Pleasantly Surprised Mall Tour - Lima Mall - Lima, OH

[@ericmccaslin5731]

How many people went to the Service Merchandise across the parking lot from the Macy's? Good times!

[@bsettlemire329]

me!!

[@matt21571]

Yep. Used to be known as the “Lima Center” (maybe still is?). Haven’t shopped there since 1994 or 1995.

[@ajwinslow1]

@ericmccaslin5731 When I was in the 7th grade, I got off the school bus at Service Merchandise once to buy a rifle on my way home from school. So much has changed....

[@jfrey1]

This was probably my favorite mall growing up, but I was also a fan of the American Mall, which was the "underdog" mall in Lima by the '80s. Sadly, it closed probably 10 years ago and then got torn down. You are correct that the big circular area used to be the fountain. The Macy's used to be a Lazarus. My favorite stores were JCPenney for clothes, Waldenbooks, Camelot Music, Spencer Gifts, Woolworths, and Cinnabon, of course. I never went in the MCL Cafeteria but that was classic. The fountain was huge and beautiful. I went to this mall mostly from the late '80s to mid '90s. I went a couple years ago and was pretty depressed by it. The stores didn't seem as good, and I didn't care for those enormous games in the middle of the walking area and all the kiosks and sales stations littering the walking area. The mall wasn't like that back in the day. It seemed less classy now, somehow. However, this video looks better than my recent visit, so I'm glad it's still hanging on. I imagine the poor reviews are from a lot of people comparing it to what it used to be. In our era of dying malls though, I'm glad to see this one still doing decent business. Fun trivia: just down the road from this mall used to be a RAX.

[@joelseay5609]

Ditto what you said I grew up there in the 80’s and 90’s. I remember Rax, Fazzolis now. Do you remember Rinks store?

[@charlottemiller961]

I loved the American Mall!

[@jeffroking4832]

that center area you referred to as a flea market back in the day used to be a huge water fountain that people used to toss coins in and also hosted the local version of the Jerry Lewis telethon for many years,,,I grew up cruising the halls and had a killer arcade

[@ericmccaslin5731]

Those were the days. I remember seeing Night Ranger play on top of the fountain back in the day. Grew up in Lima. If Macy's goes out and the American Mall is already demolished (RIP), that will really make it tough.

[@moe9730]

Thank you for this! I live far away now so this was a great visit. That middle used to be a beautiful fountain with a big circle of seats around it. Lazarus had a restaurant on top. MCL Cafeteria was near Elder Beerman. There was a Woolworth where Old Navy was. Great memories!

[@AroundIndiana]

That's really cool. I thought that area definitely would've had a fountain. I would've loved to have seen the restaurant in Lazarus.

[@moe9730]

AroundIndiana the big circle was one continuous carpeted seat. it was the best seat in the mall! Except the restaurant at Lazarus. That was a fancy meal, I think. Our Burger Chef type family never considered eating there ;)

[@kittycat8222]

@@AroundIndiana I did as a child but that’s been closed for many years. The Macy’s location was just sold a month or so ago and now that entire spot is empty. The mall is a shell now. It’s sad.

[@dshutt27]

the center used to be a fountain and down where the elder beerman used to be a fountain to

[@showmegod5376]

This Mall Ruled in The 80s!!!!! LONG LIVE THE 80s!!!!!! Class of 88 Lima Senior High Spartans!!!!!! Heres to Better Days.

[@dlford9441]

Oh, Lima Senior! Our greatest rival! Bath Wildcats!!! :) Haven't seen Lima in over 40 years.

[@carlogambino2160]

I was all over that place in the mid to late 90s I moved out of Lima in 2003

[@edux8294]

I didn't know there was a city call lima in USA? I'm from lima Perú.

[@noahverhoff6203]

Cause here in America we love stealing names and changing the pronunciation.

[@GinaBush-gb6tk]

We are your sister city Edux.

[@OffroadCpl]

Named after the Lima bean that farmers use to grow. We pronounce it Lime-a

[@cjs121675]

Bought back memories- I spent a lot of time at this mall in the early 1990s when my aunt was living in Lima, OH and I had a lot of fun there- nice to see that it was doing good when you were there- I have not been back to that mall since 1994 so it was a blast from the past for me to see this mall again- thank you for making my day with this video!

[@LCM2248]

The next time I am in Lima, I could do a walk through with you and give you the history of the mall. I worked there for many years. At 11:29 there were stores on either side of those facings. They were bricked over, many years ago. Over at the former Elder-Beerman where the bathroom hallway was in this video, that part of the former Elder-Beerman had been a long hallway of stores leading out to more parking. etc.

[@AroundIndiana]

That would be cool but I doubt I'll ever be there again

[@corvigae]

I work in this mall now, and while it's still not as struggling as many others I've seen, unfortunately after the Macy's left a couple years ago that smaller side of the mall is really drying up. About the only things still there are the Hot Topic, Books A Million, that oddity shop, and the "hero Day" kids activity place (which is surprisingly really busy, I swear like a third of the customers I see are parents who brought their kids there for a birthday party or something). The gorgeous Macy's entrance actually looks that way because it used to be a Lazarus (which i just BARELY remember) and that particular architecture was a design staple of the chain, at least for a certain time period. The flea market thing was probably a seasonal thing or short event, because that's not usually there. As far as the layout and what they'd do if Penney's ever actually closed, it's my personal conspiracy theory that the odd layout is one of the contributing factors to why it's still open amidst so many other stores in equally small towns closing. Though the Penney's is actually open longer hours than the mall itself is nowadays, so who knows, maybe they'll outlive the actual mall itself.

[@JasonSmith-pc6kr]

I worked maintenance there in the mid to late 90's for 3 years. It was often a very busy mall. It still looks nice, but it's defiantly not thriving like it did. There used to be a big fountain in the center by the "food court" and there was a smaller fountain where the other small carpet circle is. I worked 2nd shift, and once JCPenny closed at 9pm we had to walk around JCPenny's outside to another exterior door to work on the other "wing" of the mall where they had a smaller maintenance room.

[@george_who]

I remember spending plenty of time in this mall growing up. You pretty much nailed everything that you were unsure about. There used to be a restaurant on the 3rd (4th?) In Macy’s. I also remember the old Woolworth’s before it was replaced.

[@thelemonguyonyt]

Thanks for visiting my hometown

[@JESSICALIN879]

Now I want to go home. I grew up thinking that all malls were like that. Now I need to go home and see my favorite mall.

[@VetsRage]

I havent been to lima in years, im about right between lima and ft wayne, I prefer ft wayne for shopping and eating.

[@AroundIndiana]

I doubt I'll ever have a reason to go back to Lima

[@dianareineke8214]

If you want to see it better go now because Amazon bought it n all the stores are shutting down

[@anthonymeans7439]

Judging by the parking lot lights it must have been an old Debartolo mall.

[@KarsenKeith]

I had no clue something like the lights could be significant, but you're exactly right. It is Debartolo.

[@randyhartley865]

I went to the Lima Mall a lot in the mid 1970s. Great place to shop back in the day. Ate many times at the MCL cafeteria…really good food.

[@BrettJ2010]

I'm from a town outside of lima. the round area where those vendors were used to be a huge fountain up until the early 2000's. Also, the upper tallest part of macys used to be a restuarant and it turned 360 degrees back in the day

[@GinaBush-gb6tk]

Brett Jarvis. I think you have that restaurant mixed up with another mall because this one didn't turn.

[@BrettJ2010]

@@GinaBush-gb6tk No it turned up until the 90s i believe. My mom was the one that told me about it

[@bobwilkinson6249]

@@BrettJ2010 I worked at Lazarus from '77 to '84, the restaurant has never been capable of moving.

[@Kguy2023]

Back in the 80s when I grew up there was plenty of stores, and plenty of things to do.....used to have a fountain in the middle of the mall, arcade rooms, kb toyz, sears, Spencer's gifts has always been a main stay in the mall......also, I remember they had bands come in and play every weekend, car shows inside the malls, new car displays, Corvette shows, sanctioned Corvette races in the parking lots, r.c. airplane shows, cooks fixing food, .....not the same it used to be....with the internet world, Amazon, etc....and the rent being very high prices to have a store in the mall, it's went down to nothing.......will only be a matter of time until it's closed, and the building will set and fall down like everything else in Lima.

[@producedrabbit1]

You’re right, there was a large circular fountain at the center with seating around it. There was also another smaller fountain on one of the wings. I remember having to throw my dad’s pocket change into them when I was little. They removed the fountains in the late 90s if I remember correctly.

[@chnalvr]

I spent a few years of my childhood living near the Lima Mall. I also remember the American Mall in Lima. There was at least one fountain in the Lima Mall and the sound of water echoed off of the walls, sounding impressive. I remember Lazarus, and Elder Beerman. I remember a large crowd outside of Lazarus when President Ford came to visit. He was in a limo, standing out of a sun roof, waving at the crowd. I seem to recall a theatre at the Lima Mall, but I could be wrong about that.

[@charlottemiller961]

The Leader changed to Elder Beerman. The round places under the skylights were fountains at one time. The Lima Mall used to have concerts in those big areas. It used to be so packed that you could hardly wall through it. Years ago there were even grocery stores in it. The big anchor store was Sears. I was about 12 years old when they built the Mall. I've lived in Lima since I was 9. It's so sad to see how Lima has gone so far downhill! I have raised my family here.

[@austinshellabarger6816]

Yes, Old Navy used to be where Shoe Dept. Encore is, but at 8:45 in the video, it shows the current location of Old Navy. It moved across the hall there when New York and Company closed. Old Navy is very busy here!

[@JESSICALIN879]

That Macys used to be Lazarus and that tall pillar was that restaurant

[@bruceandbevs.7140]

This mall is a twin of the mall in Mansfield, Ohio. The top hat structure is identical. Built just after this mall, the Macy's part is now a hospital.

[@rickcherry6347]

I remember going to this mall in the early 70’s. It would have car shows in the aisles between stores. The best part was the Airplane shows in the aisles during weekends. It was just like the. Car shows but trying to sell you Cessna. and Piper airplanes.

[@RawRealRetail]

Great video! Lima mall does look way healthier than I thought.

[@AroundIndiana]

Thanks! It definitely did.

[@jt8727]

Top floor of the Macy’s used to be a boozy restaurant. It used to also be a Lazarus department store lol. Enjoyed the video. I grew up in Lima and this brought back a lot of great memories. Thanks for sharing!✌🏻

[@noahverhoff6203]

I live right near Lima and this mall has pretty much everything I want in a mall.

[@dougchristlieb5270]

Yes that was a fountain in the middle. I used to work in that mall in the 70's

[@dlford9441]

You may never see this, but do you recall the Sweden House Smorgasbord restaurant? I think it was in the Lima Mall in the late 60s. Yep, I'm old. Graduated 74.

[@ajwinslow1]

The center flea market area use to be a fountain. The reason that you have to walk through JC Penny's to access the "new"" section is that it was added on in the early 70s. Lazarus, later bought by Federated, Marshall Fields then Macy's, was built in the west parking lot along with the connecting hallway. I've heard that Penny's is now gone.

[@Mchris24]

Penny's is still there as of August, but Macy's is gone. Penny's is now the only large department store left in the mall, and it looks like it is not doing so great.

[@alexisfosnaugh5258]

Penny’s is open! I live right by the mall. It definitely isn’t booming, the mall hardly ever is. Macys is gone. I had a friend that worked there when it closed. VS Pink is no longer there. There’s definitely a few differences and honestly I think the mall is more dead now than it was when this video came out, sadly.

[@WilmingtonOHProductions]

So I will say this, Macy's is gone leaving JCpenny as the only anchor remaining, but now there are two athletic places in there now and one is for children and they both bring in business and most of the interior stores are still occupied mainly because of the bounce house place and the and I don't see them going anytime soon

[@DevouiDevoui]

I live really close to lima and go to findlay alot also the macy's is now closed

[@DevouiDevoui]

I also go to fort wayne alot

[@BoratWanksta]

The former Brickyard Mall in Chicago did a walled off hallway through their Montgomery Ward, after that closed so many years ago. That was before it was demalled, btw. In comparison, Golf Mill in Niles didn't construct a temporary walk through hallway, after the Sears(which was also 'mall thru') more recently closed down.

[@scottjg24]

There was a fountain at the center of Lima Mall.

[@shades.vision.t.v]

LIMA OHIO MADE 💯🗣

[@joedaily2]

This mall used to have a great arcade in the 80's / 90's that was located at the end of a long wide hall that became part of that Elder Beerman store. I wish I would've taken pictures at that time . Other businesses off of that hallway included a formal wear store a Fur coat and Leather store and a branch of the DMV. And Yes, in the middle of the mall in the circular area, there was a big stone fountain with an attached bench all of the way around it. The coins that were thrown in as "wishes" were collected and given to local charities each year (I had heard) . The mall also had an event each year that was called the Family Fun Fair. It lasted about 3 days I think and many popular performers came to entertain. They turned off the fountain and made a stage out of it for them. Some i can remember who performed there were the rock groups Survivor, Thirty Eight Special, The Pointer Sisters, Emerson Drive and many more. I can't remember them all . The local radio stations and local businesses sponsored all of that I'm pretty sure. Woolworth didn't just take up the area where the shoe store is, it also included the whole other side where Victoria's Secret and all of the other stores beside it now are. At the end of that, right by the Penneys entrance, was the Woolworth Cafe Restaraunt . I miss Woolworths so much! I think the reason some say it's a "dead mall " is just because it's not as big as maybe some in Columbus or Dayton . The day you were there and saw the tables in the middle of the mall with people selling their items doesn't happen all of the time. It's just on certain weekends. Macy's used to be Lazarus and the cafe was on the 3rd floor. It was pretty popular :) Anyway, thank you for showcasing the mall ! It does really have a great history and it's nice to hear good things said about it.

[@TracyBann]

I'm originally from Lima & as a teen that mall was my favorite place. Outside of the JC Penney's was Woolworths. There was a restaurant that had the best Coke ever served in the coka cola glasses. They had really good food too. And the store connected to it & had inexpensive items. As a young adult I was able to buy household items there. Down by Elder Beermans was the MCL cafeteria. That was good rats too, but it was mostly older people who ate there. Good times & great memories.

[@nancydarling4918]

Great video! I really like the outside of the Macy's. Thanks for filming.

[@AroundIndiana]

Thank you!

[@Mchris24]

For those of us who grew up in Lima during the 70's and 80's the current mall is really dead and sad comparitively. The mall seems like a ghost town to me with all the anchor stores closed now except JCPenny. Back in the 80s the entire parking lot around the whole mall was full of cars. Now there are only a few cars outside JCPenny.

[@UniCommProductions]

Your opinion of this mall was very much the same as ours-it’s far from dead, it’s doing much better than any other small rural mall in Ohio I’ve seen, against all odds. Great video-your camera work is smooth with no super fast pans and your music picks are top notch.

[@AroundIndiana]

Thank you I appreciate that. It was very impressive there for sure.

[@Corky3D]

Sadly your comment didn't live to long. Macy's is closing in April of this year *2021* and it doesn't look good for the Lima Mall in general. JC Penny's will be the last Anchor store. With 80% occupied right now, It may last for a little while, but will probably end up like the old American Mall in Lima, empty and tore down.

[@thetopcrusader]

The deal with Penny’s is the mall used to end there, Lazarus built later and they connected it. Definitely weird. Shame you couldn’t have gone through Lima’s other mall before it’s demise, it was tiny and went way downhill by the end but I miss it.

[@junioralsept9335]

I remembered the ChestKings in the Lima Mall years ago.. It was a mens clothing store with small ladies selection.. That was my favorite store in the mall.. The center part was a fountain long time ago.. People would throw change in it for good luck.. It was filled with change. I liked the fountain and stopped going to the mall when they removed it...

[@ArchangelMichel1]

Richland mall in Mansfield also had a Macy’s built like the Lima one

[@Patheww]

The middle area was a fountain! Source: I worked at Penney’s for a few years.

[@trickymickyficky620]

The mall also had a Lazarus store.

[@christophermiller1990]

I spent my time here when I was young in the arcade and Lazarus

[@michaelaurban4120]

Macy’s used to be Lazarus, which was a chain Macy’s bought in the mid 00’s.

[@sprkl5d]

Good video, really enjoyed this mall. I live in Ohio, the Columbus area. Sometime I'll have to visit this mall. I don't care for my local malls at all. Easton is OK but mostly outdoor stores. Not my type of mall. We used to have an awesome, beautiful mall downtown called City Center Mall. Unfortunately its gone now. The nearest mall near me is 25 mins away. Well there's actually a dead mall pretty close called Eastland Mall but its not very nice and in a bad area. Thanks for the tour of this mall!

[@AroundIndiana]

Thanks for watching!

[@JenneferWaldenFlynn]

We moved here to Lima in January 2019 and I was pleasantly surprised by the mall as well!

[@nickrust8403]

I go there at leas once a month, the reason there is barely any vacanies is every time somewhere goes out of business someone else moves in instantly

[@ArchangelMichel1]

There was a huge fountain and there was a smaller fountain in front of Elder Beerman

[@jamesedinger4956]

The Lima mall still exists because it draws traffic from smaller towns all around Lima with almost no shopping.

[@XISMZERO]

Had a horrendous encounter with security here last year. They were swarming all over. Hope to make it back soon.

[@AroundIndiana]

Oh that's not good. I walked right by several of them but they didn't see my camera😎

[@markbajek2541]

Did you grab a MR. Hero Gyro or a cheesesteak while you were there?

[@jake76oh]

Macys closed among other stores in this video

[@nayleenable]

Yeah old navy used to be there it used to smell the other old navy still smells

[@benjisisler]

The center place has always been like that. If no stores are there than then it's usually just blank

[@noahvoris3637]

That Macy’s is announced to be closing now....😥 Such a shame!

[@2121briana]

Go back now there is quite a few more vacancies

[@danarose2677]

Others have mentions why Macys looks like it does. Am I the only one to ever get kicked out of Lazarus for running up the down escalator? They got me as I was coming back down. Aah the early 90s, I am shocked I made it out alive as dumb as I was. It woulda been 91 or 92 and my parents wanted to kill me when we all met back up at the car. I had been sitting on the hood for about an hour.

[@stephenwilliams5201]

LIma mall, findlay mall, bolinggreen, and tiffin mall. Lots to see.

[@AroundIndiana]

I have videos of 3 of those malls on my channel if you're interested

[@johne.porter1298]

Pushing my memory a bit about this mall. The front of Macy's is due to the fact that it was once a "Lazarus" Store.

[@gregpitts5157]

My first job. At that mall. Was at JCpenney

[@showmegod5376]

Lima Senior High Spartans!!!!!!

[@gregpitts5157]

SHOWMEGOD yessir

[@GinaBush-gb6tk]

The center of the mall did have a fountain.

[@ArchangelMichel1]

Macy, Sears,Elder Beerman have all closed as well as all the limited brand stores. This makes never had a good court and as you pointed out it has a weird layout

[@mintaylor9874]

I live in lima.. and the mall is trash now everything is basicly closed

[@saramoneer380]

that area was a fountain I love to toss pennies in there as a kid

[@JESSICALIN879]

the center was a fountain

[@dnm5373]

Thank you nice review

[@brysonmate8353]

Is Jcpenney and Macys 2 floors?

[@slackingpacking]

JCPenney is one floor.

[@aidans5972]

@@slackingpacking no it's two, the top floor has some other products, a photographer, and a glasses place

[@aidans5972]

Macy's has three

[@angeljiu]

For a second I thought I was there that day but I'm glad I wasn't because if I was caught on camera I would be embarrassed.

[@ArchangelMichel1]

All the vacant anchors have sold back to the mall

[@nayleenable]

In 2023 some aren’t there anymore

[@nayleenable]

I kinda remember the cafeteria

[@scottbradley4647]

Center part was a fountain

[@kbe6672]

I’m born and raised in Lima this mall is nothing special trust me

[@ronalberding7348]

Was a waterfountain

[@ericzerkle5214]

10:42 random pop cooler....

[@waltwynn-sandiegonorthcoun8475]

👍

[@ericzerkle5214]

The only issue with this mall is well, its just old.... The Macys front just looks very old and dated.... Very 60s looking. Even the lights in the parking lot are old school....

[@Theire1]

Lazaras

[@ericzerkle5214]

3:31 ugh those awful massage chairs! Can you say bed bugs? The idea of having to walk through Pennys is pretty smart from a business standpoint...

[@sarah-qn1qz]

It’s also known for its flash mobs.

[@bertroost1675]

The Lima tv station refused to broadcast the lesbian wedding episode of Friends when it was first aired.

[@AroundIndiana]

That isn't surprising, unfortunately

[@mollieamber4717]

That’s irrelevant

[@bertroost1675]

@@mollieamber4717 Why? Must the comments only be about the mall and not the community it is in?

[@mollieamber4717]

@@bertroost1675 it’s not related to the mall.

[@bertroost1675]

@@mollieamber4717 Lima is kinda run down but most of the people there are nice. They built the M1 Abrams tanks and decades ago they built many steam engines.

[@michaelg6641]

You sure its not pronounced leema, OH?

[@AroundIndiana]

It isn't

[@nchhimfinch214]

Absolutely NOT!

[@GinaBush-zq7cj]

The Elder Beerman is owned by The leader.

[@marcjones415]

This mall really is dead, you mostly likely came on a weekend. Sometimes it's also dead on the weekends. You just caught good time to go....

[@shades.vision.t.v]

Marcus Jones Man fr tho 🤣

[@brysonmate8353]

Marcus Jones How is it dead? It has Like 5-6 Vacancies.

[@marcjones415]

@@brysonmate8353 it's dead bruh stop it lmao. This mall is barely popping is on the weekends. Go to other malls they're packed throughout the weekdays. Plus it has the most corniest stores in there pretty lame mall if you ask me🤷🏾‍♂️

[@marcjones415]

@@shades.vision.t.v bro you already know ain't none poppin in there besides gamestop the shoes stores and maybe Bath and body lmao.

[@brysonmate8353]

Marcus Don't be cocky.

[@takedown1106]

Here is a website that can give you more information web.archive.org/ here is the mall map web.archive.org/web/20141017064145/www.simon.com/mall/lima-mall/map

[@AroundIndiana]

Cool info, thank you

[@sweetcat1639]

My sears is about to be demolished and Boscov’s will take its place

[@AroundIndiana]

That's good. At least the Sears isn't going to sit empty for years.

[@sweetcat1639]

AroundIndiana yeah my mall is actually doing well but sears pulled out in the 2018 bankruptcy. Now they only have 1 sears and no kmarts in Ohio. What a mess