Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg, MD - A Deceptively Tawdry Taubman Mall - Expedition Log #17

[@sal]

Thank you all for subscribing! We've passed 1,000 Subscribers! I'll be revisiting this mall again in about a year to see how it progresses, and hopefully it gets a few more high quality tenants.

[@Karen_of_Kanada]

You have a really interesting voice, Sal- I love all the background work you do researching these malls. I think I'm here just before you get big! Loving your exploration videos- as a kid of the 80s and a mall worker in 90s, dead malls are my jam. Great job!

[@sal]

Hey thanks!! I’m *hoping* to have my next video out this week. Thanks for watching!!

[@codyfriesser8807]

Dude I come from Maryland. If there's 1 piece of advice I can give you is to not trust anyone. Love your videos but stay out of Baltimore city cause it's bad news. Owings mills mall will be a dying mall soon btw. To much crime.

[@zoej1844]

I work in this mall. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me! I love talking about my job... so many weird people come in...

[@armyof100clowns6]

Excellent video, sir! This place is insanely sketchy and full of a bizarre circus of mutants and miscreants.

[@David49305]

I miss retro mall fountains. I can still "smell" them. I can't explain the smell of the water. It ws sort of a mix of chlorine, water and nickel. Loved it

[@johnfoltz8183]

The fountains were something that kids wanted to throw coins into, but their parents did not allow.

[@R.Williamss]

Montgomery mall has it

[@R.Williamss]

It reminds me of 1995

[@librapaladin81]

This description of the smell seems pretty accurate, to my memory, although I would add that in many cases, there was the added smell of the very dry yet still slightly fragrant large mulch/bark chips beneath the plants that surrounded most fountains.

[@abrahammanilla7948]

Lake forest used to be great, it was packed. My parents would take me to go to the children’s area and slowly it started to get worse and worse. Stores got worse and worse, the children’s pit got taken away, then the fountains. Now it’s so disorganized I still go cause I mean, nostalgia but it’s odd going there, I always feel on edge cause of how sketchy it is

[@mikefobfan101]

Felt that, I still go there because it's like 5 or 10 minutes away from where I live. I always feel so depressed and sketched out every time I go there

[@best_superbrother0312]

Yup...and now there going to destroy it to make apartments ;(

[@sal]

Really? Got a source on that??

[@best_superbrother0312]

@@sal well my dad told me on the phone and when I went for a day with him at the mall and so did my mom when I was playing boblox or maincraft+ a lot of the shops are closed for good-

[@brachphotos]

I remember when the Food Court used to be a movie theater. I remember having birthday dinners with my family at the Chi-Chi's there. It was across from the former Silver Diner location where you entered the mall - NOTHING replaced the Chi-Chi's. It's been vacant ever since they left in the early 90's. My parents and I believe that was the beginning of a long downhill journey for the mall.

[@PepperTreeVilla]

Sal, you made the right decision. Never go to a second location with someone you met at a sketchy mall. EXCELLENT video!

[@sal]

I don’t judge. Ever. But this guy was getting more and more sketchy, and I feel like he would’ve tried mugging me if I went somewhere with him.

[@PepperTreeVilla]

Sal Good call.

[@louisacapell]

shane king oh my GOODNESS. That hardly ever used to happen here, but now it's epidemic. We help with a service to the homeless and low income population and I can't even TELL you the bold and brazen scammy crap like that that goes on. They tell you all kinds of things. The heroin here is terrible. So yeah, never ever go with someone you don't know really well. Good call. Last week I had a,woman say she needed formula for her baby. Can I give her $20 bucks. Um , no... I'll buy the formula. Oh, she can't remember what kind her baby drinks, "just give me $20." Now I KNOW she gets assistance and has WIC and everything else, and she JUST got that baby back. She wanted me to drive to the ATM, then a store I KNOW doesn't sell formula. She wants it for heroin. I told her I'm not giving her heroin money. She says the pick marks on her face were from a hot ham and cheese that burned her. People are crazy.

[@sparkplug1018]

Yeah definitely the right call. Ive had this sort of encounter a few times, and the few times I was willing to help them out, I made it crystal clear I'm armed. They decided to ask someone else at that point. Makes me very upset having to be like that, but what can you do.

[@Karmy.]

@shane king yeah not surprising that'd happen around here

[@9255223]

Thank goodness you choose NOT to take the scam artist outside the mall and out of public view. That man didn’t sound very sane from the story you told, and you really should have talked to the barbers themselves (trust me, as a mostly African-American male myself, I unfortunately know that barbers LOVE talking about history for HOURS, and you would have received tons of info with some collaboration). Great video and thanks.

[@sal]

The barbers were super cool! They called the guy out, which is why he left. I wish I could’ve gotten the security cam footage...

[@meloapa]

This is my hometown mall today. You overlooked a spectacular part of its early history: the skating rink. It had the first fully-indoor skating rink in Montgomery County when it opened. The rink lasted until the mid-80s when it closed and was replaced by a multiscreen movie theater. That closed some time later and today is the food court you showed. I played youth hockey at Lakeforest and just about the coldest place in Maryland was outside the doors we had to use to get access to the rink for a 6 am practice.

[@alextauro2000]

I remember this mall in the early 2000s and it was beautiful. Business was blooming a lot of people there shopping having fun but after 2010, the mall started going down. You are right, high crimes rates drove people away from the area. I was there a week ago and the mall looks even emptier and spookier. If this continue like this, that beautiful mall that we all remember, is going to shut down.

[@HouseOfDar]

I live in Gaithersburg and I've seen the guy that you brought food for. I've seen him try to hustle people for money in a threatening manner. I'm happy nothing dangerous happen to you.

[@kevinpetit9886]

Shows you what kind of person he was to just throw food that you paid for in the trash. I think you did the right thing. Great Video.

[@ItsaRomethingeveryday]

Love the narrative detail you do in these mall tours

[@sal]

It takes hours and hours and hours of research...but the result is worth it!! Thanks!!

[@ItsaRomethingeveryday]

Sal yes it sure does, it really draws the viewer in and holds their attention, keep up the great work

[@zoej1844]

I work at the Zumiez in this mall... it’s crazy what kind of things happen. It’s pretty dead, but the people who come in are characters for sure. So many odd, kooky, or sketchy visitors. The employees are no better, the stories and rumors I hear about other stores are insane. It’s an interesting time for sure.

[@NayokeHenji]

Is security any good?

[@Dylan-ji5ug]

NayokeHenji no, it’s terrible. I worked at that mall too, actually was the store manager that opened the zumiez and it’s a rough mall. No need to go there

[@johnnyonthespot4375]

So.....spill the juicy details there Mr King...or may I just refer to you as a filthy Rat ? I'm sorry...the filthy part was just mean.

[@TweesterREO]

Nice vid, man! My family and I use to go to Lakeforest Mall all the time during the 90's and early 00's. I remember during the holiday times they would always decorate the middle section of the mall depending on the season. For Halloween, they had a giant haunted house display. For Thanksgiving, they had a giant barn house display. And during the Christmas season, they went all out and decorated every part of the mall. The fountains were one of the coolest part about the mall for me. However, by the mid 00's they shut off the fountains and they were rarely ever running. Unfortunately, the clientele went to shit and it turned to a place where the homeless and punks would hang out. It all started when the food court replaced the movie theater.

[@BraydenBachlott]

I live in Rockville, and I'm surprised Lakeforest is still around, considering how White Flint closed a few years ago. The Foam City shoe store used to be an EB Games LMAO.

[@RoundenBrown]

I used to go to that EB Games all the time back in 2003/2004. Good times.

[@BraydenBachlott]

I used to go to the one in Montgomery Mall. Good times indeed.

[@pinkpostergirl]

People who live in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Montgomery village, Clarksburg have to travel further to get to Montgomery mall, so Lakeforest is closer and provide similar stores, not all the stores but why travel an extra 20-30 mins to go to the same store. I lived in Germantown and shopped at Lake forest.

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

It’s a damn shame what they did to the White Flint Mall. I know they lost Borders but it still had a lot going for it. Absolute greed and myopia from the lease holder. Their stupid plans fell though almost immediately and now it’s just a windswept empty lot.

[@BraydenBachlott]

@@icecreamforcrowhurst Pretty much. I went to White Flint a bunch as a kid because I have family who lives really close to there, so I got to witness the mall die out first-hand. I really miss going to the Dave & Buster's there. Although Lord and Taylor may close soon, so development (likely of another urban town center that only rich people want) may commence soon.

[@vinesauceobscurities]

Filling in the sunken plaza was a real a copout. It was the only defining feature of this place besides, well, the really shady shit that you've been seeing there.

[@johnnyonthespot4375]

You seem to be the only one of the pile of "Dead Mall" purveyors that actually give some really fascinating background information about the the building being looked at. You are one of those that I watch where I will give it a thumbs up before I even watch it due to my confidence that I will not be disappointed.

[@sal]

Thank you so much! I work tirelessly to get the research done right, which is what I’m most proud of with my work. I won’t let you down!!

[@kimomalone3783]

Back in the mid to late 90s while still in high school, to early 2000s almost every Saturday I used to take the metrorail all the way from NE DC to Lakeforest Mall and just hang out all day. The mall was so nice back in the day. Then from there I take the metro over to White Flint then the ride on to Montgomery Mall all on a $5 all day metrorail pass. Now the mall has turn into another Landover Mall.

[@ainevy]

I miss this mall terribly. Broke my heart when they demolished the central fountain and play area. Literally a fundamental part of the mall, and probably its most characteristic feature, especially with how they gussied it up for holiday seasons. Where it once sat is now just a void, unused space. Not even a nice open sitting area, just a paltry three or so benches clustered to the side. Lakeforest used to be so charming, but it seems like a series of mismanagement sucked it dry of everything it could offer and threw it the scraps. It's a shame. I loved the funky sculptures and sunken sitting nooks (conversation pits, I've recently learned), and I still attest that the ceiling is geometrically lovely. And the slight but consistent use of forest motifs? Just so much to appreciate. I would say it's on life support, but it doesn't seem to get much any support at all from management... All this to say, lovely minidoc. Really appreciated the historical tidbits, and your narration and editing encapsulated the quietly disgraced quality of the mall very well. Two of the anchors will be gone by the fall, so I'm looking forward to seeing you revisit it soon.

[@inachu]

13 Dandy custom tailor was top notch for custom fittings! I relied on them a bunch.

[@ran61a60]

I did construction and service work at Lakeforest in the 80's and 90's for the Taubman Co. It was usually very busy and well run by the management. They actually employed a horticulturalist for all the greenery and live plants in the mall. I grew up in Montgomery County and it was a great place to grow up, but I am glad I don't live there now.

[@pinkpostergirl]

What's wrong with Montgomery county now

[@shamra1245]

This was my childhood mall (late 90s/early 2000s) and I never knew about the history of its construction - excellent video, thank you for bravely exploring what's become of Lakeforest!

[@ericsmith8373]

That water feature in the center court was awesome. I was recently in the mall and the center court is now just tile. The water is gone.

[@TearsInReign]

Macy's is the only anchor store remaining at this mall as of December '20. Covid has made this mall even more dead. Can't see it ever recovering

[@guardian67]

I grew up in Gaithersburg for many years. While the mall specifically wasn't my "stomping ground" per se (Thanks nearby Rio), it was definitely a local destination. I would take the bus there as a teen around... c. 2003-2005 and already by then you could see that it was getting rough around the edges (both mall and surroundings). But there was definitely decent enough shopping to be done there. But I remember my kid days when there was the Gap and Kid/Baby Gap right next to it on the second floor. A Banana Republic not far down. Yankee Candle was right outside the elevator on the second floor. There was a store just below, by the elevator, called 'Natural Wonder(s)' - I don't know what you'd equate it to these days but it had like... Discovery Channel items like Wood Dino Skeletons, dinosaur toys, those pieces of wood that when you flipped sounded like rain and of course ambient noise CDs and stuff like that. Close to Woodies (L&T which just announced closing slated for 9/5/19) there was a Mrs. Fields on one side and a Vie de France on the opposite side. Possibly close to Hecht's (Macy's) there was a... Bombay furniture store and a Lady's Footlocker. And below those was a Coffee Beanery shop for a time as well as a nice chocolatier (Which I can't remember the name for anymore). On the Penney's side, there used to be a 1 hour photo that my family would use often and a Chi-chi's restaurant across from that. The store with the man in it, I THINK, used to be a beauty store because I would get some high end stuff there occasionally. And down from that, a Frederick's of Hollywood (OOOoooh LA LA!). I think there is or was a Red Robin between Penney's and L&T. But it was something else BEFORE that and I wish I knew the name - I had thought of it recently but no one in my age group remembers - all too young. The list goes on for stores but in short, it's definitely a far cry from what it was in the area's booming heyday. One store I would kinda remove from the 'Junk Shop' list is Hakky's (#2 or 3) It's a little cobbler store that's been in the mall for years. I think that there's a couple more of them in area? I know there's one in the Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax, VA. Interestingly enough, Fair Oaks I believe was either constructed or owned by the same group as Lakeforest as, architecturally speaking, Fair Oaks is a spitting close copy of Lakeforest or Vice Versa. However, Fair Oaks is doing much, much better from what I know/hear (haven't been in a few years but it was definitely much different than the subject of this video). But the design cues are incredibly similar. In close, this was a great little video. I somehow stumbled upon this one after looking up the demise of the anchor stores of Penney's and Lord & Taylor. And the fact that I've watched videos of Abandoned Malls and liquidated stores previous kinda help shine a light on your little channel. And to see a video of my old hometown mall is... very bittersweet. Full of good, good memories and nostalgia for wishing things wouldn't have changed much but that's life. What can you do. So, good clip, Sal! I actually learned quite a bit from this - more informational than a lot of 'published' works or findable items on my hometown mall, which is greatly appreciated. Keep creating good work!

[@clancyman2852]

Man, this is really an eye opener. In Australia, We have huge malls like this, and they are still going really well. You even struggle for parking. Some of the malls are 30-40 odd years old, & they still have almost all their tenants. It's interesting to see the culture between two nations. Cheers, keep up the good work!

[@historiclift27]

Zephyr even in the states we have some really old malls still thriving. In Houston Texas there is a mall called The Galleria. It was once listed as the 4th or 5th largest mall in the continental US but I think that’s changed. It is listed as the first mall in the world with an indoor ice rink. It’s still going very strong. But it’s also very very high end. Even has a 12 floor office tower with 6 glass elevators above the center of it. The elevators are shared with the mall below. There are also 2 high end hotels both Westins.

[@mahoganyhorizons]

@@historiclift27 I live in MD, near the Lakeforest Mall, sad to see its decline. However, to your point about thriving malls, my husband and I visited the Galleria when we were on our way out on a cruise in Galveston, and that mall is amazing. As a lover of malls, I am trying to talk him into taking us back on a vacation. We stayed right in the mall on a fancy hotel in the property, and a wonderful dinner and the stores were amazing! Just a lovely experience! Galleria might be the nicest mall I've ever seen.

[@danhays9769]

I grew up in Montgomery Village, 1969 - 1985. My first apartment was in The Hamlet, (right across the street) back in 1977. Sad to see this place like that. It won't be long until Black Friday means internet congestion. I have some stories about that place,,,,,

[@rubber6591]

It’s so weird they’re making an interview about my childhood mall 😂😂😂😂😂

[@branscomberichmond2774]

Rubberdany M me too

[@blvxkgxldimperialinc]

That's my child hood mall now...lol..everyone know about LakeForest mall transit...and Montgomery village

[@lynnpayne9519]

My childhood mall too!

[@steinravnik8692]

I lived in the DC area from 2004-2017. Gaithersburg, like many middle class DC suburbs, began to decline when inner city DC began its urban revitalization. From about 1997-2017, inner beltway areas began to transition from old and dilapidated, and inexpensive to being new, vibrant, and expensive. This process took a toll on outer middle class suburbs as poor people began to be displaced from the city, and moved to suburbs like Gaithersburg. The housing foreclosure crisis in 2008 took an extraordinary toll, particularly on minorities that moved to places like Gaithersburg and bought houses with subprime loans. Factor in the over malling of the DC area, and general decline in brick and mortar retail, and you end up in 2018 with a dead white elephant like Lake Forest mall. This process was carried out in most DC outer middle class suburbs to one extent or another. Laurel MD, Wheaton MD, Waldorf MD, Woodbridge VA, Manassas VA, etc.

[@steinravnik8692]

Go to all those DC suburbs and see the dead malls. Laurel mall got demolished. Wheaton mall was doing pretty good when I left, but the store makeup included some questionable stores. Manassass mall was dying when I left, Waldorf mall was doing ok, but definitely had some questionable stores.

[@gwendiffenbacher1695]

Dang: excellent analysis. Don't tell me you work for the Gov't. Need people like you in the private sector.

[@armyof100clowns6]

Used to go here frequently when I lived in Gaithersburg. The FYE there was frequently closed due to a persistent sewage leak that was never properly repaired. Even when it was open it had this moist/dank air that smelled like rotten fish and feet.

[@dhsmb06]

I grew up going to this mall. It was always such a great place and that play area and stage in the middle was the best part. They used to have live entertainment in there. My favorite part as a little kid was all the fountains that surrounded the center area there by the elevator and they had several fountains that flowed into other fountains. I remember the elaborate decorations they used to have around Christmas. Aside from just having Santa, they had an area where kids could write letters to Santa. They also had a store front where they would place a large talking teddy bear. It's such a shame that all of this is gone from the mall. It was a great place to go growing up.

[@bob5074]

I’ve lived near this mall since it opened. There was a skating rink where the food court is now. The skating rink turned into a movie theater, then the food court. I haven’t shopped there since the 90’s. It’s the MS-13 mall now and everyone avoids it. I wish they’d turn it back into Lake Walker.

[@bluenitriletouch2842]

The kid's play place and the fountain were some of my favorite things from the mall when I was a kid. I would also bike from my house to the mall to buy CDs from the FYE/Hot Topic or the Border's nearby when it was open. The mall was always a cool place to go around Christmastime. Sad to see it in this state of affairs.

[@inachu]

7:23 Hakky was great for those emergency dress shoe repairs. Ronky gave the worst cuts

[@ginaliske32]

#14 Gymboree...I would not categorize this store as low quality. It's a really nice clothing store for children. Great video...I just found your Chanel. Thank you for putting a lot into it. I really enjoyed it!

[@sal]

I entirely and wholly agree. The only reason why I included it in my count is that it’s closing... I should’ve clarified this! Thanks for watching!

[@johnnyrotten4535]

Gina Liske i agree, ive seen gymboree in quite a few malls

[@paull8678]

In the end, this mall did not make it. It's about to close at the end of March, 2023. It's a bit sad, because 21 years ago, this mall is where I met the woman I'd spend my life with. There used to be a Chi-Chi's restaurant next to the yellow "summer" entrance, and on the top floor they would do karaoke on weekends. Fun times and great memories.

[@THEinstapotth0t]

I love how much detail you share about the malls in these videos. I couldn't believe the guy with the pretzel! LOL I really wish they would have given you that footage.

[@NoctemOUT]

It's sad to see what's become of this mall- Lakeforest is probably the mall I've been to the most over time. I lived in Montgomery county from 1992 to 2006, and in the 90's, going to Lakeforest was an almost weekly thing. I used to be so excited to go= I remember the fountain and seating area and all the staple 90's mall stores like Waldenbooks, Natural Wonders, Sam Goody, etc. Time marches on, it seems. It looks like going to Lakeforest is potentially dangerous these days and I think I no longer have a reason to go back, even for nostalgia. Great content, keep it up.

[@wiretransfer]

Pretzel story was worth the trip from the new video

[@skeletorwins5567]

It’s so sad, this mall was so alive and well, my mom worked there for a good for 14-15 years, it used to be so lively, the stores were amazing but now it’s just devastating to see how it is now.

[@hyesterical]

I've lived in Gaithersburg all my life. I used to catch the bus with my friends to this mall everyday after school. Go to the mall, look around, maybe get some food, look for clothes and other things we may want, go to the library, then go home. It was our routine, but as the mall died, our routine did too. We started to stay in the library, and people in gangs started to show up. MS-13 members, and some other gang with a ton of members who go to my school now. Then as you mentioned, the 2017 stabbing happened. We never went back there again, and now I only go if theres a store closing and I can get stuff thats high quality for my mum and pop for cheap. Its tragic how the mall died like that. It's still open for some reason, and expected to close down by the end of 2020. I'll be going back there again after this Covid-19 stuff passes. Great video.

[@lifetimetab2677]

Love the video! I will have to say that every where has sketchy people and Lakeforest Mall is a mall on the way out. But . . . It's a area that has gone down hill over the year because of the people moving into the area. I have lived in this area since birth so I have seen it all in this area. Please do another one of this mall and get people that know the area to be with you. I have great memories of this mall.

[@Azianiceboy]

With Lakeforest officially set to close at the end of March. I would love to see a follow up to this video and bid farewell to a mall that was a staple of my childhood.

[@waikomoko5229]

D: Dude you saying that the guy threw the food away literally had me shocked. I can't believe he was homeless and willing to throw food away, he had to have something else going on cause like....thats insane. And the fact that he took advantage of the barbers and probably more is even worse :( You're a champ for not being too trusting though, I don't know who he thought he was trying to lead you out the mall like that LMAO! Thank you for the video, weirdly I felt like there was so much suspense in this, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!

[@happyclam1266]

I was glad to hear that security was at least responsive to you Sal--that's a good sign. They might think that since some of the clients were accepting this guy (ie the barbershop group) he was ok. It's a fine line between people who have hit hard economic times or may be harmless eccentrics and those who are malevolent.

[@richardedwards8336]

Hey Sal I love this video. It shows the truth about this mall, I go to this mall at least once every 2 weeks and every time I go 2-3 stores close. I remember when I was a kid we used to go to Lakeforest and it was thriving. Around 2009 the mall has gone down hill and only about 40% of the stores are opened. Sears looks like it's going to go out of business very soon and when the anchor stores die the whole mall starts to die. Honestly thank you for pointing this out and it is very sketchy there. Thanks

[@Tuberuser187]

several videos in, after binge watch I have to say these videos are great. To be honest, first suggestion I clicked on I kind of expected a "discount Dan Bell" but I was pleasantly surprised. You might share some subject matter but these videos are definitely your own, well narrated with lots of details and you have a non hyperbolic way of describing things too. There is certainly something fascinating about dead or dying Malls above other Urbex sites, perhaps its how they where one of the corner stones of our societies for decades.

[@sal]

Thank you so much!!

[@Dryice13]

I was always at this mall in the 90’s

[@sal]

Isn’t it such a great mall??

[@londonfalling77]

The neon on that elevator is dope

[@sal]

So incredibly dope. The fountain was even more dank, too. Wish they kept it :(

[@nigralurker]

Stopped going to this mall entirely in the mid-late 2000's. Think last time I stumbled in there was when I was 19 in 2008. But it was going downhill long throughout the 2000's especially with gang crime circulating the area. The glory days were in the 80's and 90's for the place.

[@KrysC-TX]

Omg your story of that weird guy is hilarious. I didn’t know a place could have that many low level retailers. Wow.

[@caseyjones221]

How sad! I remember Lakeforest Mall from 20-25 years ago. It was nice then - vibrant with good retailers. But shoppers are fickle. Tastes evolve. Brand popularity waxes and wanes. Mall management changes... Remember when Chess King, Bennetton and The Gap were hip?

[@mikelcarrow2787]

Omg. I'm addicted to your channel. I love the old commercials such memories when the customer was appreciated. I think those no brand stores are needed. The new generation only know Amazon and eBay and Wal-Mart. Small business like those hafta start somewhere. Maybe they will grow to become a Macy's or a JC pennys. And possibly give people a choice and a reason to get outta the house again.

[@noahcaucasus]

Hey Lake forest mall people, if you remember the Arcade when they put Soul Edge and later Tekken 3 you were all in a big line trying to beat me remember? LOL

[@chapman1569]

Thanks for sharing your adventure at the mall, you bring to light how a shady character acts. First, asking for money for a small service. Second , not appreciating what you gave him. Someone in good faith would not have done that. The fact that he was sitting at the barber shop tricked you into thinking the was an employee and it kind of setup the interaction you had with him. In places that suffer economically or socially, you can expect some kind of hustle and criminal intent, it is the only economical activity they have; they go to the mall watching people and they quickly find how to get you. You story will illuminate others. I experienced this at a hospital myself. My friend had just parked her car and she was approached by a men and a women who started to tell her a story about her dad being in another hospital and they needed money for a cab to see him fast because he was gravely ill. Not being the person they talked to, I could observe their demeanor, they where agitated and adding and complicating their story, I could see it was a scenario, money for the bus was not enough, her dad was dying! I didn't see a security guy close and I gave them $5.00 to see them off. They quickly went away for a hit. I told security at the hospital to keep an eye for them. My friend was not convinced that they were scammers because she believes in lost causes. When you get a feel that something is not right and trust that feeling; it is very important. One guy is not too much trouble if you are not alone but they can organize in gangs and become extremely dangerous. After all, how good is mall security is? Really?

[@colleenmoriarty4436]

Wow. What a crazy story! So glad nothing terrible happened, you had me nervous. Great job again!

[@derryk1]

I used to work there from the spring of 1984 to spring of 1985. After that I worked in White Flint for a few years. It was very vibrant back then. Lots of shoppers and activities going on in that center court, mostly fashion shows for the upcoming season showcasing the stores that carried the wears. It was different back then... mall rats and all.

[@MrLmtpaul]

I went to this mall when I was a little kid, like 5-7 years old. The dark stone work, funky skylights and the sunken foyer/stage area all seem faintly familiar.

[@davidryder3374]

I lived in the DC area from 84 to 95 and resided in Gaithersburg for part of that time. We used to let our kids run around in the Lakeforest mall play area on weekends. It was a thing...people used to meet there to let their kids play together. In those days, Montgomery county was the place to be. Very high-zoot (and priced accordingly). Next was PG county and finally Anne Arundel, bringing up the bottom of the ladder. Still, you could live in AA with no real issues, if you chose wisely. I've heard many comments about how the entire area has gone south over the past 20 years. Of course, it went down in the order of original opulence, with AA becoming uninhabitable first, then PG, and now everyone is clustering inside of Montgomery county like people on a tiny island watching the tide rise. Upper Montgomery county started sliding first, which is where Gaithersburg is. The thin red line is moving south, closer and closer to DC, proper. It's a very unusual area...it seems so odd to be surrounded by residential real estate that largely encompasses properties valued at over half a million dollars, and see it declining like this. I mean, what does it take to keep a metropolitan area alive, if it can't make it with million dollar properties on all sides?

[@someoneyadontknow4489]

I used to live at Orchard Pond apartments, fairly close to this mall, not too long ago. It was a place to go to kill time, never really had anything that I was interested in besides the music store- came in for a visit back in February & it hadn't changed much. I miss living there, but the rent was ridiculous.

[@raymondcromwell6380]

This mall was one of the bigger revenue makers in the DMV back in the day. Along with White Flint, Landover and Tyson's. I worked at all of these locations at some point in the late 80's early 90's as an Assistant Manager for Footlocker. It's a shame to see the current situation but times have changed. Nice work on your video.

[@bithc8929]

Went there a week or two before quarantine and it was so sad. I think Macy’s was the only anchor store left? And it felt like there were no stores there (obviously there was, but nothing that I wanted to go into.) it’s really sad how much emptier it keeps getting. I’m surprised it’s lasted so long but the plug will be pulled eventually on this place.

[@nicolepynes6991]

I love your channel! Love the videos you make... Your voice is so soothing and it definitely goes with the theme of your videos. Love all the research you do. Without a doubt, your channel is my favorite! Thank you

[@sal]

Thank you so much Nicole! Tons more on the way :)

[@inachu]

4:46 They had a better arcade room on the other side of the mall but then had to be shut down to make way for the eatery.

[@lisawells4871]

Omg, I have been watching other videos you have made of malls in Maryland before I watched this one. While I was watching the one I it was the one of the mall in Glen Burnie Maryland, I actually did a independent search to see if Lakeforest Mall to see if it is still open. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised to see that the answer to my search is that yes it is still open. This mall holds A lot of special memories for me from when I was in High School. My family lived in a nearby town and this is the mall that my mom and my whole family for that matter shopped at when we needed clothes or wanted to watch a movie or eat in the food venders that were there. The limited and Limited 2 were stores 2 of the main stores that my mom spent a lot of money to keep me and my sister up to date one the most cool new fashions. Other stores and places I remember are in in random order as follows, United Colors of Benneton, Sears (that was one of my moms favorites), Chi Chi's those are just a couple of the ones I can remember off hand. There are a lot more that I have memories of that I do not remember the names of off hand at this time. I remember at one point there a store downstairs that was a health store (like a CVS) then I remember one of the years I was going to homecoming my mom bought my dress at a bridal store upstairs. I also remember a bookstore there also the big ones like barnes and noble (however I do not think that was the name). I remember the court in the middle of the mall really well. One of my friends was a model in a fashion show that was held by one of the stores in the mall. I also remember my friend being a model in one of the window fronts. It was kinda cool and maybe a little weird, because they had her stand in the window like a live mannequin, she just had to to stand in the window for hours and not move just like if she were a mannequin herself. Anyways as you can most likely tell by this long message there are SO MANY great memories from hanging out and shopping in that mall. I am glad it is still open partly because it drives me crazy when I am going through a city or town and I see perfectly good buildings that are empty because other larger businesses came into town and instead of buying an old building and remodeling it and repurposing it. They just go to another part of town and build a newer bigger building. Sad to see though that is not doing as well as I remember it to have been doing when I was a customer. Thank you for doing this video to shed truth on how it is really faring. The reason I say this is because when I went to the official website for the mall they made it sound as if it was doing a lot better than it really is according to the truth you shined in this video. Not that I would expect them not to make it sound the best they can to the public.

[@markdrukenbrod9475]

Hi Sal. Again, great content. Also, good call on the state of the business. There’s only so low you can suppress the composite rent structure to attract tenants, even on a mall with over a million sq. ft. GLA. Jones Lang LaSalle is keeping their malls fairly full, but retailer quality is suffering. Another similar example of theirs is the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills. Many thanks for documenting this mall at this stage for the future.

[@mykline1]

I use to live a mile or so from this mall back on the early to late 80s and didn't really care for it then. Wife worked there and would tell me about the corruption going on in the mall then. They had bad people hanging around the mall back then so it doesn't surprise me that it is a worse now.

[@Dylan-ji5ug]

I worked in this mall at one time. I would have people follow me when I was taking the deposit to the bank. It was like a race to get to my car before they got to me. The police will park their cars in the parking lot with their headlights pointed at the doors when the employees leave sometimes. The bus transfer at lake forest is actually the most dangerous spot in moco. The issue with this mall is that the anchors own their property and they are not paying in to the mall at all anymore. Everything is closing in there and it won’t be saved.

[@alyserotten1241]

When I started watching these I wondered if anyone would mention lake forest. I moved from North Carolina, so this mall compared to my hometown is way more *lively*. No way would a hot topic be in my hometown’s mall. I go there when I don’t wanna deal with DC crowds. It’s also funny how I told my boyfriend it’s so weird there was a FYE there in October, and we went again 3 weeks ago and it was gone 😂

[@TheORIGINALBrentTheGent]

Another GREAT MALL TOUR,Sal! My friend,Baltimore E-Bay,told me all about this Mall & how He Quit going there because of the "Change Hustlers" as well as the crime spike! Take Care,Bernardo("Brent the Gent")

[@inachu]

21. Wanted my watch repaired there and I know enough about watches that when I saw the woman take it apart she purposefully broke the crystal and said as she looked up at me. Sir the crystal is broken! I replied.... Yeah because you broke it I watched you!

[@cassi94]

Loved this mall. Used to Christmas shop every year here as a kid.. they went all out back in the day for the holidays. I used to steal quarters from the fountain with my friends so we could buy candy. Sad to see how it ended up

[@johnritcher5751]

The old commecials are awesome. Thank you!

[@Rogue849]

Wow that story is insane. I would have been so scared.

[@inachu]

12:10 Center of the mall when the water fountains and stone seating was still there.... LOL There were these 2 weight lifter guys who would always sit there(on a daily basis) showing off their muscles hoping they would get girls which they never did get any.

[@nancydarling4918]

Great video! Very interesting and entertaining. That's too bad about that experience you had with that man. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.

[@inachu]

7:37 The worst massage place ever in a funny way. I went there to get my back popped and a massage and they kept tickling me and my laughing made the entire room you see there join in my unstoppable laughter.

[@formerx]

Another well-produced mall video... one of the first featuring a mall I have visited a few times. Seemed like a great mall in it's time. Thanks for the good work. Very informative.

[@curiousottman]

That is the best pretzel hobo story I’ve heard!

[@thatsnotmyname9833]

That guy was sketchy AF! Reminds me of my time working at a mall. I saw people like him all the time. Security doesn't really do much, unfortunately.

[@astriverofstrengthandknowledge]

I had some sweet memories going to this mall regularly as a teenager and White Flint before it got shut down. It doesn’t feel the same nowadays.

[@miacraig]

here in new orleans, the greatest mall we ever had was called (depending on who you talked to) The LakeForest Plaza, or maybe The Plaza at Lake Forest, or maybe even just Lake Forest, or just The Plaza. it had the very first ice rink and was also "the place to be" in the 70's & 80's. It first opened in 1974, and was a deadmall when it finally died in Katrina back in 2005. Too bad no one got to memorialize it.....you would have loved the aesthetic and design of the place. 😞

[@blacbutaflyy2]

I just discovered your channel.. (Subscribed) It's great!! I also find it strangely therapeutic. Growing up the wishing fountains were so pretty, it always had a fresh smelling scent. Mom would always give me coins as she already knew I would ask, it made me happy. The mall also had interactive decor to match the current holiday theme. Those were some great times hate to see them go. These days I don't really enjoy it much. I go to the one galleria mall to make returns only and leave. The "pretzel guy" was horrible glad you didn't get hurt.

[@sal]

Hey I’m glad you found the channel! Thank you for watching!

[@granthubick8684]

Nicely researched narrative. Subscribed. Get your crazy antenna tuned, stay safe and clear away from loco at first hink.

[@SKosmoski]

I was the manager os Silverman's MensWear located at the bottom of the center escalators to the right when the mall opened in 1978. I had just gotten married and this was my first store with the company. It was a beautiful mall but business was very slow for the first 6 months we were open. The area was "mortgage poor" and more a hang out for teenagers than shoppers (who went to Tyson's).

[@jeffreythompson7110]

Another great video Sal . Thank you.

[@walterkuzniarjr3880]

i used to work at that mall-a manager with (2) stores-Eddie bauer-williams-sonoma--after crack came thru-the mall really just died-at one point it was the largest mall on the east-coast. it had a ice-rink-then converted to a movie chain. It had to close due to fights-and gangs congregating after the shoes-- I really miss the old days there. damn shame.

[@gwendiffenbacher1695]

Crack cocaine: decimated many cities.

[@Twinklesparks]

Just went here yesterday, really sad n creepy place on a tuesday afternoon. Had a lot of memories as a kid going to wizards of the coast. Great video btw glad to see a really well made video on this place.

[@RoundenBrown]

I think I saw that guy in the video at a nearby buffet a few miles from the mall. The dude demanded free food and when the buffet worker said no, he got all mad. What a POS.

[@naumanistani]

It’s just crazy that from 2005-2012 I lived in Maryland and it was crowded and productive

[@ClayNott]

You deserve sooo many subscribers man! Your videos are very professional and well thought out, unlike a lot of people with more subscribers than yourself. Great stuff.

[@sal]

Hey thanks, Clay! That means a lot, and I have a bunch more content on the way!

[@ClayNott]

Sal Awesome!! Hey if you ever wanna come down to Illinois, Charlestown Mall in St. Charles, IL is a very dead mall, used to go there all the time as a kid, and the only thing keeping it alive is the movie theater.

[@jcp012000]

Great quality videos. On par with the great Dan Bell my friend. Subbed and now have to binge watch but hey, good way to spend a Saturday afteroon

[@DoomieGruntVentures]

That guy in 5:25. Where does he think he is? Tour De France?

[@sal]

Hahahahaha right??? I actually saw him riding around out in the parking lot near the bus stop all crazy, and thought he was going to hit my car. It was reassuring to see him inside the mall, away from my car lol

[@nordicdraw]

Amazing sculptural pieces throughout, this mall looks like it could do with some TLC. The Macy’s probably won’t last the year, never heard of the stores at this mall. It seems as though this was a lovely vision initially hopefully it sees better times. Another great job

[@axxxxman]

I went to this mall a few times in the first few years after it opened, one thing not mentioned was that there was originally and ice skating rink in the mall, I went there 2 or 3 times. This mall and White Flint mall were the most prestegious malls at the time in the Washington area. The ice rink in Lake Forest mall was was next to one of the entrances, I think on the west side of the mall. When I went there in 1988 or 89, the rink was gone, it had been turned into a carpet store if I remember correctly. it was a reall nice place to skate, it was not a hockey rink it had low boards, but no glass, one end was near the mall and the rink was sunken a few feet, people comming into and leaving the mall could see skating through a glass window. half the rink had a wall around it with, I believe sound deadening. the other half was a tiered area with benches, so parents or non+skaters could watch. I remember it being approximatly room tempurature so no matter what time of the year, you could skate in a T+shirt if you wanted. It was my favorite place to skate.

[@jerryl2627]

Unfortunately, Montgomery Co. thought it was a good idea to put low income housing around that area. Which has since pushed in a lot of illegal overcrowding, excessive noise, bad drivers, and illegal dumping (trash). I think they're trying to put in some high end shopping centers in the area (already have some they're building now), and from what I hear, tear down the mall and replace it with high end condos.

[@sunshinenyc007]

Dam this an incredible story geez be safe

[@dondavis5633]

Wow! While they may have had 35+ non-chain stores (less Gymboree, which has already been mentioned) the quality of the signage was very, very high-quality, as opposed to those paper or plastic banners I've seen other struggling malls use to cover up the original business signs/label-scar and announce the new occupant's name/title, etc. As to this video, you did a terrific job of "opening up the kimono" (I LOVE that term!) and having a look inside the mall's operations. And while it IS very sad that the fountain and amphitheater were taken out, it seems like the mall is doing well with the businesses it currently has, and is keeping the property clean and well-lighted while it does. I really hope it sees a big upturn in business very soon! Looking forward to log #'s 18, 19 & 20! NO PRESSURE, right? Gr8 Stuff, Sal, as always...

[@phil34nc]

Awesome video.. I love the quality and narratives you do in your mall videos..

[@sal]

Thanks Phillip!

[@madddawg1182]

Crazy angry pretzel man!😅😅😅

[@trainluvr]

Well done sir! the Seventies was supposed to be a gateway to a grand future. What it became instead is perfectly encapsulated by what this mall has become. Fer shitz and giggles you might consider doing a video on the new Hudson Yards mall. Its full of stores useless to ordinary people.

[@sal]

Thanks so much for watching! I’ll check out Hudson Yards!

[@clairelfhs02]

Great video! That pretzel guy...what a jerk!

[@sal]

Right?!?!