Paradise Valley Mall: Trouble In Paradise | Retail Archaeology Dead Mall Documentary

Video tour of Paradise Valley Mall in Phoenix, AZ. Footage was recorded on the afternoon of 6/24/2017. Paradise Valley Mall is starting to show signs of a dying mall. Interior portion of the tour starts at the 7:00 minute mark.
Twitter: @Ret_Archaeology
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=Music Info=
-For information on the music from Jason Heine visit:
jasonheine.bandcamp.com/
Official Music Video for S I D E W A L K *S A L E*:
• * S I D E W A L K * S ...
-For information on Retail Archaeology's video game inspired vaporwave album "Vaporwave Entertainment System" visit:
retailarchaeology.bandcamp.com
Official music video for Virtua Mall Cop:
• Virtua Mall Cop | Vapo...
-Rhythm and Booze by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: www.twinmusicom.org/
#deadmall #deadmalls #retailarchaeology #sears #macys #jcpenney #dillards #vaporwave #retailapocalypse

[@carlklitzke9455]

Nice music choices.

[@RetailArchaeology]

Thank you! Some of the tracks are from my own vaporwave EP titled "Vaporwave Entertainment System" 😀 All of the tracks on my album are made with and inspired by video game music. There's more info in the description of the video.

[@tbb033]

Wow, it fits with the mall walking, but also really does bring video game music to mind. Nice job.

[@Kee-Lo]

Retail Archaeology what's the track at 15:00?

[@Wyrdwad]

Aha! Made with and inspired by video game music! I knew I recognized Sorcerian in one of those tracks. Good choice! ;)

[@glittabones]

Recognised the music from Cool Spot!

[@taznruby]

Thank you for documenting the fall of the malls. 20 years from now your work will be revered.

[@tbb033]

20 years from now? They're pretty awesome now, and we should heed their clarion call to save the mall!

[@officeflan1303]

Sadly the entrance by the Costco was not done in the 90s it was remodeled around 2007 😂 The cubes represented the different entrances and sections of the mall. If you look they are all labeled with different names. Back in the day they were each painted a different color with the corresponding area of the mall ceiling or wall being painted so it was easier to find where you where.The store with a domino print was a board game store. "Game Daze" The store with the ugly tile work was originally a KB toy store.Thanks for doing this video. I love PV mall, grew up there and I have 20 plus years of memories stored up about it 😊

[@farmcentralohio]

Thank you for clearing that up. I get tired of these youtubers explaining how something looks so 90"s or so dated when they really have no clue what they're talking about

[@MCDreng]

The 2007 entrance I always called "the secret entrance" as a kid. I remember finding it walking around the mall and being blown away.

[@DrewRecker]

Macy’s used to be where Costco is now. When they bought Robinson’s May, they moved to the other side of the mall into their building. The Macy’s building was torn down and they built the Costco. The other odd thing is that the sears there swapped buildings with Dillard’s before they opened. That’s why the sears auto center is outside Dillard’s. I grew up at this mall and used to work there. Very nostalgic!

[@Georgeeph]

Drew Recker they finally got rid of the mc Donald's outta the food court. Lol

[@colinwahl2509]

anyone remember when the food court taco Bell was the only taco Bell north of Shea and tatum

[@califdad4]

and the Macys store that was torn down was a Broadway Southwest, till Federated Dept stores bought them to add to Macy's, since they were not in the southwest. Federated changed their name to Macy's

[@brianpeace4218]

The old Macys/Broadway Southwest store that was torn down looked exactly like the Macy's at Superstition Springs.

[@califdad4]

yes, Broadway used store plans in other locations, I worked for Weinstock's for a long time, they were part of Broadway but a division in the Sacramento Valley, Fresno to Sacramento and Reno Nv. While going down the I-10 in SoCal years back I saw several Broadways that looked like several of the Weinstock's in NorCal

[@misterhat5823]

No massage chairs? You can't have a true dead mall without coin operated massage chairs everywhere.

[@JackFevurly]

Oh they have them in front of the Macy's (from the inside) their annoying beeping still haunts my dreams.

[@kurisu7885]

There's a few malls near me that have those massage chairs and they're hardly dead.

[@deendrew36]

kurisu7885 i think not all malls with massage chairs are dead, but all dead malls have massage chairs.

[@jalinert7]

The Statue in called Faith, Hope, and charity. The interesting thing was the Artist sculpted it within the Paradise Valley Mall it in the court near the food court. I Spent many hours watching him. I wish I could remember his name.

[@deendrew36]

jalinert7 interesting tid bit!

[@AtomicAgePictures]

As a phoenix native for over 50 years I would think the mall would be busier on a Saturday evening and then a Saturday afternoon. No one wants to leave their house when it's 118.

[@ultimatevixn]

that's what I was thinking . folk probably come out when the sun starts to go down

[@jasburger]

AtomicAgePictures True

[@james8156]

As a kid going to Phoenix on vacation I used to go here every chance I got. I remember the first thing I would have my parents do was to stop at the mall and I would run to open the doors in the food court and take in a gasp of the air conditioning smell and knew that moment ( I was on vacation ). I hope this mall can sustain.

[@arelieoeuvre1763]

Having been going to Paradise Valley Mall myself several times, I can name some of the stores that have closed down. 9:58 - That store used to be Tinkerbell, a small store that sold $1 items to $30 and over. The lady who ran the store was super nice, and she always made a friendly conversation. 10:13 - I can't remember what the store on the right used to be but the store to your left used to be some kind of perfume store. It sold fancy-looking trinkets and such. 14:00 - Usually, there was always a good crowd in the food court whevever I visited. There actually used to be a Mcdonald's. But that was in 2011. 15:26 - Yeah, the arcade sucks. The most exciting thing that happened there was when my friend and I found some quarters. 20:31 - On the right that store used to be a phone/tablet accessory and repair shop. On the left it was a little kids shoe store. Oh those were the days. I'm not that old, but I am at the age where I can say "in my day..." and then recall past events that are irrelevant to present day. Rest in peace the simple times. Anyway, if anyone actually gets to read this, then thank you.

[@utharkruna1116]

Im certain the malls i went to growing up are in a fearful state by now. The areas are too un safe to go so i can't go look.

[@janedoe6704]

I thought the black and white domino store was a board game store. IIRC they also sold card games like pokemon and magic the gathering etc, but I could totally be wrong.

[@baneintherain]

​@@janedoe6704correct, it was Game Daze.

[@hudcantlift5122]

I grew up going to that mall as a kid in the early to mid 2000s. That was the place to be back then. It has never been the same post 2008. In my middle school years I would visit that arcade with my friends and we knew a kid who worked there and we'd waste hours there during the hot summer. We hung out at a counter near the back, but it looks like now they've sectioned that arcade in half, it used to be way bigger. It's sad visiting that mall now, seeing my childhood deteriorate and have the memories fade as time goes on.

[@brianboyer113]

About 15 years ago, the arcade in the food court was an actual arcade. Not just redemption games. Spent tons of afternoons in that mall with my ex because neither of us had a car and her parents would just drop us off there haha. I miss malls.

[@CathodeZodiac]

it was called Pocket Change! I spent a lot of my childhood there

[@proonguice8386]

Collin Feigle omg you’re right. I remember the ‘pocket change’ sign in food court maybe late 80’s or early 90’s.

[@s1r_lancel0t64]

Back when it was still the Tilt?? lol I loved that place!!

[@lopaka76]

@@CathodeZodiac Pocket Change made great use of the space. They had a ton of games.

[@baneintherain]

Pocket Change was fantastic. Many hours spent playing Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat. Started to go downhill when they changed it around and became Tilt.

[@nascaracing9]

I like how you show the exterior of the mall

[@RetailArchaeology]

sportscaracing canada I'm glad you enjoy it 😀 I find the architectural details on old malls interesting.

[@rubies200]

The cubes look like they should be in Hellraiser...

[@scottlloyd9762]

the checker store was a games store called game daze or something like that.

[@TheEasyJoe]

Scott Lloyd You are correct I remember getting trading cards and a couple of boardgames there. It was my favorite behind GameStop and Hobby Bench, niether of which is still there sadly

[@Free_Samples]

Scott Lloyd I remember Game Daze!

[@NeikoGarcia]

DirtyMK HOBBY BENCH!!!!

[@katiepryor6283]

I thought Game Daze was in a different part of the mall with a different facade. Unless they moved...

[@ChachiTchotchke]

The worst part about that Sears is that it closes earlier than the rest of the mall 'cause it's just doing so terribly. It kinda seemed to be dying a while back, but when the Picture Show moved in, it kind of saved it for a while. Also, that one shop with the white, yellow, and red tiles was originally a K.B. Toys that closed a couple of years ago and then a sword shop was there until it also closed. I think it's been vacant since then (minus the Christmas time calendar shop that pops up)

[@johnketring2257]

I am surprised to see that there is still a sears there at all because so many are closed now and it hasn’t been better since before the merger with Kmart

[@TroyWalrod]

First time I went to this mall was the summer of 1982 I was 20 yrs old and had just moved to Scottsdale from Oklahoma... I remember I got panicked because I thought my car had been stolen And it didn’t occur to me I had gotten turned around somehow and came out different from where I went in! LOL Hey I was just silly kid! Sad to see this beautiful mall in its beginnings of DEATH! 😖😢

[@vedved82491]

-The checkerboard store front was a game store. They sold board games, cards, etc. Here are some others in case you were curious: -Malani World Mercato used to be Gap, Gap Kids, and Gap Baby -Glow Golf was Charlotte Russe -'Q" used to be an Anchor Blue, way back before they went out of business -Garden Enhancements was a GameStop up until about last year or so. The arcade in the food court used to be a food place too. I can't recall if that was the plot where Taco Bell was or if TB was the next spot over. -Wigs Amor used to be Hobby Bench, and it had the big plane on the storefront. -Spencer's used to be across from where it is now. The empty store next to its current location (the one with the ugly tile work) used to be KB Toys.

[@Georgeeph]

If anyone remembers about 12-14 years ago they there used to be a guy who sold, traded yu-gi-oh cards as well but he closed after about 7-8 months be he held tournaments and stuff.

[@SeraphinaPZ]

It seems like Dead Malls are just all over the US these days given all the video I have seen of them, it's nostalgic and eerie to watch. I hear the local mall nearby to me is these days a dead mall, I kind of want to go see it out of curiosity, but at the same time it would be strange because I haven't been there in at least seven years or more and now it's probably a shell of what it was.

[@ClassicSonicFan2012]

What mall was it? We have a mall like that. Just curious if its the same one.

[@frankyu553]

Sera I love how your profile pic matches the logo in that "Asian Gifts" sign XD It has a really vaporwave feel haha

[@bryantint1339]

You should visit if it's nearby.

[@oliverjones1845]

LagiNaLangAko23 outdated, online sales and its no longer an experience like it was back in the days.

[@deendrew36]

Oliver Jones it’s weird though, because our malls are PACKED. Especially on the weekends. Sometimes very hard to get parking. I live in a Canadian city of about a million, which is small compared to some American cities.

[@tbb033]

That entrance near the Costco does look cool. I'd almost expect it to be an entrance near a movie theater.

[@davidrenthal9416]

I grew up in this mall in the 90'. It used to be so busy, it's sad to see it like this. The store with the checker and dice entry way used to be a game store, sold board games of all kinds. I used to love it. Across the way, the store with the glass diagonal front was a hat store.

[@clawmachinez26]

The place at 10:00 with the dice outline was a “Game Daze”. It sold board games, puzzles, just a bunch of fun things to play with. My friend used to be the general manager there, did well back in the day but soon flopped. One lady came along and rented it out after Game Daze left and made it into a boutique. That later closed too.

[@LucidValvo]

I used to frequent this mall from 1998 to 2012. This mall was crazy popular when I was a kid. The first axe to the mall was when the Harkin's Theatre went away. Lots of enterior stores went away because of the decrease in foot traffic. The mall floundered since then, despite the mall owners trying to invest and get people interested again. The mall finally got that Picture Show in after a decade, but the damage was already done. That exterior and interior building near the food court was a TGI Friday's that shut down shortly after the theater did. At the time that I moved away from that part of Phoenix, it was kind of a mall I only went to to go to the movies or do Christmas shopping. It looks even worse in the five years I've been away. I remember when it used to be packed with people. I had no idea Bill and Ted's had cut footage of the exterior, or about the Metro Center mall. Crazy!

[@officialyasir]

Just found your channel recently, can’t get enough! Good work man! I never I thought I’d interested in this type of stuff but your commentary and music is awesome!

[@quietcoyotes5938]

I still miss the hobby store with the biplane sticking out of the wall above the entrance.

[@davidrenthal9416]

Quiet Coyotes I loved that store when I was a kid

[@Blueeyes713]

Yeah, that place always used to look so cool back in the day.

[@vedved82491]

Hobby Bench! My brother has so many model airplanes he collected from there over the years.

[@rorinator]

"The Fall of the Mall™"

[@carolleitz2917]

nice to meet you i subscribed to you today.i worked here in this mall at the salons and i am thankful you posted this.i didnt think that this mall would be affected in this way.Thank you for keeping us all updated

[@felicityhart20]

Fun story I worked at a things remembered until about a month ago. And a few years back I worked at a things engraved (the canadian company version)

[@Ram-2112]

Love all the local Phoenix area stuff! Thanks so much keep it up!

[@thepannyboy]

I saw you on Fox News 10, I don't walk very well so I cannot visit malls (since1994) so thank you for showing me around. I can't believe malls are disappearing.

[@coolhistorystuff]

The store in the beginning of the video with the checkerboard tile and dice was called Game Daze, they sold board/card games.

[@lindaelliott184]

Please note Paradise Valley Mall is not outside of Paradise Valley. It is within a large area of north Phoenix, long referred to as Paradise Valley, hence the PV School District in the same area. This is separate from the town of Paradise Valley.

[@goindiggn]

Wow, when you walked through those tacky chrome doors at Macy's I went back in time to the mid-90s when I used to go there as a kid. You are right, I don't think they've ever changed a damn thing in there, down to the positioning of the tables and mannequins, it all looks the same.

[@brianpan6453]

Same layout as the one in Destiny, Syracuse NY - one of the most successful malls in the country. Please do a time capsule video there before malls go the way of the dinosaurs. THAT would be very interesting to see for future generations.

[@MK_337]

I can appreciate the architecture in that mall. Thanks for documenting this.

[@SatansYardsale]

In answer to your question about the store with the dice, that was a game/puzzle store that replaced Game Daze (another game/puzzle store) shortly after it closed. Both places sold rubix cubes, board games, D&D books, metal/wooden disassembly puzzles and things like that.

[@cheryljeffali8251]

I am loving your channel, especially the old comercials and your documentation of the failure of alot of these specialty stores. I do feel a nostalgia for some of these stores and I'm sure many people will in the coming years as things change. Also, I love reading the comments as to why people don't shop there anymore. It is a facinating sociological study.

[@TheZerogravityzones]

Man it is crazy seeing all these dead malls. Somehow the malls near me are never dead, not even around closing time.

[@benrippel3993]

Some parts of the USA were drastically overbuilt in retail. It's now coming to a head as consumer shopping trends continue to change and more make do with less.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

My area certainly hasn't died.

[@celicobain8270]

The thing is though, these masks in AZ are very strategically placed and none are closer than about 30 miles. So each city or every two have a mall about and the further cities had to travel 30 or so minutes to get there. Amazon is taking over.

[@jennygalliger5782]

the closed store used to be an old board game/novelty item store, which closed about 5 to 7 years ago

[@mrversa11]

Damn has it really been that long since that store closed 😮

[@tylerdarland465]

Game Dayz!!! That is what is was called lol

[@nicholasshade]

I love the cube structures. I love the statue. I love the stain glass windows. I love the store doors and glass. I love the checker, domino or dice print. I love the skylight. I love the panda picture. I love the coca cola carousel. 🎠 I love the fountain. ⛲ I love the arcade. I love the skill crane games. I love the prize games. 🎮 I love the brownstone. I love the glass. I love all tile and stone. I love when a store is closed and that cage is pulled down. I love psychic readings. 🔮 I love your work. Keep it up.♏

[@ronniecoffin4742]

Sears and JC Penny went downhill when they stopped catalog distribution and sales

[@CommodoreFan64]

SEARS really went don't after K-Mart bought them, and mismanaged them, but yes stopping the catalog did not help them much.

[@nogarage]

Right around the 17:40-17:45 mark one of the light bulbs around the skylight goes out. Kinda symbolic of the mall dying right in front of you or something like that.

[@fiiive2the5ix]

Do you ever interview any of the retail store workers? it would be an interesting to see the perspectives of the people who have to show up to a dead mall for work, day in and day out. it must effect moral and be super disheartening.

[@janedoe6704]

I knew someone that worked at this mall after many stores closed. Closing employees had to be walked to the parking lot by the manager to make sure they were safe, everyone parked in that lot to make sure they weren't alone. The darkness of the mall in late hours was "depressing" I am told.

[@anthonystumpo3064]

why do I find dead mall videos so interesting

[@natalieshaffer9440]

This brings back so many memories! PV mall was my favorite place to go for shopping and entertainment. That Starbucks near one of the entrances was always hopping.

[@msbae]

Amazon sure is having a devastating effect on retail...

[@Deninoiforu]

This reminds me of the Ridgemar Mall in Fort Worth which has dwindled greatly within the past 10 years. It used to be THE mall to go to. Now it's the mall to go to if you want to get robbed or kidnapped. They have a nice theatre and that's about it...

[@123bigred]

in 6th grade we came here on a field trip and spencers was one of the stores we where not allowed to go in that was like in 95 or 96. surprised to still see its there. The last time I was at this mall was like around 2010 or 2011. I went on a Saturday morning it was very busy still like I remembered it. sad to see it this empty and its currently getting demolished. oh the memories with friends and relatives here .. will last a lifetime. RIP PV MALL LOL

[@silvia11100]

Wow, this brings back a lot of memories. I was born and raised in Germany and moved to Phx in August of 1990. My ex-husband took me there pretty often. I had never been to a mall before and everything was new to me. I mean they even had an ice skating rink back then. We also went to the Metro Center but I always liked PV Mall much more.

[@ILovePurpleBarrels]

I grew up around this mall! So many memories here. That store next to the puppy store with the domino and checker board tiles was a store called Game Daze. They sold stuff like puzzles, board games, and other more niche hobby things and games. If I remember right they used to have a dragon head on top of the store's sign but they must have taken that down. It was actually a fun store to take a look around in and I was so sad to see it go out of business. Awesome video, the mall looks pretty much the same recently although I haven't been there in 2018 yet. The Chompie's is pretty popular now, but there's even less shoppers in the actual mall now. Can't wait to see you revisit this mall!!

[@caveman123ization]

Retail Archeology has never seen a piece of styling or arechetecture that didn't have a "really 90s feel to it" :D Loved the video. Have a good day.

[@Free_Samples]

it's so sad to see this, I used to frequent this mall all of the time and it was always packed. Times are changing for the worst. One day we will all be saying "we used to have malls".

[@danka2000]

I can agree with you that it was slow when you were there. I happened to stop by the mall yesterday, a Saturday afternoon at about 3:30 PM. I will say it was much busier than what it was on the video was filmed. Yes, you would think on a Saturday Afternoon on a hot day in Phoenix people flocking to an air conditioned mall. However, the date you filmed this was June 24th, and I remember around that time it was record breaking heat in Phoenix. We all should know, when it gets that hot, people tend to stay home unless they really have to go out. I'm one of those people myself. Another thing to remember from late June through July, people tend to go on vacations. Not just malls have lower business, but also other businesses including restaurants (some restaurants close for the summer here). I run a business myself and I will say late June through July is generally slowest time of year for us. When I came in Paradise Valley, its late September, school is back in session, weather is cooler. and people are not on vacation. Big difference in time period when you filmed this. Also, some of those vacant storefronts are going to be leased it appears. Gymboree is closing though, saw that when I was there. I do agree the mall is facing challenges, considering that Scottsdale Fashion Square is not that far from Paradise Valley Mall and other newer shopping have opened in years. But still Paradise Valley is a nice mall and likely be spared the death spiral as what is going on with Fiesta Mall in Mesa. I saw you were on FOX 10 news. Keep the videos coming, you should visit other malls like AZ Mills, Outlet center near Phoenix and Tucson, Arrowhead Towne Center, and Scottsdale Fashion Square.

[@ms.bigbooty]

This is sooo strange... I like, live there wtf. Also I used to work at that "puppy mill" shop. Its actually run by and supplied by local breeders and they treat their dogs extremly well (almost like their precious jewels) and even give a portion of their proceeds to dog shelters. They really love their pups and its a really good shop it would be a shame to see it go...

[@jacquelinemurphy3629]

I grew up going to that mall. Spent many many hours as a Teen. As an adult I worked in the Costumers Service Desk only 8 years ago. It was starting to show signs of dying but still super busy! Stunned to see it die so quickly. Dice & Checkerboard Store was game store at one time. I could name a few stores that are now empty. So many memories!!!

[@lindaelliott184]

Thanks for the interesting video; glad to see PV Mall documented. I worked at PV Mall when it was new and into early 80s. You refer to it not being in Paradise Valley; it is smack in the middle of the area of Phoenix long referred to as Paradise Valley, hence its in the PV School District. Thanks for pointing out the stained glass in the food court; always thought those cool.Originally, the anchors were Goldwaters (where Macy's is now), Diamonds with its upstairs restaurant, and JC Penney. The section of the mall now existing in the section north of Sears (formerly Dillard's/Diamonds) was added on and not original to the mall. Other original stores were a drug store, King's Table restaurant, Musicland, B Dalton Books, a big sewing store by Penney and, in the food court, Pizza D'More and, oddly, a 2-storey Chick Fil-A where Ruby Tuesdays and, long before that, McDonalds was.Also, the cinema was first a General Cinemas. Also enjoyed your Fiesta Mall video, thanks!

[@jerrymoadj.r.1911]

awsome video my first time watching your videos

[@swim2]

I'm also in AZ...you're inspiring me to do a series of photos on these dead malls. Some really cool old aesthetics.

[@GreenAppelPie]

I can't imagine why this Sears still being open, it's obviously a lost cause. And yeah it looked like that in '94 except it had customers. I think returning every 6 months would be cool.

[@benrippel3993]

I was shocked yesterday to really find some good stuff at my local Sears. Ours all still have Lands End departments, though.

[@tbb033]

Also in '94 it had video games. Not anymore since their overlords K-mart decided to drop them (in both chains) a few years back. Shame, I saved a lot on them with the "rewards" card.

[@christopherwaits7852]

Ben Rippel Sears really is a pretty decent store, it's just sad they are horribly mismanaged and will likely not survive long term.

[@azisles02]

My wife & I go to PV Mall a lot because it's the closest to us & we LOVE Chompies (brings us back home to NY with it's NY-deli style sanwhiches & NY bakery items). I hope that "puppy mill" store doesn't close. My dog loves the treats they sell there. During the summer it does get empty, but once school season starts to get going, it gets more & more crowded. The stores that are empty only started within the past year or so. The VR store just opened a few months ago and that area always seems to be changing every 6-12 months (it a comic book store last Christmas season). That said, they did just renovate Arrowhead Town Centre and between that mall & Scottsdale Fashion Square, they have become the malls in the Phoenix area. Hopefully a renovation push is coming to PV Mall so they have 3 major malls in the valley. The food court would be a great place to start the reno.

[@LucidValvo]

The store with the dice above it was a board game / classic game store that had been at the mall for 20 or so years give or take. The store was calle Game Daze. They relocated to that location, when the wing of the mall that the CostCo is now located at was demolished to make room for it. It was a really awesome store, had supplies for roleplaying games and had some very expensive chess sets available, along with some generic video poker handhelds, et cetera.

[@TheSbaldetti]

Phoenix native for the first 26 years of my life. Born & raised in AZ! Just recently moved across the country to Ohio. I miss this mall. I remember it vidvidly. Two of my favorite stores as a kid were the Quiet Coyotes Hobby store with the biplane sticking out from the entrance and the Suncoast video store. Also, can’t forget the KB toys & Gamestop that was there at once point! Those were the good ole days!

[@viennawaits4u36]

I was a freshman in HS when my family moved from Mesa to Scottsdale, AZ back in '83, just a few miles east of Paradise Valley Mall. Needless to say, me and my school buddies spent a lot of time shopping and hanging out at PV mall. Sad to see all these malls that I spent a lot of my youth at are disappearing now.

[@SeanStrife]

The dead mall near me still has its Spencer's... and it still has the neon signage. You can imagine my joy when I saw it. Anytime I take a trip to the mall to check it out, I ALWAYS make sure to at least buy something at that Spencer's. I, too, love the only neon storefront signage of Spencer's.

[@AtariTheAnimator]

This mall was mostly demolished, except for JCPenney and Costco. There is a mixed-use redevelopment going in called PV, after Paradise Valley, and the logo is reminiscent of the famous entrances. There will be a Harkins Theatre, Whole Foods, and lots of luxury apartments.

[@frostanimate]

A part of the mall is still attached to the JCPenney

[@ckrtom2]

Just randomly found this. Great video, great commentary. Ugh, with it being so dead...What’s going on in the world we live in today? If people aren’t around, out and about, where are they? Cooped up at home on their computers and smartphones? This video was a distant 2+ years ago. I’ll check to see if you’ve made updates. PS: Ah, cool, see you just did an update August 2019! Gonna check it out.

[@occdoc8423]

Paradise Valley Mall is located in a relatively affluent part of town (in the far northwest reaches of the Town of Paradise Valley, and within a 5 mile radius of north Scottsdale). The slow demise of this mall is not due so much to an economic downturn, but more so because of the increased popularity of online shopping. It's a real shame, because this was once a vibrant and busy mall.

[@kathrynmcelroy5658]

The checkerboard topped store was called The Icing and it was a teeny-bopper accessory store much like Claires.

[@SkyvatorProductions]

I was at that mall a few days ago. I agree, it is starting to die. I really hope it doesn't become like Metrocenter and Fiesta Mall.

[@109number9]

Although it still looks like there are a lot of stores open, there still isn't near the amount of shoppers one would expect. I would say its only the beginning of the end for this mall :/ On a side note, it's interesting for me to note how the architecture in Arizona in buildings and malls differer from what I'm used to seeing where I live in Northwest Arkansas. Great video!

[@RetailArchaeology]

SuperiorRedneck I agree, it's in the embryonic stage of a dead mall. I will definitely be keeping tabs on this one.

[@erinmarsh3934]

I think the last time I went here was 1-2 years ago and I remember thinking it seemed to be on its way to being a dead mall. It's funny you mention outdoor shopping centers because I was at Tempe Marketplace yesterday wondering why in the hell we have outdoor centers here haha. You should check out Galleria Corporate Center in downtown Scottsdale. It opened as a mall in 1991 but failed within 2 years and within the last several years they've converted it into a business center. At least they were able to do that instead of demolishing it completely or letting it sit there to rot. One more thing, you should do a meetup for fellow retail archaeologists in the Phoenix/southwest area :)

[@skashotokan7]

Some history: Thank you for the detailed video. I haven't seen PV Mall or been to it in over 24 years. I now live in Houston, Texas and can tell you malls here are super popular such as the giant Galleria and nice malls like Memorial City, Katy Mills, the Woodlands. I'm 49 and moved to Scottsdale in 1979 with my family. Went to Desert Shadows. PV Mall had just opened. The original 4 stores were Diamonds, Goldwaters, JC Penny and SEARS. General Cinema was in the food court, we saw Empire Strikes Back there and the line wrapped around the mall. Super Fun was in the lower left corner of the food court and was "The Place" to be for video games, girls and friends when you were a teenager. The cool thing back then in PV and Scottsdale was to ride your bike up to or have your parents drop you off at PV Mall. Metro Center was larger but too far away in mid-Phoenix off the Black Canyon Fwy. I ended up working there after my return from the US Army. I worked as a plain clothes Loss Prevention officer for Dillard's and JC Penny in the early 90s. It was still a nice and popular mall back then with few changes. It's iconic to the Scottsdale - PV area 85254. Back in the day there was nothing much at Tatum and Cactus. It's such a nice area and a shame to see PV Mall dying. I guess it's the sign of modern times - online shopping. Thank you for sharing the video. I always wondered how it is today.

[@sarahsmull5069]

I loved the video I'm fascinated what's going to happen to malls

[@mikescott8]

Thank you for this video. I've only lived in Phoenix valley for 11+ years but when first moved here my son was under a year and daughter was born in the first year. PV mall is one we used to end up at after driving around learning the valley as kids napped. We used to use that entrance by the Costco as we could get close parking spots near the front. It was busy back then but seems it's gone down hill in recent years. The big square concrete blocks outside the entrances are (very) slightly reminiscent of the styled concrete formed block from Frank Lloyd Wright like at the biltmore and some of his other work (IMO).

[@michaelstricklett7130]

The business with the dice on the top of the doors in black and white I believe was called Game Daze. They used to be in a number of malls. Arrowhead Mall had one as of s year or two ago. Great videos my friend

[@drakevostrejs563]

Plz come back here again it’s my favorite mall !!

[@pyreeight8639]

Nice job, was wondering what was going on there. Thanks

[@real_fjcalabrese]

I used to shop there in the early 2000s. It was still somewhat vibrant. Last time I went there it wasn't happening.

[@s1r_lancel0t64]

The checker print store was an old game daze equivalent, after the OG game daze on the other end of the mall closed a few years prior. The last time I remember the store still being in operation was the Christmas season of 2016. I was dating the store owner's daughter at the time and when she was working in the family store I'd spend countless hours there with her just hanging behind the counter or helping customers. It was fun, and I have fond memories, it's sad that the mall has since been demolished, but that era is passed.

[@Aidan_Au]

Those bright lights in Sears are like the ones in operating rooms.... geez

[@davidhildreth]

@6:12 Pretty sure those entry way cubes are supposed to echo the decorative midcentury concrete block you see all over town.

[@MandalorianFanboy]

That entry next to Costco that you liked reminded me of the entrances to Circuit City.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

Speaking of Spencer's, I remember in the early 80's right after the Pet Rock craze, Spencer's sold a gag item, which was a jar, called "Pet Fart". If you took the lid off and looked inside, you'd see the message "Oops! You let it out!"

[@brodyhiniker5514]

The dice and checker board store was a game store, I used to go to the mall a lot when I was a kid, I just went there not too long ago and it was really sad what had happened to it.

[@Thatsright-tr2ks]

New sub here!! 😁 I think all this stuff is beautiful. Nothing ugly about any of this I want to live in a mall If I had money I’d go to the mall a lot. Love the smell and sounds

[@Aluvsm]

I love you for commenting on the puppy store. Hate them. So sad. I always roll my eyes and make a nasty face at the people inside whenever I walk by lol

[@truecrimerip7936]

thanks for speaking out against puppy mills

[@vedved82491]

I remember when they expanded the area in the food court in the early to mid 2000's to accommodate the large carousel, when Harkin's closed so they could remodel it into stadium seating, but the project was never completed until Picture Show opened in its place a decade later, when there used to be a Rio Salado office/community college space on the second floor of the food court area, when B. Dalton was still around and I'd walk the aisles looking for Nintendo game books, going to Hobby Bench to pick up jigsaw puzzles and other new toys, when Jerry Tucci's Brick Oven Pizza was just outside of the mall where Oregano's is now. Oh nostalgia.

[@Chris-ln6so]

When I visited California last year I was struck by how tired Macy's stores felt compared to, say, Bloomingdales.

[@candybanks8717]

That was my mall when I lived in Phoenix. Went back a couple years ago and ate at Chompies (awesome sandwiches and bagels!). Had a nice atmosphere at Christmas back in the 90s.

[@LucidValvo]

Oh, and the Wigs Amor used to be a giant Hobby Bench. I spent a lot of time in there as a kid.

[@lucasfrombeast]

LucidValvo at one point it was also a papaya. A really cheap fast fashion clothing store.

[@JaredJonesAZ]

I remember it had the airplane propeller that spun on the sign in front of the store, I loved going there back in the late '90s

[@Austin.D]

I've never even heard of this mall and I've lived here all my life crazy

[@shannonsteffey5281]

The Sears here in Ft Wayne closed recently. I can remember when it was THE store to shop at in the 80's. It had the candy shop and animated windows for Christmas. Our mall is declining as well. We also lost Carsons, and the Penny's has gone downhill. Come check us out sometime.

[@colinwahl2509]

my mom opened the contempo casual in the mall and left around 1987.. It is now a buckle store. right next to it on the right was an imaginarium kids toy store. the place was awesome and even had a little door just for kids to walk in

[@wow42022]

I just went there yesterday, I saw this is video before about a month or two ago and totally forgot about. When I was inside I felt like I had previously seen it...

[@robertpalmer8489]

Checkerboard with dice was a game shop called Game Daze. Sold board games, cards, puzzles etc. Not sure if there are any left

[@tonyvargas368]

I was in Sears a few months back and was a little busy. I visit Los Angeles frequently and malls and Sears stores there are very busy and seem to be just fine.

[@mentalwrd]

I went in there the other day....more vacant spots than occupied. I worked in a gift shop that was where the Payless shoes is now from 2004-07.... back then it was nearly full and always busy. Many of the shops in the video have closed since.

[@LucidValvo]

The store to the right of the Finish Line was a KB Toys, a toy store that closed back in 2005 or so.

[@adambergeron5]

My wife and I went to Arizona Mills on Baseline in Tempe this weekend. It was crazy busy.

[@tarat3179]

The store with the domino facade was a place called Game Daze that sold board games, puzzles, and RPG related items. It was a cool place, I liked it. It was definitely open in 2013 when I lived in that area, so was the puppy mill and also this weird place that was like a comic book museum or something? I mean, it was kind of cool, but I'm not paying money to look at old comics and cardboard cut outs.

[@mariohernandez6590]

At 10:39 the checkered designed store front was a board game store that was open for about a year or two.