The Flea Market Montgomery Story (Sammy Stephens Documentary) : Behind The Meme

“Living rooms, bedrooms, dinettes, oh yeah!”
If you’re of a certain age, I may have just triggered a sense memory.
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During the pandemic, I created a video that asked the following question: what happened to Flea Market Montgomery? I discovered, much to my dismay, that Flea Market Montgomery closed down in 2011.
But what happened to Sammy Stephens, former owner, and star of the viral mini mall rap? I found various different rumours of career changes, and even his passing away, but was finally able to connect with him almost a decade after the flea market’s closure. In March of 2022, I began work on this video.
I’m proud to (finally) be able to share with you all, The Sammy Stephens Story.
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Intro:
Jingle Punks - All This Down Time (pitched down)
The Dark Glow of the Mountains by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
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There Are Many Different Kinds of Love by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
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The Sun is Scheduled to Come Out Tomorrow by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
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Take Off and Shoot a Zero by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
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I Want to Fall in Love on Snapchat by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
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Additional footage by Kelly Lacy - www.pexels.com...
#deadmall #documentary #deadmallseries

[@Hillers62]

I still go back and watch his commercial...it's infectious...You can not feel anything but joy while watching it!!! It's humorous, happy, and you find yourself singing along!!!!!!!!

[@DeadMallWalking]

Wholeheartedly agree - that song had been living rent-free in my head for more than a decade!

[@chuganoga1908]

And then find yourself not buying anything

[@chuganoga1908]

@@DeadMallWalking I know same here lol

[@nbaoldgirl]

Yep!! I just came from the video and I was so happy 😊

[@rle440]

I passed the Flea Market Montgomery many times and never stopped. When I decided to, it was too late.

[@DeadMallWalking]

I'm sure you're not alone in that - it was in one of those spots where you really had to actively decide to stop there. Would have loved to see it in its heyday...

[@alexandrianewton3595]

Oh man, if only yall knew how poppin Montgomery was between the 2000s-2012. My whole childhood.

[@BrianM_3rd]

Glad Sammy is still out there, happy and healthy! Only love for the legend. God bless him.

[@DeadMallWalking]

Amen, brother!

[@mariohendricks4751]

The Cleveland Brown show spoof was hilarious

[@DeadMallWalking]

Flea Market, Stoolbend. Oh yeah!

[@johnnytheyoungmaestro]

I'm happy he's doing well nowadays. He's clever in taking a break, because being a celebrity can be a very difficult thing to handle. Thank you, Mr. Stephens, for impacting the world in such a positive way, and always looking on the positive side.

[@DeadMallWalking]

I’m sure he’d love to know that so many people are still interested in his story!

[@dadiscoverychannel]

It’s not fucking fair I just want to go to Flea Market Montgomery one time in my life

[@jastbu1890]

Same, bruh. Same.

[@leifhoffman6533]

Sammy's song is one that sticks in your head and you can't get it out. I even turned my 10 year old daughter on to it and she sings it all the time. God bless you Sammy. Much success in the future.

[@snackasmversion2752]

The only person Eminem is afraid to battle

[@DeadMallWalking]

Hell yeah! 😤

[@tippical]

Glad to see an update from Sammy! 🎶 It's just like, it's just like a mini mall! 🎶

[@Landonio]

One of the original KZbin memes. True legend.

[@basshead2003]

There’s a mashup of Sammy’s commercial and Pet Shop Boys Minimal on KZbin. It’s 🔥. Even the Pet Shop Boys themselves liked it and supposedly had a link to that video on their website at one time.

[@Firevine]

I went to Montgomery for the first time this past weekend, and I was disappointed to find out that the flea market had been closed for years. I really wanted to go. I had that dang song stuck in my head all weekend.

[@Sajxi]

Amazing that you got to interview him! That was really interesting. Your channel deserves so many more views and subscribers.

[@DeadMallWalking]

Wow, thank you! I really appreciate that. The channel is growing slowly but steadily, hoping 2023 brings lots of likes, comments, and shares 😌

[@MrJ0mmy]

cant believe i watched his flea market video back in 2006 16 years ago

[@HunterTinsley]

It was an honor to awkwardly line dance with him once upon a time. That video is out there, somewhere...

[@DeadMallWalking]

Damn, I thought I knew exactly the video you meant but I searched and it was a different guy, haha.

[@HunterTinsley]

@@DeadMallWalking Do you have a link?

[@aaronking118]

Didn't realize how iconic it was I grew up behind that flea market in the 90s. I learned how to drive in the Winn Dixie parking lot there. Crazy how i end up driving trucks for a company in Jackson Mississippi... I think he likes the aesthetics looks just like Montgomery. Thanks for the memories Sammy im in Orlando Fl now i was telling my wife about all this. 💯

[@Firevine]

That Winn Dixie is now an international market...and they kept the old Winn Dixie "Pharmacy and Bakery" and "The Beef People" signage up 😂 There's a CubeSmart storage there now, quite possibly housing furniture purchased at the flea market.

[@ParanoidThalyyMVS]

Such a sweet guy

[@DeadMallWalking]

💯 Sammy is awesome!

[@zelphx]

I directed HUNDREDS of my students to Sammy's videos... you should see these kids dance. The word they mostly used to describe these videos was FUN. Damn right...

[@DHinez]

he's definitely one of the youtube greats , up there with Tay Zonday " Chocolate Rain , back in the early days of youtube when people would go viral on accident and it was more of a big deal

[@DeadMallWalking]

Oh man, I still catch myself singing Chocolate Rain sometimes too. 🎶 Some stay dry and others feel the pain… 🎶

[@DHinez]

@@DeadMallWalking yes most definitely a classic!

[@985Mindy]

Yes he made alot of people happy

[@DeadMallWalking]

And, by all accounts, still is 😃

[@38unknownhinson]

I cant believe he agreed to this. Good video👍

[@DeadMallWalking]

I don’t doubt that the impetus was to promote the NFT, but he was incredibly kind and gracious with his time. I can’t speak highly enough of Sammy 😌

[@scotter2087]

Good to see Sammy still doing well.

[@noahholtkamp3412]

Dearly beloved is in Nashville too. Godspeed

[@davidb4150]

Amazing video. Really like the tone of this, like how it was filmed in a hotel room and I like the subtle humming noise in the background. of course the main man himself Sammy Stepson doing well makes me happy.

[@DeadMallWalking]

Thanks man, I appreciate it. This was very much a case of making do with the equipment etc. that I had available! But let’s pretend the vibe was intentional 😅

[@WestTNWeather]

Awe, We love Sammy!!!

[@M1K3YC]

its just like, its just like, a mini, doc

[@vykkye]

Hey my king!!! You sir are a legend. Love from the UK!

[@DeadMallWalking]

The Sammy legion is worldwide 😎 haha

[@thebige7302]

In Australia we have our own furniture icon franco cozzo, especially during the 80’s his tv ads were inescapable and he sold the gaudiest Italian furniture

[@DeadMallWalking]

Ahah, I love it! Found myself down a rabbit hole watching his videos after I saw your comment. Apparently there is, or was going to be, a documentary about Cozzo and everything.

[@Dragunov38]

Outstanding content! Really enjoyed the informative and somber format of upload. Subbed earned!

[@sergioomar9090]

Thank you Sammy!

[@robsledgegroupie]

I love the extended version where he constantly gets faster and more animated as he goes on!

[@michaelclayton9981]

I'm in Tulsa we loved his Regal Car Sales and Credit commercials we would actually sit and watch that shit because of his personality

[@pclm]

The only NFT I'm not mad at.

[@DeadMallWalking]

Remember when NFTs were a thing? Pepperidge Farms remembers.

[@gabrielfair724]

I hope you are doing well Sammy

[@Spaghettineck]

Happy for this update! Sammy is a Gangster. Glad he’s going well.

[@Mira-nn1jr]

Unrelated to the video but passed by this movie theater today that reminded me of you, it's the Regal United Artists Galaxy in Dallas, Texas. The outside was so fun and unique!

[@alexandrianewton3595]

This man is a legend in Alabama. I don't blame him for moving out of Montgomery, though. It's not what it used to be.

[@reneastorgaterre1954]

Sammy created something that is one of the purest and birghtest sides of the internet, a video made to be fun, something everyone without a fail found themselves enjoying, nothing but good thingd to say about The Flea Market Montgomery rap, back then you didn't necessarily post a video to be rich, but you could be famous just for doing something really cool, I hope Mr. Sammy Stephens gets a long healthy plenty life.

[@dba4292]

This is pure ❤ What a refreshing site to see this man again 😊

[@DeadMallWalking]

Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻

[@nbaoldgirl]

You definitely deserve a sub from me for this video! Thank you for this! ❤❤❤

[@KatieBeeTV]

He is of a space in the internet language that has everything and nothing for sale, a place of power and of hip hop (in that I hip hop around), a place of liminal space and a very particular time in your life without ever even meeting the man. When I do meet/hear him and his story I just hope his health is still great and gets support in Jackson!

[@danieldd1804]

This is a way to end a story! I’m glad to see him doing Well!

[@pavelow235]

Really interesting. Seems like he is living the dream despite the trials and tribulations of life !

[@gregw322]

He seems like a really good guy. I’m glad he’s doing well. Hang in there, Sammy! ❤️💯🔥

[@simonacland9028]

So glad he's still doing well for himself :).

[@herrflammen6487]

As an Alabamian myself, I can safely say that Sammy, along with the home intruder guy, are god’s gift to Alabama. But seriously both guys are awesome, one is a chill giga-chad, and the other prime brother goals.

[@JoWoGoGo]

And the Where Da Gold at Leprechaun in tge Mobile area

[@patrickedwards7107]

This man rocks put down one of the most legendary promos of all time. For what it's worth I'd shop with him If I lived round those parts rest assured he brought pure joy and positivity into our lives that endures shouldn't have any Shame or regret over it our country was indeed in a different place we all been through it.

[@iamthewordsmith6232]

I've seen my fair share of commercials that people sing in them and for the most part they're terrible. But this man was super entertaining I can't get that song out of my head.

[@RavnerRavner]

It seems like such a cool dude!

[@theironbutterfly1104]

Love you Mr. Sammy Stephens. I remember u❤

[@emmanueldunk8290]

Alabama state icon.

[@AlexRoseGames]

great video. what a legend he is. much love

[@theevn7]

Leyendus

[@mmarsh2937]

First knew of him through Family Force 5 video from my teenager.

[@mmarsh2937]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3nSoZ2klsp6bK8

[@DeadMallWalking]

Yes, sounds familiar! I keep finding new TV spots and commercials of his, haha.

[@dajay2k]

I thought it was a sketch for years. Big up Sammy

[@pyroAdapt]

Its just like.. its just like . Its just like...

[@DeconvertedMan]

He's so cool!!!

[@jbowDonDiego1380]

But the mini mall song was catchy 😂 and they sold bootleg DVD 📀 😂😂😂😅

[@DeconvertedMan]

ITS JUST LIKE ITS JUST LIKE A MINI MALL.

[@citizenplane5840]

Did he say the n word, I couldn't tell lol

[@FIXTREME]

Sammy, it's too late for NFT!😂

[@jbone2345]

U thought he passed! Lol

[@jbowDonDiego1380]

Met him once when working at guitar center honestly didn't like him came off as a intitled.. prick

[@xxrappaperxx8318]

We had a video game tournament at a flea market in new york last July. We were all in the car singing that song the entire way up.

[@timothy9182]

Love this guy

[@gretathunesbird6321]

Doesn’t sound like he owns that old jingle.

[@MichaelColombo]

They showed screenshots in the vid of him getting residuals from youtube.... it's at 9:55

[@DeadMallWalking]

As Michael commented, he definitely owns it. I’m not sure, however, that BMI actually pays him much in the way of royalties compared with how much he could have made via traditional KZbin monetization.