THE REAL TOURS: #7 Plymouth Meeting Mall - Raw & Real Retail

This is the 7th tour of our new series, THE REAL TOURS, in which we provide an in the moment glimpse into a place with off-the-cuff commentary completely intact! No research, no script, just RRR letting you in on their insights and observations walking the malls.
The Plymouth Meeting Mall in Plymouth Meeting, PA is one of our favorites. It is striking architecturally, mostly due to the developer, The Rouse Company, who developed the mall in partnership with Strawbridge & Clothier. One of the few examples where a modern renovation looks better than the original, depending on the aesthetic you are into. Copious palm trees, a nicely thought out ceiling, and the best fountain you'll get to see in person in a mall nowadays, this mall never fails to please. We have visited this mall dozens of times and every single time it is a joy.
This tour was recorded on May 3, 2022 at around 6pm.

[@jooleepadoolie]

Good news for this mall. Totally Twisted Pretzel, which has been operating at Exton Square Mall since Auntie Anne's left, is now moving to Plymouth Meeting Mall! The main bakery will be upstairs, with a kiosk by the carousel. This is a family-owned company, not a chain. I hope that they have great success in their new location.

[@RawRealRetail]

I had also read about that. It's wonderful news because Totally Twisted is the best pretzel I have ever had at a mall before. It is way better than Auntie Anne's or Pretzelmaker or even Wetzel's Pretzels. I was bummed to see the location at South Mall was done for but now it makes total sense.

[@Mapmaker1559]

Man I'd love to see that mall for myself someday. I wish more malls would keep large fountains like that.

[@loocpoc]

Adding in Legoland and Whole Foods kinda saved this mall somewhat. Mall management wanted to tear down the mall and go to a town center type mall.

[@jgg204]

I am horrified to see what my childhood mall has been turned into. When I was a young kid, this place was so busy you could barely walk around without knocking into people. So depressing

[@BlackArroToons]

I like those waving blind panels on the ceilings beneath the skylights. Nothing like seeing a fountain in real life versus on a video. Even so, video gives some sense of the sound and great visuals. Thanks RRR.

[@PaleOpal21]

Wow, this video has everything. Great commentary, tree sample, carasol, palm trees, music, awesome fountain, ASMR fountain sounds, Lego giraffe and a beautiful church. Who could ask for anything more? When you showed The Rock Store, I thought for a minute it sold rocks/gemstones. Yup, it's Friday brain. I would also be dancing down the hallway with my shopping bags. I'm definitely one of those weirdos. The food court at my local mall was completely removed. According to "retail experts" they are tacky and not modern.

[@fpwest1526]

As a child of the early 80s, who grew up in Chester County, PA, I love seeing tours of the old malls I remember from my childhood. I moved away from the area for college in 1983.

[@Monte_Carlo]

I like this series a lot. Would love to see more of the real tours

[@RawRealRetail]

Thanks so much! We're taking a short summer break but have some good ones planned.

[@Rlotpir1972]

On a side note, BEFORE it was Boscov's (opened in 1996), it was a Hess's (1981-1988), and before that it was a Lit Brothers (1966-1978).

[@RawRealRetail]

Yeah, pretty sure there is an old remnant of the Lit Bros. sign on top of the building, you can see it slightly through the clerestory windows that line the perimeter of the ceiling in the Boscov's court.

[@Rlotpir1972]

@@RawRealRetail It said 'LITS' on one side and the opposite side. The same with 'Hess's'.

[@Monte_Carlo]

The FYE was actually a Sam Goody and is completely unchanged except for the name. The pastel colored floor was something a lot of late 90’s to early 2000’s Sam goodys had.

[@jgg204]

YES! i remember the sam goody days

[@buckyswider1]

Paddy's Pub is the setting for the long-running FX comedy "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia".

[@RawRealRetail]

Ah, that's why I didn't know what it was for. Thanks.

[@jwg19444]

We can thank internet sales for the initial decline of that mall along with the onset of Amazon and poor decisions made by the various owners of the property that lacked vision for a better shopping experience . Could also add the fact that many retailers just went out of business due to ever increasing rent and better services elsewhere. The latest plans for the property include medical office targeted usage along with apartments on the grounds and within the old office building. Plenty of opposition from local residents due to traffic concerns. Former farm and open space has been developed and caused serious morning and evening commuter traffic without adequate improvements to roadway and transit systems. Storm water and sinkholes have also become great topics of concern during the past several years.

[@ericeckman9470]

The to go for the music

[@SKIZZWARD]

KOP is nice too

[@butterboiii9810]

This mall seems to be stuck in the 80s with the music.

[@buckyswider1]

You say that like it's a bad thing!! :) :) :)

[@djdev3077]

This is your favorite mall,it can't compete with King of Prussia Mall,Plymouth Meeting is about to close,if you want to beat the crowds Plymouth is the place to go....

[@RawRealRetail]

King of Prussia is just soooo boring.

[@ForzaJersey]

Great music, how do u avoid copyright issues?

[@RawRealRetail]

I don't. We make no money from our videos, so it doesn't matter.

[@ForzaJersey]

@@RawRealRetail Oh ok, I thought copyright strikes still applied even if you didn't monetize. That's good to know. Thanks!

[@RawRealRetail]

Every once in a while if you have music from one or two major labels that will happen, but YT changed the way they handle copyright and have worked out deals with most labels to just demonetize the video and run ads for the record labels.