Exploring the Abandoned Sandburg Mall in Galesburg, Illinois!

[@damieningram8572]

When I was a kid, that train display was the coolest thing ever. Makes me miss the place. At least now they are starting to sell portions of the building out to local businesses again.

[@toddbeary3001]

Facts

[@charlesclark2629]

I know exactly what your talking about, it was my favorite thing to see as a kid.

[@they_call_me_don9899]

True that

[@vincentthomas4136]

Same here, it's sad to see what became of it

[@315Mikel]

I loved it, it was my favorite thing.

[@haliecurtis7806]

Fun fact. From 2014-2015 Our local non profit haunted house Nightmare at the Movies now know as "Walk of the Dead" helped tear out those seats. They were incredibly heavy. We tried to sell them to help with funding but no buyers. We built the haunted house with wood in both theaters, we had a revolving door built on a the slope of the theater floor, one person would revolve groups around into different rooms we built to scare them to death. We believed those theaters were definitely haunted. One of those rooms in the theater I fondly remember as the makeup room where i did the makeup and helped dress the volunteers. Our break area was up those stairs in the projection booths. Seeing the decay of the train set in the middle of the mall hurt my heart. That's just the definition of childhood nostalgia. -A 28 Year old local. Lived in Galesburg for 26 years 😢

[@jacobjohnson1658]

I actually bought 9 of them 😂 so u had at least 1 buyer..

[@haliecurtis7806]

@jacobjohnson1658 ok maybe we had a couple but there were so many 😆

[@robbiekeske5959]

You made our local newspaper. Reading that article is why I'm here can't wait to see what it has become now!! Thank you -Galesburg Illinois resident

[@hunterthompson5254]

I live in Davenport, IA now but I grew up in Galesburg. My mother worked at Sears, and I can remember shopping at JC Pennys with my grandmother. It's sad to see Galesburg in such a state of decay, but I'm glad to see different businesses trying to bring it back to life.❤

[@Pondlady]

When I was a little kid, I used to love going to Aladdin’s castle, Spencer’s musical land, McDonald’s, Claire’s, debs. We had all kinds of cool stores back in the 80s.

[@PhoenixWinterborn]

Hey yall, thanks for doing a video on our old mall. Back when it was open and thriving, it really was an amazing mall for a smaller town such as ours. To see the condition it's in now breaks my heart. I will say though that hopefully something will be done soon. The old Bergners anchor is getting converted into the new VA clinic, so I guess we'll see what happens from there

[@bunnybismuth]

Are they really going to move the VA over there? If they do I hope they're going to do something about the parking lot and the routes in and out, because those look like an inverse topographical map of the foothills of the rockies.

[@PhoenixWinterborn]

@@bunnybismuth I have a friend over at the VA, and that's what she was telling me. Slated for later this year

[@ShadowPaladin55]

I miss going into the mall. I remember loving to go and watch the train display when it was running. I didn’t know it fell apart so much though, and I even remember some of the stores locations. Sucks to see the mall in such a condition

[@Forgotten_A.I.]

I actually live near there. I remember visiting their quite often. It was great back when it was busy. It's almost surreal to see it in a video like this.

[@SatansBirdLawExpert]

I’m from Farmington. everyone from Central IL knows how bad Maytag leaving devastated Galesburg.

[@buddakream978]

Lived in and around Galesburg all my life. Always kinda thought everything that happened in this area just went unnoticed by the rest of the world.

[@zingarybingus]

This place in the 90's was poppin'. Sam Goody, Aladdin's Castle, Radio Shack, Orange Julius, Diamond Dave's, McDonalds was always packed and was unique looking. Such a shame.

[@Chiro_ASMR]

Big fax! I made The song about it

[@Kayleigh_McKee]

My mother managed this mall as it was dying- the "Head honcho", as you called her office. I had 3 different jobs there myself, including with help and security. for 5 years before it closed it was already a constant struggle to keep the water at bay and the cieling in one piece. When it started falling apart it fell apart fast- buckets everywhere. Several storefronts had been closed for years by that point. In fact, there is a secret, hidden big store that had a wall put up over it, and as far as I know, no way to get in. Now finding out how to get in THERE, I'd be impressed by. That minigolf course by the way? That WAS the McDonald's, in the 90s. And the sports store with the really cool ceiling and insides was Suncoast Video- had all the best anime and movies! "Jumpin J's" was the Namco sponsored "Alladin's Castle" arcade.

[@winstonchaychel]

There were so many different stores in this mall coming and going. At the end it was random as they had already closed all the anchor stores and the center pieces were left. Aladdin's Castle, McDs used to be in there for a while way back in the day, RadioShack, a CD/Music store, those were the earlier ones.

[@master2873]

There was also Clair's, Sam Goody, Orange Julius, and a Spencer's too. My mother told me that the McDonald's that was in there used to be an old Hardee's I believe when she was a kid. One of the restaurants near K-Mart used to be called Diamond Dave's. Loved that place, and funny enough, was owned by someone my mother knew before leaving that shothole as well. This place used to wash its hands of these stores often, and heard multiple reasons why. They were these 3 mainly: High rent for spaces including Kiosks, horrible roof, and the obvious one, the place was dying. Also, 👋 lol.

[@davidchang600]

God, it brings back so many memories you guys mentioning Aladdin’s castle. I can’t tell you how many quarters I’ve put into those machines in that arcade. I miss the old house of the dead the one legends game and I forgot they used to be some kind of giant robot versus game. I used to love playing all those.

[@winstonchaychel]

@@master2873 That's it!! Diamond Dave's!! Cuz Coney Dog ran that place, he was awesome. Thanks bro!

[@winstonchaychel]

@@davidchang600 I still have some of the old Aladdin's Castle coins before they swapped to all quarters 💜. Man I miss that.

[@AlexMags11]

It’s always so sad to seeing a once successful hard worked on building being left to rot and be forgotten. This actually makes me appreciate my local mall and stores while they are still here because god knows what could happen to them. That much damage in just 6 years is also insane to me.

[@TylerKhan]

Man. That old tumbling or gymnasting place you went to used to be the coolest arcade ever in the 90’s

[@DrewSwanson-n9u]

Galesburg Illinois is my home town this mall was such a fundamental part of my childhood. I know that everything has it's time and to see the mall done this way was awesome guys! For real it's always sad to see things and stuff go. But you did a good job seeing the mall out on her last ride.

[@atomictacco]

Galesburg resident here. When I was a kid in the 2000’s this mall was amazing. My mom took me here weekly. There was an arcade and Orange Julius. At one point there was even a car dealership inside (the big store with the glass walls). I even had a few birthday parties in the community room. I also went to an event at the mall where they had tigers you could pet (supplied by The Tiger King no less). The mall died a long time ago when Sears shut down and no one came to replace them. After that, the anchors went one by one until Bergners was the only one left.

[@Evans_explores]

2:47 - former Waldenbooks 3:43 - former Kirlins Hallmark 4:07 - former Orange Julius, Karmal Korn 6:16 - former Zales 6:49 - former Diamond Dave’s 7:39 - Former Bath & Body Works 10:10 - Former McDonald’s 10:46 - Former Musicland / Suncoast Motion Picture 12:24 - Former Aladdin’s Castle 12:46 - Former Sears 16:57 - Former Deb 19:30 - Former Kerasotes Theater

[@talbert690]

I remember seeing that train display as a kid back in the 90’s early 2000’s when you’d used to see the trains work before it just became a static display. The mall was pretty nice back then even had a McDonald’s for a bit!

[@WldFlwrNBrmstks]

I grew up in Galesburg and these were our daily stomping grounds 😭 The mini golf place used to be a McDonald's back in the 90s and all the kids loved the model train display in the food court. The Jumping Jays used to be Aladdin's Castle when I was younger, it was an arcade. At the movie theater a few of us would pay and let our friends in the side door 😂...haven't been there since the early 2000s when AMC opened up they closed that one and West Cinema downtown down.

[@geerhead]

I was waiting for this place to show up on KZbin some day. It had been like 10 years since I had been in there. And it was depressing then to see what it had left for stores. Crazy the train thing was still there. I remember it

[@Twistypoo]

It’s been on KZbin before but the damage has gotten so much worse since the other videos were posted. I’m in shock. This is truly sad to see.

[@bdogg9022]

I remember coming here when I was younger. The model train / town under the skylight was always my favorite part. Thanks for letting me see what it looks like now.

[@justusvest3160]

When it actually worked 😂

[@meganward3494]

My mom was the assistant manager at Kmart (now Uhaul) when it closed in 2017. I grew up in this mall, and miss it greatly.

[@jaykm8687]

its cool how i went to galesburg today for brunch to later see this on my fyp. i live about 40 mins from my location to galesburg. never thought id get to see an exploring video so close to where i live

[@FlippyBoio]

holy shit, I actually used to come here before it was closed down. To think it looks like this now is genuinely terrifying.

[@jackhoban8971]

An hour in there has to be the same as smoking a pack of cigarettes😂 ...maybe a few packs actually

[@Sylphy-bestgirl]

OG😂 gotta wear a gas mask

[@spooky4655]

This channel is youtube hidden gem, great vid guys!

[@Free4All]

Wow, thanks so much for the kind words

[@datfloofboi]

Oh man, I kinda remember my mom taking me here when I was really little, and for some reason the only things I can recall about this place was the train display and the Orange Julius (funny the things my little kid brain focused on lol). We drive by this mall every time we go up to Galesburg, so it's really wild and honestly kinda sad to see the state of it inside now.

[@Chiro_ASMR]

Btw I loved how you edited that together and brought in the Sandburg mall title on the chorus as you zoomed out! So dope!

[@zafarshaik3101]

Free4all, awesome video gents 🎉🎉 .. there's nothing more fascinating than seeing an abandoned mall like this. The best part is that you gents really went to all parts of this mall including the back rooms and it's mind blowing how the offices and almost every corner of the mall is in such an advanced state of decay 😮 I've seen previous videos but it's mostly some solo explores and they were afraid to step into the stores because I mean the mall is so dark, you never know who could be lurking in the shadows. What a video 👌🏼💯 masterpiece

[@Free4All]

@@zafarshaik3101 thanks so much! Appreciate your kind words and support. Make sure to tune into new exploration videos every week

[@gamergirlobama]

It’s kinda sad to see :( this was the mall that I used to go when I was a little girl. I wish it was still open

[@matthewthorne8167]

Wow I grew up going to this place as a kid. The damage is so unreal and sad.

[@geko1807]

weird fun fact the extreme baseball spot 11:30 had a fort made out of the wooden like stand up boards that i think a homeless lady was living in at the time and i remember we didnt know what the hell it was or how long but there was a bag with some clothes, pills, and a notebook and of course we were snoopy and read it and we learned that the lady who lived in that exact same area had like crazy ptsd and hella health issues and it also talked about her girlfriend and how much she misses her. looks like its been moved since but its always cool to see someone else see what youve also seen.

[@gamerwannabe96]

I practically grew up in this mall. Witnessing its decline over the years has been so sad and seeing it like this is as fascinating as it is painful. 💔

[@sammmathews5215]

My mom watched this with me and remembers loving the talking Christmas tree that was in Bergner's, my personal favorite tho was the train

[@kinleycowman592]

It’s crazy living not far from there and passing it everyday and now someone is exploring it

[@jeffd1126]

12:23 was the old Arcade. It was a busy place in the 90s.

[@master2873]

Yep, it was called Aladdin's Castle, at least in the 90's. It had I guess what you can call a deal, and be a licensed Namco arcade. I still have some of the tokens new and old that were there at that location, and even Namco branded. I know they tried opening another arcade that wasn't branded before it closed in the center food court area (across the side of Zales I believe) with a small handful of machines, but since it was the 2010's they mostly went ignored except by me and a small group of people. Back in its prime, they had so many good machines, and were varied. They even had a pretty damn rare Virtual ON double cab in there at one time, and even had some pretty damn cool tickets redemption rewards (of course they were insanely expensive lol) and even having space large enough for parties. I remember them even having a Neo Geo MVS cab in there during the possibly late 90's. So many Sega cabinets like House of the Dead, were in there too. I guess needless to say. That place was pretty awesome, and obviously used to be bustling back when arcades weren't dead. The mall roof as far as I was concerned, wasn't really taken care of at all. It might have been in the early decades, and I also don't remember there being a running theater in there since the early 2000's potentially if that tells you anything. It's crazy to think they're going to be opening a VA there at all in one of the stores with the condition it's in. This place should be fucking demolished for being a public health hazard IMO. I loved the place too like many others from this city, but this thing is not only dead, but it's an unburied rotting corpse.

[@davidchang600]

Oh God, the Aladdin Castle was the best. I remember the house of the dead game for sure. My buddy destin and myself were the ones that had the high scores on that game. Eventually, he got way better than me and he learned the best route for the game and he was super good at the bonus room. I love the memories.

[@dr.lamaface8636]

I remember when I was a kid. My parents owned a hair salon and the mini putt place. Those were the good days. Free mini golf 😂 10:20

[@kenpomaster20]

Jumpin' Js use to be an Aladdin's Castle Arcade, which left around 2003 or 2004 (maybe later). That anchor store next to it was Sears, where I worked for 6 years. In 2001, you could see the traffic in the mall slowly start to decay. The mini golf was originally a McDonalds. Sad to see the mall like this.

[@tyr0n313]

Oh man, I grew up going to Sandburg mall. I used to spend hours watching the trains go. They used to have the best Christmas displays around Santa too. Animatronic reindeer and elves. They also used to have a great little McDonald’s next to the RadioShack and Sam Goody store.

[@MrBigMac9647]

This mall was my favorite place to go. I remember running up and down the hall next to sears multiple times whenever i visited. Comparing this video to memories i have of this place is insanely disheartening. Its a shame this place had to go this way.

[@novaiscool1]

She died a long death. Once the flagships started leaving that was the end. The roof was leaking before she closed and if I recall was to much for the owner to fix, so they kept raising rents on stores to try and make their money on it before it died. They kept the place super dim during the last couple years making it feel even more dead that it was and making it really uncomfortable to walk around. The reason so little is left is because people had been leaving the mall for years before she finally closed up.

[@johncherry1870]

I have a lot of memories from 78-79 in that mall. I worked in three different places in this mall.

[@ocsrc]

I always immediately want to go to the electrical and telco and security rooms in these places and the basement. The power room and telco room is really incredible. Just seeing how much cabling runs into the main room is wild.

[@edenfuture]

I remember shopping in K Mart mostly. Man it's hard to see this place like this. I remember going to the Arcade and playing Guilty Gear XX. I've always wondered what it looks like in there now. Thanks for the video guys!!💪🏻

[@slackingpacking]

10:42 former Suncoast 😮 great exploration guys. I would love to see this place one day.

[@johngood9494]

Great video keep them coming

[@pietruck1215]

i used to work at this mall almost 20 years ago. thanks for video it really was nice to see

[@NickGavin]

We did a vendor show there several years back, most of the stores were empty by that point, when Sears announced they were closing there were tarps and buckets everywhere for the water, it was also dark while we were there, they were trying to save the train display but if i remember they ran out of time before the place shut down.

[@pennyshaffer4046]

I worked in KMart, Sears, and Bergner's stores at different times. Most of the deterioration was caused by the many "squatters" that were found living in the empty mall stores, and by the initial owner's (after closing) start of demo. The mold and mildew, however is surely due to its lack of light and water issues, im guessing. It is so sad and depressing that a piece of our past can look like this now.

[@garyclark9618]

As a teenager from 88 to 95 I have to say my favorite store to go to at the Sandburg mall was Spencer's Gifts 😁 I worked at Bergners from 93 till 95 in shipping and receiving. It was actually a fun job for the most part. The best part was working with all those pretty ladies that worked in sales. I have to say nowadays I have a lot in common with the Sandburg mall. We're both old,worn down and mostly forgotten 😢 It's all good though. Que sera,sera. Whatever will be, will be 😉

[@nyctoceurano]

My dream as a child was to one day have my own job and go on shopping trips here, since the only other malls were 1+ hours away. Never had the chance. Miss it lots. Chasing rainbows was my fave. I always loved the pyramid desert-esque design

[@heatherhasten6854]

This is so sad. I used to go there with my aunt to the pizza place off the center court. The train was the first thing I would run to, push the button and watch it go. At Christmas time, you always had to visit the talking tree in Bergners. Mom would take me to McDonalds on Friday nights as a treat. During high school it was the Saturday hang out. Saw so many movies there then had a friend work there so got in for free. So many memories. I really wish someone would just tear it down and re build some thing.

[@geordansrandomthoughts9927]

This was my old mall Mindblowing

[@geordansrandomthoughts9927]

FUNFACT The GNC was the last Store to leave the mall

[@IraDiaboIi]

iirc the last couple of years the mall was open, it had less than half a dozen locations in it. so thats likely why it was so empty. there was just nothing left.

[@carysandersen9692]

WOAH! MY LOCAL MALL! I grew up in here it’s crazy to see the way it’s changed and how much damage there is. I’ve been wanting to explore here since there’s nothing else to do 😂 how did you guys get in??!?

[@Ghaspey]

My mother managed this mall as it was dying. I had 3 different jobs there myself. for 5 years before it closed it was already a constant struggle to keep the water at bay and the ceiling in one piece. When it started falling apart it fell apart fast- buckets were everywhere. The owner of the property out in Cali didn't care to give them funding to fix it. They sort of assumed it was dying anyway, and they'd wring what money out of it they could while it fell apart- despite my mom's love for the place. Several storefronts had been closed for years by that point. In fact, there is a secret, hidden big store that had a wall put up over it, and as far as I know, no way to get in. Now finding out how to get in THERE, I'd be impressedby.

[@ChanCassiMeowMix]

Duuuuude. It's depressing seeing the mall like this. Me and my family used to go there to take pictures with Santa Claus 😭

[@KSG420]

Always came in to see if that train was running as a kid, Crazy to think the last time I saw it running was when I was a kid...

[@Plexet]

26 and from the area, this video is awesome. Used to love going to the mall fr.

[@sherrygodsil6293]

Movie theater chairs were all removed by hand to make room for a haunted house :) and yes, taking them all out by hand did suck.

[@Free4All]

Thanks for sharing. What year was the haunted house?

[@sherrygodsil6293]

@@Free4All A Nightmare at the Movies ran for two years. 2014 and 2015. Occupied both theaters in year two and we built structures on the slanted floor. Also, the projection stuff was gone when we moved in.

[@dhheady]

The one you said was a mini golf course, was McDonald's when I was little. My oldest was the last in our family to get to experience it, and at the time, my sister in law and brother in law where management there. I really miss the mall, the way it was originally. They went all out to decorate for every holiday, and it was all geared to make it fun for us kids.

[@Twistypoo]

I remember a mini golf place next to McDonald’s when I was in 8th grade.

[@ashyboo5186]

Judy's jumping j's was where I did gymnastics ❤️

[@clagrow]

I am part of a local paranormal group and there had always been rumor of activity in the mall and about 7 years ago, It had already been closed for several years so it was closed well before 2018, but we were given legal entrance and spent the night investigating. From the list of things we had been told, we were able to pretty much debunk 99%. And on another note been many many many many many many many many weekend hours in that place.

[@robertmiller2104]

Just found your channel love it keep it coming. This mall has gotten a lot worst 😢saw a video year or 2 ago filmed and wasn’t as bad as is now didn’t ever realize still standing by now though be gone. Specifically remember train model and was in better shape completely trash now 😢what a shame

[@Free4All]

@@robertmiller2104 thanks so much! Appreciate the comment. We upload every Sunday. It is unfortunate how bad this mall has gotten.

[@justusvest3160]

Xtreme baseball is my family's travel baseball organization. That was actually our first indoor facility for practices during the winter and and for when the fields were wet, we have since expanded and actually have softball as well 11:03

[@exodia1549]

crazy to see this mall pop up after ive visited it myself lol even a couple years ago it was bad in there we got sick for months after going in

[@justinankeney6344]

I am going to try to do my best to identify as many as I can, if someone can add or correct me on any of these, I appreciate it. Timestamps: 2:03 The two-screen cinema is to the left with JC Penney on the right 2:18 Originally (At least to me, born in 79, stay in Galesburg through '99) Osco Drug 2:53 The old video game store, if memory serves me right used to be the original Spencer Gifts back in the day, which later moved down towards Sears, or the old Waldenbooks, both just across from Osco Drug and down a spot or two. Actually, think it was more of a comic/Magic the Gathering/Pokemon/ Yugio Cards store towards the end of the mall. (Volcanic Rush is a common card, the black icon on the right-hand side under the art indicates rarity. 3:37 White counters with red, black and white checkerboard tiling behind was a combo Orange Julius/ Karmelkorn at one point, unfortunately I don't remember what it was before that. 3:43 Kirlin's Hallmark Shop 4:07 The other half of the Orange Julius/ Karmelkorn 4:20 Zales, beyond the Zales was the Regis hair salon, then down to K-Mart (currently U-Haul and Self-Storage) 6:36 Holmes Shoes 6:50 Originally was a Diamond Daves Restuarant (Casual Mexican) 7:38 Bath and Body Works, which at one point I think might have been a shoe place 8:15 If you are on the GNC side, this might have been a Christian bookstore, the Sears wing was notorious for not keeping tenants, or at least not notable tenants for very long. Otherwise, this is just past the McDonald's on the Mall Office side, which was a Payless Shoe Source before becoming another shoe store (which the name is escaping me right now). 9:42 GNC pretty much stayed in the Sears wing as long as I remember, it might have shifted down slots at some point, but always opposite the McDonalds. 10:10 McDonalds. The Mall management and Franchisee were always at odds about one thing or another, I heard that most of it stemmed from the mall wanting bigger air handlers to prevent odors and smells from entering the rest of the mall. Later turned into a mini golf place. 10:42 Sam Goody/ Musicland 11:02 might be the old Universal Sporting Goods spot, although they tended to move around a bit 11:52 Sears 12:20 Aladdin's Castle 12:50 is back to Sears at 13:03 that would have been the electronics department on the left-hand side, baby/infants on the right, at 13:14 looking towards the appliance area 14:23 Looking back to center court from Sears, there would have been a dress shop first on the left-hand side, then I think Spencers, then Musicland/Sam Goody, or Sam Goody then Spencers. 15:16 Lovie's was Fannie Mae Candies, and I seem to remember a cookie place somewhere around that spot way back in the eighties before it was Fannie Mae 15:22 At one point was a S'Barro, that spot wasn't too stable in tenants either. 15:30 I think the original location for KarmelKorn, might have been the spot the guys are walking into there. 16:07 Bergners (Carson Pirie Scott/Boston Store) 16:09 Claires is the bigger of the two stores (directly ahead) and off to the left of it would have been Foot Locker 16:21 Seaside mural, I honestly don't remember anything about this spot, might have been the Hibbet's Sports at one point 19:31 back to the Theater, at one point one of the churches was using this as a meeting space. Hope this helps!

[@melissadowns143]

This is very sad. I remember when the mall was really something. When we were young security had to tell us we could only walk in groups of 3 so we would walk on separate sides of the walkways so we could still talk. Sam goody was the music store. There was a Spencer gifts, Deb’s, fashion bug. They had trick or treating, Easter egg hunts. The tiger king even came once. I even remember a fair in the parking lot. I worked there one Christmas season and had a great time. My prom dress came from one of the department stores

[@melissadowns143]

And APAC was the best place to work! It was a huge telemarketing office at the mall near bergners.

[@davestrang8585]

We lived there from 89-98 and went there many times. Interesting but sad

[@Kenneorth-w900a]

I remember that train track I have a lot of font memories. They’re back when I was around five years old. I always went there to go see the trains. I remember this one time this train kept on malfunctioning. It was funny but it brings me back memories. I feel like I’m gonna cry looking inside the store I just wish I could be in there when I was still running one last time ☹️

[@IraDiaboIi]

only reason i ever went to the sandburg mall was the model train exibit

[@MekareP]

But did it have the Swayze Express?

[@pennyshaffer4046]

The original model train exhibit was removed carefully and now is in our train museum.

[@Lillyhen08]

Its so crazy seeing how damaged it is from someone who grew up going there

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

Awesome video as always! Can’t believe how few views your mall content gets. You do really good vids versus most of the newer wave of dead mallers. This genre is so over saturated at this point.

[@MaryDavidson-uf6tj]

If I remember right I believe the train display was a working train. It's been a very long time since I was in Sanburg mall (was named after Gary Sanburg, actual name of the mall was Carl Sanburg Mall. The 15 million dollar development was built starting in February of 1974 and continued into 1975 on 97 acres it officially opened their doors in October in 1975. Carl Sanburg was a 20th century writer and poet who passed away in 1967, after his passing his name would soon find itself on the 15 million dollar enclosed shopping center.), in fact I want to say it was in 1989 I was there last. It had Clairs Boutique, Spencer's novelty shop, they had Foot Locker, i know there was a record store there and i want to say it was Co-Opp Records but i might be wrong on the name. There use to be a gold chain cart that sat in the centers around seating. I'm also sure some of the stores changed out after 1989 so I wouldn't know the coming and going after that. It was always busy in the 80s and it was fun going there as a pre-teen and then as a teenager. I'm not from Galesburg, I live about 50 minutes away, 41 miles from Galesburg. Galesburg is a nice place to visit, my mom and I will take off and head to Galesburg and go to Big Lots and we will visit Dollar Tree there also (we hit larger Dollar Trees due to a larger variety of merchandise and don't do much shopping where we live. Its because its a treat to go out of town for fun shopping).

[@westertin3343]

I remember that card shop, used to play magic and force of will there. Honestly was one of the last businesses there.

[@gidgetrose9251]

Makes me sick to see I lived in Galesburg when it opened. Eventually all the down town stores moved to the mall. Now no mall and no real stores down town!

[@jazzgod21]

Second thoughts. Place with the Magic cards was a short lived local board game store. Sold stuff, but could also come play stuff like magic and Warhammer. Curious if you noticed the blood? You're the third channel I've seen do a tour. One guy was but himself. He noticed fresh blood on the floor around some broken glass. decided to leave. on his way out, another cell phone started ringing in the room he was in. kind of creepy.

[@BrittanyBrowning-eb5xh]

Jumpin J's was a gymnastics studio but I remember that place as an Aladdin's Castle.

[@Fireman20082]

Part of the mall is going to become a Veterans clinic, the owners of this part told me they have already kicked out several homeless camps from the inside. Supposedly a arcade, mini golf, etc are also due to come in also.

[@parksandreselling]

The last time I was there was probably in the final year or so that it was open. It was basically just the last anchor store (I don't remember what that was). They had the rest of the mall blocked off, but you could see into it. It was already in bad condition at that time.

[@Odinseyesocket-bz7eq]

i explored this mall last year, we left the hatch open above the theater on accident it got stuck when i went up their it was a good view my friends broke my lamp so their shouldve been a lamp near that ladder somewhere, and we also found comic case covers and old metal war hammer shelves we were going to take and never did, we also tried breaking those big thick glass panels and couldn't we tried with a big wooden post we found and it still didn't break, be careful when around the mall if you go to explore, they have a cop sit out their sometimes because of the students.

[@ocsrc]

Also the roof is usually awesome The roof of a mall is loaded with antennas and satellite dishes Some malls actually rent space to communication companies to have repeaters and you can find VHF / UHF / 800 band and cellular antennas on the roof

[@carlavision6143]

Really enjoyed your video! Looked kinda spooky in there.

[@KillerKingTy23]

Damn this is kinda surreal to see pop up on my homepage considering I grew up just 20 minutes from there in Monmouth, Illinois.

[@OgreSayrone]

I remember opening yugioh cards in a restaurant in that mall, the rare of that pack was a destiny hero Dasher. Was my favorite card as kid.

[@kjkinney0319]

When big businesses started to leave the mall, smaller businesses moved in to try to keep the mall alive. You guys came in by Jc Pennys. When you walked towards the center of the mall, on tour right was a grocery/convenient store that later turned into a gym. Orange julius was the first food area on the right. In the middle you had zales, reebok, claires, bath and body, and a shoe store. The one store you went into with tons of buckets was a mexican restaurant and the smaller store closer to kmart where your friend picked up the hairspray was a hair salon. Across of gnc, where it looked like a mini golf was a mcdonalds back in the day and jumping js was aladins castle (arcade). Towards bergners we had a womens clothing store and hibbets. And i believe the two stores closer to bergners on the right is where someone put in a mini golf and arcade down there when stores left. We also had a hallmark store and a book store. The last store on the right by sears was a cd/movie store. But i think it ended up selling sports things closer to closing. Just so sad, this mall was everything the community and surrounding communities needed. So many memories here!

[@chemicalypsolo]

100

[@chrmng1]

Before a Mexican restaurant it was Diamond Dave's restaurant next to Kmart.

[@chrmng1]

The cd place was music land and then Sam goody

[@elired8688]

Bad ass i grew up here and still live here i used to spend days running around there

[@thedidway2300]

I’m 2 minutes and 10 seconds in and this hurts me to the core

[@ShadowPaladin55]

I want to mention, though it probably doesn’t change much, that while the mall did close in 2018, it was dying and losing stores long before that. I think last time I visited the mall, when the main interior was still open, there were the anchor stores (3 remaining then, I think) and the a small handful of other stores. I would say probably about 10 total, definitely less than 20. That was back in late 2017 early 2018 I believe. Sucks that the mall died the way it did.

[@TheBlackkat91]

The place with the mini golf sign was the old McDonald's. There was mini golf there at one point but it was near the Bergners section of the mall.

[@General_pizza]

Im sad that they abandoned the mall, i remember going there a few times before it closed 😔

[@LastAyleidKing]

So sad I mean yall shouldn't be in there, but I guess now I know how dead it is. Sad to see I remember going to that Kmart and all the stores....but the train set really was the centerpiece as a kid

[@ocsrc]

So sad😢😢😢 It always makes me sad seeing equipment and infrastructure left behind

[@fuzzycat8194]

chat this is epic

[@chrisadams628]

Growing up, this place was the shit. I knew it had gone to the wayside, but I didn't know it was this bad.

[@MekareP]

I was wondering when the local mall would show up in my recommends.

[@buddakream978]

That's surreal I live like 20 minutes from there who knew somebody would notice anything in this corner of the midwest. Edit apparently most of the people in the comment section also live around here. XD Probably might even know each other.

[@annettegift2790]

When Kmart was added a cement wall collapsed and killed a worker that was building it. Yes I lived there at that time

[@phoenyxsalvatore7436]

nostalgia

[@pinedcones]

it makes me so sad every time i drive past the mall, but what added a sense of unsettling-ness(?) was when, in 2021, there were covid vaccines being administered there, in the empty bergner's. as i was sitting for the 15ish minutes we had to wait after the shot i realised i was sitting where the bedding used to be. it was also very weird and a bit eerie going to the mall as more and more stores went out; i remember a time in bergner's looking out of the inner store entrance to the rest of the mall, and just seeing all the closed storefronts in the darkness.

[@pinedcones]

seeing it in this state is so strange and so very sad

[@cjgerman1487]

I used to go here all the time as a kid used to be a good mall sad to see

[@kalebtodd2618]

i didnt even know galesburg had a mall. currently on the other side of monmouth. EDIT: wrote original comment before watching anything, but as soon as i saw the opening, i recognized the mall immediately. i remember my grandparents taking me there fairly frequently as a kid. its just so long since then, i didnt realize it was in galesburg.