Three Dead Malls at Harborplace | Baltimore's Ailing Inner Harbor by Jim Rouse | ExLog 69

[@sal]

ExLog Phase IV Baltimore Saga Parts: Part 1 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6qXlZyYnqqtrsU Part 2 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIaYimeYo9pmoNE Part 3 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6u8daF4rNuMb9k Yes, I intended to say "Golden Corral". My sponsor is a fever dream of the archetypical buffet, and buffets are disgusting. Harborplace is basically abandoned. Baltimore needs help. Help! Thanks for watching and helping me relive my memories! Part 1 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6qXlZyYnqqtrsU Catch up on the full Expedition Log Series! Support the Expedition Log on Patreon, if you like! - www.patreon.com/salvatoreamadeo Second Channel! - kzbin.info Join the discussion on Discord! discord.gg/g4tKbpu My Website: www.salvatoreamadeo.com Facebook Page! - facebook.com/QuiteStudios/ ExLog Series Playlist - kzbin.info/aero/PLeveLKZSrsW5yrdr5vZa1-7oq_g-EuzZt Twitter - twitter.com/salvatoreamadeo Instagram - instagram.com/salvatoreamadeo Subscribe to and follow everyone on the DMOD Seal: Faded Commerce - kzbin.info RetailPocalypse - kzbin.info The Vintage Spaces Channel - kzbin.info Unicomm Productions - kzbin.info Ace's Adventures - kzbin.info/door/YfArGrC66A-vdS45DS7Qrg Jonrev's Flickr - www.flickr.com/photos/7323354@N05/ Jonrev's Site - jonrev.com/ The Caldor Rainbow - thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/ The Neon Explorer instagram.com/theneonexplorer Rustbelt Expeditions instagram.com/rustbeltexpeditions

[@HistoryHighwithLisaMarrie]

When traveling is an option and if it's not too late you should look into the Crenshaw Baldwin Hills Mall in Los Angeles. It's a historic, semi-dead mall that they have decided to demolish.

[@sal]

I’d love to check that out.

[@christinalillbellspark8284]

And another place you should check out is Lakeforest mall in Gaitherburg MD updated because there are stores that have closed down and they have new plans for the mall

[@seabrook1976]

There are a lot of channels that explore abandoned malls, but none match your level of cinematography. It blends in the past with the present and, when combined with the historical information, creates an enjoyable viewing experience. Well done.

[@fearlessfreep]

I lived in Maryland for over 40 years until moving out of state in 2019. I went to college in Baltimore and stayed there for two decades afterwards. I am actually welling up in tears watching this. It's amazing what can happen to a development when no one really cares about it.

[@hannakinn]

I lived in Baltimore County but my parents worked in Baltimore, Dad in the Federal Building, Mom in Hopkins Place. I worked downtown at an S S. office in a building across the street from the Civic Center. I watched Harbor Place being built. It's so sad seeing what's happened to the Inner Harbor, it was sad what happened to the Hutzler,'s shopping area too. As a teen I worked at Security Square Mall and my best friend worked at Westview Mall so we used to hang out at those malls then I worked in Hunt Valley and I used to frequent Hunt Valley Mall almost daily. I lived in Baltimore County and worked in Owings Mills and loved to go to Owings Mills Mall, that truly was a beautiful mall, I was very sad seeing it die then be demolished. After I moved into Carroll County Cranberry Mall became our family mal. Cranberry Mall was where my son hung out as a child, went to the arcade, the movies, had his birthday parties and as a teenager it was where he had his first jobs, it's the Town Mall of Westminster now and dying a slow death. I live in another state now and our local mall doesn't have it's anchor stores any longer and is evidently barely surviving on revenue (or was) from a few Mom and Pop shops and some cell phone stores. The mall in the city my mother lives in in Virginia is closed, Penny's was the last remaining store there. Shopping malls weren't just shopping spots to my generation and my son's generation they represented our Main Street, our town center. It's really sad and emotionally painful watching all the changes happen that don't seem or feel at all like progress. These dead malls, dying cities videos hurt my heart. I'm glad people are documenting the decline and the death of places fondly remembered by many, even if it's painful to watch. 😭

[@tomcoleman6403]

Unbelievable how dead Harbor place and the Gallery have become. I worked there in the early 90's and during the summer it was packed all day and evening every day of the summer.

[@thanakonpraepanich4284]

I imagine Baltimore is becoming a city-size dead mall that is dying from the same symptom. If the death of Milwaukee and Pennsylvania was caused by the death of American industry, could the death of American retails kill Baltimore and other cities that bet the farm on shopping and tourist industry?

[@missingbmore]

Same here. It was packed all the time. Lunch time was mobbed.

[@nickimontie]

Same here. It was a fun place to go for lunch to get a change of scenery from cubicles with no windows. It's very sad to see this happening.

[@Projectart69]

Who remembers Arcadia, the upscale Spencer’s. I worked there in early 90’s. Third floor - where the nail place now resides. Next door was Claire’s and beside Claire’s was the Disney Store. We also had Au Bon Pain, Big Al’s, Bains Deli, Sharper Image, American Eagle... it was amazing

[@Earthydiva4life]

Me too! I worked at Philips and the steak escape

[@markdrukenbrod9475]

Hi Sal. Your content never disappoints, thank you. I remember this place in the late 70s. Seemed like hundreds of thousands of folks there on any given weekend. Behind the Pavilions, usually at least 3 street performers drawing crowds, roving bands of Hare Krishnas chanting and distributing leaflets. They were building the Pride of Baltimore topsail schooner in public view. Nearly a guaranteed sensory overload. Those were the days, when mere retailing could do the heavy lifting for a public experience like that!

[@lukegeekwalker2689]

I remember hanging out there just to get girls numbers it was a great place love the gallery so sad to see it all this way now..It was the go to spot late 90s-2000s for me.....great video

[@HotRadicalGuy88]

That Old Country Buffet clip is incredible. Dude got some bad meat sweats.

[@stefwassel4384]

I’m dying over here 😅

[@oneshoeshort]

There are two reasons I watch Sal's expedition logs. The content itself. And his obnoxiously wonderful appreciation for these priceless 80s gems.

[@everyhandletaken]

That Country Buffet clip is amazing 😂😂 👏🏼

[@sal]

Yessssssss.

[@everyhandletaken]

Sal how do you find this stuff?!?! ☺️

[@sal]

Hours of auditioning.

[@everyhandletaken]

Sal it well & truly pays off, always entertaining 🙂

[@sal]

Leigh, you’re a rockstar. Thanks for the early screening!

[@jenniferberrong2121]

Wow, i remember going to Harbor Place in my teens as well. The pavilions were always packed. You would walk in one door and the guys making fudge would be singing at the top of their lungs and drawing s huge crowd. It’s really sad to see how empty it is now. Mismanagement, Covid and the build up of Harbor East, Fells, Locust Point and Hamden hasn’t helped it

[@gogomays4799]

Yessss I really miss the guys singing and depends who worked I got some free chocolate 😁. U have to B~More bound to know what it's all about, man I miss them good ole times. 😊

[@kimthomas3874]

@@gogomays4799 it's when more amazing when you realize that Dru Hill got their start there.

[@jasminehill6312]

@@kimthomas3874 Yup!!!😊

[@DanKirchner5150]

in the late 80's this place was amazing and set the trend for a lot of aging cities to copy it's design

[@paulsilberman3787]

Worked at Phillips starting in '81, met my future wife there. Lots of memories, mostly good from fireworks to concerts. Shame to see that area die a slow death.

[@Daveosbeatz]

I bet it was awesome back in 81 lol I was born in 86 but didn’t get to see harbor till late 90s..I still go nowadays but I’d love to see what it looked like in early 80s

[@katfry2602]

Thank you for amazing walk down memory lane!! Really enjoyed your film documentary on my home town... I too spent many unauthorized “days off” poking around the inner harbor back in the early 1980s. I have some black & white photos of the (now demolished) fountain I took so many of it for my photog class... I had no idea it was gone :(

[@nickdee9949]

Thirty minutes of absorbing content. Another hugely enjoyable log although like all your videos tinged with melancholy. I have joined the discord. I just need to figure out how to use it. Thanks as always Sal.

[@bwb48]

The first 2 days of my honeymoon in 1997 was spent in downtown Baltimore. My wife and I spent 2 days playing tourist in our hometown. A lot of time spent in Harborplace. Great memories, especially with my wife passing 9 years ago. It's so sad to see downtown Baltimore looking this bleak.

[@josephmogavero1355]

Don't worry--while the malls are empty the harbor is not! This is during our COVID lockdown, and that's why everything is empty.

[@nicholasshade]

People need to start doing something with themselves.🍭

[@jeannied8953]

Many memories of harbor place. I was a little kid in the 80s and loved driving down with my mom from my home in Belair Edison. It was such a magical place to me. We would go to the top of the World trade center and try and find our parked car in the lot below. We would go over to the pavillions and I loved going to the shops especially the kite shop, toy shops and having lunch from one of the places in the food court or if we were feeling fancy, Phillips (when Phillips was nice and a place of finer dining). We would often go over to the Science Center or take a water taxi over to fells point. I miss the harbor that I knew. So sad to see what it has become. I hope it can be revitalized one day. ❤

[@damitdonTV]

My only visit to Baltimore was in April 1992. We spent most of our time in the inner harbor, and I must vividly remember a seafood restaurant in the pavilion that at night was also a piano bar. Seeing the harbor now is really a shock considering how vibrant the area was back then. Of course, I do remember going into a small shop on E Pratt where the cops where holding a would be stick-up man against the back wall, and the harbor was littered with panhandlers trying to sell fake gold or just beg for money. We actually abandoned our attempt to walk up the hill to the farmers market due to being inundated with said panhandlers. Honestly didn't feel that safe outside of the harbor itself. Enjoyed your video. Interesting to see how things have changed.

[@mouchiecat1]

That place was Phillips. Its still down there but moved into the power plant

[@Essrayle]

Frequented these places when I attended each year Otakon was in MD, I recall the fountain well, and the sky bridge that went between the Convention Center and the Inner Harbor, to the Light St. Pavilion, so you never had to go to the streets once. After that, it was all gone, and many of the bigger fast food restaurants upstairs, huge pizza/Italian place, fried seafood, lot of stuff. Even summer of last year it just felt so...dead at the Inner Harbor. People were there, but not nearly as many as there had been, lot of trash around Phillips (still think of it as the Hard Rock Cafe), there was just no "reason" to wander the harbor like there once was. It's very disheartening, as I always loved weekends I'd spend there.

[@brianhenderson9124]

Yeah, me too. I only went for four years back when it was in Baltimore (2011-2014), and those were some of my best con-going years. The Inner Harbor had it all back then, and I even recognize some of the eateries I went to between panels. I was a bit annoyed when the skywalks began to come down, not to mention the Mayor McKeldin Fountain, and now I, too, am sad that the Inner Harbor is but a shadow of its former self. Now I understand why Otakon chose DC to move to.

[@moonbunnychan]

While I also went other times of the year, going during Otakon was just amazing. The inner harbor being so close to the con center really just made for an amazing time. So many photo shoots by the fountains....I can't believe that's gone now. I loved just dipping down there when I had some downtime at the con or to go to dinner at night. I absolutely loved the skybridges and being able to easily travel on them. Seeing it like this really hit me hard.

[@SM-ln6ob]

Same here, I caught the last otakon at the bcc in 2016. Attended since 2003 and sayed in almost every area hotel for the event. Always made it a point to go to the inner harbor pavilion for dinner and the cosplay shoots. Looking forward to magfest in 2022.

[@mlbvintagecardcollector505]

Anyone else miss the pipe tobacco aroma in the old man wing of the mall? It really was aromatic as the Karmelkorn was always in the same wing. I miss the early 90's. Has anyone invented a time machine yet?

[@reginaschelhouse991]

I remember the newspaper shop upstairs.

[@thomasnee270]

So do I. That was one of my favorite stores.

[@msnessac4168]

I'm from Baltimore and I remember back in the day the harbor was where the city Fair was every year .Good old days ..

[@blaze2001]

Totally remembered the city fair lol I thought I was the the only one.

[@BWItoATXF]

Can relate to the harbor place fountain. Disappointing. Security Square center court and Owings Mills Mall wings had fountains too. Grand times.

[@Projectart69]

I worked in Security Square when the we’re building that fountain. They had just taken out the movie theater and put in a food court.

[@johnfoltz8183]

It seems like removing a mall fountain is a telltale sign that a mall is about to die

[@zeta802]

It was so beautiful and like you sad it stayed crowded. It was always nice to take visitors down to the harbor. This makes me so sad. I hope it does come back one day. Baltimore really needs it.

[@JustSheilz]

Back in the 80s there was a place called the Fudgery and they would sing rhymes while making fudge. Its one of the fondest memories of field trips to that area I have.

[@jljl5449]

I remember during a school field trip to the science museum (in elementary school) going to the pavilion. Also another time with family, after the Baltimore aquarium. I still vividly remember loving it! It was colorful, and feeling like it was lively and exciting. It did feel touristy, but there was also great food. Sad to see it in this state...

[@sal]

I’m so sad to see it fall...

[@erin8205]

I saw the Rolling Stones IMAX thing at the science museum, summer of 1992.

[@CatonsvilleCentralRwy]

Lifelong Marylander....as a kid I would go down there often. I recall as you do how packed they used to be. Now they and most of the inner harbor are shells of their former selves. Everyone is going to Harbor East and Fells Point now, but even those are beginning to shrink a little. Crime is just too rampant. Many of the businesses and offices including my own are having to hire their own private security systems because the city police are so understaffed they can't be relied upon at all. And I dare anyone to find a city government in the US more corrupt than Baltimore. Were certainly plenty more people around in summer before Covid, though, but still nothing like years ago.

[@QuietJ0Y]

I enjoyed the layout and pace. Thanks for sharing this town and your story!

[@deanskibinski]

Wow, I loved all of this so much, Sal; the footage, the nostalgic memories from your youth, the AMAZING Golden Corral sponsor! So good, well done, once again, and thank you. 🙏🏻

[@markshea405]

We used to visit the inner harbor in the late 90's and it was always busy. Old school shopping malls and venues were always a relaxing escape from the day to day hustle. Another sad example of the declining state of the once great retail, entertaining, and dining industry most of the new generation will never know. Anyway kids, enjoy your iphones.

[@CaresinVerse]

I frequented Harbor Place for years when I lived in Baltimore. I am shocked by what I see in your video here. Almost every place I remember is gone. I remember the Markets with homemade ice cream, the Utz Potato Chips made here and still warm when we ate them. Shops like Hats in the Belfry, and Flutter-byes, So sad to see it nearly empty. We used to rent paddle boats and watch jugglers perform and eat and shop all day. Sigh!

[@yahspeaks9125]

I was there when Harbour Place opened . I worked at Shuckers and at the Hyatt regency hotel across the street! Wow this is so sad!!

[@shortliner68]

Another old Baltimorean here. I remember the inner harbor when it was just piers and warehouses along Pratt St. and a nightly B&O freight train would run down Pratt St. between Mt. Clare Yard and President St. Station. The only restaurant of note back then was Connelly's, which the train crew would stop at to grab a meal, located on one of the easternmost piers. The building looked pretty rough but their seafood was great! During the '80s, after I was married, my wife and I would go to the inner harbor whenever her visiting relatives would come up from southern VA to catch an Orioles game at Memorial Stadium. We'd usually eat at Connelly's or Phillips. Later in the '80s, when our kids were little, we'd take them to the National Aquarium and over to the Science Center at Light and Key Hwy. Downtown was very enjoyable for families back then and nobody bothered you no matter where you walked. Just seems most good things come to a bad end, and I'm sure Baltimore is hurting from a drop of tourism in the area along with lost tax revenue from all the empty stores. Sad because I really enjoyed growing up in Baltimore. Time will tell if the harbor comes back to the vibrant place it used to be...maybe it will.

[@shirleykurtz]

Connelly's was a great rustic restaurant! I still miss it today!

[@Sabrina79]

How cool that you went to a school that used to be a hotel. 🤘👍 Another excellent video, Sal! Thanks for making my Sunday night! 😎

[@122Kittykat]

I worked near and go shopping or just walked around Inner Harbor almost every day. What a shame. I. used to bring my family down there from PA. I was so proud of it.

[@erin8205]

Breaks my heart. I first went in 88, when it was new and then continued to go in the 90s and it was busy and polished. I spent my first paycheck at the Express there, 1992, age 18.

[@sal]

I’m sorry to present this to you :(

[@erin8205]

@@sal no! I love it. Its fascinating. My mall, once so gorgeous and the greatest place of my childhood in the 80s, is actually being dozed for condos soon! It went from fountains, a ramp, plants, to just...ugh. Kiosks, white, horrible food court, high vacancy, and stores switching out constantly. It had 4 glorious anchors. Now? 1!!! One anchor, Macy's and there were talks of pulling it. The former John Wanamaker (went through several iterations) is filled with water and has been since 2009. It's awful and sad. So many incredible memories.

[@sal]

It’s so sad what’s happening to malls....

[@jC-kc4si]

Otakon was held at the nearby BCC from 99 to 2017, then it moved to D.C. you'd see tons is cosplayers at the fountain and Harbor Place.

[@Wingnutcaseman]

That and Bronycon. I miss seeing fans dressed up lugging around all their latest purchases. Summers seem so much quieter without them.

[@thevintagerecipeblog]

In 1976 I was a 2 year old kid on my mom's shoulder posing for a picture in front of the Coast Guard training ship Eagle when the tall ships were in the Inner Harbor for the Bicenntennial celebration. No Harborplace, no Aquarium, just the science center and the McCormick factory on Light St which still got regular spice shipments by train from the Chessie System running boxcars on street rail down Light St. I remember this mall when it was built, watched the groundbreaking ceremony on WJZ 13 news. They were a favorite destination for my mother and I loved going there because I always knew we would stop in the bakery at the Light St Pavilion and get an elephant ear pastry. Times change, the world moved on and one by one the malls of my youth, Security Square, Westview, Harborplace, Columbia, are all on a slow death spiral desperately trying to hold off the inevitable end result of a shift towards online shopping. I'm going to admit, i cried a little watching this video while beset by a torrent of memories from the past 41 years. I haven't been to Baltimore since 2008 and I have mixed feelings visiting as so much has changed and I don't know how I will take it.

[@canislatrans8285]

Ah yes, the spice smell! There was also a fishy sort of smell before Harborplace. Waaaay back, Mencken referred to the harbor as the "back basin and" described how foul it smelled. That was him describing it in like the late 1880's lol. Just an interesting tidbit about the harbor. He also mentions the "blackamoors", which I assume are the a-rabbers.

[@shirleykurtz]

Everything that was good about it is gone! The greedy owners just ran it into the ground!

[@Sean17768]

As a Baltimore native, It's sad to see how dead things have gotten down there. its was only a little over 10 years ago when this place was bustling. Then between the stabbing at the harbor during the 4th of July fireworks back in 2011, then again only a few years ago. Then the riots back in 2015, it was only a matter of time before it hurt downtown retail business. It was alarming as i am now living in New Jersey that i started seeing Baltimore tourism ad's on TV up here. It never used to be like that. They spent the last 10+ years trying to repair their image and it went nowhere. Really hard to fix everyone's mindset when all you see is riots and just the overall crime rate down there .

[@KrazyfingazBeats]

You took me down memory Lane. I used to work in both buildings. Great breakdown on the history!

[@kenadams3951]

I'm 57 and live up in Pa. now grew up in overlea/ Whitemarsh that place was the place to go any time or weekend. to chill and have a good time. thanks.

[@dsoshea06]

This is so very sad. I lived in Baltimore during the time that these malls including The Gallery and the Pavilions were vibrant and alive. Not only is it a reflection of Baltimore City, but a number of U.S. cities. But there are a number of reasons why they’ve failed. I will elaborate: I lived in Baltimore between 1986 and 2003, on the west side, just inside the city, just off Edmondson Avenue. It was a wonderful community of single-family homes. The Inner Harbor was a mere 10 minutes away. Each week my ex-wife and I went to the Inner Harbor for date night. This was in the late ‘80s until the early 2000’s. Sometimes we chose to eat at one of the pavilions, The Gallery, or the ESPN Zone restaurant (if we felt like playing games before a good meal) and maybe head over next door to the Barnes & Noble. If we felt like eating at the Pavilions we’d park on the Light Street side. Let me explain the pavilions. The Pratt Street side, the pavilion on the north side had the restaurants. Some good, some not so good but that was up to the consumer, the choices were there. There were crabs and fudges, casual and upscale food. It was wonderful and during the summer months the restaurants were packed and crowds along the walkways of both Pavilions. Between the Pavilions was a really cool small “arena”, semi-circle with 6-8 rows of cement seating, facing the water so people could sit and watch performers - singers, trick artists and more. The Light Street Pavilion was our favorite, especially the second level. The first level had interesting mom and pop stores, several I recall was a sports store of Orioles and Ravens (1996) and a hat store. I bought the best hat I ever owned there. The second level had a number of choices for dinner, Greek, Italian, Pizza, Subs, and more. It was fully open, from one end to the other. We’d walk around and see what we were in the mood for. What was really special was walking throughout, once could look out through the glass and see the entire harbor, it was such a wonderful view. We’d order our meals and head out the doors and sit at a table along the balcony overlooking the harbor. Whether it was spring, summer or fall, it was special. We’d finish and go in to one of the yogurt or ice cream booths, get our dessert and head back out and sit once again. I moved away in 2003 and returned for a visit in 2017, 15 years later and was stunned. The ESPN Zone was gone. But that was nothing compared to what I was about to see. At one time parking was $3-$5 dollars. I parked and it cost me over $20. I had just arrived and already burned $20. Not a soda, meal, dessert or anything else yet. Twenty bucks. I went to several doors as I used to, where each one would easily let me in. I then realized things had really changed. On one end, a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. But they were permanently closed. I went further down and finally got in. Many of the small mom and pop stores gone. I went upstairs but it was no longer all open. There was a national clothing store taking up the other space. So in a Pavilion that had the most beautiful view and panorama of the Inner Harbor was no more. Two businesses that when you’re in them, it’s not to enjoy the Inner Harbor, but just to go in and buy something that had nothing to do with Baltimore’s premier and historic location. I was stunned at what the city allowed. Maybe they had no say? I don’t know, but I do know for Baltimore locals and residents, a $20 parking fee is extravagant, a Ripley’s is not a reason to keep visiting the Inner Harbor, and there are cheaper places to shop than at a clothing store where prices are high to pay for the lease at such a location. Talk about a total fail. Who was thinking about all of this? To add, the Pavilions became an area for the homeless and the criminals. My brother, in law enforcement in Maryland said the crime at the Inner Harbor has become so bad that no one is going there. It’s a shame. What once was an amazing area for families, singles, young and old to one of desolation. I’m just glad there was a time the Inner Harbor thrived and I was there to see it and experience it. It is one of those times in my life I treasure. It’s sad to me those times I reflect on there are over. It means those moments were truly special. It’s also sad that the current generation has no clue of what it was and how special it was. I am happy I was not there to experience its demise.

[@brendanolasco2214]

Dan O'Shea Everything you say is exactly how I remember it. It was a great place to go with family, friends and your significant other. So many great memories from those years and I never thought it would end up like this. I guess we were lucky to have experienced it when it was still great.

[@Hugatree1]

Dan O'Shea I experienced similar culture shock returning to the Massapequa mall on Long Island. Although not as grand as the as what your describing it was a safe happy space to shop, see a movie, many different restaurants, game rooms for the kids etc. But over the years crime and gangs started becoming a permanent feature, families stayed away, parents didn’t allow their children to go and business suffered. The stores starting closing down and the danger of being mugged became a fact of life, nobody wanted to go there anymore. It is difficult to comprehend such a happy carefree time of life is gone forever. In many major cities outdoor parks and spaces have been overrun with homeless and drug addicts. It breaks my heart and that Cat Stevens song is sadly true ‘Where do the children play?’

[@jennifergrzechowiak7849]

I loved visiting Harbor Place as a kid but always knew that we only "looked" in the stores and not to TOUCH ANYTHING because everything was so expensive. I always wondered who would actually go there to shop but I guess there were lots of people who did!

[@veronicahemphill3324]

K m

[@Kharkovkid]

Dear Dan, thank you for the time it took to post your personal experiences. Being from the Alamo City the term "Inner Harbor" still conjures up visions of tourism and things to do when ever I hear about Baltimore. Guess "That horse left the barn" as we say down here in Texas, some time ago. Thanx again!

[@HarmonHeat]

Hey Sal! Awesome info and backstory about the whole area. Just like you, I was born in Baltimore city and and spent so much of my childhood with my friends in those malls. It seriously hurts to see these places going down. We used to go to free small concerts right there on the water, eat at hooters, and check out all the cool stores for hours! Everyone there was happy and having a good time, Sisco was singing in the fudgery and the place was clean. This whole country seems to be taking a big dump and we're all stuck in it😪

[@mightyred1967]

As a visitor from the U.K., always enjoyed these mall videos...going to a Mall has always been one of my go to things whenever I go. This is the first time that I can say that I have been to a dying mall. I went here when I did 8 days in Washington, Philadelphia and Baltimore back in December 2018. It looked rough back then... but compared to some parts of Baltimore, it was very nice. It’s a city that I really wouldn’t recommend to anyone, sadly. I cannot see this mall reopening to the level it was like before the pandemic. Amazon has conquered the world. Sad days. Anyone excellent video..❤️❤️

[@grandmagwensunsolicitedwisdom]

WOW, that brought back memories. I worked in the Light Street Pavilion the Day it opened and still have a piece commemorating that day July 2,1982... I left Maryland in '92 and have lived in New Mexico ever since....it is sad to see how far it's fallen, but is no surprise.

[@matikz]

Of all the things in this video I'm glad Tir Na Nog is still open. Used to love eating there.

[@sal]

Fantastic place, highly recommended.

[@ladypalerider]

The rats though! 🐀

[@efilmstravel]

That was a fun area to visit during my childhood as well! I always enjoyed the architecture and for whatever reason I thought walking across the walkway to The Gallery was a lot of fun. Nice composition and editing and thanks for all of your research on Jim Rouse. You went above and beyond simply documenting the malls!

[@cynterslave]

So interesting! I haven’t been to the Inner Harbor in years, but this sure brought back some memories. In the mid to late 80’s, “Annapolis Mall”, as it was known as then, was my hang out place, Eventually, we shifted to Marley Station as it was the newer and cooler place. Plus the teenage crowd at Marley was viewed as cooler people.

[@Tazzer88]

Hey, just discovered your channel from a share. To me, Harborplace and the Inner Harbor are permanently linked to my summers spent attending and staffing Otakon, the big anime and Japanese culture con that used to run at the Convention Center until it moved to DC. Walking there at night and seeing the flood of costumed characters and like-minded people going to get food or just hanging out is such a vivid memory, just like the school days you mentioned. I especially miss McKeldin Fountain, that really was an extraordinary fountain and sometimes during the convention weekend people would put bubble soap in it and the suds would get so out of control, but it was amazing. In recent years I've actually become a city resident, though far removed from anywhere near the harbor. It makes me sad to see a place that brought such joy to so many people go downhill so fast.

[@jimber6850]

oh this place in the 1980's and early 1990's was so much fun! So many good stores and food! Bringing back so many memories.

[@billymorgan7717]

Hickory Hollow Mall in Antioch, TN. In its day, it was the largest, most profitable mall in Tennessee. Now, it's dead.

[@benzboi1]

Your videos are exquisite, rich with content and context. It is sad t see this as I remember when HarborPlace opened. I remember Pratt was more shoppes and Light was more food oriented in those early days. Matter of fact, we parked on an open lot across Pratt St. where the Renaissance and The Gallery now stand. Back then McCormick spice was still there and during the humid summer the inner harbor would have the scent of spices in the air. It was very cool. I remember eating outside at Paolo’s, watching everyone strolling below, and it was all packed. Sigh. Now to watch your Towson vid. Thank you, keep up the amazing work.

[@sal]

Thank you so much!! I appreciate the story as well.

[@d-rg.karamitev9796]

One of the greatest sponsors of the Ex log series😆 The golden coral buffet made my day👍🥩🥓

[@tonyhamilton9764]

When I visited this place in the late 80's as a kid it was packed, this was the place to be with unique stores and fun eateries. They power plant was a six flags run indoor amusement center of sorts and the harbor in general was hopping. I moved here in 1999 and it was still decent but slightly in decline with some empty stalls, particularly in the food area. Failed big chain after anoter, Planet Hollywood anyone? It was really declining and about half empty about 6-8 years ago the fudge place closed. That is when it totally died to me. I used to take my kids through just for the show and a slice of fudge. After it closed, the last exciting thing to see was gone. It was definately dead before the plague. Now, it will take a real effort to bring it back.

[@TheHow707]

I can't understand HOW you don't have your own show for this content and narration Sal. Thank you for this, great memories from my hometown. Though the bldgs are no longer there (I think) it would be great to see your narration on the "old downtown" that I grew up with in the 70's. Stewart's, The Hech Co, Hoeshal Kohn's, and the piano store with the "Invisible glass window were my family's favs. Not to mention ALL of the movie theaters that lined Howard St. Thanks again!

[@DCrjrjr1]

You forgot Hutzlers

[@sal]

Shit sorry.

[@michaelwasiljov8633]

I grew up in Baltimore. Graduated from Southern High School near the Harbor in 1989. Very sad seeing this and how far gone Harborplace is.

[@michaelwasiljov8633]

@Chris Archer I'm a mason too. Must have missed the meeting when the Rouse Family decided to destroy Harborplace.

[@tyrehoward]

Go Bulldogs

[@kathys-n-pa]

Its funny how many times I have noticed something that has been gone awhile. Love these video's and all the info that comes with it!!

[@sal]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@kathys-n-pa]

@@sal are stripe malls in just as much trouble as regular malls

[@josephschroeder7778]

Watching this video makes me sad. I grew up in Baltimore until 1991. I can't tell you how many times we've been to the harbor any given weekend, or weekday during the summer time.... Are you old enough to remember when the Hard Rock Cafe was a Six Flags theme Museum called the Power Plant. I now live in Jacksonville Florida and we had something similar to The Harbor Place downtown, but they recently tore down, due to lack of people shopping there.

[@joanneneaves9651]

Thank you for the upload video 📹 so pleased I have found your channel again.

[@nordicdraw]

Great job Sal, the research is so thorough and telling. So much to thank Jim Rouse for his Grandson Ed is one. So many attractions like Ripleys, Gone. The Inner Harbor has so much History, it’s sad to see a very popular tourist destination so barren. There is a new addition to the actual water of the Harbor, Christopher Columbus, the entire statue was toppled recently. The thing was huge, much dedication made that happen. Loved the video Sal. Stay safe!🎥

[@enclavecontrol9911]

I work in Baltimore City and my family is from and continues to work in this city, it's been a horrible sight watching some of these businesses go out of business. Thank you for bringing attention to these pavilions.

[@shonyone]

major cities now experiencing what happened to detroit over last 40 years -to see your future look at you tube videos

[@azjoe_6310]

Having grown up in Prince George's County, the Inner Harbor was always the place to go. Always the place to take out of town visitors. Always a fun place to go on a date.

[@OddCtDude]

As someone who lives in Baltimore I can say yeah it’s truth

[@blaze2001]

Same such wasted opportunties, Baltimore has a great landscape especially downtown near the harbor. I remember we have comic book stores down at the Pavilion all kinds of things. Now it's nothing.

[@BethanyB86]

Great video! I feel the same way about Rolling Acres Mall. I spent SO many Saturdays during my teenage years there.

[@nickdee9949]

Rolling Acres was the mall that first grabbed my attention. Im from the UK and find the dead mall phenomenon fascinating. I hope we are bit seeing the end of traditional retail. There is still something special about visiting somewhere opposed to just ordering online.

[@nickdee9949]

Apologies for my typos it’s the middle of the night here. I set an alarm and wake up to watch the video. Makes me a bit of a zombie at this time . Back to sleep now lol.

[@julieerin115]

I remember going to the Inner Harbor a few times back in the early '00s. The galleria seemed relatively quiet, but the pavilions were bustling so it's shocking to see what they've become.

[@julieerin115]

I also remember going to Phillips Seafood Buffet (?) there, but it looks like it no longer there. :(

[@denniskirschbaum9109]

Fun fact: The building you see at 16:00 across the street through the awning used to house IBM and was designed to look like an IBM punch card. In 1979 there was a Friendly's on the ground floor and I spent the summer scooping ice cream there. Harbor Place had just opened. The following summer I worked at the American Cafe restaurant in the Light St. Pavilion. All the stores and restaurants were packed until the wee hours every weekend. It is sad to see HP as just a shadow of its former self. I have held up (slightly) better. LOL.

[@elsigwaldio]

I remember when I was young, most of the Light Street Pavilion was an indoor market, similar to Lexington Market.

[@Projectart69]

Yes it was!

[@Decade8Media]

I was so sad to see the huge fountain at the big food court in West Edmonton Mall being demolished to accommodate more seating. This was also when they closed off the open ceiling to the second level with the sky light, removed the elevator and the big Roman statue as well as took out the fountain that ran through the middle of the food court with streams of water that you walked under to cross the bridges, and just made the whole place generally devoid of character. I still love the mall, but I yearn for the days when the whole place still felt so much like the '80s.

[@SoniQ93]

I used to travel to Baltimore every summer for BronyCon and remember these 3 locations well. It sucks to see that they've declined so much over time.

[@bronxbearbud272]

I was one of those tourists back in that era, visiting for the weekend from New York City and regretting that I never went back for another visit, but forever impressed by the wonderful show that I found in that harbor area via its shops, restaurants and just plain people-watching.

[@tendraftsdeep]

Many memories here in the durations of 3 different relationships over the years. One of my favorites was slipping and sliding around on these icy streets, shopping and dining the day after a Scott Weiland concert circa 2009 the night before way over at Ram's Head. I purchased a nice Poe beer glass and we went to Hooters. I moved away long ago, and chances are likely I'll never visit here again, so thanks Sal, for this trip down multiple memory lane. Cheers 🌟

[@corishat7057]

Awesome and educational. The architecture on those places is stunning. Those garage style doors on Light Street are really interesting.

[@nicbro3831]

This is very well done. I just subscribed. Thanks for the vid!

[@mrslovinme82]

My uncle worked at The Baltimore School for the Arts for over 37 years. All the way up until he passed away last year in January.

[@ChrisDfromMD]

Another great episode. I have fond memories of Harborplace. My family first vacationed in Baltimore the same weekend of Live Aid in 1985. I thought Harborplace was great. Plenty of places to eat and they had a store that was all Orioles merchandise. Went back many times and I lived in Maryland twice. Haven't visited that area in 10 years. So sad to see how empty it is.

[@sal]

It’s so so sad....

[@ianhudson9398]

Live Aid was July 1985.... Just saying....

[@ChrisDfromMD]

@@ianhudson9398 Thanks

[@MrDan708]

It's been awhile since I went to the Inner Harbor; I took a bus trip to Baltimore in the 90's with some friends. The day began with the malls here and ended with a Phils-O's game at Camden Yards.

[@sal]

It’s struggling...

[@chrisper7527]

My family came over from England to visit us, and Harbor Place and The Gallery was the first place we took them. They were very impressed. I remember the guys singing and kneeding chocolate. Those were wonderful days and great memories. Too bad things went downhill for these properties.😢

[@ofands]

Another great video documentary Sal! Thank you

[@jackiemarshall3711]

Wow it's changed so much. The light street pavilion was pretty much all food and pratt str was shops and they stayed packed during the summer. I remember waiting tables at Wayne's BBQ and would bring home no less than 100 dollars a night after tipping out to the bus and bar back.

[@ScatteredCollector]

I thought the first mall looked familiar - that's where the anime convention Otakon was held, right across the street!

[@terrychalfant9521]

Nobody felt safe there anymore.Dangerous place to go.

[@greatvalue2448]

Unfortunately I agree. I used to go there when I was younger and it was great, now that we have little kids I feel too vulnerable. Especially in the parking garages. We stay closer to home and hit Downtown Silver Spring, a less scenic but safe feeling downtown area.

[@outkast40]

@@greatvalue2448 Baltimore is full of government corruption as well and the HBO special THE WIRE didn't scratch the surface of what goes down in Bmore.

[@thanakonpraepanich4284]

Has the city been downgraded from 'decline' to 'dying'?

[@outkast40]

@@thanakonpraepanich4284 it's not dying by any means. It's just poorly run from lack of competition from the right.

[@outkast40]

@Frank Winkhorst Not what I was saying ! You need competition to uncover the corruption and the democrats failed to clean things up on their own.

[@Sobolady89]

I use to work 4-12 in the B&O Bldg. and could walk home at midnight across from Riverside Park. I often stopped and watched them building Harborplace and the first Pride of Baltimore. I always felt safe. Now I wouldn't go there in broad daylight. After Harborplace opened, I would stop at The Phillips piano bar and have a beer on my way home. In 1989 CSX transferred me to Jacksonville, FL. They had the Jacksonville Landing here which was built by Rouse and Baltimore's Harborplace was its model. It was a horseshoe shaped pavillion on the river. It was always crowded and the same thing happened. High crime drove people away. This year it was torn down.

[@shirleykurtz]

Maybe more police protection could have helped. Lower rents and more mom and pop reasonably priced food shops would have been good!

[@nealammerman6768]

I was at Harborplace last year and was shocked at its decline. Just a couple or so years before I was there and it was still reasonably alive. It’s sad. But I don’t think you mentioned that Harborplace was the pattern for the next Rouse marketplace . In1982, Waterside opened in Norfolk VA..where I lived at the time. It was beautiful.. one building instead of two..and somewhat smaller.. but a setting along the Elizabeth River downtown. For a few years, it was the place to hang out.. exciting events and a catalyst for bringing people back downtown. Yet decline set in during the 1990’s. It almost died and a year ago was renovated with bars but not the variety of shops of Waterside in its heyday. It’s tragic to see these venues that were so vital just a few years ago but are not in terminal decline. Baltimore is a very troubled high crime city, and has bigger problems than Harborplace, but this was the main attraction of the Inner Harbor.

[@trainguy1017]

When I was a kid we would walk from Westminster House Apts. down to Harborplace and or The Maryland Science Center. Great memories of those days! Back when Baltimore was a mostly safe place to be. The last time I was down that way to walk around the inner harbor it was rather depressing as most of the store spaces in the 2 Harbor Place buildings were mostly vacant.

[@nicp2344]

Just heard today that the Barnes and Nobles closing. Now that's the final nail in the closet for harborplace.

[@kimmychan1967]

Omg wow. I still live in Millersville but haven’t been in Pratt Street pavilion in decades. I was a manager of the Ivory & Nautical shop back in the 80’s. It was on the 1st floor under where The Gallery’s bridge attached to the building. I was in awe of The Gallery when it opened. So beautiful. I live closest to Marley Station Mall but that place is dead now too. If I go to a Mall it’s usually Annapolis, but I haven’t been there in about a year now either.

[@heihei3453]

This place used to be a huge gathering spot for Otakon attendees when the convention was held in Baltimore from the early 00s to 2016. Literally thousands of cosplayers and con-goers would hang out, eat, and take pictures. I drove past a few months ago and was surprised to see just how empty it is now.

[@jasminehill6312]

I came here on so many field trips when I was in school and summer camp! When I went to UMBC my friends and I used to go to the Harbor to eat at Phillips! Those were the days!!

[@jennifergrzechowiak7849]

I remember the fountain! I also remember how sad I was to learn it was gone... Seems like there should have been some sort of vote to get rid of it or something (maybe there was?). The fountain was magical to me and it did have a smell to it that I loved - the smell was like a combination of chlorine and the inside of a shopping mall. Thanks so much for making this video.

[@taneeshathomas2090]

This is so sad...the inner harbor was the only place we had to go as teenagers...I have so many memories

[@donnap1208]

Loved watching this video. You do a great job!! I'm sad I never got to visit Harbour Place.

[@mattrocus9672]

Marley Station mall is slowly dying, too! :(

[@thislibraissomodest6046]

Yup

[@armyfallatthediscotwentyon5019]

Yeah, I don't shop at Victoria Secret but they are gone now. Only places I go is hot topic, rue21, bath and body works, shoe Depo, and jc pennies.

[@ApertureAce]

I love to go on runs passing through the inner harbor in front of the malls. Such a great place to be!

[@StevePetrica]

So sad to see this. I used to work at the University of Maryland Med School, a few blocks west of Harborplace, but I moved away from Baltimore 11 years ago. It's hard to believe how badly things have fallen apart.

[@damiancharron773]

Growing up in Glen Burnie I’ll always have fond memories of both Harborplace and the Harundale Mall. There was a Geppi’s comics upstairs that was the shit back then. And all the malls in Glen Burnie are now basically just strip malls, except for Marley Station, which is nowhere near how it was back when it opened.

[@SawyBoy]

Poor Marley station :( it’s already a zombie mall. I don’t want it to go away 😩

[@kimscott5552]

My youngest son was born in Glen Burnie.

[@rizukiann]

Oh wow! I used to frequent the Inner Harbor every summer during Otakon until 2016. I noticed it was fading toward the end of my trips to the BCC, but it's gotten way worse. I'm not surprised at all. I also miss the McKeldin fountain; it was incredibly cool and interesting to look at.

[@JohnCassity]

Wow Sal this was absolutely amazing! And the Golden Corral sponsor! My favorite restaurant lol! The footage looks stunning! this is a legendary. Exlog 69✅

[@sal]

Nope. That’s the joke. It was a fever dream.

[@ruliak]

This made me soooo nostalgic for my otakon days ❤️❤️❤️

[@brianmarwa8320]

I moved to Baltimore a few years ago and I'm still learning new things about the city. When I arrived the thing i was most curious about was the state of Real Estate and certain buildings in the area as well as how Baltimore got the way it is now. I see Baltimore as a great city with a lot of potential. I'm glad this video popped in my recommended all of a sudden.

[@brianmarwa8320]

I also used to work in the Urban Outfitters in this mall and it closed down I think due to a lot of theft.

[@mrchow489]

I live in philly. I kinda like Baltimore. It's a city with alot of history just like philly

[@pcj8029]

Thank you for making this video. The Inner Harbor was the last place I spent the day with my parents many years ago. Since I am also from Philadelphia, I am quite familiar with the Gallery mall as well. This brought back so many memories. Quite the bittersweet experience for me. It just pains me to see these properties die such slow and painful deaths.

[@sal]

I’m so glad I could capture this for you!

[@jonhernandez5499]

I miss the fountain 🥺🥺 I used to go there as a kid with my family and just run around while watching the water run

[@lemapp]

1983, Rouse built a single pavilion version in Norfolk, VA. WaterSide was a huge success. They added 50% more space a few years later. The city took over running the building after Rouse lost ownership. Despite continued crowds, the marketplace suffered under uneven management. Random city employees would come over and demand businesses change. Hard to operate a business when the rules keep changing. A few years ago, the marketplace was closed. The expansion was removed. A new management company took over. Covid has had an impact, but it is a popular destination. There is a warship and a maritime museum next door. Soon there will a casino next to the baseball stadium (it too, modeled on Baltimore.) Norfolk's economy is very stable with military and the sea ports. Tourism is a huge part of the mix. We tend to have more retail per cap. because of the large flows of people who pass through. In our limited 25 sq. miles of dry land we support 3 malls and a shopping center over a mile long. It's no surprise we gave birth to Michaels, Dollar Tree, Rose's, Wilson Leather, and many others. Avon Fashions started across the river.