Dead Malls Season 5 Episode 10 - Bay City Town Center

What do you get when you cross the northern beaches of Michigan, with the love of 90s architecture, and a high dosage of Chlorine? Well if you’re ever looking for that eye watering fuzzy experience, look no further than Bay City’s, Bay City Town Center. Once housing 4 anchors, 50 tenants, a food court, and 8 screen theater. The mall has recently fallen on extremely hard times, almost completely due in part to the recession and retail apocalypse. Now down to 0 anchors, no food court, and dwindling numbers of stores. How much longer can this beach blue daydream stay afloat?? Well, trip with me as we dive into the deep end of history, and check out Bay City Town Center, in Bay City, Michigan.
Music used
All music preformed and produced by Glaciaere
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#northcdogg22 #deadmall #deadmalls #northernfilms

[@PeteTheChopp]

FYI, FYE is not pronounced "Fi" but rather "eff why eee" (its an acronym for "For Your Entertainment").

[@Thomas-yr9ln]

It seems like a lot of mall Developers made a lot of bad investments during the 1980s. These malls have good memories of when we were young teenagers and our parents were alive me being one of them. Thank you for another entertaining walk down memory lane.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you for watching!

[@stormicusiii6582]

The tarps on the left side as you are entering the mall in the former sears wing is becoming the new planet fitness location. That wing was completely vacant before this and the last tenant down there was an rc car track that moved into the center court area is and is really fun to watch when they are open.

[@NorthCdogg22]

I have been to a surprising number of malls where RC tracks fill old stores, they’re a great use of space but I have to agree with you that they are quite fun to watch!

[@miguelbalisi9952]

Malls in Southeast Asia are more modern.

[@speedyspike466]

I’m from Bay City, I have many memories in this mall. My mom would walk and push me in a stroller for exercise. I remember what some of the shops used to be. I remember radio shack was across from Spencer’s, KB toys was by target. I remember tossing Pennie’s into that fountain.

[@NPC-Gamer]

I miss the food court and the arcade. Spent alot of time in my teenage years here and it was always packed. The sad side of its success meant the downturn of the Hampton mall though, and my parents used to take me there alot when I was a kid. That fountain was the coolest

[@gatochick14]

I worked at the arcade there from 2006-2007- having grown up with the mall too. It was located in the food court where Petsmart is now. I remember many a family weekend trip for mom and dad errands, making wishes in the fountain, visiting Santa in December, being able to go mall ratting with my best friend...Target pulling out was a serious deathblow and I still miss it!!!

[@kevintrudeau6145]

I used to haunt Pocket Change a shit ton 2001-2006, was Gil still there when you worked?

[@gatochick14]

@@kevintrudeau6145 Actually, I was Gil's replacement!

[@datboyalex1688]

Ain’t no way I just found my mall on KZbin💀

[@skreeb]

ikr

[@truemedia9622]

I can remember when you first walked in there was master cuts on left an A&W to the right a Chinese food place a subway a cookie shop next to that the arcade a music store (before fye) next to the movie theater American Eagle Hollister Spencer’s bath & body radio shack footlocker GameStop DEB KB toys finish line Dunham’s sears jcpenney target hot topic Aeropostale zales Claire’s Swedish house buffet 😢

[@NorthCdogg22]

It sounds like it was so beautiful…

[@skreeb]

@@NorthCdogg22 It was

[@stot2614]

Two words when exiting the mall campus... "Weed Money",😜! Besides the cool retro Spencer's Gifts sign, this is how I will remember this video, lol! Small mall, but at least it still has some charm. 😉

[@Salvaging-in-Az]

Come to Az!! Maybe u could Meet up with Retail Archeology??!!! Love your vids!! Steve.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thanks Steve! Maybe one day I could pop on down there!

[@MetalBirdCowboysFan]

Cool this mall has a retro Spencer’s sign, Irving Mall in Irving, Texas has one as well.

[@FinnM2]

It’s crazy you never think about these places in these kind of videos as somewhere people actually go, I’ve been to here many times and it’s just weird seeing in on video

[@Y2Good]

Loved this video, spent many days in middle school here with my friends. Right before the pet smart went in, the food court was a great hang out spot. Great memories with friends and getting yelled at by security. It’s fallen so fast makes me a little sad.

[@shadyhooker907]

oh glorious day, he is here!

[@JoshYT1]

It is sad to think that even if this mall was never built as competition, the town could probably not support Hampton Square either. (As evidenced by this malls decline). I'd love to go back in time and live near a thriving small town mall, as they can be quite a rare site nowadays. Excellent job documenting these gems North!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thanks Jostalgic! I too would love to go back and grow up in a time where these small towns were booming places! A thriving downtown with a brand new mall built on the very edge of town.

[@JoshYT1]

@@NorthCdogg22 Yes indeed, small downtowns are so welcoming and cozy! Glad you agree!

[@cgimovieman]

Well of course it’s my mall I grew up with from its opening week, Midland Mall. I can remember hearing about the Bay City Mall opening at the same time as Midland. They were very much sister malls to each other, built at the same time, with a lot of the same styles. My family lived about 45 minutes north of the Midland Mall though, so Bay City was much more out of the way, and I honestly don’t remember even being in it once. Oddly enough for having been in Midland Mall and Fashion Square so much growing up. I actually never knew that Bay City ever had another mall. So you taught me something about where I grew up. I’m almost positive that Midland Mall was Midland’s first Mall though. And as I knew it, the furthest north mall in Michigan until you got all the way up to Traverse City. The northern lower peninsula really was a dead zone for malls from Midland to Traverse City. Heck, I’m pretty sure even the Grand Traverse Mall in Traverse City didn’t even open until 1992, a year after Midland and Bay City. Can’t wait until next week.

[@sirekumasutra7022]

IIRC the only malls north of Midland in the LP is GTM as you said and Alpena Mall.

[@mindyw782]

Midland did have another mall when I was growing up. It was the Circle Mall. It was in the location that is now Midland Law Enforcement Center. It was mainly mom and pop shops no national chains.

[@stormicusiii6582]

Midland mall is next. Midland mall is my hometown mall and childhood. Major 90s vibes from it to. Look forward to seeing it.

[@rolanddoe950]

Wonderful video, man. Your channel has quickly become one of my favorites.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thanks man! Glad to have you here!

[@ItsaRomeThingEverydayallday]

Am watching now, was working when I got notifications

[@moiseszaldivar8314]

Good evening northcdogg22 hope you're having a wonderful weekend. Bay city town center mall had a great design inside with it 90s styles still standing from it year past. I can speculating that In the 90s a production film company can do a scene inside of Bay city town center and the movie well be about something from family fun arriving soon.

[@seabee73]

I love the older Spencer's sign. They changed their signs here in Tampa. Thanks for another one.

[@mrmeyers26]

This video hits home literally. I grew up going to this mall as a kid. I remember every store front filled with shops. It went down fast after 9/11.

[@sunsetrecords2548]

I do have to say that it really was a beautiful mall I'm just so shocked it died so quickly

[@NorthCdogg22]

Me too, you would think people would love shopping in such a beautiful mall like this, but I guess the average Americans would prefer a bland white mall

[@isaakmerritt6676]

I've lived in Bay City for most of if not all my life, and I'd like to point out a few forgotten gems in that mall. Starting with when you walk in, if you look to your left. That used to be a Chinese all you can eat buffet, and when the food court was there? In the far left corner there was an arcade. And no, not that "fun shop" garbage we have now. I'm talkin' a full on arcade with cabinets and games like no tomorrow. It was the best. Moving downward, there was an FYE (Which was my personal favorite), a sports store next to that. A Sleeping Tiger next to the theater. Around 11:54 that used to be the BEST cookie place in town. The birthday cookies with frosting a plenty? TAKE ME BACK PLZ! We did end up losing it at some point. But it transitioned to an Auntie Annes. In which we lost that at some point, and the result is exactly what you captured. Most of my friends worked in that Target before they shut their doors for good. From what I was told, it was a messy endeavor. It's a damn shame of what's become of this and so many other malls out there.

[@joanneneaves9651]

Thanks for the video 📹 upload. This mall looks like a new residential home, a care home facility especially the way they have fake mock shop fronts they have these in new massive care home developments.

[@HelenaForeroCleves]

I love your background music, it sounds nostalgic

[@Syruproot]

I used to go to this mall a lot when I was very young, I was so sad when I noticed everything starting to close down including the Target

[@joeybuddy6]

I just came here from the Midland mall video where someone mentioned the classic Spencer's logo at this mall and I was like, with? The one in midland is totally old, too? How much older could it be? And Ouila! That's the store sign that my local Spencer's had when I started in 2004(Southland mall in taylor, Michigan, roughly 2 hours south of Midland). My first job. We got the store remodeled in 2007. I get kind of shocked when I still see the old storefronts operating. We held those stores together with zip ties, I cant believe so many are still standing lolll

[@AttentionAttention88]

i grew up in bay city and have spent so much time as a teen between 2010-2014 hanging out with friends, going to target, fye, hot topic, and sitting in the food court. both my sisters used to work at sears until it closed. i moved away around 2016 when it first started to fall apart and was shocked when i came up to visit around 2020ish to see what it had turned into. its lowkey kinda depressing seeing it like this since its practically unrecognizable from how i remember it. there was an arcade in the far back corner of the food court and a vitamin store next to it, there was an fye and a bath and body works across from the food court next to the theater. there used to be i think a chinese restaurant and a mastercuts where the now tarped off wall is when you first came in. i believe the space at 5:03 with the flowers used to be the kays jewelry; one of my sisters actually ended up working there after sears closed. seeing that old picture of target is making me feel nostalgic, i should scavage my old facebook and see if i have any old pictures taken here anywhere (also i actually had just moved to midland in july 2022 around the time you mentioned this video was being filmed!)

[@drugschool1612]

Midland Mall coming up

[@kitw76]

Wow this is one of the newer malls compared to some built in the late 60s, 1970s or 1980s

[@tanyanelson7080]

❤ Nice job on the video! ❤

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thanks Tanya!

[@jakesawesomevids7908]

Very cool video

[@Wesley_C]

Now this mall is getting so great, seems decent.

[@TrueDeadMallLegend]

Great Video! Not sure what the next mall is

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thanks!

[@arturocuizon69]

I like that round waterfall fountain you don't see fountains in malls like that anymore.

[@NorthCdogg22]

One of its best features

[@gonzo5648]

There's a dead mall across the river from here, the Hampton Town Square, iirc. It had those sunken lounge/smoking areas throughout along with fountains. I always thought those were super cool. I could imagine skateboard8ng around that old mall and ripping through those smoke pits like a Tony Hawk level.

[@JoJo-ie8sl]

Wow :| Just bleak, empty expanses of halls.

[@bothpoint8667]

I was there in 2018 and I remember it being much of the same maybe with a few more stores but still pretty much dead. That JCPenney had to be the darkest, most customer deprived department store I've ever been in. It was like a literal dungeon in that entire store and I'm kind of surprised it lasted two more years after that. Great video 👍

[@tavmully]

i go here constantly and i can say its still so depressing. only attraction is basically just the movie theater

[@RocketTCoyote]

I remember the Sveden House smorgasbord in the Target wing.

[@butterboiii9810]

Midland Mall is the next mall lol. Great video man.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thanks Butter Boiii!

[@348Tobico]

All I know as a frequent shopper at this mall is that with each change in ownership the maintenance gets worse outside the building. When first opened there was very nice landscaping now mostly just grass. The lots are rough to drive thru and lighting not as bright or safe as in the past. I stopped visiting about 6 months ago because I decided I can walk to exercise anywhere and Center Avenue is cheerier. Thanks for your videos, very well done.

[@burx18]

The old stomping grounds, a lot of memories here. You should try the Hampton mall across the Saginaw river in essexville

[@allent7118]

That’s the first Skittles vending machine that I’ve seen

[@NutButtJammySammy]

I've been going to this mall since I was a baby in the late 90s. I still live in the area and it's always sad seeing how far this place has fallen. I just hope the theater stays open.

[@ZeeMann_Retail]

Great video!

[@GrandAncientOak]

Used to walk my dog here all the time. Miss it.

[@stormicusiii6582]

I am local to this mall and have seen how it has done over the years. I have always thought this mall was pretty dead inside since at least 2016 and it has been getting worse. I absolutely love that small fountain in the centercourt. I also thought that this mall was kinda dark inside lacking nature light unlike the other two tri city malls. The JCPenney that closed in 2020 was almost identical to the JCPenney that was at Midland mall (closed 2017). Bay City as a city isn't doing very well, if you go downtown you will see tons of empty buildings and a lot of the infrastructure is falling apart.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Which really is sad because Bay City when I drove through it felt like such a perfect city, lots of character and such a great location! Nice and warm and in a great location of Michigan. It’s a shame..

[@iworkout6912]

As are so many smaller cities. Retail has moved outside of the city limits in most parts of the country. Drive down main street and you said, empty store fronts and some places even still have parking meters, mostly unused. Past the city limits and you have the fast food, Walmart, Target, and many other big box stores. Maybe a mall, that is nearly empty mixed in with the big boxes. I was traveling with a guy who does surveys for a company that McD's hires to evaluate areas where possible new McD's could do well, and McD's that aren't doing well. So I have seen so many small towns and cities all across this country. He did this right up until Covid, then he lost his job.

[@NorthCdogg22]

@@iworkout6912 that’s exactly how it always seems to be

[@dark3ndaspect457]

​@@NorthCdogg22I live here, and in my opinion there's nothing special about this city. I'm still a teen and haven't lived here all of my life but most of it so I'm too much of a reliable source but we suck. Our schools suck (atleast the ones I've went to), and honestly I could write a huge list complaining about this place. I swear the main source of economy in this city is the Starbucks across from the mall which is busy 24/7 and the like 30 cannabis'. Everyone does weed here, it's insane. Only thing memorable I can think of is the fireworks and that's about it.

[@Limitedmclovin]

Crazy as fuck tbh i got this video recommended so i live near this mall, if you are ever curious how popular it used to be peek google maps it will allow you to go back to i believe 2007-08 im not quite sure but you can slowly watch it die each time the google maps car updates the following years. Good video though they used todo quite alot in this mall i remember a few years of the Christmas lines to see Santa and such during the holidays

[@chrislemaster2695]

Peoria IL Spencer's still had as of 2021 has the neon sign

[@NorthCdogg22]

Good to know! Thanks!

[@LeoMidori]

Aesthetically this place isn't super far off from what my local dead mall looks like, although the nautical theme is a nice addition here. I'm happy to see a working fountain in one! It seems like such a rarity nowadays, especially in a dead location.

[@EddyCruz1029]

Great video. It's sad looking at this mall because it's probably the mall that'll close first in the tri cities

[@NorthCdogg22]

Unfortunately that could be the case..

[@denial987]

When I saw the name of this mall, I was immediately reminded of the fictional city called Bay City from soap opera Another World.

[@iBry232]

9:39 I don't know if my eyes are deceiving me, but that is a Gamestop with an Electronics Boutique faccade😶

[@NorthCdogg22]

That was definitely one!

[@anfieldlegend]

i watch a lot of dead mall content and yours is by far the best. question, are there any malls in america that are not struggling?

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you so much! And yes usually each larger city has at least one mall that’s still doing fairly well

[@melbrown6019]

There’s a mall by me in North Charleston called the Northwoods Mall that’s thriving. Also a mall where I used to live near Richmond, VA called The Chesterfield Towne Center that’s doing well. They are few and far between but there are some. I think we are overmalled now. Our shopping habits have changed.

[@cyroclasim]

I remember going here with my mom and brother back when I was little. It was so full of life back then... But the planet fitness seems to have brought a bit of life back to it. It's far from it's former glory

[@dark3ndaspect457]

The Planet Fitness and Movie theater are the only thing keeping the mall here alive because they're the only ones in the whole city. The gamestop is going to close down pretty soon I bet too because last time I was in there everything that wasn't an actual video game or gift card was on sale up to like 50% off, also everytime I've been there it's been empty but that may just be because it's a gamestop and not because of the mall.

[@WhittyPics]

It looks to still be in decent shape for being so dead

[@lizzwizz44]

Midland Mall . I've been all 3 malls. Sad the malls through out the United States are all dead and gone.

[@mycah925]

Bro dead ass pulled up to my childhood mall. Still go there to see movies tho.

[@elevatingmetrodetroit7072]

These are my guesses for the next mall: Midland Mall Birchtree mall Hampton town center Cherryland center Genesee valley center Rogers plaza mall Northland center Eastland center Main Street plaza

[@NorthCdogg22]

You got it!

[@melva190]

Midland mall next?

[@NorthCdogg22]

You got it!

[@VladisRed]

Make video you just driving on the highway with nostalgic music

[@nickyoung630]

Second times the charm I'm gonna guess once again the next mall you are going to is Midland Mall!

[@NorthCdogg22]

You know it!

[@mollyheffernen]

Did someone say Younkers? This layout almost reminded me of NorthPark Mall here in Iowa in a way. It is a shame the food court didn't make it though.

[@NorthCdogg22]

It really is, the food court from what I saw was a beautiful extension of the malls already amazing atmosphere

[@qazwiz]

too bad you didn't mention/know-of Spencer Gifts in Flint's Eastland Mall. was almost exact layout but different signage, likely due to the decades between offering updated signage

[@johntravolta8494]

The food court was awesome, it even had a pretty cool arcade in it 😢

[@Kylethejobber]

I live right next door to this mall

[@randomguyiguess3241]

What is first song used, sounds vaporwave-y to me lol hm

[@NorthCdogg22]

It’s called Water Slide by Glaciaere, all music in this video is by them, very Vaporwave-y indeed

[@IMPALASS9111]

I am also from the area ,I am about twenty minutes away I remember this is the last mall in my area that still had a video arcade and they had a Ruby Tuesday I think I will have to take a trip to Bay city to walk the mall again and our mall the fashion square mall in Saginaw is in about the same shape, on line shopping has killed the malls .

[@stevebayt145]

"No views" Gold medal again.....

[@detroitshadowlands]

Are you showing Midland Mall next?

[@NorthCdogg22]

You know it!

[@blackwormboy]

That place was the hub of my teenage life. I would walk there on the weekends, buy a movie and cd, newest xanth book and walk back home. Maybe eat a burger at A&W hit the arcade. Mingle with the ladies. But Amazon and Walmart killed all that fun

[@MrMetalpunx]

Tropical? Beach? I'll have some of what your on.....

[@skreeb]

This use to be such a nice mall. Its been so heartbreaking seeing it close up. I go to it occasionally and I look where new walls are covering up old stores. Anyway, its nice seeing someone go to our little city and posting it to the internet. Not much happens here.

[@flatoutfail]

They blocked off the food court over by the movie theater

[@trobbins88]

My mom helped open the Kmart at the Hampton Square Mall across the river from this mall. I remember when this mall opened...it completely killed off the Hampton Mall. It is sad to see it in this shape, but that is the economy in this area. There were a lot of great stores in this mall...Target was always a destination for school supplies not only for me as a kid, but for my kids many years later. It should be torn down and be made a strip mall with the small selection of stores with the movie theater. When you go about 2 hours south, the malls are much healthier with a better selection of stores. Bay City and the Wilder Rd business district is turning into a dump. When both toll bridges are fully up and running by 2024, it will be the death knell to the area. One has to wonder how old the gumballs are in those vending machines...gross.

[@moiseszaldivar8314]

My speculating on the next malls videos might be is? 1: Midland mall Or 2: grand traverse mall?

[@NorthCdogg22]

Midland is correct!

[@moiseszaldivar8314]

@@NorthCdogg22 thank you so much northcdogg22 👏☺️.

[@drugschool1612]

If he goes up to traverse then Cherryland would get the first billing. It died when Grand traverse opened.

[@almond6520]

My Guess...hmmm...Midland Mall?

[@NorthCdogg22]

You got it! Unfortunately 2 others got it before you, better luck next time!

[@juniorflavin4966]

Jamestown mall Caught on fire today 4/19/2023 at 5 clock

[@sherriwattrick5756]

You could've made this a double feature. There is another dead mall heading east in the suburb of essexville.

[@HenryRoss-wu4lo]

Another one

[@rathorclemenger6125]

I don't know why, but every time I see/watch a video of a mall with a stage, I always picture stage performance for kids that unvolve characters like Dore or some characters from MLP. Don't know why.

[@ripperwrestling6587]

We wanted to put in a year round wrestling academy in the Target wing of that mall but the owners did not want the liability. They must not understand the popularity of that sport in Bay City Michigan, we have some of the best wrestlers in the nation, several with multiple national titles. We wanted to have national tournaments hosted here as other towns have done with old malls. We were talking about big money. Us locals travel far and wide for camps, clinics, training, and practice year round. That spot would of been perfect for the parents, kids, spectators, and the economy. At least we have a local who is renovating an old WWII German POW camp for training, it's 1/16th the size but investing in Bay City Youth's is the best asset any city can have. BTW a primarily Bay City Team took 3rd place at a National Tournament in Hoover, Alabama Deep South National Duals K-8 and the High school Team took 5th. Another killer in this city is the property taxes are extremely high for a small town but other than that I love my home town. I been married 24 years now and my first date with my wife was in Bay City Mall.

[@rapturetzz1457]

I'm only 30 but I remember so many of the stores in this mall. So sad to see it bleeding out faster and faster.

[@AttentionAttention88]

same, its practically unrecognizable now :(

[@hifijohn]

Trivia 70 pop band bay city rollers go their name from this town.

[@coreycoyle9548]

I like the Fountain!!! F+L, Corey

[@tavmully]

i go here all the time...the only attraction is the movie theater lol it feels like a backrooms level

[@GabeWilliams]

I went here a lot as a kid. Sad to see its current state

[@TimfromMKE]

Did you visit Fashion Square Mall in Saginaw?

[@NorthCdogg22]

Nope, episode on that one right before this mall

[@TimfromMKE]

@@NorthCdogg22 Watching now thanks

[@randomguyiguess3241]

Hmm

[@spyrothedragon1319]

Midland mall

[@thedarkwraith666]

You were near where I live 3 months ago

[@thedarkwraith666]

7 months later I started working at the Bay City Cinema, come by the Bay City Town Center to meet the Ghost of Bay City, Michigan

[@thedarkwraith666]

my name is Wraith, and yes that is my real name

[@cbale2000]

"Bay City Michigan, the neatest little beach town" I hate to break it to you, but the beaches in Bay City are pretty far down the list of things its known for. Bars, Boating, and Riverfront activities are are the main draws.

[@gonzo5648]

Fact. The silt at the beach keeps them from being very desirable when there are other options around.

[@dongies5834]

You forgot all the "pot shops"......

[@dennisward4855]

see what happens when a management company takes over a mall. first they raise rent renewals prices to make profit. so when lease is up they leave and your left with a empty building. ALL OWNERS STOP. STOP HIRING MANAGEMENT COMPANIES OR YOU WILL LOSE OUT ON RENTERS AND MONEY...

[@nole8923]

Unless manufacturing or tech industry is brought into middle and northern Michigan it is doomed to decline in population and become more depressed. Nobody is going to want to live there for the sake of living there because it’s cold as hell there most of the year.

[@blackwormboy]

They already are. SKsiltron is one of them. More are coming.

[@Sharksnak7]

Tropical is not how I would describe Bay City. I love my city but tropical it is not.

[@kippaseo8027]

Here is another sad example of post demographic change.

[@lasekmmmk7785]

Im late to the party here but this mall had THE BEST chinese restaurant here, and nobody remebds the name. It wasnt chens, tho chens was a good buffet. Tbere was a chinese restuarent in the food court thatd blow your mind. I miss it.