Virginia Center Commons | An Adolescent Dead Mall | ExLog 49

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On the last episode of 2019, come take a walk with me through the Virginia Center Commons in Glen Allen, VA. This dead mall is young, only built in 1991, and has lost some major tenants over the years. This video closes out the 2018 NC Chesapeake Dead Mall Tour...see you all in 2020!!
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[@sal]

Hey guys! Thanks so much for watching! Sorry for the mispronunciation of Henrico, I had a fever and pretty bad cold while recording this...I've since learned it's pronounced "Hen-rye-co"...apologies! I'll see you guys in 2020 for Episode 50!

[@kurtreitema2979]

I think the saddest part was the prize section of the arcade. Utterly abandoned, lacking the bustle of youth clambering for cheap trinkets of victory. Great video, as always

[@MysteryWolph]

You know a mall has problems if it caters more to walkers than spenders.

[@zhixel]

This is my local mall. It's vastly more dire now than when this video was originally shot.

[@katzfam1089]

its amazing how many dead malls there are in the USA, I think about all the memories, the people shopping, moms with their kids, families having fun, teens hanging out, now its all gone. Dead. Great Vid again.

[@dravenlee4473]

It still blows me away that malls are dying. Why would you NOT want a self-contained, beautiful, air conditioned (or heated) place to walk around, shop, hang out and eat in? How did something like that become out of style or no longer desirable? People will say the internet and that certainly has taken its toll but malls were dying long before the internet. I just don't get it.

[@AlbionofRunescape]

What’s crazy is how back in 2005 there was thousands of people in this mall. I was around ten then. As a teenager it was a slow degrade and by 2018 it was just like this. Makes me really sad because I had some good memories here.

[@josepherhardt164]

Update 9/21/2022: Apparently the stores left in the mall have been told by mall management to get out by October 31, 2022. Supposedly the mall will be converted/torn-down-and-rebuilt? into a "sports complex." For many of the remaining shops, this short notice will hit them hard.

[@wonkhooirl]

an update: this mall closed in october 2022 and i had zero clue. googled it yesterday to go film a video and found out they demolished it. so so sad about it.

[@KrazyKeith4]

Yes, let's provide a water feature for guest enjoyment. Here's the twist: It will never be turned on.

[@mikez1701e]

That background music and those commercials are alone worth it to watch these videos 😎

[@lonniehoover3340]

Pretty insane to see the current condition of this once thriving mall. Before leaving for Colorado 3 years ago this place was still doing decent, but nothing like it was during the early 2000s and late 90s. The FYE was my go to store for Metal albums, and it never disappointed. It's sad to see this young mall coming to an end, but malls have never really been my thing. This is just another reminder that leaving VA was one of the best things I've ever done. Farewell VCC!

[@Deadwrongallalong]

This place was soo beautiful! I love how bright and sunny it is. It reminds me of going to the mall in the early-mid 90s when I was small. None of my local malls look like that anymore, so it was cool to see. Thank you and I look forward to log 50 :)

[@nbjojofan1997]

This was my childhood mall. It's so sad to see it in this state. After Short Pump opened and the recession hit, this place was never really the same. Great footage and a great history. I even learned a few new things!

[@WhittyPics]

I lived in Richmond for a little over a year in 2009 and I went to this mall quite a bit since I was living in Short Pump. Hell our dishes came from that JC Penny. It was starting to die then but for the most part most store fronts were occupied. This mall has been sinking for years and every video I see it gets worse and worse. There wasn't all the mold on the outside like you showed at the beginning. It is a matter of time before this mall gets closed and boarded up. It was a nice mall in its day. You got a lot of good footage. Security there can be assholes and they don't like cameras. Chesterfield Town Center was another mall we went to a lot and it stayed really busy. South Park we went to a few times and we were there on one Saturday evening and it was downright scary. There were cops everywhere that night and some of the characters there looked dangerous. That was the last time I went to South Park. We were within a couple of miles of Short Pump Town center but the only thing I went there for was the Apple store. There was another outdoor mall we went to at the time but I can't think of the name. It was somewhat upscale too.

[@leonharris3484]

I live in Richmond,VA. I remember when VCC opened I was just eleven years old. The mall never was updated for modern times and was the same until it was demolished. Henrico county is building a rec and sports center in which they are building now. But I will always remember the times I had at that mall.

[@kathryncarnes5714]

That arcade used to be the shit back in the day and actually used to be bigger. When the mall started to die they moved that back wall closer and put only non-redemption games in there to "entertain". I could tell you exactly what stores used to be there. I remember going there when I was 7 and there used to be this guy sitting at a two person table in the beginning of the food court charging people $5 to try and win a match of chess with him. I loved this video. Very nicely done.

[@user3640]

I grew up at this mall and worked here in the 90's. It's surreal to see it in such an abandoned state. It used to be the place to go if you lived in the area.

[@hkshks3979]

We have outgrown the model.. kept malls resuscitated for as long as possible....

[@Karmy.]

That food court is incredible!!