Exploring Atlantic City, New Jersey - Pt 2 | Dead Malls and Abandoned Casinos

[@Titanic19127]

So much potential at that mall. Been there many times during vacation. Very nostalgic.

[@kimberlycushman203]

I remember when this mall was being built and I was there when it first opened in 1983. It was super crowded, especially the fantastic free light with music water fountain show. It showed every hour.

[@zakeemsworld6619]

I was there too. What a rememberful thing to have it finally opened.

[@kendavid891]

I was there in it's heyday 2004-2007,casinos were all making millions weekly,all casinos were there thriving,been in all of them,sad so much has changed.i worked as a server,wardrobe at Borgata,trump Marina,trop at pf changs, seems like ages

[@Titanic19127]

Me as well. Started really going down after about 2015

[@PseudoIntellectual2.0]

@@Titanic19127 It’s good as long as the whites are in the thriving suburbs and the colored poor stay poor in the city.

[@Itanium153]

Wow all memory when all the stores were open

[@lklpalka]

What a beautiful space, that ocean mall. Thanks for doing such a nice job filming and narrating.

[@jamespringle9821]

In the summertime AC has the airshow and people watch the jets from those chairs you sat on. They still have events on the top floor.

[@Labgy75]

Had so much fun at the pier about 10-13 years ago. Many parties at Buddakhan. There was Phillips Seafood and the Continental Cafe. They had a cool little bar and the bottom of the steps at the entrance of the playground. Much different than what you see in this video now.

[@beachtan]

I was at the Tropicana Christmas week and it was very busy.

[@ToddBrowershow]

This is completely focus on the negative . Miles of clean free breaches, beautiful views , great restaurants , the steel peer , the light house .. Also completely off season , maybe go In July and check it out 19:01

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

The pier shops had one of the first apple stores in nj. I remember buying a MacBook there probably 17ish years ago.

[@jamesoreily1472]

this was a really good video

[@craigsandry6737]

I’m from Australia . Spent two weeks in AC in 1987 . Staying at the Showboat .Wow ! Can’t believe how everything is now . Thanks for posting Ian

[@mikeyoung3786]

Hey buddy in Aussy ,, I dealt craps at showboat for over twenty years,,if you played craps you know me loadest dealer in city!! They were down 15 % after casinos got put in every state and online should have been down fifty percent and stayed open ,,only made 220 million the year they closed very sad was allowed to do all that commission stuff and union shit all meant nothing to crocked politicians really a shame but great to hear that you had fun and remembered us and the fun you had thanks!!!

[@mikeyoung3786]

Hey buddy in Aussy ,, I dealt craps at showboat for over twenty years,,if you played craps you know me loadest dealer in city!! They were down 15 % after casinos got put in every state and online should have been down fifty percent and stayed open ,,only made 220 million the year they closed very sad was allowed to do all that commission stuff and union shit all meant nothing to crocked politicians really a shame but great to hear that you had fun and remembered us and the fun you had thanks!!!

[@rayh4945]

I remember when this mall was jumping, its a shame to see it abandoned like this. Never understood why they never funneled some of the outlets into here. we go to AC once a month and I never see anybody in the outlet stores along Columbus or Arkansas blvd's. Don't know how they stay in business specially in winter months.

[@juliehoot3916]

Great video! Thank you!

[@crouchb15]

I was in that mall in 2010, jfc Too bad you weren't able to get to the back where the fountain was

[@thegerm574]

The mall was awesome back in the late 80’searly90’s when it was Ocean One mall. Lots of stores giant arcade. You could go to the 4th floor and look down to the 1st. I removed it being scary as a kid it seemed so high.

[@tony-ce7qp]

nice video for us,thanks!

[@yarelyfl31]

Thanks for your video Ian. If i hadn't seen it, I would have never known about the arcade inside of Shownoat. I was just there yesterday to check it out. We liked it, but we'd rather stick to the Playcade near Tropicana.

[@tony-ce7qp]

i was there so much,the water show,the food all were great!

[@tonyaw.4039]

Great video

[@djlan_08232]

No the parking garage is not in use. And and they could not implode that second tower due to Rainforest Cafe being connected to it Rainforest Cafe is still open

[@lindamortensen7835]

I’d like to see you return in the summer. That’s when most people go.

[@orlandeuce6567]

BACKROOMS LOOKING REAL

[@agentjoe1890]

Great post Ian haven't been to AC in 40 years and looks like I'm not missing much prefer Vegas which I go to 4 times a year maybe you can do a production from LV 😎 Keep up the great work!!

[@mlbrooks4066]

Malls everywhere were dying before Covid and Covid finished them off. The one that used to be near me was torn down and turned into “ town center”:strip mall that is very popular and profitable.

[@mikeyoung3786]

I dealt craps for 20 years in city seen it all ,,watch for my book !!!

[@MIKIEEYEZ1975]

I have your book.. Very Dull!!

[@mikeyoung3786]

The building was trump worlds fair it was built right before it shut down so was in great shape but fell into disrepair after the implosion of original trump plaza ,,

[@MIKIEEYEZ1975]

Where’s Part 1??

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

There’s so much history (good and bad) and amazing architecture, it’s sad that everything being tied to casino success or failure have left this city with very few ways to survive. I saw the claridge is still standing back off the boardwalk.

[@robertbiesecker9613]

You missed the Abandoned, Thashu Mahalo, can't spell the name, in the northern part of the boardwalk, it's an eyesore too! It was up close to the, Steel Peir, a whole lot of money was wasted on that Abandoned casino too!😢

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

Thanks for this video! I used to go to Atlantic City very often about 25 years ago for the clubs that were at the casinos. I think it maybe has a chance to be like a Venice Beach, but the cold winters make it tough. If there are safe and affordable places for people to live also mixed with high end shore homes, maybe there is a tax base to be found again for growth.

[@boazvahalla]

I remember going to tge Pier Mall like 1985. It was its heyday.😅

[@jaynareynolds3684]

The economic health must be dismal beyond belief in Atlantic City for casinos to go belly-up. The media keeps the public ignorant to the real reasons for the inexorable death of this once great city. Very surreal video of a place with one foot in the grave.

[@mikekosmaczewski9865]

i built two stores in that mall 16 yrs ago #3rdworksdevcorp

[@cheryljones2009]

Wow, that's a shame.... I live in NJ, & I remember when that Mall was reopened, AFTER it was redeveloped by Caesars!!! That 3rd floor was all different restaurants & eateries, I ate at Phillips Seafood on the 3rd level several times.... I really dont understand why the hell it FAILED so badly??? In its prime, it was definitely an "attraction", it even had an indoor attraction called "The Water Show", I used to enjoy that too!!!

[@NicholasBruno-x9h]

the airport situation... most people have to fly to philly and take a train over to ac if they want. in massachusetts here, i can fly directly to vegas. no flights from boston or hartford to ac.

[@1wwtom]

What hurt AC was when the surrounding states legalized gambling themselves. I visited a couple of the casinos in my state but wasn't all that impressed. For me it has always been about getting Away to Stay and Play. Just going to a local casino then going back home doesn't do anything for me and I haven't gone back to them since. I'll still get away to AC for a few days midweek a couple or few times a year to enjoy myself.

[@vunguy3n]

Just a total guess on my part, but wonder how many of those shuttered stores are still obligated to pay off their leases and that's what's paying the expenses to keep it open for the few remaining stores.

[@superfluffyfun]

rain forest restaurant has 99 year lease. cannot take tower down because of it

[@mlbrooks4066]

Atlantic City is starting to look like it did before gambling was legalized there. At the time it was the only gambling in the east, then gambling started to be allowed everywhere.

[@Itanium153]

Hey were is my Light show fountain

[@GSNCards]

It's crazy to think that Atlantic City has so many homeless people living in the cold streets yet so many hotels are vacant and boarded up. You'd think they'd utilize one for a homeless shelter but guess not.

[@anthonyd6370]

people who come to gamble dont care about the condition of atlantic city they go into casino and go home its the tourist that notice

[@nicholasmiller354]

11:55 for my 11:26 sventure

[@imilliemedina666]

I live in AC. You were much too kind in your assessment. AC is family friendly, if your family is a bunch of drug addicted degenerates.

[@markkaminski2416]

I worked in AC during the 80s when a number of Casinos were under construction. The Boardwalk and Casino Row were Glitzy and clean. One block off the Boardwalk and I felt like I was in a third world country. It was appalling. To it's credit the Miss America Parade was one of the best I've ever attended. Met Mr T there he was a very nice, friendly and a lot of fun.

[@imilliemedina666]

@@markkaminski2416 I worked security at the last Miss America at Bwalk Hall, I think it was 2018. It's a shame that it's gone.

[@markkaminski2416]

@@imilliemedina666 I was there about 85-87 . I worked on the Taj Mahal, Showboat to name a few. I was from the Baltimore area, had a room in Absecon and went home on the weekend. Sorry to get off track, the Miss America Parades were a great deal of fun. Especially the area where the Trans and Cross Dressers congregated. They dressed up as if they were contestants in the pageant and would parade next to the contestants cars and taunt and mimic them. It was hilarious and great fun.

[@imilliemedina666]

@@markkaminski2416 sounds like fun. You were there at the peak time. AC can be interesting. I moved her from NY about 10 years ago.

[@Jerry-jt4wm]

THIS PLACE IS NOTHING BUT A DUMP. DRUG ADDICTS AND MUGGINGS.

[@davidrhine1658]

Instead of tearing down these malls', and casinos' they show make them into senior housing.

[@halojill4937]

A friend recently sent me pictures of the boardwalk there- apparently they are PROUD that they have feral cats all over the boardwalk. This is disgusting and a health hazard. Believe me, my family will not be going there.

[@imilliemedina666]

We'll miss you. 😺

[@Dwall44]

Yeah, as someone who’s not wings, an animal person I’m really really really not a fan of that whole thing.

[@Dwall44]

@@imilliemedina666lol.

[@jeffreyg201]

Gentrification in Bader Field may eventually help lift the city out of poverty. Bringing in full time residents who are property owners, pay taxes and vote for responsible politicians is the only solution for the city. A current 40% poverty rate is no way to bring back a once grand resort.

[@jamescampitiello8728]

With all the Homeless population in Atlantic City. You would think they would turn this into a homeless shelter? Or something like thand if I was almost. I would hang out in there all day and night until they kick me out

[@roadrunner1580]

what a shame this thing is still abandoned. the newest owner aint doing shit to this place.. itll probably get imploded!

[@amym.694]

People will opt to go to the American Dream Mall for a water park in New Jersey. I don’t think they will be successful at all.

[@andrekellogg8859]

AC had its day a long time ago. It is dead.

[@amym.694]

Who will move into luxury condos? Where are the jobs? Why don’t they vote for a different political party?

[@imilliemedina666]

AC has "messenger ballots" which are basically paper ballots. They are controlled and collected by a very tight organized circle. Many a candidate has won at the polls only to wake up the next morning to find that 85% of the paper ballots went to someone who only got 40% of the walk-in vote

[@Dwall44]

Because aside from the people that control what’s on the boardwalk, the rest of the city isn’t very smart I guess. The majority of them anyway. Whether it be the voters or the' people that the voters elect. Just my very humble opinion.

[@BrogeKilrain]

State of NJ invested $ billions and lost it all . Taxpayers on hook 🪝 big

[@nicholasmiller354]

11:55 for my 11:26 sventure