Reimagining Regency Square: Find Out What This Mall Has in Store!

In this video I visit Regency Square outside of Richmond, VA to see a property the owners are trying to transform into the mall of the 21st century. I think they may actually succeed.
00:00 Introduction
10:00 Adult Learning Center
20:48 Food Court Changes

[@dickkirkland]

Thank you for this video and history! I used to work here in high school and in college at Sea Dream Leather. This whole mall was so grand in the 80s & 90s. I remember it boasting "over 140 shops!" The whole area with the movie theater was a major hub in this West End area. Crazy how it so much of the marble is still there. I remember gold railings and staff polishing them. I wonder what will become that Bojangles statue. I hope that it is preserved. Ahh, the smell of the old indoor fountain. I heard some mention recently of pickleball courts here?

[@DyingRetail]

I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the video. It’s still an interesting looking mall. I am not sure about pickle ball courts but that could be part of the swim club possibly? If I come across anything I’ll try and post it.

[@dickkirkland]

Thanks again @@DyingRetail 🙂

[@DyingRetail]

I have two malls I’m working on getting out shortly.

[@dickkirkland]

@@DyingRetail Nice, thanks.

[@melinabee3]

Great video. Surprised that security didn’t come hassle you ! I have some footage of the food court right before it was closed off completely. I hope they turn it into a food hall like you said. I remember so many things about this mall through the years and hope it can survive.

[@DyingRetail]

It’s what the news reports I found said. I would hope they would offer more dining options to draw people inside. There was only one guard I saw. Wasn’t paying me no mind.

[@amysanchez3699]

So sad to see. This was an amazing mall when I was growing up. I worked at Express and a coffee shop just outside the food court when I was in college. I remember Hardee's and Friendly's upstairs pre-food court and going Trick or Treating as a child. The statues and the fountains were so magical to me. Now, "smell of weed" as you walk in? So sad. I left the US 13 years ago, but my mom has told me how crappy everything has become.

[@DyingRetail]

The public’s attitudes towards Marijuana has changed over the past several years. Lots of states changing their laws to not arrest people. So the smell of weed is noticeable in more places. This is still an interesting mall. It’s good the owners are trying to keep it a viable property. What part of the world are you now?

[@darrylpeake2998]

I agree with you I hope the new changes over time keeps the mall alive in the 21st century and beyond.

[@DyingRetail]

Will be interesting to see. Apparently it’s going to be community oriented.

[@MatthewLavan]

Ah, thank you for this video! ☺️ I used to go here all the time when I was young 🙈 haven’t been in years, but I would go there just for the fish shop 😆 Loved the food court there with like Baskin Robbins; RIP 💐 Interesting to see how it looks lately, but I’m still rooting for this mall to do well again!

[@DyingRetail]

It’s going to be interesting to see. It’s nice the owners are trying to do something good with the property.

[@dickkirkland]

The Baskin Robbins "smell"! Delicious.

[@Johnny_Fox_Show]

Legend has it the bear is still there hiding from Chris Chan.

[@DyingRetail]

At this mall or Charlottesville? Lol

[@melbrown6019]

Have you been to SC? There’s a lot of dead malls here. My mom used to live close to what was the Cloverleaf Mall in Richmond. It was thriving then had a downfall and 2 ladies were killed one night there. The mall closed and was demolished.

[@DyingRetail]

Not in years. I am not sure when I can make it down yeah. That and Chesterfield Towne center I think helped drive that into the ground. Sunday my Chesterfield Towne Center video premiers.

[@amysanchez3699]

It really went down when the bus line from Richmond stopped there but the murders were terrifying!

[@briantimko3225]

Nice lookin mall

[@DyingRetail]

It’s in good shape and owners who are trying to do good things.

[@hattree]

I used to work in this mall at the Hechts. It had been the major shopping destination for me growing up. It's amazing this is still here and Va Center is gone. It's sad, but it's in better shape than I expected.

[@DyingRetail]

It will be interesting to see if all the changes going on will be good for the mall or not. It was very clean inside.

[@amysanchez3699]

Wow va center is gone?? Sorry I left 13 years ago... what happened?

[@jeremyfaison6406]

No disrespect but I just went in there Saturday they don’t have shot in there

[@DyingRetail]

No disrespect to me. Only time will tell. It seems the owners are trying to transform the property. What do you think the problems are?

[@jeremyfaison6406]

@@DyingRetail there stores are boring

[@DyingRetail]

I can’t argue with that point. Looks like it’s being turned more into a community space though. Think that will not work out?

[@scottuncfan]

Any national tenants?

[@DyingRetail]

None that I am finding. They have that whole area that’s covered for redevelopment. Don’t know what will go there. They have several chain food establishments outside surrounding the mall and the new outdoor sides as you walk in. Foot Locker also outside

[@scottuncfan]

@@DyingRetail oh ok I'm glad they are working on it making it not dead again!

[@DyingRetail]

Only time will tell.

[@DyingRetail]

+scott sheffield Nothing big. A couple of small ones. Outside was footlocker, Jersey Mikes, etc.

[@scottuncfan]

@@DyingRetail well that's good at least! I thought they are gonna put pickleball courts in where the old Macy is

[@Done832]

Apartments, adult education, swimming pools, trampolines are hardly a shopping experience. My first prediction is the swimming pools will not work out for various reasons. They might start out strong but will not last. Plus I can't imagine insurance on these types of places. They might as well add in a big drug store so the apartment complex won't have to drive to one. Maybe some different nice restaurants might help so the apartment dwellers can walk to dine. Should just move the library there as well. Maybe one or two upscale stores, shoe store, jeans, and sweats stores. A nice jewelry store that is not necessarily just about diamonds. Oh and of course a technology store. Salons seem to be big now so that would be a convenience for those living in the apartments. That should complete it! Change the colors of the tiles from black to a brighter more welcoming color. Either way, in the long run if crime continues to haunt these places where people gather, nothing is going to work. Something has to be done or the malls will next be turned into prisons.

[@DyingRetail]

It’s what’s going to happen at a lot of these places. They over built malls in the 90’s.