Merrion Centre (Leeds, UK) : Dead Mall Capital of England? : ft. The Core & Leeds Trinity

[@alchemyloud777]

Thanks again for using my music in your videos

[@DeadMallWalking]

You’re welcome! Love your stuff 🔥

[@enlighten274]

There used to be a hairdressers upstairs just past the escalators in 1997ish called Majore. I also remember a dentist in the same row.and at the end there was a nice cafe.

[@davejohnston5158]

Leeds has been choked by its public transport getting worse as it's expanded rather than better. No tram system while Newcastle, Sheffield and Manchester has had them for decades shows poor allocation of resources.

[@thebigredwagon]

I grew up in leeds but moved 15 years ago. I used to go to bar phono with my mates. I was as surprised as you were to find it existed. Leeds is a strange place, I do miss her.

[@mickfriday]

Lived in leeds since late nineties, the centre is not at all as vibrant or eclectic as it was. Its like a plastic version of what it used to be.

[@DeadMallWalking]

Honestly, I think that feels like a lot of places these days! Something is missing 😕

[@PK-yf3hd]

Leeds has always had too many retail outlets..out of towners and students sustain them ..because it's compact ,it usually feels crowded...people like to be among other people ..its also beautifull and historic...people like this combination which creates atmosphere and a feeling of being at the centre of things ..people always gravitated to the centre,as it's a radial city with main roads providing quick access ...it just has the right feel to it

[@lukepattinson4744]

Leeds has terrible public transport and city planners gradually blocking the city centre for cars over the past couple of decades.

[@Copaceticification]

So may memories of the St johns centre, my mum worked at the Index catalogue shop at the top of the escalator, and i had my first job in olympus sports in there, i also remember spending many hours and money in jumbo's records. Also the Merrion centre had an underground bar, a nightclub on the top floor and a hidden away secret cinema.

[@richardpaterson4627]

Obviously.a.sunday😢

[@stephenhodgson3506]

Went to school opposite the Merrion Centre from 1967 to 1974 and it was never really that busy. Plenty of people around during lunch time for the sandwich shops. The two barriers shown at 8:55 replaced a moving walkway that seemed to be out of order more than it ever was working. From my experience the busiest time was on Friday and Saturday nights for people attending the Tiffany's night club with it's secret internal nightclub upstairs called Balihai. On Tuesday nights they used to open Tiffany's for underage people.

[@keving331]

The Leeds Corn Exchange is sort-of a shopping mall these days, and is *relatively* thriving!

[@aries6776]

It's filled with small independent shops that make for an interesting shopping/browsing experience.

[@BevMattocks]

I used to frequent the Phonographique in the Merrion Centre in my 1980s goth days... 😖😖😖

[@DeadMallWalking]

Just wish I’d been around for that era! haha

[@BevMattocks]

@@DeadMallWalking It was always so hot and sweaty down there which played havoc with carefully backcombed, crimped and sprayed goth hair!!

[@paulashepherd7223]

There used to be a dentist upstairs too and in the seventies and early eighties there was nightclub called Tiffany’s i believe

[@andrewfoster259]

I live in Leeds and the Merrion Centre is always busy when I go into town, The upstairs has always been forgotten though. Everybody stays on the ground floor.

[@edcurl4740]

As far as the Emmett machines go, there used to be one (presumably they'd swap them round every so often) in a glass case outside Morrisons. They were set to start moving on the hour.

[@LeodisTrainSpotter]

ik what one your on about, it was like a giant bike that used to go downstairs. miss that one

[@grayce6509]

I too remember the one outside Morrisons, although in the early 80s wasn't there one further down near the steps?

[@dxmedia9258]

The core mall was actually decent when jd and hmv was there

[@neilpickup237]

I believe that the Ziff family of Town Centre Securities (the owners of the Centre) were collectors of the Emmett machines, hence the display. As for the closed off street, it no longer exists as the floor space was incorporated into an ever expanding Morrisons. First, they incorporated the 'shops' backing onto them before incorporating the street and the remaining shops a few years later. Although the cinema is no longer operational, the space is still there, abandoned. The retail space you referred to was never part of the cinema, but underneath it. As for the Core, probably the less said about that, the better - it has been a disappointment from day one. Never have all the units been let. The current plan is to demolish it and replace it with Student Accommodation with commercial space on the lower floors. A bit like the current redevelopment of the former House of Frazer on Briggate.

[@CJFS00s]

The Victoria Shopping Centre/Westminster Arcades in Harrogate are definitely worth a look! (Not for good reasons lol)

[@DeadMallWalking]

I’ve actually been there before! But would love to get down there with the camera for a wander around…

[@oldgoat5589]

All these places seem so dreary, gloomy, and same-ish. Malls used to be moderately exciting, especially when a new one opened. It's never long, though, before you find yourself reminiscing about the old high streets, and wishing they still existed. Towns are no longer fun, bustling and pretty. They are just a drag.

[@davidcope5736]

Leeds just has far too much retail space, and the attitude seems to be build more rather than repurpose. The trinity centre was fairly snazzy in its heyday, although last time i went it felt reduced.

[@DeadMallWalking]

Yup, developers often opt to build and build further out where they can snap up land or existing properties on the cheap!

[@JCJTC]

I've never understood the prevalence of shopping centres in the UK. The Leeds ones were soul less even 30 plus years ago. York, chose the open strip mall route (nonsensical with the UK climate) and they are beset with empty units and have become places that you only nip out in the car to when you need something specific rather than say, go for a whole afternoon. Poundland closed their Monks Cross branch (which says it all really) and the MX face lift and new units have done nothing to tempt new vendors, in fact it's lost more since. I very much enjoy your channel, I love social history and this kind of documentation is incredibly valuable.

[@slendermanRblx]

Would you consider the Bradford Kirkgate centre a “dead mall” since I do feel last time I went (earlier this month) that there are a lot less shopping there compared to when I went as a kid with family. I attribute it to the openning of the new Broadway complex that is within walking distance of Kirkgate.

[@mrN3CR0]

anything up near kirkgate/oastler is dying off thanks to broadway... its an absolute shame but would HIGHLY recommend to visit and see it before the demolition starts

[@yorkshirepudding6980]

Jumbo records started in The Merrion centre in the area where the little shops are then went to the St John's Centre , returning back to the Merrion Centre.. The indoor Market area in the Merrion Centre used to be very popular. Also the cinema used to do Children's programmes special matinee performances. Parents would leave their kids there whilst they went shopping /pub . The core previously was the Schofield's department store , which then in the 1980's was revamped in to the Schofield Centre a mall of fake plants , gold chrome and a very long escalator that took you to the food court at the top . It was very popular , always packed in it's hey day especially the Chinese food restaurant. The Schofield Centre had glass lifts and a large soft play centre for kids too. Since becoming The Core it has remained soulless and empty . I'm not sure why Leeds keeps building malls as most people nowadays , myself included and I'm old , prefer to shop online.

[@DeadMallWalking]

Yes! I did see that, but I thought covering every time it moved might have been a little much, haha. Thanks for those stories you shared. It's not the only factor in play but, no doubt, online shopping is definitely a hurdle.

[@pmberry]

Summary of recent observations shopping in Leeds city centre (late 2024), roughly north to south: Merrion Centre - low-end - dying St John's - low-end - dying Grand Arcade - mid-range - dying The Light - mid-range but mostly a food court - healthy The Core - mid-range but mostly a food court - *dead* (awaiting demolition and rebuild - this will keep the ground floor for retail but add flats above) Thornton's Arcade - mid-range - healthy Queens Arcade - mid-range - healthy Victoria Quarter (County Arcade, Queen Victoria Street, Cross Arcade) - high-end - healthy Victoria Gate - high-end - healthy Trinity - mid-range - healthy Central Arcade - mid-range - OK

[@DeadMallWalking]

Great breakdown, thank you!

[@stephenphillips4609]

It was both great and sad to see this video. I briefly lived in Leeds 31 years ago and (sadly) I haven't been back since. You used to be able to walk thru some malls to get from the outskirts of the city centre smack bang into the centre...by walking thru a series of malls. The Merrion Centre was the first. I remember the whacky Emmett machines, but they were put...it felt like they had been put out of the way at one of the exits. No real signage to explain what they were. Tho, they were (clearly still are) really charming. The Merrion Centre never felt 'upmarket' or even mid-market. The old Schofield Centre felt decidedly upmarket, with its Debenhams. The Victoria Quarter felt decidedly upmarket, even then. So, nothing has changed there. Overall, I loved Leeds. It was a beautiful, vibrant city, full of life, friendly people and things to do. I hope it is still that way now, three decades later.

[@JCJTC]

Ah The Phono. Many happy memories of your feet sticking to the floor...

[@Catluvur23]

Urgh I love the Merrion centre PLS can we just celebrate it

[@paulashepherd7223]

There used to have a dental surgery in the merrion centre years ago

[@uncleraul9144]

Might as well have closed it down when they removed the Featherstone Flyer. Jumbo started out in that closed off faux Victorian row.

[@DeadMallWalking]

Maaan, I'd love to get into that Victorian row somehow...

[@centrevezgaming4862]

And it also had an mini supermarket with stalls but those ended up closing many years ago and now trinity Leeds is on the decline due to high rate’s and the cost of living with its latest casualty the luxury lingerie store Victoria’s Secret to close.

[@vancorner4051]

Great job and thank you for shout out. +1 sub.

[@DeadMallWalking]

Nice one, and thanks again!

[@centrevezgaming4862]

And it had an cinema called the Ritz that later closed down and became an failing nightclub that didn’t last long

[@BevMattocks]

I guess the terrible Merrion SuperStore market is no longer there? Also, those curious moving machine things used to be in a glass case near the Phono?

[@DeadMallWalking]

Hmm, I don’t recall seeing it! And I think I covered everything in the video so if it’s not in there, probably no longer there. I think they move the machines around sometimes!

[@BevMattocks]

@@DeadMallWalking We are talking YEARS ago, in the 1980s...

[@kirkhunter146]

@@BevMattocks nope, the machines were in glass cases outside Morrisons where the steps up to Tiffs are. They were never near the Phono.

[@BevMattocks]

@@kirkhunter146 My memory playing tricks!

[@fulltiltboogiewoogie]

Yep I remember the machine in the glass case next to Le Phono.. it was there in 1990.. I also remember it being outside Morrissons in other years. My brother had the same patterned trousers the man on the flying machine wore.. we used to laugh about it on the way to Ritzys/Confettis night club upstairs in the Merrion Centre.

[@billydevine7290]

Hi, I think you should go to Crystal Peaks shopping mall and retail park Sheffield, its a wierd one, I can't make My mind up if it's dead or not but it's sure worth a visit.😊

[@DeadMallWalking]

Added to my list! Would be interested to check it out. If you have any tips or specifics to check out, please let me know 🙂

[@billydevine7290]

@@DeadMallWalking hi, there is also the adjoining crystal peaks retail park and the neighbouring drakehouse retail park (not owned by crystal peaks) 👍

[@Mark1405Leeds]

Lived in the centre of Leeds since 1995 and these days the Merrion centre is pretty much the only part I visit. Briggate is a shadow of its former self! Empty shops everywhere because rents are too high!

[@4th_Disciple]

4:06 and i thought my job in a Chinese private school which happened to be in a mall was strange

[@DeadMallWalking]

Now *that* sounds like an interesting story, where is/was that?

[@MegaFirewalk]

far too much mall type retail space in the city and since the arrival of internet shopping its now plain to see. i actually can't stand the modern leeds city centre, the same chain shops that are in every city up and down the country. old leeds was much better with streets of shops proper pubs everywhere and a bustling market, despite the grime at least it had character and shops owned by people not greedy corporate interest groups, still a few independents here and there but not like it was. somehow the council have gotten away with destroying the centre for decades be it poor planning or plain corruption, it's not just leeds though it's everywhere its that so called modernism where everywhere is the same.

[@JimmyEatsFish]

Nice video. Cheers.

[@DeadMallWalking]

Thank you!

[@ChantingInTheDark]

Spent a lot of time in this shopping centre in my youth.

[@comfeefort]

3:23 I hope You never seen a Soul on the upper deck, you'd have seen a Ghost of Christmas Past.

[@DeadMallWalking]

Haha. I meant during my visit, rather than the old pics, but your point is well-taken!

[@johnalver]

what I wouldn't give to see Briton in the early 60s right before everything changed

[@AngieRichmond]

Great video!

[@Fireglo]

"Aimed at the budget end of the market".... Do you mean to tell me that Shoezone is a shoe shop for poor people?!!!

[@DeadMallWalking]

Shocking, I know! lol

[@lukewaters2680]

Could you visit Accrington Arndale and Salford Lowry

[@PhilipMarcYT]

Interesting video. Thanks for sharing. A dead mall and with people masked.. that feels weird for sure.

[@DeadMallWalking]

Thanks Philip! The mask mandate has since dropped in the UK, but the footage for this one was filmed quite a while ago ☺️

[@PhilipMarcYT]

@@DeadMallWalking yep, seen the news. Even with mask mandates they didn't wear them. Plus, the U.K. is kind of like the only Western country where they don't require a vax pass and I'm glad, because that's divisive and discriminatory. The U.S. has red states that do not require the vax pass, but the country itself still does.

[@AbdulRahim12345-i]

There are so many dead mall in Leeds city centre. The are staff in these retail shops are very rude and give bad customer service. Everyone is buying online and stress-free

[@PhilipMarcYT]

They're destroying their own chance of having a job, even at a dead mall.

[@trippy1198]

leeds is a pretentious hell hole- over expensive , traffic, litter, homeless, drunken bastards ugh can't stand the city centre

[@Faze-2]

You're right. Atlanta has so many dead malls very interesting

[@tdizzle4546]

Beautiful

[@user-ic1oe4li2i]

You are been unfair. This recording was done during COVID 19