STORE TOUR: Younkers, Merle Hay Mall, Des Moines, IA (GOING OUT OF BUSINESS)

[@brendencsw4369]

This channel is a bit of a hidden gem, I appreciate the good commentary.

[@LostDepartments]

Thanks!!!!

[@kenoakley6538]

As a former Saks Inc employee, I remember that flip. And, that explains why it looks like the standard May Company exterior. A Saks Inc exterior could be found on Bergners at Grand Prairie....or almost any Parisian store. They all looked the same.

[@mollyheffernen]

Merle Hay is the oldest mall in Iowa. I think they could do something here with the Flix Brewhouse remodel that they did in recent years.

[@Alexs23743]

I like how all the Bon-Ton group stores used "At Your Service" to mark the cash registers. As if the cashiers were butlers or something. D: 2:00: Looks like an old TV on the left.

[@mixdman1]

I worked here before and after the fire in Young Menswear. I was supposed to be at work the morning of the fire, but I was hungover from a party in Ames and was late getting there. I drove up to a blazing fire I’ll never forget. After the fire, my department was called The Hangar. My Mom worked upstairs in the lingerie department for over a decade.

[@BRL08-u9n]

This is so sad when younkers got out of business Since August 29 2018 I have good and bad memories there

[@ASTPlumbing9090]

Looks exactly like the one at Westroads

[@undergroundretail]

Hey, Awesome Video. I'm doing a video on this chain and was wondering if I could use some of the footage? I will give you credit in the video as well as a link to this video and Channel. 😀

[@LostDepartments]

Sure you can! Thanks for asking!

[@mallaholicretailadventures]

Yeah, only 5 days left at my home Carson's at Fox Valley and 9 days left at the Sears. A lot of malls are taking that one two punch. Hopefully more productive things will go into those spaces. I would love to see Dillard's come to the Chicago market. It will either do well or flop. Take a risk!!! Thanks again for a great video.

[@LostDepartments]

Thanks!!!

[@cyhawkhawk1208]

The oldest mall in Iowa is Park Fair Mall. Merle Hay Mall was built several years after Park Fair, as Merle Hay Plaza. Open air plaza in the middle of all the stores. It was big news when they enclosed it and renamed it Merle Hay Mall. It was THE place to go. Sears, Younkers, various shoe stores, men's and women's stores, Fanny May Candies, Singer Sewing, Bishop's Cafeteria, Joseph Jewelers, Kay's, the Plaza movie theater, Merle Hay Lanes, Walgreens. Later added Ward's, and Wards Automotive, that's where Younkers was when it closed, the old Ward's building. Later opening some of the basement for a few shops and a McDonald's. Merle Hay Mall is the largest mall in the Des Moines area. The others have much more in the way of other stores in the area of their malls. Merle Hay is not the fanciest in the area anymore. But it will always have place in my heart. I hope that they can get things going there again.

[@StarCityElevators]

KONE makes some amazing escalators and it's sad that we've lost these (I've ridden both the elevator and escalators here). I hope something replaces the Younkers here. Also, I'd love to invite you to do a video at Gateway mall in Lincoln NE. They've recently added a fifth anchor (before the Bon Ton-pocalypse), a rare feat in today's society.

[@LostDepartments]

I was very sad to see the elevator broke. I was hoping to film it as Ive never been on it before. One day maybe ill lincolnIf i get out there....

[@cyhawkhawk1208]

I loved Younkers. Most people I know did to. Was heartbroken when they closed up. Classy place. I hope some high end retailer takes the space. It's needed.

[@caseyandtoryshalloween1236]

The buccaneers will take the space

[@halfajob1202]

Bon ton came back as a onlin retailer same with all the other nMes I have no clue if thay will have stores but I mean let’s see what happens this time around

[@ne2448]

They spent a lot of money remodeling from the former Montgomery Ward, inside and out. Definitely gutted down to the studs before starting new.

[@brittanyhogue217]

Here watching because it was just announced today that this space will be replaced by an ice hockey arena! www.kcci.com/article/des-moines-buccaneers-hockey-team-will-soon-have-new-home/34724998 Will be interesting to see what a hockey arena looks like attached to a mall.

[@LostDepartments]

Thats really good news!!!!

[@redrayman1977]

You doing ok bro

[@brysonmate8353]

Have you Heard of This Heavy Metal band called slipknot? There from Des Moines IA

[@S1LLY_LE0_LOV3R]

I Love 90s-2000s Store Facades, Just Look At Sears With Giant Sloped House Like Entrances And The Colonial-Like Facades, JCPenney With Entrances Located Near The Corners, May Company With Multi Colored Insides, Saks With Glass Everywhere And Columns On Parisian Stores, Dillards With Enormous Arches, And Macy's With The Engraving Of The Store Name, Bon-Ton Stores Never Made A Cool Looking Entrance, But Its Cool To See A Younkers With May Company Entrances, It's The Best Looking Bon-Ton Company Store, And I Call The 90s-2000s "The Golden Age" Of Store Architecture.

[@halfajob1202]

I Thoth the most delay fire was the Yonkers flag ship well no one died

[@halfajob1202]

This store looks nice but now if you went in thare wold be not mutch left