Everything Left - Abandoned Shopping Mall in Arlington Heights, IL

Shopping centers and malls are usually full of people, but in a small town in Illinois this shopping center is the exact opposite of that. Only a few years ago this complex had over 20 stores, restaurants, a gym, and so much more. The slow decline began due to online shopping and the rise of amazon. One by one businesses started to struggle and slowly moved out or shut down completely until only 5 remained. With the lack of businesses renting out spaces the owner began to struggle and decided it would be better to sell to a developer and demolish the building and make way for a new apartment complex. Today we are exploring everything that was left behind before the building was demolished.
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About: DecayingMidwest creates abandoned & exploration videos on this channel. Subscribe to see what was left behind, forgotten, and decaying in the Midwest!
DISCLAIMER: Exploring abandoned and decaying places is very dangerous and can lead to injury or even legal consequences if you are not properly prepared. Get permission from the land owner before exploring places like these and be extra cautious when exploring alone. Wear the proper exploring gear and always let someone know where you are.
The code of urbex (urban exploration) is to leave the location just as you found it. Don't steal anything, vandalize, or spray paint. Take only pictures and leave only footprints.

[@coreanstacker5427]

That Asian place (or another business as you referred to it later in the clip) says, "SongDo Video" in Korean.😀 Also, that oriental food store says, "SongDo market" in Korean. In addition, the Karaoke place sign states, "Ding, Dong, Dang" in Korean which mimics the sound of xylophone!😀 "Go" in Go center is the Korean Chess.

[@heidisalaka6938]

I lived in the area 11 years ago and that mall was struggling then. I believe the square footage was very expensive, and they never had any kind of anchor.

[@kayleebrodnan5583]

same. years ago target wanted to buy it, but the owners said no. im so sad about that. now its going to be housing

[@tayzonday]

Maybe if there’s a new Bears stadium to replace the horse race track, it will revitalize the local retail economy.

[@muscleandimports]

Wuddup, Tay!

[@jonathanrouse]

Tay you watch Decaying Midwest?! Crazy

[@UFOmeter2]

LEGEND

[@gr1nreaper]

Eww, no! Da Bears can stay in Chicago. We don't want the congestion and rif-raf the stadium would bring to the area.

[@KameraShy]

The local politicians went googly-eyed over a Bears stadium that now looks really doubtful. All AH will have now is a big, vacant lot by the train tracks.

[@jamesbriskin1299]

As of a week ago the Mall is gone. Its just an empty lot at the moment waiting for the developers to get permits to start building sometime soon

[@michaelfrank5601]

I grew up right over there. It was called loehmann's plaza. There was even a Garibaldi's Blockbuster and a Fuddruckers there. This mall was built in the 80s. Go down the road and there was a whole mall that has been destroyed now. This mall was so pretty. I should call it a shopping center. But there just wasn't enough people to sustain it. Especially with woodfield being 10 min down the road

[@Nutwigg1]

Yep - I remember ALL of those stores. How things have changed. I drive by that area from time to time. That mall is a ghost town. It vanished almost overnight. There’s similar-type mall on the corner of Oakton and Elmhurst Rds that I suspect will suffer a similar fate. I *think* there used to be a Farrel’s ice cream parlor there. It also seems to be decaying very slowly.

[@Toonami69_]

lol I live across the street from this strip been here since birth I’m 24 now leaving to Arizona this year. This strip is all demolished now btw

[@eboyd53]

I bet you shopped and ate at the mall when it was filled. Good luck on your move to Arizona.

[@Toonami69_]

@@eboyd53 yes! Me and my family would go to burger baron on Sundays often as a teen and the sports shop occasionally for jerseys and whatever. Also when xsport had a gym there I would use it often as well till they shut down. Thank you by the way!

[@ChiRat22]

What exact streets was it on? Golf ?

[@Toonami69_]

@@ChiRat22 by the Walgreens. 3 E. golf rd

[@waytostoned]

Used to be a great polish deli there in the 90s.. shame what happened.

[@Misunderstood_Superhero]

I just passed this strip mall. It’s just about all gone now.

[@eboyd53]

Decaying malls are a sign of progress in other areas of commerce space. It was once a beautiful and thriving market. This decline is really hard to see.

[@thereturnofharlem9030]

This looks like this strip mall is in a town on the way to Niles, Illinois. There's a lot of abandoned strip malls that are gone in a small town

[@robertorozco5631]

With online shopping, this is inevitable for nearly all malls in America

[@beenwashedup5754]

You looking at 50.000 dollars worth of stuff go get it clothes could sell to dollar store

[@-AMYLYNN-]

I NEED that lamppost!

[@normwetherbee3403]

Another "Abandoned" channel covered this plaza lately and I had to turn it off because the microphone the guy was using was capturing his breathing and he didn't edit it out. Kudos to you for not including that as it's as annoying as listening to someone chewing with their mouth open.

[@joyceedgington5298]

In the 90’s I worked down the street at Yaohan (now Mitsuwa). This strip mall was kind of dead even then. At the corner there used to be a really good Japanese restaurant called Kitakata and across the street was the first Japanese VHS rental store in the suburbs. My mom would rent Doraemon videos for me there.

[@gr1nreaper]

Kitakata is still in the area - West on Golf in Hoffman Estates. You probably already knew this.

[@Colinmcdougall6996]

That’s crazy. Somebody leaves a Harley Davidson sportster. Inside the unit. Must be something up with that gig

[@janickgoudeau6126]

Guys, behind the camera is York Town, I suspect. I used to work in the French restaurant at the very end of mall.

[@andrew8614]

Referring to a city of 75,000 people as a “small town” is kind of hilarious

[@annette4833]

Exactly, he doesn't even live here and knows absolutely NOTHING about when this area opened, has never been to these businesses, or eaten at the restaurants. Stop spreading lies and mis information about the area!!!

[@press_pause2236]

Excuse me but I am from Germany and our cities are like cute little places compared to the US. Yet cities with under 100.000 people are called "Small towns" - so what it exactly your problem?

[@andrew8614]

@@press_pause2236 there is no problem. It’s just humorous. 75% of towns in the US are under 5000 people

[@rickhilde8281]

Chicago is 2.5M, what is hilarious about 75000 being a small town?

[@andrew8614]

@@rickhilde8281 because you don’t use the 3rd largest city in the country as the frame of reference. You use the median which is around 5000

[@stormthrush37]

Interesting to see so much stuff left behind in some of the stores. Wonder what the backstory is. Maybe just the cheap stuff left? Stuff on consignment or that they otherwise didn't own? Planned to come back but never did? Had to get out in a hurry?

[@KameraShy]

The stuff in the "antique" store looked like cheap crap. The kids clothes looked much better. Hope none of it ended up in the landfill. They could have called the Salvation Army or other charity who would have cleaned it out.

[@DamplyDoo]

You guys stole from a dementia patient, in your "toy collector" video. For shame

[@toddschultz7477]

It’s only the beginning by design.

[@chuntikyeung7074]

@decayⅰngmⅰdwest兄弟为啥那么奇怪那商店的物品其实就算商店结业也应该把剩下的物品平宜点卖掉 总好过就这样废弃

[@chuntikyeung7074]

@decayⅰngmⅰdwest兄弟08:09那间商店感觉被那些其他进去的人拿走了部份物品並且破坏了其他物品 多可惜

[@TheUdontknowmehomie]

This mall was always garbage and doomed from the start, surprised it's still open. It was mostly asian and the stores would come and go. I guarontee that it was Internationally owned and managed, probly used it as a tax dump. Hit me up if you want some new spots ✌

[@chuntikyeung7074]

@decayingmⅰdwest兄弟那么奇怪12:48那商店为啥门外还存一條横木挡着店门？

[@chuntikyeung7074]

@decayingmidwest兄弟感觉多么的浪费了那些剩下的衣服其实店主可以把这些剩下的卖不出的衣服捐出去那些机構再送给那些有须要的人穿 ，总好过待在这废弃

[@kingcree27]

It’s all gone and Xsport was in the middle

[@sulo6133]

Greetings from Turkey🎉

[@garydeuce25]

Eyyy I used to live right by there

[@MomMan-b9w]

Looters paradise

[@-AMYLYNN-]

Dumpster diver's also

[@illburnmyselfforreal]

28:19 i wonder what jerseys you could save

[@Lmaovanna]

This is a good video

[@wheatlyguy127]

I don't want to be mean or anything but maybe just put the state only not the fully locatin okay? I mean the more people know the more is likely to get vanisloed or destroyed unfortnally but this was fucking awesome :D

[@jgrod6766]

I've been in the area recently, and as of at least 2 weeks ago, it's fully demolished.

[@illburnmyselfforreal]

29:46 any converse?

[@gr1nreaper]

They started demolishing this place about a month ago. Burger Baron II was the only reason I ever went to this strip, and it closed very recently - one of the last places still open there. Food was pretty good, and prices were unbeatable. The Brookhaven Market (formerly Valli Produce) next to it is still an amazing world food grocer though.

[@White_sox_fan]

Is currently been demolished because it by my school

[@kimberlyhemminger3822]

Your videos are sooooo much better than stringer media. Especially the fact that you don't chew gum in my ear consistently

[@chuntikyeung7074]

@decayⅰngmⅰdwest兄弟10:12为啥还有几辆车停在这裡是不是附近还有其他商店在營业？

[@chuntikyeung7074]

@decayⅰngmⅰdwest兄弟28:16那间百货公司內的商品感觉大部份都被那些其他进去的人拿走了

[@illburnmyselfforreal]

I wonder what could be saved.

[@chuntikyeung7074]

@decayⅰngmⅰdwest兄弟18:46那间餐館是否还在營业？

[@managerof3monsters]

These videos in the Chicagoland area break my heart. So bittersweet.

[@dothackersnet]

This shitty strip mall is nothing to cry over.

[@pablotupone4190]

When was it closed??

[@marshaflorom4220]

Sorry to see this happen!!

[@jayogee913]

Way way too many shopping centers built all over this country. I've driven through so many places that are literally miles upon miles of malls and shopping centers and commercial buildings, one after another after another after another! And then the property owners want ridiculous rent prices for the storefronts!

[@Sam.Sung_]

I'm coming over.

[@Lugeix]

I've seen the original APPLE 1...in the 70s...DUDE

[@bloodCount8895]

I remember that place as a kid. Used to go to the Blockbuster there

[@MoeLarrycurly1]

That's how it is with State farm closed...0 especially when you have a claim

[@Autumn-3476]

That’s so sad. I wish I could go there I have always wanted to do that.

[@hohpotter5747]

In regards to the sirens it is right off of two main roadways and close to the hospital. You hear paramedics all the time over there

[@KameraShy]

The sirens are probably police responding to calls from the apartment ghettos south of Golf Road, like "The Residences."

[@LoloAJ_]

man i drive by here a lot u-u

[@masterofmuppets69]

1:33 What kind of food?🫢

[@michaelblair5767]

That was a good size mall

[@TheTimbo1983]

Looks like a former xsport

[@hohpotter5747]

It was

[@hohpotter5747]

It was

[@blazingleo]

This is such a good channel. I have family in Arlington heights. It was a ritzy area and very busy 30 years ago. Sad to see those memories disappearing. That looks like a goodwill store.

[@alisaishere]

Sections of the Arlington Heights are still thriving. They have a great, walkable downtown area with local businesses.

[@blazingleo]

@@alisaishere That's fantastic to hear. I haven't been back to that area in over 15 years. I bet Covid lockdown destroyed that mall. It is weird to see they would just abandon places like that though in a area such as Arlington Heights. Looking forward to more of your content. If you ever make it to Antioch Illinois, my home town, I will definitely be tuning in.

[@projectbuses]

I'm the second one here

[@Trilliumszz]

You are :33

[@Trilliumszz]

HOLY SHIT IM SO EARLY WHAT???

[@dojo-sama]

Biden's legacy ✌🏽

[@abewar2830]

And horrible demo rat Mayor

[@baked_beans_man]

I lived 23 years in Arlington Heights, it’s not a small town by any means at all. And that strip mall has always been a dump and hasn’t had a full set of tenants in many many moons. Good breakfast place across the street though.

[@rickhilde8281]

Arlington Hts IS a small town. What is your definition, less than 10?

[@baked_beans_man]

@@rickhilde8281no prospect heights IS a small town. Get off your high horse ya old prick Rick

[@3rni3PL]

I am from IL, in fact from O'hare. I know the sites you visit, and in knowing so, I know you both. Good work, just be careful guys.