Dead Malls Season 6 Episode 23 - Ridgmar Mall

[@amandaevans3958]

I knew one day Ridgmar would appear on a channel like this, and now that it has I feel so sad. This was the mall I grew up going to, I remember when you had to wait for tables to open up at the food court just to sit down. Seeing all the closed store fronts of the places I would go with friends just hurts. Thank you for covering this mall!

[@NsyShwl]

I wish they would do it like in other malls where part of the mall is converted into studio apartments and things like that.. there's plenty of space and people who need somewhere to live..

[@Jwdude123]

Things change.

[@brjones27]

Yeh, me too. If our country and our currency didn't go to shit, these malls would still be alive.

[@larrydixon-vi7ld]

Chelsea Street Pub was a good time always

[@Chris98346]

@@NsyShwlyou may be on to something I googled to see if there were any plans on Ridgmar Mall and it looks like their is a proposal to have residential complex added on. It had some rendering of what it would look like.

[@rayh.1745]

As a guy who lives literally 5 minutes from Ridgmar, I cannot stress how much that the deathknell of the mall was the closing/downsizing of Carswell. At its height, Carswell supported nearly 8000 service members and civilian employees and somewhere between 15-25 THOUSAND family members. When the base got nearly closed that number dropped by more than three quarters. Losing that many people who had been right next door to the mall, was what killed its foot traffic.

[@JameeSkidmore]

I moved to Fort Worth in 1985. Ridgmar Mall was always my favorite. I can't imagine how it ended up like this. When I think about it even today, I only remember it as a bustling, packed, beautiful place to hang out. I moved to Arlington and just didn't go to that side of Fort Worth much. A couple of years ago I was driving by and decided to go visit. I was shocked to find it mostly empty. It was always way better than Hulen or NE Mall. So sad to see it like this.

[@Magicformula0]

Your so right better than even Grapevine I felt I remember Sam Goodies spending hours getting cds

[@emyludesigns]

Both my wife and I managed stores in Ridgemar for 2 years in early 2000. I managed the Gap, and she managed the Banana Republic. Our Gap didn’t have to pay rent because it would yearly flood with sewage that seeped up from pipes in our back room caused by grease from the food court above. Also fun fact prior to being renovated in the late 90s it was very dark and mostly covered in wood wall features. Before getting the renovation they shot a motorcycle chase scene for Walker Texas Ranger in it.

[@MLPowell691]

I was there that day! Downstairs at Waldenbooks. Had no idea what all the noise was.

[@timcloud1944]

It breaks my heart. I'm 44, and Ridgmar was the mall of my childhood. When Carswell AFB closed down, stores ran. Carswell was only a fraction of their business, but it made no difference. When the JRB was established, the big companies stayed gone. Now with the ever-accelerating decline of brick and mortar shopping, there will never be anything like Ridgmar Mall again.

[@paullewis69]

I have been a patron of this Mall since 1977; Toys By Roy, the big spiral walkway (right by the elevators), the arcade, El Fenix, Waldenbooks; so many found memories. One of the things that hurt this mall was the restaurant Chili’s pulling out in the late 2000s. Right at the outside and inside of the food court. From what I heard (please take with a grain of salt) that Chili’s pulled out bc they wanted to stay open later and asked for security guards to patrol until after midnight. Ridgmar did not want to accommodate the extra expense, so they left. Not knowing a thing about the Mall business, losing anchor stores (Dillard’s outlet has shut off their mall entrances) and not having any restaurants attached to it hurts.. The shopping centers that surround the mall parking lot are almost non existent as well. The aquarium shutting down, the pop-up shops that maybe last 6 months, it seems it takes 1 step forward and 2 steps back.. So sad to see it so empty.

[@Javachipgirl]

Oh gosh El Fenix was the best.

[@sandraq25]

So excited to watch this video! This was my childhood mall ❤ It sure is sad to see all the empty stores. I remember the mall being very busy during the early 2000s. My family and I spent many days at Ridgmar mall. I also worked at the Bath and Body Works that closed down in 2023.

[@jessej6187]

Same I still remember the old fountain

[@Emmytalksttv]

i love love love this mall with all my heart. i grew up going to it, and sadly had to watch it die. i still visit sometimes and recently went and took pictures on my 35mm camera. they came so beautifully tragic. i loved the way you framed the shots of this video; so so so well done! Thank you for doing this mall justice

[@charlesintx1776]

Wow, what a step back in time! I was in high school when Ridgmar opened....shopped there a lot through the late 80s, before moving away. Hard to believe its such a ghost town...and that Carswell AFB is a mere shadow of its former self.

[@emilyclark3635]

Used to be such a great mall. I remember going there all the way back when it had the fun spiral ramp (as a kid) and bringing all my kids there to play regularly after they were born. I always talk about how my grandparents used to bring us all to Wyatts Cafeteria and I miss it

[@appalachiantexan2729]

This makes me sad! I’m a Fort Worthian that grew up in the 80s. I lived closer to Hulen Mall, but Ridgmar was considered more prestigious because of Neimans. I also loved to run up and down the spiral ramp. Even when my kids were growing up in the mid 2000s, we went there all the time to play in the play area. The only time we ever go there now is for the movie theater. It’s hard to explain to my kids what the mall culture of my youth was like. I miss it.😢

[@fractuured1]

Oh my gosh! I lived away for over 20years and had completely forgotten the spiral ramp! I still have random dreams of shopping, not just as a kid but shopping at all ages, in random malls with a spiral ramp. I never could figure out why the spiral in my dreams. Thank you for giving this memory back to me and solving that mystery. 😊

[@BiblicalTeachings]

I live near Dallas and most the malls, that I hung out at in the 80's, are gone/demolished. I've been to the malls in FTW too, especially Arlington. Seems like all the Arlington malls, except The Parks mall, have all been demolished. It's hard to show our kids what it was like to be young and hang out at the mall, playing videos at Aladdin's Castle. We didn't have Playstation, XBox or Nintendo back in the 80's. Didn't have internet or cell phones either. Had to go to the library and read books, and use phone books to get phone numbers (write the numbers on our hand or arm in order to remember them). Those were the days.

[@JonesteinTX]

I live a stones throw from Hulen Mall but always preferred Ridgmar as well. I still go to that movie theater and sometimes walk around the ghost town of a mall, it’s pretty sad.

[@jeanniearnold6726]

Lived closer to Hulen Mall but also preferred Ridgmar

[@RecordnRtist]

It is sad, but I don't have children to explain it to. To be honest, the malls were great retail attractions that garnered tons of foot traffic, but the shopping experience wasn't all that great. If you had money to waste you could find something to spend it on.

[@chiquanvu]

I really appreciate your steady camera work. I can see lots of details without having to pause video every second. That’s proper consideration for your nostalgic viewers. Thanks buddy!!!!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Hey everyone!! I know I said that the next episode would come in 2 weeks, but upon reviewing the VERY short footage of the next mall. I’ve decided the next episode will come NEXT Saturday, see y’all then!!

[@seabee73]

@@NorthCdogg22 awesome

[@BrennanSawyer-o3v]

Great news!!!!!! Been re watching videos recently, on my dead mall kick for sure

[@UnknownGuest220]

links to the soundtracks?

[@ThelifeandtimesofBarneyTaylor]

I know where that is. It's about 20 miles away from me

[@toycop6279]

I grew up in west Fort Worth back in the 80s, when it was decent. My mom worked and retired from Neiman Marcus back in the early 80s. The mall was one of the best in the areas. It had everything from the food court to the variety of shops. I also had the opportunity to work there myself at the General Nutrition Center. The mall was very busy. When I was younger my brother and I had so much fun running up and down the cool circular ramp they had. And below it there was a fountain where my dad used to give my brother and I pennies for us to toss them into the fountain. There was a Whataburger with the saddle chairs. There was a cool arcade my brother and I spent countless hours in. The holidays were so much fun. I remember trick or treating inside the mall. I could go on. The mall was so much fun. I sure miss those days. Makes me sad to see how it is today. I blame the dumpster fire of a neighborhood around the mall. This is a big part of why the mall and other business around went under. I’m sure poor management had a little to do with it as well. It’s just sad to see what it’s become.

[@addisonstokes1644]

Fellow Fort Worth native here. I agree with everything you said, and while sad, it's quite fascinating. They chose to build in a fairly developed area of the city with the surrounding neighborhood being roughly 17 years old at the time. So there was absolutely an established community of consumers that could now visit all of their favorite stores under the same roof. All the appeal of convenience and grandiosity was there. Obviously, there are many economic factors that led to Ridgmar's demise since those glory days. And I too miss wandering those tile floors; wading through crowds of bodies, with that perfectly balanced aroma of deep-fried food and the department store fragrances. I still opt for the Ridgmar RAVE theater whenever I go see a movie. At least we still have that!

[@TexasTough1836]

I used to really enjoy Ridgmar mall. My home mall growing up. My parents, grandparents and I spent so much money in there - Christmas, Summers, Birthday and Start of each school year starting back up.

[@Magicformula0]

Christmas time there was another bring you to life felling you felt Christmas come to life for you I'm glad I took my kids there before it went down

[@traindude70]

Growing up with ridgemar mall, the first sign of rott was the chillies restaurant closing in the food court. The turtles used to all have water fountains in their mouths including the one on the I beam.

[@jeremyshaffer8777]

I remember, it was a close mall when I was stationed at NAS

[@sweetbeagaming]

Thank you so much for taking us on a tour. I adore this mall, it physically hurts me to see it this way. Next to the Neiman Marcus in 2000 there was a really cool marionette theater. I had my 5th birthday there. The Neiman’s used to do that entire atrium for the holidays and it was beyond magical.

[@Seven_Sinzz]

I currently live in Fort Worth like 10 minutes from Ridgemar. But growing up, this mall was always popping. Especially the movie theater, and the food court was always bustling. Much of my movies were at that mall, or going to gamestop for the latest vidoe game prior to my town nearby getting its own gamestop. Whats crazy is Hulen Mall is still consistently very busy. Times change, and things slowly fade away. So crazy. Thanks for doing this video, so freaking cool brings back a lot of memories.

[@matta2399]

Which is funny cause when I was in HS 2008-2012 Helen was empty and dead then they remodeled it after now ridgmar is dead.

[@Seven_Sinzz]

@@matta2399 Yea def use to be oppo, I was in Highschool 04-08 we all went to Ridgemar. crazy to see the difference and shifting of it all. Kinda cool tbh though!

[@fevernight123]

I miss this mall so much! It's where I got my first Nintendo Wii on black Friday! I always remember going to Payless shoe store with my mom and dad on Tax Free Day to get new shoes for school! Such a good mall! It used to be so filled! Thank you for making a video of this good place! I miss it so much!

[@C.J...]

Hi DFW! MEMORIES! ❤❤❤ If u went to this Mall in the 80's early 90's u can remember how jumping this place was and every now and then u could see and hear the fighters and cargo jets taking off from N.A.S. Air Force Base across the street. SIMPLER TIMES.😊

[@piglet7654]

@@C.J... I heard the jets from my house. Lol

[@piglet7654]

This was my favorite hangout mall when I was a teen! I went there about a month ago, and it's so sad seeing so many empty spots and very few people there. Even the upgrades they did years back, didn't help bring in the people or revenue.

[@cs0986]

I remember leaving my high school at lunch and driving 100mph to get to the food court and have lunch. Then hauling butt to make it back to class in time. Great memories there! I even remember the spiral ramp back in the day. Great video!

[@heatherosborn179]

I loved that spiral ramp!

[@bt5029]

Just a small correction. Ft Worth already had a mall in the early 60s, Seminary South Mall on the south side of Ft Worth built by Homart, the Sears Mall development arm.

[@larrydixon-vi7ld]

The 13%ers put Seminary South out of business before it's time

[@MrLosilluminados]

Aka La Gran Plaza

[@cbanks1980]

AKA: Town Center

[@shakarussanders9911]

Later became Town center

[@pdpowell22]

I remember the 50 cent movie days at Town Center in the 90s! Man I miss TC mall. Good times...

[@Kelli11123]

I grew up in Ridmar and my kids did too. The free play area that now holds chairs. Worked there one Christmas season in KB Toys. It was the best place for decades!

[@garlandtennyson130]

I have not been to that mall in years but I had no idea how bad it had gotten there - it was such an amazing mall with Neiman Marcus and the theater - so many specialty stores and even a Dallas Cowboy store!! And now it is like this!! I wonder how Hulen Mall is doing!!

[@piglet7654]

@@garlandtennyson130 Hulen is doing much better than Ridgmar now.

[@David-TX59]

I went to Hulen Mall today, almost full. Very busy for a Monday, January 20th. This Mall is doing very good.

[@absolutetruthgirl]

I love the warm sunlight spaces. It has a happy vibe. Would be a great place to mall walk.

[@chrispearson8779]

Back in the mid 80's we lived on the west side of Fort Worth. Myself and friends would walk there and hangout. Totally different back then.

[@dawndorminy4593]

OmGosh this makes my heart hurt!!! My parents owned a business on Camp Bowie from the 70s thru the 90s and we went to Ridgmar A LOT! When I was doing the Miss Texas Pagent (many moons ago and pounds! lol) we used to buy my interview outfits at Neimans (fr the sales rack! lol) but this place was always happening!!! Thank you for letting me remember some happy times!!! ❤

[@ringoroll]

Neiman's has great sales! No shame in getting luxury or designer for less!

[@tbrac489]

Haven’t watched this video, but it hurts just looking at the title. I worked for The Children’s Place, Aeropostale, and JC Penney at this mall. My friends and I hung out so much here. I don’t make it to that side of town often and due to all my retail experience (not just here), malls kinda make me cringe a bit lol. I hope something great comes of this building should it finally close. Something that keeps the history and structure of the building, but brings new life. Town Center change a little too much for me, but I am glad to see it still going.

[@evanshannon]

I worked at Aero, too! In 2008-2009!

[@shakarussanders9911]

I grew up in Ft Worth and lived on the West side for some years and went to Ridgmar mall a lot! It's sad to see it like this

[@garrettdodson6110]

I grew being drug through the mall as a kid with my mom. I remember when they did the remodel and installed the glass elevator and everything it was amazing. Then as a young adult shopping here hanging with friends and going to the Rave Theater!! I even worked at the Bukle there :) so sad to see it now. Especially when one of the richest neighborhoods (Westover Hills) in Fort Worth is just up the street. After Neiman Marcus contracts was fulfilled, and they moved to clearfork, was truly the beheading moment for Ridgmar

[@ringoroll]

I miss the old Neiman's Zodiac Restaurant

[@carolina.2624]

This was my childhood. I miss it so much 😞

[@Marketsolo]

I graduated in 74, so I got to see firsthand the building and once it opened, spent many years enjoying it.

[@carlosaguilar6156]

So many great memories from the 90’s there! That used to be the place to be for all teenagers back then.

[@cvson8099]

My parents would take me to this mall in the late 80s and through to the mid 90s. This is the first time I’ve seen it since then and it’s like a nostalgic kick to the throat. Makes me sad to see it dead

[@joerhea4899]

Went to High School at Western Hills this was our mall. When Dawn of the Dead came out we all agreed this would be our first or second stop to hole up and wait it out. Miss that place and the vibrance it once had, good times.

[@ericbingham-kumpfcomposer5293]

I remember when this mall was being built and when it opened up in the 70's. I went there about 5 years ago and things have not changed that much, so sad that this mall is on its last leg.

[@larrydixon-vi7ld]

My friends and I rode dirt bikes on the land before they started building it

[@jiggsb12]

This makes my heart ache. I worked in the Sears @ Ridgemar in the late 80s. Back then a college job with Sears could lead to having a really nice career with them. The fact that there was a Neimans alone made the mall something special. But when tickets for a major concert were about to go on sale, lines of teens and 20 somethings would camp outside Sears. I had friends in that department, so I'd just slip one of them an envelope with my money and later that day, they'd hand it back to me with my tickets. No muss no fuss. Made me a hero with my friends. Now Sears as a company is all but gone and Ridgemar is a wasteland. The world spins forward, we move on, if not up, and one day your vast future is a speck in the rearview mirror. All falls away eventually.

[@mamabear1324]

Oh this was my childhood mall.

[@leannebernard4750]

Heartbreaking. Grew up with this mall. Pre-cell phones & internet, this was our entertainment and way to communicate with friends. I bought my dress for the 8th grade dance here. As a high schooler, Truveé (sp?) in the satellite and Neiman’s were my favorite places to shop (loved getting the Neiman’s Christmas catalogue every yr. to see the obnoxious His & Her gifts!). In college, I worked at Dillard’s and met life-changing friends. One of my Bridal showers was at the Neiman’s Zodiac (the mall far outlasted my 3 month 1st marriage!). In the 90’s, I shopped with my girls here. One daughter had a HS graduation luncheon for all of her girlfriends at Ridgmar, complete with lunch at Neiman’s Zodiac, mall scavenger hunt and making Build-a-Bear party-favor bears. Later, as the mall was almost empty, we took one last trip for our grandkids to ride the train and to Sea Quest (Horrible decision!). The condition of those poor animals was tragic! Really regret that and glad it was eventually removed. Lots of memories at Ridgmar! The mall declined for many reasons: Carswell closed, the fast decline of surrounding neighborhoods & bad housing, unsavory clientele from that area frequented the mall causing rampant crime (ranging from pickpockets & harassment to assaults & gang shootings), and then finally the explosion of convenient online shopping & Amazon. Sad, but everything changes.

[@jdobbs7700]

My daughter and I used to go to Ft Worth to visit my mom and we often went to the movie theater at Ridgmar. Daughter is grown up now and Mom died a few years ago. I've lived in several cities around the USA and it's the same everywhere. The once booming malls have disappeared and it's kinda sad. BTW, I agree with all the factors you noted as reasons for the decline and death of the big shopping malls. Best wishes.

[@Tekma]

i was already impressed by the skylights, columns, and lighting. i wasn't ready for the awesome turtle pond.

[@bandyttu76]

They used to all be fountains with the guy up top spitting water to the bottom. So cool when I was little!

[@karenleigh31]

Sad to see but thanks for sharing. This was my favorite mall. I worked at the Spencer's back in the early 90's. I wish they'd revive it! It's so much easier to manage a 'one stop shop" trip to the mall than running all over town.

[@KelpShake98]

27:20 Those turtles actually used to have water coming out of their mouths! Was my favorite thing to go to as a little kid in the mid 2000s 😭

[@NorthCdogg22]

@@KelpShake98 that’s amazing!! Why would they ever remove that amazing feature I wonder😭

[@KelpShake98]

@@NorthCdogg22 My head canon is that they stopped working and didn’t bother going through the hassle of making them work again lmaooo

[@karinwade]

My local mall 💜I worked at JCPenney and Payless ShoeSource here in the '90s. The Military Museum is worth a visit. Mostly I visit when I want to walk around indoors (Texas heat is no joke) because they play '80s/'90s music. The Rave movie theater is my go to place for movies...Thanks for posting!

[@franciscodanconia4324]

That’s the one thing I don’t understand. Why are outdoor shopping centers now popular again here in TX? The whole draw of indoor malls here was you don’t have to stroll between stores in 108 degree heat in August. But somehow we’ve gone back to that.

[@jdobbs7700]

​@@franciscodanconia4324I grew up in DFW and I moved back from Colorado to care for elderly family a few years ago. I agree with you... I knew the Texas summer heat would bother me but I really underestimated it. DFW folks complain about the cold and I just don't get it. I will say this... I had to live in Houston for a few years and the summers in DFW are much easier than the humidity from the Gulf Coast.

[@henryd1981]

While Carswell AFB closed, the base was immediately recommissioned as Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, which is still there today.

[@alex_crist]

Yes and is one of only 2 Lockheed Skunkworks in the world (that we know about)

[@VickieDawn]

Speaking of Lockheed, I can't help but wonder about the people who work there. How they sleep at night, maybe lots of drugs. Clearly people with no conscience.

[@motoguzzi7592]

@@VickieDawn What an utterly stupid comment

[@MooCowMali]

I used to play DDR in the arcade at Ridgmar back in the 2000's. We never had a lot of money but hung out at the mall a ton, loitering around and getting kicked out of stores. It sucks that they painted over a lot of the interesting colors there, the mall's current skeleton is so eerie to look at. RIP the turtle fountains.

[@ptarrow6817]

Lived nearby and was a frequent shopper. Neiman Marcus, Dillards (still there as a clearance center), Sears, JC Penny plus all the usual mall stores. Lost during one of the renovations was the El Fenix restaurant featuring multiple levels, waterfalls and ornate Mexican tiles.

[@McKellerHome]

This was the highlight when my family traveled from west Texas. Lunch at El Fenix and then we got turned loose to go to the toy stores and music stores before hitting the road again. I always loved hearing the F-4's roaring over the top of the mall from the AFB nearby.

[@laurakobetich9809]

I’ve heard it called Dirty Dillards lol, but it’s actually really well organized and full of great deals. Totally worth going

[@gustavoayala7176]

👋, Thank you so much for making a video of ridgmar mall, It was the mall to go to when I was a teenager in the 2000s. At one point ridgmar mall was a lot more popular than Hulen mall. I watched ridgmar mall die throughout the 2010s. It's dying a slow and painful death. I believe what started killing ridgmar mall was when they started building stores outside the mall during the mid 00s to 2010s and the clearfork shopping center an (outdoor mall) built by the chislom parkway toll road in 2017 which of course caused Neman Marcus to relocate to clearfork. Then 2020 came and the pandemic made things worse for ridgmar even tho it was on it's ass by the end of the 2010s. Westside Fort worth's crime went up too which caused ridgmar's decline too.

[@matta2399]

Same here!

[@ravenx054]

This was the hangout spot during the 00s because you had chillis and the movie theater. You could easily get a ride there, hangout all day and see a movie.

[@8BitBlood]

I was filming here a few months back and the security ran me out. I'm not sure why they didn't want me to capture an empty mall on camera. Glad you got this much content

[@Javachipgirl]

I got asked to stop taking photos inside Ridgmar a few years ago too when vent there. It was so depressing.

[@8BitBlood]

@ it’s so strange that they discourage photo and video. I’d pay to have a sleep over there 😂😂

[@saltybird]

As soon as Bath and Bodyworks left like last year I knew more shops would leave. The memories, from the KB Toys to the Hot Topics, miss this place.

[@larrydixon-vi7ld]

Spencer's was always a cool place to browse

[@22flowersC]

I used to work here in high school! Down stairs in front of the Forever 21 I think it is and Finish line (whatever shoe store that is right by the bathroom) used to be a Haagen Dazs stand and that's where I worked. My manager used to make me skip my lunch and bring me an Auntie Anne's Pretzel LOL! Oh yes it was downstairs next to that kiddie playground. So crazy how empty it is now .

[@sarahburnett4591]

this was my childhood mall. im now 22. i have fond memories of specifically the food court and the play area. i’m very glad to hear this is one of ur top five malls ❤ it was my number one.

[@sidewalkid]

Ridgmar was the mall I grew up with. The "Arena" screens you showed at the beginning used to show all the sports games that day. Dad's/grandads/uncles would sit there and watch the cowboys lose while the women shopped. The kids would be about 30 yards away at the EB games playing the demos. When yugioh first came out they had a huge tournament all over the mall. When the Playstation one first came out downstairs in the same area in front of the sears they had a HUGE mini forum where you could play parappa the rapper, crash bandicoot and spyro.

[@sidewalkid]

There is a clip in this video right by the food court. Me my dad and my sibling went to the mall and we looked on the other side of the "glass circle" and saw our uncle at the mall. We didn't know he would be there and we all went back home and had dinner together. My uncle passed away a few weeks ago. Thank you for that memory.

[@msimpson6833]

Another great episode. Once again, love the music. It just goes with your narrating and fits in.

[@fractuured1]

In the late 70s, I was running around one of the pool walls while my mom was in a store shopping. A goofy kid thing to do, wearing reddish gauchos and with a cream shawl. I was probably 6 or so. Fell off that wall right into the fountain! I jumped out like a cat on fire, just knowing i was in big trouble. A woman immediately came over to make sure i was okay and to console me. Offered to get my mom for me. Mom came soon enough anyway, and her and the woman had a good laugh over silly kids. I went to that mall for all the rest of my growing years, window shopping with friends almost weekly. My hubs and I moved away as adults for military service. Twenty years later and here we are back, just a few miles from where I grew up, near the mall. Sad to see it sit empty.

[@CatoptricCistula]

Crazy to think, most of the mall is shut down completely, and yet it claims to be open. The Vista Ridge Mall (now 'Music City Mall' though no one calls it that) is kind of in a similar predicament. I might have gone here in the early 1990s, but that was the only time.

[@Magicformula0]

When i lived out in fort worth this was the best mall around the holidays made you feel like a kid every time you were there so full of life people enjoying themselves restaurants this place came to life in a difenrent kind if way it brings tears to my eyes seeing it like this it looked alot better when they redid it id totally stop buying online if they juat brought malls back to life.

[@PeterMullens]

When Carlswell closed, the mall as well as a lot of the other neighborhood stores suffered greatly. As less customers were shopping more undesirable things and people began to show up. It was a vicious cycle that could not be stopped.

[@scapegoat762]

That's a nice way to put it.

[@johnappleseed9290]

Last time I shopped at this mall was in 2012, even then it was still hustling and bustling, right around 2015/2016 the mighty decline started to happen. Online shopping killed the malls in the US. And after the pandemic that was the final nail to the coffin, it’s a damn shame, great memories but so eerie to see it like this now.

[@pauldehart744]

I live by this mall for over 20years now. Back when I move to Ft Worth, it was a active place to go. The Rave theater soon open after I got here and still where we go to watch movies. They have upgraded the place over the years and as you can see, it is nice and clean. We can not figure out how the place got here while a bit south the Hulen mall is jam packed.

[@matthewroper9972]

That mall was awesome to walk around when I was a kid. The military base nearby was way larger than it is now (post Cold-war reduction). They updated the mall at one point with what you see now and there used to be allot of other retail type buildings around the mall. Sad to see it go but, such is the result of buying online amongst other things. I enjoyed seeing into the old department stores and remembering what they were like when they were full.

[@christinamartinez9155]

This makes me so sad. I remember walking down the spiral ramp, trying not to walk too fast, sitting on saddles at the Whataburger on the lower level and then getting an Orange Julius or an ice cream dipped in peanuts. :( This used to be THE place on Saturdays.

[@janie5311]

It is remember very well

[@lynnestamey7272]

Oh gosh I used to go to this mall all the time. I used to live in the Ridgemar Square Behind the Wall in 1975 when I was in the Air Force. Those were the days! Thanks for the blast from the past!

[@PhD777]

I remember Ridgmar mall from 1974 - 1994 very well! Miss it.

[@bdlyle]

My brother and I would walk to the Spaceport arcade inside the mall then walk around when we spent all of our quarters. There was also a wedding here ('77 or '78): a guy who worked for my dad, his girlfriend worked here at the information desk and got permission for them to marry. She walked down the circular ramp to the altar with mall customers stopping to watch, it was cool. She'd also give me and my brother quarters Spaceport used to test games (they were painted red on one side) when she had them.

[@texast9605]

I've lived in Texas over 30 years and never went to this mall, wow I always passed it up for the Hulen Mall. In the last 5 yrs have been going but only for Dillards clearance. I really missed out on a gem mall. Atleast this mall lasted longer than 303 and Six Flags mall.

[@thehonorablejiveturkeyspoo6370]

I never imagine there would be a season six of dead malls

[@janie5311]

My childhood mall to go with my family they used to have a circle ramp that would take you downstairs or up that was cool .and i miss the el fenix they had there it had a waterfall inside it was a beautiful restaurant.

[@idkidk8391]

My mother would take me to Dillards, Sears and JC Penny every year for school at Ridgemar Mall. We’d then eat in the food court. It’s so dead now but there is still Dillards Clearance and JC Penny.

[@BRFilmStudios]

That intro was AMAZING, and you used one of my favorite desert sands tracks! This is going to be a good one!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you!!

[@bravefearlessswift2997]

Growing up, Ridgmar was the bigger fort worth mall. Despite hulen being closer to my house, I LOVED going to ridgmar because they had more, and the stores both had, the ridgmar location was so much bigger! It is so sad to see it the way it is today. I try to visit often and am always shocked it is still open. 2016 was a definite starting point for the way it is today as Macy’s closed and Neiman’s announced their closure for early 2017 to Clearfork. This is also around when Dillard’s switched to a clearance center. It hasn’t been the same ever since as other stores have continued to trickle out. Thanks for the great video!

[@TheRedPhant0m]

this was a very good video thanks!

[@puppy2haley]

Yep growing up in 70 & 80’s living in Benbrook, TX, was our mall. Days gone by but can remember shopping there ALL the time. 😢

[@dondraper7348]

I grew up going to Town East mall, me and my wife started dating in 2004, she lived in Ft Worth. Ridgmar was packed then.

[@Rielle212]

This is THE BEST intro ever. Windows XP. LET'S GOOOOOO. You 100% understand my vibe, dude. (Which is probably the vibe of most subscribers.) :) ❤ HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[@NorthCdogg22]

thank you!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU TOO!!🥳🥳

[@tbrac489]

Just watched the intro because if this comment but had to pause it once the mall started showing😢😣 That intro was really awesome! Brings back memories of Windows back then and of this mall💚

[@Rustyrc83]

I worked at this mall for years, it was a fun mall at one point! We got international shoppers, even random celebs (I have a picture twinning with Eric Estrada because he liked my outfit and wanted to purchase every piece). Once they shut down the Airforce base in the area, the mall traffic dropped suddenly!

[@JeremysRetailExploration]

Great video as always man! This mall looks spectacular, I need to get down to Texas! Speaking of mall trains, when I was at the Valley View Mall in Roanoke, VA they had an operating train going around.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Oh neat! Well it may be time to start planning my trip to Virginia! Haha, thanks for watching!

[@alphalight1469]

It’s actually a very beautiful mall. Sad I remember when it was packed with people especially during back to school. My favorite part of the mall was the turtle fountains with the bridge and the arena tv area. It was so cool when they had the tv playing random basket ball games and everyone coming in and out of the shoe stores.

[@DrTopGun]

Good day. Hey, bud, I agree. This soon to be a DeadMall was a magnificent Vaporwave style architecture or that crazy 80s art with Greek style pillars and so on. I believe the Vaporwave artists need to make cool videos in this DeadMall. Anyways, as always, an excellent choice of music that brings nostalgia back to my young malling days. With this in mind, I have been in the Dallas/Forth Worth area mostly for business and my agency's interviews- which they keep telling me that I am overqualified- Whatever that BS means... Anyhow, man, I am glad you are enjoying Texas, because everything- well- some things are big and backwards. Repeat- SOME things are Big and Backwards- not everything... Also abandoned... Already then, I am just rambling about, thank you for the awesome Soon To Be DeadMall mini documentary. 😁🤜🤛🤙👍💪🖖

[@thedman957]

My childhood mall and a place I worked at from 2017-2020 (it was dying/dead then but still had more stores then now).

[@BRFilmStudios]

Just finished, man, that was incredible! I either missed, don’t, or barely remember the days of fruitger aero, and I suppose that’s why I find it so appealing and intriguing. Definitely need to put Ridgmar on my list of malls I can hopefully visit someday! Happy New Year North!

[@Dynamic.velocity]

I grew up in Fort Worth and still live there today. I even worked there as a security guard for a while. I know why this mall has failed. It's not because of mall culture or a lost interest in shopping in person. The reason is the mall management. For a failing mall, they want rent that is way out of the range. They expect to charge you over 2,000 a month for a place that gets no foot traffic. Even sea quest closed down its doors. The only good thing about that mall now is the Rave Movie Theater, which is actually excellent. Maybe it will become a small apartment building some day.

[@courtneydee1370]

Yooooo so many memories here…😢

[@fastinmycar]

My mom and I always used to visit this mall back when we went to a nearby church at the time, always kind of hoped you’d check it out! Love your videos, always entertaining to watch. ☺️

[@theluxurylex]

This is so sad. My childhood mall is a ghost town. It's so sad to see all of the empty stores.

[@c________782]

Wow! This is so eerie/sad to watch!!🥺 I worked at Ridgmar as a teenager to my late 20s. Ridgmar and Hulen were the malls to go to for FTW teens and young adults. Left my employer in 2018. At the time, some of the major stores were in the process of shutting down/relocating and the aquarium just had been added (tragic to know what happened to it now). Since I left, I rarely went back (moved to another city and mainly shop online). I think the last time I went to Ridgmar was to go to JCP like two-ish years ago. I had no idea it was THIS empty now! So sad! I mainly only go to this area of FTW now just to stop at the NAS/JRB (and even that's changed throughout the years). Thank you sharing this piece of nostalgia! I like your content! Subscribed! 😊

[@happygoluckyme6926]

Howdy from Fort Worth!

[@jimmyginseng]

love the videos, makes me feel like a kid again. this is my second favorite video. first is still Stratford, that one just hit a special spot for me.

[@CapableBara]

oh man, i used to go to this mall (awesome how the turtles are still there) and Hulen Mall since they were close to each other, I went to Ridgemar more though since it was a bit closer(not by much actually) I think the last time I went to either mall was in 2009 or 2011...? I only ever went to the mall for Electronics Boutique or Gamestop, ever since EB got bought by Gamestop and the fact that my city finally got a gamestop afterwards I stopped going to any mall... so many memories, i've never actually been to the SeaQuest thing but I know its one of the things that kept the mall going... sad to see the state its in, kinda want to visit it one more time before something happens...

[@NsyShwl]

I loved going to this mall through the 2000s.. it was a nice place until like 2008 maybe 2009 because that was probably the last year that gangs were openly active.. they used to have a lot of thefts and fights here which scared people away.. around 2010 FWPD started taking a harder stance against gangs which took everything underground and it established a bit of peace.. a good example of an almost bankrupt mall being bought and renewed would be Town Center Mall which became La Gran Plaza.. another example would be what used to be our only underground mall that was called the Tandy Center.. we had an ice skating rink and the restrooms had mirrors on both sides which made it feel like they had no end 😂😂

[@seabee73]

Love the intro with the windows xp. They should have left the original paint in there. I love the pillars and skylights. The food court was depressing. Thanks for the content. Hope you have a good New Year!

[@PurplePuppy2006]

When’s season 7 I’m so hyped for more mall videos dude and thanks for shouting me out!!! This mall has been my favorite dead mall you covered so far You should make a top 10 list video of malls of season 6 💜🐶💜

[@Samiam_ariel]

every single cool small store is gone from this world ridgmar was part of my childhood

[@DanT271]

My kids used to love going to Rodgmar in the early 2000s Sad to see it like this

[@poohoo4495]

I LOVE DEAD MALLS!!! Live in NYx2 so we don’t have many here if any at all in the city cuz real estate so I have to live vicariously through you lol. 😅

[@MisterNineEleven]

Youre missing out, if youre ever in dfw you gotta check out the Vista mall in Lewisville!

[@KB0101]

Thank you for expanding my vocabulary. I can now add "blandification" to the list. 😄

[@MarvelousWesty]

Just walked it. Thoroughly enjoyed it! The upstairs is a ghost town! Downstairs had kids play areas and a sweet RC car club doing races in an old storefront.

[@WillHardy01]

I moved to the Fort Worth area in 2000. I have a lot of memories hanging out there as a teenager throughout the entire 2000’s Nu-metal shirts from the Hot Topic. Playing DDR at the arcade. I rented my prom suit from there. However, my coolest experience was actually when I worked at the Victoria’s Secret there in 2016. A security guard had told me and a few of my coworkers that he could show us the old part of the mall. It was walled off, but all the stores were still there. He claimed “It was the part of the mall that they used for a episode of Walker Texas Ranger”. It was a little corner, hidden somewhere between Neiman Marcus and Rave movie theater. All the stores were incredibly tiny. Had to of been there from the earliest years like 70’s or 80’s.

[@turinx]

Growing up, this was my favorite mall to visit. I remember the spiral ramp, the original food court, I think there was even an El Fenix restaurant inside the mall. During my middle/high school years this was the place to be on a Friday or Saturday night, whether it was just walking around and being at the arcade, or chasing girls. It really is sad to see such cool places disappear.