Dead Malls Season 5 Episode 23 - Burnsville Center

[@laurad4277]

The guard is securing the malls chair

[@hannah-qw8tq]

where i can’t see him

[@supertuber120]

Funny thing is he's not exaggerating. I live in the Minneapolis area and for the past few years sitting in that chair or overlooking the food court are LITERALLY the only 2 places I've ever seen him. Never even seen him moving between the 2. It's like he just teleports.

[@robertmann7277]

The reporter took the stairs to beat the crowds on the escalators. I worked at Ontario Mills in So Cal during the grand opening and the video screens and animatronics all worked, now the screens are dark and the animations are gone, it was the place to be and be seen! Now it's a shadow of its former self and it's depressing to go there at all!!!

[@thenightporter]

In 1991-92 I worked at a record store there.

[@bethanyanderson1745]

​@@thenightporterwhere? So Cal or Burnsville?

[@shannon5604]

this is my childhood mall and it's so sad to see what it's turned into...

[@mikecynic5167]

Mine too. It's sad to see. I graduated from Burnsville Senior high and grew up in Savage. Lots of good memories meeting up with my friends to go skateboard and chase girls.

[@MrBenevol3nt]

Holy fucking shit. I was just there last year visiting my parents… wow… I too used to run around this mall as a teen…

[@mikecynic5167]

@@MrBenevol3nt Me and my friends were mallrats there in the 90s. Something kids now wouldn't understand.

[@MrBenevol3nt]

Even in 2009-2012 when I was in high-school this mall was doing good. Lots of people and shops. Last year when I flew in from Chicago to see my parents, my mom took me here and it was absolutely fucking disgusting and a shithole. What an absolute same…

[@mikecynic5167]

@@MrBenevol3nt I graduated from Burnsville Senior High in 1999, moved to Miami, then NYC, then Duluth, back to FL and settled here in St Cloud. I haven't been back since I was in High School. It's not surprising it turned into a shithole. That whole area is a fucking dump. I still had good times growing up there though.

[@NoetherPoint]

I met my wife, in that mall. She was working at the Gap and I was Christmas shopping. She went on lunch and I saw her in the Claire’s you see at the bottom of the stairs. I tapped her on the shoulder, at the top of that staircase, and asked her to go to dinner. December 23, 2004.

[@j.ballsdeep420]

Some of the whitest shit I've ever heard as a cracker myself

[@ybdizz]

@@NoetherPoint what a lovely memory.

[@csaldana1989]

Usually cringe at these kinda stories. But yours seems genuine and charming. 🫶

[@marcussmith4913]

was such a better time then.

[@jonreicherts6251]

Haven't commented in years on KZbin but I just have to say you made an amazing ode to this mall. The music, history, just a fantastic job. I worked there in the late 90s and early 2000s as a security guard and even met my wife there. I knew the place like the back of my hand. My wife and I watched this together and it was so nostalgic. I thought about this video for a couple days afterward and had to come back and comment. Great job and thanks for the memories!

[@genericwhitekidthesecond4330]

Don't know if you'll see this but I hope you and the wife are good. It's very sad seeing the state of the mall.

[@NorthCdogg22]

I’m sorry I’m just now seeing this, thank you so much for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed the music choice, I put a lot of thought into the subtle emotions they portray. Glad you were able to call such a beautiful mall your own at that time! Thank you for commenting!

[@howellizationtheory]

I also was a security guard there from 2004 - 2006 under Chucky. I remember at Christmas they did a whole parade though the LL for Santa's arrival, complete with marching band. This vid was very nostalgic because it was (despite the crime) a big community center for quite awhile. The crazy part of this place was the smoke evac system on the roof - one push of a button and every main entrance door flung open and massive machines on the roof would cycle air upward and out at a crazy high speed. If I remember right, the smoke exhaust vents on the roof at full power was enough to throw a brick from the roof into the parking lot!

[@djsquirtnasty9534]

If you read and find my reply on.this video you may be able to account the epic story I told as you were a security guard during 2001-2004ish when my friend who worked at Cinnabon tried to dry out weed in the ovens. The whole mall reeked of pot lol. We're you working there that day or remember hearing about it?

[@lunabell-black]

My husband took me here last summer (his local when he was growing up) and we bought a ghost book saying this has a ghost or two in it. Ever see/ hear anything spooky? :D

[@ajafischer5919]

I feel like I’m mourning a loss. So many memories of the mall…shopping, hangout, it was a whole thing when I was younger.

[@mattspazmatic]

I'm hoping this mall gets revamped well because there's a full skatepark inside it now. I was maybe the last era of mall going teens, I feel like the concept died right after I grew up.

[@j.ballsdeep420]

You're mourning the memories of your childhood and development. Welcome to getting old. Shit sucks.

[@christagreen4424]

Makes me so sad and nostalgic loved hanging out here as a teen and young adult soo sad I don’t like how the world is changing shopping online is not the same as the memories and excitement of going with friends and family and making a day of it.

[@johnpratt1669]

I'm not sure If someone answered, but that abandoned golf course next to the food court was a black-light, pirate themed mini-golf course. it was right next to some arcade machines. I remember playing through it with my family, it was fun. Thank you for making this video, Burnsville center was a massive part of my life growing up. My mom would take us to the JCPenny's for pictures, then we would eat in the food court.

[@Hannah-dx4rk]

Same! It was my hang out spot as a teen

[@nightdragon669]

Minds eye comic just opened up shop in there around may 4th

[@M-RaWw]

Yes, I remember the mini put and the arcade

[@rheannuhh24]

2018 we went there&it was closed, my son was 6 at the time, he fell to his knees crying 😢 😂 the machines weren't always correct at giving tickets, I have a picture of my son wrapped around in like 400 tickets 😂

[@Aaron6791ae]

How much did it cost to play?

[@dieselrotor]

Life long resident in Minnesota, just want to thank You for this northern series. I have been to all these malls and live by what used to be Brookdale Mall and we still have Northtown (for now). Brings back a lot of 80's teenage memories. Funny how these can make You happy and sad at the same time.

[@dabsallday9938]

Did you ever hang out in Knollwood Mall in St. Louis Park back in the late 80’s and 90’s? :)

[@dieselrotor]

@@dabsallday9938 Hi dabs, I've been there a few times but we mainly went to SLP for the "Roller Gardens" . You ever been to Roller Garden ?

[@dabsallday9938]

@@dieselrotor I used to go to Roller Gardens every weekend! When they still had the Dinosaur ON TOP of the building! :) I was so sad when they closed the place down :(

[@dieselrotor]

@@dabsallday9938 Every Wednesday at Skateland. But went to Cheapskate and RG a few times a month. We'd hang out/meet up at Knollwood sometimes before skating. Fun... Well we have probably been in the same place together at sometime ?

[@RandomPerson-vx8mu]

honestly northtown isn’t doing too bad rn

[@Attkinz]

To all the Minnesotans, there is a new owner of Burnsville mall as of May 2024 and he promises to restore the life it used to have. We’ll see how it goes.

[@chexcollects]

The problem is the low income residents who have no money to spend. I grew up in Burnsville.

[@HendersonHinchfinch]

@@chexcollectsBurnsville is close to 70k people though isn’t it? Surely a town that size could support a mall

[@saga2964]

I am ready to do my fiscal duty to support it!

[@JaxonSmithers]

I grew up in Burnsville in the 70s and 80s, I don’t see it happening. It’s too different a world out there. I wish him the best of luck though and I hope he’s right.

[@saga2964]

@@chexcollects clearly you haven't seen all the homes going up in Apple Valley! There is PLENTY of money around here!!! The big thing will be to update the place and get good stores inside. So many people are sick of the crazy crowds of the MOA, and if BV Ctr was up and going again, people would definitely go!

[@AndyVanHalen]

My god, the memories this video unlocked. Seeing the pictures of the food court brought me back to sitting with my dad having a bite to eat after he brought me to see Star Wars in 1997 when the Special Editions were released. What a great memory.

[@marcussmith4913]

ya that does sound like a good time. Miss going to movies. Its hard to go these days however because of all the trash entertainment they are making.

[@reedsutter8485]

My childhood mall too. One of my early memories is going to see a showing A New Hope maybe a year before the release of Return of the Jedi. Eventually, I'd spend hours there as a teenager with like $2 just looking at pretty girls and buying a cassette single at Sam Goody. I remember buying Pump up the Jam for sure.

[@robw720]

Hey, my dad and I saw the re release in 97 and also went to the food court after!

[@63SpaceGirl]

I remember watching Star Wars many times at the Burnsville Center, way back when it first came out. My boyfriend back then was Jim Bruce. I used to walk to the Mall as we were to young to drive back then. Many of my teenage jobs were at the mall. It has changed so since those first great days. 💕

[@AndyVanHalen]

So cool hearing all from all those who had a similar experience. Warms my cold, dead heart. There’s a fairly good chance some of us sat in the same showing with our families sharing this memory. What a cool thought! Thank you for sharing!

[@barngoth5910]

I spent who knows how many hours in this mall in my youth. I still have a lot of memories tied to it, and I've even had dreams where I'm back there. Seeing it dead feels odd. Like a family home that's been sold off but left abandoned. Thanks for visiting and covering it again.

[@rheannuhh24]

I have a lot of dreams here too!! Like a LOT of dreams.

[@davewatne3374]

This is where I grew up. Definitely adds to the emptiness of a Sunday night to see the new plans for it. Even empty, it's comforting to know it's there right now.

[@marcussmith4913]

ya... Malls used to be everything back in the day. Its strange to think that they would ever go away, yet here we are.

[@jeromebullard6123]

@@marcussmith4913Jeff Bezos and fat, lazy people are to blame for this.

[@wstulberg]

Thanks for doing this. I grew up at this mall. So many foundational experiences and core memories all over this place. The old movie theater, the arcade playing DDR. The old pet store. Seeing Santa. Friends working at the CD store in high school. Makes me want to visit one last time before it’s gone.

[@TimothyKindem]

My grandfather owned a clock store in the Burnsville Center (imagine that!) Which my Mom managed. It was on the lower level near Sears from 1980ish to about 1986ish. I literally grew up in that mall. My mom knew all the store managers (and yes, the security guard too). I could run around, and they all knew me. I could run in the back rooms of a number of the stores and it was no problem - it was like a small town. In fact, they used to have Halloween there, and we'd trick or treat in the mall and it was way cooler than the neighborhood. It seemed like the whole world went there on Halloween (at least from the memory of a 6-year-old at the time). I wonder where it would be had they not ripped out the plants and the conversation pits and all the things that made it unique. Would it be charmingly retro? Even though it was done to modernize it, it instantly rendered it soulless. I can't remember wanting to go back after that. It was so sterile. To me, that's when it died. It's been slowly rotting away ever since. Thanks a ton for making this. Loved seeing the old pics one last time. It really was something back in the day ...

[@friendlyone2706]

Your response dovetails with my comment: The Mall managers never fully understood what they were selling. They thought they were selling shopping. They sold community. They still sell community. Most mall contracts punish renters who do better -- more income, more customers, your rent goes up. Dumb. Cater to the Anchor stores, when they minimize community -- equally dumb. Limit themselves to retail, which recycle wealth, and food -- which follows, doesn't create community, equally foolish. Entertainment centers.. a step in the right direction. Not soliciting businesses that create wealth? Shortsighted. Burnsville thrived in spite of, not because of, old management.

[@PaulGuy]

​@@friendlyone2706The community thing is spot on. That was the whole concept for the indoor mall when South dale was built in the early 50's, an indoor small town center.

[@friendlyone2706]

@@PaulGuy And that is how it was initially presented. In 1960, we moved to Minneapolis. Our house was more in the country than the the city, my mother knew no one. On cold winter days, when us kids were in school, she would often go to South Dale's center sidewalk cafe, order a piece of pie and coffee, and slowly eat it while watching all the foot traffic around her. Those days, when we came home from school, she was happier. As a child, I didn't understand how important its community aspect was to her, but as an adult, looking back, its community atmosphere probably saved her sanity, and maybe even her marriage. Strip malls, box stores and online can never replace a location like a functioning sidewalk cafe. The modern food courts are close, but they tend to be off to the side, not center stage. Sad most malls punished the small stores that did best. I know a barbershop owner in a small mall that was finally making money, but because his rent went up every time his income went up, ending up moving to a mainstreet location where he wasn't punished for thriving.

[@genericwhitekidthesecond4330]

Shit man I was born in 2001 and even when I was a kid Halloween hit different there. I remember going literally store to store on each floor trick or treating and every store was participating. At the end of the night id have buckets of candy. I don't remember the mall ever decorating too much so overall it looked the same as any other store but really they didn't even need to as atleast on Halloween night every still brought the vibe in with them. As for why everyone trick or treated at that mall I think really it's because this isn't much of a residential area. Most homes are just apartment blocks and even the actual neighborhoods are fairly secluded.

[@friendlyone2706]

@@genericwhitekidthesecond4330 Plus parents didn't need to worry about traffic.

[@mangoismangois1672]

The crazy thing is the rest of Burnsville around the mall is crazy busy even on weekdays during work hours

[@TheSlashSlingingSlasher]

Nobody wants to get out of their car and walk into another store

[@PMMillard]

@@TheSlashSlingingSlasher fucking slobs.

[@angelm2655]

Oh my gosh! The opening photos of the mall are just delicious! The variety of stores, the uniqueness of the fronts, the neat names, Oh I could go on and on...

[@NorthCdogg22]

Right??? Don’t see that kind of awesome variety nowadays..

[@angelm2655]

@@NorthCdogg22 Wish it would make a comeback.

[@trhansen3244]

@@angelm2655 It won't. Stores are being looted out of existence. Half the stores in our city are gone. Not because of lack of customers. Because of theft. Liberals have made it so easy to walk into stores and steal. We used to have four Walmarts. We now have zero. They disappeared over the past two years. All thanks to liberals and their insane policies. And the jobs went with the store closings. And people are moving away so fast the wait list for moving vans is well over a year.

[@maxalschlager4169]

The mall was just purchased by local investors. There is hope!

[@skweemkween]

I'm actually crying now. My husband from England only got to experience a quiter Burnsville starting in 2015 but my heart remembers all of the incredible stores and atmosphere. I've shown him a lot of old pictures my family took there and tried to find any old video footage. This was my late childhood/all my teen years mall. It was my Friday night ritual. It was date night. I wish like hell we could save it

[@christagreen4424]

I cried too

[@ybdizz]

Gonna miss this mall once they tear it down.. lots of memories created here... 😥

[@Helladamnleet]

They aren't tearing it down.

[@SmeiskAudio]

Yeah it's just kind of.... there. I work in Burnsville, which is why I know this. I've been there a handful of times for eye appointments.

[@ybdizz]

@@Helladamnleet at the rate it's heading, it's bound to happen.

[@GingersnapKat]

Its been bought and being rebranded. Its not getting torn down.

[@ybdizz]

@@GingersnapKat where is this credible information from?

[@alvicoto]

Dude the Dead Mall Soundtrack is epic!!!!! Vapor Wav'n to the max!!!!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Hell yeah man! I’m glad you like it!

[@sumyunguy777]

Wow, I spent many evenings hanging around this mall in the late 90's and early 2000's, probably in the hundreds of times. This place was booming then. The arcade and food court was top notch. I have since moved away. Its hard seeing like this. Lots of great memories there.

[@sumyunguy777]

@1205Lucy Yes. I bought a few Rage Against The Machine shirts there as I recall.

[@TheAlexErnstShow]

Just went to this mall not so long ago! It truly hurts 😢

[@marksauck3399]

It’s still open to the public? We’re heading into 2024 and the economy is getting worse. This whole building may be shuttered by now.

[@alvicoto]

was there a few months ago. Yeah stick a fork in it!!!! really does bring back memories!

[@LeatherDaddy97]

​@@marksauck3399its definitely still open

[@wolfofiowa1244]

​@@marksauck3399yeah it's still open

[@chexcollects]

They’re refurbishing it all by end of the year and tons of new stores going in. Went in there for an eye appointment a few weeks ago and stopped into a new comic book store that was setting up. Said they have signed leases from dozens of stores. 🤷‍♂️ Should be interesting.

[@Phoenix12305]

Omg, my boyfriend worked at the Swiss Colony on the first floor in this mall in the mid to late 80s. I used to love going there to visit him. I feel so much nostalgia watching your video and will be sad to see Burnsville Center finally go. Thanks for sharing!

[@jimlarson8558]

I was 10 years old when it opened. My family would go there for a treat. It was amazing and I remember feeling like it was it’s own city. Once able to drive, it was THE place to go for just about everything. This end of an era has brought a tear to my eye. My kids will never experience what I got to. 😢😢

[@antijojo]

I was stopped at the Burnsville center about a year and a half ago or two years to go the FYE store that used to be in there. I went in during the middle of the afternoon. I have to say I was creeped out. It was so empty and dead I was thinking, "Oh this is how horror movies start." I got out of there so fast. But I do remember when it used to be an amazing mall.

[@Gusto821]

Man I used to go here only for fye lol

[@KeinMitleid95]

11:44 That place used to be F.y.e., one of my favorite stores at any mall I've been to, I still have some of the very same collectables and CD's I bought there as a teenager over ten years ago sitting behind me as I type this. I spent three different New Years Eves at this mall in high school and came here several weekends throughout those times with two best friends, one of which has since passed in 2017. Much like Kyle, it seems like most of what's really left of this place are memories I'm forever and a day grateful for. Bums me out to see it like this

[@droogyfresh]

But before that it was a Sam goody lol

[@juniorkraus768]

Before Sam Goody it was Disc-Go-Round.

[@lesliemaloney5564]

I see that Bath and Body Works, Victoria's Secret and Lane Bryant are still open. They are all owned by the same company, along with Abercrombie and Fitch, Express, and The Limited (which closed in 2017). It's kind of sad to see the demise of these malls. In the 80's we all LIVED at the mall ! :) Thank you for the great video !

[@thenightporter]

There is a Bath and Body Works in the mall where Home Goods is.

[@ApertureJackson]

I live very close to this. I remember coming here as a kid. It was a vibrant place; I remember getting mike and ikes from a set of yellow dispensers they had.

[@JollyBluGIANT]

I had family over on Saturday and we watched this together. Your vid prompted me to go there yesterday to see it for myself. This was my childhood mall growing up. THE place to be. I recall going to the Dayton's (now Macy's) when I was a kid, when the Mervyn's opened, going to Sears, eating at the Taco John's, but the Aladdin's Castle arcade was my jam. It was huge! Latest and greatest cabinets (I believe it had the 6 player X-men even), prize ticket counter, all the stuff. I have fond memories of it all. Of course, it's just a shadow of its former self. Now in its golden years. The area you speak of @ 20:44 with the mini golf course used to not have a roof. You know the walkway on the 3rd floor? Well the 2nd floor didn't have any of that, so they needed to build an area so people can pass through the middle of the mall more easily rather than going all the way around. That golf course was actually where the carousel was...and before that even a pretty nice fountain. It was flanked by a convenience store, a Great Clips, and even a surf shop (Al John's Beach & Board I believe). Such a crazy long time ago. Anyways, love your vids! Keep on doing your thing man.

[@mikecynic5167]

As a teenager I sold stickers at Aljohn's to make money to buy cigarettes next door, lol.

[@RachelMaxfield]

Wow. This brought back so many memories. I worked at the shop at 7:03 when it was Mrs.Fields/TCBY/Pretzelmaker for about 4 years, it was my first job 10 years ago when I turned 16. I grew up 15 minutes from this mall and we went there at least once a month. All back to school clothes shopping, homecoming dress hunting, and birthday money spending happened at this mall. Watching this I could point out where all of my favorite stores used to be, and where I used to hang out with my friends. It's so sad to see where such nostalgic places like this end up.

[@william3076]

The basement level hd a tilt arcade and it was honestly really impressive. It had tons of great arcade games like MVC2, soulcaliber, initial D, and Star Wars pod racer

[@astropioneer3296]

Before that was Aladdin’s Castle. Spent so much money on new games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. 🤩

[@mlc4050]

Piccadilly Circus, great arcade

[@awsomeninja119]

Yes dude I remember it so well that arcade was huge and the mini golf I remember it so vividly. It’s sad to see it how it is now

[@schw0373]

@@mlc4050 Piccadilly was at Southdale and Aladdin's was at Burnsville Center. My 2 favorite arcades in the early-to-mid-80s. The old Apple Valley Carbone's also had an awesome arcade, which is the first place I ever played Super Mario Bros in '85 or '86.

[@jasontucker1978]

@@schw0373 My family had just moved to the Twin Cities and we didn't know where anything was. My siblings and I spent over an hour bored in Apple Valley Center the first time we were there while my mom was grocery shopping because we didn't know the Carbone's had an arcade.

[@ctufan24]

My family had lived in the nearby Farmington MN back in 2014-2016. This was the only actual mall for Dakota County. The mall was 75% full when we first moved in, I was the longest to live in Farmington for 1.75 years in my family... by the end the mall was 2/3 empty. My father was semi retired from City Government and took a job at that JCPenny. i had heard rumors the Chuckie Cheese had closed, gone into that FYE once & ate at the Lucky 13's (twin cites chain) couple times. I live in IA now and last time I was near there was 1.5 years ago for the Total Wine across the street.

[@TraptheShape]

I used to frequent this mall all the time. I wondered when someone would make a video of this mall. Great video. Happy to find your channel.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you for watching!

[@rockthesix1679]

I was 6 yrs old when it opened. My family went there during its first week of being open. My dad was so pissed that he couldn't find a parking spot. I remember going to Midland Music with the awesome orange shag carpet for the store front. Thats where i got my first copy of KISS ALIVE 2 on 8 track. Being a teen during the 80's, this was the place to be on any friday night. Alladins Castle was a really great arcade. Thru out the 70's and 80's it was hard to walk in there because so many people with all their shopping bags made it difficult. Thank you for the vid. Makes me want to go there for a trip down memory lane.

[@JaxonSmithers]

I was 6 also, 1977 I believe.

[@SkakinBaconMedia]

I used to live in Farmington, and a good part of Dakota County until recently, in 1999 I actually pre-ordered my Sega Dreamcast as well in 1998 Zelda Ocarina of Time (I've got both still, the battery in Ocarina of Time still functioning) and Majoras Mask in 2000 from what was "electronics boutique" aka EB games. Was in the corner of the food court next to the restrooms. I live in St Paul nowadays, seeing this brought back memories. Thank you. 🎮😊 Marcus

[@Jane-ez7yl]

Me too on Akin rd 20060 moved in 1988 left in 2016

[@rheannuhh24]

I was just thinking like, i know older ppl will stick to shopping, do ppl from av/ftown/nfield go to the moa for a mall now?

[@SkakinBaconMedia]

@@Jane-ez7yl I moved to Farmington in 1990, I moved out in 2000. My mom and stepdad moved to Arizona in around 2018 or so. And also one of my classmates is(as of this typing, June 23, 2024) the mayor of Farmington, Josh Hoyt. We graduated Class of 1997, Farmington High. It was a different world even back then.

[@flutefun999]

Farmington alumni here too! (maybe older than you? 1985 graduate). Live down by Rochester now. Burnsville Mall was da bomb in the 80's! I know every one of those games you mentioned too! My children grew up on them and still play today!

[@rheannuhh24]

@@SkakinBaconMedia I was the first class to graduate from the new high school. (&we still call target on pilot knob the 'new target') things were different from then too. They took the benches out at the bk gazebo cuz of the vandalism of the younger group of kids 🙄 but I remember being able to go downtown ftown or to the woods&always run into someone to hang out with. Now there's never anyone outside when I gothere. &side note; has anyone noticed how all the trees are dying in the twin city area? Either have a growth that takes over, or gets eaten by bugs. But it's all different types of trees too. They cut down 23 trees on one block by my house by st Paul 👀

[@Duluth218]

I feel like I should say a eulogy for this place as I spent many evenings and weekends here growing up. I haven’t been here in years & can’t believe what it looks like now. I’m glad I got to see it during its best moments. Many friends, family & great memories.

[@drewske1984]

Damn! seeing that food court empty brings a tear to my eye. I remember visiting Burnsville Center when I went to Brown College in 2003 which is now closed. But back then, I thought this was the best mall in Minnesota, just under the Mall of America. I remember the arcade in the food court area and the FYE which I heard had been relocated to the Maplewood Mall. So sad to see this mall go under..

[@laterlars]

I may be wrong but last time I visited the Maplewood Mall it seemed to be starting to die as well

[@eodyn7]

Brown College was such a rip off.

[@drewske1984]

@@eodyn7 I Know! I'm still paying off my 10 year loan to this day and that was back in 2004 when I had to start to make payments!

[@shiddy.]

the same exact guy is still making awesome sandwiches at the Philly Steak Grill there ... his food tastes exactly like it used to

[@DoctorJoanieTool]

You know what this video reminds me of? The Titanic … as it was in its glory days and then the empty hull after it sunk. Also those sun lights are very similar to Titanic. Wow this video got an amazing number of views. Minneapolis here … I don’t know how any malls are still open tbh and that’s all I recall from childhood was going to the mall. I appreciate how you honor the core memories of so many of us.

[@micklenhardt9615]

Moved to south metro in 1999. This was my mall. So many good memories here, so sad to see it abandoned.

[@Propain4eva]

My very last stop today as a amazon driver was delivering to the locker at 3:11. I then walked around for 10 minutes seeing all the closed shops which was really depressing

[@wdbreezy]

Thanks!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you!!

[@sunsetrecords2548]

Another beautiful mall falls and all we can do is remember all it's features and what it had to offer. Another great video!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you!

[@itsjusteddie7384]

If you mentioned this, sorry I missed it! But in 2014 a large outdoor outlet mall was built in Eagan just 10 minutes north on the highway, equidistant between this mall and the Mall of America. While that mall is also now struggling, it diverted even more business from Burnsville Center. The idea of an outdoor outlet mall is pretty novel here since 8 months out of the year it’s too cold to be convenient. So people preferred that experience over the declining Burnsville Center. That mall also features a direct bus route from it to the Mall of America. While it’ll be sad when this mall is demolished, that area of Burnsville is desperately needing some high density housing and office space. There’s plenty of shopping nearby, two different strip malls are busy daily just across the street. Right now the mall is just a giant black hole of wasted space in the heart of Burnsville and it’ll be nice to see the area revitalized.

[@seabee73]

The old photos at the beginning really brought me back to the fun years with all the trees. I always thought all the green made it more inviting. You were right about the music choice with the piano fitting in. That really was a nice looking mall minus the carpet though😅. Hope you get well soon. Colds always suck when its hot. Thanks for the awesome content.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you for watching! And your right, the trees are so much more inviting

[@seabee73]

@NorthCdogg22 the old mini golf area was cool too.

[@shainahullihen1159]

​​@@seabee73, I had a cold in late summer 2009. I was playing a game on a game site when I started not feeling well. My parents then asked me what stuff I wanted for back to school and I told my mom I wasn't feeling good. My baby cousin had her cold and accidentally gave it to everyone at our birthday gathering. But, a few days after that, I got it. I had a fever as hot as the summer heat, well, not quite that hot, but hot enough to make me stay down for the count. It was horrible. I wouldn't wish illnesses on anyone.

[@violinda.]

This has been "my mall" since 1992. Ive spent many hours at the Chuck E Cheese. I still go here for my eyeglasses from Pearle, but it's accessible from outside the mall. There used to be a market research office down near where the minigolf place is. Clipboard carrying researchers would stop patrons in the busy mall to ask them to do taste tests. There used to be a movie theater inside the mall, too. Prior to covid, we walked the mall and had lunch in the food court. The Mall of America, online shopping, and finally Covid definitely were the nails in the coffin.

[@laterlars]

Another thing that also contributed were the rules being enforced across the US not allowing teens to "loiter around" at malls (aka just simply hang out.)

[@markymark0417]

Ohhh...it was open during "COVID". My wife and I visited in July 2021. Just to get out. We did mall visits, as there were so many places closed. Like the Y, like smaller restaurants. And then people didn't want to get together. The stained carpet on 2nd level was notable.

[@bladebrown1008]

​@@laterlarsthat's why me and my friends stopped going to the mall in the late 90's during our teenage years.

[@jardex2275]

I wouldn't attribute it entirely to MOA. After all, Ridgedale, Rosedale, and Southdale are still thriving, even post-covid. I suppose I'd attribute it more to the shopping experience. I lived in Burnsville for a few years, and never really considered going to the mall, since you can pretty much do all your shopping along 42. There's Target, Aldis, and Best Buy across the street, along with pretty much every food chain you can name along that stretch. By the time I wandered into the mall from Applebees, it was already dead, aside from the food court. I did the Escape Room there once, and had fun with it, but that's about it.

[@chexcollects]

Yeah, as a teenager it was awesome for fast cash! I did it a few times haha

[@stephenstange4194]

In the 80s I very often went to Burnsville Center with my young family. Those ramps were a Godsend to those of us pushing strollers. Much better than waiting through 2 or 3 elevator cycles. So sad to see it so vacant.

[@marcussmith4913]

Yes Families... I remember those. Now everyone is playing with a device and there is not time to actually be a family.

[@elsafinstad]

Finished this vid in tears youre so talented and honor the sentimentality of this historic place so well thank you for capturing this nostalgia and bringing this community together to say goodbye :,-)

[@tonyo3544]

Burnsville Center was the bomb in the 80's and 90's. There was a movie theater inside back in the day with these narrow hallways and tiny theaters. Musicland was upstairs. If I remember correctly it used to be split for 2 stores and I remember Aladdin's Castle was across that hallway. Not the newer one. There was a smaller one next to the entrance across from the pet store that used to be there.

[@RognvaldCloudrunner]

thank you for making this. felt very nostalgic, the music was a great choice. I didn't know that I needed to mourn this malls passing this much, but it felt good. End of an era for sure

[@jjbottem]

My aunt's father died while working on the construction of this mall. There have been reports that a ghost haunts the stairwell he fell down. Adds even more creepiness to this!

[@TacticalRuse]

Aunts father..

[@jjbottem]

@@TacticalRuse My aunt, who is not related to me by blood. Whose father died well before I was born. Whose mother married my grandfather. What am I supposed to refer him as? He's not my grandfather...

[@TacticalRuse]

@@jjbottem I dont know, english way of writing family titles is weird and I just found it weird. You had an exception of course, and my bad If I was judging or anything. But still aunts father does sound like an oxymoron in a way in normal cases

[@jjbottem]

@@TacticalRuse I do get where you're coming from. No offense taken!

[@ginibauer2088]

Wow, this is really sad. Oh course I grew up with this mall. From Prior Lake. In the 90s I worked at First Barber Stylist. It was on the lower level near Dayton's. I loved this mall. Never really enjoyed MOA it is too Big. I met my husband here & we had our first date in the food court. Thanks for doing this video. I no longer live in MN. I think the last time I was in this mall was 2010. So many great memories. I think I'm going to cry

[@mikeguenther1]

I grew up in Prior Lake as well. Lived there from '77 to '90 when I graduated HS. I loved Burnsville Center...many, many memories for sure!

[@djk2884]

Thank You for the video. I live in Minneapolis, I have not been to Burnsville Center in years. I am a Rosedale/Southdale guy. I used to work at Rosedale and Southdale years ago for County Seat (yes! dating myself) So sad for this mall. Side note - I think it is great that you hang out with your brother.

[@NorthCdogg22]

I’m glad you enjoyed it! Rosedale is a mall I’d LOVE to see soon, and Southdale is another I’d love to touch up on

[@amyjojosselyn5762]

I grew up in small town southeastern Minnesota. My friends and I used to drive 90 minutes to get to this mall. It was where we first discovered Hot Topic 😂

[@soulsearcher7077]

why this specific mall? why not other cities’ malls?

[@RARufus]

The Burnsville Center mall was the largest mall in the Midwest for quite some time. It was the place to go in the southern Twin Cities metro area. The area around the mall also exploded with stores and houses. Over time, the saturation of malls and suburban shopping centers started the decline. Online shopping is the nail in their coffins.

[@petebusch9069]

I can't stand that area, county 42 and 35E/W. Nothing but useless retail nonsense that does not stock anything forcing us to shop online.

[@salemcripple]

I hate how the internet has divided us. Everyone sitting at home on their computer alone. Honestly, not starting to believe the internet was the worst thing to happen to mankind.

[@petebusch9069]

@@salemcripple Its not the internet that divided us. It was Obama and MMM that did that.

[@Gail1Marie]

Yeah, those bigots just couldn't deal with the fact that Obama was a Harvard Law grad and smarter than the Bushes. Oh, and Donald Trump never did a single thing to divide this country, right? Seriously, get a grip. @@petebusch9069

[@annabrahamson4320]

​@petebusch9069 How did Obama do that? More like the Magga republicans

[@trishahoffman]

One of my childhood malls. 😢 So sad to see it bare. I met my favorite band there at FYE, had some first dates here, and my kids came here to play in the playground area. Even though Mall of America is 6 minutes away from me, this was less busier, less tourists, less idiots who can't park, and I was able to get in and out at Bville Center faster. I bet they thought the IMAX was going to save it.

[@jardex2275]

I suppose the AMC is keeping Southdale going. That's been my main theater, and I've mall crawled before and after showings before. If nothing else, getting a free candy sample at Sees and a slice at DeLeos gives me reason to go into the mall itself.

[@trishahoffman]

@@jardex2275 That's where I go for movies, too! And for my daughter to see Santa, lol! I haven't shopped there in forever! They took out a lot of good stores in recent years!

[@pukeclaw1147]

one would think a indoor mall in MN would be a no brainer particularly in the winter months but for some strange reason strip malls seem to be quite popular here

[@PsychoThirteen]

Rent is much cheaper in strip malls. Enclosed malls like Burnsville Center are pricing themselves into extinction.

[@daniellarson3068]

@@PsychoThirteen Thanks for the comment. I used to live near Brookdale, and then moved out of the state. I visited Minnesota a few years ago and Brookdale was gone. With so many stores under one roof, one would think they could charge less for rent, but I suppose they don't see it that way.

[@PsychoThirteen]

@@daniellarson3068 My guess is that in 1 or 2 years Burnsville Center will also no longer exist.

[@daniellarson3068]

@@PsychoThirteen The Minnesota I remember no longer exists. It was a magic place and a magic time.

[@docholliday6285]

​@@daniellarson3068agree. The libs have destroyed it.

[@frozt_beats]

someone recently bought it finally, theres supposed to be an indoor zoo going in. massive hope that this mall will come back to life. also the store at about 12:30 i dont remember the original store, but it was reopened as a store that sold everything and anything pop culture like anime, marvel, bruce lee movies, etc

[@KairuHakubi]

I would love an indoor zoo. So sick of the intense heat at other zoos. I get it, all the interesting animals like heat, but...

[@jhandle900]

There was supposed to be an asian food hall but it was never built, there's been so many delays.

[@chexcollects]

Animals inside? That an awful, awful idea lol. You don’t think they need fresh air?

[@KairuHakubi]

@@chexcollects we're animals too, y'know. Have you never been to a zoo? They have lots of indoor parts.

[@InspireDogworks]

My childhood mall. It was amazing, and I loved going there. I went there not long ago. While this video is very well done, it still does not give justice to the true sense of utter desolation that you feel when walking through that mall as it sits now knowing how glorious it once was. It's a shell, a ghost of the lively hub that it once was. I actually felt really.. I don't know, maybe forlorn? To walk into that mall not knowing the state that it was in, and to be hit with how deeply it had changed. It hurt my heart a little.

[@Cheddar_Curtain]

The malls were basically the town squares from the 80's - 00's. Not only a place to shop. A place to meet up with friends, goof around, grab some food, hold hands with your boyfriend/girlfriend. Someplace that was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Most of us that grew up during that era have at least a few fond memories. And it's sad to see that coming to an end.

[@NoetherPoint]

@@InspireDogworks you write well. ‘Forlorn’ does a good job capturing the melancholic nostalgia I experienced while watching this. I graduated from AVHS, in 2001. I remember getting my ear pierced at one of the stand-alone vendors. I used a fake ID… clearly, I was super cool.

[@nathansmith3401]

Intense melancholy seeing this . I remember going in the early 80s and it just seemed like a magical mall. Waldenbooks.

[@rivalkyrie_1]

I remember going here a few times as a kid. Nowadays, my dad and I sometimes wander around the mall when it's empty. It's a bit eerie, but it's oddly peaceful.

[@scottonasch8819]

Thanks for a great video, you really did an amazing job with this. I so enjoyed all the vintage pictures (and to see the Pat Paulsen ad again!). I'm sure everyone feels this about their mall, but it truly was an amazing place, a city unto itself. I both worked and hung out there in the late 70s and 80s. I'm so glad if nothing else we always get to keep our memories. So nice to see the comments that so many people remember it as fondly as I do.

[@jonkotek234]

Living in a small town south of the metro this was "the" mall to go to, and I think that is what kept the mall going for so long. A 30 to 45 min drive up 169 made it easy to get to. When the MOA opened it was just another 10 minutes to a much bigger and better mall. You can say Amazon has killed most malls but MOA did the most fatal blow to this mall.

[@johnthompson8953]

And across the street in the Burnhaven shopping center they had the baseball card store and a great music shop!

[@bsandey]

I think the final nail in the coffin, though, was COVID. Even MOA got hit by that, but it's big enough and popular enough still that it was able to rebound with most store still in place (many did close even there, though).

[@laurab5481]

I lived in Burnsville from late 90's through 2006 - spent cold chilly winter nights walking the mall and it is so hard to see the shape it is in. they never should have gotten rid of the green space - trees and plants in the food court area as this made this mall unique from others. Use to shop in this mall with family when they came to visit - so sad to see what has happened to huge part of my life

[@Sarahhud]

It's cool that you got into the old Tilt Mini Golf area around 20:45! As seen around 30:20, that area is often blocked off with caution tape. It's funny that you mention its similarity to the Backrooms, because I've seen Tilt appear in Backrooms image compilations. Moving on from that, I'm gonna get a little sentimental: As a local that grew up near Burnsville, it's been sad to watch Burnsville Center's decline, especially after COVID. I lived through its short revival in the mid-2010s, and my parents and I Christmas shopped there almost every year. Walking through the mall and smelling that Cinnabon, especially when dozens of seasonal shops opened up during the holidays, created an incredible atmosphere. As you said, that was short-lived. My friends and I shopped there as teens, but we call it "The Decaying Husk" now. When you talked about Desert Sand Feels Warm at Night and the memories made in this mall, it made me emotional, because it's true. I experienced so much here throughout my childhood and teenage years. Just like the mall, that's gone. You're right: I'll always remember it.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Your right! Maybe that’s why I got such a Backrooms feeling from that mini golf area, was because deep in the back of my memory I’ve seen it appear in those liminal space imagine compilations as a passing photo.. I’m glad I was able to help you relive some of your memories, thank you for watching!

[@Sarahhud]

@@NorthCdogg22 That very well could be! Thanks for the video!

[@thomasf9514]

As a 00s Scene Kid of sorts from the Burnsville area, it's interesting to see this place as dead inside as I felt when I would frequent the place.

[@charliefranta1025]

I love this mall. This is my local dead mall. Its really the last non modernized mall in the twin cities. I was taking pictures here one time and security came up to me and told me I had to delete them or else I'd be banned for a year. Little did he know that I restored them as soon as I got out of the mall.

[@plummerofficial]

*cough* Maplewood Mall *cough*

[@michaeleverett2650]

The security can't make you stop taking pictures or filming in a public place and he can't make you delete what you've already filmed, that's a violation of your first amendment rights, everyone needs to stand up for their rights against these tyrants.

[@TooBokoo]

@@michaeleverett2650 I mean, a mall is privately owned, yes? That said, I don't think they can necessarily force you to delete pictures. They could ask you to leave and call police if you don't, I suppose.

[@genericwhitekidthesecond4330]

The security actually did that? I took pictures there before and I had no problem.

[@jpfly66]

@@TooBokoo You are correct, since it is private property they can tell you not to film or take photos and can ask you to leave. You do NOT have to delete your photos, though. Even a police officer cannot take your camera or phone without a search warrant. The mall cant stop you from standing on a public sidewalk and filming but once you set foot on their property "photography in public" no longer applies. For anybody who wants to argue, google the laws in the US on these topics first and see for yourself. ;)

[@HuskHunter]

Used to come to this mall all the time in highschool before smartphones. Lots of burned time here and at Mall of America.

[@alecholden2696]

Thanks for your mall videos! I always look forward to them every week! This was the mall I grew up going to as a kid. Its sad to see how far its gone down hill but has brought back a lot of wonderful memories! That skate park used to be a GAP store btw.

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@DanglesSeason]

Was in there about 3 weeks ago and couldn’t believe a big part of my childhood was basically gone. Felt eerie walking in there the way it is now.

[@ChelseaM1998]

You earned my sub friend! This was so thorough and well made. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got 5 seasons of this to go back and watch!

[@NorthCdogg22]

Thank you! And please enjoy!

[@flawed1]

Seriously, I’ve been watching dead mall videos since before 2020. This channel has come along and quickly become my favorite hands-down

[@NorthCdogg22]

@@flawed1 thanks man!

[@Kevin-cl7xj]

I grew up in Burnsville, graduating in the early 90's. I spent many quarters at Aladdins Castle (the smaller one). I think there was a pet store across from it. Also scored my Nintendo 64 in the Electronics Boutique down in the food court area. Sad to see what has become of this mall.

[@TracyGriffith-z7t]

The Pet Ranch

[@jannoyloe7179]

I bought a beautiful little female tabby there! She passed away 3 year's ago. She was 19 year's old...

[@shadow9537]

Your comment made me so happy, I remember going into there at 6-8 years old and always wanting a pet and going to chuck e cheese after, I'm sorry for your loss :(@@jannoyloe7179

[@mikesofamerica2024]

The longed closed Sears anchor store had its pipes burst from lack of heating in the MN winter- it is now a mold problem

[@karstenfischer27]

That mini-golf area was literally my childhood. I would ask my parents to take me to the mall just so I could play it. And yes, there was a huge arcade. There used to be walls between the holes, and actually people there too. I remember at the end of the course there was a treasure chest you hit your ball into, and that was how you return your ball. My memories of the mall are distant now since I was so young, but the memories that I do have were great. It seems like every week we would go to the MOA, or Burnsville Mall which was closer to us.

[@mark7s980]

I remember when they were building this place. We used to drive by all the time. It was fun to see the progress they were making. This was my teenage hangout. Sad to see it die like this. MOA and lack of public transport was it's doom.

[@amrenmurray]

The music you've chosen for this video is making me so emotional and I swear I am only in my 30s

[@dewdakota]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I grew up in that Mall back in the early 80's and it was great to see the photos of it back in its prime. My Dad built homes just blocks from the Mall. I miss the ramps! I used to roll my sister in a stroller down the ramps and may have let go a few times. FYE was around starting in the mid 2000's but I don't recall what was there before. Somewhere near JC Penny where that kid land area is was a Movie Theater with a couple of screens which was ahead of its time since it was original. There was a Musicland and a KB Toys on the 2nd floor next to Sears. I remember a Hickory Farms near the escalator near Sears. The large floor area in front of Vic's Secret was added in during the 90's in a couple of phases as I recall. It was open down the Food Court (FC) level which is where they used to build a massive Santa set up. The Crossovers with the Food Court sign was where the large brick staircases were and the Elevators were added one at a time in the 90's. There was a Gamestop that was originally overlooking the FC but was relocated down below Vic's Secret. Arby's used to be in the stall with the yellow and black tile but they left a very long time ago even when the Mall was doing well (still seems weird to me). I remember a Fine Tobacco shop on the 2nd floor on a corner overlooking the FC. I went in briefly before going to Oppenheimer which was the first time I'd been in the mall in a couple of years. One door was open but the mall was closed already (11am-7pm daily). Lights were off and hardly anyone around, including Security. I got as far as the FC and felt really spooked by the place as it felt like I was in one of those abandoned mall videos. The City Council just approved a petting zoo in the building. I don't see how that's going to help. Sears has been condemned due to severe water damage over the winter and the graffiti artists have shown up now. The cities plans posted on their website is already outdated as they are building a new store in the Parking Lot along Cty Rd 42 and Target rebuilt their store since then. So the plans are outdated. In the meantime, there clearly is no outdoor maintenance being done. It is hard to even drive by as I feel like I am watching a member of my family slowly dying in pain. Just tear it all down already and put it out of its misery.

[@shiddy.]

i was a mall rat at Burnsville from 84-88 😂 good to hear from you

[@Farkasm]

@@shiddy. Same, my friends and i would ride our bikes there all the way from Apple Valley to spend countless hours at Aladdin's, Castle food court and movie theater. Once i got my drivers license I'd drive my notorious Charger there to find someone to race in the parking lots. The mall security cars would just follow me around after they spotted me because I left several screaming smoke screens (from break stands) that would hold their costumers hostage until the smoke cleared. But after we graduated from HS in 87, i was hardly ever there except for last minute Christmas shopping. Oh, the Christmas mobs were a site to behold.

[@shiddy.]

@@Farkasm that's awesome, I did something similar I started by riding my bike there from apple valley too, I lived right by the high school ... I'd illegally ride down 42 but it wasn't every busy then then later I drove my Nova SS to the center all the time ... left a lot of rubber over the years in the parking lot downstairs by the Sears entrance

[@Farkasm]

@@shiddy. Same here, the parking lot from sears to the movie theater entrance by Aladdin's castle was pretty much the only lot i terrorized. I'm trying to remember who had the Nova SS. Max? I had the black and blue 72 Charger Rallye. I lived off of Galaxy, so i had to ride my bike a little farther. Plenty of races to be found on Black Dog under the Cedar bridge.

[@adamhartmann2571]

Used to work at this mall throughout high school. When I left the area in 2020 after graduation it was still more busy than in this video. Crazy to me how quickly the mall has deteriorated.

[@cmikedeli2962]

My grandparents lived in Bloomington, MN (I live in Iowa) and this was the mall we'd go to when we would visit them throughout the 80s. They're gone now, and this video made me very sad. 😢

[@awsomeninja119]

This is my childhood mall and it’s so sad to see it like this now, I remember that mini golf and arcade I literally started crying when you showed it in the video, that was the biggest arcade I had ever seen and now it’s less than 10 games, me and my sister used to love it so much😔😞

[@TheValarClan]

Burnsville Center was the largest mall in Minnesota opera on until the Mall of America came out. It was the most visited mall in Minnesota. I personally prefer the look before the renovation. It had a very interesting feel to it and I loved the plants and ambience. When they renovated it it became rather sterile looking. I’m not certain when they put the carpeting in because it was always tiled floor all over the place. I recently visited it around the time you just did this video and had about five security guards get mad at me for pulling out my cell phone and taking a few photos of places and recording my memories. I was very confused and disheartened because they really should be encouraging people to feel welcome. I really wish them all had a new renovation, but it’s hard when you consider the Mall of America is like next door

[@JonasanAkari]

miss this mall so much so so so so much, the Chinese place they had there at the food court was so good. truly heart breaking that is done for

[@spencerkooiman1542]

My mom worked at the JCPenney's from 2005-2010 and it was sad to see the decline of this place. I remember it being such a cool place.

[@mattyclad9185]

I grew up not far from this mall back in the 80's and 90's. I would always ride my bike up there just for something to do in the summer when school was off. It was a fun mall back in the day. I remember during the holidays it would be so busy, even the overflow parking would be full. I remember Musicland on the upper floor next to Sears and a KB Toys next to it. Aladdin's Castle was just below that on the first floor with an Orange Julius next to that.There used to be a movie theater on the lower floor on the right side walking out of JC Penny, and a B. Dalton Bookstore across the theater to the left walking out of JC Penny. Eventually the B. Dalton would close and the movie theater was turned into an Old Navy as mall theaters were fading into memory back in the late 90's. My first job was in the food court there, a place called Hot Dogs and More. That was a fun job for the 6 months I was employed there before I moved to my next job. The food court used to have Subway, Arby's, Sabarro, Karmelcorn, and a Baskin-Robbins, 1 potato 2, and a couple other I can't remember the names. Where the mini golf was used to be an open area part of the food court with conference rooms and a Software Etc. That's where I bought my N64, PlayStation and most video games at the time. My cousin bought his PlayStation 2 there. The Software Etc. eventually moved up to the 2nd floor and eventually became a Game Stop. I don't remember what was in the fye space before fye, I never ventured much down that way as all the stores I was interested in was on the other side of the mall. I also don't remember The Disney Store ever being in that mall. I could have taken you on a tour on where most shops used to be in that mall 😁 It's definitely a relic of a bygone area in Americana. I really do miss it sometimes. They were simpler times.

[@theumpteenthtime8854]

I remember going here all the time with my girlfriend in my teens. Every spot was filled, seasons were celebrated festively, and we still thought the food was good. That was almost 20 years ago, though. I still make it that way every so often, but the area has blown up quite a bit. Retail and food locations everywhere surrounding the mall, I guess there's really no reason to stop at there anymore. Oh, and Amazon has a distribution center just 1 town over.

[@funkystudioslive]

Thanks for your contribution to a once great place in our community! Some of my fondest memories were had in there. There were also car meets held in the Sears parking lot for a few years, in addition to other parking lot pop ups. The outer ring makes a great late night race track on mopeds or mini motos as well!

[@wdbreezy]

This one hurts my heart. Living in Burnsville, Minnesota from 2008 - 2012, Burnsville Center was the nearby alternative to the massive and often crowded Mall of America, especially during the Holidays. My eye clinic was located in the Burnsville Center and I did most of my clothes shopping there.

[@rockitsurjon8629]

I can see the faces of friends from my teen years. Burnsville and Maplewood malls were fun places to go, kept us entertained and out of trouble.

[@eiguajardo]

Im so happy your channel is growing, you are such a great story teller, you deserve it. p.s. this mall before and after transformation was really dramatic, and the music choice , oh so perfect. 🙌

[@joshbrekke6374]

Deck the Walls, the Arcade from the early 80,s-90,s, KB Toys where I bought my Sega Master System in 1986, Spencer’s, the cool hobby & skateboard shops. I definitely miss it however I should visit more often. Wish I could cruise my skateboard in there. A lil indoor skate park would be fun and a cool old school arcade again. I hope they plan something great for it soon the whole community will enjoy. Nice video & history, I like learning about the malls beginning.

[@aliensporebomb]

I visited a couple of weeks ago (august 5) and was shocked at how decimated it appeared - I hadn't visited in maybe 12 years and hardly recognized it. I took all kinds of archival pictures just because I couldn't believe it. Even more than in your "after" segment. What will happen to this mall? The red placard at the locked entrance of Sears claims it is "unsafe to occupy". A part of my youth gone probably. Contrast and compare with Eden Prairie Center that seemed to do a mall refresh properly and is thriving today. I remember the music store as always being a FYE myself. They would occasionally get really hard to find CDs.

[@alexsandell8260]

It was a Musicland first.

[@DylanNovacek]

Answering your questions as I watch along - that Mini Golf course was part of what was once a small arcade. I have a lot of memories playing mini golf with my Mom on that very course.

[@swirm621]

Drive past it every day, and it still makes me sad. I used to come here all the time with my dad.

[@Manetho72]

The Burnsville Center had the southern exburbs and southcentral Minnesota locked up in the 1980s. People from Mankato, Northfield, Faribault, Owatonna, New Ulm, Albert Lea, and Austin would go there to get all the latest things but avoid the Twin Cities traffic.

[@Evans_explores]

Just so you know, FYE used to be a Suncoast

[@NorthCdogg22]

Ahhh gotcha

[@KatiePikiner]

Suncoast was owned by FYE sane with Sam goody. We used to have a suncoast in our mall but it closed. We still have the Sam goody. Our mall is also dying. Which is so sad because in the 90s it was booming. Crazy thing though is that malls in Russia are crazy busy but they also don’t have Amazon and their internet isn’t the greatest.

[@davevolz6138]

Ghostcoast

[@msviv3122]

Worked at ragstock in late 90s. Time has flown.

[@joshstorms3953]

Truly an amazing video. i grew up in one of the near by cities in the late 90s-2000s and Burnsville Center was only a 10 minutes away. Back then it really was an amazing place to shop and hang out. Its sad to see it on its last leg. To answer your question at 20:22, yes that use to be a GIANT arcade/minigolf course by the food court and it was the last good arcade they had there before it shut down. What's interesting is that the mall use to have 2 arcades on the top and bottom floors in the 90s (3 if you counted Chuck E.Cheese). Im glad you got this footage before is folds. Quick question. What are the tracks you have in the background of your video? They are really calming to listen to.

[@Dangeresque_2]

I grew up in Minnesota and the mall was a great way to get out of the house in the winter when it was freezing cold outside.

[@michaelgreen4183]

There are a ton of uses for the Mall. I hope someone there can see beyond the empty spaces. I also love that music. It's exactly what I hear in my fevered dreams.😂

[@timblake5844]

Very first thing you film walking in? An Amazon pickup... Supporting the very company that caused the demise of shopping malls. Sad, Very Sad, Shopping malls were my childhood. Nice video, Thank you for covering malls in MN! I last was at this mall was about 2010, and it was still very busy and fun mall. You should do Crossroads mall in St. Cloud next. It just filed for foreclosure earlier this summer I think. I knew it wouldn't be long for that one too.

[@ryanbourassa2328]

Great episode!! Not sure if it had been answered already, but FYE used to be a Sam Goodie. Could have been something else before that? I recall the KB Toys that used to be on the top floor. Many wrestling figurines were purchased there :) Thanks for the nostalgia boost!

[@Thefellaincorporated]

20:57 It used to be an arcade type thing, i cried when i saw it empty 2 months ago.