New Philadelphia in Ohio

[@rathorclemenger6125]

What happened to Episode 7?

[@NorthCdogg22]

It’s still there as far as I know of

[@rathorclemenger6125]

@@NorthCdogg22 It's not showing up for me. Just figured that you'd want to know.

[@NorthCdogg22]

@@rathorclemenger6125 are you in the US? I know it’s blocked in some countries, but I did check on a signed out device and it’s still up, that’s really weird tho🤔

[@rathorclemenger6125]

@@NorthCdogg22 I'm in Canada. Nova Scotia, to be more precise.

[@NorthCdogg22]

@@rathorclemenger6125 that’s probably why, I’m sorry :/ if you could somehow change your location settings to the US you could probably view it again

[@donaldwuerlmke]

For a place that is largely vacant; who is paying the electric bill to keep all those lights on?

[@daisylass1712]

It is disturbing to see these dead malls. But maybe it means Americans are wising up and not buying stuff they don't need.

[@chrislemaster2695]

Hey you should watch the documentary MALLS R US

[@NorthCdogg22]

I have, absolutely love that documentary

[@artqueen227]

I know someone who mom works at that bath and body works

[@artqueen227]

Worked

[@user-tn1cm4rx7s]

0:16 😂🎉😮😅😅😢🎉😂❤

[@b75s]

The song at the beginning is definitely a rip off of 'Human League'.

[@justinankeney6344]

Got to be Forest Fair

[@NorthCdogg22]

Bingo!

[@suzjon]

Epic Fail!