Square One Mall: Is It a Dead Mall? It's Getting There! Saugus, Massachusetts.

[@yeahhoo86]

Growing up in neighboring Malden in the late 90s and 2000s, this was my childhood mall. I remember those colored signs. I visited a couple of years back, I wouldn't call this mall dead yet, I feel it still has a lot of life in it. It's location serves it very well, as the other surrounding malls are a bit of hike to get too. I have fond memories of getting my clothes Sears, as well what was then Filene's (which became Macy's) and Filene's Basement which is now the TJ Maxx. As I grew older into adulthood, I would frequent the Best Buy and the AT&T. I also remember the Best buy was previously a Lechmere Store, The gym was a Service Merchandise. This video is bringing back so many memories shopping with my mother as a kid and later hanging out with my friends and girlfriend as a teen. For the food court that Thovis Cafe use to be a Dunkins, and the Cuban food place was a Master Wok. What if I need interesting about the square One Mall today looking at this video is that they have pivoted to more a local mom and pop shops, while still retaining a healthier amount of the national big name stores. That gives me the idea that Simon has not given up on this place and still finds value and profitability in it.

[@MC-ov8dr]

Eastfield Mall in Springfield was like this but in a far less desirable location. As National brands moved out, smaller shops filled most of the storefronts. Even one of the anchors closed and was replaced with a giant indoor flea market before covid hit but never reopened. Eventually it was nearly all local shops and empty storefronts. I agree the location of Square One what's keeping it viable and could keep it from meeting the same fate.

[@yeahhoo86]

@@MC-ov8dr I wonder what they are going to do with vacant Sears. To my knowledge, the Burlington Mall, Mall at Rockingham Park, and Mall of New Hampshire have all been redeveloped. Pheasant Lane Mall, That vacant Sears, is in the process of being redeveloped into a casino.

[@bloodymary12100]

Same here.I grew up in Wakefield and spent a lot of time after school and on the weekends at this mall in the 90's.I remember those signs and it's a shame they took them down.I have not been to this mall in years as I live on the south shore now but would like to visit it again for old time sake.I go to the Braintree mall a lot,it's nice but i will always have great memories from the Square One mall.

[@Bevinn]

I go to this mall pretty frequently, compared to what it used to be I’d say it’s dying but in the current day and age of malls in general I think it’s pretty good. On Black Friday you couldn’t find a single parking spot, and in general on the weekends since they’ve opened gatcha pon it’s seemed to bring in a lot more foot traffic because of families wanting to bring their kids to gatcha. I think as it currently stands the mall is doing just fine

[@joshplaysgamesjpg1673]

I know I’m a little young but man’s was this the spot when I was a kid. I was 6 years old when I got my Nintendo DS from here in 2010. Man were those the times.

[@Mrmidknight-yx9pg]

I just got slaped in the face with nostalgia when you showed the original sign and entrance I genuinely forgot that existed 😅

[@darrendias9478]

This made me sad. I remember how packed this place used to be in the early 2000s. As a kid, this was the hangout spot on Fridays and Saturdays. Doesn’t look too bad but still not what I remember of it. Half the life is taken out of it and the original sign you showed brought back so many memories.

[@SyNdicateZ81]

mall rat

[@PurpleLightning6was9]

Everyone says stuff like this… while shopping online and at Walmart. It’s just a matter of time before every mall dies.

[@silliestgoose123]

@@PurpleLightning6was9naur theres plenty of fun malls in mass, people kind of flock to those instead like burlington and natick are always full

[@Sturmgeist702]

It's crazy that Champs is still there. I worked there back in 98

[@mini4x]

You couldn't get a parking spot in this mall 20 years ago...

[@gemstone108]

This was my family’s go-to mall when I was growing up. One of my favorite things to do there when I first got a cell phone was go to the food court and do this thing they had on the TVs in there where you could text a number and request the next music video to play. Simple times…

[@rich_edwards79]

Not dead but definitely quieter than it was a decade or so ago, with more beauty salon type places that you wouldn't have seen in a mall until relatively recently. My late wife grew up in Malden, and this was our go-to mall for Christmas shopping back when you couldn't get a parking spot on evenings or weekends. She worked at Sears for a while in 2005 and her cousin worked at Dicks. Losing Sears last year will have hit the mall hard but on the upside it still has a Macy's, Dicks and a Best Buy as anchors plus some good smaller clothing stores like Aeropostale, VS and Old Navy. It would be interesting to see footage that isn't taken in the middle of the day. Sadly i suspect it will end up the same way as the Showcase cinema and the Hilltop (where we were married in 2009) eventually but it may have 3-5 years left.

[@AlexSilver9]

Used to go to the Hilltop's butcher shop all the time. Was sad to hear it closed, and that Showcase in Revere was torn down.

[@gemstone108]

I remember a few years back there was talk of moving Bonkers into the Sears space which never really materialized after covid hit. I think that would’ve been interesting to see and maybe could’ve livened it up a little! 😢

[@hardygirl81]

I work at this mall and it certainly feels like its dying. The escalaters on the Macy's side never work. They go for months without being fixed.

[@tonipepperoni3424]

I remember trick or treating at this mall and local malls like liberty tree mall, they used to be packed like sardine cans compared to this video and that was actually not even that long ago in the grand scheme of things cuz im a zoomer so that was back around the early 2010s

[@JG11099]

I think they repainted the mall and sign about 10-12 years ago. I remember at the time passing that sign on the highway and initially thinking that it had faded in the sun and that they needed to repaint it, but no, that was just the color they chose. It still feels that way to me, even though I know it's intentional. A funny thing to note is that on TWO separate visits to this mall in the past two years, the fire alarms have gone off in the mall while I was there and everyone inside acts like nothing is happening. It freaked me out the first time because the alarms were so loud and the lights were flashing for solid 15 minutes. But no one evacuated. I'm assuming it happens a lot since all the employees seemed completely unfazed, but it's very strange 😅 Also the original anchors I believe were: Sears, Service Merchandise (now Best Buy), Lechmere (now BD's Furniture), Filene's Basement (now their new TJ Maxx), and Filene's (now Macy's). Dick's Sporting Goods wasn't added until about 2006(?) I want to say, and if I remember right I think that was a new build.

[@davidmokal-us2di]

Dead mall people used to wait outside just to go in. Not anymore. I'm 77 years old and was sears first customer.

[@whiteydiamond]

Lol ok? You want a medal or some shit?

[@latarnickboston]

@@whiteydiamondbe kind, it doesn't hurt. The man is 77 years old, has some memories and please respect that. One day you'll look back and find out nostalgia is a bitch. I remember malls in late 90's, packed with people, now it's a sad place to go, just a thought.

[@SavSpdDemon]

I've been to Square One Mall this year. I think some improvements would be needed.

[@johnmitchell4769]

Sadly, it looks like online shopping has done to shopping malls what shopping malls did to local retailers. The mall was such a fun and exciting place to go back in the day. I see more and more abandonded malls in my travels. Its sad.

[@DigitalIslandboy]

True. The stores I liked are gone. The new stuff that moved into Massachusetts I don't like and wouldn't buy anything from. Khols, Forev21, BestBuy, etc. Not a fan of these things.

[@dwlang001]

I don't think it's online shopping. I think part of is the lack of wage growth coupled by most mall stores offering cheap products overpriced compared to others.

[@matthewbrandano2711]

North shore mall about 10-15 min away in Peabody is packed year round

[@SynchroSk8]

Simon really knows how to make everything look so dull. That old style mall entrance is a blast and fun!

[@Kyle_Riel]

He's an evil facist

[@madmerlot841]

All their malls and former malls look dull and dead and in the case of Emerald Square Mall (before they sold it) skimped on maintenance.

[@richiebarrettjr3629]

Newberry comic just move out few mth ago

[@SuperMarioPlush2006]

Is there a new store in that spot? I heard about Newbury Comics closing there which sucks since it was one of my favorite spots at the mall

[@raymondlussier3920]

it definitely looks like it's dying, but it seems there are still a healthy number of retailers there, but foot traffic seems low.

[@AutMouseLabs]

I grew up in rural Southern Illinois. Compared to the Carbondale or Marion mall this place was hopping. It doesn't look dead to me. :)

[@MC-ov8dr]

Pretty sure that Best Buy is where Service Merchandise used to be. There was a long walkway on the interior of the mall and I always thought the store felt isolated from the rest of the mall in a unique way. Sad to see. I spent a LOT of time at this mall as a kid.

[@imsarahbella-]

That's right. And I'm fairly certain that it was part of the old building because the Service was an anchor when the mall opened.

[@jmebabs]

I still go to this mall! That Newbury Comics sadly closed after you filmed this. I wish they’d update the stores, a Primark in the old Sears location I think would be a hit! And a Chik Fil A in the food court.

[@jmebabs]

@@richiebarrettjr3629 I never had a bad plate at any Chinese food place 🤷🏼‍♀️. But what does Chinese food have to do with my comment?

[@richiebarrettjr3629]

@@jmebabs it need upgrade the food court with better food all good food is gone also dunkie other different food gone in the past

[@Iquey]

Ew please not chick fil a. Anyone halfway decent who isn't them.

[@teracall]

I'd argue that it's treading water. The place is mostly occupied but has a lot of rip off stores and booths selling bootleg content.

[@bikdav]

I use to frequent this mall. It was never a fancy mall. And, it was built as an extension of the old SEARS store.

[@Robobvious2]

This was a great mall growing up, honestly I don't know that the mall has really changed all that much aside from some stores closing over time. I think the bigger factor was our attitudes towards malls changing. What you said about entertainment stuck with me. I don't really think about going to kill time at the mall the same way we used to in the nineties before cellphones and wireless internet became commonplace. I think that having some sort of movie theater, bowling alley, or combination restaurant/arcade might draw more people back. I even specifically remember going to Liberty Tree Mall more often as I got older and started going to Malls less because it had more of those sorts of options than Square One did.

[@ronstecher4345]

All of these cookie-cutter malls offer the same stores with very little variety. Twenty shoe stores, unhealthy food courts, and corporate stores with overpriced merchandise. Lower the rents and turn one of the empty anchor stores into a flea market or antique market. Add some artists booths, arts and crafts, better food options, being back the unique shops…pens, knives, cameras and electronics, cigar and tobacco shops, comic books, used books and DVDs, etc. be creative.

[@danielfife348]

No surprise and lots of crime y3t it's on a high traffic road so jt needs to go better! It was full of people in 2002

[@litojonny]

this used to be the mall of my childhood, i remember spending so much time at KB Toys, EB games, and gamestop. i remember buying Yugioh cards from Spencers'. i haven't been to this mall since 2011 thanks for making this video

[@HappyAccidentProductions]

In the corridors of this mall, there used to be a cart/kiosk about every 30 feet. Now there are barely any. No carts = no foot traffic. No foot traffic = DEAD MALL.

[@k2000kidd1]

In person shopping is dead for 50 percent of all living creatures., point ,click. two day delivery. I used to love malls for the social currency. it's all Facebook, Twitter and Amazon. Now 1995 was really the peak

[@Istar47]

From my understanding (and surprise) the Square One is actually doing pretty good. It looks absolutely terrible from the outside, though.

[@MrRyanKaminski]

I walked by the abandoned former Sears attached to the mall and there were no less than 1000 of those tiny Fireball bottles scattered everywhere. The mall itself is ok, lots of knock off stores, but the Macy's is quite nice.

[@KelleyFan]

There used to be a huge toy shop, a Disney store I loved when I was a kid it’s my town mall so some days it’s pretty busy still it’s definitely not a dead mall but it used to be so much better

[@jimestooper1480]

So funny to see this, I live nearby and used to go to this mall often. I definitely have considered this mall dead for years now.

[@SyNdicateZ81]

SIMON is more concerened about making Northshore mall area the revenue generator. Liberty Tree Mall ONLY has footbtraffic inside of the mall because of the Movie Theatre. Otherwise that place would be closed down if not for the theatre

[@n4rut089animereviewer]

Pandemic did a number on Malls and more ppl shopping online via Amazon like websites.

[@danielfife348]

Newbury comics is closong

[@Patriot64]

Your videos are making me nostalgic. I'm going to Stoneham Ma. this week. I think I'll drop by Burlington and Square one malls and take a look around. Thanks for the videos 😁

[@cooljimz0079]

Used to go here when I was a kid 2014-2013 it was busier i remember the buses 429 and some other from malden center used to have all good stores now it’s 💀

[@destinationimagination952.6]

According to a fire exit map around where you first entered the mall, the additional anchors from the 90s; -Lechmere (now B.D's Furniture) -Service Merchandise (now Best Buy & Ultra Flex Gym) -Filene's Basement (now T.J Maxx) DICK'S was an addition built around the time I started going to the mall when I was 7. I've been to this mall multiple times for 10+ years, I feel a reason for it's remaining has been having a few stores the North Shore doesn't have, such as Hot Topic, Daniel Blaze, Roman Delight Pizza (which has some rather nice food if you ask me), and Pet Express. Surely isn't as bad as Liberty Tree, but if Macy's pulls out, that could change.

[@richiebarrettjr3629]

Dunkie donuts is just left few mth ago disappointed no CVS we need get a drink from CVS it move to 1mile from mall

[@donnadrane4977]

I think the pet store is gone, also.

[@richiebarrettjr3629]

@donnadrane4977 still there on 2nd floor same corner

[@peterjohnjoseph]

I remember this mall being built and the Best Buy entrance being where Service Merchandise was. That store was awesome. Nothing was on the shelves but a demo. You'd then watch what you bought be sent out on a conveyer belt from the warehouse. I grew up doing stupid things in this mall and its back hallways.

[@CaptAztek1001]

I live a few miles away from this mall and I always forget it even exists.

[@BigBowl9]

that family entertainment arcade/bumper car thing you mentioned. the company wanted to acquire a liquor license and that was denied and so the deal fell through and nothing continued. Such a dumb choice. I was looking forward to going there frequently.

[@hardygirl81]

Newbury comics is gone

[@Twr0740]

This mall has been struggling for years. Newbury Comics pulled out of there early this year. They've lost quite a few stores over the years. I truly miss the old shopping center and movie theater that were originally on the site

[@mione134]

This mall was everything back in the day. Its gone by the wayside just like Mystic Mall, Meadow Glenn Mall, and now Square One. Its extremely depressing. The quality in stores and people who go in there for trouble, is why most people avoid this mall now and go use Peabody Mall. Breaks my heart.

[@richiebarrettjr3629]

@mione134 remember assembly mall now assembly roe it huge

[@mione134]

@@richiebarrettjr3629 Memories:(

[@ronhoover5516]

It seems like a decent mall! Maybe somewhat dated but pretty nice, especially to us in Ohio who are used to less-than-stellar mall experiences.

[@Atrere]

I worked at this mall for a couple weeks in the early-mid 2010s. On the second floor, near the entrance, there was a Used Book Superstore - a chain that at the time, had 5 or 6 stores, but since has collapsed down to two locations, and they were short-staffed for bit, so I was sent over from one of the other stores. The mall still felt vibrant and alive back then, though I did think it was odd to find a used book store in a mall. Odd but good.

[@darrenp1549]

Very much on life support..... TJ Maxx is always pretty busy at least.

[@josuediaz3123]

From East Boston, this was my family's go to shopping center. I remember when Houlihans was on the first floor next to best buy

[@freddysmith9785]

Try Saturday night or after work hours I think your timing is a bit early

[@AlexSilver9]

So I know this video is 2 weeks old, but this used to be my childhood mall, and the last time I was in it was in 2017 (I have since moved cross country, but grew up in the literal next town over) and the state of this mall in the 6 years since is surprising to be honest. I thought it was struggling heavily then yet it still shows signs of life even today

[@whiteydiamond]

Every Friday night when I was in high school, a whole bunch of us would go across the street into the woods to smoke and everyone called it The Foundation

[@dannythedon82]

That's funny because we have Square One mall in Mississauga Ontario Canada and it looks very similar at least back in the 80's and 90's

[@fleabittenadventures]

I saw that. It kept coming up in the internet results when I was researching the mall.

[@trollking99]

@@fleabittenadventures Someone did a walk-through if you're interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2HWe2SYmL6AjKM

[@louiedangelo3843]

12:00 PM on a thursday might be early but it looks outdated and not much traffic.

[@JaredMerlin]

I lived in Saugus from December 1982 until October 2002. I loved this mall and the New England Shopping Center. I worked at iHop and Filene's Basement. Saugus has changed SO MUCH. My OLD high school got torn down. I can never go back. Life changes too damn much, too damn fast.

[@adamluce1901]

This mall once had a bunch of wrestlers do signings including sting Goldberg and the rock and it was always packed

[@mione134]

I was there. I got a picture with Kevin Nash. Wolf Pac 4eva

[@ChampionBlueRacing]

I don't know if you've ever filmed Clearview Mall in Butler County Pennsylvania yet but that as close to a dead mall as you can get. I hardly resembles the mall I remember from being a kid/teenager now it's empty store after empty store with a few restaurants thrown in just to keep the place open.

[@fleabittenadventures]

Someday. Pennsylvania is a bit too far for me right now

[@bobbycecere]

Liberty Tree has them beat

[@John-gf7kj]

Grew up less than 5 miles from this mall - the land that mall sits on Route 1 is worth a fortune, it may be converted to high end apts and retail at one point. It sits where the New England Shopping Center was = which a open strip mall concept going back 50+ years

[@rich_edwards79]

Yes, it was originally a strip mall with theater, and now strip malls seem to be coming back - crazy brown things come full circle. Not that I can ever see a resurgence in theaters, due to streaming and the fact that most people now prefer to binge a TV series than watch a 3-hour film. I was still shocked when the Showcase didn't reopen, that place wasn't very old (2003?) and was always packed out on a weekend.

[@Jellyrollrider]

Just what route 1 needs, more high end apartments 🙄

[@yotsubamic5760]

my parents always take me there to eat at the food court i still remember when they had a train ride for toddlers before covid

[@rsoxx74]

I grew up a couple of towns over from this mall. I'll tell you exactly what happened. All of the trash, scumbags and criminals from everett, Malden and Revere started coming in and causing problems. People that didn't want to deal with this just went up to the North Shore Mall in Peabody

[@JaredMerlin]

The only place that is still there, for me, is Spencer's. Everything has changed and is gone. Wow. Sad.

[@NEStalgia1985]

I was a dj at the palace night club around the corner on route 99 which long went out of business. The 5000 people that would leave the club on our day parties would end up going to the mall after, ive never seen such chaos destruction and 3 hour waits for restaurants

[@philmccollough4437]

10 years ago 2013 still alive and packed and 2003 I use to go all the time as kid,people can just order things on thier phone.

[@radracer8777]

I'm not sure who would approach who with what deal, but it'd be rad if a Round 1 arcade opened at this mall. the North Shore desperately needs arcades after the one at Liberty Tree shut down in the late 2000's

[@bretztheman]

Unfortunately, Square One will go directly to the “Brick and Mortar Store” graveyard where MOST if not ALL “used to be iconic” malls and “has been” stores go. Much like Christmas Tree Shoppes a few years ago. Just a matter of time my friends. Once all the boomers pass away - all these relics of the “retail past” will fall like dominos because let’s face it, it’s only the baby boomers that are giving these stores the majority of their foot traffic money and business because: 1) They flat out refuse to online shop 2) Or legit do not know how to

[@DorothyKiley]

The parking it awesome because you park on the second level and boom Macys right there. Men buy their clothes there because they carry the hot labels, like Nike, Ralph Lauren and Levi’s. Can’t get anywhere but Macys, and square one has stock.

[@rxypo]

i remember the old disney shop there

[@mione134]

It was the best. Why they got rid of it, still blows my mind. It was always packed :(

[@Spucky50]

Used to go there in the 1990s. Was not my favorite - crappy parking and hard to get off/on crazy route 1.

[@SlowST]

I worked here at champs from 2006-2007 and it was constantly packed. Sad to see where it is now.

[@caesarazealad]

Damn brings back memories.

[@CaptainBadNews]

Lol I remember when they built this. It was a big deal! Very 90’s

[@ruby055]

Tom, I was up in Topsfield on RT 1 and i think thats a dead mall. Its too close to North Shore Mall and dead Liberty Tree 8 miles north.

[@Spucky50]

What mall is in Topsfield?

[@m.c.o.3068]

A large structure, and less shopping going on - repurposing shopping mall space to updated community space seems like a good idea. An area of the mall could accommodate a casual independent living center - small condos and support service businesses - all under one roof and accessible.

[@Realistic316]

it’s sad that the internet is taking over the world…. i constantly went there as a kid with my buddies, and everyone who was anyone would be there every Friday and Saturday Night

[@rollbacked]

For me, it is worth going for the chinese food in the spot next to Dunkin

[@plasmass3]

still go to this mall every other weekend and yeah it's def died down over time, happens a lot with simon owned malls in general (around this area atleast)

[@Iquey]

That's crazy how they still had a "Children's Place" store, since that company has been closing stores almost everywhere.

[@Kanzuko]

They repainted the signage and got rid of the more vibrant details quite a while ago. I live in the area and I pass by it all the time. It was easily more than 10 years ago that they did it, not sure why though. I was always a fan of the original design, too. I wouldn't say its fully dead as of yet. There's still quite a few regulars and being located right on rt 1 is extremely beneficial, especially now thanks to the newer apartments that went up where the minigolf course used to be

[@anothervu]

I miss the Wayback Burger that used to be there. I pretty much got to the point of only going to Dick's and TJ Maxx by using their outdoor entrance.

[@larryk731]

Looks like a moderately healthy but bland mall - typical of Simon properties

[@JaredMerlin]

I take it the T bus doesn't go there anymore. I don't see the signs.

[@markg6605]

It has so many of those rip off candy dispensers...only a quarter haha

[@paulcollins629]

There was no better time to hangout at the mall then the 80s guys and hirls used to just swarm the place on the weekends to flirt hangout hookup such great times never to be had again kids these days have a sad existence they truly do not know what it means to truly just hang out not just be online allday thats why teens are so depressing and kill themselves they are lonely

[@Howl_O_Ween]

If you want to see a mall that is truly dying I suggest checking out Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers.

[@CJ200880]

Wow y'all don't understand how many memories I got there school shopping everything it's not the same

[@bostonsteve2889]

if they got rid of half of the stores nobody goes to and replaced sears with a movie theater and demolished half of the mall for apartments then the mall could last

[@markhalprin]

one thing you did not show about the closed sears was in the parking lot there used to be one of the larger sears automotive centers.

[@Wickedpissah138]

The original anchors were Sears, Filenes and JCPenney and then a Best Buy

[@justindasilva73]

This was my mall as a kid. Used to be booming

[@justindasilva73]

However it was never the most popular mall in the surrounding area

[@timothywatson8345]

Should have been gone by now it’s dying out

[@interstellarphred]

The people who run this town, went to schools next to and down wind of Route One when lead was in the gasoline.

[@davidmokal-us2di]

Before it was a shopping center the land was used as a golf driving range

[@entrthedragon]

Kingston just about done too. Hanging on by the fingernails.

[@catlady4799]

Very sad to see. I miss Sears, Disney store, fileen basement was were tj max is.

[@harrisonhanson2998]

Honestly the old colors made it look cheesy. 94 so it was opened around the same time as the galleria mall in Taunton. I don’t think I’ve ever even been to the upper level of that mall.

[@Wall2000x]

A lot of cell phone stores - a lot - always a bad sign.

[@StephanieGould]

I used to go to Square One growing up in Melrose, but it got really weird. I hadn't been to the mall since 2002, then, moved back to the area during COVID and I was so shocked to see how downhill it's gotten.

[@Robert-j6w5v]

I live in Saugus he is correct went to crap

[@Witch-King4666]

Are you doing a Liberty Tree one lol?

[@davidmokal-us2di]

Sears used to be the working man store. The sold sporting good of all kinds with ten Williams and jc Higgins signatures all over fom fishing equipment to hunting rifles .you could even purchase boats and all kinds of fishing equipment. The back parking lot the also had sports car rally with truths and MG a would race .Sears auto also sold Studebaker cars and their own motor cycles.

[@bluetiger221]

Danke!

[@fleabittenadventures]

Thank you very much!!!