Saturday Night At A Dead Mall: Westfield Horton Plaza | Retail Archaeology

[@as6110]

You know it's bad when an outdoor mall can't survive in a place known for basically always having amazing weather.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Yes. "Homeless" or transients wander around? 😏 yeah not great....

[@m.alexanderzagorski2438]

Your MESSAGE SUMS IT UP!

[@KariIzumi1]

Yeah, it was bad. I went to that mall in 2016 to see a movie but left when I saw how ridiculous parking pricing had gotten. When I moved to downtown around the time this video was filmed and took my dog for a walk....yeah, it was pretty bad! 💀😬 San Diego does have other thriving malls like UTC in LA Jolla and the ones in Mission Hills and Fashion Valley but this one was a rare L. I'm glad it's being renovated and repurposed.

[@Larry]

Love the design, looks like the set of a '90s Nickelodeon game show :D

[@SWIFTO_SCYTHE]

Omg larry i find you on a lot of videos keep up the good videos on your channel

[@NathanDavisVideos]

It kinda does!

[@outerspaceman7534]

I always thought that too and I live here.

[@noreenanthony-tabar2148]

Or even Nickelodeon hotel in Orlando, Florida

[@DOG66619]

@Larry but hellllllooooooooooooooooo yoouuuuuuuuuuu.............

[@stepchildofsoul]

Man, I thought your first video on this mall was sad. Like a few more commenters on these videos, I visited Horton Plaza a few times while stationed in San Diego in the early 90s. It was important to get away from your crewmen and feel "normal", people-watch and participate in civilian life, talk to women (or whatever you were into), and just clear your head-space. It rarely rained there in those days, so HP was a lovely spot most days and nights. It was like being in a sort of wonderland, with the 80s-meets-futuristic-Mediterranean architecture. The details and neon could keep your eyes busy without overwhelming you, probably because of the big, clear blue sky behind everything. I was never lost in the maze of terraces and corridors, but I definitely led a few tourists back to the entrances a few times. Looking at the state of disrepair of the place is upsetting, but imagine the expense of keeping that much square footage, in so much and so varied an array of materials, especially with only, what, 15% occupancy at best? Thanks so much for this trip down a mostly vacant, decaying memory lane...

[@dropsofKarma]

I think this is the most beautiful dead mall video you've ever made. The whole 80's westcoast outrun vibe is unreal throughout the entire mall. Great music too.

[@outerspaceman7534]

I chased a thief through this mall at night while working as a security guard. No one was in the mall, only me and him. He eventually got away, but I gave him a good scare. The chase lasted 10 minutes. Very surreal moment.

[@m.alexanderzagorski2438]

dropsofKarma,your MESSAGE SUMS IT UP!

[@derekt7206]

It's unfortunate that these places are dying off. It was the place to go for when you wanted to hang out with friends.

[@JeanRodo]

Your parents must be very proud

[@Mhel2023]

No one has real friends anymore, they're all contained in their smartphone 😂

[@farmcentralohio]

One word stands out in your comment, was.

[@jackr1465]

Someone needs to recreate the mall in 3D so we can take virtual tours of the mall even after it disappears.

[@StillBloom]

What a beautiful plaza - such a shame it's gone to ruin :( BTW: Blow Pop Dry Bar is similar to Drybar, which is a hair salon solely for styling hair (blowouts, straightening, curling) - no cutting or washing.

[@cecilyerker]

Why does vaporwave pair so well with depressing dead malls

[@camo7886]

Cecily Erker ambivalent nostalgia.

[@dmac7128]

Nostalgia. Plus if retail shopping as an experience is dead, the music would fit perfectly for its funeral.

[@SouthCalifas619]

Because the 80s are in the past, and we have beat the 80s fashion, music, culture, and optimism to death by bashing them throughout the 90s and 00s. Malls were at a peak in the 80s, 90s they started slowly dying, 00s further dying, and now well. Notice the punk and goth sub cultures of the 80s are not whats remembered now in the wave genres, thats not to say goth isnt making a comeback, but not in the waves, because depressing culture dominated the 00s and 90s, from grunge to emo scream metal. The waves focus on shit that were made for the grown ups of tbe 80s, consisting of songs grown ups would play when we were kids, the videos consist of grown up commercials that 80s kids remember. Its complicated

[@davidz2400]

We never used the phrase 'vaporwave' back in the 80's. That must be a millenial term? The mall music was called muzak.

[@coreym162]

Because of the echo chamber sound of the music is reminiscent of the stuff played in Mall sound systems in those days and it's like it's playing in a large empty place and the slow beats are almost sad like the music knows it was abandoned.

[@KristinEdwardsquestoilmistero]

16:30 I loved seeing this, but it was also so sad for me! We spent so many happy times at this mall through the years. Horton Plaza was truly one of the most unique and best places around- movies at the theater, lunch, Nordstrom, etc…it’s just woven through some of my happiest memories. Thank you.

[@normagoff1916]

The Hot Topic site is where Banana Republic used to be. I remember the safari theme with amazing props and beautiful leather goods. It was really an attraction.

[@softy8088]

Oh, man, I loved Stabby McMurder's Coffee Dungeon! So sad to see it closed down...

[@NotaPizzaGRL]

oh good now I know what to name my coffee shop

[@borrellipatrick]

Like how unique the mall looks, nothing quite like it. The few malls near me are just large boxes in comparison 😶

[@gentbar7296]

patrick borrelli yeah it was really nice

[@davidz2400]

It was a Post-Modern gem!

[@haferstenproductions3515]

Hell, I remember going here just a few years ago in 2012 and it was still very busy. So sad to see it decline very quickly. As someone who has lived in San Diego their whole life, this was my favorite place in the whole city as a kid. Now it is nothing today.

[@aprilhdunmoyer]

Miller Lite d

[@deadcorpert619]

Wtf happened to it

[@aprilhdunmoyer]

Nate J the alpacas ate the merchandize

[@chrisschutze2315]

I was born in 1970, and as a teenager in the 80s, malls were a huge part of social life when I was growing up. I remember well that Christmas shopping was pretty much a one stop affair. We just went to the mall and bought everything in one trip. Malls were the place to see and be seen. It’s so sad to see their decline. As a small child I remember my mother buying everything at Sears, including insurance. I don’t think that when Kevin Smith made Mallrats he had any idea how topical it was.

[@jackpellford8007]

I was a regular here when I went to San Diego most summers from 1994 until The end. I knew the mall was struggling but I didn’t realize it was indeed a mall poised to die until 2016 when I learned that Nordstrom’s was closing. Every year after that the decline was worse each year. Back in the 90s and up through late in the 00s it was a really fun mall. The movie theater was great. They even had a Marie Callendars restaurant at some point. It was sad to see it at the end.

[@lwsullivan91]

This place has very unique architecture. Maybe they could make a theme park after it dies.

[@alistair4909]

I'd be down for that. It already has the theme part and the outdoor nature combined with stuff like those giant checkers I could see it. Would probably require more modifications to make it work than would be worth it to most sadly but I hope that happens.

[@MultiCreditKIng]

@@alistair4909 I'd be down if it turned into a Down Town Disney.

[@PhantomDragonEternal]

They are currently turning it into a tech campus.

[@vanivalentine5564]

Tilt was an arcade. Before that that place was a Marie calendars. After tilt it was a ladies clothing store then a comics -n-stuff.

[@RetailArchaeology]

Vani Valentine oh okay, the comic book store sign was covering up the old Tilt sign. I didn't remember seeing Tilt the last time I was there and we have a place here called Tilt Studios that's a pinball arcade that's huge. I didn't think it was big enough to be one of those.

[@Lulu-el3yy]

Vani Valentine how do I always randomly find you on the internet????? It's because we are still meant to be 😻❤️

[@vanivalentine5564]

Lisa Fohrman sup babe! We gotta catch up!

[@vanivalentine5564]

Retail Archaeology I can always tell you about Horton, started working there 15 yrs ago, then moved out, and then moved back in. Old stomping grounds as a mall rat and as a retailer.;)

[@TimothySmiths]

Tilt Studios is the same company..when all their Tilt locations got closed down they did a bit of rebranding and called themselves Tilt Studios..but it is the same company..owned by Nickels and dimes inc.I used to be a manager for a Tilt in the early to mid 90's

[@raymundotorres6905]

I used to go to Horton Plaza with my brother and sister in the late 80s early 90s, on Friday and Saturday night the place was packed, it was a lot of fun, sad to see it all dead and desolate awaiting closing, but I was lucky to have enjoyed it in its prime, places come and go but the memories live forever

[@fultoncrabtree4184]

That “coffee” shop was a super popular hair place!!!!!!!! It was always packed until the murders and they got out quick

[@crystalbluepersuasion3897]

Fulton Crabtree I used to work there! Rocco’s! 😊

[@XMattingly]

I always find these dead mall walkthroughs interesting; it falls on the more painful side of nostalgia, where you sort of mourn for the bygone era of a beautiful space that used to be active with people, but is now decaying and lifeless. 😕 Also, the layout of those levels are fantastic. I bet if you're drunk off your ass it looks like an MC Escher illustration.

[@mvint001]

Wow, I had no idea Horton Plaza is in such disrepair! I'm a San Diego native, but live in a different part of the county and don't get to that area often. So sad, this mall was always iconic as I was growing up. I just assumed it was still as busy as ever! Great video.

[@overlookers]

This architecture is too unique to lose. I hope this mall can live on as a film set. It's perfect for like an alien-looking, imposing city hub in a dystopian sci-fi film. Painted whites and cold colors and acting as the centerpiece in a Logan's Run remake or something. Great stuff, man.

[@KristinEdwardsquestoilmistero]

I heard that it was bough by a company that plans to make it office spaces for the most part. So sad. They’re the ones who’ve let it fall into disrepair!

[@omegaforeverpahrump4436]

I remember that mall when I was pregnant with my son in 1990 , it was so busy so many people. What I seen was in the evening the , homeless was taking over the mall had to shut the fountain because the homeless was peeing in the fountain. My husband said it should be made into condos town homes . Even when it was busy with lots of people it was eerie feeling.

[@alistair4909]

Peeing in the fountain?! Had they not of heard of restrooms?! What's wrong with those people...

[@josephtafur]

Nothing like a dead mall video to brighten up my day.

[@SuperHornetPilot]

I remember first visiting this mall back in early 2010 after arriving in San Diego during my active duty days. There was a Sam Goody multimedia entertainment store which had music CDs, movies, games, etc. That was one of my favorite stores to visit in that mall. I also tended to visit the Horton Toy and Doll store there which had a rather nice selection of collectable die cast model airplanes. Very sad to see this mall in such a state.

[@lonniemorrison2987]

Sam Goody was 3 floors I believe.

[@JurassicLion2049]

There was maybe just those stores, the theatre, and a mini arcade that kept it neat. But even around 2010 the mall was dying and not what it once was.

[@syndialefebre1744]

I worked there 10 years ago. Now is gone. Sad. It was always bright and a happy environment.

[@KariIzumi1]

Sam Goody was still around in 2010? 👀

[@SuperHornetPilot]

@@KariIzumi1 Yep and by the time this location closed in 2012, it was the last one left.

[@BRK5813]

Last time I went to this mall (bout '89 or '90) it was crazy busy and crowded. It's sad to see it like this...

[@sXeblues]

This is most definitely one of the most interesting looking places I think I've ever seen... It's elegant, yet spooky -- especially with the history you mentioned it has. But, this was yet another fantastic video! :)

[@tonytouch22]

First mall I ever went to when I was stationed down there back in 05. I used to be there almost every week until I figure out how to get to the other mall. I was always there to play, eat and enjoy the view.

[@rubym357]

This is a hella impressive mall! BTW Tilt is an arcade. This had to be a HUGE tourist magnet back in the day, I could see the only drawback is rainy days where you can't eat outside...

[@stanleyroper1906]

I really liked seeing this video! I spent every weekend there in the summer of 87. I was in Navy "A" school and not old enough to drink yet, plus the mall was the place to be in the eighties. I saw Predator there when it came out. The Untouchables. Inner Space. Glad to see the theater still there

[@robfreedman6496]

It was the mall to go to when I visited San Diego as a kid in the 90s

[@Official_ry_Nirvana]

Tilt was a arcade.

[@NathanLJustice]

Ah the old Tilt arcades in malls were always great. Blew a lotta money at those in the 90s.

[@DKay-gl3hv]

Lots of childhood hours (and quarters) spent at Tilt. Good times...

[@stuartpickles6907]

Still have a tilt open in joplin missouri at Northpark mall

[@Exliontamer22]

There used to be a Planet Hollywood in that mall. There was also a massive Sam Goody music store that closed sometime in the early 2000’s.

[@metamorphicorder]

Planet hollywood was i think attached and next to it. No access from inside PH. At least in 97 when i was there. Went inside planet hollywood and looked around and then went and ate sushi at the mall. It was booming in the 90s.

[@Zero-xl2ef]

Planet Hollywood was awesome! I still have pictures!

[@davidz2400]

Planet Hollywood was a 90's replacement inside the ground floor of the previous Robinson's department store which was just outside of the mall. It was later demolished and there a park there now.

[@tgustafson85]

I was just at Horton Plaza this weekend. Most of the stores you had as of April are now closed - with Hot Topic and Gymboree having "Going Out Of Business" sales. This place is swirling the drain. As I see it, one of the things that really hurts this place is that it is almost completely shut off from the Gas Lamp District which is where the downtown activity seems to be happening these days.

[@jorgejorhoe3129]

13:20 The middle store, of the three to the right of the restaurant: in 1997, I think it was there, that there was a one-off, sole proprietorship, Spencers-Gifts-like store

[@elizabethpeterson455]

Mervyn was my favorite store here, and when it closed I kind of knew that things were going downhill for all the shops. Horton was always my go to from 2002 till I moved away in 2011. Funny but I never ever found the halls or corridors creepy...not ever. The Nordstrom coffee shop on the 3rd floor was awesome and you could sit outside and view the skyline and the street traffic for hours. I was back in September and demolition was ongoing and I could see the end of a generation replaced with office buildings and more parking lots. Horton Plaza was a bit of paradise....😔

[@owenrichards1418]

This place is amazing. 'What if Savador Dali made a Doom deathmatch level'.

[@trashcanhands19]

Owen Egan Good call, Cacodemon ; ]

[@gogreen7794]

I remember how fabulous this place was back in the late '80s. I might have been there a time or two in the 90s, too, after visiting SD after moving out of California. Yes, what happened? I never imagined it would come to this. The land must be valuable.

[@lasttractionhero]

You bet, this place will be razed to have luxury condos built in its place. Just watch!

[@OMG_BeCkY]

Apparently it was just sold for $175 million which seems like a pretty good deal to me.

[@joshuaperaltamachado7519]

Its considered a “historical building” so it cannot be modified at all which is stooooooopid

[@NathanDavisVideos]

@@joshuaperaltamachado7519 WHAT?!?! How can this shopping mall (even though it was built in the mid-'80s) be consider a "historical building"?! There's NOTHING historic about it! I mean if the place was at least 50-years-old or older, then I could see it be considered historic building (example: The TWA Terminal at JFK which opened in 1962).

[@NathanDavisVideos]

The only other way I can think a building can be considered "historic" if it is somewhat newer is if there was something special that happened there.

[@JD-dq8zn]

This is a treasure. Thank you for filming it.

[@okAngelface]

Damn bro...I loved Horton Plaza. Sad but, glad you did this video. This breaks my heart.

[@trulyAmatulHaqq]

Man I just moved out of state to go to college 4 years ago and it's crazy seeing how much Horton Plaza has declined just since then! Used to love loitering here with my friends back in high school. Used to be some great places at the food court too. I might be in a minority but I love the chaotic/labyrinthine design of Horton Plaza. I think it worked because of the mall's location downtown. It's hard to get lost on grid block streets but then you enter the mall and suddenly you're in this weird colorful jungle, and that always appealed to me growing up. Interested to see what sort of big redev battle will be ensuing here in the next few years; hopefully the space will be put to good use! I'm not as upset about this mall going than I am about the plans to redevelop Seaport Village. That's a TRUE SD gem and I really don't want to see it be replaced with boring boxy modern buildings.

[@brittanychristine3450]

I'm glad to see another San Diegan who is upset about Seaport Village (and KNOWS what's going on)! It's hard seeing the city you grew up in change. It feels like our history is being robbed of us... so many memories gone! And it truly is a beautiful place that suits San Diego so well

[@Kevlux86]

The dry bar blow out places are like salons, but they don’t cut the hair, just style with a hair-dryer.

[@TrainmasterCurt]

Kevlux86 Sounds more like something naughty

[@Shwalker07]

A lot of unique character around every turn at this place.

[@davidpackham7459]

I was deployed on WestPac when Horton Plaza opened....spent a lot of time there over the past 34 years, sad to see ir like this

[@ap70621]

Can't be a dead mall, I did not see a GNC or massage chairs.

[@marisam9803]

Or a Bath and Body Works :-D

[@Gia_Marie]

Both were there, might still be. He showed it in his video of this mall in Oct 2017. It's sad to watch this. This place was so great back in the days.

[@joshuaperaltamachado7519]

GNC was there , only thing left is the sign kek

[@tgustafson85]

GNC and Bath and Body have signs, but both had been closed when I visited this weekend.

[@-divinetragedy]

there was a gnc next to the macys

[@thatDonOguy]

I remember this place was packed in the late 80's and 90's whenever I went to the San Diego Comic Con.....before the Con got expensive and this place got empty. Whatever progress means to you, dear reader and viewer.

[@dindog22]

I visited San Diego in 1989 at Christmas time and I remember having dinner at some fancy restaurant on the top level of this mall. The place seemed like it was so high end at the time. I never would have imagined it would end up like this one day

[@Nomad524]

Man this hit me in the feels, I grew up with this mall in the 90s, I moved across the street from it on 4th and broadway a few years back and was depressed when I went and saw the state it was. Definitely sad to hear this news. Great vid as usual though!

[@THEGIPPER34]

Macy's closed in April 2020 and it started demolition a month later and it is gone now... I just learned about it all and I'm glad you made these videos to preserve this 80s and 90s architectural treasure

[@luissdstuff6381]

I use to get all my business clothes at the Norstroms in the mid 90s though I haven't been there in over ten years. I am shocked how it looks now...lots of closed store fronts. I don't go back because of the homeless problem. It's not safe especially during the night. I'd be too scared!

[@NathanDavisVideos]

You know it's kind of ironic that some high-end, upscale, luxury retailer like Nordstrom would be the first store to close at a major shopping mall/center (especially at an outdoor kinda deal like Horton Plaza) before even a mid-tier store like, let's say, JCPenney or even a semi-upscale store like Macy's is. And yet they claim that high-end, upscale, luxury would last forever and long after the others...

[@thec4fourhundred520]

Go armed. Oh wait.

[@rindordrums]

Makes me sad. I lived in San Diego for 14 years during the '80s and early '90s. Horton Plaza was a Big deal. It was really busy and so cool. Then the internet and Amazon came to town. Just sad.☹️

[@KariIzumi1]

Eh, the other malls in San Diego were doing well enough before I moved away two years ago, so HP is an unfortunate outlier for the area

[@charlesheller4667]

I remember back i the 80s Horton Plaza was all the rage. It was the symbol of San Diego revitalization.

[@KariIzumi1]

Yeah, people forget how bad off everything south of the San Diego Zoo and West of East Village truly was in the 70s through mid-80s. The mall did a lot to change that reputation and encourage new business to open up.

[@rigof.5307]

Woow, once went to visit a cousin in SD, he said - let's go, you have to see Horton Plaza, it's great! - was like 2005 ? well, had a nokia, in those halls used to be little kioscos/stores, i bought lights for my nokia keypad and a cd in a store (can't remember the name) that was in the lower level. That day, Horton Plaza looked so alive, full of people having fun! Now, it seems like.... a place full of sadness! time has no mercy on anything nor anyone! 😔

[@andycameron6179]

I worked in the Lyceum Theatre for fifteen years. One night a guy leaped from the top floor and landed right in front of my wife and me as we came up the stairs to street level. Dead. Westfield killed that mall. As soon as they took over, every inch of wall space in the mall was covered with ads. They added so many kiosks you could barely walk. That's what they do: milk the property for every cent they can get until it's unbearable. Then they sell the dead carcass and move on.

[@AUTISTICLYCAN]

I have noted that GNC's are in every single dying mall I have ever been to. It is uncanny! GNC is so often the last store to leave and always in the final wave of closures just before the mall is abandoned or bulldozed.

[@northwestdestiny1388]

Beautiful but eerie work you do. I remember this mall in it's prime. Forgive this probably obvious question. Why is this happening to malls all over, especially in places that should be able to support a beautiful place like this? Is it mainly online shopping and Amazon that has caused their demise? P.S. I'm hooked on your channel:)

[@cnnw3929]

I think much of the reason for this mall being dead, is that nobody can really afford to live in San Diego. The housing costs are simply too high. If you have to be a multi-millionaire to live in the vicinity, then I am reasonably sure those folks can find other options. The homeless population is not going to be much of a help bringing in more business. It makes me wonder, though, if converting it into low-income housing might be a better use of the property. And then, in many downtown areas, the 9 to 5 workers are there during the day, but then roll up the side walks and go home in the evening.

[@peavynation]

Sad to see. That movie theater is where I saw Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. I live in San Diego but can't remember the last time I was back. Have good old memories there though.

[@marjoriemorris5849]

What a quaint, weird little mall! I love it!!! To me, this place is beautiful. Like out of a magical wonderland. If I ever get to see it in person, I hope I hear Body End Tag throughout as I roam the corridors.

[@video99couk]

Here in the UK, few malls seem to be suffering quite so badly (though some are for sure). Parts of Plymouth city centre is looking very run down, but the mall at one end of the city is doing well. I think the difference is, here in the UK, malls are very safe. No-one feels threatened in a modern UK shopping mall. Any vagrants, drunks or druggies would be escorted out promptly, while smoking is prohibited in all indoor malls. Just maybe, the UK won't have so many dead malls in the near future.

[@emno5056]

dude this is crazy. i spent a lot of time at this place growing up, i have photos of my friends and i there all dressed up in our goth gear being edgelords. it's such a shame because the architecture is so unique and visually pleasing. i remember the sam goodey that only stocked XL t shirts, i saw 'willard' a couple times in the movie theater, it was just a neat place to hang around even if you weren't into shopping. you could walk down to seaport village when you got bored and look at the bay. i heard it was being partly repurposed into a wework center a while back, but never heard any more. i life socal in 2005 so, yeah i missed observing this decline in person.

[@AssassinofHighgarden]

Man, this is such a great looking structure and it's a shame it's dead now. I'm sure it's even better, and cooler, looking in person! Btw I'm jotting down 'Seven murders coffee dungeon', that one was good

[@rob46711]

Sad to see this cool and unique mall in such a state. I'm glad I was able to visit and enjoy it back in the summer of '92.

[@joshuaperaltamachado7519]

Went back last night , Food court is completely empty , it was also the most people ive seen shopping/walking thru there especially during night time it was weird seeing it that lively

[@videomaniac108]

I'm shocked to see it in this condition too, having lived in San Diego from 1987 to 2004 and having visited this place frequently. It used to be such a busy and vibrant place back then, a place where we would take visitors and family when they would visit us. That Cinnabon place was really neat. There was a big chimney pipe that would vent the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls out onto the walkway.

[@fallencloverz]

I remember visiting this place all the time my family would take a five hour drive to San Diego. It's really sad and depressing to see it this way, but all good things must come to an end. Hopefully they can make something exciting if the space can be sold.

[@bluzshadez]

I've seen most of your videos and I love how you have a detailed research before you film any location. This particular mall is laid out like a maze. There are so many lines, different shapes, colours and designs. Those have dizzying effects on me.

[@dinahclaire7631]

Wow...it’s so sad to see that such an amazing, unique, and and beautiful mall such as this one is just wasting away! It’s so beautiful, I have never seen anything like it. I wish we had malls like this where I live but they are just overcrowded, squished, cramped boxes. I’d love to go hear someday.

[@monkeywkeys3916]

It's was very nice. There's others too.

[@gregkarris6869]

One would think that something like this in San Diego would be more popular or immediately re-purposed for offices/lifestyle center... They should keep it - looks really cool...

[@NathanDavisVideos]

I mean the place is kinda like a lifestyle-center, because it's like outdoors, features some elements of old-time downtown America, or whatever (even though it opened-up WAY before the word "lifestyle center" was ever thought-up of)!

[@KariIzumi1]

This comment aged well 👍

[@collin4215]

Great video. I did some research on the 4 stores you really liked. The one on the far left was a McDonalds, the one on the far right was a eyebrow threading place, and the one left of that was a GameStop. Not sure what the last one was. :)

[@mpneeb]

At 13:27, I think it was a McDonald's for a while, but before that it was a Johnny Rocket's. Then the McD's then a crepe place. No idea what came after that.

[@dennik535]

i used to go there a lot for lunch and shopping, since i work across the street. it's been going downhill for the last seven or eight years. it is one mall that i hate. the levels, walkways, stairs, escalators, etc. just take so much time to navigate. you could clearly see the store you wanted across from you, but you still had to walk down the long corridor, go down an escalator, go up some half steps, and walk down another corridor to get to it. by the time you were there, you couldn't remember what it was you were trying to buy. the new 'park' certainly won't be drawing people in, either. san diego has too many other fun and cool places to hang out. i'm sure it will be redeveloped into something else. i don't necessarily think this is a place that is dying out organically, there is a push to get shops to leave. time will tell what they are planning for it.

[@krystalyoung1357]

I use to work there when I was a teen. That was the place to be on a Saturday. That was back in 2004-2007. It use to be packed. So sad. During Christmas time they would have a ice skating ring next to the news cast building. I would hate closing because it was spooky.... remembering all the kids from San Diego high that would ditch school to go to the movies. Lol. Great clip.

[@kevinaull7809]

I love this! I have been in a very low spot in life and your videos have cheered me up and given me hope. I don’t know how to explain it but thank you. (:

[@runswthwolves832]

Being a native San Diegan it hurts to see this and know what it once was. Maneuvering the crush of bodies during the Christmas shopping rush, trying to find your car (or friend/family/partner) on a given level,enjoying the views of the San Diego skyline with the neon lights around you. As a little kid I would stand at the foot of the clock and watch it awe struck, it looked like something out of a fairy tale. My favorite stores were the Nature Company, the Disney Store, and a book store that was on the third(?) floor.

[@realliferugrat]

Tilt Was A Arcade Place Memories There When I Was In Middle School I Would Go After School Daily There At Horton Plaza❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[@BS.Wickman]

I was in the Navy stationed just a few miles from downtown and Horton Plaza, you could hardly walk thru the mall on a weekend in the 90s, sad to see it's decline

[@KariIzumi1]

I was stationed at 32nd Street in the mid 2010s and usually just bypassed HP to go to Fashion Valley or that one with the Target in it.

[@foxycritter]

So cool to see an update video from you about Horton Plaza! My bf and I live pretty close to this mall and have loved going here to admire how unique and run down it is. The only other reason is the comic book store, which we're guessing is what's keeping this place alive at this point. Are you going to be in SD around the time of Comic Con? It would be super rad to like, hold an informal panel/field trip about this sort of stuff! I know a bunch of folks who would be interested.

[@foxycritter]

Okay you know what I said about the comic book store? I just looked it up. It's closed. I have no reason to go here anymore besides to look at how dead it is. Wow.

[@JDKukis]

I've been to this mall as well when we were on vacation quite a few years back. It was doing much better when we went. It was pretty busy actually, what a sad decline. I was hoping to visit it again someday because we really liked it. It makes me sad seeing that it's closing. Downtown residents don't go to malls as much, it's mostly suburb residents that do. That and Amazon killed malls like this that are in Downtown areas. Downtown Cleveland we have a mall that is pretty dead now. The only thing going for it is the Cinemark that hosts our annual film festival, CIFF.

[@Rammichi1]

Looks exactly the same as when I used to be a little girl. Obviously, it was so lively back then. I’ve gone there a few times these past few months and there were still a few kiosks open and the vendors badgering you to try and sell their products. It’s pretty sad how much it’s deteriorated and so dead. Also, at the entrance of the mall there was a jewelry store and it was robbed so they had to relocate downtown. So, not much security there.

[@PepperTreeVilla]

I visited Horton Plaza back in the 90s when it was a busy mall; I was living in Orange County at the time. It’s a shame to see it dying so spectacularly.

[@CourtneyROlds]

Loved how this mall was designed and all the bright colors!!! 😊 So sad to see it go.... 😞

[@SFOSam]

I went there a week ago. It was in an even sadder state than it was in this video. I'd be surprised if this mall is still open a year from now. I remember going there around 2001-02 and it was a really busy place. I was remembering that during my time there a week ago and thinking "What the hell happened here?"

[@davis6123]

Reminds me of Circle Centre in DT Indianapolis. This has an anchor, Circle Centre won’t. But Circle Centre’s occupancy is a bit higher and has more small shops.

[@WickedWonder1979]

Davis I think this mall looks cooler, CC is kinda boring.

[@davidporter7051]

I'm from Anderson and I was stationed in San Diego for nearly 12 years from 99-2011. Horton Plaza was a very unique vive and a lot more pleasurable experience than circle center could ever be. It's said to me how Horton Plaza became a ghost town dive.

[@SnowBunneh]

I was born in 1996 and some of my earliest memories is being brought to the mall with my mom and older sister. I get almost a nostalgia high thinking of translucent blue sony Ericsson phones, minimal internet access, and what life was like before social media. It is sad seeing some places and people age yet, I'm happy it is easier to communicate. 2005 to 2013 were some of the most lonely years of my life.

[@edvaira6891]

This was REALLY SAD to watch...this was a very busy mall Well into the early years of this decade, only beginning to fall apart around 2012..Used to love coming here until the homeless took over, and most of those there are Violent, nasty homeless

[@TrainmasterCurt]

edvaira6891 Antifa types?

[@jayjaytoday]

Curt Wakeman nah, alt-right neo-nazi type.

[@Batman-wv5ng]

edvaira6891 They scums and they ruin it even more .

[@Gia_Marie]

I think it started going south in 2009 and onwards. Most of the stores on the 3rd floor were vacant and half on the 2nd was the same during that time.

[@patr70]

@@jayjaytoday Trump 2020.

[@Zero-xl2ef]

Love this mall. I used to come here back in the day when Sam goody was here. Used to come with my friends on the weekends to GameStop or go watch a movie. Damn so sad seeing how this place was full of life and now it's just an empty shell...ugh brings such sadness to my heart

[@lucasfrombeast]

Tilt is an acrade inside malls across the country. I remember going to this mall two or three times as a kid when we went to Disney. I always loved how different it was from most malls. It didn't feel like you were walking a standard mall it felt more like exploring. If I remember correctly my mom on the other hand got mad cause she couldn't find the store she was looking for. I think they should repurpose this mall into some sort of recration or tourist spot. Like an art exhibit or something? I JUST DONT WANT THEM TK TEAR IT DOWN!!!!

[@TruthAndMoreTruth]

The "vacant Robinson's May" closed in the early 90s, From 96-2012 (16 years) the bulk of the building was a Sam Goody Record store along side The Limited, and Planet Hollywood, among other stores. The building was occupied until it's demolition. The "long and creepy corridor" originally lead to the Sam Goody building.

[@mpneeb]

The "coffee shop" at 15:47 might have been a higher end burger joint in the early 2010s. I ate there a time or two but it wasn't compelling enough to make a regular place. Also, the parking at Horton Plaza was always changing from a good deal with free validation to expensive paid parking. It changed so often people just gave up and moved on to other places.

[@ninjamaster3453]

12:20. Yeah that's gotta be a nightmare to light up at night. Probably hard to police and even use surveillance cameras with all the blind spots.

[@emilymanley8646]

That Clock is cool! So sad that shopping center is now closed.

[@TheNightFlower]

Great video, as usual. Just wanted to thank you for always respecting homeless people in your videos by not filming them and speaking kindly of them. I was homeless for 2 years in my teens and it's horrible when people see you sleeping rough and take out their cameras instead of walking on or helping. Really horrible so thank you for always being respectful. I also wanted to add, 14:10 a salon which only does blow outs (a dry salon) just styles hair. No washing, no colouring or treating the hair, just dry cutting and using hot tools like a blow dryer, straightener, curler etc to style the hair for a special occasion (or just because). They often do make-up etc as well. They work by appointment only typically, for things like weddings, hen's nights, graduations and so on.

[@TheNightFlower]

Oh I'm sad to read that the mall was demolished entirely in May of 2020. A shame, it was beautifully designed and fun to watch your tour of.

[@tomjones7089]

Sad, use to go there starting in 85. Packed with shoppers daily. 2 watch stores, great watches too. Long gone & time marches on! 🚶☝

[@endlessdrive8421]

That Tilt arcade was the comic shop from your last video and it's surprising that it's gone since in the last video it appeared to be doing well.

[@bolt_up]

Breaks my heart because I worked there from 2007-2009 at Steve & Barry's and the mall was always packed! But sadly, it just didn't keep up with the changing times and slowly faded away into obscurity.

[@shannonsteffey5281]

If Tilt was the same as what our mall had in the 80's, then it was an arcade. A really cool one too. Glenbrook was THE place to shop until the late 90's. We've lost a few anchors and constantly changing and moving smaller stores.

[@iwannavomit]

I used to hang out at this mall when I was young! Haven’t been there in years though. Can’t believe how dead it is now.

[@teksal13]

Stacey, you are still young!

[@robloxnoob4371]

I still remember in 2001 it was crowded as hell and I got lost in a parking garage on the 8th floor it was the vegetable garage

[@OMG_BeCkY]

It was impossible to find your car in that f'ing parking structure!

[@maha77]

I was in 11th grade in San Diego when this mall opened, it felt like walking through an M.C Escher artwork, I think that must have been part of the inspiration. Packed at all hours, the food court over crowded, Never thought I would see the day it would be empty and haunted!

[@thelion1856]

This mall is now officially dead, glad you got a couple chances to get footage of it while it was still open. I bought my first rap tape there back in 93, Cypress Hill Black Sunday from the Warehouse music store located on the 3rd floor of the mall on the opposite side of the food area. It was either where the Zales store was located in the 1st video you did or the one next to it called the walking company.