How Are Malls Doing During Christmas Time? | Retail Archaeology

Let's check out the Christmas decorations at 3 malls and see how they're doing during the Holiday Season.
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[@BoxInACorner]

4:08 Shoutout to my fellow Hickory Farms gift box enjoyer. When my dad worked at a real estate firm 30 years ago as a junior agent, all the senior agents scoffed at the corporate office gifts of Hickory Farms stuff and left them behind. My dad happily took them home from the office parties and my brother and I ate them like for the next 2 months

[@gordontaylor2815]

Free food is free food, I say. Your dad was a smart cookie!

[@chrissyellem7397]

My son loves those. My mother gets him one every year and it's gone in like one day lol

[@gabrielpaulsmom]

Hickory Farm's cheese was awesome

[@Larry]

Last minute panic shopping, as Amazon won't arrive in time and they want to give something nicer than some hankerchiefs or a pair of socks :D

[@danjohnson4082]

The height of the holidays 2023 looks more like a typical day at the mall in the 80s.

[@frostanimate]

As a chandler resident, Chandler fashion center is a beautiful mall. The saddest part of the mall isn’t even the Sears wing which is actually doing quite well. It’s actually the outdoor area known Chandler Village. Most of the restaurants closed over the years with BJ’s being the most recent as they relocated near ahwatukee. The remaining tenants are still strong. Hopefully the spaces get filled in the near future.

[@Satoshi9801]

I do wonder what will fill the vacant food court anchors.

[@Gen10civic]

Chandler was cool to go to as a teen. It was huge and so clean 2003-2004

[@dave3657]

If the mall gave a real good incentive to fill the spaces, they may get them filled.

[@brokenmn99]

Now Buffalo Wild Wings is the lone survivor

[@KyleJWest-vn9kn]

It's nice to see a shopping mall that's doing well. All of our local ones have closed and are torn down. Malls decorated for Christmas was a found memory of the season and I'm glad to see its still around.

[@bryanCJC2105]

Oh, and yes, I'd love to see a video on Scheel's. I thought it was still the mall, not the inside of the store. It doesn't look like a typical sporting goods store. I'd love to hear about the concept and their approach to sporting goods especially since it appears to be working (contrary to the other sporting goods stores that have died) judging by the traffic in the store.

[@iluvwanesworld]

I would love a video on Scheel’s, I loved their Christian Thanksgiving commercial, it was so wholesome!

[@raymondmartin6737]

Thanks 😊 I know Chandler is south of Phoenix, as I lived in NE Phoenix, in 1976. I think Phoenix itself was about 500, 000 back then. I remember the Los Arcos Mall in Scottsdale, which was gone when my wife and I visted Phoenix in 2003. There was the Metrocenter NW of us, back then, opened in 1973, which was new then, now closed. Sorry to hear that Monte's La Casa Vieja steakhouse in Tempe. My parents and I also went to the Picadilly and Ferguson cafeterias back in 1976. I was 32 then and worked a while at Stewart Title Co on Central Ave. near the Financial Center, and I remember Goldwaters Dept store toio. I saw Sen. Goldwater in 1964, at an Amateur Radio Cenvention in NYC, when he was running for President. He was licensed as K7UGA and I saw his antennas from a distance when I lived in Phoenix. A lot has chabged and I will be 80 next year, and a Disabled USAF Veteran from 1969 to 1973. 73 de W2CH Ray

[@davinp]

My local mall, Potomac Mills Mall, which opened in 1985 and owned by the Simon Group, was packed on Black Friday. I am sure it has been very busy each weekend in December. This mall is doing well with over 220 stores

[@PljeskavicaKing]

I used to live in NOVA. PM is still one of the better malls in the area and has a huge variety of shops and businesses. The food court is a bit meh but it has a decent bit of options. That Round1 location in the mall kicks butt though. You guys are spoiled.

[@cloutmuzikbeats]

Tyson’s Mall or Fair Oaks are nice too

[@marcd6897]

@davinp I’m so happy to hear Potomac Mills is still doimg well. A little over 10 years ago when I lived in MD, this was my go-to mall for clothing quite a few times over the year, and I really missed it when I moved away. I really liked Potomac Mills Mall.

[@Ranthra1]

Nice to see there are still some malls doing ok and actually trying to decorate for Christmas. I remember my father taking me to Parmatown Mall (in Parma, Ohio) on Christmas Eve in the early '70s to get gifts for Mom. The entire place and all the stores were decorated and it was fully packed with people. For a 10 year old kid it was both scary and fun at the same time. Love your channel! I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas!

[@Markimark151]

Certain malls are doing great depending on the location and the type of anchors. My local mall which had a renovation few years has lots of shoppers and its mostly recreational like a Christmas tree and a seasonal ice rink! People are still shopping at malls, but it’s all about the mall experience that you can’t do with online shopping!

[@marbledillon]

This 100% correct. The middle to higher end malls are doing fine. The lower tier malls with lower quality stores are the ones which are struggling.

[@Markimark151]

@@marbledillon even some high end malls aren’t doing well due to expensive leases from the real estate. It’s about sustainability from those stores and unique shopping experience.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Places with tourists, Intl 🌏 visitors help. They buy retail items because many of them get $$$ worth of US stuff then sell it at 2x 3x the price in other places. Orlando FL has a lot.

[@Markimark151]

@@DavidLLambertmobile those tourist malls in Florida are really cool, they’re like a resort. We have some stores that appeal to tourists that sell authentic souvenirs, since they’re impulse buys.

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

Super regional malls that have thought outside the box to secure non traditional anchor stores and that have invested in keeping their infrastructure up have done fine in the larger metro areas. It's the smaller local malls, especially in more rural areas that have really struggled to survive. But in both Atlanta and Houston which I've spent most of the past three decades in you can find several of these destination type malls that are doing quite well.

[@rb5078]

I worked at Fashion Square mall in 2001-2002. Moved back home to CA and haven’t been back. Seeing it in this video was such a shot of nostalgia. Great memories.

[@pmn2821]

I'm glade you moved back to California. I wish the rest of California's would do the same. Merry Christmas

[@thedungeondelver]

Visited two malls today - last minute Christmas Shopping, YAY. First one was Oveido Marketplace. It had...fair traffic for 11:30 AM - but not 3 days before Christmas "fair". I talked to one of the store owners who'd been there for 9 years, she said the abandoned key store at the far end of the mall was going condo and they expected that would help a lot, with foot traffic. The other was the Altamonte Mall, and it was "mid". I mean, seemed busy but more of a "December 9th" level of busy? But we were also there at 1:30 PM, local. The Target store we went to was jam packed though.

[@floydsemlow8253]

I was at Great lakes Mall in Mentor Ohio ♥️ it's thriving, was busy as hell and all the stores are open there's maybe two store vacancy. Gen X here!long live the 80s

[@tante_kringe]

About the flamingos - it’s a common theme nowadays in unseasonably hot places (like the Southwest US and Florida) that celebrate Christmas to decorate with summery items like lights on palm trees and yard flamingos. It’s a twist on holiday decor.

[@timsep1]

We were in Toronto for the holidays and decided to stop by Square One Mall out there, and omfg, that place is MASSIVE and thriving. Being from Chicago, we always hear that Woodfield is what a busy holiday time mall looks like. Comparing things to Square One was non-existent, that mall was massive and completely packed.

[@JeredtheShy]

There was an excess of retail space, causing a lot of dead malls, but it wasn't like there was no need for the retail space at all. Now that the novelty of online shopping has worn off, and the enshittification of online has been going on for a while, I think malls may be due for a second wind. They will never, ever be what they once were, but people have been burned by online shopping enough now to give brick and mortar another chance. It turns out that it's really nice to examine the goods in person, especially clothes.

[@albear972]

2:36 ♪♫♪ Red gold and green, ♪♫♪ red gold and green! ♪♫♪

[@gp.5989]

Just went to the mall out in victorville, ca. Almost couldn't find parking, very nostalgic shoppikg with the wifey.

[@thecottage4493]

My wife and I went to 2 malls over Christmas weekend. The first was Crystal mall in Waterford, CT. Only 1 of 4 anchors is occupied. It was dead on the Saturday before Christmas and part of the mall smelled like sewage. A rug shampooing company was hitting some rugs, I wonder if there was a backup somewhere? Santa was set up in the deadest, darkest part of the mall ( Sears wing) where it smelled the most. It's too bad because this mall has so much character and architecture, you can really feel that old energy. The second mall was Enfield Square in Enfield, CT. This mall is mostly empty with no anchors. A Target has been added, that's the most active part of the mall. Other than that there's no one in the rest of the mall. There are small independently owned stores that get no foot traffic at all. Santa was in the center court and it was dead. The rumor is no store leases have been renewed, probably close in 2024. Again which is too bad because it is such a cool place........

[@C_M_R]

(8:59) "who has Prada purse money..." -- my guess would be the people who live in Scottsdale.

[@Mike-ed7rn]

Yea, plenty of people do apparently. High end malls/tenants are absolutely crushing it nationwide.

[@Mrtfarrugia]

Maybe Prada outlet money.

[@Sizzlingfoil231ProductionsLtd]

I live in Scottsdale and could only dream of shopping at Prada, Dior, Gucci, and other luxury Brands.

[@adampolselli597]

I went to Chandler Fashion Center on Saturday 12/23/2023 and it was packed! I had to park on the backside of Scheels to find any parking at all. Very good to see!

[@user-is7xs1mr9y]

This video is so cozy, Christmas is my favorite holiday and seeing decorations always makes me happy. I'm glad these malls are doing well, at least with foot traffic. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

[@TimeQuxxn]

My malls in Southern California were packed. It was a very good feeling

[@DVeck89]

I always wonder how Dillards stays in business whenever I walk through one. They never seem busy enough to financially justify their massive footprint.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Mark up. 🛒

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

I'd add, I did 4 security shifts at a Kate Spade shop; Orlando FL. 2010s. That location had little inventory 🛒 but the cheapest items were $300. 🤑 Spade died, ⚰️ suicide early 2020s.

[@RichV20]

3:50 Why is there a guy wearing a 12 JIM KELLY Bills jersey in Arizona? Im from Buffalo and I LOLd when I saw that

[@Railfan77]

I would definitely go for an in depth look at Scheels, they are based in North Dakota, got their start in Minnesota all the way back in 1902. They today operate 32 stores in 15 states. They are also employee owned, just like WinCo Foods, which is a very successful grocery chain with stores in the Phoenix area.

[@SenecaRaccoon]

Greetings from Supestition Springs! ITs still at around 2/3 residency, and the BIG RC race track store/anchor, has closed but its still always busy, none the less!

[@lShishkaBerryl]

I did most of my xmas shoping in a mall this year lol. Half an hour after open it was pretty dead but when I left a couple hours later it was like a train stopped and let 400 people off at once.

[@BlueJay6441]

Closing the video with a quiet walk through Dillards was just so on point. Thanks for a great year of content, Merry Christmas. Also, loved the shout out to Hickory Farms, I love that place too!

[@maeganmonster]

I was playing this video on my phone while sitting on the floor folding laundry. I left the video running and went to the bathroom, when I came back my cat was sitting on my laundry and staring intently at my phone. I guess he was watching it too 😂

[@commonsensefan]

This is a great channel. The nostalgia hits hard, but it's rad at the same time.

[@christopherp.3479]

There is a Scheels by where I live in Colorado and it’s always very busy. It’s an awesome throwback to the 80s and 90s where there’s great customer service and tons of people shopping in person.

[@nancyloomis3046]

Thanks for this fun look at a Christmas-time mall…in Arizona or wherever, most malls seem to all look pretty similar. I live in Md, near DC. I haven’t even been to the mall lately, but my husband went in to the Macy’s at our local big indoor mall. He said Macy’s and the entire mall was super jam packed. I’m glad to hear that. I think it makes those of us who grew up with mall shopping kind of sad to see so many iconic stores and malls close. Happy Holidays everybody!

[@humbughumbughumbug]

Those tree toppers are an emulation of a chandelier style called "Sputnik." It's supposed to be some high falutin artsy thing that's thousands of dollars each.

[@SaKOTR]

It's good to see a mall thrive. I go home to PA and the majority of malls are dead. Living in Virginia Beach and Lynnhaven Mall is still quite busy like I remember in the 80's/90's. I honestly thought after Stranger Things Season 3, that malls around the world would see a boom in popularity again. Unfortunately not :(

[@xtremeentertainmenttv9664]

Idk if you’re close to king of Prussia mall but if you’re driving distance to that at least you have that.

[@presidentkiller]

Malls in Mexico are doing quite well. The problem with malls in the U.S. is that most of them look dated or rundown, are in the middle of nowhere, and have uninteresting stores and very few things to do besides shopping. A family in Mexico can spend an entire day in a mall, because there're restaurants, cinemas, a great variety of stores and other fun things to do that don't involve shopping at all.

[@jenbentzel1981]

I'm in south Central Pa and definitely it's hard to find a thriving mall. King of Prussia is great and we're about an hour from Towson, MD and they have to a nice mall, the Towson town center. In WA state where I lived previously they had several busy malls in the area.

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

I went to Lynhaven several times when I was in high school growing up on the Outer Banks, even though Green Briar was much closer to me. I'm glad to hear it is still doing well.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

​@jenbentzel1981 Pa's long I 80 🛣 has many dead or near death malls ☠️. These retail areas were in places with no industry, growth, few people-🏘. Pittsburgh area had a few malls pushed for years by seniors, older crowds. These pop phased out by 2010 or so.

[@jcc3279]

Nice Capcom style intro. Funny thing I was just playing my trusty Super Nintendo and was playing X-Men Mutant Apocalypse on a free Magnavox "Channel One" Crt TV that i saved from my old high school when i worked I.T. for the same school system i graduated from when i lived in Michigan. I now live in Florida.

[@landontk7696]

Northbrook Court is doing terrific right now, the halls are filled with shoppers and bags from multiple stores. It’s good to see they’re doing well.

[@horseathalt7308]

I think a lot of people are tired of the novelty of online shopping, and now costs and other downsides are growing, making brick and mortar shopping more worthwhile again. Plus there is no online substitute for shopping in person when it comes to trying things, and the social aspect of it. Merry Christmas everyone !🌟🎄🎅

[@rb5078]

Absolutely. For me it’s the exhaustion of endless choice. I’m in my 40s and miss the days of going to the store and having a handful of choices. It might seem silly or backwards, but there’s something about having limited options that makes decision making so much less stressful.

[@horseathalt7308]

@@rb5078 Interesting you say that. I get so overwhelmed by the choices online that it makes me not want to make an actual choice and buy! ha.. Plus a lot of absolute junk is offered online today, the quality of products has gone way down in the past four or five years, a lot of no name chineseium junk!

[@UndeadEggmiester]

Merry Christmas and happy new years. I haven't been to a mall in probably over 7 years but then my family never were big into malls.

[@sew_gal7340]

My favorite part about these videos are the MUSIC!!!! They are soooo comforting. i love it. Please dont change

[@lidsman2221]

I remember when the Dillards opened in the city I lived in and it was shoulder to shoulder people there like you talked about at the sporting goods store. Now its a ghost town and has not been touched since it opened. Dillards had awesome stores when they were new. Not so much now. Thanks for the video and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@HejranBiki]

Chandler fashion center is a nice mall I go there a lot this year

[@williamharris8367]

The reference to the price of Prada handbags reminded me of taking my Mother shopping several years ago. She lives in a very small city with limited shopping options; at the time I was living across the country in a city of about 1.1 M people. I took her into a boutique that sold purses for more than her car! 😂

[@dirkmonson8425]

Ha - I live in Fargo which is corporate HQ for Scheels. It's been fun to see it grow.

[@uscgspawn2298]

Went to South Shore Plaza (eastern MA) on Christmas Eve, just to see how it was doing. Unlike so many malls these days, SSP was bustling, the Food Court was busy, and there was a line of kids waiting for Santa. The surrounding community is relatively upscale (though hardly downtown Boston), and several local competing malls are either moribund or closed/recently demolished. As for its Christmas decorations, most of it was kept to near midpoint of the main corridor, looking like 8:17 and serving the same purpose. Oddly, this mall also has one of the few remaining Sears. It was a desert merchandise-wise, and it lost its upper floor years ago and turned into a Primark.

[@helloosasd]

God his videos are so freakin comforting

[@Rhewin]

The malls here in DFW seem to be doing pretty well this season. Nothing like 10-15 years ago, but there's definitely life and people spending money. I am glad that they aren't going as extreme with holiday hours as they used to. I remember working at Sears the few years it was open 24 hours on Black Friday (actually 30 since it started on 6 pm on Thanksgiving). I know for a fact that the money they spent keeping to stores open was not worth it from about 2 am - 5 am.

[@deltatriples]

I went to my local Simon owned mall. Definitely had a good crowd and felt like a mall during Christmas. The newest anchor there is a Scheels, but I didn't make my way over to it. My area is dominated by strip malls so seeing a traditional mall busy is always a good time. Unless you get stuck in a long line like I did in one store lol

[@gumerzambrano]

Here in LA malls are still popping on weekends. Most always have great Christmas decor. There's also a mix of indoor and outdoor malls. But probably most outdoors

[@Jacob-nu4nd]

Malls were winter Wonderlands back in the day if you want to see an awesome video, Look up Oak Park Mall and independence Center 1991. Those are my local malls and a guy snuck a camera in ,these decorations don’t even compare.

[@batterupman]

Independence Centre isn't doing too well, but I went back to Oak Park a day or two ago and it was very crowded. The parking lot was nearly entirely crammed full. Though I think it has been the more popular of the two malls for quite a while now.

[@MK-of7qw]

Hickory Farms is a classic. And yes many good memories munching the summer sausage whole going through the NES game manuals.

[@algorithmicallypuzzled1003]

I was at my local mall (birdgewater NJ) on the 29th and was very happy to see it was packed. Its nice to remember the past when malls really were still gathering points

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

Starting in 1992 I spent most of two decades working in one mall or another. A solid decade of that time was with just one company which is practically unheard of anymore. As such this video had some massive nostalgia for me, especially since it's been over 10 years since I last stepped foot into a mall to go to work. I won't call it the best time of my life but I will say that I had a lot of good years back then where I was reasonably happy at my job and content with my career.

[@jc1979af]

I love the background music in your videos. It has that chill "mallsoft" vibe. If I have a rough day, watching your videos hits me right

[@topherbec7578]

Back in the 80's and early 90's at my local mall. They had a Santa village with anamatronic animals and elves. The mall was always jammed packed with shoppers.

[@fernwehric-lifeinabus]

Merry Christmas 🎄 thanks for the memories

[@ScorpioBeauty1313]

Merry Christmas to you,your friends and family. Blessings and good health in the coming year🎁

[@JazzyBabe56]

see you next year - I will never miss any of your vids...you are a tradition in my online viewing....have a wonderful rest of the year and a GREAT 2024

[@NYVET48TFW]

Really enjoyed that! Thank you. I love malls and it breaks my heart that all the malls I grew up with are gone or dying. With the popularity and convenience of online shopping, 'progress' is killing what's left of our past. Glad to see malls doing well, at least in some areas. Merry Christmas (belated, just found the video).

[@michaelwhite2600]

I went to a mall tonight near where I live in Knoxville, TN. I too love parking outside of Dillards. It’s funny you mentioned that because I just walked through Dillards to get to my car. The mall here was surprisingly busy and it gave me lots of fantastic memories of the mall I used to go to during Christmas in Savannah, Ga. We have an outdoor mall here too. Wasn’t the point of the mall to escape the elements and have everything under one roof? I always thought outdoor malls were going backwards because you have to worry about the weather and driving . Anyway, I loved the last mall’s decorations the best . Thank you and Merry Christmas ! ❤️🎅🎄

[@benb8407]

Yeah, not a fan of outdoor malls only outdoor mall in West Michigan is Tanger Outlet outside of Grand Rapids only been to Tanger once when it first opened in 2015 in the fall was a nice evening. When I shop in GR I go to Rivertown best mall in West Michigan doing quite well.

[@chrissyellem7397]

We had an outdoor mall back in the 70's in my hometown. It was fun you could see your family at the end of it and one time I could hear my dad's sister all the way down it because she was so loud lol

[@LenjaStar]

I live near Arrowhead Town center. The place has no Christmas decorations or customers. The only pop up Christmas kiosk is the calendar/game kiosk. In the last few years stores had lines to get into the store, while this year you'll be the only customer in those store. It's nice to see other malls are still festive

[@anthonyxavier6300]

Merry Christmas to you too! Glad to see that some malls are still surviving 😊

[@IVR02]

Here in New Jersey, I've been pleasantly surprised to find that most of the malls I've been to this Christmas are alive and well. Even malls that I'd written off as being dead were fairly busy. And malls that already get decent traffic, like Garden State Plaza in Paramus, were totally swamped. Seriously, I went to GSP the other day and had to park at the furthest possible corner of their massive parking lot - I don't think I've ever seen it that busy!

[@cjzani]

Hell yes to a Scheel's episode! I've never even heard of them until this video but would love to see something in depth about them.

[@Star_sweeper]

Arrowhead mall in Glendale is doing well too! I was there at the beginning of December and it was pretty crowded with all their decorations up.

[@theotherfanboy]

Went there yesterday, traffic was so nuts it took 20 minutes to get there from the 101 and Peoria and then it took 10 minutes to park.

[@maggiemcmac8273]

I don't comment much but I want to say that I always enjoy your content and hope you and yours have a great holiday season. Can't wait to see your videos in 2024. 🎄

[@gunnasintern]

i went here last year during my road trip last year when i went across the Southwest. it was nice to walk around here during the day and night

[@darktetsuya]

some great displays this year! also cool to see so much foot traffic during the holidays, some of those malls seem to be holding on just fine from the looks of it.

[@chrislongbeard]

I made my first and only seasonal trip to the mall today. Newbury Comics and Victoria Secret. And checked out Primark, which was worse than H&M which is also there. Surprisingly busy around lunch. I live on one of the main roads to get there and the traffic hasn't been indicative of how busy it has been.

[@kellycarroll6829]

Merry Christmas!🌟

[@dindog22]

I think I liked the decorations in the first mall the best

[@davidgoodman6924]

I remember when the line to see Santa at my Mall would be very long. It was a magical time indeed.

[@BDBD16]

FREAKING CAPCOM INTRO!!! NICE!

[@jehutyeaa]

"4:00" Yes pleas!

[@jw6948]

Thank you for this! Always love your christmas at the mall vids

[@gordontaylor2815]

2:37 Great, now I've got the "Karma Chameleon" earworm playing in my head...

[@josephtafur]

Their scheels at The colony, Texas Please do a video on them

[@jc1400]

In the northern Virginia area the malls and many of the smaller stores are doing great this year. It was nice to see the crowds back.

[@SleepyKaijuETH]

I never go to these malls so it’s nice to see some footage of them during the holidays. I know people hate the holiday shopping frenzy but I love being in a mall during Christmas. It reminds me of when I was a kid. The lights, the smells, the novelty. Just love it. Thanks for capturing this.

[@88channel22]

Same. I don't really shop but love the energy. I went Glendale Galleria and Americana at Brand yesterday both were very lively. I kind of went back and forth between the two. Americana even had a snow machine from the roofs that sprayed the shopping center at night, that with the santa house and the water fountain was absolutely beautiful. The only thing is I missed the trolley tours.

[@m.m.i.9586]

Merry Christmas!! Those trees at the Fashion Square Santa meet and greet were so beautiful!!

[@peytonmanning04]

I went to the mall in north east cincinatti a couple weeks ago during roughly 4pm and I COULDN'T MOVE there were so many people. It was the busiest place I had personally been in the past 5 years. It was an indoor upscale mall.

[@blastedmcgraw152]

I love your channel because I really think you need to be a certain age/have lived in a certain time to appreciate what Christmas at the mall means, and you get it. Awesome video. Hit me in the feels in what's turning out to be one of the most unusual Christmases I've ever had. All the best to you and yours!

[@classicwaxsportscards9440]

Great Video. I really love your videos especially being a resident of Southern California and seeing some familiar places. Not sure if you know already but the Carlsbad Mall in North County SD the old Sears has been converted into a Collectibles Expo called the Ninja Xchange Collectible Expo. It’s really cool and has all types of awesome collectibles. I feel like you would really be into it.

[@chrissyellem7397]

I've been to 3 malls this year and it's so nice to experience Christmas the way it used to be.

[@HK-jn1tj]

Thanks for a good year. I just ate some food for Christmas with my Fiancée. Nothing big, as usual. I hope you had a great Christmas.

[@Hannah-cc8tg]

this is crazy to see. i live in houston and our malls are packed body to body this holiday season. it’s a mad house

[@lisafreeman4222]

Awesome video happy holidays

[@eabcool]

ive been to arrowhead mall twice and scottsdale fashion square twice since thanksgiving. both busy, even during the week day time. i can't comprehend that scottsdale fashion squre was built in 1961. that looks like a fairly new mall. talk about heavy renovation.

[@mmaidofsteel]

I love to see how malls come to life and show their personality at Christmas time... it's becoming a lost art. Wouldn't it be amazing to live in a world where malls are brought back and refreshed into places where people actually want to hang out and spend time? They could even create jobs for local makers to make decorations out of recycling material in their communities rather than being wasteful, and provide workshops for visitors to the mall. Anyone else want to live in this reality?!

[@spacecastleshow]

Great video as always, dude. Makes me feel nostalgic for the Phoenix area, which is kind of tough to do, haha! My favorite mall at Christmas was always Arrowhead. Always liked the layout of that mall, and they always had decorations throughout, instead of just in certain places. Cheers, and enjoy your break!

[@clintmatthews3500]

The last two times I went to a mall I ate at the Chick-Fil-A and that was it. I used to be a bit of a mall rat, but I grew out of it and the malls have degenerated into... places I don't care to hang out.

[@uba754]

Seems to be very location dependant. The malls in our area (PNW) are absolutely filled beyond max capacity. Parking lots extend out miles into the road where people are circling to find spaces.

[@davinp]

The last mall seems like a luxury mall for those who are rich

[@unbidabyss2903]

I would do....maybe not anything but a fair few things to visit the 80s or 90s when the mall was at it's peak in this country.

[@sonigokuu]

I don't go to the malls much anymore, but I know that University Place in Orem, Utah and Provo Towne Centre in Provo, Utah usually go all out with the decor.

[@jasonjones649]

Great video as always. Merry Christmas and I'm looking forward to your next video.

[@whaleshrimp111]

I sold all my shares in shopping mall REITs a few years ago. Just like my father sold all his shares in a buggy whip mfg when cars became popular and the interstate road system was finished.

[@SonsOfMalice]

Crazy to see american malls that empty. You can barely move in our local malls, they are busy 6 days a week.

[@bryanCJC2105]

Great video! It's nice to see some traditional malls that have people shopping in them, although they weren't 80s-90s era Christmas crowds when stores were open until 10,11, 12 midnight during Christmas. Still, it's good to see them in good form. San-Tan was somewhat disappointing since I expected the outdoor lifestyle type mall to be the busiest. I wasn't surprised to see Dillard's empty. I'm not that familiar with Dillard's but they appear to be similar to what Robinson's was in Los Angeles, or maybe a Saks?, upper class clientele. If even in a mall with lots of people in it, the dept store is empty, that says a lot about the dept store concept today. I will say that their presentation standards appear high, which is a good sign, especially compared to stores like Macy's that have pretty much given up on presentation.

[@michaelaurban4120]

My bother worked for Dillard’s for a good 5 years. I wouldn’t call them upper class, more like a Kaufmann’s or Lazarus department store back in the day! Mid range?

[@rapids444]

Merry Christmas... thanks for 2023 look at the holiday decorations.

[@cyberi4a]

I had to laugh seeing Santa bring his own cushion to sit on, that was so festive......LOL