Dead Malls Season 5 Episode 27 - Pittsburgh Mills

[@aidenkrug5114]

The craziest part to me is that it is not a bad looking mall

[@amuro1701]

Walked through this mall in the fall of 2008 and counted about 40 vacancies even then. Many of the vacancies were never filled.

[@davinp]

I live down in Virginia near Potomac Mills Mall. This mall opened in 1985 making it one of the oldest Mills Mall. It will turn 38 on Sep 19, 2023. The mall is still thriving with over 220 stores on one level. It brought one of the first Ikea's to the United States. It has been a tourist attraction. The mall currently has an AMC Theater and 1 Round Bowling. It also has a JCPenney. The mall is now owned by the Simon Group as they own all Mills Malls except Pittsburg Mills Mall. We also have a Walmart down the street behind the mall

[@dansimon1100]

I've been there before. It's been a few years since I've been there, but. The crazy thing is, that's the same year I was born. I live in Virginia, too. Winchester area But I was Probably 6 months old.when that mall open But I'm originally from Texas, and we had a mall down there. Called grapevine Mills mall. Kind of laid out like this mall.

[@unknown_guy5366]

They also disowned St. Louis mills, and it closed circa 2019.

[@JoandrieAlvarado]

95

[@NWIndianaElevators]

Century III Mall (or Plaza) as the finale is going to be AWESOME! Great video!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Indeed it is! Thank you for watching!

[@NickMate]

​@@NorthCdogg22can't wait, nice work my dude

[@QuintusAntonious]

He literally got there at the last possible moment for urbex. Only a few weeks later they started cracking down hard on people going into it.

[@NorthCdogg22]

@@QuintusAntonious exactly, also we got in there last safely as the building itself is starting to fall apart

[@BertieW0oster]

I remember exploring this mall with my grandmother back in 2005-2006, we enjoyed just browsing all the shops and getting some exercise. She passed away in 2019, so those memories are even more precious now. One of my favorite memories was going to the hobby shop, which used to be in that red store front building seen at 11:57 on the left. My grandmother bought me an awesome radio controlled airplane there in 2006, which got me started in the hobby of model aviation.

[@tristanchambers3350]

Century 3!!! That’ll be a great episode

[@QuintusAntonious]

There was a period of time in the late 2000s when this mall was doing well and was actually pretty fun to be in. But, I kid you not, that period of time was extremely narrow. It struggled to take off, then it's "golden age" lasted about two years before it started to have real problems. By the mid-2010s, it was already in steep decline and I'm frankly surprised it held on this long. During those few years of prosperity, though, it was my favorite mall in the area.

[@jfranco77]

So true. I worked a few miles a way when the Mills first opened and we'd go there to eat at the food court during lunch breaks - the place was jumping! And when they first opened, the movie theatre and the adjacent Starbucks and sit-down restaurants were always crowded.

[@QuintusAntonious]

@@jfranco77 The food places in the food court were pretty decent too. I remember the Chinese place and Mexican places being pretty good for mall fast food. The theater was nice too!

[@jfranco77]

@@QuintusAntonious OMG, that's right, they also had some kind of sandwich place that had honest-to-goodness Boars Head deli sandwiches at one point too.

[@seabee73]

Congratulations on the 10,000. I like those glove seats. The music is always fitting that you play. What a shame it never took off. It is a different set up compared to other malls. Thanks for another one

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

The Sears Grand was also used as a rented storage spot for film productions in the area after it closed.

[@ganbareshamiko1730]

Not gonna lie, the part where you walked around the mall with nothing but the reverby BGM playing gave me nostalgic feelings for a mall that's literally on the other side of the world for me. If only this mall could get transferred easily to a more viable area. Fire episode and equally fire mall 🔥🔥🔥

[@torydz]

I was interested in taking retail space there with the promise that they were going to build a hotel that connected to the mall itself (near where the big golf balls are). I decided against it, because even then I could see the downhill signs. The hotel never came to be and I'm glad I didn't sign the lease. Although I hear now (June 2024) that Ollie's Discount is moving to Pittsburgh Mills. However, they didn't say if the store is going to be in the mall itself, or just in the main plaza.

[@JoshYT1]

Hearing that Christmas soundtrack you play always brings me back to better times. From the busy crowds at the mall during the holiday season, to the serenity of sipping hot chocolate on a cold winters day as a kid. Rip Pittsburgh mills, the memories and those glove chairs 😂 will live on in our memories! Can't wait for the season finale, I see you Century 3!

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

Awesome video! One of the things not called out in these Mills vids is how the household incomes fall off the side of a cliff once you drive past Fox Chapel on route 28 heading to the mall. There was not enough money to support this mall up 28, it’s unfortunately full of old historic mill towns that will never come back to success. If anyone actually wants to see what’s near the mills, take a few minutes and drive around the city of New Kensington… get ready to be shocked at the status of decay. 😢

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thanks for watching CPA!

[@slackingpacking]

I came here in 2021 but lost the footage unfortunately. I’m going to go back here eventually. Congratulations on 10k subs dude! 🎉

[@NorthCdogg22]

Looking forward to that video! Thank you!

[@sunsetrecords2548]

Definitely a quirky looking mall that unfortunately never got the life it deserved. A true icon in the dead mall community and one that most of us will remember as time goes on. Great video!

[@BreakTime10101]

We have Arizona Mills mall here, although I don’t know how they are doing. So sad to see what’s happening to these malls. But Bath and Body Works always seem to be the last store in these dead malls. We really enjoy your videos, thanks for sharing. 😊

[@tiggerbear3]

So, this mall should become a memory care center for Alzheimer's patients. It literally just came to me. It's got everything, including a "main street"

[@2010MegaScooter]

5 years later, "The death of Mall of America" 🤯 Love your content man. Keep it up! ❤

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

The restaurants across from the movie theater was a Houlihans, also Johnny Rockets and there was a very small Starbucks next to the theater.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thanks for the info! I figured this mall had a Johnny Rockets, I just wasn’t sure where

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

Dude, great call out concerning that for a span of time, ITT tech also rented a decent amount of stores to house classes for students before they also went out of business abruptly. That was actually the last big deal “non-traditional anchor” the mall lost. I remember the local Pittsburgh news stories that day when people showed up for class and no go… sad.

[@QuintusAntonious]

Sorry for multiple comments, but this was one of my local malls. If you (or a viewer reading this) are ever there for real--New Dimension Comics is a pretty awesome comic book store. Thankfully they have another location at the Waterfront so when Pittsburgh Mills goes under, it won't be the end of them.

[@camom494]

If you ever come back to the Upper Midwest you should visit Valley View Mall in Lacrosse, Wi. That mall has really gone downhill.

[@NorthCdogg22]

It’s definitely on the list!

[@anthonyjuaire5852]

If you are ever down in Kansas, you should do West Ridge Mall in Topeka while it's still open. It's a 2 story mall with 5 Anchor's and probably around 100 stores. It used to have a movie theater but it's been closed for about 10 years. It's also next door to the the countries 2nd largest Walmart.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Heading there today!

[@PitzkeMP]

Totally vibing on your content. Love the mixture of nostalgia, existentialism, and history! I'm glad your stuff popped up in my recommended feed

[@NorthCdogg22]

Welcome aboard! Glad you’ve been enjoying it!

[@GR8FLMD3AD]

Thank you for getting me through my Covid recovery.

[@KisMomma]

The Mills Mall is, in fact, a mile long track. Those mall walkers need to get their steps in! It's surprising how utterly dead it is, considering how the other plazas in the center are constantly busy. Walmart, Sam's Club, Lowes, Aldi, etc. are all there. I still remember the mall opening since i live in the area. Great video!

[@RF-vg5kv]

It’s a great spot for mall walking , they still have a chinnese buffet that is really good ! The owner is such a nice guy as well .

[@luketenley]

I went to P. Mills a few years after it opened. I was amazed at how big it was. I was used to Robinson, which isn't a small mall, but designed way different. I liked the neighborhoods and different design. Sad there wasn't a nice fountain or something in there. I hated making the drive out 28 to get there. I lived near the Airport, so it was a haul for me, especially in traffic.

[@greatcitysportaction2289]

In my opinion, if this mall closes, it should be demolished for at least an indoor skatepark, at least a few retail stores, at least a few restaurants, and a Car Wash with a site layout very similar to the Brightworks Car Wash in Fort Worth, Texas but a lot bigger with more indoor hand wash bays for not only cars and trucks but also classic cars, semis, buses, cargo vans, motorcycles, motorhomes, and boats, at least two touchless in-bay wash systems, an on-site oil change center, an on-site auto repair shop, an on-site auto body center, an on-site auto glass center, an on-site convenience store, and an on-site gas station.

[@mayavenuemisfit814]

I remember once upon a time when this mall actually did half-decent business, and had a fairly respectable selection of stores. Unfortunately, as expected, it didn't last. Not only was it built about a half-hour from downtown Pittsburgh, the suburbs that it serves are among the more rundown and economically depressed. New Kensington, Arnold, Lower Burrell, Tarentum, etc. If I were moving back to the Pittsburgh area, that area wouldn't be first on my list to move to. To the contrary, it would be second to last behind Braddock or McKeesport on my list. And businesses and retailers sense that. Hence what you have there today.

[@christopherweise438]

Dude.....your music choices are SO good. That opener was awesome. Plus, I always learn so much from your videos.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you!! It means the most when you guys appreciate the music I find, so much thought goes into the meaning of each song!

[@christopherweise438]

@@NorthCdogg22 - I'm a musician....so it's the first thing i notice. Keep up the good work.

[@youtubesucks8024]

I agree the opener was a banger

[@Dante02000]

Name of song?

[@robertbinz2716]

I was 20 when that mall opened and spent many hours at that place. I even worked at JCPenney as a custodian for a year. I got my first phone there, got kicked out of lucky strike lanes a dozen times, spent far too much money on those claw machine and tower building games and saw more movies than I can remember at Cinemark. I got an Italian sub from Subway and got cucumber on it and gave half to my friend that had no money. Made so many new friends and memories that I truly cherish.

[@anfieldlegend]

sunday morning in sunny brisbane and my weekly dose of american dead mall footage. thanks mate

[@NorthCdogg22]

No problem! Glad you enjoy!

[@kitw76]

Sad to see such a nice mall fail. Never heard of Sears Grand stores… interesting… good concept to complete with wal mart.

[@NorthCdogg22]

I wish they could’ve pulled through!

[@OceanluvOC]

I’m a new subscriber & I had no idea there are so many dead malls! I live in California and since real estate is so wicked expensive we have very few dead malls left abandoned. They are demolished and turned into other businesses or housing etc. Luckily the malls in my area are all thriving and doing very well. Sad seeing these empty malls 😢

[@DominickM-cd7zu]

Excellent video! Out of all the Dead Mall Vloggers, your videos are the BEST! Very Professional!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you!

[@mickimurray4267]

I live 10 minutes from The Mills, and I really miss it! It was really fun when it first opened 😢

[@JenniferinIllinois]

After all the binge watching, I'm now caught up. Gotta wait for the next one. 😉

[@cinnabonluvr]

maybe its just me, but i feel like there's an insane amount of light in this mall! so bright... holy moly

[@HiFi_Vibes]

If y'all are ever down west, Northern Nevada in particular, visit Carson City Mall in Carson City, NV and the Reno Town Mall in Reno, NV. It's like a time machine back to the 60's and 70's. They are somewhat dead, but the hipsters are keeping them alive with small businesses.

[@scottDchicago]

Great episode! The music tracks were extremely eerie.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thanks Scott!

[@chrissasandlin8344]

I don't think it was until this video that I realized how odd the Mills branding was: discount theme park mall! Yeah...how does that attract shoppers? The sky trail looks cool but seems as random as anything else. And those quotes! Hauntingly inapt?

[@AbcDef-iq4no]

This video certainly isn't very timely being that it was filmed 10 months ago. On Aug 28, 2023 it was announced that local officials have pursued three cases against the building's owners since 2021 for tax delinquency, but the company has yet to make payments. If it doesn't, the property is slated to go to sheriff's sale in October 2023.

[@WhittyPics]

Some Mills malls are a total dumpster fire like the one in Cincinnati while some are thriving like the one in Concord, NC

[@chrislemaster2695]

Our mall here in Peoria IL has a gas station convenient store inside and is was always busy up until just recently.

[@mizunashi995]

saw you uploaded this while i was binging some of your older episodes. keep up the amazing work

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you! Will do🫶

[@RollerskateKyle]

Great video! Loved the music choice. Congrats on 10k!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thanks man! Love it when you guys like my music choices

[@ZeeMann_Retail]

Glad to see you and Andrew collab together! Some of the best mall content creators! Great video!

[@NorthCdogg22]

You’ll see much more of us collaborating soon! Thanks for watching ZeeMann!

[@ZeeMann_Retail]

@@NorthCdogg22 That’s awesome! I can’t wait to see! Yeah, you all are great guys. Looking forward to it.

[@dansimon1100]

Century 3 mall will be the last one. But congratulations on 10,000 subscribers. Also, this mall reminds me of the one in texas Call grapevine Mills mall. It's laid out similar to this. But I think it's a little bit bigger. And it has that race track shape interior.

[@Nenezilla]

Its so difficult to get to, you have to get on a highway. And they never really had alot of stores there. So sad.

[@aubreymorgan9763]

the size of this thing is reminding me of Sawgrass Mills Mall. I guess also done by Mills...it seems to have a specific style

[@moiseszaldivar8314]

Good evening northcdogg22 it been a while. How are you doing today?, hope you're enjoying your weekend. Why do I have a feeling that this mall Pittsburgh Mills have a touch to st. Louis Mall from one of your previous videos. Like the hallway, the food court and especially the colors?.

[@CashMcHenry]

It’s sad to me I used to come here with my family when I was little and that was just 6 years ago and now there is barely any to do to go

[@denial987]

Did you know that the Mills Corporation has a Mills Mall in Vaughn, Ontario? It's located near Toronto.

[@geoffreyabubakary605]

It’s so similar to Tsawwassen Mills outside Vancouver, BC. It opened in 2016, yet the interior design elements are almost the same (dated). I went once and I just don’t see the attraction at all, considering there are so many other malls in the region with better access to transit and an overall more upscale vibe.

[@frankschipani7682]

Looks a lot like Great Lakes Crossings Mall in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

[@ERA_Productions]

Great video! This was such a fun hang!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Indeed it was dude! Thanks for watching!

[@markvolpe2305]

Just so you know, one of my local malls the Eastern Hills Mall in Williamsville, NY will be closing January 14, 2024.

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

The kids playground was actually sponsored by PBS Kids. It had all kinds of PBS branding signs around the play area next to Children’s Place.

[@NorthCdogg22]

I forgot about PBS was partnered with the Mills while they were around, pretty interesting history

[@anjanaamirapu496]

Love this mall, great memories

[@mollyheffernen]

The age of this is similar to Jordan Creek. I haven't been there for a few years. Thank goodness Jordan Creek is way more subtle. I think it does pretty well although I wonder if they may ever add a 4th anchor...

[@ferrarriohh]

It really does resemble Arundel Mills Mall in Maryland. I still say if I ever hit the lottery, I am investing into a huge dead mall, turning a portion of it into a film studio. So many perfect sets already built for filming 90’s-2000’s smaller budget films, and plenty of room for a green screen studio. Keep the Bath & Bodyworks open😂

[@NorthCdogg22]

That’s the best use for them!! Looking forward to that concept!

[@BreakTime10101]

I would open an indoor walking and dog park.

[@The-615]

Such a huge contrast between this and Opry Mills in Nashville... I'm not a fan but it seems to be very successful.

[@paulcroom3924]

That is so sad. What a waste of time, materials, and all those people who may have lost their jobs if they couldn't transfer somewhere else. I hope Arizona Mills stays open for a very long time. Fiesta Mall, Paradise Valley Mall and Metro Center closed and were torn down.

[@flawed1]

Celeb ate….. but what did they eat? 🤣 Great video once again.

[@NorthCdogg22]

😭😭 thanks for watching!

[@robomatt101]

Congratulations on 10k subs!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you so much!!

[@rockersrobloxandmore]

YES ITS OUT! WOOO! IVE BEEN WAITING ALL WEEK (this is the height of my week btw)

[@NorthCdogg22]

Hope you enjoy!

[@rockersrobloxandmore]

@@NorthCdogg22 sure did.

[@lolwowanddamn]

track id at around 19:21 ?

[@NorthCdogg22]

It’s the track called Break Time in this KmartWave mix, hope you enjoy the rest of it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGW9qWmVoLtrm7ssi=LOMvO0a0zD_UE1an

[@lolwowanddamn]

@@NorthCdogg22 big ups, going through a rough patch in college right now but your vids never fail to dissapoint, helps me study actually haha

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

As for the future… The mall is “kinda” close to the turnpike, but people don’t get off that exit to go up 28, they go down 28 to downtown Pittsburgh and the tunnels. With that said, it maybe could be warehouse space for trucks heading up and down the turnpike. But there are too many malls in Pittsburgh and all the shine and attention Pittsburgh had about 15 years ago as “the most livable city in the USA” has worn off and people are only moving to Pittsburgh for the schooling at universities, work in healthcare with UPMc or some tech jobs, which are actually going to other cities recently. The city has lost some of its popularity… for now…

[@NorthCdogg22]

I could see it becoming a warehouse complex or some kind of distribution center easily!

[@eliasgould2980]

one of my favourite dead malls

[@andrew41980]

What desert sands song was that at like 15 minutes? Before the Christmas stuff

[@wesleypeters4112]

I thought that Southern Hills Mall in Sioux City, IA had a long concourse in between the anchors. This is just ridiculous. Another observation, but how wide is the walking space between the shops? It doesn't look very wide.

[@NorthCdogg22]

It was mind boggling, and yes you are correct! The space in the corridor is tiny, Mills loved to save on space by implementing this in their malls

[@CoolCatProductions-365]

Amazing video as always North. Can't wait for the big boy next week!!

[@NorthCdogg22]

You and me both!

[@TheRedRose1001]

You should come back! The mall is still open! 😂 The bookstore is gone though. 😢 I was there on Friday.

[@NorthCdogg22]

I’ll need to make a return trip someday! If it’s still around

[@TheRedRose1001]

@@NorthCdogg22 Ooooh I have a feeling it's gonna stay around for at least a couple of more years. Lol

[@BreakTime10101]

@@TheRedRose1001Is Bath and Body Works still open? 😂

[@TheRedRose1001]

@@BreakTime10101 It is! That place would probably be the last store standing. Lol

[@gretchenwinkler1573]

They should turn these dying malls that are still in good shape into junior college locations. This place looks to be in good shape unlike some of the scary places I have seen on this series. There should be plenty of parking, bathrooms, and locations to set up a wifi coffee cafeteria spot for students to relax in.

[@jfranco77]

There's a few small leaks (at least judging by the garbage cans in weird places), but yeah, this place is still outwardly in good shape and it would be nice if they found some kind of use for it before it decays into irreparability.

[@alliemarie2005]

What’s the song in the intro?? I love it

[@alliemarie2005]

Nvm just saw the credit haha

[@NorthCdogg22]

@@alliemarie2005 glad you like it!

[@alliemarie2005]

@@NorthCdogg22 just added it to my library 😊

[@Dante02000]

WHAT IS IT

[@alliemarie2005]

@@Dante02000 Arc De Soleil - Ghost of Fatalia

[@JamisonNeace-di5yw]

Who sings the vapor wave stuff?

[@melodiejones7100]

In 2017 Wells Fargo, which held the loan on the mall, bid $100 for it, apparently to keep anyone else from getting it for too low a price, so it was essentially just paperwork. In 2018 the notorious Namdar Realty Group bought it for $11.35 million, and like they do with their other properties, they're going to let it sit and deteriorate. It's unfortunate because the mall has been in good shape. It was just a bad location, bad timing, and the other things around it like the Nascar Speed Park were canceled and then the recession hit.

[@coolcat8867]

Part of the problem is there were too many malls built competing for customers & so it was an inevitable domino effect that some of these malls would fail but you hate to see a mall with such interesting aesthetics fail- Id love to sit in one of the hand shaped chairs!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Very true! Especially with this mall, in the market of just a few surrounding small towns. Developers really thought people would drive far and wide from the metro every day to see it, when in reality there’s dozens more better malls already established in the city. It’s a very overmalled market.

[@coolcat8867]

@@NorthCdogg22Agreed- business is mostly about location, location, location or youre already doomed.

[@moiseszaldivar8314]

If you have a connection to Pittsburg Mills Mall and st Louis Mall which one has something in common? For me well be the food court, hallways and especially the playground. But there is something missing?. But just thinking about it each malls you been going have a secret from the past unbelievable.

[@internallycombusted1]

pittsburgh mills mall "A nice place to take a dump". this is my favorite place to go on my lunch breaks

[@avane4627]

volare!!!! woooooooahh!

[@absolutethinker7764]

So all the trees have died in early September. Everything is dying there. lol

[@IHeartToodlez]

Century III Mall It Is?

[@NorthCdogg22]

Yes sir!

[@herroausw]

Where is the Olle with the brathering?

[@michaelcharley8384]

It looks surprisingly well kept. Is actually owned by a Saudi prince and the cia?

[@jakesawesomevids7908]

CENTURY 3 MALL and fire video!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Yessir! Thank you!

[@jakesawesomevids7908]

@@NorthCdogg22congratulations on 10k 🎉🎉🎉

[@chrisexplores1]

CENTURY 3 MALL

[@NorthCdogg22]

You got it!

[@chrisexplores1]

YES!@@NorthCdogg22

[@Shades_99]

Let’s go !!!!!!!!!🎉

[@slackingpacking]

Be careful. The feds are watching 😂.

[@NorthCdogg22]

@@slackingpacking true!😭 got me paranoid

[@derrickbutler8330]

My guess will be Century III Mall in Pittsburgh

[@BGNOLA]

2005 was really late for this sort of thing

[@davinp]

This mall has failed from the beginning since it opened. Perhaps it should never have been built. Probably not in a good location

[@snippet17]

The movie theater is open but by a local company.

[@VladisRed]

Why this video is so fucking nostalgic. That i was there personally. ROFL

[@chrislemaster2695]

This mall doesn't have a GMC. Maybe GNC saw this was a bad idea.

[@christianjames12]

Century lll is next!

[@NorthCdogg22]

You know it!

[@nick_stuff]

Century 3?

[@NorthCdogg22]

Yup!

[@ZeeMann_Retail]

I'm going to guess Century 3?

[@thenaturalselector81]

$100 disaster? Think you're missing a few digits

[@NorthCdogg22]

22:55

[@retailanddixeddfan503]

Yayyyy!

[@thenightporter]

Why not make malls hearts of the city? Plenty of room for a gym, bank, police station, health clinic. Put a Target/Walmart/grocery store in there. Hotel.

[@TheTimbo1983]

No Xmas decorations?