Metrocenter: Then and Now

Metrocenter; once the bustling, busy, "place to be" now lies nearly an empty shell of its former self. Shoppers expecting to find what they once knew as the Arizonan shopping haven of the 70s and 80s will be shocked and saddened to find corridors lined with black-windowed and gated-off storefronts, their label-scarred signs leaving behind the faintest trace of the businesses that once graced the halls and called the mall their home.
Credit for the 1988 Metrocenter footage belongs to Andrew Patrick Ralston. Here is the link to the original video: • Metrocenter Mall: Phoe...
Music used:
Desire - 18 Carat Affair
Mall of 1974

[@liamwade8537]

I want to thank each and every one of you that took the time to watch this. I'm so glad I was able to create content that moved so many people. Long live Metrocenter.

[@jtmar]

Truly makes me sad. I grew up coming to this mall as kid/teenager.

[@zombeeznutz]

i grew up with it being dead but man.. not this dead. it’s insane seeing how alive it was. they tore down most of it now and it’s barely an acre when i last went but now it’s closed entirely

[@naturelover5794]

Me too

[@original8616]

Same here toys r us around the corner too

[@bcg3166]

Being a teenager and resident of Glendale, Arizona. I would be there every weekend ice skating. Times then? We're much simpler. No worries of nothing. How times have changed all of that. You can take our past but you left us with our memories. Thank you!

[@RebsOne]

Man what a horrific tragedy. I grew up in the area of this mall and would frequent it regularly from 1988-1997 as a child through high school. Coming up in that era meant you actually had to go out and be social if you wanted to meet new people and what better place than Metro. This mall was always packed during those late 80s/early 90s years, especially on the weekends. This mall was the place to be! To run around, hit the skating rink which would later become Metro Midway, or go to get numbers of the cute girls. It was such an awesome place for me as a kid and when Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure came out it was cool to know your stomping grounds were in a movie. There will never be another Metro for those of us who remember the good old days before internet, social media, etc. but we can always reflect on those childhood memories of what glory it gave us. RIP Metro Center.

[@gumshew2007]

Who cares? I don't need to go to a mall to make purchases, I order on line and most of the time through amazon.

[@RebsOne]

@@gumshew2007 That is surely how it is now but back then there was no ordering online because online wasn't for the general population. It will be an entirely different subject for those who never experienced it so if you weren't around for the fun back then I get it. Just like I wasn't around for Woodstock but growing up I always heard references to it and many documentaries. While I agree ordering online eliminates lines, parking etc... it doesn't give you the environment. Malls during that time were a major social event both meeting up with friends or just people watching. As a teenager through those years everyone would go suited and booted in their new clothes or shoes on a Friday or Saturday as if the mall was a showcase. I am not saying you're anti-social but for me and the people I went to the mall with we always enjoyed it which is why some of us do care, and why it is sad to see it fall.

[@RebsOne]

@Pastor David J. Miner Isn't Arrowhead on the decline as well now? Also I hear the kidnapping rate is getting pretty high over there just like AZ Mills, such a shame. What happened to people being able to do things without the fear of being abducted.

[@jasburger]

Rip metrocenter forever now...

[@michaelmccuin1157]

FACTS 💯

[@djmischiefofficial01]

They're officially closing it down by June 30th. That's crazy, some good memories were made here...

[@liamwade8537]

damn, just saw that. so sad.

[@ThatCodeBlue]

1979-83. I’m glad I saw the best of Metrocenter’s years.

[@chiefdan07]

Great choice of sound track. Really eerie feeling and depressing.

[@liamwade8537]

thank you. it's free mall muzak that i download, slowed down, and added reverb to.

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

MetrO)))center

[@donegalandnehoiden5672]

@@liamwade8537 I thought as much. It's amazing how little it takes to make cheerful music scary.

[@bonniet4478]

I worked at Metrocenter in 1988. Great footage you have! Wish you showed more. Totally brought me back. But it's so so sad that it's closing now.

[@liamwade8537]

Link to the video is in the description. There's more footage on the dude's channel if you want anymore.

[@danieldaniels7571]

At 19 I worked at an office right next to Metrocenter and spent most of my free time hanging out there and at Castles & Coasters.

[@crashbandicoot6652]

So sad to find out that this mall is permanently closing some good times that I will never forget

[@danieldaniels7571]

About to get the wrecking ball this month.

[@maryhall-evans1102]

I remember when they first broke ground on the building project. My sister and I went on opening day, then either Saturday or Sunday of every week, until I married and moved away in 1985. We were some of the original mall rats of Metrocenter. Such great memories of great times. Thanks for sharing your video.

[@liamwade8537]

no problem, man. hope you enjoyed the sad bit of nostalgia.

[@0SuicideBoy0]

You really nailed the aesthetics here. I look forward to more content pertaining to our highly esoteric area of interest.

[@liamwade8537]

thank you so much, man.

[@Soullessservant]

Blaine I really don’t get what you’re so hyped about.... this isn’t good. It’s.... it’s bad. And racist. Why there no brothaz?? So tired of this shit bruh . Imma stick w the silk

[@liamwade8537]

@@Soullessservant just sittin here sippin my silk milk not givin a shii

[@sergiogarcia9714]

@@Soullessservant fuh ya mean cuh

[@woodystorey]

Tanner Martin....racist?....where TF do you get any form of racism from his comment?...anyone that gets racism out this comment is a rabid racist, seen it many times before that people like you, go somewhere else and cry to see things that aren’t there to anyone but the likes of you...crybaby...

[@ridered7262]

Really hit me seeing the Christmas decorations, I would go to malls here and there but mainly at Christmas time and just the atmosphere and people out and about. So sad to see this happening across the Country but especially in your own backyard. P.S. it was a great way to escape the heat as kids in the summer.

[@fredmyers485]

Wow - shocking. I visited this mall frequently in the early 90s and figured it would be around forever. The music choice here pairs nicely with the imagery. Well done!

[@ladylee1684]

I lived in Phoenix as a kid and MetroCenter was the BIG mall and was always so exciting to go there. Moved away in 85 went back for a visit in 2000 and it was showing major signs of decline then but never thought it would end up like this.

[@danieldaniels7571]

MetroCenter in 1985 was the best thing ever. My best friend and I would meet girls there and then bring them to swim at the pool at Cactus Park. We biked and walked all over that area at 14 and 15 years old. Smitty's on Peoria was really cool too.

[@jamesvalenzuela3640]

I think we should kick Amazon where it hurts! Let's keep our retail spots open! Can you imagine how weird the next generation is going to be with the sinking of stores and malls?!?!

[@csn6234]

Go on with your bad self!

[@whatheck6709]

This mall was doing pretty well before 2010. After that, it went down hill fast and fell flat on it's face. In the early and mid 2000s they had Cyberstation, which was an arcade. One of the main reasons why I went to Metro.

[@danieldaniels7571]

Once they got rid of the ice skating rink I just no longer had any desire to go inside.

[@briangulley6027]

Tear it down or turn it into a homeless center. This is our fault, we all want cheap stuff so we save money buying on-line. Well this is what you get enjoy it. I miss human interaction, was dealing with the crowds a pain at times, yes but at least there were people. Todays world sucks glad I'm in my 60's and don't have that much time left.

[@cordeliachase601]

You realize you don’t have to go to a mall to get human interaction, right? Bars, restaurants, clubs, the beach, strip stores, parks, classes and hobbies. I can go to the beach 4 miles from my home which has strip stores and seafood places and see like hundreds of people walking around. If you need a mall to have social interaction, then you’re not doing it right.

[@briangulley6027]

@@cordeliachase601 No, I wasn't aware there people in those places I'll have to check it out, thanks. My point was in case it was over your head when shopping in person you can see, touch, try on an item, ask the staff how something works, ask you friend how something looks on you, ect.

[@michaeleverett2650]

@@cordeliachase601 the human interaction possibilities that you described will never match that of the large shopping mall, bars and clubs are full of drunks 90% of the people act like assholes, it may be great for someone in their 20s, and not everyone drinks, there are no beaches in Arizona, strip mall stores just don't have the same atmosphere, parks are boring and full of creeps, and why take a class just to try to meet somebody and socialize with somebody when you don't need to actually take a class, that's boring.

[@DarrellDouglas-sr9rr]

(Read) Social media allows people to NOT have to go outside anymore. I grew up at Metro in the '80's, that's where we went on Friday and Saturday not only to see our friends but meet new people. The Internet and covid killed this mall, not Amazon 😢

[@livingaboard]

I lived in Phoenix in 1989-1991. I went to this mall many times and even worked at the sears next to the mall. I remember the skating rink which I thought they got rid of during my time there. Sad.

[@tsunamipapi1343]

my parents grew up going here, this was really cool 2 c . thanks

[@imnobody3490]

Let's bring this mall back to live for the love of the human ways no more sitting on your back half and go and save all of your past I'm here every day waiting on all of you to bring back the good times

[@olive3723]

ive never even been to the Metrocenter.. but this video was still sad

[@AshKetchumfromPalletTown]

Great video! I was a Major mall rat from Tucson and I would visit Phoenix a lot. When I visited metro center it was definitely already dying, but thanks for the footage of its golden years! What a trip.

[@liamwade8537]

No problem! Credit for the old footage is in the description if you want to watch the whole thing without music.

[@123bigred]

growing up in the 90s in North Phoenix, when paradise valley mall would get repetitive. we would occasionally go to metro center. At first it was for the Arcade games later on it was about the girls lol. The arcade inside metro center was huge and had games no other arcade( like peter piper pizza) had. It would compete with the Arcade just outside at the amusement park. lots of competition back then. I think Amazon and the fact that people just get stuff delivered to there homes, has a lot to do with these mall closures. makes me sad to see paradise valley mall and metro center mall get demolished.

[@liamwade8537]

Speaking of PV Mall, I actually delivered some sheetrock there recently. Idk what they're doing with it now, but I got some pictures of what it looks like. Not enough for a full video, but cool stuff nonetheless. Completely stripped bare, wires hanging from the ceilings. Sad, crazy stuff. We are witnessing the slow end of an era.

[@SpaghettiKozak]

As a Phoenician born and raised this hits hard. I thought it was a tragedy when they closed the Midway for that AMC theater but damn.

[@jimcook2715]

Worked at a mall in 80 81 it's still doing well but back then I never imagined our society would change so much

[@theresamallett4613]

I remember the glass elevator and always wanting to go shop at Spencer's.

[@christinecook4437]

It sad! Used to hang out there alot as a teen!

[@tedkimurajr5888]

Thank Amazon for that it was a good place to walk around in the summer

[@jenniferscott7372]

I hung out here all the time I sure do miss it 😪😔😕😒

[@deepblue8143]

Does anyone remember a part of the mall called The Alley?

[@MagnumMike44]

I do, it was on the upper level on the south side of the mall, next to the Broadway store. The structure in that section was torn down around 2015 and they put up a Wal-Mart.

[@deepblue8143]

@jkeltge sure was, I miss it so much. Everything is so corporate and stale nowadays, there is absolutely nothing like it. Glad you remember and have fond memories.

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

Yep. (Jan Griffiths).

[@Richard-ZA01]

Yes

[@michaeleverett2650]

Yes ,and I remember the shop where you can buy hats , belts and lots of things made out of leather.

[@zombeeznutz]

it has been demolished, it’s gone, officially. as of may 7th 2023 there is no longer a metrocenter. rest in piece

[@seanhicks8277]

Officially had final closing ceremonies yesterday: 5/21/2023. Don't know how many people may have shown up.

[@COPPERSTATETREASURES]

Thank you for creating this. I just did a documentary of two of the original skaters/coaches from the ice rink. I’m really happy to see the mall being documented. 💕

[@tedkimurajr5888]

It's officially closing June 30th after 47 years sorry to see it gone

[@joejokool]

god this just made me so depressed . . i remember this mall got rid of the ice skating rink and had a HUGE ARCADE underground with these massive escalators that would lead you down, all the good games, when i heard they were getting rid of it for a fucking movie theater i wanted to cry . . especially having to go upstairs and play in that sorry excuse for an arcade after they finished it . . i remember going into natural wonders, sam goody, taking pictures at pose, going to stare at the dogs . . the DISNEY STORE . . the fucking skatepark was cool for awhile . . i'm almost afraid to ask . . is All4Anime still there?? honestly, i feel like my childhood was raped and stripped of its innocence watching this . . thanks for the vapor vibes tho

[@juanandrade9904]

No the store closed. It must've been recent since i went in there during christmas shopping. I went there 3 weeks ago and it was sadly gone.

[@foxhound9285]

I remember going to a lot of malls during the 90's when I just became s teen. So many people packed in them that it would take 30 minutes or more for me and my cousin to find our parents. Our legs would be burning from all the walking. Strange it all ended so quickly.

[@jackson-js1yf]

All for animie now obviously isn't but last time I checked a month ago it still was I love thats store

[@michaelmccuin1157]

I was THERE EVERY WEEKEND it was LIT 🔥😂

[@gunnarbiker]

America thrived with prosperity at one time and then a lot of rich politicians made the non-thinkers believe that socialism was the dream. Now, we’re all suffering. Sad.

[@Gljin40509]

SAD....I lived in Phoenix in the early `80`s and remember the grandeur of the metrocenter mall.

[@watsername89]

It was about 2 years ago I came here, there was alot of people was first time coming here.. Just about a week or two was completely dead only a a small crowd were roaming

[@bakugoumilll1508]

watsername89 do they still have the vans store there

[@watsername89]

Yes it is still open

[@tricialacy2609]

Its depressing, sad. I grew up there, my kids went to Santa yearly there and Christown.

[@Soullessservant]

It’s Christmas in tinsel town the academy awards

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

Christown is Spectrum-Christown now. I went there a few months ago when my husband was in the hospital in Phoenix before he died. That mall seems to be doing fine---very crowded. I got a few things at the Costco there. (Jan Griffiths).

[@Moe-ri7ig]

I'm really sad right now because I grew up in that mall I live right next to it I miss it so much I had so many good memories of my childhood there

[@rasierra]

Amazing documentation of a former goliath in the mall scene in its final moments.

[@rebeccaromero7765]

Sad to see it go. Loved shopping there. Hope the other malls don't close down...there are so few left.

[@liamwade8537]

Just found out today that Paradise Valley mall closed back in March. May just be for redevelopment though. Fingers crossed.

[@melsa-ub4pl]

Superstition mall is starting to go downhill too. 😞 Fiesta is gone.😢

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

Is Arizona Mills still around? I went to that mall's grand opening in 1997. I also went the week Metro opened as well. Christown (now Spectrum) was only 3 years old when we moved to AZ. I remember seeing Fiesta Mall in Mesa being built. And others like Scottsdale Fashion Square, Thomas Mall, Tower Plaza Mall, Superstition Springs, Paradise Valley, and a few others. So sad to see them all gone or repurposed. Sign of the times, I guess. (Jan Griffiths).

[@julianacrutchfield5382]

It’s so crazy to see it now. I had my first date there 7 years ago! 😭

[@liamwade8537]

awesome :) good memories, i imagine?

[@julianacrutchfield5382]

Liam Wade oh most definitely (:

[@kirk1968]

You've documented The Backrooms in real life! We lived in northern Arizona, and coming down to Phoenix and going to Metrocenter was always a big deal. Especially the arcade above the ice rink and the huge sculpture & fountain for tossing pennies into. Very sad to see it in such decline, I drive by there occasionally and have happy flashbacks. Thanks for sharing.

[@jackson-js1yf]

Hey guys I loved metro and have a video of how it was on the last day rip I have a special spot in my heart for metro center

[@Tephlosion]

I visited this mall about 5 years ago and they were trying to put new stores in there but you could tell that it was on its last legs. It’s truly devastating to see malls just being abandoned or leveled especially due to Covid

[@bcg3166]

I spent every weekends there ice skating. They filmed Bill and Ted's excellent adventure there. Great times. The ice skating ring is covered over it was located by the food court. The ring was replaced by a arcade. Then advenually they closed and covered it all over. The movie theater was located out the doors where the ice ring was located. Thanks! I and my parents ate at Super salad all the time. It's know a lectronic story last I and a friend drove by down that way to pick up dinner.

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

I used to eat at Souper Salad too. That building used to be a Valley bank building. Last time I ate at Souper Salad was in 2014 when I still worked in Phoenix. (Jan Griffiths).

[@lajc2580]

I think it’s pretty both ways. Filled with people and filled without people. When I saw the pictures with no people I just think the mall’s peaceful and relaxing. But also it’s kind of eerie.

[@kelleyannethomas5372]

DekOra-That's true. It is peaceful but eerie.

[@uwumarii]

This mall is a haven of liminal spaces. Great video!

[@liamwade8537]

Yes it was. I miss it every time I pass it. Would absolutely kill to get inside and see it in its abandoned state.

[@rhdrico816]

Don't forget that the Metrocenter parking area was surrounded by a divided four lane road. It completely circled Metrocenter. There were a variety of businesses along that roadway too. One was a very large record store (Warehouse?). In the late 1970's I used to ice skate at the ice rink.

[@nathan6642]

preciate ya posting this

[@liamwade8537]

Preciate you watching

[@radluzaoriginal]

This is vaporwave?

[@liamwade8537]

It's copyright-free mall muzak I found, slowed down, and added reverb to. So I guess so lol.

[@radluzaoriginal]

@@liamwade8537 LOL

[@thedognme1]

This is so sad...

[@daehawk9585]

Ive seen so many videos on how it is now. I was hoping forme old coverage from the good days or at least some side by side comparisons of spots in it.

[@thecottage4493]

It truly was a beautiful piece of architecture. Watching from Connecticut, is the former ice-skating rink area shown in this video somewhere? What was there afterwards?

[@liamwade8537]

If I remember correctly, I believe they filled the rink with concrete and extended the food court over it. Sorry for the late response.

[@ChrisR]

The mall ambience really changed when they covered up the ice rink area. The ice rink closed and then for a while they had it set up with a bunch of video game consoles and a few small amusement kiddie-sized rides that you could get to via an escalator. Prior to the late 90's remodel the entire center of the food court was open so you could see down into the lower level rink area.

[@MK_337]

excellent video. great music. thanks.

[@liamwade8537]

No problem :) Thank you for watching.

[@Perich29]

I've been by that mall when I was delivering grocery to the new walmart stores there when I was driving trucks for walmart. don't really know much about that mall, we moved here to Arizona in spring of 2005

[@ridif]

fantastic pics. thanks for sharing. I was there the first years it opened .. i wouldn't dare go near it in recent decades.

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

I used to hang out at Metrocenter a lot. I skated in the ice rink too. And hung out in the Metro Lounge. Played video games in the arcade, and Castles and Coasters. I no longer live in Phoenix, but it's sad to see what Metro has become in recent times. I fondly remember the good old days. (Jan Griffiths).

[@MK_337]

image from 1:33 could be a album cover.

[@liamwade8537]

Very v a p o r w a v e

[@nonnie95sanchez]

My mom said this mall was the place to be in the 80s!

[@liamwade8537]

yes it was :)

[@michaelmccuin1157]

FACTS it was Super Lit in the 80s and 90s!

[@runninrebel1520]

Everywhere was the place to be on the 80s.❤❤

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

It was. Actually, any mall was the place to be back then, but Metro was the best of all. (Jan Griffiths).

[@michaeleverett2650]

It definitely was, that place was always busy ,every single parking space around the whole mall was always filled up to the Outer Circle, people had to drive around and wait for a car to leave in order to get a parking spot.

[@stephaniesometimess]

I remember the plane restaurant and ice skating back in the 70s then we moved to ny

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

The plane restaurant was the Metro Lounge. I skated in the ice rink too. (Jan Griffiths).

[@vincefelix2144]

You can thank the Amazons of the world in which we all live in today's mess up society. I hope one day the Amazons of tomorrow shall end like the malls did in our life time!!

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

Won't happen. It's too convenient. If you order from Amazon, you better know your sizes since you can't try anything on before you buy it (clothes and shoes). And you have to wait for delivery. At the mall, you can try stuff on, and see it before you buy it. That' what I miss. Yep, society today is really screwed up. (Jan Griffiths).

[@patrickmaruniak5987]

@@douglasgriffiths3534 That's what some dumbasses on here don't understand. One person wrote who cares they have online shopping. They don't understand how much more convenient going to the mall was than online shopping. They probably didn't grow up going to a mall. I think going to a mall is way better for the reason that you stated.

[@michaeleverett2650]

I also hope for the end of all the Amazons that caused the downfall of the Super malls, I'll be watching from my grave.

[@ryry283]

I used to walk up the canal from sunnyslope in the 80s and 90s to golf n stuff and metrocenter mall. Good`ol days

[@beckysegundo6688]

I remember Round the Corner where we ordered over the phone at our table. Also I liked the older railings & floorings better.

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

Fiesta Mall in Mesa also had a Round the Corner restaurant close by. I liked ordering over the phone at the table. Great concept, and the food was good too. (Jan Griffiths).

[@michaelmccuin1157]

I Use to Go to Metro In 88 It was The BOMB ! Inside Movies Ice Skate Rink Huge Food Court And Hella Video Games to Master ! I Was Lucky To See Bill&Ted's being Filmed By my House at Closed High School Called East High School RIP to George Carlin I seen Him And Met Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter have Family In the Movie as Extras RIP to Metro Center 😢 1974-2020

[@michaeleverett2650]

1973

[@kylesaad5647]

The elevator! Forgot about that...Nice!

[@kelleyannethomas5372]

What a shame! ☹ That beautiful mall turned into a ghost town with lights! I am sorry that I never had the chance to travel to Phoenix, Arizona to pay a visit! It's too bad that you couldn't show more footage from 1988....or maybe even photoshopped the old 1980s photographs into today's photographs? 🤔 And I wonder what became of the ice skating rink? I didn't see that in the "Now" photos..... But this was a great video & thank you for showing it! 👍👏🙃 A piece of American History that nobody will experience ever again.

[@liamwade8537]

The ice skating rink was filled in decades ago, unfortunately. Good suggestions, btw.

[@kelleyannethomas5372]

@@liamwade8537 Ah....thank you! 🙃👍

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

The ice rink was closed in the mid 80s. Discovery Center took its place. (Jan Griffiths).

[@account4info]

Early 2000s was the peak of mall shopping. Fiesta mall opened a few years after this mall, it has since closed as well.

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

Fiesta opened in 1979. I watched that mall being built. I lived in Indian Springs Village Apts north of Southern Ave on Stewart St. at the time, which were brand new as well, and there was a Bobby McGee's restaurant on the corner of Stewart and Southern. Times have sure changed. (Jan Griffiths).

[@bsherman8236]

Looks glamourous

[@amandakropen3273]

I worked at Goldwaters. Great memories!

[@Osamudazqi]

And today they closed that’s the sad part I’m going to miss that mall 😭😭😭

[@hairjezus]

Who remembers vans indoor skatepark

[@misterhot9163]

So where exactly where was the skating rink in the mall, and what was it replaced with?

[@liamwade8537]

The skating rink, I believe, was beneath the food court. It was filled up with concrete.

[@LucasChoate]

Is the "alley" still there? That was my favorite spot in the mall back in the day

[@williamhaynes7089]

long gone, just became an empty hallway by sears

[@imnobody3490]

Sorry no :'( they took it out during the remodeling of the mall back in the 90's

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

Nope, long gone. It was one of my favorite places too. (Jan Griffiths).

[@panicatthechimicalfallout546]

I was like a toddler when it was open I remember some of it I just now turned into a teenager I’m excited for it to open again

[@Alejandro67317]

I grew up here and now it’s gonna be gone now I need to go to a different mall😭

[@michaeleverett2650]

About the only Mall left nearby is Arrowhead, I went there just less than two years ago and it was still going pretty good.

[@davon233]

I wanna explore this wid my friends but they wouldn’t be down

[@liamwade8537]

If you can get past security, let me know how and leave an opening into the place

[@liamwade8537]

UPDATE: June 30th, Metrocenter will be permanently closing.

[@Soullessservant]

Try hard

[@manicura3380]

@@Soullessservant I want YOU... to get out of my life and shut up.

[@HollywoodTheGenerous]

So many memories there

[@hairjezus]

I loved this mall

[@tsunamipapi1343]

super eerie

[@barryorange]

will always be remembered for that one day when all those historical dudes were there

[@TACallender]

I remember the bar/resturaunt that was built like a plane, and I cried when they took out the ice rink and the arcade went in.

[@michaeleverett2650]

I think it was called, the airport, that place was so cool. Sitting at a table near the window was like looking out an airplane at the skating rink.

[@rockcabu]

Great Video, very sad to see where it has come over the years. Online shopping has taken over the world and the malls have all but crumbled to the ground.

[@liamwade8537]

there are still some nice malls, a lot of it just depends on the location. Metrocenter is in a very shady area of Phoenix which is why it's really dead. there's a mall closer to where i live called Arrowhead Mall and my buddy and i go there all the time to get Fired Pie and to dick around and that place is poppin on a Tuesday night.

[@steeltiger1465]

@@liamwade8537 shit, mills mall is shoulder to should packed.

[@Techno-Universal]

Looks like it was modernised sometime in the early to mid 90s looking at the physical architectural differences in the present day compared to the 80s footage! :)

[@jdhiner1]

Hi I grew up with that mall during the 80s. Yes it was renovated in the 90s but when Arrowhead town center opened in 94-95 nobody went to metro anymore and the demographics changed also we had Metrocenter and valley west in Glendale to go to

[@Techno-Universal]

jdhiner1 Yeah like I was able to tell that it was from the 90s because of how Chadstone shopping centre in Melbourne witch it quite local for me had a massive extension in 1995 and the tiling and atheistics in the original extension area look exactly the same to the design of the Metro centre! Also what’s interesting is how the new Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne has the same architectural design scheme as the metro centre in the 80s with it’s plaster curves and walls lining the open areas on the upper floors but it still has a few more modern design elements mixed in here and there! :)

[@imnobody3490]

Early 90's

[@Techno-Universal]

Pastor David J. Miner Yup definitely a waste as it will most likely be demolished not long after it’s closure! Anyways there’s also a shopping centre in my area that underwent a 100 million dollar renovation and expansion that doubled the size of it and it was definitely worth it for them as they shopping centre is still doing extremely well today and might be renovated and expanded again soon! :)

[@justjoshinpc]

RIP METROCENTER

[@stevemartinez7435]

Wish you had more video on the before and not a long assssssss video of what we see today

[@liamwade8537]

Link to the old footage in the description though.

[@DavidandClara]

Just weird to see it now. I remember once my parents getting into an argument because the only available parking space was right on the parkway facing castles n coasters and she was worried someone would break into the car. Now? Omg.

[@scorpionsunday9483]

I went there as late as 2001 and it was busy, I wonder happened to the place?

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

Amazon, ebay, and other online shopping venues as well as covid happened. (Jan Griffiths).

[@zeddeka]

Seems to be the fate of shopping malls across the globe. I grew up near what used to be Europe's largest shopping mall - coincidentally called the Metrocentre, in the UK. It's not as bad as this, but so many closed shops. Very sad to see.

[@haruruben]

It’s a very attractively designed space, maybe it will be repurposed as office space or something

[@mingweeny]

the thing that creeps me out is this mall looks a lot familiar to one i went with my dad back in 2018-2019, it had the ice skating rank and everything. it was all empty and i only saw like 10-20 people there

[@anthonyhightower7915]

Very nice

[@liamwade8537]

Thank you :)

[@Fortnite_gamer76]

@@liamwade8537 shut up

[@Richard-ZA01]

I miss this mall. It's so sad how many have died out

[@erickellogg8532]

I love metro center

[@leetaylor8989]

This is not to be mistaken for the Metro centre in Gateshead U.K.. which is not abandoned.

[@cameronmallory5807]

This can happen to any mall or business. I grew up in 70 and 80s this is sad.

[@z0mb3k1tty]

I’m trying to find footage of the place where it has the houses and the motorbike stuck in one of them, I have vauge memories of it but I remember what it was

[@fordprefect80]

Think of all the main street shopping strips that died off due to indoor shopping malls. What goes around comes around.

[@michaeleverett2650]

There was still lots of Main Street shopping strips that were still open all over the place after indoor shopping malls were built, I don't know what you were seeing but I didn't see any closing of outdoor shopping strips anywhere.