Fiesta Mall: Dead Mall Complete Video Tour - Dead Mall Documentary

This episode features a complete video tour of the dead mall Fiesta Mall located in Mesa, AZ. This tour includes the complete exterior and interior of the mall. If you prefer just to see the interior you can skip to the 30 minute mark in the video.
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#mall #deadmall #RetailArchaeology #RetailApocalypse

[@efrem1]

Visited Fiesta Mall when I first came to AZ in 2007 and even then it seemed moribund. The computer that I am typing this post I got at the Best Buy at Fiesta Mall so a small legacy still survives.

[@vazqueznotfound7262]

I was born in 2007 seems so crazy

[@sirdan357]

I don't know why I watch these videos (especially this one, since I used to live by this mall and have gone there for years), but there is something relaxing (and depressing) about them. I left the state for awhile and when I came back this whole area had turned into a dump. It was like coming back to see an old friend and finding out they died.

[@billyhatcher643]

well its because malls are apart of our past and i went to a mall in my area and its dying now but i doubt that the new owners will do anything

[@zeldalink3211]

For me, it's relaxing for a few reasons. One, there aren't any people around. For folks a bit prone to social anxiety, seeing a wide open space with few-to-no people is relaxing. It kind of emulates the desire to be out in public - a latent desire of many introverts like myself - while still being a very low-risk environment due to a lack of people in the area. It's also a very insular environment, being indoors. Second, malls remind me and I'm sure others of our childhood. This is especially true because many dead malls have an enduring 90s aesthetic. So the nostalgia is calming as well. Third, most dead mall videos are simply filmed to be relaxing. The cameramen are usually walking at a languid pace, and the camera is fairly stable. (The camera isn't being jerked around and constantly switched between the front-facing camera and the back camera like a lot of videos.)

[@foxhound9285]

I was in my younger teens when I use to come here back in the late 90's. The place was so alive and loud.

[@nicholasshade]

When there's a mall or store in your town or area you should use it to the fullest extent. And you should only shop when you need to.♻

[@MM-jq4pb]

Yep..just left Mesa to move to a small beautiful safe town in the Mid South. Mesa has turned into a ghetto.

[@stevefellows3027]

This is the cleanest dead mall I've ever seen. The other dead ones have dead foliage and trash all over the place.

[@dgardner7259]

Well, this mall is still open, most of the dead malls we have seen are completely closed and vandals are having a heyday. This mall still has security and some of the stores are still in business.

[@bitMAN]

Plus. it's located in AZ :)

[@user89076]

I know, right? The cleanliness just adds to the eeriness of the place.

[@nasirb3914]

Trust me, it's not that clean. It's decrepit, paint peeling off everywhere. Very neglected, just not at first glance.

[@real_fjcalabrese]

@@bitMAN Mesa is the tidiest city in Arizona.

[@azsundevil51]

With the recent sale of the mall's interior space, Fiesta Mall is officially deceased. I want to say thank you for providing this incredibly detailed, thoughtful, and comprehensive video. I have so many fond memories of this mall. I remember going to Toys By Roy as a kid, and looking on enviously at all of the kids playing video games in Aladdin's Castle arcade. When I grew older and went to college, I worked at the B Dalton for about seven or eight years. I remember at Christmas, the parking lot would be full all the way out to the perimeter ring road, and the mall was vibrant with life. In hot summer months, I preferred Fiesta Mall over all other malls, due to the two level parking structure that one could park under and keep your car cool. One of my coolest memories has to do with the restaurant called Houlihan's. When I was in third grade, my Grandma took me there for lunch before surprising me with a trip to the movie theater across the street so I could see Empire Strikes Back. I'll never forget that day, and how special it made me feel. Fiesta Mall was an enormous part of my life. Farewell, old friend.

[@nicklash8729]

Karl Gruse Aww, is it really completely closed now? I'm sorry, it was such a big part of many people's lives.

[@qcriderbrandon9047]

The new owners said that the current tenants will be remaining for the time being.

[@caveman123ization]

I wonder if the new mixed development, open air plan that is discussed in the video will work. What makes open air malls more attractive these days? Especially in a place with a hot climate, I am surprised that such open-air establishments are in style. It is crazy to think about how a huge building that is in great condition has less value than an open air market. I guess value is whatever gets sales. Intrinsically though, it seems wasteful. I think it would be interesting to see a mall being converted into a huge apartment complex. Most rooms wouldn't have windows, but you could have a lot of tenants and stores right outside their door. I suppose if it was good business sense it would have been done already, but it's an interesting thought. In an age of fewer and fewer individuals wanting to own a house, it would be cool to have a little "indoor village" inside a dead mall.

[@nicklash8729]

caveman123ization It's not that people want to walk around in the heat, it's that stores don't want to pay to air condition common areas. Mall locations are expensive because of the common area costs.

[@Fo0lish_mortals]

Karl Gruse aww what a great memory

[@charlie.hubbard5463]

Damn this is probably the most fully detailed "Dead Mall" video I've ever seen. Very few tour the exterior as well as the interior. Impressive work!

[@thegringobandito6346]

UncreativeUser182 hey buddy you come to Dallas and I can take you around 2 some desserted malls, they're dropping out like flies. Redbird Mall, Six Flags Mall, Irving Mall, Valley View Mall, it's going to get worse before it gets better. RIP retail malls!

[@charlie.hubbard5463]

Six Flags Mall? Any relation to the amusement parks?

[@thegringobandito6346]

UncreativeUser182 it's next to the amusement park in Arlington but they're in the process of tearing down the mall to build something else

[@tamarawalker8973]

Wandering Vagabon.... It really is sad, so much of Dallas is gone from when I lived there & used to party there. don't know yr age, but do you remember the Bronco Bowl? or European Crossroads? miss them. miss six flags mall, went there alot in the early eighties, but the Park's at Arlington mall killed poor six flags mall.

[@DarkroomMedia007]

I agree that this is most detailed documentary. listen to him in the beginning say to skip to the 30-minute Mark if you don't want to see exterior, I thought I had misheard him. so I had to tap on the screen to see total amount of time and no, I heard right. the music and the commentary very relaxing song joyriding right now chillin like a villain. ✊😆👍

[@rickyuhnke7979]

The white part of Sears used to be tool rental. Sears used to loan out its tools for customers to borrow. A mall in Southern California had the same building attached to it. Not sure if that mall still exists, but there it is. Take care!

[@johnthomas6017]

That small white building at the east Sears entrance used to be the garden center and those doors used to be another entrance. This was back in the nineties. Not sure what it is now.

[@fightbadlandlords1476]

The small white building by the Sears entrance was a garden center/ office. Now it is a holding tank, or room with chains, for "filmmakers" who

[@fightbadlandlords1476]

-Don't appreciate Dan Bell and understand 1980's asthetic and good music.

[@mbowman22]

Adonis Dan Bell's "Dead Mall Series" is so much better than this rip off!

[@foshastajones]

They also had lawn mowers and other motorized/bigger ticket lawn maintenance type of equipment.

[@RaiderRush2112]

Melody Bowman I love all videos of this sort but how can you say this is a ripoff of Dan Bell? He was not the first to film a dead mall and is far from the last with the subject becoming more and more mainstream with the Internet slowly taking them all down. RE has a Completely different approach on the subject and it's nice to get someone else's opinion and someone that isn't always in an area you have never been in the east. It's nice to see an fellow Arizona local going to all these places I've grown up with over the years from childhood to adulthood. Because of this video I think I'll be making a trip to fiesta mall and Kmart this weekend

[@patcurrie7733]

The opening of Chandler Mall in the Fall of 2003 was the kiss of death. A remodel was pointless in 2007. I worked the 1st day at Chandler's Robinson's May. The customers were thrilled they never had to go back to Fiesta Mall. Crime usually is what starts to kill a mall.

[@erinmarsh3934]

I was supposed to start my first day of work at Forever 21 in 2008 at Fiesta when that guy got stabbed in the bathroom. They told me to come in the next day instead. I don't know when I last went there, but I didn't realize it was this dead. I was surprised when I noticed the Best Buy sign was gone while driving in the area one day because it hasn't even been there that long. It was always packed when I went there in the mid-2000s. Kind of sad to see how it is now, but I'm glad people are documenting it.

[@pp3k3jamail]

Pat Currie there was a shooting at Chandler mall I heard even though I never lived in Arizona.

[@TheReverendStrange]

I realize this is a three-year-old thread, but I thought I throw my two-cents in. The opening of Arizona Mills in 1997 was a far bigger detriment. Fiesta probably lost half of their business right off. It killed the Harkins across the street, as well. I saw Star Wars The Phantom Menace there, and the theater was only half full. At Mills, It was on four or five screens and every one was sold out. Mills was the final death-nail in the casket of the Tri-City Mall, too. Then the Great Recession happened around 2007, and everything took a hurting. Fiesta never recovered, nor did the Metro Center in Phoenix. It finally shutdown this year. How it limped along for that long, I'll probably never know. At least half the stores had been shuttered for several years.

[@TheReverendStrange]

I realize this is a three-year-old thread, but I thought I throw my two-cents in. The opening of Arizona Mills in 1997 was a far bigger detriment. Fiesta probably lost half of their business right off. It killed the Harkins across the street, as well. I saw Star Wars The Phantom Menace there, and the theater was only half full. At Mills, It was on four or five screens and every one was sold out. Mills was the final death-nail in the casket of the Tri-City Mall, too. Then the Great Recession happened around 2007, and everything took a hurting. Fiesta never recovered, nor did the Metro Center in Phoenix. It finally shutdown this year. How it limped along for that long, I'll probably never know. At least half the stores had been shuttered for several years.

[@bikinibodywax]

I worked at a salon in this mall back in 2005. It was still busy back then..... I've only been there a handful of times in recent years. It's kind of sad and eerie to see Fiesta Mall this way. Awesome job on the video, thank you for filming and posting this!

[@ResearchAndDevelopm3nt]

14:17 Those old doors lead to a portal that takes you back to the year 1980. Real trippy. But they have them locked for a reason!😊

[@TimothySCarlson]

Wow - this really takes me back. My family and I lived in Arizona back in the '90s and early '00s. My stepson gave us a scare in this mall when he (at about 10 years old) disappeared in this mall and we thought he had been kidnapped. Security scoured the mall looking for him, but I finally found him - 3 HOURS LATER - in the Sears in the boy's clothes area where they had a videogame kiosk set up. Hoo boy. Anyway, thanks for the video. I live in the Philippines now and it's interesting to see how areas where I used to live are changing.

[@alivc2458]

Hello, I was born and raised in AZ, and still live here. I also had memories coming here growing up, and if you look up to what’s happened to this place now it’s sad. Looks post apocalyptic

[@barbm8822]

I lived in Mesa from 1980 to 1984. The food court used to be called The Pantry. The only original anchor store left is the Sears. The walkways used to be so packed with teenagers you could barely squeeze through. So shocking to see it this way.

[@oooh19]

Lol the mall rats lol

[@thegreyghost88]

Sad to see this mall go. I worked at the Champs in there for 8 years. When I started there in 2004 it was a very busy, suburban mall. That diner used to be a Jonny Rockets. Also had a Chik Fil-A and hot dog on a stick for awhile. Ate at that Japanese place many times, double meat, no veggies lol. Lots of memories there, good and bad. Met my wife there...

[@briansclips1694]

At the end of the video, around the play area, my little handprint is still there from when the play-area opened when I was a few years old. I'm 17 now and would like to know if I could retrieve it whenever they decide to get rid of it.

[@johndeaux3703]

Yes, you can retrieve it. Come and get it.

[@briansclips1694]

@@johndeaux3703 I wrote this comment before we contacted mall employees. I eventually got it back, but they were surprised that more people weren’t doing the same thing.

[@thepinkyprincesspoetc.a.5767]

@@briansclips1694 They probably didn’t think they could retrieve their prints 💕

[@briansclips1694]

@@thepinkyprincesspoetc.a.5767 That’s true, but sadly I think most of them probably didn’t give it much thought. As is the reality for most dead malls these days unfortunately.

[@wds338]

these vids make sad and nostalgic cause you to go to fiesta mall with my mom sometimes and this is a great place to go on the weekends its a shame how the good days of this mall are long gone R.I.P. fiesta mall

[@TheMeganExperience]

I'm surprised, this is a modern, clean, and well-lit mall.

[@adams115]

The Megan Experience youre a well-lit mall

[@playerslayer4577]

+Adam S And you're 3 months late to the party, my friend.

[@life_withl]

The Megan Experience Its true! I transferred to manage a store at this mall about 2 years ago, before it totally closed. I’m not native to AZ so was my first time at the mall. I was shocked at how seemingly “nice” it is. I’m a native Michigander, so we have malls in service that are WAY older then Fiesta is, so was surprised that this was such a “dead” mall.

[@rolandlymangrover754]

The neighborhood changed from middle class to poor. Bye bye-bye mall.

[@jessica_mintzmyer]

That Claire's is where I got my ears pierced and I have so many memories of that mall. I even went there during the day on my free time with my Community College friends when I was attending Mesa Community College.

[@NoirL.A.]

i'm out here in L.A. and we got a dead mall about 10 miles away from where i live. videos like this are important even if only fer geeks because as one example L.A. has a long history of tearing down landmarks like they're garbage so much so that there's even a video about it called "things that are not here anymore" (originally filmed in the 90's) and i know i, fer one, love stuff like this and can't help but think how cool it would be to have interior footage of all those places. the places in that vid were gone before i was even born (i'm 55) so i guess i should be "grateful" there's any footage of it at all as opposed to just still pics.

[@carly829]

I love abandoned "dead" retail, especially malls. This is a great video. Very interesting, and thorough. Thanks for a great experience!

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

I worked night 👮🏻‍♂️ at a large empty mall. Like a dead mall, ☠. A rich guy got it to remodel. It was creepy at night. A guy died at a big indoor climbing place about 2 years before it shut down. 2016, 2017 era.

[@diggingattycho7908]

The B of A was originally Western Savings, it was outlined in blue lighting. Do a google image search on, "Western Savings Building Mesa, Az". The white building off of Sears, I remember was once part of the sales-floor of the store. It had lawnmowers and other such equipment. The wooden doors were an entrance to a shop, I have a memory of a surf/skate shop at that location. The (80's)store in the food court was a real neat place. It sold all sorts of figurines, clocks and other curios. The last time I went to Fiesta it was open but that's been more than five years. Where the Best Buy/Dick's were, it was once Broadway. And it was one of the best places to park to get into the mall(on busy days). Real sad to see how Fiesta has changed, but then so has that neighborhood.

[@Fo0lish_mortals]

Max Mills I remember the curios store near the food court. I always wanted to go into it as a kid. Do you remember that place that sold big blocks of white and regular chocolate? I also remember when the bank was being built a petitioner came to our and asked my mom to sign a petition to stop it lol

[@ktrichards7157]

I live in mesa, been to fiesta to document this tragedy of a mall for the dead malls facebook page. Literally when you walk in, you can just FEEL the sadness. Like the building feels sad. Your thorough coverage of the area, exterior and history/back story works really well. I've seen your first video and this is even better! Great job! much appreciated from a fellow dead mall lover 😊

[@RetailArchaeology]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@ChrisTopheRaz]

It’s crazy, because this was the busiest Mall in the state of Arizona for so many years. Metro center was bigger, but fiesta has a much higher volume. It’s so crazy to see it like this I grew up in this mall.

[@kellettd2]

I used to work for Structure in this mall in the late 90s. So sad but glad. That area of Mesa is so depressed. it used to be awesome.

[@mikemac6265]

I was living in chandler in 1983. 6th grade era. Me and my buddy used to ride our bikes to fiesta mall from chandler. It was our greatest achievement in life to that point. We would go there almost every weekend to play video games at the arcade. Interesting seeing what that place succumbed to.

[@_grenade_3999]

Wouldn't be a dying mall without a Sears.

[@jasburger]

_Grenade_ Sears opened prior to this mall

[@frostanimate]

Chandler fashion center is doing fine and the mall was doing fine when it had a sears then.

[@ChrisTopheRaz]

Seers built and owned this mall. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@davidgalasmusic]

Thanks for making the video. I watched Fiesta Mall being built as a kid. Used to shop there when it was just a Sears. Across the street used to be Montgomery Wards. I remember walking through the mall before any shops opened up, everything was new. This was "my mall" while growing up in the 80s. Sears, The Broadway, Goldwaters and Diamonds were the anchor stores (if I recall correctly). It was a great time and place to be growing up (tempe for me). Everything exploded around that area during the 80s. Tons of memories. Going Christmas shopping, the place was packed solid. The plaza around Montgomery Wards had a Warehouse Records back in the day and it doesn't seem that long ago when Best Buy and Comp USA opened up. I remember Bennigan's, there was also an Olive Garden. Across Southern I remember Lionel's Playworld, Round the Corner Restaurant where you ordered on a phone. it is truly a sad and depressing thing to see these businesses die. I moved away from the area in 99'.

[@davethoreson7770]

The wards was at longmore and southern over where the target stands now. Broadway became Macy's. Goldwater was then Dillard's and there was always a Sears. I didn't remember Diamonds here.

[@Fo0lish_mortals]

Dave Thoreson once my aunt told me that Dillard’s used to be diamonds and I was confused because I didn’t remember that store at all

[@beverlylivengood165]

I remember all of those places. There was a Service Merchandise store near the Montgomery Wards I think. That was the first Olive Garden I ever ate at in the 1980’s.

[@themulletdodger]

Also across the street by the Lionel Playworld was The Bare Cover skate shop. It really was a great time to be a kid back then.

[@benjaminrichardsiix8057]

This was my childhood mall in the 80's. Pretty sure those fancy doors used to be a restaurant called "Kings Table" that shut down sometime in the 90's I think. It might have become something else at some point before the mall eventually died. I never once saw anyone go in or out of that Bennigans, it weirded me out as a child and I always assumed something terribly wrong must have been happening there.

[@MsGumby95]

Yes King's Table!!!... I totally had a flashback memory of King's Table when I saw those doors and I was wondering if anyone else would know what I was talking about... YAY!

[@themadhatter1184]

98.5 Fiesta Mall FM Best of the 80's, 90's and now

[@ElevatorsMore]

Its nice to see the outside! it usually is over looked by other people who do these tours!

[@RetailArchaeology]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

[@wilburpost6851]

I worked here from Oct.1979 to Oct. 1981. At the Naturalizer Shoe store, when it was on the upper level corner near the elevator. This video brings back a lot of memories. I could answer questions about the mall from the years I was there.

[@jgroenveld1268]

Amazing - the US has a lot of under utilised infrastructure that we would kill to have in New Zealand.

[@MacPro8CoreMan]

J van der Kaas You are so right. We here in the US tend to consider multimillion dollar structures as "disposable".

[@dgardner7259]

The US is losing its economic edge. We are working people 60 hurs a week and they only get a 40 hour week salary. Also many peole gt layed off and then they rehire them at half their previous salary and still they do the same jobs. SOme companies are transferring jobs over to India. They bring the India employee over to the US company and train them, then they send the job and the inida emplyee back to india and lay off the US worker. Hard to make a living n the USA.

[@kenetickups6146]

D Gardner the reason the us isn't doing well is that thry don't use near slave labor like india, china, and vietnam

[@KiloByte69]

+D Gardner What do you expect? Globalist libtards and neocunts have been selling out to cheap foreign labor for decades. And now that we have a president with the audacity to push for American labor priority the low information dullards are calling him a fascist. It's completely asinine.

[@Chorizo727]

@@KiloByte69 idiot comment

[@brinxe76]

that store in the food court next to Claire's actually used to be a knife and sword shop. no worries though. it didn't go out of business. it just moved to Chandler fashion center.

[@Cutelatinguy2]

52:35 The Disney Store (black exterior on the right) I used to work at in 1991-92!!

[@SkylessMoon]

I have fond memories of this place

[@DangerDoom9000]

I live 2 streets down from the mall. been going there since the 90's sucks too see it die a slow death

[@donaldpratt7099]

It's still hard to comprehend that malls are closing. I remember when they were building them it was exciting to be able to shop in an enclosed area.

[@Eschatonx]

It's surreal when you're walking through it, I can just imagine what it looked like back in the day.. sad.

[@utistudent099]

I will never forget the line out the door at Houlihans at 21:57. That club was hopping every weekend and the 80's there were a blast. My 21st birthday in 1988 I got the bell rung by the bar staff and the whole place sang Happy Birthday and I got free Long Islands . What a blast from the past. That spot became a Forever 21

[@beverlylivengood165]

I turned 21 in 1988 too. I had my first drink at Doc and Eddy’s in Tempe off Baseline and Rural.

[@utistudent099]

@@beverlylivengood165 My friend worked at Doc and Eddy's in 1990-1992 and then we can't forget the great music venue on Apache and Rural called After The Gold Rush. Those places were the best. We need the 80's back. What a great time to be that age

[@abrany_6675]

Seeing this brings me sadness, here in LA all the malls are jam packed and active 24/7

[@matthewketelhut4966]

This is sad I used to live in Phoenix and I loved coming here 😢

[@AZDeathMetal]

So, when you were in that elevator, the “Amelco” sign was actually my grandpas elevator company, and him and my dad installed it. :) Just thought it was cool seeing that again. Thank you for sharing this.

[@bryantbjb]

Wow. I loved Fiesta Mall in the mid-80's was the place to be.

[@bb-remy]

I used to go to this mall as a kid it saddens me that it closed because when i finally grew older i wanted to go back to this mall again it's a shame i never got to go there when it was about to close i would love to experience how it feels to be in a empty mall

[@MrMario2011]

Absolutely love these videos, keep them coming :D

[@jeepguy95]

The store in the food court that goes through to the other side I can almost guarantee you was a Fire and Ice, which sells jewelry and other stuff... there's one in my second closest mall and it's set up the exact same way with the same signage. Nice tour, can't wait for more mall tours! :)

[@e815usa]

Am very impressed with your narration, attention to detail, and the fact that the camera stays steady as you walk and narrate. Nice work!

[@mikethemechanic7395]

I used to go there in the late 80s early 90s. I lived on Val vista and Southern. I would go to superstition springs for the most part. By 1993 the mall had a lot of gangs and sketchy people in it. It amazing how much Arizona has changed. I remember when the freeway ended at power road and I could see the freeway from my house and maybe see a few cars at a time. My neighborhood was new and I lived by the latest movie theater.

[@MrTheGuitarNerd]

I really like your videos, you have a very affable style. A lot of people who make videos like this either try too hard to be negative or sensationalist about it, but you strike a really interesting and informative middle ground. Great work.

[@justdane2720]

For almost being totally abandoned past the remaining anchor stores it's very clean and well kept and I can only imagine how great this mall must have been in its Heyday during the 80's and 90's I bet it was the place to go in town!

[@HandlesAreStupid2024]

Shout out to Walden Books. Was fun to go there as a kid.

[@jasmirris]

Walden and B. Dalton were my havens! When I got older it was Borders. Sad to see them go. :(

[@MrMustang1973]

Wow....used to hit the happy hour at the Bennigen's after my shift at Desert Sam Med Center that was right down the road....

[@alexmeringer7354]

its so sad... As someone who lives and always has in AZ i take for granted my memories of what was. Thanks for doing this man i love showing my 9 year old girl what stuff was like before Amazon... Dont get me wrong i am a believer in the future and old relics are just that. but its fun to remember what life was in 80s 90s

[@monkeywkeys3916]

@@Willowtree82 Good ole Scamazon

[@normadaniel5206]

Ohhhh the memories,I sure do miss Fiesta Mall

[@Sqeptick]

Did you know your Sears video was discussed on Bloomberg Radio about 1-2 months ago?

[@RetailArchaeology]

Some else mentioned it to me and I'd love to have heard it or be able to get some sort of recording of it. Thanks for watching!

[@GCJACK83]

Try contacting Bloomberg Radio and they might send you a copy of it, worth a shot.

[@RetailArchaeology]

I know this was a long time ago, but any chance you remember the date and time of day Bloomberg radio talked about my video? I'm trying to see if they can send me a copy but they said they can only find it if they know what day it was.

[@Sqeptick]

Retail Archaeology If I were to guess I'd say Jan 13th, because that was the last time retail sales numbers were released. I'm not sure though. I do remember that it was Tom Keene who brought it up and played your clip. He was talking to a retail analyst at the time.

[@pp3k3jamail]

Retail Archaeology glass blocks are from the 80s I remember see those in malls in the 80s when I was a kid in Philadelphia

[@rossb.7471]

part of the problem is the Phoenix metro area. anyone who has any money lives in Scottsdale. while Scottsdale keeps getting wealthier the other suburbs seem to get worse and worse. all the wealth and all the growth is concentrated in Scottsdale.

[@sicknickmondo16]

Ross Browne yep or if your a family you live in Gilbert .

[@Fo0lish_mortals]

I personally don’t like going to Scottsdale, I don’t know what it is but I’d rather not drive all that way. I live in Gilbert and like it so much, but I did grow up in Mesa.

[@sugarshine]

Ross B.

[@floo1465]

@@Fo0lish_mortals in my experience, most of scottsdale is pretty low-end, straight up strip clubs everywhere, but around 1/3 of it is really nice.

[@ReapersRapture]

I moved to a different part of Arizona 10 yrs back. I remember going to this mall all the time before I moved. it was always busy and I would drive an hour from where I lived in casa grande az to go there fairly often. I got my first tattoo a few blocks over from the mall. it makes me sad to see it all dead :(

[@walkeww]

I used to live nearby Fiesta Mall in the mid 80s. It was vibrant then. So sad to see it the way it is now. This is a throwback!

[@LethaWolfStudios]

Finally had time to watch the whole thing the inside of the mall is really nice looking shame that the renovation attempts didn't work out. Sears will be closing in January.

[@MidagedgamerBlogspotter]

That Mid-Rise (Mesa Financial Center) was the subject of a big controversy when it went up 30 years ago. Totally wrong for the neighborhood but it proved just what could be done when you greased the right palms on the Mesa city council. The inverse of that is the reason why the GM proving center left Mesa when it wouldn't knuckle under to Mesa's extortion. BTW the B of A letters came down when it when the building went into foreclosure in 2010.

[@Carbon_Based_Life_Form]

Gaming with The Real DudzFryd can you explain some.more? The controversy and the history you mentioned sounds interesting

[@utistudent099]

@@Carbon_Based_Life_Form When construction was complete in early 1986 the windows began popping and shattering. They hired an ASU student to stand across the street and watch for that and alert when it happened, The vertical was off by inches and the glass company went out of business after all the litigation was over.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

The huge Mesa 🏢 is wierd. It really sticks out. I agree it seems way out of line for the urban area.

[@beverlylivengood165]

Spent many weekends here from 1981-1990 as a teen and young adult. There was a Dillard’s, Broadway, Goldwater’s, and I think Macy’s. The parking deck was built around 1987-88. The top level didn’t have carpet back then. I have fond memories of this mall. I would go there between my classes at Mesa Community College that was next door.

[@dolan660]

I used to spend a lot of hours at this mall when i was in High school. That spot by the Sears is for large pick up and employee entrance

[@YoursTrulyMrsMoores]

I'm currently in Mesa for a wedding, and on the way to our hotel, I saw the Fiesta Mall sign and thought "hmm, I feel like I've seen this before". Had to come back an rewatch this video

[@jay692]

I really don't know why this is so interesting to me... Is it the therapeutic, relaxing nature of these videos? Is it nostalgia? I don't know but I can't get enough.

[@ThomasBates_AZ]

The store with the door in the food court, (The one that "screamed 80's") used to be a collectible shop. Like Precious Moments collectables. Lots of old person nick-nacks.

[@thathusky7248]

It opened originally as a music box and clock shop and then became a knife and sword shop.

[@derekgutenson1244]

The mystery store in the food court was last one of those creepy knife stores that appear in the death throes of malls and shopping centers.

[@davidh4548]

I just saw this is being torn down. So your tour video will be worth a lot of nostalgia! Thank you!!

[@erinmarsh3934]

Nice video! One of the stores by the food court used to be a place that sold things like music boxes and similar knicknacks. I also remember the burger place used to be a Johnny Rockets.

[@jamesdeibler1423]

Checkout Arrowhead Towne Center in Glendale, AZ. This mall is busy all of the times. Arrowhead is located on 83rd Avenue and Bell east of Loop 101 freeway. Please take a video about this mall in Glendale.

[@OfftoShambala]

James Deibler that mall contributed to the downfall of metro center but metro center is still hanging on

[@celicobain8270]

He's got a few stores and old footage involving the mall I believe, he has a newer video of forever 21 and considering it used to be Mervyns, it is also dying. Looks just as dingy and dark.

[@Fo0lish_mortals]

When I was a kid that area was always busy, the mall and the places across the street. We would go to the movies at polka fiesta, when I was a teen we would hang out at the mall. It’s crazy how things change. Great video

[@MollyT119]

Food court had Johnny Rockets, Panda, Subway, Hot Dog On A Stick, DQ/Orange Julius, Charley’s, Sbarro, and Sarku Teriyaki. The one next to teriyaki was a San Francisco Music Box store. The brown marble facade with the stars was Macy’s...I worked there for 3 years. There was a Lens Crafters next door. The red facade was Express. The angled doorway across was Victoria’s Secret. The center court had a Sunglass Hut and a bunch of jewelry stores like Kay and Zales and Helzberg. Center court had holiday and community events and later had live music and Zumba. The barber shop by the food court used to be a Body Shop store. The brick facade last Claire’s was a convenience store. Beside Dillard’s was Things Remembered which sold engraved stuff. Across from Claire’s was a Journeys store that my friend managed, then an American Eagle, Zumiez, and Torrid. There were a few stores that were there from beginning to end, like the dance store near Macy’s, Dillard’s, and Sears. Beside Zales was Gymboree and Children’s Place, and beside Hot Topic/near Dillard’s was a large Forever 21-the store with all the windows. There was a huge Disney store by security. The blue store by Sears was a Champs store. It was a nice mall but they never capitalized on the location near two colleges. Too bad.

[@jankrygier1607]

Loved this mall! The "80s" vibe store off the food court with 2 entrances was *I think* Music Box and Clock Shop. The store in the mall with the ornate wood "may" have been Bombay Company.

[@jamesklatt]

I think this is the way for many malls to go into mixed used facilities. (i.e.retail/office/residential)

[@5nak_music]

very nice video. it's so sad to see what happened to fiesta mall

[@adams115]

5nak party's over

[@charlesgomez4218]

Very interesting,watching the whole video,sad that so many malls have failed 😢😢

[@TheBeardedGentleman]

Man, this video brings back so many memories. I grew up in this area as a kid in the early 90's and spent more time than I can think to count at this mall with my mom and sister. I remember when that parking structure got built and how hard it was to get a spot under that thing in the summer from the heat. I remember the big remodel they did in the early 90's around the time Superstition Springs opened when they remodeled the food court. This brings back memories like you wouldn't believe. The Montgomery Wards on Longmore where the Target is now (with a Toys R Us next to it), the toy store across Southern (Lionel's Play World I think?) and the movie theater next to it. The Fuddruckers across the mall on Longmore. This whole area I can still picture so clearly from when I was a kid and seeing it now, just shocking. Thanks so much for the video, can't wait to see what else you document in the Phoenix area.

[@KoubuPilot]

Ready for another round of my long comments? Nice to see you included my shots of Valley Art! Went to watch Sailor Moon R that night. So first, it looks like the canvas above the entrances are being replaced. Old ones were beige. New ones have color and the poles are now white. Old canvas was torn and tattered. I probably tweeted or Instagrammed it. Next, Sarkura (not Sakura) was Sarku Japan before. I wish it were still Swensen's 😢 Charley's and Panda are recent closures. La Cerreterra de Lily closed both food locations in the food court and next to the elevator, which is weird because I've seen long lines there. Desert Sky Mall has 5 of them! Also, the food court was updated in the 2000s. Not sure of the year though. It needed it because it looked too dark. The entire mall got renovated while we were in high school and had the Day In the Desert theme. The stonework, indoor play area, lamps on the bottom floor, elevator facade, remodeled stairs, giant flowers above the main entances, and green tubes that turn the central pillars into cacti are all remnants. The food court was where your desert day ended, hence it had an evening look with gourd lanterns. Next, the parking deck was built in the late 80s because the mall needed more parking! Upper level entrance of the old Macy's was the kids department. Lower level was mens and mens shoes. This store was a Goldwater's, then Robinson's May. Dillard's was Diamond's when it opened. Can you tell the customary entrance for Dillard's is retrofitted to the building? I don't remember what it used to look like but you can tell it doesn't stick out the same way. Came across an article they had to rescue an employee from the passenger elevator recently when the motor caight fire. No damage or injury but the store was evacuated. The former Dick's/Best Buy stacked anchor is a sad sight. They knockef down that 3 story The Broadway/Macys to build it. The store with the ornate facade you commented on was Thomas Kincade. Barber shop used to be Mod Hatter when I was a kid. Store on LL outside Dillard's was Rack Room Shoes. Even before that it was an athletic store (Champ Sports?). The big windowy store by Dillard's was Forever 21. Looks like Payless Shoes on LL next to Sears closed. That was a Sam Goody before (Suncoast was immediately outside Sears on UL). That dress shop outside Sears was Wizards Of the Coast. You passed all sorts of former stores like Disney Store, Aeropostale, Victoria's Secret and Spencer's. And about that pair of doors with the painted over glass and severed walkway, I don't remember what was ever there before H&R Block, but it would have been a restaurant. The other entrances except the food court (which also had Aladdin's Castle and later Hi Health) had restaurants. The LL entrance with the playground had a Stromboli's that later became part of Forever 21. The entrance next to Sears had King's Table Buffet (remember the one on Main?). That Sears is store #1628. As for large format stores, it's a level 2. Superstition, Chandler, Arrowhead, PV, Arcadia and Desert Sky are all level 1. Metro and Tucson Mall are level 3. I don't know what that little building outside the store was for. Could be district offices, but that could be inside. District office (covering AZ, NM, Las Vegas and El Paso) used to be at Metro. When Los Arcos closed and relocated to Scottsdale Fashion Square (present day Macys), the office moved there (Metro expanded into their basement). The store open 1 year until the rich people forced them out with their Gucci torches and solid gold pitchforks encrusted with diamonds. Office remained for the remainder of a 2 year lease after the store closed and moved to Fiesta. Something I had seen at a Sears in Salt Lake was a lottle detached building across the driveway containing the flooring department. Parts and Service is a possibility (they're at Stapley and Baseline). Sears used to uave the catalogue department in the store. Superstition has a rental company in their auto center, so maybe this building could have been that? Long comment chain over. I'm KoubuPilot.

[@sirdan357]

You pretty much got everything lol. I can also remember the Toys R Us and Atomic Comics stores that used to be next to the mall, and a discount theater also that I would go to as a kid. They closed a long time ago (over a decade) though.

[@KoubuPilot]

sirdan357 The Toys R Us was built into the existing Wards across long more. It was like a stranded mall anchor. That whole Three Fountains plaza used to have stuff like Luby's but is pretty dead. Wards was replaced by a Target. I can't place where Atomic Comics was located. Was it in Fiesta Village? I only remember the Country Club/Southern location. AMC also had a theater in Fiesta Village. The Harkins on Longmore was redeveloped into a performing arts venue. And the last theater is the one you're thinking of, Poca Fiesta. It was a Mann Theater and was a $1. I remember my late father taking me to Pinocchio and we also watched Beverly Hills Cop. Poca Fiesta underwent upgrades and became a first run theater when The Flintstones was released starring John Goodman and Rick Moranis. The theater closed in the mid 2000s. I remember it being replaced by a Latin movie theater but it didn't last. I remember when that plaza had Tower Records, RT O'Sullivans, and a Red Lobster that would have up to a 2 wait on weekends (speaking from first hand experience).

[@90west11]

Honestly I can't remember exactly where. I know if it wasn't directly across the street it was really close by, I think by the K-MOMO. They closed it and moved it to the Country Club location. That Harkins had been closed for awhile before they changed it into a performing arts center for MCC. There was also the Circuit City and Bed Bath and Beyond stores that shut down that were across from the Target (now an office building). I was out of state for awhile and when I came back (around 2008) everything had gone to crap. The only thing still getting decent business over there are the restaurants on Alma School like In N Out.

[@KoubuPilot]

It's strange how that KMOMO used a Goodwill and that somehow managed to not survive. That area used to have Service Merchandise and TJ Maxx. Ski Pro also used be there with Bed Bath and Beyond and Circuit City. When I was a kid, that BBB used to be a Best store. But yeah, the area really seemed to slide downhill in the late 2000s. Someone who I became friends with after he completed his 2 year church mission in 2010 got a job at Christmastime at the Fiesta Abercrombie. Of course we know that chain would struggle and it would become apparent in like 2011, but it seemed odd how it was shopping season and yet his hours were being cut. Now we know 2 reasons why. A roommate of mine would get engaged a second time to his girlfriend (as far as I know they actually got married during round 2). She was a manager at Forever 21 and had to fire an underperforming employee. This girl's boyfriend began stalking her, so my roommate would pick her up after work and bring her back to our house. He was a bit of a speeder in his Nissan Titan and had a concealed weapons permit. Working at Sears at Superstition and Chandler from 2000-2005, we all hated Fiesta because they were always rude to us.

[@pittypaws6633]

I remember going to Fiesta Mall with dad years ago. He would go to Sears and Macy's to buy shirts and I would wander off and check out stores like KB's and Suncoast.

[@pattyj716]

Dude, thank you so much. Going through your videos on your channel has taken me back to all the good times I would have shopping with my mom. The malls in phx and Cali have been such a joy to see again even though most are dead or dying.

[@Fo0lish_mortals]

From what I remember the metal palm trees were added in the 90s when the mall got an update, the rails and exterior of the elevator was also updated at that time. In the 80s the floors inside the mall used to be brown with white circles in the middle and stuff like that was given an update in the 90s. My sister worked at the Macy’s in the 90s

[@crazy8sdrums]

I worked for several shops in this mall while going to the community college just up the street from it. I also managed the computer shop, PC Club, that used to be right next to Bennigans. I have a lot of really great memories tied up in that mall and the surrounding area. Really sad to see it go...

[@jackiectl]

I remember this mall so much nostalgia!! Mesa is such a urban cool city

[@Diranda23]

I loved Fiesta Mall when we lived in Mesa in the early '00s. The Cinnabon and the Gloria Jean's were kind of special to me when I was pregnant. We ate at the Greek place the day before I had my daughter, actually. I used to take the kids there for their Halloween events. It's a special mall to me and I am so sad to see it close.

[@gobbletegook]

I used to work for an airline, so I got to go to a lot of different cities. There was a lot of down time, so we always went to different malls when we had an extra day or so. This too, was a pretty good mall at the time. But, here's my take on all of this. The thing that just kills me is that SEARS was Americas store. Rich or poor, rural or big city, it was a common denominator for anyone that owned a home, and needed everything from paint to appliances. EVERYONE had access to it, through the catalog. In MADE SEARS what it was...AMERICAS LARGEST retailer! SEARS ended their catalog sales pretty much in 1993, about the same year AMAZON popped up and began to take over. If the owners of SEARS just would have had the same foresight to have hung in there when the internet was really starting to expand, they could have been as big as AMAZON is now. Its just another example of how late SEARS was in everything after the 1980's and 1990's when they lost touch with what the consumer wanted.

[@MG-gb6cp]

nice work... this was the hangout mall as a kid... used to work in the complex on the SE corner of Alma/southern. shame what it's become

[@asiros96]

Oh my god I remember going to Drums Across the Desert at Mesa College behind it to try to find a bite to eat and it was pretty neat. Reminded me of the El Con in Tucson before they revamped it.

[@TimmyK916]

Austin Siros when did you march Bluecoats?

[@bentstrider]

Seems like that grilled burger place was going for that classic, 50's lunch counter look. Definitely no Johnny Rocket's.

[@janetfoster7174]

Really great video! I really enjoyed the detail

[@TheMeganExperience]

The store with all the window panes was likely a Forever 21

[@adams115]

The Megan Experience you was likely a Forever 21

[@SpearM3064]

+Adam S "you was" likely failing English. It's "you WERE". Speaking of which, *you were* 4 months late to the party. And what's wrong with being forever 21? I know lots of people who'd like to stay that young forever.

[@Taurineg]

SpearM75503 you was forever 21

[@floo1465]

@@Taurineg dude why were you just going around putting hate comments on this person’s comments? i legit want to know

[@LELAisLEAN]

@@floo1465 same lol

[@gp2040]

I remember going to this mall constantly, sad to see it's like this. Hope it will make a come back! Great Video Too!

[@sjntube]

That shop next to the Sarkura eatery was the Music Box and Clock Shop. I alway thought it was odd for that place to have a spot in the food court. Kinda didn't make sense. I sure love your videos! As of now, it's Friday July 21st, 2023. I'm pretty sure Fiesta Mall is now leveled. They started the demo I think on Monday. So sad. Thank you SO much for documenting these!

[@jackietatum2245]

I grew up in this mall when it was poppin off (80's).. The Broadway, Units, Contempo Casuals, 5 7 9, Stuarts, Kinneys shoes, Millers Outpost, sbarro pizza, sam goody, Guess...

[@ChristheShrinerdawg]

My grandma used to drop me off at this mall in the early 2000’s. Then, it wasn’t super busy, but it wasn’t dead either.

[@HEDGE1011]

Great (but sad) video! I remember Fiesta Mall mostly from the late '80s-early '90s but hadn't been there in years. Last time I was there it was the place to shop and was really vibrant. I'm impressed how clean it is for a mall that's clearly not coming back, and I'm glad you documented it so well. My home Mall when I was a kid was the beautiful Eastland Mall in Charlotte, NC. Crime and gangs caught up with it and it was razed a few years ago. I wish someone had done such a methodical video of it before it went. Thanks again! Subscribed!

[@BoratWanksta]

So I finally finished watching this vid(ALL minutes of it). This was great, glad you risked the wrath of security(in case they were around, I once had a run-in at another dead mall even when it was quiet a few years back) to film all of this! In case you were wondering, my run-in with a guard was at the now shuttered Lincoln Mall in Matteson, a year or 2 before it closed in January 2015. Luckily I wasn't kicked out, but I white lied to that guard that I was doing a long texting conversation with someone. :) After that point, I was comfortable with all the pics I'd gotten of the inside, and chose to leave on my own accord.I wish I could tell you what that store you saw with all the windows between the 51 and 52 minute mark was, since that was really interesting. 52:10 I think was a store Lids used to operate, IIRC. I know in some Chicago area malls, I saw Chicago Sports Exchange. So I wouldn't be surprised if this was called Phoenix Sports Exchange, for all I may guess. Correct me if I'm wrong.52:45 on the right, was definitely an old Disney Store. They always had those checkered tiles on the floor, and those curved glass storefronts during the 1990s. Weird the top and bottom was painted black, since at most malls for whatever reason, the mom and pop store that takes over for Disney Store oddly often keeps the old look up.

[@meow8384]

This mall actually looks very nice lol

[@weenerpot]

Thanks for sharing! It’s sad to see the mall like this and absolutely crazy to see what it looks like today. My mom remembers that painted-over glass door leading to a Luby’s Cafeteria that had an external entrance as well as an entrance to the mall.

[@bungeeskunk]

Wow! Lot has changed! Visited there as tourists from Canada staying at the Marriott to the East and picked this location for lots to see and easy transit to downtown. It was around 2003. Back then only a few stores were shut down and there was a morning mall walker fitness group who walked the halls.

[@cmwuscfan]

I loved that mall in the early 90s. Last time I went was like in 2005

[@jootoobersters]

i've never been there, i've never been to america in fact... but places like that really makes me sad. but it is still nice to see places like these, i wish i can see it in its heyday.

[@stevewalter1090]

You are an amazing videographery star!! Comprehensive footage, dramatic vocal tone and just amazing music selection. I appreciate all your touches-comnents about he busy auto center parking lot open, red brick comments, white garages...etc. You also killed it on the Metrocenter video the same way.