IS THE SPRINGFIELD MALL DEAD?

[@markitaneight]

dude! haha i was just there,YESTERDAY!!! friday the 12th..from swp.was thinking it was such a treat to go there (in the 80's/90's) pre internet etc

[@theogfuzzmom]

I live in Springfield, but I haven't been there in probably over 20 yrs. I remember the Sylvia Seegrist shooting at the mall. Almost had gone there around that time on that day, but something had changed my mind, thankfully. Thanks for the tour, we pass it a lot and say we should go check it out again, but never do. Liked the Granite Run Mall better back when it was still standing.

[@JackCuthbert-up9em]

My aunt was at the mall just 15 minutes before the shooting happened. Thankfully the both of you avoided that situation.

[@trentpettit6336]

Do you remember the old LECHTERS HOUSEWARES chain? They had stores at both Delco malls!

[@theogfuzzmom]

@@trentpettit6336 Yes, that was a great store! I miss a lot of the old stores we used to have in the area. Clover was my favorite.

[@SteveGettingAroundPhilly]

One cool thing that could go easily unnoticed about Springfield Mall, the mall has a dedicated trolley stop for SEPTA's 101 trolley from 69th Street to Media. In the back parking lot, right behind the Target, there's a asphalt path going down a steep hill, and that takes you to the trolley stop. It's definitely easy to miss, but that does allow for a very interesting way to get to the mall, especially for people living in Media, Upper Darby and Drexel Hill. Can be decently quick if the route's bottlenecks don't mess you up.

[@ChristopherHagee]

Mall's also served by several S.E.P.T.A. bus 🚌 rtes.

[@LethalShot3190]

1:53 I remember when I was little that was an ice cream place at one point it was actually really good

[@agostinodibella9939]

It’s good to see that the Springfield Mall is still kicking Captain! Thanks for the video!

[@mattf.1233]

This mall looks healthy and vibrant.

[@shawnburks6362]

This mall used to pop back in the day 💯

[@theresalurwick5403]

My teenage years were spent at this mall and Granite Run Mall when it was open.

[@benkline4784]

Mine also, 1980-84!!

[@ronjay1209]

I had a ton of memories at the Granite Run Mall. I spent alot of money at the arcade. And ate my first Chic-fil-A sandwich there.

[@JoeJoe-uy6ck]

@@ronjay1209 Aladdin's castle

[@LethalShot3190]

@@ronjay1209 you know what’s crazy? I think that was the only Chick-fil-A in the area at the time! Now of course we have a bunch of em lol! I certainly miss Granite Run Mall a lot of happy memories there!

[@FranklinColinco]

Wasn’t it a woman shooter that went inside a mall there before Halloween 1985? Named Sylvia Seegrist-after you said that I googled it and her name popped up on October 30, 1985. She went in there she was schizophrenic and she shot two men and one little boy. Very sad.

[@hiflyer000]

I was never much of a fan of this mall (Granite Run was way better) but it has a great location and a Target helping keep it going. It's been a few years since I've been there and I did see some new stuff.

[@trentpettit6336]

Do you remember the old LECHTERS HOUSEWARES chain?

[@LethalShot3190]

Yeah, same bro I love Granite Run mall way more than Springfield mall! They had a lot of great places in Granite run, including an arcade, and a comic book store lotta of good memories!

[@jasonfullerton7763]

South Delco child of the 80s here. This was my second closest mall (MacDade being the closest). I couldn't quite walk there, but riding our bikes was no problem. The Springfield Mall is kept alive by its proximity to the Blue Route, the bus connections, the Target, and its size (small is good). When I was a Cub Scout, we held our annual regatta here. I forget the name, but we made little soda straw and styrofoam boats and huffed and puffed and blew them down the lane until we passed out. This was our Santa mall growing up. Sylvia Siegrist left a bullet hole in the Magic Pan glass out front that was there for years. When I was 12, one of my friends dared another to run across the column and he did. The big TV playset in The Children's Place, rather than following Mom through The Gap next door. That Sbarro has been in that location forever.

[@trentpettit6336]

Do you remember customers SMOKING inside the Sbarro?

[@JoeJoe-uy6ck]

Captain...that was a female that was the shooter. Sylvia Seegrist..it freaked me out because I was a teen who frequented that mall at the time

[@tucsoncollectibles8843]

it's been a dead mall for a long time. crazy. seegrist was a fairly early mass shooter.

[@trentpettit6336]

Did you ever eat at the MAGIC PAN here?

[@ChristopherHagee]

Mall first opened in September, 1974/l made my lst visit there in late-Summer, 1976 w/both, my since-deceased maternal grand-parents

[@richardgazinia5482]

My cousin went to High School with Sylvia Siegrist. They were not friends that I'm aware of... I was born right around the corner from this mall. The mall wasn't built when I was born in 1965 at the then Tri-County Hospital. The hospital is still there(?) but called Philadelphia Metropolitan Hospital at Springfield or something like that. Last time I was past there was at least 20 years ago.

[@heathermanning5368]

Yes! The hospital is still there bit I believe its emergency dept is closed, I grew up down the street from the hospital and Sylvia' lived up the road from me she was even picked up for once spray painting what was once known as the green wall ,just crazy

[@CMc62480]

Worked there when the Target was Strawbridge's

[@heathermanning5368]

I did too

[@trentpettit6336]

What store did you work at?

[@LethalShot3190]

Yep my mom worked in Strawbridge’s too before it became target!

[@dafrsh1]

I use to work at Strawbridge's

[@exita99]

I think that mall stays kind of busy because it’s the only mall in Delaware County. One vacancy I miss that was there since it opened in 1974 was Friendly’s restaurant on the lower level toward Macys. 👍🏻🙋🏻‍♀️✌🏻😎⛄️

[@ChristopherHagee]

Most recent time l ate at that Friendly's was in late-April, 2016, around time, my XLIXth birthday

[@joangravel2436]

Thanks for the video

[@heathermanning5368]

Thanks for Sharing! I grew up down the street from here in lived in this mall as a teen ,the woman who killed people there loved right around the corner from me, this mall is not to bad , there were a few vacancy s awhile back but its coming back

[@trentpettit6336]

Were you a teen in 1985, the year of the tragedy?

[@ritabengermino317]

I can remember as a kid when that mall opened in October 1974. Wow that means it's 50 years old this year. It was a woman named Sylvia because I was working in the mall when it happened. Thanks for making the video because I share it with interested people. 🤩👍🛍️

[@trentpettit6336]

Which store did you work at?

[@juan666q]

Ya know what, ever since I was a kid I wondered if someone ever walked across those columns!

[@bob4364]

Hey PHILLY CAPTAIN, great video of Springfield Mall- DELCO PA..Enjoy your birthday, the weekend & more..TOODLES..

[@kingicicle]

Great video, Captain! Can you go to the shopping center where the Granite Run MALL used to be? Thanks!

[@benkline4784]

If you would have went down the hill at the back to the trolley stop 101 Media line and walked down the tracks you would be right underneath the extended parking lot, partied our asses off under there in the early 80s!! Thanks for the vid Captain!!

[@heathermanning5368]

Same! Lol!

[@explorers1979]

My boys had a wrestling meet near here this morning! Great Cap'n!

[@bradpittiful7288]

3 - after the granite run mall opened everyone thought that the springfield mall would close as the granite run mall had more stores and most people were going there...old springfield mall is laughing at the demise of the granite run mall...but sadly the springfield mall and granite run mall killed the bazaar...which i could walk too and did many times as a kid

[@agostinodibella9939]

I miss the Bazaar! I got the documentary on DVD.

[@shadowdog500]

I’m not sure if that was the reason, the Bazaar was still active when in closed. The person who managed the bazaar since it opened decided to retire after 30 years and the owner of the Bazzar got stuck doing the day to day management of the place. He put all the vendors on a month to month lease while he searched for a buyer. Home Depot and Acme bought the property and the Bazaar was gone. The Bazaar had a completely different vibe than those malls. Jerry’s Corner had a similar vibe to the Bazaar back then.

[@heathermanning5368]

Miss that place too! especially the smell of cinnamon buns and Bernie's pretzels definitely a gem!

[@agostinodibella9939]

@@heathermanning5368 Exactly, I will always remember that great smell whenever I went through the doors to the Bazaar!

[@trentpettit6336]

Did you ever buy liquor from the STATE STORE next to the Bazaar, facing Bishop?

[@benreiley6813]

Happy Birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁

[@patrickmcdevitt3235]

I live near Springfield mall😊

[@bertmacchionee]

Do the Plymouth meeting mall

[@trentpettit6336]

Did you grow up shopping there?

[@KELLER603]

here we are u in my hood 🤘🤘

[@MiscellaneousMichelle]

I grew up shopping there 😊

[@faupsy1012]

Damn you get around!

[@benkline4784]

One of those vacancies was a Friendly’s ice cream parlor

[@Nicip1013]

That parking lot is 7 foot and under. Because they don't allow trucks because that area is elevated underground

[@MamaCarola1]

The full size 2 floor targets in NYC have those cart escalators. Had mine stuck on it a couple of times

[@trentpettit6336]

VERMAPORT is the actual name of the cart escalator!

[@doug2445]

Last time i've been to this mall was nineteen dickery doo. Yeah, like someone said, the shooter was Sylvia seacrest or see grest. Whatever her name was, she was a total psycapaf she actually lived near me, growing up in the 80s, SHE would walk around and talk to herself all the time, then she'd have conversations and scream at herself. I believe she lived with her mother for a little bitt. They lived in apartments. Down the road that were very poor , total whack job

[@LeeSchiller]

You need that chair!

[@bradpittiful7288]

2 - when the shooting happened i later found out my friends mom and sister were there at the time...they and some others were allowed to seek safety in the zales jewelry store safe...may have saved them from being shot...they found out when the shots were fired she was closed to them

[@heathermanning5368]

Yes a classmate of mine and his mom I believe hid in a unique Asian store called The Pearl of the East.

[@trentpettit6336]

@@heathermanning5368 What did Pearl of the East sell?

[@andrelayton4750]

Dude it was a women her name was Silvia seacrest

[@marccurcio1]

Which mall was know as "The mall, with it all, Gimbals, Wanamakers, and Sears"?

[@ClawHeHeNum]

I find the Y Unique and that elevator is well oiled

[@joea7763]

Hey Captain, is there any where you haven't worked ? Love the videos.

[@ThePhillyCaptain]

I didn't work for KB Hobby

[@trentpettit6336]

@@ThePhillyCaptain You mean KB Toys?

[@skadoosh3820]

YO SANTA

[@Supremor-tj9dv]

Relative to the business it got 20-30 yrs ago, it’s a dying mall. The only mall that is not dead or dying in the Phila metro area is King of Prussia. Sad.

[@bradpittiful7288]

1 - i emailed you when mentioned that you always wanted a pair of doc martens...i live a few miles from this mall...shame we couldnt set something up so you could check them out...i barely wore them as they didnt fit right...moron at the doc marten store did me wrong...if you would like them...they are a freebie to you...they are size 13...made in england...bought around 2015 from the philly store...maybe sometime when you are in delco again

[@JDegori]

Why all sudden all the mall’s is dead?

[@wattstransportenthusiast621]

Hey Phillies captain from the uk. It’s only the time of the year. Hope the phillies win the World Series this year

[@chm9935]

PREIT??!!! Ugh!!!!

[@shadowdog500]

Is Jerry’s Corner dead or alive?

[@trentpettit6336]

"Alive" but it is a very scary place!

[@jamesrobertson9149]

If the tattoo artist spells the name wrong, then you should not have to pay.