Inside The Abandoned Ames In Wrightstown, NJ

[@steveg5122]

I grew up shopping at this store.

[@tammygouletschrader8785]

Must be hard for you to see it like this.

[@tuckerhuff692]

I wish I could have experienced Ames I was born after it closed

[@ThresholdDreamer111]

What a spectacular video! Decidedly one of your best and one of my favorites. You got this up in record time, too, LOL. You did a fantastic job on this one and it was a pleasure to share this experience with you. STAY AWESOME!

[@tammygouletschrader8785]

You should wear a mask Wallie. All of that mold isn't good for your health my friend

[@Lol33315]

Roku został mianowany biskupem pomocniczym

[@Nathan-xt6gz]

Bringing in 2020 with a WallieB26 marathon. Thanks Wallie!

[@verwahrlost_aber_frei]

I’m very surprised with how well the sign held up, even the exterior of the store... just wow! Great video as always!

[@gardenwalker3767]

I was stationed there from 95-97 did a lot of shopping there since I lived on Ft Dix

[@metalliberator]

used to shop here with my family back in the early 90's. The movie theater next door and Ice cream parlor up the road were also frequent stops :) thanks for the Nostalgia

[@JoeyLeddzDippin94]

Damn, mother nature really took its toll on this one.

[@northsidediva6465]

Wallie, I know it's Code of Conduct and respect, but you have great restraint in not taking that cart. (That would have gone straight in the back of my truck. 😁) If that building is bought/renovated/torn down, it will be gone anyway. 😥

[@slackingpacking]

You’re now called the Ames guy. 😂

[@adamsATSfan415]

yup Slacking Packing out of everyone on youtube he has filmed the most Abandoned Ames stores,

[@adamsATSfan415]

he did the one in Economy Pa that he got inside which is now demolished, This one, Baltimore/Essex Maryland, Radcliff Kentucky Got Inside this is the newest one he did, Shamokin Pa Got Inside, Collins Ny, He did the Office in Connecticut Got Inside, Newcastle Pa No longer Abandoned, Horseheads Newyork Got Inside, He found one in West Seneca Newyork But didn't Film it Because it was fenced off.

[@adamsATSfan415]

i am hopeing he will be able to get to the Binghamton Newyork one and the one in Towanda Newyork before both get changed or Demolished and there's another one in Newjersey that only one youtuber did i couldn't remember though it closed around the same time in the 90s like the Towanda Newyork Location did,

[@295g295]

4:54 surreal

[@theloneone381]

When you did that video of the kmart in Pasadena Maryland (near my house) if you looked across the street at the Walmart on jumpers hole rd, their was an Ames building their only 5 years ago, which sat empty for atleast 18 years before it was devoured by the Walmart that's their now.

[@axel303]

I live right next to the Ames plaza, it's amazing to see the inside after all these years. Currently they have the whole building knocked down.

[@cynthiamarquez3244]

I live near too do you know what they’re building? I been waiting over a year to figure it out. And the old checkers lol

[@journeywithjay]

Ohhh man what an epic video. I can't believe the scrappers didn't get to this place. I used to watch that littles cartoon. This is just like the one that we explored with the Acme next door. Huge thumbs up

[@RawRealRetail]

Awesome video, Wallie! Great that we could spend that really cool day with you guys. This is real important work you're doing here, preserving these forgotten places and things for future generations to rediscover and enjoy vicariously. Stay awesome man!

[@DannyNGraysOfficial]

Came back to watch the original video had to haven’t seen it yet !!!

[@johnmilner3729]

i use to shop in that very building in the 80's when it was Jamesway.

[@patriciamorrow8927]

Hey Wallie thanks for this vide, how neat the doors were wide Open just for you to film & documentation for what used to be , A real Ames and other abandoned stores .Keep up the Great work . Be safe.

[@Catmannj1]

This will go down as one of your most epic videos. I call you the Ames Ambassador! (and Anthony's an Ames Ambassador too.) What an indepth look at the store and the plaza. It's really a dead retail strip with just the Chinese restaurant open. Amazing that even a church can go out of business!!!! When you went to the part with all the school supplies I thought it must be a failed charter school. Don't know much about charter schools (We have a bunch in Jersey City.) I Hope they weren't having classes there with the collection of stuff there. The Hitler video... was that for the history part of the school day? Creepy. Also glad you never revealed how you and your bud got in. Don't want those people who don't appreciate what you do and the places you film to get in. Places like that need to be respected. And I respect you even more for leaving the Ames cart. Part for the urbexers code. And partly I suggest to show the spirit of Ames will live on. Another ironic thing: Dollar General closing and I've seen three articles saying DG is recession proof and in fact expanding at a crazy rate. Keep those videos coming bud.

[@HipFitSoooGood]

I grew up in Wrightstown in the 1970's and 80's. That Ames was originally built as a Grants, and then a Jamesway - all department stores. In the 80's my best friends' mom was the general manager of Jamesway. It was comparable to a Target or Kmart Store. It was huge and my fav. store as a teenager. It looked smaller in your vid, but you said a dollar store is using some of the space. Next door, was the Acme. Also a huge store. I think it's been torn down. I now live not far away in Pennsylvania and I visit the Wrigthtstown area often to see friends. Thanks for the memories!

[@samanthab1923]

There's an Acme in Lincroft, NJ that had a sign like that forever. Also in Lambertville they turned the old store into a community center & saved the old porcelain sign on the side of bldg.

[@3wpclips2]

Bless you for finally filming in my home state thank you

[@WallieB26]

Absolutely! I was in Philly for a concert and knew how close this was. I had to visit it. I plan to go back soon with some other youtubers!

[@3wpclips2]

That's awesome! If I were up there still, I'd definitely join ya. I used to live in Manahawkin,NJ

[@3wpclips2]

@@thenamebrettsucks6574 What are the odds of that? That's awesome! 🙌

[@terriwoodard7399]

Love this old Ames!!!! Great video

[@greatness260]

It’s so crazy seeing this place now. I was around 6 when I used to go there and now I’m 20 living in a whole different state. The nostalgia is insane

[@cindyrichards1118]

I loved shopping at Ames we have one here in Baltimore that's been abandoned since 97 or 98 not sure but it still sits,looking l8ke it's got mold even on the outside check it out if your in my hometown Baltimore near Eastpoint mall in diamond point

[@295g295]

9:26 At a store building of this age (1950s Acme Markets food store), look up here. You may see a conveyor rail used to bring a whole beef carcass in. Back then, the store had a full-serve butcher. Now much of butchering is done out in Nebraska or somewhere.

[@chriscarpenter7137]

WallieB26 , I love your videos but am perplexed why you go as far from Pennsylvania as Maryland, yet I don't recall any of the awesome locations in Toledo, Ohio and Detroit Michigan! You could do both cities and surrounding area's in the same day! I was just in Flint, MI today for a concert and there is an awesome VERY 70's looking Kmart that's been long closed and has all the front windows plywooded, but has VERY old facade and "produce" label scar, and there are a TON of abandoned and interesting places to film in the area from Detroit to Toledo (one hour apart) and also Bowling Green has a very unique dead mall with an open Dunham's Sports, an empty Hills, and a recently closed Elder Beerman! When you likely take the 80/90 Ohio turnpike over from Cleveland area you could stop in Fostoria, Ohio and see an open "BIG K" Kmart that is really a small store with a BIG K facade slapped on it in the center, but still has those one foot tall windows across the front that are above eye level

[@Karmy.]

I believe Bright Sun Films just did a video on that Kmart in Flint But yeah there's tons of stuff here in Michigan

[@saramoneer380]

Very unsafe is why

[@elineff2791]

I didn't know any of these stores Ames, Hills and all but what I read looked very proud of their times of business

[@richiestarks6163]

Use to be a James-way. There was a Payless Shoes, a fashion clothing store, pet store, Movie theater’s. The Acme was there. So many memories.

[@princessofledyard3899]

Hello I Am New and From CT That Amazing That Abandoned Ames Still Exist and You Show Us the Placese. I Miss Ames. I Also Miss Deb's Boutique Stores too. I Wish That The Stores and All The Former Major Department Discount Stores and Malls Can Come Back. Even Chucky Cheeses, Stores.

[@levidykes2850]

damn bro its awesome to still see the sign 16 years ago left alone wow

[@exploring_unleashed]

I want to explore some old stores like Ames and stuff. Right now I explore smaller retail places.

[@darinward71]

The still frame or picture of the cart with the gutted store background is very good. It's very dramatic in a sense of what was and what things are now especially with retail.

[@KeyGreenRedsox]

The walls are close together in this video. Ames was little bigger in Ellsworth Maine after Ames it became Mardens and now is Tj Maxx part of it they made the room smaller the other half is still abandon.

[@shawnsr8459]

what a find..the shopping cart!!!👍👍👍cool video!

[@shelbychurchisbeautiful614]

I Love All Of These Abandoned Places Videos.

[@madisongilman220]

I used to shop in that Ames all the time

[@BrianWilliams-cq3ys]

What a beautiful Ames department store what a shame it's in such bad shape it's just too bad that Ames is not still around take care stay awesome be safe your Ames Brian Williams Guthrie Oklahoma see you later thanks for this video

[@295g295]

31:46 - This was a Jamesway (1980s) , before it was Ames for a few years (1999?)

[@Karmy.]

Why would they choose this place to store the stuff from a school? This video just got sad...

[@devinmoran2660]

Awesome job as usual 😘

[@itrack4u]

Very cool find.

[@WilliamPauly]

I enjoy watching you guys walk through these once great places. Brings back memories of being a kid. Just a heads up though, the reason the floors look like that is because they're covered in mastic which contains asbestos which can stick to your shoes and come home with you. I've noticed in a few of your videos loose 8x8 tiles, they also contain asbestos. Keep an eye out and steer clear of that shit man. Once its kicked up into the air, that's all she wrote lol So tread lightly, watch your step and thanks for the nostalgia Wallie!

[@WilliamPauly]

Correction: 9X9 tiles, autocorrect >:[

[@coltongoff456]

Great video Wallie!

[@kevinbaker4241]

You got lucky with that store - Jamesway shut down in 1995, and that store was one of only 11 that Ames acquired after the liquidation. Too bad it only operated for seven years as an Ames before shutting down for good.

[@samanthab1923]

Kevin Baker The Staples near us just closed. While being renovated for a local grocery chain the removal of the old sign revealed the old Jamesway one underneath.

[@TheOmegaeyes]

This is incredible coming across this video! It came up as a suggestion. I grew up going to this store and remember as far back as when it was still a Jamesway. In resent years I've developed an interest in actively exploring abandoned places. Although department stores never interested me as much as industrial places, old homes and so forth. I came here in 2017 to take some pictures. I only explored the exterior though. There was security there as I was walking around. I've lived in the general area my whole life. I figured I had to check this out before it's gone. Fortunately it's still there where as some of the other iconic places such as The Satellite Lounge have been torn down.

[@samanthab1923]

TheOmegaeyes Why did it close? Does it have to do with the bases nearby?

[@TheOmegaeyes]

@@samanthab1923 No Ames went bankrupt late 90s early 2000.

[@carbuff81]

This is 20 minutes right down the road from me, wow, wish I knew you were down in my neck of the woods!

[@dylanlewis2835]

That sign would have been to die for to have.... The Ames Plaza one lol

[@nancydarling4918]

Good video. Interesting. Thanks for filming.

[@chrisbarnett4719]

It's amazing they still have water

[@seand2711]

I want to go shopping at Ames during it's heyday. Looks like a neat store.

[@le351a]

WallieB They just announced that the Kmart in Altoona PA is closing..if you come up this way, be sure to stop by the Ollie’s store in Duncansville..they have about 50 Ames carts all in excellent condition!

[@avacado592]

Thats where I live in that town!

[@kyriebates2997]

The thing on the bathroom sink is a inselation cover for the sink pipe ( to keep the pipes from freezeing.) (Sorry I'm A Crappy Speller. ) Love the video. Keep them coming.

[@warmsignal]

Ames was the chain of acquisitions. They built up their empire buying out other stores that were struggling, explaining why they mostly all looked a little different. I'm not sure if there was ever an Ames store than that was built from the ground up as Ames. They would just kind of pop up wherever there were struggling stores. In my town alone, there was an Ames that bought out a Murphy Mart and then closed during the first bankruptcy, and later another Ames that bought out a Hills in the late 90s, and closed when the company folded. Take them as a case study on how purchasing mountains of debt in order to have more assets is not a viable business strategy for growth. Not that it's an option at this point with the undesirable state of retail itself.

[@theytboy20]

My hometown. I still remember when everything with open. It was a real blow to the town when the military base shut down to civilians after 911

[@tristanchambers3350]

You should have taken the cart, you would have been preserving it anyways

[@WallieB26]

Yeah, I know. I wanted to but I followed the urbex code of conduct and left it. I also felt like it's the last sign of life that store had as it's been in there since customers used it.

[@tristanchambers3350]

WallieB26 your right. I completely agree.

[@AndrewMune]

You should check out the abandoned Hardee’s and ruby Tuesday in woodstock Georgia

[@295g295]

... or Wilingboro NJ. goo.gl/maps/8LCbemYHppvSJkyLA Those same two are side-by-side.

[@hauntedbyhaunted]

Have you ever thought of purchasing disposable shoe covers for walking in all of that mess? They are fairly cheap in bulk on Amazon.

[@as6110]

They still have WATER?

[@WallieB26]

And power in spots!

[@as6110]

That's crazy. Also, when the hell did you have time to even edit this? 😂

[@stillbuyvhs]

It can be really hard to get a city to let you turn water & power back on in an older building. It's best just to leave everything on when the tenant leaves; that way you can show potential tenants that everything still works without going through 100s of new building codes. Of course if you let the roof leak so badly mold starts growing you've got bigger worries than new code. :/

[@295g295]

6:05 This front wall does look to me like a Grant's . ... 7:11 In Mt.Holly and Cinnaminson, Channel Home Center / hardware took over the buildings of Grant's.

[@ejclones2649]

I used to shop at this Ames. It used to be a Jamesway

[@user-ci9ri4fl5pBuckeyeChessie]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@BrigitofBergental]

14:34 that stuff might be silica gel beads that are wet.

[@loganinnis3117]

You should take the cart to add to your collection

[@jet34thehawk]

Cool video

[@midnightbutter6965]

Holy shit this is wild I wonder why all that random stuff was there also it's sad to see all those toys and school supplies go to waste they could at least donate them to people in need

[@alangruskos5794]

The Acme sign belongs the the plumbing supply store next door. This Ames is currently being torn down.

[@salsero2005]

I was in that area a few months ago and had no idea they had an Ames. Have you been to the abandoned Bradlees in Hazlet, NJ

[@samanthab1923]

Leo Salsero Oh no 🤦‍♂️ that's a step back in time. My parents bought a brand new Levitt home in Matawan 1964. My nan loved to go there when they visited. Feel like it might have been a Stop & Shop at one time.

[@rotricesummerville7910]

My ex was a lighting Supervisor for the lighting dept then boom shut down!2001! Yeppers

[@xsedition9125]

Awesome ames shirt wallie👍

[@northsidediva6465]

I want an "Urbex Museum" with some of the cool stuff y'all (excuse me....yinz 😉) find in these places!

[@holliepajak3772]

You could get the cart pictured and framed

[@Darcfoxx101]

The items from that school have been there since probably 2011-2012. They were shut down due to a scandal if I remember correctly

[@martz1191]

The area around the military base and browns mills is more abandoned than the rust belt. I had no idea this place existed.

[@samanthab1923]

SPC New Jersey Radios Watch some reseller vids that are from that area. Grew up in NJ never knew places like that existed.

[@amanacatandhisdog8836]

Very very cool and interesting.

[@TheOfficialDHONE]

2:18 Cleveland: that‘s nasty

[@studioa9728]

FINALY AN AMES IN NJ!!!!

[@studioa9728]

Also Guess What? I Found The Ames Website! Using The Wayback Machine web.archive.org/web/19990422080158/www.amesstores.com:80/

[@letaloudone]

You should have found the circuit breakers for the signs and turned them on for a couple pics.

[@JulyBaby1991]

I’m thinking the reason why the water is still on it’s probably because of the one store being open still they probably share the water line or something I was just taking a guess

[@chrisjohnson-kz1qy]

Why would ames leave all that stuff why

[@pacmancdi]

They didn't. A school district was using the building for storage.

[@cynthiamarquez3244]

They tore it down this winter. I don’t know what they’ll replace it with. I live nearby.

[@unknownuser..._...]

Wow...

[@sarahburgess2911]

I never shop at ames since they closed down before i was born but the hills and Ames building in beckley West Virginia is getting turn into a aldis grocery store and planted fitness before them it hills then ames then a store called magic mart but magic mart moved down the road into old Kmart building they pave the road and remodel whole building then closed down but i got a ames cart form magic mart before they closed down they had the ames cart from the old building i have in my house right now

[@nicholelistick5712]

I work st that Ames in Wrightstown back in the 90s. I helped open that store. FYI those windows would bring in so much heat, it got imbareable

[@crystalscan2002]

wow i am surprised all these ames are still standing not

[@PcLover81]

Update 4/18/2020 - I just drove past this store today and the front corner that faces the old movie Theater took some damage from some recent rain and wind storms. A small section of the roof caved in.

[@garbage854]

Great video :) The signage was cool and the Ames Buggy was sweet :)

[@charliescorner1551]

10:30 is Awesome special thanks to Wallieb26

[@brandonchallender3132]

i was in there with my friends before you guy i put that gliter on the ground and we had are bikes in there it was cool but nice seeing people go there and i am only 14

[@HotwheelsZach]

When did the dollar general close?

[@bashclassof04]

That little room was likely the fittingnroom for ames

[@marcomacias3960]

so Grant's had an auto center?

[@Dave-ey6fi]

They have almost completely tore down this whole building all is left is part of the far wall standing and part of the front glass wall.

[@cretejake34301]

Just to let everyone know before this place became Ames it was also known as Jamesway. It's too bad Wrightstown does not have a department store anymore. At one point Wrightstown with the place to be. And had more stuff then Browns Mills

[@gwenjarbothenickbeebiesfan2008]

Hope it would be a Big Lots!

[@tammygouletschrader8785]

What's with all of the school furniture and toys?

[@kevin12567]

Which door did you get in through? Did you try it and it opened or was it already open? This is why I prefer you don't jump-cut your way inside so we can see the moment of discovery!

[@cindyrichards1118]

Dan Bell urban exployer has a video of the Baltimore aimes

[@LindaFromSeaAtTull]

Yummy Chinese Restaurant lol

[@WallieB26]

LOL

[@LindaFromSeaAtTull]

@@WallieB26 great name for a restaurant, it gets straight to the point.

[@Karmy.]

Yummy Moldy Chinese Restaurant

[@NascarFan-qq4lu]

Wallie Can you please talk about sears and the chapter 11 bankruptcy we want to hear your thoughts and what do you think will happen to the company?

[@chrisjohnson-kz1qy]

Id love to go exploring with you be cool great vid