The Last Christmas at Harborplace | 3 dead malls plaguing Baltimore, MD | Exlog 113

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Merry Christmas, everybody! Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year to all of you! Harborplace has fallen!! This once bastion of hope for Baltimore City has seen its final Christmas in 2021, and I was there to film it just one day before closing. I went back a few days ago to get some updated footage, too. I hope you all enjoyed...see you in 2023!
#exlog #salguido #dmodfam

[@sal]

I had a fever of over 102 when doing this voiceover, final edit and render...I don't remember doing it at all. Merry Christmas...subscribe?

[@QuietJ0Y]

Thank you for producing these beautiful films and sharing!

[@dream_in_digital]

Yikes, I hope you are feeling better! Thank you for the awesome content. Have a great holiday!

[@Rfk1966]

Hope you feel better, Sal

[@jzabady1]

Excellent video. Hope you are feeling better. Merry Christmas

[@Azianiceboy]

I hope you're feeling better, please get some rest in between your amazing works. Stay safe and Happy Holidays!!

[@catpoofy]

I lived in this area about 12 years ago and the inner harbor used to be so magical to me. I am in tears seeing it like this now.

[@glennsmith3303]

12 years ago it was magical? You gotta be kidding me. I lived in Balto for many decades. 12 years ago it was a crime ridden democrat city craphole. Now it is a super craphole democrat city.

[@catpoofy]

@@glennsmith3303 I mean, I agree with you there. And I do wish people around here would vote better! I have many good memories in the inner harbor despite all that.

[@coquinegra]

I agree. this hurts

[@HKim0072]

I worked there for 3-4 years during my college years. Would work in 2 places during the summer. Times change. They will rebuild and make it better.

[@catpoofy]

@@HKim0072 Praying for it! Love my city

[@jojoray2687]

Born and raised in Baltimore it's so sad to see it slowly fade away.

[@michaeljohn9263]

2 more years of Joe and the entire USA is going to look like one huge dead mall!!

[@petegregory517]

How many years did you vote blue?

[@blacksunshine1089]

@lenamonroe4130why’s it a good thing?

[@gumicherryblossom8015]

@lenamonroe4130 yeah, why is it a good thing in your perspective?

[@falconinflight6235]

When I arrived in Maryland, in the early 90s, Baltimore City was a fun place with jazz bars, Irish bars, small play actor theaters, museums, dance clubs, upscale restaurants, New Years at hotels, Lexington Market and the Harbor Complex, Sports Stadium, Meyerhoff, Mechanic Theater, Hippodrome Theater, Center Theater and Convention Center. Now, in 2022, it has become wiser to avoid the city altogether because of the very high crime rate and lack of enforcement.

[@yeohann1]

This is heartbreaking. I remember getting off of work on Friday's and making the four mile walk to the Inner Harbor. I would treat myself to a good dinner and then walk up and sit on the benches at Federal Hill and gaze at the beauty of a revitalized city reflecting on the harbor for what seemed like hours. And there was a boat called the Port Welcome that you could either take a tour of the harbor (it would go out to the Key Bridge) or take the Deluxe cruise to Annapolis. And there was the coolest store ever in the Gallery called the Sharper Image. I am almost in disbelief at the Inner Harbor's demise. Sal thank you for your excellent presentation.

[@mranere]

I used to be a vendor for many of the businesses in Harborplace. I watched it deteriorate steadily over a period of 6 years. The new owners really ran it into the ground. I remember those areas fondly from the 80's and early 90's. It was so alive and vibrant back then.

[@HKim0072]

It's weird. I was a teenager and worked in retail places + City Lights. 1 main job during the year and added another during the summer when I was out of school and it was busier. But, transferred colleges far away and ended up working for a very large specialty retail company, but quickly moved to a smaller one. Smaller companies allow you to interact with many different departments. Have to imagine the death knell was Rouse getting bought out by GGP. I know how those companies operate. They funny part is I remember the Real Estate department head complain about it's a headache to do with some of the leases because they are one offs. A few stores here and a few stores there. At least in the 90s, Rouse made a point of getting a bit eclectic stores. They just had a bunch of odd no-brand shops there. Also, the retail environment was different and you didn't have as many mass chain stores (or the internet). Not sure if the t-shirt focused on countries or the store that sold leather belts could survive today.

[@Mintman83]

I can’t believe harborplace at the gallery is gone. It was right next to the inner harbor Renaissance and you had to go through the hotel if you parked there. It will be missed by me and my friends who loitered there 22 years ago. The pavilion used to be shoulder to shoulder with jam packed people I loved the kite shop but it’s all dead now.

[@el-kiote]

That place died years ago when they took out the food court and all the stores worth going to

[@animeshock2006]

Well I had been in close to two decades now but I remember it filled with shops

[@FungusUSMC]

I still remember this area fondly growing up in Baltimore County, it was a treat for my parents to take me downtown to the Inner Harbor on the weekends back in the early 90's. We'd eat somewhere in one of the Pavillions for lunch, walk to the Science Center or Aquarium, and up Federal Hill before wrapping things up and heading home. I left Baltimore around 2001 after graduating high school and enlisting in the military, and finally returned home to Maryland in 2017 for work. The Inner Harbor was starting to lose its luster at the time, but not all hope was lost, or so I thought. The last 3 years was really what killed the Inner Harbor, and driving through the area a few months ago at night, it looked like something out of a zombie apocalypse movie. Seeing this area fall apart is like a piece of my childhood dying along with it. My wish is that they would revitalize this area so my own kids could enjoy this place as much as I did when I was young, but who knows.

[@audreyhepburne]

It's sad when something you love shuts down. My favorite mall experiences were Christmas shopping. I live in San Diego but had visited the malls you showed when I lived in Arlington, Virginia. They were very nice. It's sad to see the condition they're in now. I hate having to shop online. I want malls.

[@sal]

I want malls, too :(

[@rickt.vincent8400]

Me too

[@80sports20]

Agree. I admit that I've adapted to online shopping now, but there was something so organic and special about shopping "in-person" that can't be recreated. I have fond memories through childhood (and even early adulthood since I'm old enough) of shopping during holidays, meeting up with friends at the mall on weekends in high school, experiences all the sites and sounds of malls. It's sad to see them die, and I feel sorry for young people who never got the organic experience of shopping and socializing in malls. Similar to the movie experience, which was a special experience that can't be replicated at home (even if more convenient and less hassle with all the streaming options now). I remember going with friends, taking a first date there, etc. But sadly our way of life is changing....

[@rixxroxxk1620]

I remember when Harborplace opened. Next to the MD science center, Baltimore’s World Trade Center, the National Aquarium, the USS Constellation. The place was always packed, especially on New Year’s Eve. Panhandlers, vagrants, and crime chased everyone away.

[@sal]

How is this racist?

[@rixxroxxk1620]

@@sal I guess someone erased their comment….

[@rixxroxxk1620]

@Lena Monroe so I’m honest and I’m a racist. Welcome to the real world.

[@rixxroxxk1620]

@@sal thank you for these videos. It brings so many of my childhood memories back. You have no clue how many of these malls I’ve been too. Love them all!!!

[@choptanktuxent2]

Speaking of New Year's Eve, how was it at the IH welcoming 2023? How many people came for the fireworks, or were they cancelled?

[@melbrown6019]

The mall is beautiful! It’s a shame it couldn’t last. There’s so much crime in Baltimore. I have a feeling that may have been the downfall of the mall. I have watched Dan Bell’s videos walk around Baltimore at night. But malls are dying all over. It’s sad how times change. I was born in 1976 and malls were the place to be.

[@HKim0072]

To be fair, Baltimore had a lot of crime earlier too. Two TV shows were built off the crime in Baltimore, l.

[@tomdavis8757]

It was definitely the downfall of the inner harbor in general. The thugs won. And the city let them. Cheers

[@candyhall367]

It’s so sad that our once beautiful harbor area has come to this. Harborplace is like a sunken ship, neglected and forgotten! This is as depressing as it was when the area was a string of neglected warehouses.The after is looking like the before. Baltimore born, raised, still residing and saddened!😢

[@elfeintwentyfives1620]

it started to decline in 2005 when all the homeless moved there and criminals started to attack convention goers to otakon. i had been going to otakon for almost 9 years and stopped after 2007....

[@samfeldman1508]

@@elfeintwentyfives1620 I think you’re right. I worked in the Habor from 89-93. I was mugged for $80 after work and I quit after that. The restaurant I worked for closed in 2005.

[@sunshyneshonnisugar7864]

I can't believe the emotions I felt watching this. Words just can't describe how sad this was for me to watch💔 I left Maryland in 2014. Wow so many beautiful memories I have

[@sunshyneshonnisugar7864]

Thank you for the video

[@NicholasShade-eq1ts]

I love your comments.🤎

[@rollinstrummin]

Wow! Fantastic video. The Christmas tree at 0:22 may be the saddest tree ever because it's just so lonely. Judging by the engagement and response to this video, I have to say the Dead Mall community is alive and doing very well. Thank you for this work! It is so appreciated.

[@kmech3rd]

Love the sticker I've seen "Baltimore- There's more than murder here". Yeah... but not much more.

[@jimmyday9536]

As a 65 yr old Baltimore native, I remember when the waterfront warehouses were torn down in the late 1970s, and when Harborplace was built. So beautiful. This is a perfect example of citizens electing politicians who allow this to happen. Nearby Columbia, Towson and Annapolis malls are thriving, but Baltimore is toast. And everyone knows it.

[@equid0x]

Is the Columbia mall thriving these days? When I left the area in '14 the Columbia mall had a lot of empty storefronts showing up and the roof was starting to leak everywhere.

[@IcelanderUSer]

Baltimore and Baltimore city counties are responsible for 26% of Maryland’s GDP. So, yea, those politicians know something about facts.

[@helenelittmann8875]

Ah. I lived in Baltimore for grad school 1997 to 2002. Harbour Place was one of the few things I could access on public transit. There were really good deals there in shops like Banana Republic. I still have my Big Job Interview Suit from Brooks Brothers! Anyhow it all seemed like a hopeful part of urban renewal. I'm sorry to see it shut down, it still seemed new and fresh back then.

[@HKim0072]

My God. This is before your time. But, I swear that Banana Republic used to be...a literal safari theme when it opened. I was still a kid and didn't understand what the hell the store was. But, by the time I was a teenage working in Harborplace, Banana Republic had shifted genres, but I don't remember it. Wasn't really into clothes back then. (I ended up working for Banana Republic's parent company in the corporate offices.)

[@fisitron7256]

One can never get enough of Jim Rouse and his malls!

[@RobertMillerJustme]

But they are basically all dead.

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

Jim Rouse began Mondawmin Mall (then Mondawmin Center) on Gwynns Falls Parkway in 1956. Mondawmin Mall is still around.

[@RobertMillerJustme]

@@armorybrunotjr.3204 yes it is now why is it one of the few left what makes it different than say golden ring mall closed for 20 years - Eastpoint has the same reason for still existing

[@mistermilkman]

@@RobertMillerJustme Mondawmin is still around bc it's easier 2 get 2, & it has free parking. It serves it's local community. Harborplace loses a lot of business n the winter months. I worked n 1 of the Pavillion & it was not maintained well. Leaks all over the place & broken escalators made it unfriendly 4 disabled customers.

[@RobertMillerJustme]

@@mistermilkman - It serves the poor slaves of Baltimore City, it is nothing more than another company store with so few in Baltimore it serves its corporate slaveholders well. FYI - I grew up in Baltimore, stayed for 38 years and left in Texas now and would never go back

[@benwolford8793]

I remember eating at Paolo’s there. Beautiful white tablecloth restaurant. There was also a Fire & Ice store with artist glass creations for sale. It’s heartbreaking to see such a beautiful place so rundown.

[@cynthiafrank3833]

I'm from western PA but Baltimore, MD is my honorary home town I was down there and these dead malls broke my heart

[@merfwriter]

I was born in 1982. I'm from Maryland. Harbor Place was all I ever knew of Baltimore's Inner Harbor. It was a big part of what drew people from inside and outside Baltimore to come into the city. At one point, it was a safe place for tourists to walk around and enjoy the Harbor and the boats.

[@HKim0072]

Even back in the '90s, they talked about the "bubble zone". There was always a police presence in Harborplace though. I worked at one of the stores in the Light Street Pavilion and we had a panic button. We accidently hit it once and the police came rushing to our location.

[@stephanieporter6480]

I loved Ripley’s Believe It or Not! It’s so sad to see. Baltimore is so crime ridden. Nobody wants to work or spend money.

[@samfeldman1508]

I guess it was mostly “or not”?🤪

[@venom74799]

It looked like it was magical once upon a time. So sad to see such a beautiful structure rot away like this.

[@philipdileo3750]

I can’t believe it. I took my son to an Orioles game in the summer of 2017, From NYC. We stayed in the hotel right across the street from the Mall where Ripley’s and Hooters was. It had a walk way bridge. He still talks about that 3 day trip to the Harbor. What a shame to see how it is now. Hopefully it will regain its glory.

[@bgt54rfvcde32wsxzaq1]

Been in these Malls hundreds of times. Very surprised at what has happened. Keep doing your important work. 👌

[@davidhedden9929]

I lived just north of the Inner Harbor in an apartment on the corner of N Calvert and Fayette from 2011 through 2014. We loved living there and almost bought a condo with a plan to settle there. Wow! I am glad we moved away instead.

[@brentmartin1981]

I think what I love most about your videos besides the great tours and the scary liminal spaces is your well done research and almost encyclopedic knowledge of the properties that you cover. Buyouts, real estate prices, bankruptcy, stock prices, debt, assets etc. I feel like I am also getting an education in the world of commercial real estate.

[@johnm5131]

so sad, I used to visit starting in the late 1980's. Each time, closer to a warzone. Last time was for a military mission nearby, and it was a warzone. Which brings to light a truth that I learned growing up in a similar inner-city: We always have heard people say, "Poverty causes crime", but we see here that "Crime causes poverty", often in equal or greater measures. Shooting oneself in the foot, as the saying goes. To the Inner Harbor, Rest in Peace.

[@stache1954]

It doesn't seem like Baltimore will ever really come back.

[@warningsigns4526]

you can bet there is a grant of money to rehabilitate the joint and someone's friend got the money - Block Grants are given to buddies

[@frankez1975]

Man almost all the malls in that area are “No go” zones. As a kid, I used to catch the Metro to Springfield mall and drool at all the Super Bowl stuff in the Redskins store, hang out in the food court, go to the toy stores to see all the NES games……then went back last year after 30+ years. That whole area has declined so much……sad. I’ll never live in the DMV ever again.

[@Coopdog-dp5eq]

Great content. Reminds me of the Jacksonville Landing, but much bigger. Food, alcohol live music and young people is how most downtowns get revitalized.

[@julianziolkowski2586]

Thanks for this video , I worked for the company that started the promenade in the late 70s, we also built the fountain that I heard is gone. What an absolute shame what has happened to that city. Keep up the good work.

[@patriciaharris2436]

This is so sad but yet a sign of the times. Honestly, I think cost has a lot to do with the failure of many malls. Taxes and cost of living continues to increase a LOT faster than pay checks. People just can’t afford the luxury of shopping and dining out. Lots of people must decide do I feed/house/clothe/medicate my family or do I shop at malls. Yes…this is sad but what is sadder is that many families are barely surviving and living paycheck to paycheck. If we fix our economic pitfall, I believe the rest will fall into place.

[@brucebernhard8864]

When I got married in August 1997, my friends gave us 2 nights at the old Omni hotel before we did a week at the Poconos. We got to play tourist in our hometown. Things were hopping back then, and it was a blast. We came back downtown every year, bringing our daughter, until my wife got sick. I haven't been back since the late 2000s, so this is absolutely heartbreaking, sadly not surprising. At least I have my memories.

[@bajnaj73]

As a child (from Salisbury, Md) we would go on a field trip to the Inner Harbor in the 80's (elementary school) and in one of these places was a Baltimore Orioles store that was soooo magical to me and it was in one of these two stores that I remember. Alas that was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away.

[@HKim0072]

Wow, that's a long day trip. Isn't that like a 2 hour drive? We (Baltimore County) would go to DC for field trips and that was 1 hour.

[@bajnaj73]

@@HKim0072 It was longer than that honestly and it was a long day, but well worth it. Back then, and even now, there isn't much around here to do lol

[@lorenzomoore6398]

I use to hop on the subway and go buy some chicken from Lexington Market and than I would walk down to the Harbor Place and sit in the food court and sit in eat boy those days was great.

[@stevevarholy2011]

So sad to see the Inner Harbor like this. In the 1980's when it was rocking, it was worth it to drive from Northern Virginia to spend the day at Harborplace.

[@fighterjetsensei]

Truly sad how far the inner harbor has fallen. What was once a shining example of urban revitalization has succumbed to the several decades of repeated poor politics and corruption of Baltimore City.

[@jerrysanders9101]

In other words. Democrats.

[@sal]

Lost KZbin commenters ^^^

[@IcelanderUSer]

@@jerrysanders9101 yes, democrats in Maryland bring in 84% of Marylands gdp. Baltimore city is number 3 by county, following two other Democratic counties. Red counties bring in 16% of Marylands GDP. You’ve let the GOP clowns convince you of many fallacies that have nothing to do with politics.

[@chrisfoxwell4128]

Part of the problem, beyond being too close to sketchy areas or sketchy areas getting too close, is there are only so many people in Baltimore. With Mount Vernon, Power Plant, Harbor East, Fells Point, Fed Hill and Canton there are only so many people to fill the seats. And as food culture advanced in all those other spots in the city, Harborplace got chain restaurants for the tourists. Tourists are great and they'll spend stupid money but what they won't do is worry about being mugged. The locals were allowed to disperse around the city leaving just the hope of tourist dollars. Plus, no one with any common sense was driving into that traffic nightmare between 3 and 6.

[@ThatPAScratcherGuy]

Hopefully the new plans and ideas come to fruition. I'm in PA about 40 miles north of Baltimore and always enjoyed Harborplace. I wish you all the best.

[@mblaine012015]

This was a hard video to watch, because it brought back a lot of fond memories of going to the Inner Harbor thru the ‘90s to early 2000s when I lived in Maryland. Hopefully the next prospects will be able to do something to draw people back.

[@jasminehill6312]

Sal! So sorry you got a ticket & have the flu!!I’ve been to sooo many field trips and spent so much time at the Harbor, especially when I was at UMBC. Like Bunk told Omar, “it makes me sick to see how far we’ve fallen”. There goes a landmark of my youth!

[@ronaldturner4849]

One of the very best, most memorable TV series of all time, The Wire! .

[@jasminehill6312]

@@ronaldturner4849 Indeed!

[@budarbys]

Sal, this is hard to watch. I remember when these 2 places were the place to be. Would come to MD to visit relatives and really looked forward to going to the inner harbor

[@jmatrooper]

I'm pretty much surprised this harbour is having such a backlash. It looks pretty neat I think. Wishing you a meryy Christmas from The Netherlands!

[@menace6741]

The Inner Harbor in the 80s and 90s was awesome! Not far from Little Italy and dancing at the Fish Market, good times in the Harbor. This is sad

[@Plantsandtoyhorses]

I'm surprised to see the Riply's Believe it or Not museum closed! My husband took me there in 2016, before we married. Very crowded when we went. He took so many pictures of us there, by all the weird exhibits, including one right by that tallest man space. Surreal to see it empty, almost liminal.

[@samfeldman1508]

I guess it’s mostly “or not”?🤪

[@MN-dp8ps]

So sad to see The Gallery and Harborplace left to deteriorate like this. The Inner Harbor was THE place to be and spent many summers working there in the ‘80s. Everyone wanted to work at Phillips Seafood during the summer because of all of the tourists. The area stayed busy. I could tell you where every store was in the Pratt Street, Light Street Pavilions as well as the Gallery: Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Sharper Image, Hats in the Belfry, Pappagallos, Nine West, Coach, etc. I hope that new ideas will help to refresh the area and create a new and safe tourist attraction and local experience.

[@vivianwilson7183]

WOW! It's 12/31/2022, and I just happened to come across this video a little before 12:00 noon. I remember when I worked downtown. Me and a co-worker used to go to The Gallery every day for lunch. I can't believe it's closing or maybe closed by now. You can tell a place is closed pretty much when you hear an echo as you talk. I'm glad you're doing videos because there are places that I wish they had pictures of that are no longer here and have been gone for a while...Thank you! 😊👍🏽Subscribing today!

[@deadhorse1391]

I grew up in Maryland and lived here all my life I remember when they built the inner harbor, it was obviously a BIG thing and continued to be for many years What happened? I’m sure Baltimore being perceived as becoming a crime ridden cesspool didn’t help but more important the world just moved on. It’s like video renting stores , used to be everywhere now they are extinct Nowadays no reason to get a vcr movie and no reason to go to a mall to buy anything Don’t need a crystal ball to see that the time is running out for movie theaters

[@jhathaway8026]

I agree with you for the most part. But I think there will always be a place for movie theaters. The size of the screen and sound system makes it an experience that can't be replicated at home. The inner harbor is going to have to reinvent itself.... somehow.

[@OriginalBongoliath]

" I’m sure Baltimore being perceived as becoming a crime ridden cesspool" Becoming? What rock have you been living under? It has always been that way!! Nothing to perceive about it when it is backed up by objective fact and crime reports. If Baltimore was so great it would be booming especially being a satellite city of Washington D.C. but it isn't. Why is that? Oh, because it is a crime ridden cesspool!

[@stevensims3342]

Wild, a lot of other malls are booming and ones like these are just fading away.

[@cavalryscout9519]

Harborplace worked because it wasn't for Baltimore, it was for the suburbs. It was a reason for families from the suburbs to come into the city for an afternoon, and it was normal for families from the suburbs to go up there once a month or so. The Science Center, Aquarium, and ship museum were also draws, and made the whole Inner Harbor a good place for families with school-aged kids to spend a weekend. The problem is that the Inner harbor was never especially easy to get to from outside the city, and parking was always a hassle, and nothing done by the city over the decades made it easier to reach that part of town or to park there. To get there from the suburbs you need to drive by dozens of homeless tents, so suburbanites just won't go there now. The light rail never ran to the Inner Harbor directly, the Metro doesn't run there, and parking in that part of the city is too expensive for people who live in the suburbs and aren't used to paying for parking at all. At the same time as Baltimore was declining, the dining and entertainment that people used to need to go into the city for started becoming a lot more common in the suburbs. In the 1980s, there were dozens of restaurants that you had to go into the city for, but now I can't really think of one. It's harder to get to Harbor Place as compared to the dozens of "main street" style outdoor malls, and it doesn't feel as safe, so people just don't go there anymore. It's a general problem with the Baltimore economy - most business are far less convenient inside the City than they would be by the Beltway.

[@clarkpj1]

Parking was the primary reason I rarely went there.

[@wanted-33]

I wish you luck young man. It's quite sad to see a once beautiful city that seems to have taken the wrong road. Hopefully you can help turn it around.

[@amitisshahbanu5642]

The city is still beautiful but it is generally unsafe.

[@OriginalBongoliath]

Baltimore will never turn around when it is ran by one party in a one party state with a monopoly on "ideas" and ideology totally beholden to globalism and Klaus Schwab's WEF agenda. Hint: it isn't conservatives.

[@pannoni8449]

The fall of Harborplace echoes that fall of Baltimore's old retail district in the northwestern quarter of downtown, concentrated in the trapezoid bordered by Fayette, Saratoga, Eutaw, and Liberty streets, sandwiched in between Lexington Market and Charles Center. Harborplace is now scheduled for demolition, and while its always a bit sad when such an iconic venue comes to the end, its still the right move for potential rebuilding like the Orioles. The 1980s was the heyday, but that continued right through the '90s with the opening of Camden Yards, The Power Plant building businesses, and Port Discovery. But the gentrification of Washington DC, especially its SW waterfront, the continued reimagination of suburbs, and a string of corrupt mayors sealed its fate, with COVID being the final nail in the coffin. I just came across the article that the "acceptance rate", defined as the number of requests over the number of spaces available for the launch, was about 20%. My late grandfather even filmed video inside The Gallery shortly after it first opened in 1987, and I'll try to post footage if I come across it. But the truth is that the suburbs are still more stable for many retail developments, with Howard Hughes and his team keeping Columbia as relevant as ever, from its mall to the improving perimeter. Still, I'm a bit shocked that Harborplace would close before Eastpoint or Mondawmin malls, both situated in working-class communities and hanging on for now. But if Brandon Hyde can turn a baseball team around in just a couple years, so could Harborplace over the next five.

[@transitdude3352]

We used to take bus trips every year to the Baltimore Inner Harbor. People from all over used to do it. People still go but not like in the 90’s and early 2000’s. The inner harbor needs a serious makeover. Different times.

[@kevenpinder7025]

You should do a profile on the travesty that is the "Avenue" reconfiguration of the former Owings Mills Mall.

[@pisceanbeauty2503]

Why do you call it a travesty?

[@kevenpinder7025]

The Owings Mills Mall was very nearly the pinnacle of enclosed mall development. Sadly, all the qualities that made it exemplary were the ones that hurried it into infeasibility. 5 anchors and dozens of inline specialty stores meant that they were surviving on narrow margins of profitability. When American shopping habits shifted, the bigger the dinosaur, the surer the demise. A newer, lower overhead, more open format was introduced to the area in the form of the Whire Marsh Avenue. It's success spawned the more ambitious and more successful Hunt Valley Avenue. When Owings Mills was to be converted to an "Avenue" model, it seemed eminently viable. What we got was a Kohls/Petsmart/Old Navy style sprawling nothing burger. It has all the character of a bank of airport snack machines.

[@pisceanbeauty2503]

@@kevenpinder7025 To be honest I think the Foundry Row and Metro Center developments kind of took the juice out of whatever we were going to get at the former mall site. Also, by the time most of the development was completed our retail environment had shifted greatly from when White Marsh and Hunt Valley were redeveloped. I do feel like there could have been some swaps for better retail (like maybe a Nordstrom Rack, free standing mall retailer, or a higher end thrift/consignment shop instead of the Marshalls/Burlington) but we are in an odd space with brick and mortar retail and I think the super Giant, Costco, Homesense, etc. make sense for the area. I also appreciate the additional food options that , while technically mostly chains,still provide a little more diversity than the usual fast food, Darden-type restaurants that have been a staple in the area for years.

[@TheCubeTube]

I’ll give them credit, they did a good job of making the mall not seem dead, even if it was. This looks like a beautiful building, and I wish I could have visited!

[@NomadlifewithRae-ou5sc]

Wow. I grew up in MD , in my late teens and early 20s I worked at the Sun Glass hut, California pizza kitchen, Yankee candle in the Pratt St Pavilion and another Sunglass Hut at the Galleria across from the Pavilions :-( Crazy to see how much this area has changed, I left Baltimore in 2007. Those were the best days of my life. The stories I have from working in this area ...the good, the bad , the free entertainment...the life long friends. lol Thank you for this visit down memory lane :- )

[@kct1975]

This is very sad 😥to see the decline of Harbor Place! I have many happy memories from the early `90's of staying at the Inner Harbor with my parents to celebrate their wedding anniversery and catch a Baltimore Orioles game.

[@hirisk761]

the time is also almost up for Cincinnati Mill/ Forest Fair Mall. the Bass Pro has started construction on a new location and will be closing the current location soon.

[@thecooky7744]

It is sad to be in the mall as is in its death throws I worked for a security company we covered two different malls as they want from hubs of activity to after the closing

[@sterospa]

It’s mind blowing light street has succumbed to desolation. It was always packed when I was there. Sad.

[@sal]

Devastating…but I’m hopeful.

[@toddgelineau6536]

This is incredibly sad for the City of Baltimore. One of the few bright spots that could draw tourists into the city was the Inner Harbor. Much less enticing without the dining and shopping options. This is almost as sad as Union Station in Washington, D.C.-- a dead mall that has every reason not to be dead.

[@sal]

I also did a piece on Union Station…hopefully you can catch it!

[@shamusburns8174]

Been there so many times, so sad that this place has all but collapsed. Feel better and Merry Christmas

[@sailur]

Ya I heard about them making the harbor and downtown better, I'm excited

[@Razzledazzy]

Back in like, 2018 I ended my first date with my then girlfriend just hanging out at Harbourplace. Found out I had accdientally busted open my snack of goldfish in my bag while trying to sneak food into the aquarium and had to clean it out. Even back then parts of the place had been walled off for 'renovations', dunno if they ever actually renovated or they were just closing down sections without saying they were.

[@DarthEd77]

Man, I'm shocked that the Uno's has closed! I attend a convention at the Renaissance Hotel every year, and I'd usually end up getting a pizza at Uno's because it was always open late.

[@AUTISTICLYCAN]

I think something with a Whole Foods in it would work. That new luxury residential tower could use it. I think the Harborplace buildings are just tired. They need replacing.

[@MplsTodd]

I have taken photos of retail centers and also occasionally run into security guards telling me not to take photos. This has happened at successful malls as well as struggling malls, not just dead malls. It’s likely because management doesn’t know what the photos/video footage will used for and it may negatively impact the image of the center. I think your videos provide an important, but very sad, historical record. I have been to Inner Harbor several times including 1984, 1987, 1989, 2000. Pretty sad to see what’s happened there-really thought with the stadiums, convention center, the waterfront and other area attractions there would have been enough synergy to keep it active. Thanks for doing this!

[@afterthestorm221]

It's crazy to think they're empty now, there was a time where you could barely squeeze between people and get up the stairs.

[@PinkAgaricus]

I'm glad someone is shows interest in saving that mall and involving you, as someone in chat said, most of it's suffering came from tenant lineup not matching the demographics, if most of it was luxury with one of the few "affordable" stores being H&M. Speaking of the Brookfield purchase Ala Moana Shopping Center was acquired by them too. I think only one wing (Target) was on life support for a bit (after the shutdowns) with the only thing open being a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant. The top part is back now with a Peanut's themed maze thing and a big candy themed store with the BWW. GGP managed to keep the oldest tenant (a Japanese department store) in the shopping center in a food court format, only to have Brookfield "forcibly" shut it down in late 2020/early to mid 2021, the restaurant in there also had it's own space, and that was included in the closure too, it lead to a court fight between the (now former) tenant and Brookfield for the property left in the spaces, including a bunch of wine (since the restaurant was a vintage wine cellar of sorts). I question them closing it down now, since I feel like it was kind of done with malice to get them out so they wouldn't compete with the "house" food courts (the one that's been there since the center was built and the one that is in the lower floor of the original space of the tenant that GGP moved during the renovation of the Sears wing, after it got seared). The renovation that GGP did before they died as an umbrella company to Ala Moana after Sears got seared was amazing, only done in 7-8 short years. I'm glad they didn't leave the Sears space abandoned like a lot of those malls covered in these videos and just demolished the top two floors and expanded the wing, where Nordstrom moved (Nordstrom moved from the space Target/Saks off 5th/Planet Fitness is in now), and also managed to get a our state's only Bloomingdales into that same wing. That expansion may not be suffering from anchoritis, but it's suffering from tenant-itis, I forgor how many stores/restaurants moved from that little courtyard area since the time it opened, I only remember a novelty ice cream store that cooled ice cream using liquid nitrogen, Magnolia's, and Forever 21 on the 3rd floor. (the former two were on the mall level [*note: 1st floor is street level]) Howard Hughes still exists as a holding company though they own the Ward Center complex and built a whole bunch of high rise condos within it.

[@Talendale]

It's lost all integrity as far as a retail district is concerned, with even the restaurants starting to fail to some extent. And it's a symptom of a disease- the average person increasingly can't afford to shop, and as decay and vacancies renders them even more unattractive, it's a cycle of repulsion. There *are* still functional malls, but they're in the spots in the US where the income levels haven't dropped off the point of no return.

[@lorenzomoore6398]

22:15 that part floods all the time.

[@JeremysRetailExploration]

Sal, your videos keep getting better and better! I can't wait for the new episodes next year! I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

[@ZilogandMoto]

Due to weather issues, one day my highschool senior trip to Washington DC ended up with my class being stuck in these two malls for about eight hours. Absolutely bizarre to see it like this now. I do find it funny that the Hooters was one of the last things still open, though!

[@nikkistaniewski]

It's very sad...being a native Baltimorean I remember how beautiful those areas were and all the great places to buy Baltimore themed souveniurs lots of great restaurants and an area to wander and enjoy the night. Haven't been there since early 2000's because of crime and being harassed for money from homeless people

[@sidoniesera]

Wow. My 20-nothing ghost is running around in there. Strange what you remember about these places. The last thing I bought here--ages ago, when it was still kind of hopping--was a blue leather tote bag I used in college. That bag is long gone. Sad to see this place go, too.

[@mrpresident6969]

I don't know if been stated but Baltimore based MCB Real Estate is purchasing Harborplace. Rash Field is also going into phase two centering more on outdoor leisure.

[@jeffreybartoli61]

So sad… i opened the gap at this mall, and years later helped move it to its new improved location in the mall.

[@angryeltrucker6326]

I love malls. You park and walk into 1 building and don't have to worry about the weather outside. Strip malls are a headache, always parking too far away for multiple stores. Have to worry about the weather, almost getting hit in parking lots by people not looking behind them.

[@mikewillett5076]

I've been saying the same thing. Malls are great, like a self contained city. Shops, food, places to sit and chill. What a shame. These "Town Square" outdoor malls that have become so trendy suck in comparison for the reasons you stated, and they lack the charm. I don't get it.

[@blacksunshine1089]

@@mikewillett5076what’s funny is that many of these indoor malls started out as outdoor malls. I won’t be surprised if the same trend repeats itself.

[@mikewillett5076]

@@blacksunshine1089 . I agree they could come back again as trends change. But a shame so many perfectly good malls have been destroyed before they're "in" again.

[@dtj9923]

I was going to suggest a visit to Inner Harbor after watching your Union Station video but I see you're already there. Inner Harbor is another failed retail development that blows my mind. In the 80s and 90s those spaces were absolutely packed with businesses and people. It was always a real experience going down there. You would have never imagined that space in its current state.

[@sal]

Check out exlogs 69 and 113…I did two pieces on the inner harbor!

[@dtj9923]

@@sal I'll definitely check it out. I was there maybe five or six years ago and could hardly believe the state of things then. The COVID economy has really done some damage to physical retail in general but it has been the nail in the coffin for many of these spaces. A lot of development has come and gone at Inner Harbor. I still remember the Six Flags amusement park that was inside to old powerhouse. Didn't last long, maybe five years.

[@ralphyerkes7207]

why did you get a ticket your not the only car there ?????

[@newmansan]

So many memories of the Harborplace related to Otakon. I'm gonna miss Tir Na Nog the most I think.

[@krisphoenix7168]

Same everywhere it's sad, I remember just 15 years ago the metro center Gateshead mall in Newcastle UK was so busy especially before Christmas. Different world then.

[@jonnorthall8526]

Sal, I am a new subscriber and currently watching my 3rd video, fantastic content Sal, a cut above. Great videos and thanks for making the content. I live in the UK and only know a handful of these malls but they are fascinating to watch and learn about.

[@AUTISTICLYCAN]

You said once that you did not understand why Security got upset when all you were doing is recording the death of a once great mall. I agree where is the problem documenting the death of a mall.

[@ultimatevixn]

I still love the Harbor. I love Baltimore. I have always had a nice time there. We go every year for either Mothers day or Moms Birthday for seafood.

[@mastersingleton]

It would be nice if Harborplace, Inner Harbor gets redeveloped into a late night restaurant, bar, club and cafe area similar to the various Tokyo Izakaya alleyway neighborhoods and Singapore's Boat Quay Historic Area.

[@lorenzomoore6398]

Raised in Baltimore the Harbor was the spot in the 80s and 90s. I use to work at the federal Court house.

[@choptanktuxent2]

It took me 2 or three nights to watch all of this. By the end my eyes were watering. I have had the pleasure of multiple experiences of Harborplace during its heyday from 1980 till around 2007. Full of shops and eats. Spent most of my time in the Light Street pavilion. Bought burgers, fries, and a couple of baseball books. Many of those times were before O's games up the street. A couple of times I was there after work-related matters elsewhere in DT B'more. As for the Gallery, I was in there once or twice when it was thriving in the '90s. I bought a book there too. I hope the new owner brings it all back and that his efforts have a positive effect that blankets all of Baltimore. Thank you, Sal, for your good professional work and research. Happy 2023. Let us know, folks about future developments (pun partially intended) at the Inner Harbor's centerpiece.

[@damonried1720]

Strolling through this deserted mall with elevator music playing over the PA reminds me of The Shining.

[@rickt.vincent8400]

I worked at a very popular salon in 1994 right by The Gallery called Denise Christenson Design and the harbor and gallery was a packed place we made great money working down there and it was truly a crying shame to see what has happened to the gallery and harborplace what a crying shame thank you for the great video!!

[@pomhubnz]

I rest my case about the cruise ship analogy, Harborplace even suggests the mall is docked somewhere with anchor stores. The analogy is just endless… and entertaining if you’re obsessed with mall design! Lol.

[@Seek1878]

This hurts. So many great memories there.

[@LaMasLatinaaa]

Ugh loved the atmosphere in this. The city lights, the sky, the harbor, the water, the music. Too beautiful

[@lynnrn8252]

This was really interesting to watch! I was born and raised in Baltimore and Catonsville. I was actually born at St. Agnes and worked there for 10 years before moving closer to DC. I know violence has been absolutely horrible in recent years which is so sad! I hadn't realized how bad off the harbor place, Gallery, and Pavillions had declined. Wasn't it just a few years ago they were still fairly busy? It's my hope with election of our new Governor that things will start to turn around, there is so much beauty and potential in my home city!🙏❤️

[@kodjoblacka]

I worked at the Inner Harbor in the Pratt Street Pavilion from 2011 to 2014. It was so live and so many shops and restaurants. One of the reasons I heard they shut everything is because of the high theft.

[@OriginalNethead]

God bless public access TV for putting those unintentionally funny shows on the air. Even the audience, all 8 of them, couldn't keep a straight face. (must have been performing in a retirement home!)

[@CD-ht6dk]

Hi Sal. You might want to visit Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg. I was there recently and it is barely on life support now.

[@sal]

I produced an episode on Lakeforest a few years ago, but I did revisit recently and plan on doing another!!

[@diggingattycho7908]

Not so glad to know I was right. Most of the malls in Phoenix were gone by the mid nineties. I find it funny money went a whole lot farther during the cold war. When people were complaining about military spending, but at the same time we were able finance these incredible projects(like malls). To take it even further the population was able to support a large number of malls(big and small). Companies were developing new products, entertainment was putting out new stuff every week. We were enjoying so much, we didn't realize we should be taking stock of the moment. It's real depressing to think kids today have far less to do than my generation did. If you want to know what I think happened, it's real simple government happened. They took down the value of the dollar, while thinking things would be so much better if we had stuff made overseas. Without considering(or not caring) the cost of moving manufacturing out of the US. Manufacturing is so much more than making a product, that product requires support, that means jobs. A lot of jobs, middleclass jobs. The very demographic that supported the malls. Take that away or severely diminish the people in the middleclass. The malls will be one of the first to go, survival is more important. After that things get scary.