The Dead Mall At Sierra Vista | Retail Archaeology

In this episode we take a look at the dead mall at Sierra Vista.
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#retailarchaeology #deadmall #sears

[@RetailArchaeology]

Hey everyone, I have a video on my second channel that is a video tour with just the ambient dead mall sounds. No commentary or music is in this version of the video. You can hear how vacuous it sounds: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5uykpeooLyAeJo

[@ReginaTrans_]

I love those malls with 90s aesthetic, even more interesting when they're abandoned, cause the 90s were kinda cyberpunk

[@shepshep8654]

I think you take inspiration from Dan Bell and i think that is dope. Your dead mall videos have the right vibe.

[@jessicap2514]

Growing up here and remembering when it opened it was a local hangout spot for teens and what not. The big issue over the last 20 years has been the high price they charge for rent. Many local business have died a slow death in the mall because of this. Even having the Food Network Channel do a Food Court Wars episode in 2014 didn’t help to revive the mall. It’s been dying for a long time. There’s I think only a handful of original stores that are still there from opening day. Bath and Body Works, Dillard’s, Spencer’s, Cinemark, Claire’s are the ones off the top of my head at this time that are original. The rest have all been there for less than 15 years at this point. The military used to have their recruitment offices in the small entry way by Claire’s but even then they have since moved out. The locals drive to Tucson where they can get good deals, great food and access to many great stores. The area has changed, the big boom happened in the early 2000’s and has since slowed down. We had a good amount of hotels open up in a few short years due to the demand the Army has to train more and more soldiers for the wars. Thanks for the throw back to the hall at Sierra Vista and the many memories I had when it opened.

[@nicoletrevino3294]

I've heard that most stores leave because of the rent rates also! Sounds like maybe they are reasonable at first but then hike em up too high shortly after. I keep saying that Old Navy needs to come buy the Sears building though! They could make a killing here!

[@Sheilaalien]

I grew up there too, 1992 (I was 6) onward

[@janesawyer3495]

Spot on, Jessica. The rent prices went too high for the area, and drove out most of the businesses.

[@MissMTurner]

"Well, I'm off to the mall." "During a pandemic? Is that safe?" "Oh, don't worry, I only visit *dead* malls." 😆

[@Fermifire]

Dead malls are legit, I visit them for the aesthetics.

[@anotherdavidc]

LOL

[@stacimarieallen385]

lived here my whole life and slowly watched stores being shut down in the mall. the food court used to have all five spots taken and now just subway. it’s such a shame, but the owners have the rent sky high so it’s hard for local shops to go in there

[@lisadavid4575]

I remember when the mall opened and it's been known as "The Hall" since it opened. It was a "dead" mall long before the pandemic. The cost to rent a space in this mall is ridiculous and that's why stores don't stay open here.

[@Hopeguz3]

Well dang

[@kutter_ttl6786]

You'd think they would get a clue and lower the rents to a more reasonable level.

[@monkeywkeys3916]

@@kutter_ttl6786 Nope they don't.

[@christopherhindle8371]

The new owners (8/21) will be able offer cheaper rental rates.

[@dylangose3657]

This place was a lot of my childhood. It’s crazy to see it this way now.

[@animeshock2006]

Most movie theaters are replaying old movies because the studios have pushed moviea to next year or 2022. Regal theaters are closed at least till the rest of the year

[@peterstean2138]

I've been reading in entertainment news that Regal (and their UK subsidiaries Cineworld and Picturehouse) might never re-open given their terrible financial state - in England that would mean the loss of 25% of all the seats in theatres. Most of AMC's UK subsidiary Odeon cinemas are now opening on weekends only, basically because there's virtually nothing new to show. I'm beginning to wonder - no joke - whether when Bond finally lands there will be anywhere left to watch it

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

The Epic chain has a decent theater in metro Orlando. Nice seats, good digital sound 🔊. Clean.

[@animeshock2006]

@@peterstean2138 it's hard to say besides lone independent theaters. Some movies are debut on streaming services in the us

[@CommodoreFan64]

Regal, and AMC theaters are both giving up, and going under, plus China loving Disney has pulled all their movies from theaters period, and I don't think they will be coming back since they have Disney+, Hulu, and even Google Play Movies to push their crap.

[@megacide84]

I'm seeing 70" 4K SmartTVs going for under $500.00 now. Throw in a decent soundbar for $70.00 and a standalone Blu-ray player for $60.00. Movie theaters are screwed.

[@vilecrow]

Everytime I go in there it makes me sad. So many fond memories in that mall, hanging out with friends, eating Beni Hana, watching a movie and stopping by the EB Games and FYE before I left. Only place in town to buy obscure and uncensored cds.

[@RottingLegion]

Glad I'm not the only one

[@kresentgurtler6911]

It's been on life support for five years. They didn't even fix the air conditioning one summer and started leaving the lights out in the morning. Had a coffee shop there for six years. Left them to decay without us four years ago.

[@benlincali]

I live nearby. The last time I saw the mall in a busy state was when Sears was having a blowout sale during the 2018 holiday season. Otherwise, how you see it here is how it has been even before the pandemic. It's dead. The crossroads area where hwy 92 and hwy 90 meet is still very much a busy retail environment.

[@celsovera91]

You should see the Sears in Mexico it’s nothing like the Sears we had here. I went with my cousin to Sears mexico one time to buy a suit and they had designer brands. He bought himself a Michael Kors suit. Surprisingly they do very well down there and it’s actually owned by a completely different company it has nothing to do with the Sears here. They even still use the old logo from the 80s and 90s

[@watershed44]

@Celso Vera Do they still carry all the Sears brands like Craftsman, Kenmore, and others....oh and do they still have the candy and snacks section?!?!

[@demonswilldrown]

@@watershed44 some brands and yeah they did sell snacks and pick and mix candy by the pound but that’s been closed after stores reopened after total lockdown eased in mx

[@watershed44]

@@demonswilldrown Thanks for the reply, as a kid back in the 1970s I loved the caramel corn they made hot and fresh, and it smelled wonderful as you walked around the store.

[@nickzila4641]

i used to live in monterey am from brazil and used to live thre i rember a sears it looks all good modern wen i first saw the sears bankrupsi i was like how it was a moders store and all now i know why

[@WhySoLoud]

And pipe in 70's musac.

[@skyenotsky]

It’s been a few months since I’ve been here, so it was surprising to see that Victoria’s Secret and GNC closed down. This mall had a couple of stores that tried their best to be original but it came off as weird- the adult/kid’s theater used to be a little jumping castle place (that was also dead, no surprise), it used to sell cowboy clothes, used to be a giant tattoo studio, etc. The moneymakers were Bath and Body Works year round, Hot Topic on occasion, Dillard’s around Christmas time, and Cinemark pre-pandemic. That colorful tile area used to be a pretzel place -> crepe place -> vape stand. The pretzels and crepes were good, but the vape stand felt like a foldout white table in the middle of that storefront. Also, Subway has been the only restaurant in the mall for maybe 2 years now 😅

[@gabiiik90]

They actually just put the bouncy castle place back; it’s where F.Y.E used to be. The old GNC is now a little hangout kind of spot, with just some tables and tasty snacks and drinks.

[@MS-zo8tp]

It was also like the 20th vape place in town, they keep popping up and going under.

[@andrewvidakovich9679]

When I saw the video title I jumped. I grew up in Sierra Vista and no joke went to the grand opening of the mall for a 6th grade field trip! They gave the students $5 each to spend as they wish. Growing up in a small town, there's not much to do, so we were there every weekend. There was a Chinese restaurant "Flaming Wok" in the food court that would do $5 fill-up boxes at the end of the night and we would pig out on those and go see a movie. Lots of fights and whatnot also took place in that parking lot. Down the road, my friend moved his Skateboard shop into the mall, right where you first walked in. Wow, anyways. Love that place, spent many many hours of my life there and I'll always love it. You missed it, but...They've always had a wall of kids from SV who joined the military and served overseas, so many friends up there!

[@nicoletrevino3294]

Man I miss the Flaming Wok!!!

[@wretchedref]

FIVE DOLLAH!

[@chuckmanofgod]

I lived in Sierra Vista for a little over 3 years (2008-2011). It is a beautiful area with the mountains. I used to go on power walks in this mall….doing the perimeter of the halls and the major stores. I remember the mall being full Of merchandise as well as all the stores functional. However, Sierra Vista is a very transient area…..people come and go like buses. I probably outstayed a lot of people there in only my 3 years of being there. Unfortunately the job market was horrible back then and the “Now Hiring” or “Help Wanted” signs were nonexistent. I ended up leaving on “11-11-11” to head back to the east coast where I grew up. I will never forget this area. I would love to go back and visit sometime, I really miss it there.

[@adamweinstein1258]

I was a student, and then stationed, at Ft. Huachuca in the early 2000s. The food court and movie theater were our Friday night destination. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

[@dianamarie5663]

Smooth camera work. Not bouncy and shaky like some people's videos.

[@GRORGvideot]

like pillows tied under his feet

[@PixelatedH2O]

I spent several of my younger years in Sierra Vista, from '85-96. The mall opened around the time I left. I remember being shocked such a small town could sustain a mall.

[@karenpojar2514]

Huachuca is a training post. Most of the people there are trainees. They are there for only a few months, and also not allowed off base. Still, there are staff stationed there. Just not as much as you would think. The movie theater at the mall was very popular in the early 2000's: I remember watching Lord of the Rings and Phantom Menace there. The lines were around the block. The GameStop and FYE were popular too, but they closed due to their parent companies going broke.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

When I was in, 1990s era 1990-1993, that army post was MI or 🤫 secret 🐿 units. They had secret & intel groups train there.

[@CommodoreFan64]

@Di Escombreria Things could change, but so far as of 10-17-20 in early voting even the MSM is saying Trump is in the lead. 🤞🙏 he does not lose.

[@aaronjohnson8003]

@Di Escombreria I see no reason to think that is true. A specific base closure is something no one has mentioned, ever.

[@cujoking87]

@Di Escombreria great way to make a nostalgic escape political......

[@Habu12]

While it is heavy in training for MI, signal, and UAS, there are still garrison units there. And AITers, the trainees, are allowed off post. They just have to pass a certain phase of training.

[@ShannonBrownauthor]

I hate kiosks personally. Maybe those are the reason why less people shop at malls. Creepy sales people foisting eye cream on you and criticizing your nails or whatever. Ugh people want to be left alone not stalked when they shop. Good riddance to those.

[@oldtwinsna8347]

It's either they have employees glued to their phones who clearly don't want to be there, or an employee that starts accosting people that they must have their attention to peddle their worthless junk. Either way, it creates a bad atmosphere and does indeed keep people away.

[@monkeywkeys3916]

@@oldtwinsna8347 Yeah they put me off, at first

[@RichV20]

Jewelry or food kiosk is okay, they dont bother you. The eye cream, knick-knack toys, "what cellphone are you with, boss?" kiosks are annoying and good riddance to them.

[@uwumarii]

Even in the main stores I hate it when sales people stalk me while I browse stuff. It's a major turn off for me and I avoid going in one like the plague

[@amberl313]

I'm glad the kiosks are going out. I really don't appreciate being harassed by them when I walk by.

[@millerlmao2139]

People offering their service is a form of harassment ? Disgusting behavior stay down their by the border

[@mirandab4075]

Back when it opened, it was the place to go for kids to hangout. We had a lot of business from Mexico and it was busy. It's really sad to see it in this empty state. The Gathering Scene next to the community theater is a really cool spot. The Community theater and the Gathering Scene are great little gems for the Hall.

[@ShanGamer1981]

The mall in my hometown looks like this but actually has people

[@MusicBear51]

Thanks for the shout out for our community theatre here at the mall. I recently attended a production there. I hope your video brings some needed attention to our mall and community. I love ❤️ living here. 🌵 👍 ☀️

[@thoedessay89]

I miss Electronic boutique my child hood and early teenage favorite store. Miss the amazing giant slices of pizza 🍕 or the Spaghetti with meat balls 😩 that was always a staple for me and go shop for games right after Soecially in the middle school days The anchor blue store was everything as well it’s sad to see it like this if I can buy it one day I definitely would bring the mall back to life 😩

[@Loona_helluva_boss69]

The floor looks like it should be on an Arizona bottle

[@bladerunner752]

Lol, yeah it does. Plus it's another shade of beige...gotta love Arizona

[@braddishv3146]

Dude I thought the same thing!

[@RiderLeangle2]

>Mall is in Arizona >Looks like it should be on a can of Arizona Iced Tea Hold on a minute there might be some code you just cracked...

[@azblueauthor8081]

The mall of my original hometown! I still have family that lives there too.

[@deenamanatowa6948]

Thanks for coming out to seee our little area of the desert. I hope you had a good trip. Great video.

[@robinzzahra]

When I saw Sierra Vista in the title I couldn’t believe it! I used to come to this mall all the time with my army friends when we had a break from training. It was always so busy with soldiers and it looked nothing like this. I can’t believe no one is in it now! Completely different

[@watershed44]

@Retail Archaeology I love when a mall actually gets involved with the local community and shows things like art! It helps connect them to their customers better, I'll never understand why most malls don't do more of this! Actually I remember back in the 1970s and early 80s that was a much bigger part of the malls.

[@thejuiceisloose]

Always wondered what the SV mall was like having lived in Safford for 10 years. I remember being very jealous as a kid that SV had a mall and we didn't. Great vid, can't wait for more.

[@TominoCabana]

I haven’t seen that Hot Topic logo in a very long time

[@TransCanadaPhil]

I like your calm, soothing presentation style. These videos are oddly relaxing and therapeutic. I just put these on the bedroom tv at night when I go to lay down and just chill for awhile with these on!

[@18TerAmina85]

I've always liked the smaller one-level malls but the kiosks were rather annoying, I'm old enough to remember the time before they became a thing and malls were much nicer without them. Maybe post Corona panic design will leave them out altogether.

[@dindog22]

I remember malls without kiosks too. We're old. We're just old

[@CommodoreFan64]

I remember that as well except maybe a candy machine soda machine, or cigarette machine(80's) in the corners, and it was indeed much nicer, because when the Kiosk started to really become a thing in my area in the late 90's, and early 00's with mostly the Indians running them, they would try to bum rush you, grab your clothing, or try to spray you with nasty smelling fake perfume/cologne to sell their BS!! Sooner those types of businesses fully die out the better IMHO.

[@dindog22]

@@CommodoreFan64 the cell phone kiosks were the worst. back before we had smart phones

[@CommodoreFan64]

@@dindog22 Agreed those were bad.

[@pinball541]

The old " Los Arcos" mall in Scottsdale Arizona was a single level retail gem. Unfortunately we lost that Mall in the early 2000's to so called development. It is now a satellite campus for ASU.

[@Ozzy_2014]

Well if a mall could be called pretty this one is. At least its clean, in good repair and safe looking. Just dead.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

That's the Merritt Island Florida Merritt Square Mall. It's like a 1987 or 1994 time loop...

[@rreagan007]

Pretty? Did you see those hideous industrial ceilings?

[@DinnerForkTongue]

@@rreagan007 If you ask me they're part of the charm.

[@Nuttty]

@@DinnerForkTongue I remember when I moved to my brothers place nearby them mall in Sierra Vista I went to the theater there and was like this is a dead mall right away

[@DinnerForkTongue]

@@Nuttty Cool. What's that got to do with what I said though?

[@AJMacDonaldJr]

I've never seen a Jo-Ann Fabric in a mall before.

[@danielvallowe3233]

It is kind of a half Jo-Ann's. Fabric without the crafts. I went in there about a year ago and was kind of surprised to see what little they had.

[@gracedenson6270]

Lemme tell ya it was a big deal to get the joann's in there. There's a hobby lobby about a mile or two down the road for your actual crafting needs. They kinda balance each other out.

[@blakesweeney1023]

There was a Jo-Ann Fabrics in the Carlisle Plaza mall (Carlisle, PA) since at least 1990. It closed a few years ago.

[@Ajibica117]

This mall currently has basically NOTHING only extremely small businesses that feel more like a yard sale or an Etsy store given a physical store front. The food court seems to have a constant rotation of failing businesses that would do better as a food truck. Besides the theater and the T-mobile this mall is an eerie place, some of the store workers would act surprised to see a customer, even asking why I was there as if I had ventured into their closet more than a shop.

[@KoubuPilot]

The closure date for Sears was Jan 6th because it was the same day Superstition Springs, Chandler and Desert Sky closed.

[@genezagona6355]

Sad to see the mall like this... I used to come here a lot when I was little and the mall was new (early 2000s). I used to get my haircut here in a barber shop (2:40) near the now-closed Sears and afterwards my dad would take me to walk through the Sears appliance section since I found the rows of shiny new washers and stoves fascinating at that age. If I was really lucky my dad would take me for lunch at the A&W in the food court which was my favorite at the time. That too has long since closed. Can’t believe all of that is now lost to time...

[@AmbientWalking]

Thanks your for the new experience! I love this virtual tour that I just took with you. So awesome : )

[@Allthingshotels]

Watched Empire Strikes back the first day my mall theater reopened..just because I needed some form of entertainment. Was a reduced price ticket and the snacks were reduced too. Win win

[@thefed8428]

I grew up in SV. The local economy there has always struggled, and seems to continue. Even though there is a military base there, it doesn't help quite as much as you would think, because most anyone who lives in SV is accustomed to making the drive to Tucson or Phoenix if they are interested in doing something fun, like a mall or movies, nice dinner, etc. I think this mall being SO small didn't have the impact on SV locals that they expected because it still has that "really small town" vibe to it, which I think everyone was hopeful a Mall would help to dispel that vibe in the town in general.

[@jtrous-r1v]

I was stationed here in 2003. It was a good mall, I still have a pair of jeans from that Pac Sun. It is an TRADOC base meaning they train new Soldiers. The base pretty much killed it by keeping the new Soldiers on lock down limiting a large portion of the population from going there or made it not worth the effort to get off-post. Used to hang out with my friends, catch a movie, and eat at the food court.

[@LyraeJean]

This is so sad. When this mall opened it was the hot spot in town! They event talked about having 2001 prom there...

[@jtlovescodelyoko]

A Retail Archaeology Dead Mall Video, Yes

[@suzannehelps4724]

I wonder if you ever go back and see places you've visited in the past. This mall has largely come back to life due in part to the fact that many activity-based businesses have moved in. In addition to the community theater group there is a batting cage, a martial arts studio, and a bouncy-castle place. While the Sears building hasn't been filled, I am happily surprised that the rest of the mall, including the food court, has bounced back after the pandemic fiasco.

[@syxepop]

There was a mention (2:14) of the size of Sierra Vista as 135K sq. ft. ( ~ 12.5K sq. m.), but with having a Dillard's full-sized department store that "didn't compute" (I have in my hometown a + shaped 175K sq. ft. (~ 16.2 K sq. m.) enclosed mall that doesn't have any large anchor and looks quite a bit smaller than this one. It is actually listed as 400K sq. ft. (~ 37.2K sq. m.), a quarter of that for Dillard's alone. so it is small, but NOT THAT SMALL.

[@msbae]

If Ft. Huachuca is like every other large Army base, then chances are good they have a large, well-stocked PX. If that's the case, the soldiers there would have ZERO need for a civilian shopping mall off post.

[@BreakTime10101]

Easier to get to, lower prices and no sales tax.

[@OutspokenBlvd]

PX is expensive. You can get cheaper prices off base. The only place thats a good deal on base is the commissary

[@goody82az]

PX is quite over rated, the variety of merchandise is very generic. It's good to grab a pillow and body wash, and a black t-shirt, but it does not replace a mall. not to mention have the time Soldiers living on base just want to rest their eyes on something other than uniforms and fellow Soldiers/Dependents.

[@Habu12]

Their PX isn't a large one. It's pretty standard. And most people don't shop on post. Most go to the Target or Walmart in town.

[@OutspokenBlvd]

@@Habu12 it really is a shame because I use to work on that base in the early 2000s. The plan was to turn that PX into a shopping mall, in other words all those separated buildings you saw (garden shop/furniture store) would have been connected along with MWR's bowling center and an expansion of the PX. Those plans were scrapped for a reason that I do not know. PS you have alot of soldiers and retirees going to the Davis Monthan AFB BX because the PX sucks that bad at Huachuca.

[@ragzaugustus]

Congratulations indeed to those teachers!

[@dmccarthy100]

Having lived there 3 times now, the mall definitely started its decline back in 2006. The Best Buy opening was supposed to attract more business and customers, but not opening into the mall like most big retail stores do definitely didn't help. There used to be a tattoo parlor n it, as well as the Tmobile and Verizon stores. PacSun had already closed when I left in 2019. The mall should be demolished/rebuilt into an actual modern day mall. There'd be plenty of business from Douglas, Bisbee, Benson, Huachuca City, Fort Huachuca, towns in Mexico... Course what a few business owners told me about why they closed shop was that the mall owner kept raising the rental rates to exorbitant prices that made it near impossible to stay in business.

[@illuminatijoe5252]

You should check out Cielo Vista Mall, Bassett Place, and Sunland Park Mall in El Paso.

[@jtrous-r1v]

He's outta Phoenix I believe. Its another 4 hours to El Paso from Sierra Vista.

[@sierravistacommunitytheatr3035]

These are fun episodes! Malls are definitely not what they used to be. But this one is now full of local businesses.

[@dadasaurusrex5461]

Last time I went there was October of 2019 and it was still pretty good. Prior to the pandemic it actually was still a really good place to go. Really popular with the AIT kids from the fort too. They had a place to hang out and get away on pass for a while. The mall was always busy and there were usually events about every month that really boosted mall traffic. It's sad seeing it this way now. A mix of the pandemic and the fact that they opened up a bunch of new stuff in a large strip mall further up in town killed this mall off.

[@chicobond89]

Breaks my heart to watch such a place in constant decline. I remember spending time in B. Dalton and FYE back in my teens minding my own business and my contact to the external world. My cousins liked going shopping to the gap. My sisters in Deb and Melrose. We weren't aware of the good times we had. I remember that you had to wait for an empty table on the food court. It all went downhill from 2007 onwards.

[@antiusromanus1500]

I was stationed at Ft Huachuca from 93 to 2000 and again from 2005 to 2006. It was placed to be within the 50 mile free trade zone with Mexico. That is where the customer base was suppose to come from. The POST, the Navy has bases not the Army is a training base. Most of the soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines stationed there are trainees who cannot leave the post without permission. Two other factors that keep people on post is there is a huge AAFEES shopping area on post (which is tax free) and it is like 8 miles form main post to the gate. Great video.

[@heyhonpuds]

Sierra Vista. Home of Chad Shank from the Doug Stanhope podcast. Also, fantastic Neo-Geo boot sequence intro. Thumbs up all round. 👍

[@dylanseaman5163]

SHopping on the Army Post is pretty good.

[@Moonbeam143]

It does look like a nice mall. It reminds me of the one I used to go to. That one was very small, and one floor. It was torn down a couple of years ago though. I miss it.

[@jayviBaby09]

You have to go back to Christown Spectrum. They took out the Costco and the JC Penny is about to leave in a couple of days. I was there the other day and it looks really dry. 😞😞

[@geminiecricket4798]

Military shops at the base in the commissary.

[@lindamitchell-fox1926]

The commissary is a grocery store only. The exchange is retail.

[@mattg7952]

A Walmart opened in 2011 and the mall went down hill. There's been tons of rumors about Ft Huachuca being shut down for years that's impacted the area also.

[@GaryGeat28]

I used to live in Sierra Vista and that mall has had many different tenants over the years. There used to be a lot of restaurants in the food court. They started to close down a lot of the stores in 2014 and by 2019, it was a complete ghost town. The last time I was there was after Christmas.

[@maureenhustad7810]

I moved from Sierra vista right as they opened this mall up! I remember being so salty that I didn’t get to hang out there as kid lol! I was there at the Walmart remodel in the early 90s and it was a huuuuge deal for Sierra vista. I love that story so much!

[@arbeitmachtfries88]

Based on the lack of people, I assumed it was a weekday that you filmed this. I’m shocked this was a Saturday. I spent time at Fort Huachuca, only a few years ago, and more recently last June-July. This mall was never packed, but it was always fairly trafficked by military trainees from Huachuca looking for things to do, and other folks too.

[@jbdragon3295]

The theaters still open are paying older movies because all that new stuff have pretty much been pulled until next year. Regal at my mall opened back up and then closed 2 weeks later after the new James Bind movie was pulled until next year which they were hoping to drive a bunch of people back. They are filling all their screens with a lot of older movies. When my Regal was open for those 2 weeks, I went and saw The Empire Strikes Back. It was great to see it on that big screen once again.

[@mcain2911]

If it wasn’t busy before the pandemic, it probably won’t be now. I would imagine there are a lot of other places people were in a rush to get back to and this wasn’t it. I hate to see something that was such a big part of my life when I was younger slipping away.

[@dianavydra1624]

I worked in this mall for over 10 years. A friend of mine sent me this video, and these were my personal comments to him as I was watching; "That's how it has been for a couple years now. Sad, huh?" "Awh my shop." (I was a batista at the empty coffee kiosk you see in the video for six years, until my family and I actually leased it ourselves for a few more. I stood in that little box in the food court for such a long time, just watching the hall die.) "One of the original stores, which was actually in the hot topic storefront, was a rubber stamps store." (I remember from my very first visit to this mall during their opening week when I was 7 years old.) "No mention of how there were several rotating tattoo shops all the way up until the pandemic. Like IN the food court." It's an interesting place. That can be said for sure.

[@mcurry62]

I miss that little coffee kiosk

[@benjaminsmith3151]

I was at that army base just before that mall opened. I think there was a theater, and base exchange that probably had everything the military could want with better prices. Whenever we really wanted to do serious shopping we went to Tucson anyway.

[@otakubullfrog1665]

I never understood the purpose of anchors like that Best Buy that don't have an entrance inside the mall.

[@jtrous-r1v]

Best Buy was opened years later.

[@oldtwinsna8347]

It does seem odd. What's the reasoning - security? To keep just one entrance to minimize theft?

[@StephenG994]

I wanna go around & visit all the dead & sort of alive malls in America 😭

[@SWIFTO_SCYTHE]

Well... this video series is the more reasonable way to visit them hahaha

[@maureenhustad7810]

I like your shiba!! I’d watch if the dog went with you!

[@martinbaxter2616]

As always, brings back memories of good times. As for kiosks - found some of the best stuff in those. In my last mail (Stonecrest, in Metro Atlanta), one featured rare martial arts DVDs. It has much of my money.

[@gommodore6441]

I reccomend going back at some point, because quite a few stores have opened up since then and the food court is almost filled up.

[@bladerunner752]

Great videos as always, love the channel. Do you think you might revisit the park mall in Tucson and Tucson mall which is a two story mall?

[@RetailArchaeology]

Yes I plan to get to both of those malls soon 🙂

[@bladerunner752]

@@RetailArchaeology awesome, I'll be watching. Cheers

[@bladerunner752]

Arrowhead mall is still doing very well amid everything. Live close by to it and went there just the other day and got a new IMac computer at the apple store. Just a little FYI out there if anyone was wondering if it was still in operation.

[@saltygrasshopper]

Wow. I spent about 4 months at Fort Huachuca in 2000 before I was stationed in Japan. Didn't realize at the time that it was so new. I probably made a stop here at least once a week. Food court was always busy. I did most of my shopping at Dillard's. I bought an awesome lamb skin leather jacket at the Wilson's Leather store there. People complained about the size but I thought it was a good fit for the area. There was a Cold stone creamery on the way there. Sierra Vista at the time only had one good coffee shop and one decent Chinese restaurant. Between these places, the on base paintball field, and Desert Fox Paintball south of Tucson I had everything I needed.

[@pinball541]

Erik, the space with the teacher of the year setup reminded me of Hot Dog on a Stick. The different types of tiles sure do look like a "HDOAS". Any change on Cooper Village, that old Bashas' #50 might need a revisit!

[@MF-ge5rr]

That is where “The teacher of the year” belongs this year😁 Perfect spot👍🏻

[@jessicap2514]

The teacher of the year celebration was hosted at the mall outside in the old Sears parking lot a few weekends ago so hence the little table with the poster of the teachers of the year.

[@WiirdoU]

I visited this mall last year in February and it was just as dead on a saturday back then lol. Not sure if it's still there, but directly across from the movie theater entrance you showed there was an area with glass display cases that sold knives, used video games, and sewing machine services and I just couldn't get over how much it stuck out like a sore thumb.

[@daehawk9585]

The mall got old enough to drink then died. Our theater is showing old stuff. One is The Empire Strikes Back. Thats SOOOOOOOooooo tempting. Haven't seen it in a theater since I was 11.

[@garrettweaver3824]

ESB on the big screen is great. You’ll notice details that you never see on the TV set.

[@MrDeathproof5]

duuuuuuude the Neo Geo intro is amazing. What a delight.

[@MrDeathproof5]

Oh and funny enough the incredibly dead mall with the only movie theater in my college town was often called "The Small".

[@MrDeathproof5]

And I just checked to see how it was doing and the movie theater which was the only National chain store (a cinemark) closed in June. RIP

[@MrDeathproof5]

for the curious kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpCyi3VsZt5lrsk

[@Aster_Risk]

It's so weird to hear Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca. I've lived in Oregon since 2002, but the first decade of my life was spent in Arizona. My father was in the Army and we lived on (or near?) the Fort Huachuca base when I was about two or three.

[@mikeifyouplease]

I find these videos fascinating. Also...........I think they can open creative minds as to what amazing things can be done with such large structures that possibly could not be built again today.

[@jeremiahgratza3430]

When I was in high school, we had a dead mall in Peoria/Glendale called “Valley West Mall”. Playhouse Theater for Children was based out of the mall as well as a haunted house during October. Always thought is was a great use of the space and was cool to hang out in a dead mall after rehearsals.

[@AzSipp]

That mall has always struggled, I’ve been to it a few times. My wife and I usually stay in Sierra vista when we visit tombstone or Bisbee as it’s so cheap to stay there. The mall usually seems dead, no matter what day of the week you’re there. You usually see the groups of people using it for air conditioning while walking their laps, primarily the elderly

[@michaellicavoli3921]

I lived there in 82, all we had for shopping was a K Mart. For shopping variety we shopped in Tucson several times a month. PS, you could not get near the K Mart on a Saturday due to all the shoppers from Mexico.

[@ryeinc]

My cousin’s old stomping grounds! He left Florida to work as a civilian on the army base for a few years.

[@BlueThundah75]

This last sunday, I went to the Cottonwood mall, because I didn't expect it to be crowded and I needed some exercise, and it was PACKED. The most crowded I've seen a mall outside the holiday shopping season. Dozens of stores had lines 5-10 people deep, and people were walking around with shopping bags. I'm not sure what's going on, but it was pretty dang busy. I'm still worried that the mall near me could end up like this though.

[@davebruins8623]

my local mall is struggleing...no KIOSKs....never have I seen that ..unless the mall was going under.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

If the space has 🎃 costumes or party stuff, its %=÷×& 😯...

[@Butterball121252]

Last time I went to the mall was when I needed filters for my HVAC unit and Sears was closing. Of course since my unit was not a Sears unit, they did not have my filters. But in its hey day, I loved going there with my daughter. We would find find matching clothes at Debbies, I found a lot of piercing items from Hot Topic and jewelry from Claire's. For a city of this size, it was pretty darned good. So depressing to see that everything has closed. There were so many places to choose from at the food mart. I hope it comes back to life once COVID is over.

[@teelmitchell77]

Bol🤣 on the part about the teachers of the year being honored at a dead mall....I do enjoy all of your videos.

[@jmanfightingco.9028]

also the mall is still going. we used to an eb games, fye, finish line, hidden wok, gap, and the place was usually crowded in the early to late 2000s.

[@gracedenson6270]

I spent many afternoons at that mall back in the early 2010s. It has been going downhill since forever but it's sad to see it with most of the stores closed. How depressing...

[@frankholt4325]

I lived in Sierra Vista AZ for two years (1973- 1975) My stepfather was teaching at Ft. Huachuca at the time and we lived on base. Sierra Vista is not too far from Tombstone. Moved back to Texas (Austin ) in April of 1975.

[@nickmoney]

That Hot Topic is one of the last remaining old logo and design store front I guess

[@eastonstanley3976]

Spencer’s too

[@nickmoney]

@@eastonstanley3976 I haven't seen a Spenser's in long time

[@eastonstanley3976]

@@nickmoney well Sierra vista has one

[@nickmoney]

@@eastonstanley3976 I live in Pittsburgh, so there is one in entire city

[@_corgi_dinosaur_5485]

I know right!! When I saw the old logo I just fell in love I miss old hot topic

[@Pdalow]

Well this just broke my heart. I have so many good memories here.

[@nicp2344]

Eric have you ever thought about going to the Valley West mall in glendale if it's still open? Just looked it up and realized that was the prosperity mall in the film 8 legged freaks. If you never watched it I give it two thumbs up.

[@goody82az]

I was stationed at Fort Huachuca in 2003-4. I don't remember the mall much specifically except that we called it "The Hall".

[@wow42022]

I love how that hot topic still has the old logo

[@bloop_2593]

10:24 many years ago my mom would take me and my brother there to that playground after school. So many good memories , sad to see it’s dead now

[@ItissoIrene]

I always loved Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca...although there was not a mall when I was there. Very quiet and beautiful mountain views.

[@DissertatingMedieval]

Update on the Laguna Hills mall -- it is totally closed on the interior, but the stores with external entrances are open.

[@shelbybeuning520]

When I was a kid and teenager this place was thriving it’s because they took out so many important business that people don’t see the point of going there anymore. We just drive to Tucson for the last 10 years 😂

[@Habu12]

I'm shocked you've never never there before. But many good memories for me and my wife. And I agree, it does remind one of the Laguna Hills mall. I went to an army school at Ft. Huachuca, and taught there for several years. It's not as large as you think it is. It does have a large military reservation, but it's not one of the larger posts like Ft. Hood, or Camp Humphreys.