What Happened to the BACK TO THE FUTURE MALL | ABANDONED?! | Puente Hills Mall Walkthrough

[@Pead_Dool]

I used to be a security guard there back in 2017. It was somewhat lively and seeing it slowly becoming abandoned made me sad cause I remember back in the day I used to go to toys r us and the pet shop around there.

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

The mall had so much potential and promise! At my time, I remember it was buzzing with people and packed all the time. I remember seeing skater kids just hanging around. Then it just slowly dissipated 😞

[@CesarManiaX]

I remember going to that mall during my childhood, that mall was always full back in the day. Those were the days

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

💯 I remember when malls were the place to be at. Window shopping and just relaxing

[@sophiavalladares3123]

Same

[@CookVinStyle]

Sad state of affairs for a once destination mall. I actually worked there in 1982. Thanks for the memories David!

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

Really?! It has potential to be great, but don’t know what happened to the remodel

[@natenay5730]

@@AdventurezwithDavid i think it's because there's a mall close by called west covina mall.

[@john_i39]

This is so sad, I used to go there a lot back in 2009-2013.

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

It was truly the place to be at, I remember seeing skater kids lounging about and this mall hustling and bustling. Still remember millers outpost was the go to place.

[@simplespider2310]

I grew up down the street from this mall i used to be 1 of those skater kids and i gotta say watching this video legitimately made me sad. This mall was a big part of a lot of our child hoods hanging out here was the best. Sad to see it like this ​@AdventurezwithDavid

[@plutoplatters]

OMG !! back when there was Dinosaurs

[@ezragonzalez8936]

it's just so sad! I met my girlfriend there my high school sweetheart in 2006 that mall used to be packed to the brim on weekends! 1st it was amazon and the pandemic was the nail on the coffin for so many malls and now even brick and mortar stores pretty soon everything will be online only shopping! cheers from Park City Utah!

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

Thank you for watching and I am starting to see that trend happening around.

[@victoriakelly8989]

I worked there at the Broadway in the 70's. I was in college as were many of the people that worked there. It was a wonderful first job, and I met people that I remember to this day. This makes me really sad to see. Oh well, in my memory at least, this place will remain shiny and new.

[@noirainn]

Couple interesting things. They just opened a Guitar Center right outside. The AMC and Round 1 keep the mall going. If you go online and search up the mall and renovation. There’s a whole template talking about the expansion of the Puente Hills mall. Something is brewing in my opinion.

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

Hoping not apartments. You are right AMC and Round 1 are holding it up at this point. I was talking with a friend and I’d love to own the puente hills mall entrance sign if they ever close it.

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

Or the yellow guard rail that was in the movie 🍿

[@noirainn]

@@AdventurezwithDavid yeah me too. But it’s kinda weird that Guitar Center decided to open a spot right outside. These business do a lot of in depth work so they don’t waste their money opening a new store. But honestly it’s a 50/50. Puente Hills mall is definitely up in the air. Super weird.

[@sit2go]

I think I figured out the Problem. Earlier I asked who owned Puente Hills Mall. Because Google and Wikipedia were not helping. I dig some digging at the Malls website. They are owned by a Company called “BP International”. Looking at their website they are a commercial brokerage firm. They own properties mostly around the SGV area. They own several in Puente Hills. Point is they are not really Mall owners. They own commercial properties and lease the spaces out to third parties. Puente Hills Mall is the only Mall they own in fact. So that basically says it all. They are not Mall operators like Westfield is. They are just Landlords. That explains why Guitar Center decided to put the store outside. BP International is not going to get people into the Mall. There is really no reason to put it in there. I don’t think this mall is making a comeback until they get new owners

[@AJFrancisco831]

😢OMG... What happened? I remember that mall when I was there in 2002...so sad that today it's closing.

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

Not closing yet, but it is holding on my a thread 😔

[@plutoplatters]

"Bezos" is what happened.

[@marisa13980]

I bought my first pair of expensive shoes at Robinson's at this mall. I used to go there in the late 70's with my mom quite often because she loved this mall even though we lived in claremont, and it was a drive. One time, we were walking on the bottom floor by The Broadway near the center by the escalators, when I heard glass breaking. I remember taking a few steps back because my mother walked slower than I did and as I was looking at her, all of a sudden people were a gaso! As I looked to see what was happening, a man fell through the skylight all the way to the bottom floor! He only fell probably a hundred feet from me! I heard his flesh hit the floor and saw blood. The man didn't scream..At first, I thought it was a joke, but it wasn't. Needless to say, I was traumatized and was crying my eyes out! People all over the place were crying and screaming. My mother held me. We left when I was able to compose myself. That trauma was enough to send me home from work that night. I will never forget this mall and I'm saddened at what has happened to it. For a while there, it looked like it had been turned into an Asian Mall. Chinese writing and signs all over the place. I bet it's just an investment now or a tax write-off.

[@wickedjourney]

I used to go there back in the day, and that was the mall that you went to. It was a one stop place to get everything that you needed. Then they had a little gang activity there and people stopped going. At least I did. So sad to see a piece of history go down. But I guess the owner most likely stop caring about it and the stores just decided to leave. Oh Well! Great Coverage, David! 😀

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

Didn’t know about the gang activity and I can see them stop caring about stores. Thank you for watching and we will hope to see what the future has in store for Puente Hills Mall.

[@ShaShaLuva414]

I’m not surprise that this Mall has been abandon. I saw this happening maybe 6 years ago. I remember when this mall was small and when they did a complete renovation of this Mall and now look at it.

[@Crossfirepyro2]

Wow, so sad. It’s happening everywhere. That era is going away. especially when the mall is movie history😢

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

I loved the movie Mallrats and Jay and Silent Bob made me love movies so much

[@johnbehneman1546]

GREAT VIDEO DAVID. TAHNK YOU SO MUCH.

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

Thank you and glad you enjoyed the video. Miss the early days of the mall

[@AVEXentSUCKS]

I took advantage of the 2 BigMacs for $5 deal at the McDonald’s back when they were open. This mall has always been kinda depressing to visit for me. I only went there for the Round 1 arcade which is the busiest section of the entire mall up to this day. On a Friday night the mall is dead but the arcade is bustling.

[@b9bryan]

Damn, used to go there in college. No more..

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

It was such a nostalgic go to place. Today it’s just a place to work out and sit down. Not too many places to shop.

[@squashhead1374]

It’s sad to see these places that hold so many memories fading away.

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

Especially now that a new LLC owns it

[@verynostalgicgamer]

i live in city of industry, was born in 2012, but i know that since i can remember that every Friday i would go there with my siblings, and would go on the train that would ride around everyday. Those were the good days Edit: i just went there today, and explored nostalgia from my childhood, finding out they are going to renovate it. I am a little bit happy that they are renovating it, but it will be sad, considering i would never see my childhood mall the same ever again.

[@onelovek5]

That was my mall as a kid. I was born 84. my fav memory's as a kid is going there for a old fashion ice cream then going to show boat down the street. but yea I feel like its only still there cause of back to future. The mall is Dead there but around the mall has been getting better more shops in the parking lot then in the mall

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

Outside of the mall I think is what’s saving it but it’s so desolate inside. Really saddening to me

[@TrinhNguyen-sh4fj]

This is so sad! I am shocked that it is still open as it is deserted. I heard it is because there are 2 other malls close by and they can’t compete with them. I think this mall will be abandoned completely soon. What a pity since this looks like a nice mall.😢 I think malls will make a comeback as online has many limitations.

[@ericpatterson5050]

OMG! I never knew where the mall was!! Love Back to the Future and miss Alllll the old School 80s Malls!!🎬👁😥😥🕺🏽👍🏼😊💜🍕

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

You need to go scope this out. My fond memories came back walking around

[@LisaGriffin-sh1tg]

I have gine to the Mayfair mall in Milwaukee when i was a kid/child. Its still operational.

[@ricardokim544]

Too much sadness, my first visit is 1986.

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

Oh wow 😮 that’s when it had potential

[@tbx59]

I go to the AMC once in a while and it's sad how empty the Twin Pines Mall is.

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

😔 AMC is truly what’s keeping the mall running but it’s more a facade to what is really happening around

[@sophiavalladares3123]

I’m gonna miss it my childhood mall I always used to go there

[@sophiavalladares3123]

I went there today there’s only like 2 or 4 stores open

[@edgarsaenz1565]

they should keep this mall as a museum

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

💯 that would be incredible. If they are able to they could mock up the past of Puente Hills Mall so you can walk through a relic of the past

[@sit2go]

Like many others I used to go to this mall especially when I was a teenager. I was actually there last week because I needed to use the restroom 😂. But yeah it’s empty. Who owns this mall? Because the other malls in the SGV area not even this bad. Its closest competition is the Wes Covina Mall and that place is still active and visited regularly by locals. There has got to be a real reason other than pandemic or stores leaving. Whoever owns it just doesn’t seem to care. If thats the case then should sell it to someone who will try. Also the city Puente Hills is a lively city not some abandoned ghost town. It has a big asian and latino community. Me and my family always go to the area if we are craving Korean BBQ. So something is definitely not right.

[@tylerthompson520]

Dang I wish there was a way to revive that mall anybody have any ideas how?😊

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

It all depends on how much rent is there and if there are willing to revive it.

[@seanlewis1148]

My hometown mall.

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

Really hoping the owner puts money into refurbishing this mall or get a new owner.

[@jvargas6034]

Imagine If The Puente Hills Mall Permanently Closed?

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

It wouldn’t shock me if that happened, wish if it did happen it would turn into a museum

[@jvargas6034]

@@AdventurezwithDavid I Agree With You. They Should Turn This SoCal Mall Into The Back To The Future Museum With All The Props From The Movie If This Mall Permanently Closes

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: FERRARI RETAIL LOCATION.

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: RETRO 80S ARCADE

[@LisaGriffin-sh1tg]

It looks creepy and scary 😮.

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: MALL SECUITY SUBSTAION UPGRADE.

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: VICTORIAS SECRET AND VICTORIAS SECRET PINK

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: OAKLEY SUNGLASSES

[@80sCrazyCatDadNGunAddiction]

You told all those thousands of customers you were making a video, so they left.

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: BOUDIN BREAD COMPANY

[@serfdude2025]

This mall has been gone since the late 90’s.

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: MALL GIFT SHOP.

[@JoseReyes-bg4vo]

Mall was more popular than west Covina mall

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: JAMABA JUICE

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: POLICE SUBSTATION UPGRADE

[@bryanphan4604]

No body a close a ghost town

[@AdventurezwithDavid]

Truly is a ghost town 👻

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: OLD NAVY

[@rustyshackleford3868]

I worked at an Old Navy at a different location nearby and was sent to the Puente Hills mall Old Navy to move all the inventory out to their current location on Colima. So they arent ever going back to the Puente Hills Mall...

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: OPEN TO ANY BRAND

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: BODY GLOVE SWIMWEAR

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: IN -N -OUT BURGER

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: CHIPTOLE

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: STARBUCKS

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: PANDA EXPRESS

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: HOT WHEELS

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: RETRO PLANET.

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: BARBIE

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: TARGET

[@richardsequeirateixeira]

There is already a Target about 0.3 miles away

[@LisaGriffin-sh1tg]

Someone could hide and come out and frighten you too right? Just asking. Or spirits come out at night 😅😂😂.

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: TRADER JOES

[@johnbehneman1546]

SHOPPING MALL RENISANCE!!!!!!