Dead Malls Season 6 Episode 3 - West Oaks Mall (TX)

[@mathewfiore5764]

Man. West Oaks was the hang out in the mid 90s. Everyone from Alief and beyond would regular this place. Brings back memories.

[@carbon-based-lifeform9172]

Before Katy mills was even a thing

[@percypringles4163]

That arcade right across from the theater, good times

[@brickkpunchley]

@@percypringles4163 That EB Games that was dark as a cave in the food court.

[@percypringles4163]

@@brickkpunchley yes! Tucked away in that corner. I used to live hitting that up and the KB Toys on the other side

[@bruh_hahaha]

I went to Hastings High, this mall was our stomping ground in the early 90s. So many memories!

[@JoshYT1]

Seeing you cover this mall after going there myself was the most surreal feeling. Like after seeing the mall in it's ghostly abandoned yet pristine state, seeing you open those doors for one last time and tell it's story was the best thing to see tonight! 👏

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thanks for watching!

[@MnemonicHeadTrip]

Apparently it’s still open

[@xXtoxic_hycee]

@@MnemonicHeadTripI think that’s only the Crazy Boss though, from what I remember. The rest of the mall has been closed off ):

[@MnemonicHeadTrip]

@@xXtoxic_hycee That's really sad, I'm probably gonna have a look around the city to check out all of the dead malls soon so I can investigate for myself. Do you know of any other good ones that are mostly open?

[@xXtoxic_hycee]

@MnemonicHeadTrip Unfortunately, West Oaks is the only one I personally know of or have been able to visit myself. But as a person who's drawn to these types of empty spaces, I'm hoping to discover any other options in Texas through this channel or anyone else that may have found something.

[@Phantasm57]

Dec 5th 1994 West Oaks Mall had a meet and greet with the power Rangers where children could meet the actors and get autographs. There is actual footage from that day on KZbin that's easy to find. The amount of children there was astonishing. For anyone who knows that mall around that time the meet and greet was just across from where the JC PENNY was

[@JustinsSVT]

just found the video on YT, definitely cool to see the old layout and popularity the mall had. Being born in '98 I remember this mall very vividly till about '04 when my when my family moved to Katy. Makes sense Katy Mills kind of Axed West Oaks and just the overall decline in surrounding area as the years went buy. I even remember the original Disney Store at West Oaks

[@hubriswonk]

I was there for that!

[@steveng2896]

Yes! I got an autograph with Thuy Trang! If i remember correctly she was wearing all black, possibly a catsuit or matching shirt and pants, and she was sitting on a table!

[@hubriswonk]

@steveng2896 one of the Power Rangers committed suicide recently.

[@Argentx1965]

I used to work at West Oaks Mall. Westheimer @ Hwy 6. Very popular and very busy.

[@bikerajg]

At 3:34 is Structure! Structure was a men’s clothing store before they merged with Express.

[@brandxsavior]

That was my favorite store in my local mall back in the 90's...I still have a watch from Structure I got as a gift back then.

[@Hilaire_Balrog]

LOL, when i was flush with part time job money I got my "club clothes" from there.

[@NikkiG515]

Omg! totally forgot about this store!

[@ofmoosenmen]

What a trip! A lot of my younger days was spent in those walls. That "image nails" that had all the food court tables and chairs in it used to be a Hot Topic. That fireplace in the center of the food court was such a weird idea lol. I wish i could remember what it used to look like before its remodel in the early 2000s. Even the last time i went there with my girlfriend at the time, almost 14 years ago now, it was dead. Amazed to see it's still there every time i drive by it to visit my folks.

[@ramgine]

I remember it because a kid bought a pet rat from the pet store and while waiting for his parents the rat bit him and he was wiping blood on the tile. It was raised ramp section in the middle, with a raised eating section. Cream/White tile.

[@russellterral29]

Oh I remember the old Mervyns's. That's where I used to get my new schools clothes during the summer before school started

[@reilorenzo]

Oh have the mighty fallen. I used to work there! I remember BEGGING for a job almost every week at Electronics Boutique and they finally gave me a shot. A few months later it tuned into GameStop. The mall used to be FULL of traffic especially on a weekend. It feels eerie seeing it like this 😵‍💫

[@x2100]

I remember EB! One of my fav stores to go to in the mall. Got the PS2 there. Good memories and sad to see it go.

[@Yasinnguyen]

You can thank crime and the Indians for this for ruining the mall and making it ghetto when in fact it wasn’t :: they even had that badass shoe store at the end. West oaks was the shit back in the day fr.

[@JJR93]

RIP Alamo Drafthouse West Oaks Mall....holy frick such a great venue.....really loved Anime at the Alamo there back in the day circa 2004 thru 2009-ish

[@follelafitte]

I miss it (and ADV) so much Good times, found some of my fave shows there

[@MmmK-f2v]

Last movie I saw Alamo Draft House at WO was Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. I actually went to Middle and HS with the owner’s son. That theatre was the trailblazer for all theaters that have come since.

[@SteveKavadas]

I got into the Troma movies on Troma Tuesdays. Alamo being bought by Sony Pictures is going to ruin the Grindhouse feel of how it used to feel.

[@oeakyea]

I LOVED it too! Now we have nothing close by. Have to go to Sugar Land or Stafford for a generic over the price theater

[@jeff06fejj]

There's nothing like seeing those vintage color photos from inside the mall with all of those shops teeming with life - people, activity, and business. It's like a wistful dream, compared to the emptiness of what remains. Speaking of things that are not what they once were - that white building with the vertical dark windows in the background at 21:39 used to be the Houston Post newspaper building - back when Houston had 2 major newspapers.

[@argerinejordan4703]

Used to love going to that mall. They had the nicest stores. Lord and Taylor was my favorite one. A lot of memories there😊😊

[@candysmith8724]

We lived in Katy, grew up shopping at this mall. We used to go to the mall theater often as well. Fond memories of my teen years here (1980s/early 90s)

[@blakedmc1989HD]

my childhood mall 😢

[@Cerstani]

Growing up in Houston, I lived approximately halfway between Willowbrook Mall and Northwest Mall. Although I may have spent more time at those two, my favorite mall was West Oaks.

[@MmmK-f2v]

Mine too bud.

[@dannypresson]

Mine too. My family moved to Mission Bend in 1987. My mom still lives there.

[@Flokiabob311]

This place was the place to be in the 90’s. Every weekend after school I’d hang out here w my brother and see all my friends up there too. So many good stores and even the Alamo DraftHouse Cinema. I saw Titanic here! The food court was so nice and cozy and always full of people. The arcade had soo many good games including Silent Scope😂 Sadly as the crime increased in Alief, West Oaks main customers moved away. Southwest Houston is not the same it used to be in the 80’s and 90’s. Too many ppl moved to that part of town and , well, most of them now aren’t, let’s just say, “model citizens”. RIP Westoaks Mall. You helped make my childhood.

[@volcanicenemyberd9315]

December and just Christmas time in general was so special and beautiful here I remember how lit up it was as a kid

[@MichelleNgome]

Sears was my first job, 2000. I live 5 minutes away and haven’t stepped foot in there in years! I moved here in 2000. I always felt like that Shell location was out of place. This was very insightful. Thank you.

[@LaRana08]

when mcdonalds and the alamo movie theather left i knew west oaks mall was in trouble. lots of good memories working there in 2009.

[@christiangonzales7429]

Alamo left because Regal was moving in.

[@RebeccaG-i6e]

So many good memories at this mall. My mom took me there right after it opened. The Foley's had a restaurant on the 2nd floor and we had lunch there. I also was on the teen board at West Oaks. We did fashion shows in front of the Palais Royal. We also used to hang out there as teenagers in the early 90's. There used to be a Birra Poretti's down by Mervin's that we'd go to for dinner, and the food court had Chick-fil-a, Cinnabon, a pizza shop, and a baked potato place. Of course, it was Gloria Jean's for coffee. I could still recognize some of the store fronts even though they've been rebranded over the years. The last time I was there was probably around 1999 or 2000, before I moved away.

[@John-ct9zs]

As recently as the 2000s, I think even early 2010s this mall was going strong. Amazing that it's like this now.

[@ranelgallardo7031]

I remember going to the mall in 2001 and it was okay then but the foot traffic was low yet it was mostly occupied. I remember going there in 2015 and I saw it wasn’t gonna last past 2020 as it was half occupied. My last visit was 2019 and it was already dying.

[@momkey2000]

Yes! When I moved to Houston in 2012 there was good traffic in there

[@percypringles4163]

Spent so much time here as a kid/teen. The arcade that was across from the theater was incredible.

[@hubriswonk]

I was there for the grand opening in 84 and spent way too much time there as a kid and teen. My high school girlfriend worked at Treasure Gallery and entered and won a foot beauty contest! She did have beautiful feet! We saw movies, ate at the food court and socialized there. I cannot agree with everything this person says about the history and there was not a two level food court, but for the most part he was right with most of his info. Until about 2008 or so it was still thriving, but from 84 to about 95 was at it's most successful. Before it was built I used to go 4 wheeling with my much older neighbor who had a Baja Bug. Good times!

[@KB-ke3fi]

Right after the Jimmy Carter era destroyed the housing market and the oil companies and the car industry. Everyone went broke and millions were still moving here from the rust belt up north.

[@Williamkoempel]

Growing up in Mission Bend and Alief this was the Mall to go to and work at! I worked at soundwaves and Chic fil a and knew everyone at this Mall. We all traded food for free movies. It was amazing. There used to be a Foleys in the very beginning also. Mervyns was the place we got school clothes. If you wanted a fancy dinner to impress your friends or girlfriend Birra -Porettis was the place to go!! I'm sure there are places that still smell like cloves cigarettes' too. So many memories here!!!! My Father worked at Texas in Bellaire so i remember very clearly the oil Boom like it was yesterday. The empty fields all around the mall was crazy and so vacant. It really shot down the Dreams of the area and forever changed the landscape. Thank you for this video and the memories .

[@NewbombedTurk]

I used to ride my bike up to West Oaks with my buddies all the time from Mission Bend South. I remember riding up there to buy my first pair of Oakleys from Sunglass Hut.

[@cryptoman9530]

Wow, Soundwaves! I haven't heard that name in a LONNNGGG time. I loved that store back in the day.

[@thesoappeasant6838]

Yes! At school every Friday, we would all ask each other if they were "going to the mall?" Everybody knew that meant West Oaks Mall. My first date was at Birraporetti's in high school and I bought the clove cigarettes in the tins at the lovely little store there! I haven't seen it since 1991 and wouldn't have recognized that it was my old stompin' grounds from the footage here. Dang.

[@paceline]

8 Years ago, my friends and I rode a lap through the mall on our bikes. Nobody stopped us of course. It didn't mean all that much to the few people there but it was a special moment for me.

[@ozzieedwards143]

If you haven't already...next time you come to Houston you should check out Northwest Mall....even though it is already dead.

[@cherylsHTX]

This was THE mall to hang out in the 80's. This brought back so many memories.

[@akochera]

IIRC, this mall was meant to draw upper professional and affluent customers from nearby Memorial Drive. At the time, the older mall Memorial City was in decline, and the newer Town & Country Mall was competing for those same customers. The economy in Houston wasn't great in those days, and the Savings and Loan crisis in Texas was about to heat up. There just wasn't enough money to support both higher end malls. Also nearby and with easy access to West Oaks were the established neighborhoods of Alief and a newer development called Mission Bend. These were definitely middle class, and Mission Bend in particular was showing signs of economic stress in the 90s. I think the pivot to those customers occurred too late... the only anchor really serving them at launch was Mervyn's. The mall never really boomed, but I do have some good memories. The theater was in a good location and was successful during a time when other theaters in the area were converting to dollar cinemas. Across the hall was a video arcade. There were two computer software stores (sort of a precursor to Gamestop). I think they even had a Chick fil a, before that chain went viral.... or am I imagining that part?

[@MmmK-f2v]

Yep. Also had a great game room (when those were a thing) and great food court. Brother’s Pizza was one of my favorites.

[@MrFoxtrot130]

​@user-ce6ow7ms4i thankfully brother's pizza moved down the road near the I10. Still delicious!

[@merenguehips]

Yep, we went there all the time before First Colony Mall opened. Loved the fountains and greenery. They had one of the few Chick-fil-As in Houston until the late-ish 90s? Like 1995-1997? That's when I think we started seeing them pop up more. Definitely the first place I had Chick-fil-A as a kid.

[@hubriswonk]

@@MmmK-f2v I still go to the Brother's Pizza on Hwy 6 occasionally.

[@nole8923]

I love the design, look, and feel of this mall. Far superior to the tacky 1990s/early 2000s style malls. This must have been a beautiful mall at its height.

[@docneuro4500]

So many memories from back in the day- mid 80’s to mid 90’s. It was pretty upscale when it first opened with Sacks 5th Avenue, Lord and Taylor, and other high end stores. Got my hair cut at the Visible Changes there for years. Saw so many movies at the theater. My girlfriend worked at Contempo. Bought my very first CD at the Sound Warehouse. LOL. Lots of fun.

[@gregorymoore2877]

As a kid living in Spring Branch in the 80's, we visited Memorial City and Town & Country the most often. We also frequently visited Northwest Mall. A drive to West Oaks, Willowbrook, or Sharpstown was a special event, being longer drives. I think we went to Greenspoint once. Locally, it was affectionately nicknamed "Gunspoint" due to crime in the area. Fun times.

[@rickjuarez57]

I remember the NUTCRACKER decor at Christmas time where Santa would visit with the children...it was so cool!

[@rickjuarez57]

You remember it also?

[@TruFalco]

Thanks for the mention! Such a minor mall as PTS deserved that last bit of love. Seeing a place I always used to hang out at like that was rather heartbreaking. Thanks for visiting Houston! The retail bubble bit this place hard, so the crash hit harder. Luckily the scraps of it left some beautiful places. West Oaks is really pretty and always appreciated it's aesthetic! Just a shame it never turned it around.

[@HCraig30]

Thank you for documenting this mall. I used to live nearby and walk through and watch the dying in real time. Even when the Sears and Macy’s were open in 2016, I don’t recall the mall being extremely busy.

[@christiangonzales7429]

By 2016, the mall was already dead.

[@Kirkvanhouten55]

I lived near there in 1992 and would visit there for the food court. It was kind of dead THEN. At least compared to Memorial City

[@internetperson8911]

I was a weekly patron of the West Oaks Alamo Drafthouse during it's run there. $5 pizzas and $2 drafts, it was awesome.

[@OhsoScary]

I worked there for a bit.

[@annedonofri2863]

OMG, This was MY MALL as I lived very close & my husband worked at THE SHELL Westhollow complex across HYW 6. I am glad to know WHY & HOW it failed. I moved west of the area 24 years ago & would go there on occasion until I became FEARFUL of going INSIDE. Thank You for this story.

[@chezbut]

How and why did it fail?

[@annedonofri2863]

@@chezbut In a nutshell it failed because of road access & proper development.

[@shawnd482]

Sadly, the whole area has failed. Alot of the surrounding neighborhoods are rough now. The only business I see running on the regular now is a motorcycle training school and a pop up carnival; both in the parking lot of the mall.

[@annedonofri2863]

@@shawnd482 Exactly, I have lived in Fulshear for the last 24 years. My husband worked at Shell Westhollow on Hwy 6. From the beginning the area never developed as it could have & I recently learned due to road development. That area was slated to be what they were to call Galleria II. I won't even drive through there now. It looks crime ridden & totally run into the ground. That area is where I began my life after relocating from the northeast as a young married person in 1979. When I moved to Fulshear I sold my house for 10K less than I paid for it after a redo. SO SAD!

[@weekendnomad5038]

@@chezbut the crowd got ghetto and people stopped coming

[@mattbpatterson]

My friend’s family owned land close to that mall that got bought by developers. They had a full on ranch out there. It was the boonies back when it was built, now it’s all part of the giant sprawl that is Houston

[@te.529]

Wow the memories of my childhood. Here are my OG store memories: Mervyn’s, KB Toys, Lord & Taylor, Contempo Casuals, Mrs. Fields, Birraporettis restaurant, the arcade….and many others I can’t remember right now. Sad to see the mall like this when it was so lively back then.

[@Evans_explores]

Enjoyed the video! Seared to perfection

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thanks!

[@TimBoyd2012]

I'm surprised Almeda is still limping along. I call it the "mall of the living dead"

[@Yasinnguyen]

Is still open? Ima go check it out this weekend! Find me some goods I love ghetto places

[@ranelgallardo7031]

It is but I give it probably 10-15 years before it becomes like West Oaks Mall.

[@weekendnomad5038]

I could have sworn they tore it down

[@Yasinnguyen]

@@weekendnomad5038 well mate you sworn wrong

[@jeee1074]

I'm glad you got to see West Oaks before it was closed off. It seemed to be on a good path to success just 10 years ago after the movie theater opened. Even Macy's had a small renovation around that time that cleaned up the carpets and reconfigured the upper floor. One funny sidenote about the Outlet inside of the former Macy's. If you ever need toilet paper in the future, they have at least a truckload stashed in the mess of their overstock merchandise. It is such a random thing to see, but so is the inventory at that store.

[@MnemonicHeadTrip]

Apparently it’s still open and some of the anchors and restaurants are operational (according to management). I’m going to check it out sometime

[@jeee1074]

@riverscuomo_1464 Don't waste your time. The mall is closed with the exception of 2 businesses near the old cinema mall entrance. The rest of the mall is blocked off.

[@MnemonicHeadTrip]

@@jeee1074 that’s ridiculous, I don’t know why they try and hide the mall when you can appreciate it even without stores

[@jeee1074]

@riverscuomo_1464 I agree, but the liability of keeping a space that large open is probably huge.

[@bikenraider99]

Man, I haven't seen that mall in ages. I remember the Mervyn's. I used to park there to bike out to Fulsher back in the mid 2000's.

[@annpino5005]

My high school friends and I made West Oaks "our" mall when it first opened. The renovation to a ranch theme has left it unrecognizable. We watched movies at West Oaks, ate dinner at Birra-Poretti's, and shopped at stores like The Limited and Benetton. The boys always wanted to go to Babbage's and check out the software offerings, such as they were in '84 and '85. It was very much the Galleria of the west side of town in those early days, and even when we had little money to spend, which was the norm for us middle class kids, we liked to soak up the vibe of all those aspirational consumer goods!

[@leeferguson2002]

" A great Italian Restaurant...A heck of an Irish bar" Remember the woodwork in that place? That bar was something else! There's still one left in Houston down town though. Even the one on West Gray is closed now.

[@lumensauce3199]

Was that Elsik or Hastings?

[@christiangonzales7429]

BirraPoretti's was awesome!

[@MistaJonz]

Man this and First Colony Mall was my spot every weekend! I still pass by on my way to various family members’ homes.

[@The_HouStoner713]

The first colony mall area is unrecognizable compared to those days. Walking from the mall to the AMC 24 was a straight shot. Those were the days.

[@mesabog2]

Birraporettis, Visible Changes, Units, Brothers Pizza, Trax, Structure...not to mention Fame City down the road

[@docneuro4500]

Fame City is a name I haven’t heard in years. Forgot all about that place!

[@christiangonzales7429]

@@docneuro4500 The Funplex on Beechnut?

[@docneuro4500]

@@christiangonzales7429Yep, that’s the one. Originally called Fame City.

[@carnigob42069]

this was my childhood mall. i got my ears pierced at the claires there. the woman who styled my moms hair on her wedding day, and gave me every single haircut i ever had until i was 16, worked at the visible changes that yall walked past at the beginning (she owns her own salon now in katy). i have so many memories of hanging out with my friends, movie hopping at the edwards theater, walking to the mall from my house. there used to be a super cool disney store too. good times! thanks for preserving this mall for us!

[@Razorhaloforever]

West Oaks was a fun mall. Full of memories for me. Sad it has declined like so many malls. It was great back in the day.

[@mikejones9480]

Northwest mall was my childhood in the 80s. But, I moved to the West side after collage and spent a lot of time at West Oaks, sad to see it closed.

[@critic2029]

the trees had lots of birds... I remember it from when I was a kid.

[@michaelstreet3038]

Managed a few shops here in the early 2000s(yalls tx store, carlton cards). Frequented it a lot as an Alief kid. Memory lane shit here.... sad them days are long gone

[@BreakTime10101]

I’m surprised these dead malls have their doors unlocked with nothing opened inside. It’s still sad to see what has happened to these malls. Great video. 👍

[@NorthCdogg22]

It’s quite the sad sight to see indeed.. thanks for watching!

[@ehfrw]

The ones that stay opened and at least somewhat maintained do far better than the ones that are locked up. Those are the malls that get broken into and smashed apart. The malls that keep the lights on at least serve some purpose to their community and are shown a modicum of respect.

[@Darkfire9189]

Better to have it open then have it fall into crime and be abandoned.

[@lmfd7373]

for mall walkers & exercise

[@nickterry4487]

I lived not even 3 miles from here my entire life until i left for college in 2016. This area used to be the edge of the city with cow pastures and empty fields and now every nook has been filled with 5 story apartment buildings and is now probably 30 minutes from the edge of the city. I agree other malls in the area contributed to West Oaks' decline but those are all about 20 minutes away. The big thing this video leaves out is that (in my experience) the mall just became a little too ghetto. We used to go there all the time to do our shopping and get family photos but over the years there were more and more crowds of people you didn't really want your nice suburban family to be around. One of my last memories there was of my older sister shielding me as a large group of thieves went sprinting past us running from the police. So really it wasn't that other malls pulled people away as much as people were pushed away and it made driving 10 more minutes to a slightly more affluent area worth it.

[@whereRbearsTeeth]

Finally someone telling the truth. Its all about crime and “urban sprawl”

[@JRsenal]

Facts. I grew up in Alief and this was one of the closest malls to go to back in the late 90s early 2000s. It deff got too ghetto. Sad to see that area getting worse and worse. I grew up in that areea as well as going to Sharpstown Mall when it was a family mall and it was packed! That whole area was such a great area to live in back in the day. Super sad to see it go to crap. I drove by there the other day to see how it looked (my old apartments and westhiemer etc) and it was depressing. Family area once now ghetto gang banging meth heads. ANYWHO, I have great memories growing up around there and ill always remember the good times.

[@josemarquez86]

​@@JRsenal Amen brother, That's why I get out of Alief. I wish my folks sell the house.

[@stacyflynn2747]

I definitely remember going to West Oaks Mall in the late 80’s and early 90’s before graduating high school at Willowridge. Sharpstown and Westwood malls were the other two me and my friends would frequent to play video games and hang out. I went back around the Energy Corridor area not too long ago and I could hardly recognize anything. I have the memories.

[@lucasjabrandt5762]

Love the content it’s just relaxing the music and your commentary is just right and the architecture of all the malls is amazing. You should check out Moorehead center mall in MN before the demonstration starts I don’t know when but the tedents are pretty much all out

[@NorthCdogg22]

That one is on my list to see soon, thanks for watching!

[@susanlamb7596]

I remember working at the Paul Harris store in 1984-1985. It was a beautiful mall and a great place to work!

[@olliepruitt5838]

In the late 80's I worked riight down Hwy 6 at Shell's research center. Ran errands and had lunch at West Oaks often. It really was booming back then.

[@the_tonatiuh536]

I remember going to this Mall on many occasions back in the early 2000s the mall was still thriving. One of my earliest memories was around 2002, my dad took me there to buy a new ps1 game and I was estatic. The Sears was also a great place to shop before they closed. The last time I went there it felt so empty and a shell of its former self. Maybe one day before its closed for good I want to see it one more time as a trip down memory lane.

[@russellterral29]

in the mid to late 80's that was my hangout spot. I grew up in Sugar Land nearby and I was there quite often. I remember seeing many movies at the old movie theater and then playing games at the arcade right across from there. Aliens is the main movie i remember. Then there was the old Sound Warehouse where I bought many many many cassette tapes and albums and then there was KB Toys.

[@brettonfett]

I grew up in Alief and this was my primary mall to hang out at as a teenager in the 90’s. It was always busy in those days around 1990 to 1996. But going into the late 90’s I could tell it was on the decline and pretty sure Katy Mills finished it off.

[@christiangonzales7429]

First Colony killed Westwood first, Sharpstown second, and then much later, West Oaks. Katy Mills opening didn't help West Oaks' matters either.

[@verylovingcat]

My mom worked here in the 90’s at a kiosk. She sold “indestructible” cd cases called the Discgear. She would sometimes have me jump up and down on them to prove the cd’s wouldn’t break. Fun memories.

[@glennbridges3062]

Man, this one hit. My first job was in the Sears at Westoaks in the late 90's. I spent every weekend there for 3 years. Then I got an apartment outside of that mall around 2013 and would go to the movies there all the time.

[@GeoSwordT301]

I used to work here from 2008 to 2017. I've seen, experienced, witnessed and took part on many things happening at this mall I could write a book if I wanted, haha. The really disappointing thing was seeing the wind down immediately the first day I started working there.

[@Tornado1994]

I lived literally 3 blocks from this Mall from 2004-2015. And lived in West Houston until 2021. I watched this Mall completely fall apart.

[@namewithheld129]

Generally it seems 60’s/70’s suburban malls succeeded because they brought business away from downtown areas and demographic growth. Then in the 80’s and 90’s new or expanded/renovated malls brought business in from the malls that came before them. An evolution of retail that keeps going. This series is about dead malls but there are so many successful malls now …….. that may be next on the chopping block. I will have to stay tuned.

[@linphillips8331]

I moved to Houston in 2000 from the west coast and it was like stepping back in time thirty years. My pants suits were deemed inappropriate for interviews, so I had to buy a suit with a skirt, and I did that at West Oaks Mall. I also used to buy coffee beans there, I think. But honestly, I haven't set foot in that place for probably 23 years.

[@Casiopea85]

I live a few neighborhoods down the st from it, one that was built in the 80s. It was fascinating to hear the history of the development in the area

[@agents977]

Sharpstown in Westwood Mall were my go to since they were closer and those have been shut down 20+ years at this point

[@Oceanblue_Art_]

I kinda wish Conroe's proposed mall had come to fruition. From what I remember from visiting as a child, that whole town has this wonderful 80s aesthetic and I know a mall there would have been camp af

[@wjmrtnz1]

I used to work at Gloria Jeans back in 2000. Sooo many memoires.

[@dorasuchagoodperson6594]

I remember working at Foleys in the 90s! 😢How sad that’s it’s an abandoned mall now! 🥹

[@jimusa9330]

FYI, I could be wrong but the mall is not located on FM 1960. It’s located on Texas Hwy 6. If you drive north on Hwy 6, this road turns into (becomes) 1960 at Hwy 290.

[@NorthCdogg22]

@@jimusa9330 yes, you are right! Thanks for the correction!

[@chrisexplores1]

So good so far!

[@krankykrista]

The Dillard’s Outlet is amazing there. We still go on occasion for all the crazy deals.

[@Rolanskii]

I remember when I first moved to the Houston area in 2004, this mall was still poppin'. It used to have a Visual Changes hair salon, for some reason I remember that in particular being full of clients.

[@dannysvinylrainbow4852]

Haven't been there since the late 90s I live a few miles down the road it's a shame that it's no longer a hang out we had lots of fun there. Now everyone goes to the galleria and Memorial city I prefer to Galleria, because the stores and employees in the mall are much friendlier and welcoming, then memorial city.

[@seabee73]

Another great video. The music was a great choice and very fitting. Thanks

[@NessInTexas-x2e]

Used to shop there (1988-early 2000s); didn’t know it closed. Was speaking of West Oaks last week.

[@LeMonkeyRL]

My first management job at Journeys was here at this mall... Really weird feeling seeing this pop up on my feed. That was a decade ago

[@NewbombedTurk]

I had a girl who was working there hit on me when I was buying a pair of Airwalks there back in 96. I was too stupid to know it until I walked out of the store and was too scared to go back in and talk to her.

[@firecwby1999]

Wow, talk about a flashback. My first kiss was in West Oaks Mall. Lead to many more lol. Thank you for the walk down memory lane.

[@heritage80elite]

Wow! Used to drive by West Oaks Mall at Hwy 6 and Westheimer every day on my way to work. My wife shopped there a lot 20+ years ago when my kids were young. Sad to see it so deserted now.

[@staceysims7270]

In the 90’s this was one of the spots to be. If you wasn’t @ sharps town or gulf gate , you were here💯

[@retAFcop98]

Great upload! Thanks for another adventure.

[@mollyheffernen]

Have to say, the 2004 remodel made West Oaks remind me of Jordan Creek a little. I'll be waiting for more Iowa content lol.

[@frankwafer6919]

Mall culture was where it was at - vibe with friends, look at pretty girls, but record albums/ so sad to see it go!💜🖤🤎🤍💯👍!

[@nexttime960]

There were some decent record shops, until Amazon bought cd- now, rest is history although a few small independent owners coming back

[@SteveKavadas]

8:37 This Handmade Rugs store was once a software store where I bought Tie Fighter for PC along with my flight controller stick. I can’t remember if it was a chain like Babbage’s or EA or a smaller chain.

[@almostatami]

Bought my first Tamagotchi at that mall. I remember my Mom used to take me and my brother there on Friday afternoons for dinner (when we were good). It was a highlight of my week. 😂

[@danarobins526]

So many memories from this mall 😢

[@TonyWilliams27]

Nice slow down or (chopped mix) Paul Hardcastle jazz music!

[@anotherindividual5799]

Yea sir the untold story

[@KevinPriceLive]

For years this was one of my favorite malls for many years. It was very clean and had a great variety of stores. I liked the architecture too. I went by it around 6 or 7 years ago and it was already near the end. Watching this video, it looks like a sci-fi video. It seems to be in such incredible shape. It is like customers were here and then, mysteriously vanished. How weird... how very sad.

[@brucederouen6598]

Interesting. When i moved to that area of town, i was excited to see a mall but really bummed when I realized the status.

[@Bmxstang]

I was here when it got hit by a tornado, blew all the doors open and glass everywhere. We went to sears and busted open a set of pool equipment and sat it out. My parents mini van looked like it went through a rock tumbler.

[@craigazucena]

My wife used to work here, at the time it was bustling. On Fridays and Saturdays there would be car meets and racing close by goodtimes.

[@NikkiG515]

Worked here at the Cineplex Odeon back in '94. Fun times. Does anyone remember the Unit Store and Clothing? Tres chic!

[@christiangonzales7429]

I remember when the Cineplex became Plitt.

[@leeferguson2002]

My Fav. place there was Biaproetti's. The wood work at the bar and the rest of the restaurant was just amazing! The food was wonderful. I think there's just one more Biaproetti's left now down town, after this one closed and the one on West Gray Street shut down too. "A great Italian Restaurant...A heck of an Irish bar" I used to live in Bear Creek, and went there many times. Then Bear Creek went to hell, so many times the story.....

[@christiangonzales7429]

The downtown location lives on!

[@oveelo]

i remember when it was built!

[@Bomhilsnotcountries]

Your channel is TOP over others that have been around for years. I enjoy the geographical information. I find other channels boring with not much enthusiasm. Keep up the good work & God bless North C dog22❤

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you!! I’m glad you like my stuff!

[@Bomhilsnotcountries]

@NorthCdogg22 Of course, man! Great content & like many others, I'm here to stay ✌🏾

[@gaslighthotel]

I spent a lot of time at this mall - it was the easiest to get to from where I lived and it was pretty and had lots of wonderful shops. I was one of those 80s mall rats that loved going to the various malls for different stores: Sharpstown for Dream Merchants, West WOOD (which died out long before the others and was converted into an office building), and West OAKS, where I could always find something at Express. In high school friends and I used to eat at the big restaurant there Birra Poretti's. When I got married, I practically haunted the Crabtree and Evelyn store. Hubby and I bought lots of the flavored coffee beans at that one store by the food court. You could smell it from around the corner. I think by split level the narrator means that in the 70s and 80s there was a raised part in the food court area that you accessed by long ramps. It wasnt very high off the main floor but it did give you a feeling of separation from the rest of the bustle going on around you. Ive watched its decline in the last couple of decades with a lot of sadness. Future generations will never know just what a fun place a mall could be and how it brought you in direct contact with people from other places. They were market places that gave everyone a sense of community and I think we really need that these days.

[@justcallmesuzzie]

I remember shopping there as a young adult! I LOVED heading to the malls and checking out the day long shopping with family and friends!

[@RADRICK19]

I grew up in Richmond/Rosenberg and we went here a lot back in the 80s and 90s. After First Colony mall was built we all started going there, it was nicer. I haven't been to West Oaks in nearly ten years.

[@Its.Just.Katara]

That's wild! There's also a West Oaks Mall near Orlando that's basically dead too.

[@PunmasterSTP]

I've been to Katy Mills a fair number of times, but never explored the smaller malls in and around Houston. This seems like it would have been a cool place to check out, and it would have been fun to see Stumpy the Stump...

[@chito651]

It’s great that you use vaporwave as music for your videos, I love it so much