Discovering an ABANDONED Mall Stuck In 1994

In this episode i'm taking you inside the abandoned Metro Center Mall and we are going to explore to see what's left behind.
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#abandoned #abandonedmall #abandonedplaces #abandonedbuildings #mall #explore

[@beguileme8201]

Great Video. It's sad to see so many malls drying up here in the US. If you'd like to see an interesting documentary, it is called, 'Jasper Mall." It shows it happening in real time.

[@RangerRickTV]

Yooo Beguile coming hot with the $5.00 donation. You're too kind 💯

[@alankelter9416]

Prime example of what happens when you are price gouging for retail space. When times changed shop could not afford a malls high retail space price and moved out. By the time prices came down to where they should have been in first place the damage had already been done, no one wanted cheep space in a dead mall. All malls that shut down deserved their fate.

[@BigJoker]

​@@alankelter9416that's not at all what happened here

[@DanielsArtStudioGamesAnimation]

What a place to come here to clear your mind.

[@RangerRickTV]

Exactly ​@@DanielsArtStudioGamesAnimation

[@seand2711]

That mall is still pretty damn clean for being closed nearly 12 years now.

[@doesntmatter757]

He is incorrect. It closed in 2018.

[@RollerskateKyle]

It actually re opened briefly in 2021/2022 and closed again

[@ThisisDanBell]

There are tons of mall videos. Only some people know how to do this the right way. You’re one of those people. This video is amazing. I’m so impressed. Keep going!!!

[@RangerRickTV]

Glad you enjoyed it Dan 😊

[@Mike_oliver1313]

Stop whispering

[@robertmiller2104]

When Dan Bell founder of dead mall videos likes your videos you hit the big time

[@barbara8802]

The whispering was a bit much….

[@Eric-pp3hg]

Damnn the man himself DAN BELL!

[@LetThereBeT1920]

Grew up in this area of Jackson. So, so many memories in this mall. Few notes: 1) the string lights you saw at the beginning were always there. It was just part of the decor. 2) that blue room was originally an arcade called Diamond Jim’s. 3) the downstairs are with the elevator was just kind of a sitting/lounging area. 4) the store you inquired about was once a Sears Thank you so much for exploring and documenting your exploration. It did my heart such good to see such a huge staple of my childhood. I hate Jackson has declined to the point that it has. It was once a beautiful place to grow up and raise families. I’m only 34, and even just 15-20 years ago it was a totally different city. Breaks my heart every time I visit home.

[@LetThereBeT1920]

Actually…that store may have been Dillards or JcPenney. My memory is failing. And yes…the skylights are amazing. I used to love to be down in that area and just enjoy the natural light. I think I said it in the previous comment, but just in case I didn’t…nope, the downstairs area wasn’t a food court.

[@kennethjohnson9386]

Hi, JCP was never there. The mall was built with Gayfers (later Dillards then Burlington), DH Holmes (later Dillards), McRae’s (later Belk) and Sears. The mall closed in August 2018, but reopened briefly in 2021 by a new owner (which purchased the mall in 2019) before closing again in 2022 due to the owner losing the mall to back taxes and legal issues of her own. I can name pretty much every store that was there.

[@LetThereBeT1920]

@@kennethjohnson9386 Right! JCP was only ever at Northpark. My bad.

[@FairyChild_For_Freedom-Justice]

@@kennethjohnson93862019 lol I don’t believe I will be investing in the mall in 2019. You’re already history dying on the wayside. Very bad investment.

[@kennethjohnson9386]

@@FairyChild_For_Freedom-Justice the property is a good investment if you have a vision and the ability to think outside the box. There’s a million things the right developer could do with the property that does not include being a retail shopping center anymore. I believe the ship has sailed on that… In 2022, I had meetings with the now previous owner and we spoke of different things we could do with the mall. I had a couple of investors/developers that were very interested but bailed soon after Hinds County supervisors announced plans for a jail in the upper level of the former Belk building. Though we know now that it was just “talk,” the damage was done. Burlington soon after announced plans to close. A local community college that had previously announced plans to locate to the mall abandoned those plans. Everyone’s logic is “who wants to live, work or shop so close to a jail?” Soon after all this, the city of Jackson closed their offices there as well.

[@marcussmith4913]

abandoned malls are very sad. Reminds me of Christmas time with my mom and family. We would always go out christmas shopping just before the holidays. Now my mom is gone and so are the malls and family rarely gets together anymore. Much less every year.

[@jess.hawkins]

So some people will call me tasteless for this but honestly there's something really quite comforting and familiar about some 80s/90s postmodern architecture styles like these :) Something about the pastel colours and clean, simple shapes that is appealing!

[@davidhibbs6989]

I'm just afraid now that local people will see how nice this Mall is and in no time be vandalized and a new hang out location.

[@Vidgamechx]

I thought this looked familiar! I hate that this mall closed. I worked at SEVERAL stores in there. My favorite place growing up was the arcade upstairs next to The Cookie Store. There was a lady that bought it recently, but lost it because of money issues. I hope someone can revive this place because it did have very good memories!

[@michaelsparks1571]

Spent many a dollar on the DDR machine in that arcade lol. Greg (the arcade operator) knew what he was doing from his days running the Diamond JIm's at the food court, but sadly about 2008-ish he got addicted to playing World of Warcraft in the backroom and we didn't see him as much (had to work with his wife/son from then on).

[@streetskater9421]

you made the whole video feel like a scooby doo mystery. whispering the whole time like a ghost would get you

[@michaelsparks1571]

3:28 IIRC this was a Ruby Tuesdays for the longest time. 5:10 That was a post office branch. 7:02 As a kid, always thought that "scoreboard" was just the coolest thing. It was actually a clock. 7:52 Nope, those lights were always up. 8:25 Cost is about the same. The mall actually closed around 2018, with a brief reopening a few years later, not 2012. 10:00 Those exact same tables and chairs have been in that food court since as long as I'd been going (around 1991) lol. 12:01 The "pizza restaurant" used to be the ChikFilA. The pizza place was actually around where that blue temp-wall was. The Zoe's used to be TacoBell. 16:29 No food court, just an open/lounge/sitdown area with benches. Also where "events" were held like pictures with Santa/EasterBunny/etc. 17:12 The anchors used to be Dillards, JCPenney, Sears, and Belk. IIRC that spot was the JCPenney. When you think it's the Burlington later, you're actually on the opposite side of the mall from this part.

[@assaultislove]

There was no JCPenney at Metrocenter, it was at Northpark and Jackson Mall before that. Gayfers was the anchor at Metrocenter. Burlington was on the lower level of the former Gayfers. Belk was McRae's until 2005. The Dillards was originally DH Holmes until 1989. It closed in 1999, and converted the old Gayfers and closed in 2004.

[@jimdavis5822]

Way back when I was a young boy, my mother and I would go to that food court every Tuesday evening to eat at Steak Escape. The whole area around the mall was a bustling area. There was a Tex Mex restaurant called El Chico, it was fantastic. Behind the mall there was a Service Merchandise store(back when those were a thing). Lots of fond memories of MetroCenter

[@Kcstrayer]

I loved Service Merchandise and thought of it when I saw this post

[@Mike_oliver1313]

Was it an escape?

[@lindadubberly2458]

😢 Call me old fashion but i hate on line shopping i sure wish malls would open back up. ! Neat video !!!!!!!❤❤❤❤

[@ssbeets]

The mall was actually still in use by the city after the actual stores were closed and closing. There was a police station, jxn water company, barber shop, and a restaurant still there I would say until like 2022. The building had some issues with air and the roof and the city offices left after that. That's why the food was priced like that. Also there was a homecoming party held there in October 2023. Burlington was never upstairs and one of the last stores to close.

[@kalvonixmusic]

I literally felt like I was in there with you! Such a beautiful mall. I find malls all look the same nowadays and lack personality. This gave me such a nostalgic feeling. Subscribed!

[@dm1123751]

That was the place to be in the mid 90s. In the late 90s, its decline was imminent. The crime in the area had escalated horribly. The parking lot and surrounding roads were almost undrivable back then. Most of the stores around it shut down by the early 2000s. There used to be a shopping center behind it with a movie theater as well. Im sure the cameras work but no one is monitoring them. Im.sure the only way that the police show up is when its a major crime..

[@AshleyMurphyArt]

Brave soul going in there!!! Grew up in this mall! Lived across the street from it!! Very surprised homeless isn’t living in there.

[@RangerRickTV]

I love this spot!

[@Mike_oliver1313]

@@RangerRickTVstop whispering

[@southerngirl4076]

@@Mike_oliver1313No, I loved the whispering. It’s giving ASMR.

[@computeruser9893]

It has a good roof at least. This is in great shape for being closed that long. Not molded up. Not vandalized. Still has some signs up. Lets all keep it that way!

[@RangerRickTV]

Exactly, but people will be people.

[@john316godlovesyou5]

How unfortunate! That mall is beautiful! Good thing you preserved it on video! Great job RangerRick! God bless you (John 3:16)!

[@KeshaBesha]

1. I got my license here when they tried to convert it to government offices. 2. I think he came in through what used to be the Ruby Tuesdays there. 3. The blue section in the food court was one of the best arcades. 4. The skylight area with the palm trees - my 10 year old self saw the mall police tackle a guy there who stole something out of RadioShack.

[@toyamitchell3330]

Good you left, dangerous areas there!!! You definitely took a risk. Glad you made it through safely! Thank you again for this memory lane.

[@scottshep8978]

I said this on empty mall videos. They could turn this into a mix of retail, service type places(dental, medical and such) and residential area in one spot. In good shape for being abandoned for a time.

[@sissysovereign1294]

That's honestly impressive to see how intact and clean everything still is despite being closed down! It's really is a shame how malls are becoming extinct. I bet this one was so gorgeous when it was in it's prime

[@cassandratatewilson9065]

Metrocenter mall was a great mall back in the day. At 17:14 , that anchor store was Dillard’s. It was the only department store that had 3 floors while the other department stores (Sears, Gayfers and McRae’s) were 2.

[@Brento311]

I was so scared to ride that escalator up to the third floor as a kid! 🤣

[@wentworth2475]

It's very pristine considering it's current situation.

[@ChesterPaulSgroi]

i am so amazed that this mall hasn’t been completely vandalized for the period it’s been vacant; thank you so much for taking us along with you on this explore; wow! ❤

[@Faiisal]

2024 is going to be big year for the channel i can tell! these abandoned mall videos are top tier! keep it up 😍

[@RangerRickTV]

That's the plan!

[@Mike_oliver1313]

Not if he keeps whispering the channel will fail no need for it

[@princesspop123]

​@michaeloliver1377 are you going to comment the same thing the entire thread? Good lord...you're the only one who cares.

[@Mike_oliver1313]

@@princesspop123 yep I sure am And I’m not the only one who cares my comments got likes and loves and a couple of replies Karen

[@FormerBuildings]

Bro Did ASMR While Exploring So Calming 😴😌😴😌

[@beckyphillips6798]

My first real job was working at that Hallmark shop. It was Jan's Hallmark back then. The mall was a great place to work, shop and hang out with friends. So many great memories. Thank you for sharing this video!

[@RangerRickTV]

Very cool!

[@adrianfederici5850]

You used to build such beautiful malls in the US. This is the only way I get to see them living in the UK. I think we have come to the end of retail shopping when you actually went out to purchase your goods instead of staying in on your mobile phone. When these monuments to retail are all gone, at least we will have these records that people like you make to look back on. Beautifully filmed with lots of respect. Regards 🇬🇧 uk.

[@jimmyweathersby327]

Glad you posted this I Was waiting forever for someone to finally get inside

[@RangerRickTV]

One of my favorites.

[@jimmyweathersby327]

​@@RangerRickTV all talk no action is every abandon place in Jackson MS

[@mcdell2676]

I worked in Sears Automotive in the Metro for 3 years in the early 90s.

[@StopDropandLOL]

The alarm is a fire alarm. Whenever you hear something do 3 short blasts, then 1 second off, it's called march time. The flashing light is the strobe unit attached to the alarm itself.

[@Wings80]

The whispering is the most annoying part of the video. SPEAK UP!

[@southerngirl4076]

Cool video! I live in Mississippi, about an hour and a half from Jackson. Apparently it’s an unpopular opinion, but I personally liked the whispering. I found it comforting, like ASMR.

[@nole8923]

Why couldn’t it be stuck in 1984 instead? The flooring and other aesthetics are much better than those ugly pastel flooring tiles and wall color of the 90s.

[@super-gq1nu]

I was born in 2012, so it's kinda old to me

[@jamiehaprer9991]

On time stamp 8:18 you can see the "Famos" menu and it says Uber Eats at the bottom of it so this place probably was closed down for a couple years for sure. Rick why you giving us the "ASMR" vibes with the whispering😂

[@Kcstrayer]

So many memories! I moved to Jackson the year the mall opened, 1978….Widow Watson’s was our favorite restaurant.

[@hvymtlchik8194]

I remember Widow Watsons cause they had awesome beer battered shrimp.

[@beckyphillips6798]

Widow Watsons' had the coolest player piano! What a beautiful place it was.

[@LivinginCentralMississippi]

I was about 8 years old when that mall opened...lived a few miles down the road. Been inside it a few hundred times back in its glory days! That "other food court" area you were drooling over was Centre Court. It's where Santa pics were done and where the Gayfer Girls did their fashion shows. Gayfers was one of the original anchor stores there. There was a Hello Kitty Store upstairs that I loved!! Kudos for you for going in there...and Kudos to the city of Jackson for not letting vandals destroy it!

[@RangerRickTV]

Welcome back!

[@LivinginCentralMississippi]

thank you!! I enjoyed this! It has been shared locally on FB a lot over the last week!! Highly anticipated by me!! @@RangerRickTV

[@mariebelladonna437]

Was that first business he was in actually a bank? It looked like one, but it also looked like it could possibly have been a post office (those little boxes in the wall looked like p.o. boxes, though Idk if post offices have vaults, lol).

[@LivinginCentralMississippi]

@@mariebelladonna437 I don't think there was a bank there originally, but it might have been added later when the retail started to fail and some other non retail type of businesses moved in.

[@Robbie-E1971]

Awesome find cant beleave its in such grest condition and not destroyed great job my friend

[@RangerRickTV]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@kennethjohnson9386]

And yes there is power on in the mall, yes the cameras do work, yes there is an alarm. I was there in 2022 and met with the owner. She allowed me to explore the place (though she had to disarm the alarm to allow me full access).

[@magenwilcher6707]

Do you know who owns the mall or how I could get in contact with her ?

[@adzfordayz]

this mall is in my state and my mom saw your facebook post abt it and said that’s the mall i used to go in when i was a kid! crazy to think it used to be so busy!!

[@RangerRickTV]

Welcome back!

[@Mike_oliver1313]

@@RangerRickTVstop whispering

[@Gracie-kx6iu]

My mom and I love watching your videos. Specially, the ones about the old houses.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@RangerRickTV]

Welcome back 😊

[@kennethjohnson9386]

At 23:10, that store was Gadzook’s.

[@RangerRickTV]

Join my Patreon page for perks! www.patreon.com/RangerRickTV

[@tej226]

Hello, Did you have permission from the owner to enter?

[@yummyyumyumsauce6713]

Why the fuck you got your lips so close to the mic? I wanna like your videos by hearing your lips move, you licking your lips, and other wet mouth noises is fucking ridiculous. You did not need to whisper like that. And your into is cheesy but that can wait.

[@toyamitchell3330]

That was our Diamond Jim .. our game room. Where those Christmas decor was ..

[@kennethjohnson9386]

Where do you get your information from? Metrocenter did NOT close in 2012, it closed in 2018. Someone bought the mall in 2019 but lost it to back taxes (along with legal issues of her own).

[@Mike_oliver1313]

Metro mama lol

[@Frankingatoryt]

I’m getting ASMR vibes from this

[@codyrawlins1175]

Surprised it isn’t vandalized being in JXN

[@RetroPizzaFan]

New viewer here, this was a very good video. I love how you format with cinematic pans and music placement, very nice work. The natural lighting in this mall is beautiful. The food court is amazing.

[@MarilynBlackledge-ok6sr]

Sears was an anchor store by the food court - also McRae’s, Dillard and Gayfers

[@FairyChild_For_Freedom-Justice]

The last time I went to a mall was 2016 in Orlando, Fl saw a woman get mugged 😢

[@orlandoflgirl1993]

Mugged?

[@oldjake4233]

Very depressing place now.

[@amandakidd653]

Sal did a video on this mall around Christmas a couple of months before it closed.

[@user-cl5oi6vv4c]

I grew up going to Metro Mall! This video was amazing and made me so happy to see. The store you asked about was the Sears I think. It may have been a Gayfers. The bottom area you thought might be a second food court was called center court. The would do concerts, fashion shows, and Santa would be there.

[@benjaminclingaman7551]

Hey Rick Great video I hope you had a nice Christmas I hope you have a happy new year.

[@orlandoflgirl1993]

You filmed this before new year's eve

[@williamszeliga4983]

I would have enjoyed watching this, however, the whisper made it unbearable.

[@xamyyylolx]

😂

[@map3384]

I’m surprised the animals haven’t destroyed the place. It’s like every mall from my youth mid 80s to early 90s. Pastel colors.

[@markjamesmeli2520]

It's amazing to me that there wasn't more ransacking done. Somebody's been doing a good job making sure things didn't get worse than they are.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Awesome bro!!!! Love the music choice btw

[@mpatrickthomas]

Chances are any noise you hear are birds flying around between the ceiling and roof.LolAs always a great video.

[@toyamitchell3330]

Burlington was replaced when sears left

[@Wasnt-1]

i was born in 1994 so this mall was long been abandoned the same age as me it's sad to see many memories being abandoned for good

[@MarilynBlackledge-ok6sr]

Jackson Water Department was in part of the building until recently

[@toyamitchell3330]

That was our sitting areas. Middle part of the mall… meet up spots ..

[@reneastle8447]

I'll use this mall as a filming location for one of my movies. It will take place in 1994.

[@ppumpkinhead937]

ASMR with ranger Rick XD

[@ButteredToast677]

I don't remember if it was this mall or another but I told my grandma I like abandoned places anf she told my account a huge mall that went abandoned and she used to work there I thought that was pretty cool. But she did say it had 3 floors and was the biggest in America

[@catsanchez5749]

Super cool explore. Thank you for bringing us along. Beautiful place really.❤cat x

[@RangerRickTV]

Thank you too

[@patrickelamm2890]

Really love your videos along with the drone Footage, Please bring us more..... Have a happy New Year 2024🎊🎈

[@RangerRickTV]

Thanks, will do!

[@holliepajak3772]

Gorgeous mall

[@superdave9]

We used to get our annual family pictures taken at the JC Penny

[@user-eh1vp3ev3c]

I appreciate the whispering, and not cutting to your face every 10 seconds like some other urbex dude bros on YT.

[@pamelaaverrett5848]

Wow! Haven’t seen this since it went abandoned. Incredible so surreal!

[@RangerRickTV]

Welcome back !

[@Brento311]

At one time, Metrocenter was the largest mall in the south. The pizza place you pointed out in the food court was the Sbarro. There was a Chick Fil A next to it. All of the original restaurants were long gone. American Deli and those other places came along after 2010 or so.

[@hezekiahwilliams7293]

I’m from Jackson actually grew up going to the metro center they cool video they actually had a few stores and area open up to 2017 like barber shops, shoe stores and driver license offices

[@JacobDean88]

Those alarms will go off for years. There is nothing to ever be worried about. especially in an older building Nice job!

[@RangerRickTV]

Yooo Jacob .

[@talkingshidwithshannon8537]

I just realized I was in thAt mall as a teenager with grandparents 💯💯💯💗💗💗 Wow so many memories

[@RangerRickTV]

Welcome back!

[@jamesmcdunn]

Dude, what are you so afraid of? You are in a mall BY YOURSELF!

[@xamyyylolx]

😂

[@nocturnalrecluse1216]

Bro noclipped into the backrooms. 😂

[@Mike_oliver1313]

Outside of the whispers this video is great

[@kennethjohnson9386]

The section of the mall you’re pointing to at 16:37 was Center Court. Different events were held there and of course Santa during Christmas season. The department store runway you’re pointing to at 17:13 was DH Holmes later Dillards. Gayfers was on the opposite side of center court which later became another Dillards and later the bottom level became Burlington.

[@RangerRickTV]

Ahh thank you Ive been wondering that.

[@kennethjohnson9386]

@@RangerRickTV the false wall which had a door just past center court wasn’t always there, as you can see, the wall was errected to block off a portion of the mall that was unused. The owner of the mall converted a store front into her apartment and her and her family lived there

[@melindamullins9272]

so interesting i think its the details for me is what's intriguing also. p.s be carful u never know.

[@jonathanmedlockNS8000]

I wonder if that mall will ever reopen.

[@ballbagchris6920]

Been waiting on this one. I’m from the area and love watching abandoned mall vids so I was hoping this would eventually be done. We called it Ghettrocenter lol

[@RangerRickTV]

Hahahah right !

[@Mike_oliver1313]

Stop whispering

[@coolfool4950]

what a gorgeous mall oh wow. insanely clean, and the pillars/trees in the atrium is an amazing vibe. i wonder if the trees were fake or is someone still taking care of them?

[@Polemodrome]

15:15 This skylight hall is a nostalgic throwback to the exoticism in vogue during the Interwar period. It took roots from colonialism and the major archaelogical finds going on at the time. Tell Hariri was rediscovered in 1933. It was the location of the westernmost city of the Sumerian civilization, known as Mari during the Meopotamian age. It had a palatial complex whose most striking feature was an inner courtyard having rows of palm trees. Just like this. You can also see a striking modern example of this in the Cocoanut Grove's main room, a nightclub sadly famous for being the theater of one the worst fire in US history. I miss it, I wish this Sumerian revival type of layout went back in style. It is niche but employed right, it adds an ancient middle east charm to a building.

[@toyamitchell3330]

This is awesome! 😢 thank you for these memories

[@RangerRickTV]

I'm glad you like it

[@Mike_oliver1313]

@@RangerRickTVstop whispering

[@jess.hawkins]

Honestly, this place would be pretty sick if converted into a hotel!

[@xavierjohnson295]

New York and Company closed all their stores in 2020 but it appears to be a brand name in stores like Macy's

[@orlandoflgirl1993]

What is going to happened if he's making a loud noises or talking louder (like the reference from Jurassic Park 3 movie) while he is whispering?

[@suzjon]

Will the city ever do something with it?

[@Brento311]

Unfortunately, Metrocenter started to decline with the surrounding area in the mid 90’s. It was a shell of its former self by the early 2000’s. I even remember the old color scheme before they remodeled it in the mid 90’s. That’s when the pastel colors were added.

[@marzgtp]

That mall is nice! I’d shop there!

[@tialynm]

It’s so beautiful 😍

[@briangrafton8538]

I worked at boot country on lower floor and security there back 1996 to 1998 . The close off was Dillards

[@kylieb4836]

*why are we whispering?*

[@toyamitchell3330]

Sears!!!! Near that food court

[@Brento311]

That’s a fairly dangerous area. You were much safer inside the mall. Ha. No need to whisper. Nobody would’ve done anything but tell you to leave. The JPD is grossly understaffed and they likely wouldn’t respond for a misdemeanor like trespassing. Anyway, great memories in that mall as a kid. I’d love to go back and see it in its heyday once more.

[@crystal25288]

My local mall has two stores open but soon it will be just like this 😔