Westfield Horton Plaza: This Mall Should Be Haunted! | Retail Archaeology Dead Mall Documentary

A video tour of the Westfield Horton Plaza mall, a dead mall in the Gas Lamp District of San Diego, CA.
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#deadmall #deadmalls #vaporwave #aesthetic #aesthetics #retailarchaeology #macys

[@TL_oS]

Breaks my heart. I spent a lot of time there as a teenager in the 80s. I loved it. At the time it felt like a really different, magical place.

[@user-uf3rh8kf9s]

DITTO! TL, Horton Plaza served as my primary Downtown San Diego haunt while stationed in the Active US Navy from 1997-05.🇺🇸

[@KG-kq7kn]

I have always avoided his mall because it gets me LOST as hell in that weird labyrinth, the parking structure is even worse I’ve racked up a lot of time on the meter just trying to find the car that somehow dimensionally transport between the cherry and avocado levels :(

[@OMG_BeCkY]

Our cars must've switched spots because I had the same problem every single time!

[@JMCodd1]

There is a pattern to the garage. What gets people lost is the fact that the level number changes on the ramps. People would drive up a ramp and park on, say 5Tomato. Then they would walk back down the ramp to the mall entrance they had passed to go shopping, not realizing they are now on level 4 Avocado. When they go back to their car, remembering they parked on level 5, go back to level 5 and walk up the ramp. By now, they’ve walked up the wrong ramp to level 6 Onion. Lost and cursing the vegetable salad of the parking levels.

[@MultiCreditKIng]

Reminds me of that Parking Lot Sienfeld episode.

[@gab.rielle2707]

We have to perserve post modern architecture. Just because it’s unique, doesn’t mean we have to tear it down and build a basic looking condo.

[@marklouis1890]

Agreed

[@ManCrushMondayTJ]

Disagreed lmao you can live in that shithole

[@billp4]

@@ManCrushMondayTJ Seriously, turn the place into a FEMA camp and let her live there.

[@m.alexanderzagorski2438]

Gab,Rielle,your MESSAGE SUMS IT UP!

[@m.alexanderzagorski2438]

While stationed in the Navy from '97-'01 and '03-'05 Horton Plaza was my primary haunt! I saw countless movies there. Horton Plaza first opened on Friday August 9,1985.

[@jamespressey8610]

This video makes me so sad. This place was my childhood. I spent weekends here with friends going to all the stores, watching movies and eating at the food court. A lot of memories in this place and now it is getting demolished, So Sad.

[@SHADOSTRYKR]

I liked how during the clock viewing a kiosk worker was ready to pounce on you with a offer but then saw you filming and did a quick heel turn.

[@deendrew36]

Lol, I saw that too!

[@dcompton42]

My dad actually helped build this mall and said he saw no fewer than 4 deaths in the construction of it. I have details if you’d want them.

[@koolklub]

dcompton42 share pls

[@tabitha8232]

dcompton42 Aye god that’s awful. But do tell

[@TheMythey]

Boy, that escalated quickly... And I really mean it!

[@beenwashedup5754]

Tell me tell me

[@knightinsuranceservicesinc1217]

...did you die too?

[@rachelcookie321]

The mall seems so cool. I wish more malls were designed like this. I would love to get lots in a mall like this.

[@hughofIreland]

Another great outdoor mall is UTC about fifteen to twenty minutes north. That mall is thriving (or was before the pandemic), so much that they charge for parking!

[@Xezlec]

WOW! This is one of the most amazing buildings I've ever seen! I also like how it still looks so overpoweringly retro 80s-90s today. And I guess the torrent of hatred for it in the comments explains why there are so few buildings like this.

[@GeekFilter]

Horton Plaza was one of my favorite places in the late 90s, it was always crazy busy even up to a few years ago. When it was nearly dead during comic con… I knew something was wrong!

[@videomaniac108]

My wife and I used to go there all the time from the late 80s through the mid 90s.

[@largol33t1]

If a mall is dead during Comic Con, you KNOW things are going down the drain. Comic Con draws big crowds to my town and the surrounding city block is so full of cars that some give up and take the train to get there.

[@JediMcFly717]

When My Parents would Visit San Diego they would visit Horton Plaza & my mother said it had some unique stores and restaurants. When my parents & I went in 2014 it was starting to go downhill.

[@TrainmasterCurt]

largol33t1 City Place Mall in Winnipeg is very busy during Comic Con

[@marydork493]

I loved going to Horton Plaza back in my high-school days (mid 90's). They have an unbelievable homeless/druggie problem.

[@GreatDayDnB]

Man this mall looks so chill, it's almost like it came straight out of a Tony Hawk game lol.

[@watershed44]

Yes, it's incredible, and the design was in keeping with the original reason malls were built in the first place....for people to gather and socialize as community, the shopping was supposed to be a side benefit. I'm so sorry to see it so dead.

[@12inch_monster]

PantherBanana totally the 1st thing that came to my mind. that it looks like a skater's dreamscape. reminds me of jet set radio.

[@elguero117]

Bro it was so chill to go and hang with my friends there we saw so many movies at the theatre

[@JCKingdom79]

I don't see a Tony Hawk of this mall.

[@JCKingdom79]

Keep the clock and level this mall.

[@mstiefan6996]

This isn't a mall, it's a maze. Should just take out the stores and charge people to find their way out of the place.

[@touchstar68]

It's called the Gruen Transfer

[@yagirl3612]

There’s an outdoor mall like this called La Cantera near my house and it’s so ducking confusing too. Except it’s only 2 levels. It’s so hard to navigate and is 150 acres (1,300,000 sq ft) At least this one looks really cool

[@Revolution1117]

Now THAT'S funny...and creative. LOL!

[@Bristecom]

I noticed that California has a lot of architecture like that and frankly I love it! It makes it feel bigger and more interesting than a normal building but I can understand people getting annoyed or confused by it.

[@emotionz3]

I lived in San Diego for a few years and worked in the gas lamp. It took me a solid 6 months to be able to efficiently navigate this mall. Which is embarrassing when you consider San Diego is one of the easiest cities in the country to navigate.

[@arielsarino2823]

This is sad. I remember going out of my way to go to downtown just to go to this mall. I guess it kinda reminded me of a Disney feel. Yes, it was very busy then, in the 90s. I also remember getting embarrassingly lost in the parking garage often because I couldn't find my car! Thanks for this video! Gish, how I miss my hometown...

[@stphinkle]

This mall has been struggling for a few years. Some interesting bits of history (I live in San Diego BTW): * Since Nordstrom closed the decline has accelerated * The theater in the basement is the Lyceum Theatre. It is a performing arts center where they do plays. * The big park is fairly new. The area used to be an anchor store (Robinsons-May which merged with Macy's). * I am not sure what the Macy's originally was. I am guessing perhaps either The Broadway or maybe a Bullocks or Robinsons. * The comics store used to be a Tilt if I remember right. I used to play video games there. * The Mad House Comedy Club used to be a different restaurant. * Macy's is actually three levels. The reason is that the odd and even floors are on different sides of the mall (weird but true). * Another reason this mall's death accelerated is that they raised the parking rates. Years ago they used to give three hours free with validation. * That Jessop Clock was built in the early 1900s. * I heard a rumor that Macy's may be moving when their lease is up next year but I cannot verify this.

[@nichegoseberazdvatri]

yup, I just found out they will no longer validate even for an hour. Big mistake. It will sure drive more people away.

[@davis6123]

I also heard that the Macy’s may leave next year. Hope it’s not true

[@InfinityPets]

It doesn’t make sense why they Closed there Mission Valley Location but this one hasn’t :|

[@Wingnutcaseman]

Mission Valley is just two miles or so away from Fashion Valley Mall which is a busier mall with the busier Macy’s.

[@Euph0rik9]

The Mad House Comedy Club was a P. F. Chang's. Confusing as the mall was/is, it was nice to be able to do some shopping then hit 4th or 5th for food and drinks afterwards.

[@dennik535]

I've worked across the street from this mall for almost 10 years. It is definitely more of a weekday mall, not a weekend mall. I rarely go over there anymore. I used to go to the food court, and nordstrom's lunch room, and the panda inn (on the top floor). i stopped bothering to try to shop there years ago. you can be standing across from the store you are trying to visit, but it's such a nightmare to figure out how to get there that it's easier just to give up. you can't get anywhere fast, sometimes you just want to go get something from bath & bodyworks, or whatever, and it's such a pain to even get to it. It has been dying for a long time, but i've also heard that the mall management is not eager to keep the stores. it's a rumor that it is going to be redeveloped into a residential and commercial mixed use project. i don't think anyone that lives in san diego thinks about hanging out at horton plaza on a sunday afternoon, there are so many other, easier to navigate, malls and places to just hang out, such as liberty station. i guarantee you would have seen more people on a weekday. it's also never been a scary mall. even with the stories you brought up, they were not so much random crimes as suicides, a fight that started between two groups of people in the comedy club around midnight, when the mall was virtually closed, and a woman who was known to be suicidal that was found and confronted in the mall, and then took her life. if you want to focus on something that is haunted, you'd be better off visiting the coronado bridge, because THAT is where the suicides happen. the mall may be aesthetically pleasing, but as for a shopping experience, it's a bust.

[@Ice_Solid]

I don't think Horton Plaza is going anywhere, I work at this mall and when there is a conference or any other event that brings people in stores do very well.

[@wheresedgar]

Johnny Grayson It's still pretty dead, it's slowly gonna close down

[@paolitna28]

Johnny Grayson i work here too. B&BW.

[@greggirons67]

A couple of episodes of Simon & Simon were shot there. There was a movie theater up on the top floor also. How I remember this mall being always so busy!

[@stressfree9780]

Hey where can I buy over sized shoes ?

[@donaldpump3072]

I never went to that movie theater

[@greggirons67]

@@donaldpump3072 I remember seeing "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" there ... Gives a timeframe for when it was a busy and popular mall ... 👍

[@donaldpump3072]

@@greggirons67 I regret not watching a movie there. I remember it being packed back in the early 2000s

[@greggirons67]

@@donaldpump3072 It was a nice theater as well as the mall itself ... Sad what became of it ...

[@aortaplatinum]

I absolutely adore how this place looks. The architecture hits so close to deep parts of my very early childhood psyche, my mother taking me to various 80s architecture-packed malls and through downtown areas on days where there was nothing to do. It's ethereal to me, it presents a melancholic feel, a soulless beauty. Other dead malls, sure, I'd like to visit, but FUCK. I would love to be here.

Imagine if it gets turned into apartments like a mini town. Could you see yourself living in it perhaps.?

[@aortaplatinum]

@ Hell yeah!

[@andrestnt]

San Diegan here one of the best looking and unique malls in the country sad to see it go.

[@BellasAdventures420]

I need to be honest. I watched this video 2 times all ready. I think it a very interesting place. It reminds me of something you would see in a Dr. Seuss book. With all the colors and all the different kinds of shapes. It really does fit into the city.

[@Helvetica_Scenario]

The design of this place definitely goes back to the days before the internet. This mall is interesting to look at at, but clearly a pain to navigate. It's all about convenience now when it comes to shopping, because the competition is online and means people can get anything delivered. People don't use these places to congregate anymore, so counting on that aspect to get you foot traffic isn't going to work.

[@peanutismint]

I live in the UK but have been to this mall and would probably say that even though they missed Ray Bradbury's vision of getting "safely lost" they nailed the 'getting lost' part pretty well....! I'd definitley echo other commenters who've said they felt 'disoriented' by this mall. I felt like I could see everything I wanted to get to but couldn't easily GET to it, what with all the weird levels and MC Escher-esque stairways etc. It just became a kafkaesque nightmare and I ended up having to leave and go sit in a Starbucks with my eyes closed because I was getting dizzy just from trying to navigate the place. Nice idea in theory but horrible execution. Despite all that, though, it does make me kind of sad that places like this won't be around for ever.

[@JordanWilliams-ix2td]

LMFAO omggg

[@paolitna28]

Hahahaha

[@user-vi4xy1jw7e]

Dramatic much?

[@2_2_4_3]

Drama queen.. just look at the damn map homie. Geeez

[@YuukitheMighty1]

This mall looks gorgeous.

[@Human-shapedbeing]

They're e tearing it down now

[@deendrew36]

@@Human-shapedbeing really? The whole thing? That is sad!

[@monkeywkeys3916]

@@Human-shapedbeing That's a bummer

[@thelastminmom5251]

It was. It was so beautiful. I remember going a kid. We use to go out to eat at the California Cafe. It was on the top floor. I actually even got my prom dress at this mall. I hate that malls are dying. This one was really special

[@deendrew36]

@@thelastminmom5251 some very bittersweet memories. Thank you for sharing! ❤️

[@sonnydacuse7622]

I live in SD and I didn't realize that it was that DEAD!! 😨😨😨

[@Studio-IV]

Sonny S malls in general are dying

[@froschkoenig666]

hard to believe the Nordstrom shut down... I always remember going there as a kid

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

Destination malls like the Mall of America are an exception to the rule. They tend to attract tourists in other ways, like with the amusement park in the center court, the aquarium with live sharks, fancy restaurants, etc.

[@califdad4]

maybe he did it on a Wednesday morning when no one is out

[@froschkoenig666]

califdad4 He said it was on a Sunday afternoon in the video

[@goldiecaulfield3266]

Thank you for featuring this quirky mall, never seen one quite like it, I'm surprised at how clean and well kept it looked even tho it's on the decline.

[@robfreedman6496]

It was the mall to go to when I was a kid in the 90s!

[@immsr.5580]

Wow. How sad to see this mall die. I was here in the early 2000’s and had fun memories of buying crap from Hot Topic.

[@TrainmasterCurt]

This would be the “Winchester Mansion” of Malls

[@MS-37]

I don’t get how a outdoor mall in the middle of San Diego doesn’t get business.

[@oncekuro8517]

MS 37 horrible parking

[@ryb3198]

MS 37 all our malls here in San Diego are outdoor. Internet shopping is killing malls across America.

[@ryb3198]

MS 37 the other malls besides Horton Plaza are the Mission Valley Mall, the Fashion Valley Mall and the UTC (University Town Center) Mall. All outdoor malls, since our weather is so nice here all year long. Today was 79 degrees in the middle of January lol

[@yessenia7643]

Rykken Beck I’m from San Diego there are a few indoor malls Plaza Bonita, Parkway Plaza and Northcounty Fair

[@ryb3198]

Yessenia none of which are in San Diego. They are in San Diego county but not in actual San Diego.

[@craig0769]

Spent many weekends at Horton Plaza. I guess since we went frequently we had the layout memorized. The parking garage however we could never find the car on the first try. You had to really remember which "fruit" level you parked on. It wasn't frustrating just a quirk we just figured was part of the experience. I feel when Westfield took over every damned mall in San Diego that's when they probably jacked the rent up booting out alot of the smaller funky stores which made it just like any other mall in SD and typical national chains took over. We pretty much switched to shopping at Fashion Valley which had much better stores (and wasn't a Westfield mall). Horton Plaza will be redeveloped supposedly to attract high-tech companies. So many happy memories at Horton Plaza. Sad to see it like this.

[@Roz-90]

This is so cool! One of the more unique malls i've seen on youtube

[@Sula_Mareska]

The "getting lost" aspect, from the mall's standpoint, is actually kind of brilliant. It makes it so you magically discover your new favorite store, and are more likely to make a purchase. Since I've never wandered around this mall, I'm going to give this a win.

[@largol33t1]

This is why I'd love to shop at a mall like this. The architect had his mind in the right direction, it was just executed a bit badly. I'm closest to the kind of shopper he was looking for. When I was a teen, I frequently went to shopping malls on weekends just to wander around and impulse shop at whatever store caught my attention.

[@MasterYoshidino]

The big reason the Horton is dying is that Mission Valley and Fashion Valley have a better selection of stores and anchors. Basically Westfield shot themselves in the foot as at one point many years ago after WotC closed enough smaller stores closed in Mission Valley it was looking bad but it picked back up. Horton is going to be scrapped because Mission stole the business. Downtown SD has AWFUL traffic and people would rather drive less to the other malls than deal with parking and traffic. Target helped save the Mission Valley mall. It reminds me of why Grossmont Center does not seem to ever die even though small stores open and close. It is because of those huge anchors Walmart and Target on opposite sides of the mall.

[@brandonelam4284]

Grossmont and Mission Valley should have died in the early 2000’s. I remember it was so dead. Then they started putting money into it.

[@froschkoenig666]

IT'S been FOREVER since I've been to this mall. Thanks for covering it, great vid!!

[@VidGirl88]

Next week, on "When architects attack: Help! My customers can't find my store!". Sometimes less is more.

[@joepena5771]

Great comment!

[@JD-dq8zn]

😑

[@marcosorduno9203]

I would advertise that fine my store if u can. Some of those spots be great for resturants

[@aaronmcdaniel7868]

As a native San Diegan, I saw the birth and death (it's not dead yet, but definitely in hospice care) of this mall. It was the single driving force to revitalize downtown and was the reason the area is so great today. Years ago it was a destination for tourists and locals. It had great stores, places to eat and you could park there cheaply and walk to other places close by. It was kinda weird and quirky (parking level names, paint colors, architecture, etc) but that was it's charm, no other mall was like this. But with all the retail consolidation and general dying of brick and mortar stores, the mall started to decline. My perception of Westfield is that they still operate in the heyday of retail when they could demand high rents in popular locations. There are many malls in San Diego that are thriving today, so it's not just malls in general that are dying here. The owner just hasn't kept the place as a destination - it seemed that years ago there started to be no reason to go there. The parking policy changed, the stores turned over quickly, were not replaced or were replaced with less desirable ones while the area around it continued to grow and improve and the mall never kept up. Sad to see it dying, but maybe it's time for a nice mixed-use facility that has retail and condos or a hotel? Something to replace the dead retail here and make the location desirable again. I don't know the answer, but I do know it's time for the mall to go.

[@JaredJonesAZ]

The silver lining is in some ways I feel like the mall has served its purpose, for three decades it was beloved by architecture critics and mall goers. Given the value of the land it's on, it's inevitable that it will transform into several things over time

[@jackjohnson7396]

Used to go there, pretty dead now. Downtown San Diego basically sucks.

[@2fyedarrin]

Thanks for making these videos, this stuff actually does matter a lot, more so In the near and far future but also present day thanks again man

[@tk421dr]

This is where I bought my first PlayStaion and Final Fantasy 7 at that GameStop! And had to come back later for a memory card lol. At the time I was REALLY into MC Escher and this mall made me feel like I was in a Escher art piece. As a young teen I traveled hours out of my way just to shop here. Spent my first pay check from my first job here ever on Van shoes. Had no idea about the suicides and murders. I remember ice skating with a girl I dated just outside of the mall across the street. this mall got 16 year old me laid. I think what killed the mall was Westfeild charging customers, even mall visitors, for parking. Last I was there I was charged for parking even though I shopped at the mall, thats bullshit. If I won the lotto I would buy this mall and charge patroons a percent of their sales plus utility usage (ie electric, water/sewage, and internet). This is too important to just let die, but westfeild doesn't care, its all about money. Also, if you get lost in Horton Plaza, then good, that's the plan! Its an amazing place to get loss at. Also, awesome movie theater here.

[@1212Artemis]

Great comment! Speaking of Westfield, they started charging customers for parking at the UTC mall recently as well. So greedy!

[@raulztests]

I work at the Mad House Comedy Club at the top. It's really weird seeing everything close down around us. Including Nordstrom and Taco Bell. I have no idea how the hell we're still open either, just by the owner's sheer will. Also just some clarification, that shooting didn't happen inside the club, we're just the only thing open on that side. Happened closer to the barber shop.

[@AwesomeBrony]

I think that's closed now I Believe? I just went to the mall last night and it was all vacant. Just only a few shops open.

[@boab1980]

I visited this mall in 2013 and was still pretty busy. Nowhere near as many empty stores. This is really sad to see it like this

[@largol33t1]

Well, I used to shop at a mall in Texas called Vista Ridge and it went downhill even quicker than this one. In Texas, it's oddly caused by people thinking malls are a 'fad.' Every time a new mall opens up, they abandon the most popular one and flock to the newer one. That location is Stonebriar Center in Frisco, which is booming right now. But trust me, Texans have verrry short memories. Once another megamall opens up (doesn't matter what city!), Stonebriar will suffer big time and turn into a dead mall even though it has everything from a movie theater and California Pizza to the only book store around for miles and miles. Stonebriar is living on borrowed time for sure.

[@letsparty132]

Update: Mall is closing, becoming office space

[@sandiegofilm4923]

letsparty132 stupid idea

[@hillyhills2787]

Yes!!! Haven’t watched in a few months so happy u did this mall!!! Been waiting for it and requested at some point!

[@kuyabillromjue6892]

I Like It !! It is Architecturally Fun with the changes in Style and Textures. Kinda sad it is dying, this would be a place to go just for some walking and people watching. I enjoy your videos and the music tracks you use as well. I like the fact that you plug the titles and artists too.

[@CoreycantCutit]

When I lived in SD in the early 2000’s HP was jumping !

[@cringearoni5]

I live around the area and time and my friends were mall rats and a couple of years back we went to this mall because it was the only mall we went to. My friends were peeved that the mall didn't have many stores and thought the mall sucked but I actually thought the mall was beautiful and I do remember getting lost with a purpose. When I went there, the Nordstrom was open and it was around December and there was a skating rink outside the mall. I remember some vacant stores but not a whole lot. I also had no idea about the deaths that happened there. It's really sad to see this mall be this dead. Even though I went here just that one time, it's one of the more memorable malls I've been to.

[@m.alexanderzagorski2438]

Kudos to the producer of this KZbin footage! Your analysis was quite comprehensive in my estimation.

[@Zynyster]

Wow! This is Awesome! Thank you for showing this amazing Mall! and plus, I love the music too :)

[@TightyWhiteyTrash]

I've watched all your videos of malls in Arizona! Love them! Thanks for doing one in my home state!

[@whitespyder9]

I remember going to this mall after Comic-Con in the early 2000s, and it was PACKED. It was the first time I ever had P.F. Chang’s.

[@sandiegofilm4923]

Ben Tapia you’re talking about mission valley mall where of Chang’s is

[@jeffmicklos]

@@sandiegofilm4923 lol thats fashion valley, cmon.

[@rsanque]

Thank you for documenting this mall and posting this video. Lived in SD my whole life and spent a good portion of my youth going to this mall because my buddy was a manager at the UA theater there. Didn't know about all the deaths...pretty creepy. One interesting tidbit - Panda Inn, a favorite restaurant of my Wife and I, recently closed here and, the folks working at the restaurant painted a picture of mall management trying to drive away customers and tenants. My best guess is that this mall will soon be torn down or repurposed into condos or apartments. So sad because I love/loved going to this mall. I have strong memories of when it was super-super busy. Thanks again. Love the channel...keep up the great work!!!

[@graceenstine1486]

I used to love the Nordstrom’s that was at the top of this mall. My grandma and I would eat at the cafe, which had a really cool view. I also would come here to see movies, it sucks the mall looks so empty

[@DanielDavis1973]

For some reason this mall is giving me a "night of the comet" vibe.

[@fijiplus]

I loved how you tagged this as vaporwave, makes me feel like I’m listening to mall soft

[@allstar930]

Great video! Sad to see it's a dead mall but stoked that you are out there capturing these awesome places for posterity. I was in the Navy in the '90s and lived at Horton Plaza (and PB and OB). I saw Friday at the movie theater there and bought my copy of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness at the Horton Plaza Sam Goody when it dropped.

[@SkyvatorProductions]

You should go down to El Paso, TX and film at Sunland Park Mall. That mall started to decline ever since Macy's closed. I was there over a week ago and boy was it dead empty. They even added a glass elevator just to try to attract more people to save it from dying.

[@ariannaandjordan]

I go to Horton Plaza about once a year or so/whenever I'm in the area. I sometimes forget how empty it is until I see an outside perspective of it. I was at the mall about a month before you were in this video actually, and while there I noticed that the Sanrio had closed in the year since I had last been there. The best stores in the mall are definitely the comic book store and used book store, but unfortunately, they're so far out of the way (especially the book store), that most people either don't know that they're there, or aren't willing to make the trek. (and you're absolutely right, it's a very confusing layout)

[@paolitna28]

Jordan Lemus omg the Sanrio :(. What yr did that close?? Last time i went there was in 2000. The sanrio. I took my baby boy and we took pics on a thing they had and it was little strikers. Picture stikies. Hes now 18 :( he was months old.

[@molliek1079]

22:22 that was the best part of the mall, bath and body, pac sun, Victoria’s Secret and vans. As a person born and raised in San Diego, this mall has so many emotions and memories for me. At the top it was the “Panda Inn” which was panda expresses’s “fine dining” counterpart. You had the moving theatre and everything. I’m 27 and it breaks my heart. I remember going to this mall all the time as a kid. Wow I sound lame but it’s such a bummer that it was torn down.

[@wacky6136]

One of the most beautiful mall I have seen. Thanks for the video.

[@helensandoval809]

This mall is hella haunted. My dad used to work here in the late 90’s and he saw a little boy walking pass him into an employee hallway and so he went to tell the little boy he couldn’t be there but when he turned into the hallway there was no one there. He would also hear these big industrial chains that weighed a lot move when no one was anywhere near the chains. He has more stories but I can only really remember these at the moment

[@Ice_Solid]

I was waiting for you to do this

[@christianrea9834]

I just watched this. I was in the Navy stationed at Balboa Naval Hospital and used to go to this mall every weekend. It was great!! Thank you. Brought back some memories.

[@tamarawalker8973]

I love that mall, the colors, the winding corners, the way the storefronts are all different. I love the idea of getting lost there, but not really lost, just a little turned around. There's no chance, I'll ever be in California, so thanks so much for the tour. I really hope they can make something cool out of it, when it closes.

[@paolitna28]

tamara walker i work here and rumor is the mall has been bought and willl condos. :( just sad

[@arcticfox04]

Some reason I love watching video's of dead malls. Awesome video for sure. I know in New Jersey there's a couple.

[@1984petrus1]

One of the most original malls I've ever seen, really unique and thanks for sharing it with the world.

[@sonicmoremusic1]

Great video, loved the music

[@dmoneyhustler1486]

So beautiful, love the design!!

[@mr.manfredjensenjen7294]

Great video! Gonna miss that mall. Years ago FAO Schwartz, Warner Bros. Studio Store, 2 level Sam Goody and Disney store were there along with some cool one of a kind stores. Not sure what happened because that place you to be always busy. More and more high rise condos are being built so it’s not like the people aren’t there.

[@MG-jv7pe]

This brings back so many memories of my youth in the 90s. It was so gorgeous and busy back then. I hope it does well as a new office/tech hub

[@n0isyturtle]

That's some really fun and captivating architecture. I'd of loved this place as a kid.

[@schwinnguy]

That clock is gorgeous! I'd go there just to see that. Plus the architecture and the Ray Bradbury connection clinches it.

[@andrewschmitz9707]

My friend Jackie lived in San Diego, and one challenge urban malls face is the nearness of a large shopping population. To be fair so much is going on from Covid to frankly people worried about unrest in general, but this mall is intriguing.

[@jwoolery99]

I love that aesthetic bit around the late 5 minute to 6 minute mark with the CRT and Windows 98, perfectly fitting in the video, haha

[@hiridavidfeign]

Fascinating. Thanks.

[@carolhensley9060]

I think mall life in general these days is disappearing. What used to be a way of life in mid seventies and eighties started dwindling in the nineties. Enjoy these tours of old malls. Great for future generations to see.

[@tristanwoodmansee477]

I love the architecture of this mall even with its sad history. Glad you got a chance to get to this location. They are now supposed to be turning it into a tech center. I wanted Sal to see this too!!

[@nealburgner8816]

Thanks for the awesome music.

[@Oni_Teeth]

You're like the western US version of Dan Bell. Very awesome video.

[@colormedubious4747]

I photographed this mall extensively in 2005 and thought it would be the LAST mall in America to die. It has many advantages most malls lack. It's not a hideous box of stores floating on a sea of asphalt. It's interesting to look around and fun to wander around. It's in the heart of downtown in one of America's truly great tourist cities. It's only a few blocks from Seaport Village, the convention center, a few trolley stops, and other attractions. Redevelopment SHOULD (but probably won't) include conversion of the top level into high-end residential units, addition of sports and entertainment facilities, and more park-like public spaces on the ground level.

[@Nirrrina]

This would be a really great place to be redesigned into multiple functional places. Expensive place to live, food, shopping, entertainment, exercise while wandering around. I would love to live there to.

[@MsAngrybutterfly]

I agree. It would be awesome if they did what they did with The Arcade in Providence Rhode Island. Even though The Arcade is from the 1800s and this is from the 80's the fundamentals are really similar; they are both downtown malls with a lot of natural light and have always had trouble keeping retail on the upper floors.

[@carolyn6689]

Wow!So crazy...I saw the title and clicked cause it reminded me of an awesome outdoor mall I went to a few times when I was in San Diego,I didn't think it really was that one..but it is.😅🤦.I was in the Coast Guard at the time "1992 or 93"🤔and our ship was there for the week.Me and A few shipmates went to see the original Jurassic Park in the movie theater.I loved taking the stairs and sitting on those benches.Looking out from the balconies too were really cool.I hope they don't close it down for good.Nice video,brought back so many memories.❤👍🏻

[@alistair4909]

While it's retail life may be dead it's artistic ideas will be able to live on and inspire people for years to come hopefully now that it's been so nicely recorded and archived. This video really took me on a journey. :)

[@andyjay729]

Based on a Ray Bradbury story about getting "safely lost somewhere"; well, that explains it. People only like getting "lost" in fully recreational places like parks, museums, and libraries (well, I do anyway); not so much when they're trying to find a store or their gate at the airport (looking at you, Charles de Gaulle).

[@ryb3198]

davdaven omg so true!😂😂😂I remember that elevator by Nordstrom was slow af!

[@crystalbluepersuasion3897]

So true! I forgot about those slow elevators!

[@theden0minat0r]

Aww man! I was stationed in San Diego for a time, and Horton Plaza was always a destination when downtown. It's a landmark, the place is MASSIVE. If you needed anyone to pick you up all you had to say was pick me up at Hoton plaza and everyone knew where it was. I saw Spider-man 2 and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets here. Too bad that the mall is not doing well. There used to be a Planet Hollywood where we would eat next door (was it connected? can't remember now). There was the first Virgin Megastore that I had ever been in. It was HUGE. Books, music, videos, video games, memorabilia galore. As a mall itself I thought it strange that there were so many levels with so many stairs and the food court on top. Only in California. So many great memories there.

[@largol33t1]

Brad, thanks for sharing your memories among all the negative comments. A mall I used to frequent in Oklahoma (Penn Square) is doing okay but crime from the neighborhood next door is a big problem now. Sadly the crime seems to be spilling into the mall itself. Even the town I live in right now has a dying 2-story mall and basically the entire second floor is vacant! Not even 7 years ago, it was thriving. I guess laziness and online shopping will eventually destroy what is left of the nation's shopping malls. I frequently went to the malls on weekends when I was a teen and it was PACKED in and this was in the early to mid 1990s. Heck, even finding a parking spot was a challenge and I had to sit idling while waiting for someone to pull a car out of the garage.

[@christinacope562]

I loved Virgin Music stores, thanks for the flashback. All malls nationwide seem to be dying, maybe overbuilt. Then along came the big box stores, now internet shopping.

[@jhonrutger3508]

I too used to be stationed in the Sandieago area (north island nas) Im surprised to hear this seems like recent news to me

[@rojorohr4723]

I used to love to go there when I was a kid, and now that I see your video I’m trying to remember when was the last time I went there; around 9-10 years maybe.

[@YoursTrulyMrsMoores]

My heart jumped when I saw this episode. Lived in San Diego for a handful of years, and really miss it! Didn't do much shopping at this mall, but would go to walk around. When I first showed up in 2015, the food court was still pretty lively. Guess I didn't realize how quickly it went downhill

[@azhaircountess9798]

What a cool place! I love all the tile work and crazy architecture. I wonder if this is where guy tang hangs out with his clients in some of his hair videos

[@MarquisDeSang]

Watching this because Dan Bell is sleeping on the switch in a dirty motel.

[@mercedeshernandez3285]

MarquisDeSang DEADASS

[@Idelia412]

I agree as I used to watch all Dan Bell videos of malls. Dirty motels to me is a low for him.

[@Wingnutcaseman]

Dan rarely does mall videos now. For whatever reason he has chosen to separate himself from the mall fan community in general. Anthony of Ace’s Adventures in particular really had problems with him.

[@erihitsuki]

I actually enjoyed his dirty motel room videos. He is slowing down even on those now. :(

[@commentbot9510]

I like both

[@Pellbort]

My fantasy would be to convert one of the dead stores to a living space and make it my home. Think about what an amazing place that would be to live in...

[@waterandafter]

I was just going to turn this on till I found a better video. But I'm glad I stuck with this. The mall is amazing.

[@Habu12]

Wow, this video just stirs so many emotions for me. I half grew up in San Diego. By that I mean I had family there, and spent a lot of time with them. It wasn't until recently that I lived there. And it was quite a different experience. It's a city I hate to love.. At any rate, the last time I was here, back in 2015-ish, it was still the vibrant mall that I remember growing up. Seeing it like this is pretty gutting. Especially since it collapsed so recently. I loved the design, and was one of the fortunate that didn't get lost. I've just always had good spatial orientation, and understood architecture. Which is why I appreciated the design. Coincidentally, did you happen to visit Plaza Bonita?

[@spiritualsandy]

Good recommendations plaza bonita ❤

[@alexisb8318]

I live near here, thanks for documenting this mall!

[@TheDeluche]

It was still pretty popping around 2012-2013 which was the last time I was ever there. Didn't realize it went downhill...

[@sandiegofilm4923]

Even 2014-2015 because I lived down the street

[@matthewbaez2723]

Ahh the sailors weekend meet spot before hitting those bars.

[@hillyhills2787]

I remember fao schwatz being where the comedy club is now. There also was an awesome Chinese food restaurant right next to it. Wow times have changed. And the food court row used to always be super packed. Such a shame.

[@ryb3198]

Hilly Hills funny cuz fao Schwartz brought me to this video. I was looking to see if there was any old footage of the fao in Horton plaza. That store was so awesome! So many great memories in this mall

[@paolitna28]

OMG YESS! THE CHINEESE FOOD! Somebody said it was a PF changs but it wasnt right? Lol. I remeber going to that Chinese restaurant w my mom in 1995

[@whitespyder9]

paolitna28 I remember it being a P.F. Chang’s when I went there back in 2001

[@the_andrew]

Holy cow, I was just there yesterday and...well, compared to what exists now, what I see in this video looks bustling. Since the mall's fate has been sealed, it's become so much more of a ghost town of empty storefronts. Fascinating to see such a rapid decline in not even 18 months.

[@adamwelsch7308]

thank Amazon for this

[@gigidrb]

I remember this mall when it was alive, it was so cool, such a different experience

[@bsherman8236]

I like how every area looks so different

[@aob505]

Cool video. I actually got to visit this mall on my last trip to California 4 years ago. I took quite a few pictures when I was there because I thought it had an interesting look.

[@rhiana7166]

wow that's an amazing mall! But San Diego is beautiful in general. i've been binging your channel for hours now. I'm a california valley girl, grew up in the local mall. It isn't like it used to be but luckily it's not as bad as any of these that you've shown.

[@sjntube]

As a permanent Phoenix resident, I used to love heading to San Diego to get out of the heat and Horton Plaza was always on the list. I haven't been there in quite a few years but the main thing I seem to remember is the parking garage. The level markers were fruits & vegetables. Level one was tomatoes, two grapes, three lemons etc.... LOL!. For some strange reason, I always loved the unique Walgreens on the bottom floor. A strange stainless steel facade of the place. I know this was filmed 5 years ago, I hope it's still there!

[@darktetsuya]

wow the design of that mall, craziest thing I've ever seen!

[@robertjackson2913]

When I was stationed in SAN DIEGO, we would always go there. It was 1994, and very busy!