The Abandoned Burlington Center Mall | an epitaph to a dead mall | ExLog 40 - Phase III Premiere

[@sal]

Welcome to Phase III everyone! I’m so happy to announce that Petal has been saved. The same can’t be said for the tepid state of the now abandoned Burlington Center Mall. Moonbeam destroyed this mall, and this may be the last opportunity to see the inside in this sort of detail. Thank you to my Patrons who have directly supported the ExLog Series, and to the DMoD Family. A special thanks goes out to Anthony from Faded Commerce. Please give him a sub, his channel is amazing! Have a fantastic day, to all of my flâneurs!

[@ItsaRomethingeveryday]

Sal please leave this uploaded, as ill be at work when it premiers, thanks

[@ItsaRomethingeveryday]

Did this place have a cinema?

[@sal]

It did not.

[@Strongbah43]

Did you hit up Famous Japan or Flaming Wok for some culturally inspired cuisine?

[@jasegmoney9542]

Hi Sal, really enjoy these series. Was wandering if anyone from Moonbeam has ever been contacted for an interview? And what are their plans for the future and their mindset in purchasing these malls in the first place. Obviously for profit, but they bought these malls at a time when there was already a downturn. Great content Sal, good luck in your next adventures.

[@mrmiles1968]

Every time I see one of these videos you make Sal. I wonder about all the people that worked in those places. Their dreams and goals, the people that feel in love there, or got their hearts broken. Those that hung out, grew up and moved on in life from there. All the memories there, millions and millions of thoughts, passing people, just fade away. One day it just ends faster then anyone ever expected. Just makes me wonder about easier times back then, when people gathered to be social. Another amazing journey!

[@psamulis]

I worked in this mall for years while I was in college and was a mall rat for years growing up . It so strange and sad to see it like this.

[@row1300]

A lot of younger people dont realize before the internet was a thing people would spend their days handing out at the mall

[@Dion934]

I actually used to live in Burlington. My mom brought her wedding dress at this mall in 1989. When I was a child we used to spend time at the Strawbridges & I thought Petal the elephant was the coolest thing ever. My brother got his first train set from a little store there in the 90’s. When we were teenagers we used to spend time in the music store upstairs & shop for new clothes for parties. It’s sad that it’s closed now. I hadn’t been in years, but it’s definitely nostalgic.

[@serenitynow1776]

I always think about the same things Miles. It is sad; for some reason I’m haunted by the past. It’s a really odd feeling and I can’t explain it but it affects me.

[@showmegod5376]

Well said. Easier times. Times most likely never coming back. At least we had those times. Long Live the 80s!!!!

[@fahs]

When malls stopped having toy stores, book stores, music stores and pet stores.... all seemed to vanish at the same time from malls, which is pretty strange. Malls became a lot less fun. All malls are now are a collection of crappy clothing stores, nail places and message shops.

[@jimkear6749]

$90 shirts, $200 shoes, and plastic jewelry is not a marketing mix that says "come in and look around".

[@rapman5363]

Yes they send all kinds of messages all over the world. One kind of message shop is an Internet cafe, a place where you can send a message from one person to another. 🤣🤣😂😂

[@lucyterrier7905]

That's because young people use social media & many but from websites like Amazon. Terrible.

[@PcLover81]

@@lucyterrier7905 Malls and the chains stores that operate in Malls need to market more to the people with money. Not many young people have lot's of money. Malls and the chain stores need to market more aggressively towards people age 40-70.

[@GrumpyBearRawr]

I totally agree. The pet store thing is really weird too. Even the stand-alone ones aren't the same. It's just food and supplies. There's maybe only two or three in the entire state that you can walk into and buy actual pets. After the c word even birds and hamsters got taken out. Malls might stand a chance if they emphasized entertainment more. Focus on making it a date night destination again or somewhere that had things for families to do.

[@HipFitSoooGood]

I'm now 56 years old. Back in 1982, when this mall opened, it was the most exciting thing to happen in my high school years! We LIVED at that mall. I traveled up those escalators 100's of times. So sad to see this abandoned and falling apart now. However, I do have many good memories of the food court and meeting friends at all those shops. Thank you for this walk in the past. Now I buy everythong on Amazon.

[@HipFitSoooGood]

I wish I could buy that elephant to put in my backyard!

[@HipFitSoooGood]

at 31:19

[@shelleysills1326]

Drove past there today...they have completely tore down the mall and the old chuck e cheese that was there...and quickly thrown up a warehouse...so now burlington center mall and all nostalgia is just a memory ❤️🙏

[@RhondaO]

I'm not going to lie...this one tore me up..thinking of her just sitting in there in the dark, alone breaks my heart .I know it sounds ridiculous, but even as a child I've felt that way about inanimate objects..This was an amazing tour ..Thank you

[@1993MAZDAMIATA]

Are you talking about the elephant they took it out

[@cindyOC1]

Yea, I understand where you're coming from.

[@kendavid891]

I try to watch all sal's video,in 82 I was 15,I'm Jersey Shore born&raised.went to all these malls then,good times. now desolation 😑

[@laurenchristianna2092]

You may be on to something, they say Everything has some type of consciousness.

[@simonejeanette7066]

Mall music is always so nostalgic and eerie at the same time. It's something about the echo.

[@RageTVHTX]

is the music actually still playing?

[@sal]

Negative. The mall was silent when I filmed it.

[@simonejeanette7066]

@@sal oh wowwww i have been mistaken. I love the music lol feels like im there

[@dangallagher2010]

13 40 the watering hole. In 1986 I replaced the" gentle stream" of water coming from Petals snout to a fire sprinkler head. - Why? the small discharge hole ih Petals snout would get clogged with human hair and other debris that was able to get by the filtering system underground ( I spent many hours a d some ful days in that 4 x 5 foot underground filter station. When I replaced the small water tube that Zeno's designed with a mid size gpm sprinkler head in 1982, most of my problems went away- It solved the problem. Just last year I explained that to Zeno's daughter via the internet. I took care of the grand ole elephant for many years taking great pride in the way she ( he) presented the sprinkling water on " Mobley " as we called the boy ( like in Disney's jungle book.) I have a great story to tell about the last person to adjust the sprinkler head on Petals the Elephant ( he has since passed away) My one - time assistant was totally set up to be completely soaked when I directed him to go change the sprinkler head to a different size. I turned the water on when he was still on the back of Petals with a wrench in his hand. He could not get down from Petals so easily, so he was soaked head to toe by the time he " dismounted' I still laugh about it today God bless his soul.

[@295g295]

I never called that elephant "Petals". I could see at the base of the stairs that the sculpture is named "The Watering Hole".

[@madd_moxxi6689]

This is crazy. I remember going here all the time as a child, and to see it like this.....just blows my mind

[@tblewis419]

Where is this place

[@johnwaffleh2p70]

kris lewis New Jersey

[@thattox1cgamerxbox52]

@@tblewis419 Burlington new jersey

[@thattox1cgamerxbox52]

Yeah I live around here abs it’s sad to see it go

[@mom5catskyle596]

Why did you all stop going? If you hadn't stopped going, the mall might still be alive.

[@jasonhicks3190]

Sal, you don’t just make dead mall videos, you make films. There’s a distinction there. There is genuine passion and care in this and you can tell that. So incredibly glad that Petal was saved and future generations will enjoy her instead of being incarcerated behind a drywall partition in lonely cold mall. Brilliant work. 👍🏻

[@sal]

Thanks so much, Jason! Your words mean a lot to me!

[@jasonhicks3190]

Sal No Problem man. I’d like to think if I weren’t disabled I would be out there with you and everyone else exploring dead malls and abandoned retail. I worked for Sears for 15 years and spent every day in a mall. For awhile it too was dying but it’s got a resurgence lately. It also has the store I worked at...the last Sears left in Cincinnati. I find it beyond interesting the ephemera and paraphernalia left behind when mall merchants vacate. Old stickers, pens, books, all of that is incredibly interesting as a sort of time capsule and you document it so well. Apologies for writing a paragraph.

[@patricialutz2092]

Thank you for sharing Petal with me! I never got to see her while at the Mall,but hope to visit her at her new home.🐘🥰I feel a connection to her,she's awesome!

[@alexismurdza1835]

As a past and current Burlington Twp local who literally got to watch this mall go from its peak to its end I really appreciate your upload. Since you’ve filmed this the entire mall has been demolished and no sign of it is there. It is just piles of dirt and leveled land now. It breaks my heart every time I drive past but I can only think of the childhood memories. We spent all of our time at this mall when I was a kid. Christmas was huge here and despite the competing malls we all went here to avoid the mob scenes at cherry hill. Crazy to think almost 20 years ago my family I were there eating lunch in those very seats. I’ll never forget this place and always making a wish in the fountain where Petal was.

[@javeruco]

Sal, I got chills... chills when you showed Petal being removed and her new home. I could have cried, that statue represents so many coin tossed wishes and hopes that I made as a kid in the 90s. Thank you for doing this, like I said You the Best! - Jackie

[@5544gs]

Having been in retail sales 33 years i can tell you another big contributor to the downfall of malls was turning retail jobs into a low paying part time. They started to hire employees that were not invested in quality service at low wages. Macy's is a prime example, remember before they bought every local department store those stores has service?

[@Kieorasama]

Ginger Snap I went into Macy’s for the first time in awhile and I was shocked. Going into a Nordstrom felt like how Macy’s used to feel. I know Nordstrom is more expensive but I’d go back and spend more because of the way I was treated walking in and the amount of services they offered to customers.

[@5544gs]

Yes it is a shame that so many quality department stores with great service are gone all in the name of making the most profit which as we are seeing is their downfall.

[@alphaone101]

I call minimum wage employees "minimum effort" employees because that's what most of them are. They are little to no help and worse yet they're fine with that. They are often rude and inconsiderate and I don't think they were ever taught to say: "can I help you, thank you, you're welcome, good bye, or thank you for shopping here. Like you said, Ginger, they are mostly part time, minimum wage employees. Many of them never make any effort to learn about the items the store sells or how to assist customers. The businesses today are only concerned about "cheap" and they expect the customers to take it or leave it. I avoid those businesses and their minimum effort, inconsiderate, unskilled employees by making my purchases online and at mom and pop stores where you can usually still get some knowledgeable assistance from polite staff, if needed. I'm more than willing to pay more for great customer service and polite helpful employees!

[@calendarpage]

You are so right. I moved to Philly in the 1980's and loved shopping at the Center City Strawbridge's. The staff knew their merchandise and the customer was treated well. I don't think you can have that level of service and knowledge with part time staff. My sister worked retail management (big chain store popular for its coats, if you get me). Few of her staff were career - there were a lot of internationals who didn't have the concept of customer service or even what some of the merchandise was and almost all were part-time. When I think of these malls (and of the Gallery in Philly especially), I think of young kids on their first dates, first jobs, back to school or Easter shopping, having a fun meal in the food court. All gone. It's sad.

[@garesonc9672]

You're dead wrong. These retail sales jobs in malls were always low wage...my wife worked them for 20 years. The work ethic of the employees changed...she saw this as a store manager for much of her career (after being a sales associate).

[@dylanschwartz2515]

The story with the elephant teared me up a bit tbh

[@Strongbah43]

definitely seems like dead mall enthusiasts saved that from a questionable fate.

[@dr666demento]

Same here, closest to a happy ending this video can have 😊

[@gustavefrankfurter6462]

Me too! It should go to an art museum instead of a busted up waterfront park where acid rain and vandals can ruin it. You saw how it was being damaged after 38 years indoors, so to put it out in the elements is a death sentence!

[@nicolastrogdon9199]

The good news is that petal is safe and sound and will continue to be. And the plan is that the statue will be housed in an enclosure in Burlington City that will keep it safe, but also visible and accessible to the public. Some dedicated people are taking good care of her.

[@nicolastrogdon9199]

@@watershed44 yes I had the pleasure of meeting zenos frudakis, the sculptor, while the plans were being made. He's a lovely guy and is happy about the future of his sculpture.

[@poutinedream5066]

I was a mall rat and this mall was my natural habitat. I lived in Willingboro, NJ, a small suburb with nothing to do. If you wanted to do anything, you had to leave Wilingboro to do it. Burlington Center was our get-away. First we would "forget" our jackets on chairs in the food court (some good Samaritan would always take them to security where we would "find" them when we were ready to leave). Then we would just walk around hoping it would be an interesting night. We would ultimately spot a group of boys doing the same thing as us and we would follow them. Then when they caught us, we would play it off, and they would follow us. This is how our weekends were spent before cell phones. We would hide behind the big pillar in the food court and signal to the Chick filet sample guy to come over to us. When he got there we take like all the samples on his tray, like however many we could grab with both hands, and run. I feel like they would call the police on us in 2020. We almost never legit shopped. If there was a school dance or something we would go to Merry Go Round for dresses and the shoe store to get our shoes dyed, but normally, we'd be lucky if we had 5 bucks in our pockets. Man, I put alot of miles through that mall. My dad was alive. I was young and healthy, athletic even. We were all beautiful, just thinking back on it. I feel like some trace of us rats is still there, kind of like ghosts, but so faint as to be invisible, just barely there- but there, chasing each other back and forth until it was almost closing time, when we would let them catch us, hoping they wanted our phone numbers. Some did, some didn't. Some we gave fake numbers, some got the real ones. I guess they will tear it down soon. Don't know where the ghost rats will go then. Guess we all have to grow up sometime, even obnoxious entitled suburban mall rat ghosts- can't expect to chase boy ghosts, play in the arcade, and live on handfuls of "free" Chick Filet samples for ever I guess. Sad.

[@stacitowery4461]

Love this❤️you are an amazing storyteller.

[@laurenchristianna2092]

That was Great to read. 😍. You write, right???

[@brandowitz09]

Love the use of the Action Park commercial in the background of the video that is just simply amazing

[@1993MAZDAMIATA]

BRO THE FACT SOME DECENT SIZED KZbinR COVERED THE MALL THE NEXT TOWN OVER FROM ME IS SO COOL

[@calithunder]

What a fantastic video. Like, REALLY well done. As a former 1980s mall rat, (and mall store employee of unsaid amount of stores, lol) im slightly obsessed with dead malls. Im gonna blame cell phones for part of the reason of malls dying. Its not all about prices or convienence. The mall was a place to socialize, To meet people. To just be AROUND people. It held everything you can now get through a phone. Contact with humans, gossip, dates, laughter.....and people watching. You want to see some crazy Wal-Mart-esque outfits? Go to the mall. Want to get a job? Go to the mall. Concert tickets? Mall. Want to get lunch? Go to the mall. Etc Etc Sigh. I'd gladly hand over my cell phone to have this human experience again.

[@sal]

Thank you so much, Stephanie! It’s sad what has been happening to malls, but it’s my duty to capture them before it’s too late...

[@jmjfanss]

@@sal time to turn the malls into lifestyle centers.

[@serenitynow1776]

Thanks so much for the memories Sal! “Barnabas Collins”; I absolutely loved that game and the show. I still remember when the Burlington Center Mall was fairly new (I grew up in South Jersey); that was the mall you wanted to go to especially around Christmas time. It was new and you could actually find a parking spot without driving around forever. Cherry Hill and Echelon were always mobbed during the holiday season. I still remember shopping there with my Mom to find her Mother of the Bride dress when I got married in September of 1987. Abandoned Malls seem to haunt me; when “alive” the mall was always one of my favorite places to hang out. Now so many are abandoned, it’s just so sad and surreal. Thanks again Sal!

[@sal]

Cheers to you!

[@RichieRouge206]

I’ve always said that it’s not the internet or Amazon that killed the malls - it’s greed, too much of the same thing and crap management

[@jean-lucpicard5510]

Plus the reduced spending power of the common man.

[@irisenamorado]

It's the internet and too much poor people. Rents are too expensive. There is not money left to buy the goods. Only money for Goodwill stores!

[@lg403]

I agree, there were too many malls eventually

[@VidGirl88]

So happy Petal will be saved. I remember watching Dan Bell's video when this mall was still open to the public. It was pretty sad thinking such a piece of art was hidden away in a rotting mall.

[@kelly3014]

Tara Martin I’m glad Dan filmed it when he did! I never would have seen it, otherwise.

[@leekuhlmann7064]

Sal. This episode was fantastic and very special because you had access inside!!! Your research on this mall was awesome and I really enjoy how you're videos are presented and done. I'm glad Petal has a beautiful new home. I knew she had been saved and seeing her new home made me cry in happiness. Thanks Sal for all your hard work!!!!

[@sal]

Thank you so much for the kind words, Lee!

[@leekuhlmann7064]

@@salI really enjoy your ex series and your research is always top notch!!! You and along with everyone involved in the "dead mall" research and history all of you deserve a standing ovation. Best of luck to you and the future Mrs !!! Congratulations!!!

[@DoomieGruntVentures]

Well worth sitting down & watching the whole hour. I might even do it again on the big screen.

[@Ichijoe2112]

Why the hell would you want to strain your eyes watching this on a phone for?

[@RichardDremdenWolf]

*_Looking forward to watching this, Sal. I didn't realize you were premiering the same time I was today, so I apologize for that, but I will see this in its entirety._* *M.O.O.N.B.E.A.M.* _Mall Owner Operators Never Believed-in Earning Achievements-in Management_

[@douglasallen9428]

Damn right!!!

[@garyclouse7234]

I said it before and I will say it again... you are NOT a vidiographer! You are a historian! Congratulations sir! Your work will endure!

[@sal]

That means a ton to me, thank you so much Gary!

[@turismo4299]

The part when he walked into the Sears and said how hot it was and how it felt like something wasn't right and then later the water main breaking was lowkey creepy. I agree with him in saying there's a pattern here. I think we can all agree that, without a doubt, Moonbeam is sabotaging these dying malls as a last-ditch effort to make some extra money off insurance. Absolutely disgusting. I really hope that they can be brought to justice for this someday.

[@AnguirusTCG]

I'm so happy Petal is going to be in a better environment now, and no place is better than the Burlington waterfront! I have been there so many times with my parents and I'm glad that this is the place that she'll be for a long long time.

[@bunnyblue9311]

I’m from the area. I moved to Burlington around 2003. It was my Mall. It so sad to see it go. 😭. I’m starting to notice that even the Moorestown Town is going downhill it’s not dead yet but it’s on its way there.

[@edx21x]

Great video. I grew up 2 minutes from this mall and it opened when I was in jr. high so I spent a lot of time there growing up. The store where the Christmas decorations were was originally a Gap, but I’m sure it wasn’t the final tenant. I was last there in 2014 when I was in town for my fathers funeral. I used a gym there while I was in town. It was located upstairs where the Sam Goody used to be. The Radio Shack was probably the last original tenant. Farmington’s Music was probably the last original independent store. They lasted until around 2012 with limited hours for music lessons. Originally there was a Burger King and a Spectrum Showcase (selling sports paraphernalia) right next to the entrance to the hallway leading to the restroom and administrative hallway. Some of the original tenants besides what I already mentioned to the best of my memory include a Spaceport by the entrance top floor, a Friendlys Ice Cream across from it, Scottos Pizza, Uncle Sams Electronics, a GNC near the food court, a bookstore (probably a Barnes and Noble), a sporting good store downstairs that changed names a few times, an orange julius at the top of the escalator, a home theater store downstairs, a photo developer, a Mt Holly State Bank, a Far East and I’m sure I’ll think of a few more.

[@295g295]

12:22 - You are now exiting, what was The GAP store 35 years ago. *That was a prime location, at the center of the mall. :)

[@edx21x]

B Sm Nice. And at the top of the escalator was, for a time anyway, an Orange Julius stand. So sweet.

[@jeffyboy004]

one of the best dead mall videos out there!!!! thanks for your hard work with this video :D

[@sal]

Thanks Jeff! Make sure to share it around!

[@garyclouse7234]

The story you present was the story of K-Mart! Our K-Mart died and was torn down and I must admit that every time I went there they did not have what I was looking for! They had 15 registers with 1 open! EVERY TIME! As I am sure you know, multiple sectors of the retail industry faced the same problem! HUGE expansion just when the American people were running out of wealth due to the (lying) expected 2% inflation the PRIVATE Federal Reserve made sure we payed for!

[@johnwatson6082]

I am so happy to hear that Petal is saved! This is a great video that has brought back so many happy childhood memories, thank you! I grew up in South Jersey and clearly remember loving my visits with Petal whenever my family went to Strawbridge's. For years, I remembered Petal, the curving wooden bench and stairs around her and the bird logo entrance to the mall. However, for years I also couldn't tell you to which mall those memories belonged as for some reason in the late 1980's to early 1990's my family suddenly stopped going to the Burlington Center and started going mostly to Moorestown and Echelon with occasional visits to Cherry Hill and while I didn't think she was in Cherry Hill, for some reason my memories placed her just beneath and overlooked by the restaurant that the Strawbridge's in the Cherry Hill Mall had... thank you again for bringing back so many happy childhood memories.

[@rebeltorrents]

I spent from my childhood to high school years in this mall. Bought my first Linkin Park jacket and Slim Shady CD there on a random day when I skipped school with my older friend who had a license. Then met my ex husband there in July 2002 in front of the elephant fountain. We met online the month before and I decided to suggest that spot cause it wasn’t too cheesy and the movies is less than a mile away. I ended up seeing him before he saw me from the top floor, looking down at him while he looked around. I brought my friend who came with me for the first hour or so for safety since he was 24 and I was only 18. We divorced and today have an 8 year old son. Thanks for filming this so I can always have it to show our son a bit about us when times were good.

[@successandskills]

That's hilarious "looking down at him while he looked around ". He probably was looking like a lost puppy lol. Then you divorce him and take the kid ouch!

[@BrettHornby]

Water main break at Moonbeam Managed Properties is their way of showing liquidation of their assets.

[@Zach_Bloomquist]

I used to go to this mall in the 90s and early 2000s as a kid. It had a great food court with lots of bright sunlight from the skylights. At the time it was still very busy. I loved going to Allied Hobbies on the second floor near the end of mall. It had a neat around the ceiling car racing track, a bunch of interactive displays and many great models to buy. I got quite a few model airplanes there and likely some trains as well. Jim Rouse made excellent malls chief of which was Cherry Hill in my opinion. Thank for taking the time to film this and upload it for everyone to see.

[@295g295]

44:42 In the history of Strawbridge & Clothier, this is the last department store building the company built. It was built with a helicopter pad on the roof.

[@dondavis5633]

Sal, I have watched both your narratives and the quality of your productions improve exponentially as you've added each additional video piece, and I just want to express how proud I am to be one of your earlier followers and to witness this truly amazing process. You beautifully express all of those same thoughts and emotions that we, as your followers and sponsors, feel as each story unfolds. This latest effort with the Burlington Center Mall -- and Petal, too! -- is absolutely masterful, and I'm just bowled over by it! I now eagerly anticipate each new effort from you, and if I could be granted just one wish in this world of abandoned and dying malls video documentation, it would be that you could go back in time and create the Sal Amadeo take on the Rolling Acres Mall. I would have loved watching you discover this most iconic of all our dead malls, and I'd bet money that your impressions would be spot-on with all of our own. Alas, I've no time machine! Thanks for all that you do, and I'm sorry for the overlong comment/note, my friend. Keep hittin' them bricks, Salvatore!

[@Xanaxdu-si3ch]

Great video, Sal. I worked in mall retail from 2001 to 2012 in both malls in my location. The first was built in 1968, with new anchors added in 1975. The second was built in 1999 as a youth-oriented mall. Today the older mall is performing very well. The newer mall is struggling. The old mall has the higher end stores and better anchors. A new REI opened last month. A new Von Maur will open later this fall -- built on the site of the demolished Sears store. The Macy's at this mall offers brands found in larger markets. The newer mall lost Younkers, one of its anchors. The other anchors are a dying Sears and a fading Penneys. The Macy's is also fading fast and looks older than its sister store across town. Many of the spaces once occupied by national retailers are now filled by mall ninja boutiques and small massage or beauty shops. The former Abercrombie, the Forever 21, the closed Charlotte Russe, the dead Rue 21, the former Aeropostale -- their customers have left. They're now shopping at H&M at the other mall. Drop in a Zara and the other mall will have lost an entire generation. The food court is emptying. New paint isn't helping. My guess is that this mall won't make it another ten years, maybe not even five. You're right. Malls have killed themselves.

[@NikoAnesti]

Absolutely excellent, thank you so much for this. My biggest regret is honestly never going to this mall. Deptford, Cherry Hill, and even Echelon were my stomping grounds, and even Moorestown was one I would go to on occasion. And somehow, despite being right in the vicinity, I never saw this mall in person. When I first learned there was a whole community online of dead mall enthusiasts, I saw many shots of this and wanted to go because it was so close and, at the time, still alive. Now it’s too late. I’m eternally grateful people like yourself are documenting these malls I can’t get to and see in person. Your earlier Burlington ExLog was the second video I saw of yours after I found you through the Echelon video, and this kind of feels like closure. Wonderfully done my friend. Wonderfully done.

[@dansaeed475]

Beautiful! Thanks for doing this around your wedding planning my dude. Loved this place growing up, v interesting to see it deteriorate while Deptford and Cherry Hill grow ever more powerful

[@Daytonawhite]

I used to go to this mall often when I was stationed at McGuire AFB, situated not too far from Burlington, between 2008 and 2010. Learning through KZbin that not only did this mall became a dead mall, but that it was being demolished, it really made me feel sympathy for it. It was bustling when I would go, and it’s hard to imagine how it fell so far, so quickly. Thanks for capturing this!

[@mikes.4136]

Poignant, informative, deeply personal, and nostalgic. Thanks Sal.

[@sal]

Thanks Mike!

[@TheTech660]

This is one of your best Log to date. The Elephant Story was a tear jerker. Love how your Logs are Creepy and Sentimental at the same time. Been Binge Watching!

[@sal]

Hey thanks! This was one of my favorites...Make sure to get all the way to ExLog 52!! 53 is coming very soon :)

[@thathippiebella]

What a beautiful ending. I think she will be over the moon in her new forever home. I'm feeling a little emotional lol... maybe I'll meet lovely Petal one day. Absolutely wonderful job, as always. These just get better and better! Thank you! 🌺🦋🌺

[@sal]

We should all take a field trip to go see petal!

[@thathippiebella]

@@sal Agreed!

[@MuneageDaydream]

Sal, I’ve watched a heap of dead mall vids and this is one of my all-time favorites. If I may add one thing to the demise of malls; I mourn my teenage mall dying a slow, painful death but in general don’t mourn the death of the mall. Malls came along and killed Downtown USA, now Walmart and Amazon are killing the mall. Retail evolution. I do see a resurgence of Downtown USA however. People are fed up with having to return the wrong size or receiving some piece of junk from China that looks nothing like the picture. Specializing is the key. I know, I’ve worked bookstores for years. You cannot possibly carry everything but can curate your collection and special order everything else.

[@sal]

Hey thank you so much! Your kind words and wonderful memories have made my day!

[@Andrew-rh1iq]

The day sears decided to make it rain! Great video Sal. Always a treat when you create sir! Thank you

[@cjsebes]

"Look at this... She's got friends now." Oh, the feels!

[@Mozz2004]

Absolutely fantastic work Sal. I loved this exlog. It's so sad to see not only retail die, but I feel it represents the death of public and social interaction. All of you at dead malls discord are doing a great service in my opinion to document and archive what was once an American society that I grew up with and remember fondly. Thank you again so much.

[@sal]

We at DMoD are passionate about preserving the history of these awesome places in every way shape and form possible. Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@jeee1074]

*Awesome work as always Sal.* Your timing to be there for the water main break was the icing on the cake, for an excellent video.

[@30roundz]

That was the best piece of mall content i have ever seen! Sal, you truly bring something special to this genre. I dare say you have thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the dead mall content creators!

[@daveshrum1749]

Most of the urbex I watch is old abandoned buildings. But that's more like archaeology, everything there has been dead for a long long time metaphorically. This is both creepier and sadder. Here you can see the the mall almost breathing out its last breath and you can hear the echoes of what was. Thank you very much I'm really enjoying your work. Later everyone.

[@jqueen1380]

Fabulous! I hope the etched glass emblem and the bird signage is also saved. The one significant reason I believe malls have declined, aside from online shopping convenience, is that both teens and adults no longer visit the malls for the socialization aspect. For example, kids and teens fulfill their social needs via text, social media, Skype. etc. There is no longer need to meet and hang out in a social setting, as the malls used to provide. It is great news about Petal! So glad you had permission to get into this mall, which seems may be as the final visit. The water main break was astonishing (and very cool).

[@NathanDavisVideos]

You know I hate to say this though; but you are actually kinda right. It does seems like every teenager or any kid in general has kinda got hook-on to social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, ect. to a point that they are LITERALLY ADDICTED to it! Even many younger adults like around my age in their 20's or early '30s are suffering the same thing as well--and it is just sad... Hey I'm kinda guilty of it as well, because it seems like the only-way I can communicate or socialize with my friend is thru chat rooms, pages, and groups on Facebook because 1: Most of my friends (or at least the ones I trust) live like MILES AWAY from me, and 2: Usually everybody is so damn busy and/or has no time to hang-out!

[@NathanDavisVideos]

You know I've seen some cases where there's like a couple sitting across each-other at a table or booth, and the don't even communicate orally (no dirty-jokes attended here!) Instead they would rather text them and chat with them that way, maybe send "dick-pics" or god knows what else! And when you talk trash to them or complain to them about it, they like literally shun you! (Like they're in some weird cult or whatever...) TBH... Instead of being social, it seems like they just like isolating themselves more (kinda ironic for something called "Social Media") instead of going out and hang-out with their friends, or homies whatever they like to call them these days; like goto the mall or ANY PLACE in general, even downtown or town square! It definitely is a sad period in time right-now. A sad insight into 21st century life or society in general...

[@panda.with.a.pencil]

I can easily see why everyone falls in love with Petal! She's beautiful! I'm so glad that statue is getting a proper home. and oh man, that water main break was WILD LOL

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

I remember the Pathmark guy from the commercials! It was also so weird how they had their own branded “no frills” items with a plain white box and red/blue stripes. My Pathmark was in East Brunswick next to Rickel on Route 18.

[@kmartshopper3765]

So happy to have found this video. It brought back so many wonderful memories. I remember going here with my family a lot in the 90s. We would spend almost the entire day here. Always did our back to school shopping at JCPenney. I remember buying CDs with my brother at the Sam Goody store and my grandparents buying a LGB train car every Christmas at the Hobby Shop. Strawbridge's, Carlton Cards, Bath & Body Works, Kay Jewelers, the self-serve candy store downstairs across from the escalators, Juice Express, Scottos Pizza, Sakura Japan, and many more. We still have the snow blower purchased at Sears in the 2000s. Nothing ever stays the same so cherish every moment.

[@mrmiles1968]

That alarm sounds like a back up batter system or UPS at the beginning Sal, they probably killed the power to something that charged the batteries and the batteries are going dead now.

[@cgsound]

No I know that sound it a trouble alert on a fire alarm I worked on too many to count and the strobes going off in the mall confirm this and then the sprinkler pipe rupture at the sears tells me they have had this happen a few times...

[@coolgyger]

@@cgsound ^This. The label on the door should have been everything. "Generator and Annunciator room". This is most likely where all the security system and fire alarm annunciator panels were at. The panel was probably signalling a trouble in the system, most likely fluctuation in water pressure, which should have been a warning of what eventually came. The other tone was probably signalling that the entire horn/strobe system had been activated due to the water pressure trip. To be honest, as I watched this, I couldn't help but think the amount of horn/strobes in the open areas of the mall were a bit... anemic. Like I really didn't see any strobes flashing other than the ones in the food court area and one high up in the rafters and the one there at the door. If it was me, if there was such a huge temperature change from out in the mall to in the Sears, and then to hear the Sprinkler alarm go off, I would immediately assumed that there was a fire and that was the reason why it was so warm in there. I would have then called the FD.

[@nordicdraw]

Another stunning narrative, particularly regarding Petal. I loved the Dark Shadow music while you were in Macy’s. If there were a crest at Strawbridge when ⭐️took over they would usually leave it. I thought the arched windows were a wonderful architectural feature. But above all this was a beautiful love letter to Petal and the epic forever home she will have😢 Thank you for your hard work and thoughtful story telling. Great Job!!!

[@TownieGirl1974]

Well worth the wait Sal. This was amazing.

[@EquityCall]

It's genius the way you do the thumbnails and opening sequence. Like these videos are being found 100 years later and viewed as a history lesson on the downfall of American retail. Many may not understand your work, but to me it is essential to document this for future generations.

[@Strongbah43]

Sal: Moonbea- Moonbeam has entered chat. Have 7 dislikes, one from each of our current employees.

[@ussindianapolis9137]

Oof

[@nep3348]

This is probably one of my favorite videos on KZbin. It's so surreal seeing a mall of this size be empty and abandoned. Love it!

[@MrButch-ls8vl]

I just visited this place a little over a month ago. Couldn't get in ... it's abandoned and falling into ruin. What is happening to me?! I'm now going on trips and making detours to see dead malls ... this one, Phillipsburg, Military Circle, Steamtown, etc. Sal it's your fault (also Anthony and Kristen are to blame!) Keep up the good work!

[@sal]

One of us...one of us...one of us

[@MrButch-ls8vl]

@@sal We're FREAKS!!!

[@mikeb8674]

In a way it's sadder when you visit a place while it's dying and a shell of itself. The Ocean County Mall in Toms River, NJ - where I went to high school and where I spent a lot of time as a teenager - was depressing to see now.

[@MrButch-ls8vl]

@@mikeb8674 I think you nailed one of the fascinating things about dying and dead malls. No one mourns the demise a strip shopping center. Indoor malls are places we would hang out ... get a meal ... prowl around looking for fun. It was way more than retail shopping.

[@295g295]

@@mikeb8674 Did you spend time at the Seaview Square Mall?

[@sp196o]

Words cannot describe how awesomely epic this was. Superb job on the video, history, and just this whole channel. I’m so glad Petal will get a new home.

[@RichieRouge206]

It really annoys me that all towns (and malls) have the SAME shops selling the SAME products everywhere, consumer choice is definitely down over the last decade and its just getting worse 😡😡

[@Ky19975]

So many childhood memories at this mall! I remember taking piano lessons at Farringtons, getting my first cellphone at the sprint store, waiting in line for the nintendo wii launch, and even landing my first job at the coldstone in this mall! Not to mention, Flaming Wok had my favorite lo mein. Breaks my heart to see it like this, hopefully the developers do something soon.

[@JimGrimNY]

Oh they did... It was crushed in and plowed under to make way for a self important warehouse.

[@TheHuskyGT]

It is really awesome that they are restoring that sculpture, but I honestly love the patina on it.

[@caseyfreeman3363]

I live in this town and I have so many memories in this mall. So nice to see this in depth well put together video of the inside.

[@pokemonhunter9409]

Seen a few of your explorers, usually hard to keep me entertained for more than 30 minutes or so, and to do that there needs to be "stuff" like you would find in a abandoned house or something, not a empty mall. That being said, time flies when I watch your explorers. Thanks for including commercials, music, comitary, and most of all history! I think most fell in love with Petals for some unexplained reason, maybe because of the in depth history you shared, or passion. You are the expert, but will hopefully agree to disagree on something. Even if there is a target for something my kids want to buy, even if we know it's available at the mall 20 miles from the house, they research and usually buy on line.... Why deal with traffic the crowds and the mark-ups when you can have it delivered the next day? I personally like going out, but that trend seems to be fading, like a lot of malls and box stores. Gave thumbs up, really enjoyed!

[@slickdude401]

Amazing job Sal. Thank you for uploading the entire hour!! Absolutely amazing to see inside and very happy Petal will be restored. She does not deserve to die in there.

[@ne2448]

The lamp posts at the burlington mall entrance are also at Hulen mall in fort worth, TX built 1977. Wow watching further is looks like Hulen malls sister in the architecture!

[@thomasbell2644]

You are absolutely right it really does look like the Hulen mall when you mention it

[@rickycarter1142]

I feel everything you feel with the memories included and I know that it is so sad to see something that was so important before now in shambles and it makes people like us sad. Great and professional video.

[@sal]

Thanks, Ricky! Your kind words make my day.

[@mazzycollins9856]

I love what you said about the over expansion of malls vs. Amazon being the cause of the death of so many malls. I completely agree with your position: Amazon is thriving off the death of malls, but it's not the cause of it. Thank you so much for the footage at 24:09 - that was a KB Toys. The memories that brought back to me are priceless. I love that you ended with Petal in the new clip - it was nice to see her outside the mall. Can't wait to see her in her new forever home. Thank you so much for all you do. It means a lot to a lot of us!

[@johnhand1526]

What a wonderful video i used to work there back in 2001 as a security guard. What memories this place has for me in my heart. Thank you for the memories!

[@shanehayes9349]

We moved to NJ in Oct '18 when I got stationed at JB McGuire. Ended up living in Burlington Twp not too far from this abandoned mall. It was the first time I've seen this sorta thing; a massive mall just rotting. Very sad indeed. Thank you for making this video I'm glad to see the elephant got its proper home. That park is a nice place.

[@B1jujv75]

I love your videos Sal :) What a beautiful home for Petal :) I love what you do ...Thank u ...

[@sal]

Thank you for watching!

[@BethanyB86]

Excellent video! This was probably my favorite. I now want to see Petal at the riverfront once she’s restored. Thanks again for a great video 👍🏻

[@mattpowerhouse]

I was a volunteer at the Burlington Center Mall Ministry for 5 or 6 years. Great place.

[@brucesumter4327]

i am so glade she got new home that was so cool ty for telling us rest of the story :)

[@Doomsday-kf6kk]

Man i remember this mall when it was still alive in like 2008 somewhere around that time thank you for showing us what its like now i always get a unease feeling when my my mom drives to anywhere to shop

[@RangerRickTV]

Beautiful episode Sal, one of my favorites.

[@sal]

Thanks Rick!

[@cognitohazard3]

i live really close to this mall! i used to go here in the early 2000s and even then barely anything was open. i remember there was only like payless, radioshack, sears, jcpenney and a couple other stores. even back then it was so outdated. now some people don’t even know that it’s here. it’s so crazy to see the strip of stores at 17:06 because that’s where we used to enter all the time and walk down that way. it was t mobile, the nailery, payless, then radio shack at the corner!

[@katecunningham9273]

Have you ever considered doing a sort of expose on Moonbeam? Their name keeps coming up in your videos and I don’t see how they stay in business...

[@ArumesYT]

If I heard it correctly, they bought this mall for about 3 million dollars, collected rent from the shops for a couple of years, never invested a dime, and then sold it for 22 million. Seems like a good way to stay in business. The mall was already dying when they bought it. But if it's a good location, someone will eventually find a good way to use that location and be willing to pay top dollar for it. I wonder what the warehouse will be used for... Could be an online store. :-)

[@kelly3014]

I agree.☝🏻

[@thanakonpraepanich4284]

@@ChrisG0 To be fair, I don't think their business model is working anymore in New Tens (2010-2020) market condition. Moonbeam was dealt the impossible hands.

[@prismstudios001]

Probably Amazon...

[@misterhat5823]

They're the Eddie Lampert of malls. Turn an asset into profit while destroying the asset.

[@reginarepp3639]

Sal thank you for your videos. I love the old commercials of the malls you play, the music and the information you give during I love it! ❤️

[@pika23]

That transformer noise reminds me of silent Hill on ps one,right before the dogs and bat things attack

[@martie.mp4]

I don’t know exactly why, but even as a dead mall, this place gives me positive vibes. Maybe it’s the chirping birds that line up with the branding, or the sign in the window telling everyone to stay safe. Somehow, it’s got a very happy personality despite being dead. I wish I knew what it was like when it was alive.

[@MrBe787]

That mall is like 5 minutes away from me, I remember it in its heyday, it was never really that busy. The nearby Cherry Hill and Moorstown Malls were where everyone shopped at.

[@jonathandiones9455]

Is it still standing

[@sal]

Yes, but shuttered and guarded.

[@bunnyblue9311]

Eric Be I also live about 5 minutes away. I think the main problem with this mall was when I moved to Westampton in 2003. There was definite competition from Moorestown and Cherry Hill. Moorestown is literally 15 minutes from my house if I take 295. Also another reason why the mall was struggling was the area around the mall. The Burlington Mall became a hangout for troubled teens and gang members. You no longer felt safe. People rather drive 15 extra minutes to the Moorestown mall or the extra 25-30 minutes to go to the Cherry Mall to shop. When customers stopped shopping Anchors started pulling out and less quality stores were put in. Which also hurt the mall even further. From what I’m seeing even the Moorestown mall is starting to decline With the loss of Macy’s and soon to be Lord and Taylor. I’m scared for the future of that mall.

[@le351a]

This has to be your best one yet! Thanks for taking the time, sharing the history on all your work!

[@boylesterminalshops6841]

nobody: sal: do you know how many drops of water it took to fill that bucket? do you know how long that algae took to grow?

[@sal]

At least 2 drops.

[@paperbackreader806]

Excellence, Sal. Your work keeps getting better and better. People will not realize what a gem these videos are for another 25 years or so. Oh, we enjoy them...but you are videoing a piece of urban history never to return. I am in my 60s and I was a child when the mall craze began. I was middle aged when they began their slow decline. In my city, demographics killed the dead malls. Once nice suburban areas became victims of changing demographics and saw crime and blight move in. You were taking your life in your hands to visit those malls and once that happened, it was like they closed overnight. We have two major malls left. One is a high end mall in an expensive area and you see no riff-raff hanging around there. The other mall targets tourists and is beginning to have problems now that they implemented bus service to the area. What a satisfying ending to Petal the Elephant and her boy. Sometimes, we humans do something right.

[@dangallagher2010]

I remember the day Lenscrafters opened up. I put in their pneumatic thermostat ofr cooling and heat and ran the lines to the main. I also recall placing their test meter( electric meter to gauge the cost of their energy usage for our accounting department. I told them to dim the lights for a week and conserve , as I only would run one week . The energy charges for the year were then extrapolated x 52 weeks. therefor if they conserved energy for the test period they could save thousands per year. I think I may have been a disgruntled employee at that stage of the game and was 'screwing' my manager because I saved the mall one hundred and forty thousand dollars on a savings initiatives only to be rewarded with 25 cent per hour raise.

[@GiovanniCloud]

This is my favorite Expedition Log video not just because this is my childhood mall, but because of two reasons. The 1st reason is the video has this documentary feel with sections feeling like the video is broken down into several topics: (outside of the mall, inside of the mall, "why are malls failing," Petal the Elephant, Moonbeam, Sears and water main break, Strawbridge and Clothier/Macy's, and finally Petal's new home). The 2nd reason is that the music fits in so perfectly. You have parts where the music has this hip-hop beat (outside of the mall), the classical music during the "why are malls failing" part, the toy box music playing during the Petal part, the Telepath music playing after you leave Petal and explore more of the mall (which is my favorite part because I'm looking at what used to be my childhood mall that is now just left to ruin, and this music acts as a soundtrack of realization), the music at the end when you're finishing up Macy's and about to leave, and the music playing when we're overlooking the Waterfront. Although,. while I'm glad you credit the artists, I kind of wish you put the actual names of the songs or albums that are being played in the video (which I understand is a little difficult since artists like Telepath have song names of varying lengths with kanji characters).

[@bittertriumph2045]

Great stuff. One of your best and I agree with the other comment about doing a Moonbeam exposé. Incidentally, I didn't see if anyone else mentioned it, but my wife and I have the theory that the heat in Sears and the water main break are directly related. Clearly they knew it would happen. The real question is whether they were trying to stave it off or cause it.

[@thomashawk8546]

You just gained a brand new subscriber due to the love that you have for Petal! She’s so beautiful. And I’m so glad that I watched all the way to the end so I can see her forever home with her new friends. Thank you so much for this video it warmed my heart!❤️😊

[@Decade8Media]

I say, Old Fruit, well done once again. Edit : I loved the Sears labelscar, there's actually two there. The original Sears logo and the italicized version that was introduced later on top of it.

[@295g295]

41:14 - A water main [break] is the pipes under the street, belonging to the water supply utility. Water leaking from the top floor's ceiling could only be from fire sprinklers. Which is accompanied with a fire alarm bell, and an immediate response from the local police, then fire department. 41:44

[@sal]

Found the expert!

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

People go to malls with the most valuable brands or the best “outlet” stores... go to either type of these malls and they’re packed! Sal is correct!

[@72polara]

I am glad that Petal is getting a new home thanks to you and other geting the word out about her situation. The waterfront will be a great place for her.

[@glenhenderson3562]

There is nothing I hate more than someone tell me I can't get what I'm looking to buy. Love the video man.

[@geraldvance7925]

Back in the '80s and '90s I spent a lot of time at that watering hole fountain. It was the best mall fountain I've ever seen. With the real palm trees it was amazing. It looked and felt like an oasis right in the middle of the mall. It's really sad seeing it for the last time in this video with no water and the dead trees. I'm glad the statue will live on.