Puente Hills Mall aka Twin Pines Mall From Back To The Future! | Retail Archaeology

This episode features the mall from Back To The Future! Puente Hills Mall is located in City of Industry, CA. In the Back To The Future films the mall was known as Twin Pines Mall and later Lone Pine Mall.
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[@HollieForrest]

I grew up at this mall! I wish you could have seen it before the renovation, I loved the sky/clouds they had painted on the ceilings. There used to be many coy fish ponds in lounge areas that were really neat. The escalator leading to the food court/movie theater used to have a rainbow projector on it, as a kid I thought it was the coolest thing ever. It felt like you were traveling down a rainbow haha. So many good memories at this mall, I’m very sad to see it on the state it is now. I never liked the renovations they did, I felt like it was taking away so much character from this place. I miss the Sanrio store they used to have 💔 thanks for coming here.

[@utharkruna1116]

Koi fish.

[@4exgold]

Interior still looks quite 80s but without the associated faded & drab appearance, which is great to see. Maybe actually renaming it Twin Pines and having sonething like a BTTF museum/shop would bring in more foot traffic.

[@peanutismint]

Funny you should say that, I'm pretty sure when I went there a few years back there had been a BTTF/movie museum in the mall but it had recently closed. Too bad!!

[@TheAtkey]

4exgold No they should rename it the Lone Pine Mall.

[@AznTony360]

Idk, it looks hella modern to me. Could easily pass as 2010 aesthetics imo

[@garygansbrubaker]

I really like the BTTF idea! I would really like to have one of the games in my own home! Thanks for your hard work!

[@7Marx7]

In an alternate timeline, this place is known as Lone Pine Mall, and it's actually still busy to this day.

[@kathurtado13]

7Marx7 It don't look busy there.

[@drethstevens7549]

And in said timeline; Kate Spade, and three high-end retailers are in the process of moving in the mall.

[@bryantint1339]

Is that in Lone Pine, California, USA by any chance? On US-395? I took US-395 to Seattle from LA on my April 2014 move. I do not care for I-5. I cannot remember every town along that US-395, however. Just wondering. Thanks.

[@barbaraallen7164]

Really? Kate Spade stores have been and are closing.

[@audj1077]

This is la puente hills malls they got rid of the toys r us

[@prior242]

Two years ago (October 25th 2015) They had a Back to the Future Fan celebration where they had a screening of the back to the future movies in the parking lot, A live action re-enactment, and a Live skype call with Christopher Lloyd on cam, who played Doc Brown in the movie. There's videos out there for those who missed it.

[@zoppitybop]

I moved to Australia from the States.. malls here are thriving, and they're everywhere. What sets them apart I think it's having pharmacy's and grocery stores in them. Something that keeps people in the shopping centers daily. I think American malls should think about doing the same.

[@vladm9384]

Canada is the same way. They revived a dying mall near my house this way.

[@aveuch]

Westfield is HQd in Australia.

[@MuneageDaydream]

Great thought. That used to be how a lot of the malls in the US were. I know both of our malls where I live had Walgreen's years ago, and having a grocery store attached used to be an East Coast thing. We've gotten away from malls as one stop shopping.

[@simple22travel11]

Yeah, I live in Australia and in contrast seeing these malls are completely dead. Aussie malls are super busy.

[@anro6425]

I hear they just got malls in Australia.

[@kentdavis6646]

This is the actual mall I grew up with, from the day it opened in 1974, until I moved away in the early 1990's

[@josecobianandrade8038]

Where did you go? 😢. Also I went to that mall 3 days ago... it’s like dead. Barley any business

[@KatriceMetaluna]

This was MY mall from the late 70s to the early 90s. I remember the Macy's was a Robinson's. It had two bookstores, B. Dalton and Waldenbooks. At one time it had a huge arcade called The Sega Center. I think it was called Oz before that. I still have a few old tokens from there, lol. There was no food court. All the restaurants were scattered around the mall. I distinctly remember this one place that served some pretty tasty hot dogs and you could keep refilling your fries while you were there. I don't remember its name tho. There was another place that sold churros but they called them something else. It had this elaborate animatronic show that I liked to just stand there and watch, lol. There was a huge fountain at the center of the mall. It was pretty neat looking. Looked like it was made of white marble but I'm sure it was something less expensive than that. Very angular in shape. It had an octagonal footprint if I remember right. During the X-mas season they'd turn the fountain off and place Santa's workshop there, where you could visit him. Just don't ask for a BB gun. The JC Penney's had a small diner inside it. I remember sometimes we'd eat there. I don't remember how good the food was but also don't remember it being terrible or anything, so yeah! At the Sears, on the second (third?) floor there was a place to buy Sears branded popcorn, freshly popped. They also had candy and ICEE drinks. I remember I liked the popcorn a lot. It's been forever hasn't it? I remember my folks got their first VCR at that Sears.

[@FelixMarshFTW]

that christmas story reference though

[@nathanxavier1315]

Dang I wish I lived in those days :( sad that I have to grow up in this era .......

[@FelixMarshFTW]

@@nathanxavier1315 well remember this is your life and you can live it however you want

[@F15ElectricEagle]

Yeah, really missed the SEGA Center located on the first floor near the Sears inside entrance. Robinson is gone, JCPenny is gone, The Broadway is gone, and it's just a matter of time before Sears is gone, but Tic Time (Scene 4:48 and one of the original tenant since the 1980s) might still be around.

[@barfbags]

this comment is so fascinating to me. memories and moments way before my time and how vivid you made the time frame seem to me. I genuinely love that you took the time to comment. thank you

[@nekomarulupin]

Poor Twin Pines. Really started going down hill when that old guy was gunned down in the parking lot.

[@Deenique16]

I'm sorry I laughed

[@justinwhite9689]

Or was he? Lol!

[@Aguijon1982]

The libyans destroyed it

[@AndyVoong925]

So happy to see this video. Also, my friend and I go Round 1 weekly and at night it gets very busy and active. For Maximum Tune 5 racing cabinets it gets super packed with all the hardcore/regular players coming at night.

[@gordontaylor2815]

The mall operators oughta lean more heavily on the Back to the Future connection. Maybe turn an abandoned anchor space into a Back to the Future museum? If the mall ever goes down completely, at least they'll have that to fall back on. (And definitely make sure the Smithsonian Museum gets first dibs on the property for that purpose, just in case...) P.S. I wonder how many cars they get in the parking lot trying to reach 88 mph, just for the shits and giggles? ;P

[@kylemontano228]

Gordon Taylor I live about 15 minutes away from this mall and you have inspired me to try and do this, thank you

[@nrg16108]

They had a few BTTF celebrations there already. But the security kicked out a few Delorean owners speeding in the parking lot.

[@josededios5063]

Bro im not trying to go to west covina mall when la puente mall is 5 min away 😂😂😂😂

[@martinbaxter2616]

Three words. Sell. Flux. Capacitors.

[@SidebandSamurai]

My wife worked at Broadway in 1974 while the mall was still under construction. She watched the mall being built every day after work. Thanks for the video, its sad to see malls struggling these days. but probably a sign of the times.

[@FelixMarshFTW]

sorry, my generation stays home with their fancy computers, both on the desk and the ones in their hands

[@VampireLady]

Late to the party but I actually have lived in the area near this mall all my life and didn't even know BTTF filmed a scene here until one of my friends told me in high school. The time you came to the mall was during the off season, it gets incredibly busy during the summer and in the late fall before Christmas. There's a lot of high schools near the mall and kids love to spend their weekends and Fridays at the mall during the summer, even now. I grew up with the koi ponds in the center of the mall and (I even have a picture of me posing with the fish lol) the reason why they got rid of the pond is cause kids would stick their hands in it, people would throw money in it, and feed the fish random stuff. So it was more of a health issue for both the fish and the public. It was a shame, I remember going one day and seeing concrete outlines of where the ponds used to be. Now I wish I had taken a picture of it. The mall actually used to have a different arcade before Round1, a Tilt near the food court. I have a few memories of it, like the one time some dude gave my little sister like 3000 tickets so we spent it all on candy and I remember loving to play against my cousins on their Street Fighter 2 cabinet before it closed back in 2007. So nice to see my childhood mall in a KZbin video and being talked about, thanks for documenting it.

[@1MrBigred]

Great video! Good grief, that arcade is AMAZING! Haven't seen a mall arcade like that since the 80's!

[@lagarious651]

True. The footlocker was one of the first. Was there in the 70s.

[@SLone3251]

It was THE first Foot Locker store ever.

[@mstiefan6996]

That arcade... Man, what I would give to find an arcade of any kind around where I live. I remember when I was a kid popping so many quarters in classic games like the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Final Fight, Bucky O' Hare, Alien vs. Predator, and of course Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat.

[@lagarious651]

Sears, Broadway, Robinson and JC Penney. And a Sears auto center. They were the original 4 anchor stores.

[@justinwhite9689]

You see Robinson's in the film, none of those were here in MN, interesting .

[@iamasims]

yes are right

[@AmbientWalking]

OMG! The opening scenes of Back to the Future haunted me for years! Thank you for this! : )

[@aaronalvarez2384]

Holy crap! You're at my mall! My girlfriend and I pretty much only go here to watch movies at the AMC. It's kinda sad what it's become. I remember when this place was always packed. Same story every time I guess.

[@F15ElectricEagle]

Remember when the AMC theater was still called the AMC 6 and AMC 4 and were two separate theaters located outside of the mall between the JCPenny and The Broadway parking lot?

[@MrKevinwaffles]

Round 1 really gets full towards the evening. It gets full with the rhythm arcades and the fighting games. Round 1 has a really big competitive fighting scene, so if you're in the area and want to go test your skills go at night on a weekend.

[@sonnydacuse7622]

I been to LA Puente Mall many times in the 80s to present. Things has went down hill in the early 2000s. Hope things will get better!

[@runninghoove]

*Too many murders in the area I bet.*

[@theaccentman93]

No, just amazon was founded, and then lots of people decided to go to surrounding malls like the brea mall. If you are thinking about a mall with a lot of murders, that is the West Covina Westfield Mall.

[@celsovera91]

If you’re still in Southern California you should check out the Del Amo Mall in Torrance. It was used in Jackie brown and Bad Santa

[@howardstern9129]

Celso Vera I live near it

[@SurlyOne]

Celso Vera Valley Girl, too

[@sjtalksandlife]

I love that movie Jackie Brown

[@philiplondonaz]

I worked at Potter Barn in Del Amo back in 1988 was a very busy place back then!

[@philiplondonaz]

pottery

[@somedude6267]

I live near this mall it’s not dead...this was filmed in January not many shoppers just after Xmas I think...like all the videos great work

[@Deenique16]

It's dead.

[@theboredperson13]

Holy crap I went here recently! It's not the closest mall but I live nearby. I was wondering about that Twin Pines thing. It's crazy how SoCal can have a dead-ish mall like this. Meanwhile, the Brea Mall (a few miles away) is always packed.

[@ganginfr4923]

So this is my mall. In our town of Rowland heights (yeah i kniw, its technically in City of Industry but when you look at the border it sort of juts down just to steal the mall space and the city of industry isnt really a real city and only exist because of, well, industry plans) its a bit of a joke to talk about the fact that we have the one dead mall in SoCal and its mostly because we're sandwiched between the West Covina mall tyo the north and Brea to the south.

[@aaronbays4]

I know everybody likes to blame Amazon for the decline of the mall, and that's part of it. The other part like KSGV mentioned is we just build too much shit. No reason to build a new mall when all you are going to do is siphon customers away from an existing one and turn it into a dead mall. With home prices so high, maybe they need to think about scraping the land where there are dead malls/abandoned strip malls and putting up houses, condos, apartments, etc.

[@KazeThyKage]

I recommend going to the mall more during the evening. R1 ends up getting more traffic coming in during the later hours. I know friday through Sunday are insanely busy there

[@JoseBarriosPika]

Holy cow! I've been there once before but never knew it had a connection with the Back to the Future movie.

[@randomyoutubeperson6954]

Jose Barrios so did you go back to the future then? I’m confused 🤷🏼‍♀️ 😂

[@muiscnight]

Ayyyye someone who also loves 70s/80s architecture/aesthetics, when I explain it to my friends all I get is silent nodding lol

[@JordanCrawford26]

I visited this mall countless times as a kid in the late 90s-early 2000s. I LOVED the koi pond, and would spend what felt like hours watching the koi swim around. The pond was massive and had many small pools in the middle of the atrium area that connected to each other. It was beautiful and seemed to be very well kept. I was quite sad when they removed it.

[@ed_halley]

I know this is an old video now, but maybe you still read comments. First, I thought I was the only one interested in mall design despite not working in that industry. Second, having lived in Japan a little while, I was surprised to see a Round 1 in California. They're huge in Japan, like each one bigger than an anchor store and multiple copies in every city.

[@juvetravels]

This is one of my all time favorite malls. I have memories of this place going back to the late 70's. I remember very well when the mall was struggling in the late 90's to very early 2000's. At one point, there was even an ice skating rink in there during one of it's low points. Lots of closed shops and all. The mall has been doing so much better. If you happened to be there in January, that explains a lot. Here, in So Cal, after the holidays, not a lot of spending in the month of January. It's not uncommon to see malls empty even on weekends. FYI, Puente Hills does pick up in the evenings both during the week and weekends in January. Had you visited around 6 or 7 it would of been much different. Round 1 gets packed Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. This is my favorite Round 1 in the area because it's the biggest and has the most games. There's another one at the Lakewood Mall and the newest one is at The Main Place in Santa Ana but those two are significantly smaller compared to this one. BTW, been to Round 1 in Japan several times and they still use coins over there, but as of two years ago, they have replaced a lot of the video game arcades with more claw machines. Going back to Puente Hills Mall. Really like it and if you're in the area again and happens to be the weekend, I recommend visiting int he evening. Big difference. Lakewood Mall might be another mall you might want to check out. Very old architecture in it. The way it is setup... sort of weird to me. There's a Target on one end but they blocked off the mall entrance from within the Target years ago. Very strange move. This mall stays alive primarily cause it has a Costco smack next to it by where the Book Off is. Book Off is the primary reason I go to that mall. Love your videos. Can't wait to see more.

[@MaskoftheWraith]

So sad to see beautiful buildings like these absolutely empty and dying.

[@paulht3251]

I believe where the Macy's is it originally opened as a Robinsons or May Co. I am from this area and remember when it opened. When this mall opened it had all the earth tone colors and wood accents a bit darker inside then . It was so busy then , you could hardly fine a parking space. Was the place to shop . Sad to see it not busy. We moved from this area about fifteen years ago. Have driven by once in awhile but haven't stopped. Maybe one day we we'll. Great video though 👍🏻

[@laueylam4902]

"Round 1" keeps this mall afloat.

[@flyingninja1234]

It's awesome that they have the Twin Pines Mall sign. I'm surprised they don't have a DeLorien.

[@gordontaylor2815]

What they really need to do is turn an anchor space into a Back to the Future museum, just for the tourist draw.

[@teacfan1080]

They also need a Lone Pine Mall sign, after Marty flattened one of 'ol man Peabody's pines in 1955!

[@mayelimendozachavez9019]

Fun fact: a lot of us locals know that at night Puente Hills seems to be haunted especially in the amc theatre

[@Deenique16]

Yeah fun

[@SLone3251]

I have heard this too but have never experienced it or know anyone who has. The story is WAY BACK in the day, the space where AMC is used to be Broadway department store. I read somewhere that a kid got stuck in an escalator and died. I also Googled around and apparently in 2004, someone shot themselves in the women's bathroom in the lower level by the now-gone Sears. Also, some people claim the Puente Hills Mall was built over some old Indian burial grounds. Apparently developers found physical bones during groundbreaking, waited like half a year, then proceeded with construction.

[@jamesmcmahan1236]

Sir, you are not quite Dan Bell, but I enjoyed this just about as much! Happy to watch your videos alongside the DeadMall series! All of your videos are worth a watch, but I also really think you have improved so much with each episode! Background music was well implemented, very dreamy and calm! Yeah man, can't stress enough how much I enjoy these when I am just chilling! This mall looks super cool and I hope they stay in business! Keep up the good work man!

[@RetailArchaeology]

James McMahan Thank you!

[@josephtafur]

well sir i disagree, He is the Dan Bell of the west

[@anhaj9423]

I like him more than dan bell

[@watershed44]

jahna ray It comes down to style and personality, I like or even prefer R A's slightly more laid back personality, but Dan is good too.

[@jamesmcmahan1236]

Yeah both have unique personalities and even somewhat different ways of presentation. There is absolutely room for both! I really look forward to these!

[@stigjr2410]

I grew up around the corner I watched them build this mall. When I graduated from medical school in 1982 my Mom brought me here to buy a new suit. Lots of great memories.

[@mpantig]

My family moved in the area when I was around 2 years old in the early 70s. The mall was brand new and there was a lot of open space in that area. I saw the Twin Pines Mall sign in the 80s when I was in junior high. I thought they were changing the name of the mall until I saw the Back to the Future movie. The interior of the mall has changed over the years. When I was a kid, there was this white linoleum dotted with tiny squares or circles, kind of like glitter but bigger. There were round pillars that had tiny square mirrors all around it. Along the pathways were benches with raised planters. In the center was a fountain and clock in the center extending down from the ceiling. When they renovated, they had this old carousel in the middle which seemed out of place to me. They also put in a koi pond that was in the floor; the edges didn't have any significant raised area that I could remember. Not sure if the Koi pond and carousel were there at the same time or not. There's an AMC theater there now but that wasn't there before. When I was growing up, there was a 6 theater AMC just outside the parking lot. Then they later added a 4 theater AMC building across the street from that building. There's a Staples in the area.That building was built sometime after the 4 theater AMC. Before it was a Staples it was a Mann theater with 6 screens. Later on, they built a 10 theater AMC on the other side of the theater on Gale Avenue. It was called the AMC Plaza. Eventually, only the AMC Plaza was left after the other theaters closed down. Then AMC Plaza became a discount theater and was eventually torn down. AMC then built a theater inside the mall. I can go on an on about the history of the area. But I'll end with this one. You know those skylights mentioned in the video? Well when I was a kid, someone fell through the skylight near the center of the mall and died. I was actually at the mall when it happened. I was a kid and out with one of my friends and his family. We were running around the mall playing at the arcade, etc. We were supposed to meet my friend's dad at a specific time at one of the department stores. Anyway, we lost track of time so we started running in the mall to meet him. We got to the center of the mall and then went to the department store. When we met up with my friend's dad, he wasn't finish shopping so he said we could have extra time. We then headed back to the arcade I think which involved going to the center of the mall. But when we approached the center of the mall, we saw there was a lot of commotion. There was a body on the ground that was covered. One of the skylights was open. I think there may have been some debris from the skylight on the floor. We watched and waited for the authorities to come. It really creeped us out at the time. We don't know exactly what happened but we guessed it might have been a maintenance worker on the roof that accidentally fell through but we're not sure.

[@Habu12]

I imagine you have a a backlog of malls to revisit after the apocalypse. This is definitely one to return to. The writing is on the wall for this place.

[@sandram.5666]

I remember when this mall still had the Koi pond. It was so lively back then. On Saturdays they would occasionally have live music in that atrium area you showed last. I remember as a kid always just looking at all the fish. Also, thanks for clarifying which mall had the merry go round! I remember one of my local malls had one but I could never remember if it was the West Covina Westfield or this Puente Hills one.

[@abcdeninisse]

Sandra M. They both had them at one point in the 90s

[@abcdeninisse]

Sandra M. Actually the West Covina one had it for way longer

[@spacetrucker2952]

Back to the 80s, to hell with the future.

[@michelleevans5531]

I wholeheartedly agree!!!!

[@FelixMarshFTW]

if you want flying cars and hoverboards the future is what you want but yeah i agree sometimes i wish i was born in '79 or '69 instead of '99

[@lizaanette]

KOF 98's intro is my favorite! Awesome game

[@kentdavis6646]

Macy's was originally Robinson's when the mall opened

[@howardstern9129]

Kent Davis It was also Robinson's May

[@papahotnutz]

This mall was insanely busy during the 80s. The AMC 6 and 4 outside the mall never failed to attract lines on Friday and Saturday nights.

[@AnthonyTV414]

Very awesome! The arcade area does look casinoish.... Thank you!

[@TheDeLeonGarageCollection]

Thank you so much for this video. I grew up 10 minutes from this mall and was there on opening day in 1974. There used to be an arcade on the lower floor I believe it was called return to Oz or something to that effect. Next to the McDonald’s on the bottom floor if I recall used to be a shooting gallery which was pretty cool. There was a place that made churros called whimsy whimsical‘s I believe on the upper floor. I believe it was near Sears. I spent pretty much most of my weekends hanging out with my buddies and we spent all day walking around, looking at records in the two records stores there. One was on the upper floor next to Sears and there was a licorice pizza on the bottom. Casa de candles was very interesting store right next-door to the Carl’s toy store back in the 80s and lasted through my high school years. So sad to see it empty now when it was such a bustling Mal back in the day. The orange Julius on the upper floor was pretty popular as well as Bob’s ice cream. Originally there was a large hanging clock from the center and I can see the sees candy is in the same exact same spot it always has been. So many good memories. I don’t live there anymore but I visit from time to time and I will definitely have to go back and see it for myself with my kids. My daughter loves malls.

[@Ihad9eyes]

Oh man! You took me all the way back with Casa de candles! I think they had a head shop in the back. I loved that store and also Spencer's!

[@Kee-Lo]

Pat and Ian would love that arcade!

[@cmdraftbrn]

supposedly sherman oaks galleria mall was used as the mall in fast times at ridgemont high

[@classrockin]

Yes it was, although the mall has since been heavily renovated, and is now unrecognizable from the Sherman Oaks Mall featured in Fast Times

[@mdgraystone]

Macy's was NOT an original anchor to the Puente Hills Mall. The building was originally a Robinson's store.

[@abandonedaz5952]

Awesome! Back to the Future is one of my fave 80s movies!🍿

[@alexanderbanos8125]

0:38 The Macy's store at Puente Hills Mall was originally a J.W. Robinson's (as seen in Back to the Future), which became Robinsons-May in 1993 and Macy's in 2006. The Sears store at Puente Hills Mall came out in a Sears commercial back in 1983. The store sadly closed in September 2018.

[@Lurker1979]

Do the Sunrise Mall from the movie, Legend of Billie Jean. I know Dan Bell did it, but I would love to see your prospective on it.

[@rathorclemenger6125]

I don't know why, but almost every time I listen to the music that you've got playing in the background my whole body relaxes, at least in a good way.

[@mikeydude750]

Love that Round 1, I go there quite often when I'm up in the area and in the evenings on the weekends it gets insanely busy with a lot of energy.

[@_chococat_]

Man, this mall is absolutely beautiful! I bet those people who paid all that money for those modern renovations, hoping that that would bring in more business, are really cursing themselves now

[@kenssd]

Great Scott!

[@cmdraftbrn]

this is heavy.

[@kelly3014]

Yes! 🤣

[@fixman88]

cmdraftbrn “There’s that word again, ‘heavy’. In the future does something go wrong with the Earth’s gravitational pull?”

[@nathanielw8234]

I can visualize the old merry go round that used to be there. Good times as a kid.

[@ViciousAlienKlown]

I love that Round One Arcade. Reminds me of the 80's. The golden age for arcades. I spotted a SEE'S Candy at the end there. nice

[@frankbeans5921]

When my brother and I went there a few years ago we timed it well and the Twin Pines clock was lit up and had the time! Was quite the sight for a movie buff like myself 😊

[@stephenmarling9442]

I thought this was one of your best episodes yet! Too bad the mall owners didn't reconstruct.a Photomat out on the parking lot to cash in on the nostalgia angle.

[@1212Artemis]

I love the outside of the Macys. Nice shot.

[@ivoryandcat]

This was one of my malls from the 80's to the early 2000's when I moved away. It got really dead in the early 90's. The movie theater wasn't there, there were about 6 smaller theaters scattered all around on both sides of the freeway, you would drive around and look at the marquees and see which one had the movie you wanted. When they put the big one in the mall the others slowly closed down. That spurred the first revival of the mall. At the time the theater opened there weren't even any food places left but a lot of restaurants around the outside of the mall. And most of the stores inside were vacant. Even with the mall pretty dead back then the area was still busy, there were more than a dozen good restaurants around the mall in all of the little plazas, as well as a mini golf cart race place, the six theaters and a bunch of big retail stores like the Burlington's and Ross which used to be separate buildings in the strip mall area behind the mall. It looks like they just consolidated a lot of those plazas and moved into the main building. I'll have to go back next time I'm in town.

[@904czv4]

As always, great mall video, Mr. Erik! 6:10 dude was knocked out asleep! Lol!

[@bankingonmoney8224]

Wow a real arcade center! All I see these days are small stores with 6 or 7 arcades. Thats it!

[@redpillmale6518]

From what I can remember, that empty food stand used to be a custom ice cream dipping place back in the day. Also, there used to be a Comp USA in the corridor by Macy's. That black large window area when you go back into the mall from the arcade is where it used to be.

[@michelleevans5531]

I remember malls in general used to be so busy that you almost had to walk sideways down the paths. Six Flags Mall in Arlington Texas used to be that way. Forum 303 in Arlington/Grand Prairie too. I lived in the Flagstaff area and Phoenix for almost two years before moving back to Texas, and I remember the malls in those two towns were very nice.

[@runnerrunner6410]

Many malls and retail shops usually can see less traffic in the month of January, even with many clearance sales, due to credit card spending during Christmas. When I worked at a mall years ago, before any died, January was always a slow month. Hopefully that’s the case here.

[@Rogue849]

This arcade looks super fun! Also, the food court actually gave me a late 70's, early 80's vibe; maybe the shape of the chairs and the brown print in those chairs/couches.

[@peanutismint]

Glad you featured this place. Great mall. BTTF brought me here a few years back (i made a filming locations video on my channel) but the nice mall aside from that made me stay. Bright and airy inside and actually a fairly good crowd when I was there. Looked like a good arcade, too! I LOVE those UV glow carpets.... Want them in my home arcade one day!!

[@skeletonmandiecastcollector]

I remembered when I was in Jr high school, that mall had a Spencer’s gifts and a KB toys and a Burger King upstairs away from the main food court and before AMC was built, right across was a arcade place near borders bookstore before they went under across from that, I remember that mall had a PC gaming center in the corner that had a huge robot statue as a display and that mall also had a EB game store downstairs. My first job was working at Orange Julius where HM is now upstairs. Before they had the fishes, there was a carousel in the center of that mall.

[@hobear637]

This place was the absolute best place to hang out in the late 90s early 2000s. They had a smaller arcade in the middle of the mall that was renamed tilt, I don’t remember what it was called prior to that. Everyone went to the AMC to watch movies, which became even more popular when it was remodeled to have 20 theaters. There was also a very popular photographer where teenage couples would go to take photos together and pass out to their friends. The place started going downhill when borders books closed and was part of a TV show that rehabilitated malls. For awhile after rehabilitation the mall was popping again, there was a trampoline jump that was pretty popular with kids. I haven’t really been back since 2010 but it’s sad to see that they’re still struggling even after all the work they put in to remodel it and add tenants like Round 1

[@bryantint1339]

I used to visit Puente Hills Mall often from 1997 to 2014. Great mall. Wow. How did a busy mall dry up so fast? I left California for Washington State in April 2014. It's weird how the mall dried up so fast in 4 years. I used to live in nearby San Bernardino County. Yes, I am aware that Puente Hills Mall is in neighboring Los Angeles County, next to the Route 60. Very interesting how a mall can dry out so fast in what? 4 years? My!

[@llouie4999]

I hope you'll check in at Puente Hills Mall again! I agree with many of the others who said it gets busier during late evening (well at least some parts do). There's also an escape room (LegendX Iteration) that's housed in one of the old spaces at that mall. The esc room parts were of course quite elaborate but you could see traces of the old uses/tenants in the lobby, restroom, and hallways. Thank you for your videos!

[@InfinityMW2]

Hey! This video was well-produced and I enjoyed the commentary on it as well! Thank you for the video :)

[@davidbouffard522]

My parents had the wire wheel covers of their 1978 Oldsmobile 98 stolen in the parking lot of this place in 1980.

[@alfredvalrie5541]

David Bouffard that must have been frustrating on a relatively brand new car

[@SMac-bq8sk]

That was your parent's car!?

[@sdcaraudio1638]

I have lived near the mall all of my life and it used to be very popular. Unfortunately the area demographic has changed and the community is longer supporting economy by shopping here. Slowly but surely the staple stores that used to be in there are going away and smaller "swap meet" type stores are popping up. Its sad to see what used be a thriving mall turned into a ghost town. The mall is slated for a complete remodel, but I feel its too late. The ranch markets and Pho places have taken over along with small boutique looking stores make this city look like another country.

[@Ryuhei64]

8:06 The walk through the arcade was amazing. So many machines!

[@rlm6213]

I just came across this video and wow, what a stark contrast to the shopping centers in the city I live in today (Ostrava, Czech Republic); the malls here are jam-packed on a Saturday and that's not to mention the Christmas shopping season, when the malls here are crowded like it was the 1980s or something.

[@ladyspider4904]

I used to work here back in the 90's. It was my very first job. It has lost a lot of business since then. It was such a beautiful mall at one time. I can understand why mall's have lost business, I myself, as others have, begun shopping online.

[@patesbaroni77]

I am sad to see this mall struggling this bad in 2018. I used to go to this mall a lot in the early 2000’s era. Kaybee Toy Store, Waldenbooks, and others still flourishing. I still drove pass this mall from time to time nowadays but never stepped into it for more than 15 years.

[@SuaveBeatschannel]

The Arcade is fenomenal so many memories.

[@howardstern9129]

Jose Malave So many Games but no one playing them.

[@ericcarrington1791]

I used to work at Video Concepts back in 93 94. Those days were priceless! I had just moved to LA from Pittsburgh PA

[@tonyvargas368]

The white building was originally JW Robinsons. For those of you not from Los Angeles, it was high end store, at least before May Company purchased it. The Broadway was closed and repurposed as a theatre after Macys acquired the chain. I seem to recall it was a very large store as was the Robinsons. It is sad to see it now, knowing that the mall used to be one of the nicest in the area year back.

[@vanessaamaya93]

The 80’s mall is a ghost mall nowadays. I really missed the moments, I’ve been there sometimes, this mall gives everyone 80’s nostalgias….

[@LinuxDaily]

that last clip where you show the center "star" shape, the skylight looks amazing, great video!

[@kylemunley]

Oh man, that arcade - I love the look of that place; it really takes me back to my childhood. Sad to see it so empty, though.

[@gregkarris6869]

Cool! Unfortunately for this mall, Sears and ToysRUs are next to close...

[@nathanxavier1315]

Already closed long time ago... I was just there yesterday saw no sears

[@catalystv7520]

The Round 1 arcade is awesome!!

[@zosometalgod]

There was more than one Koi ponds down stairs! People kept throwing shit in the ponds killing some fish so the mall took them out tiled over the ponds and made the round flat space sitting areas! I was 11 when this mall opened was one of my favorite malls! Always went there late 70"s through the 80's! And that lone pines mall sign was made in 2015 to celebrate back to the future 2 when they go to the year 2015! Wasn't made in 05

[@Anthonyfg93]

When I was younger this used to be where I would have my midway visit with my dad for a couple hours. I remember the koi pond in the center of the mall . And before they had round one there used to be an arcade called “tilt”we would spend most of our time at. Good memories

[@lwsullivan91]

You weren't kidding. That arcade is impressive.

[@mustangs-marketing]

I love the Round 1 at this mall, my GF and I have been to it a few times. Interesting company too, huge entertainment chain in Japan

[@kisesakusaku]

I visit Puente Hills Mall from time to time, and like last week me and my friend went there to see a movie, as well do some shopping at the mall! I hope it can stay standing because I love the fact that this mall had a movie cameo history, and BttF was one of my favorite 80s hits!

[@567CHRISPY]

the food court used to actually look very different in the early 2000s, lots of primary colors and way more cheery. i used to go w my cousins a lot, and then go for a movie at the amc theatre. there used to be a lot of koi ponds throughout the mall too.

[@pikapal91746]

My mom said when this mall was opened in the 1970s it was a big deal. I moved to the area in the mid 90s and this became one of my local malls along with the one in West Covina. There was never a Mervy's as an anchor it was down the street from the mall. I remember my parents buying curtains at the JCPenny's in the mid 90s. The Toys R Us used to also be a stand alone location until they moved it to the mall. There is an Army and a Navy recruitment center there. There is also a bus store to buy bus passes. That place you passed by that you said was a food place I think it sold either drinks or snow cones. Since I've moved I don't frequent this mall as much as I used to.

[@BlueThundah75]

I miss arcades so much. I used to go to the Tilt at the Six Flags mall every saturday with 2 bucks in quarters from my grandpa. Since I moved to new mexico, I haven't been able to find a proper arcade in a mall, Maybe I'm not looking hard enough. The retro/used independently owned shop has 7-8 arcade cabinets and 3 pinball tables, that actually seems to be a draw for that store.

[@tnbspotter5360]

That arcade is huge! Even bigger than the typical arcades of the '90s.

[@jettblack000]

There's another Round 1 at Grapevine Mills... I am desperate to go back to Grapevine now. I went to Great Wolf a couple years ago without knowing they had Round 1 at Grapevine Mills, and between that time and now I started really enjoying playing Beatmania IIDX on my PC (you passed by it in the arcade), so I really want to be able to play on an actual cabinet.

[@courtneyr5504]

Just randomly saw this, my dad used to work as the manager in the Foot Locker. Sometime in the 80s I believe.

[@SLone3251]

I follow you and had no idea you did a video on this mall! I grew up going here, and the mall started going downhill right around the time it had that 2006 (?) renovation, which really just brought in a ton of couches for the elderly to nap in on weekends. In its hey day circa-2002/2003, Puente Hills Mall had chains like Anchor Blue, Borders Bookstore, an Orange Julius/Dairy Queen (where H&M now is), Aeropostale, and Old Navy (which moved out of the mall). The only reason this place is still open is because of Round 1 and AMC 20. The Sears has since closed and on the walls throughout the mall, there are renderings for a possible complete expansion and remodel (example at 6:18), which I doubt will happen since they've been up for over a year now. P.S. The See's Candies and Waldo suit store (used to be called Prestige) are OG stores...they've been there for 20+ years.

[@sarahtorres5612]

Our poor mall. I grew up at this mall. My dad used to work there in the 80’s. It used to be a great mall! It’s so sad to see how slow it is.