Wyoming Valley Mall, a 1970's Relic in Wilkes-Barre, PA Partially DEAD MALL

[@explore.evermore]

2024 UPDATE: I went to this mall on 5/14/24 and it's currently looking good and bad. There is a new Mexican food vendor in the small food court which had several people eating when i was there so that's great! Also, several of the popular store fronts were upgraded to the more modern versions and gave the mall a brighter outlook and hope! Otherwise, it was still mostly dead, many closed store fronts and a huge portion of the interior wall was also closed! Maybe something is coming? I'll keep you guys updated!

[@roseannepryor7220]

I worked at Yinglings Ice Cream in 1974. Wyoming Valley Mall

[@explore.evermore]

WOW! How cool. Thanks so much for sharing. Love that mall and I hope it’s doing well!

[@lamper2]

It had a GREAT bar, Barrels,Whiskey& Rhyme which was OPEN SUNDAYS! Very big deal at the time(70's)

[@explore.evermore]

Wow! This mall is just the epitome of what malls were in the 70’s and 80’s. I’m truly amazed by this mall, it brought back so many memories for so many people. 😁

[@piggyroo100]

Great ham sangwich there

[@SusanChristmas]

Used to go to Peking Chef they had the best egg rolls

[@ReticentDuet]

A few fun little tidbits for context: - The Crépes Paris was an Arby's for decades. It was one of the last of the OG food court places to leave. - The "secluded hallway" you found in the food court is a relatively new addition. That whole area was open seating when the food court was fully populated. - One of the other places you walked by in the food court ("From the City?") used to be Dino's Pizza. If memory serves, it was under different ownership from the one at the other end of the mall. The one in the JC Penney wing always had excellent Sicilian pizza. - Orange Julius was originally in the location where Kay's Jewelers was most recently (to the left of the Sears entrance) - The arcade started out as an Aladdin's Castle. Spent a LOT of quarters (well, tokens) and hours there. I believe it was bigger inside. - I'm pretty sure Spencer's has been in the same place since the mall opened; if not it opened very soon after - I saw a newspaper clipping from 1974 that showed it in that spot. - The creepy hallway has always been terrifying. Smart move getting out of there quickly.

[@explore.evermore]

Such cool info! Thanks so much. I don’t know why but I absolutely LOVED this mall..💕it just brought back good old mall memories!

[@joeminichowski1554]

Wasn't Aladdin's Castle in a spot where there was an outside entrance to it as well? Like right off to the left of a main entrance?

[@ReticentDuet]

@@joeminichowski1554 Hmm, that's a good question. It's definitely possible that there was an outdoor entrance there, and then closed it down at some point during a renovation.

[@Christmaslightsalesman]

I thought crepes Paris was where McDonald’s was. Hard to tell from the video though. The kitchen looked like McDonald’s, but they were side by side so.

[@TheRupertmcgee]

My local mall! This was really fun to see! I didnt know about that snack machine, i'll have to check it out! Dinos Pizza down the hall near pennys is great, really retro inside! Was surprised you didnt check it out. This was cool!

[@explore.evermore]

I saw all the neon signs and I thought I filmed it! Darn! I guess I was overwhelmed with how awesome this mall was! 😎😍

[@melindah4157]

My husband and I just recently tried to name and locate where all the original stores and restaurants were in that mall. The area around the mall is all built up now with a Target, Walmart, Olive Garden, Lowes, etc. But when the mall first opened, it sat there, on that hill by itself. It was on reclaimed empty mining property. People were amazed that all those stores and places to eat could be under one roof here in our own backyard. My 15-year-old self thought it was the best thing to ever happen. After the Agnes Flood in 1972, the stores in downtown Wilkes Barre and the Kingston area were pretty much destroyed for quite awhile. But there, untouched on that hill, was the mall.

[@explore.evermore]

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

[@SusanChristmas]

When I was young I loved getting cloths from the MERRY Go Round and then an orange Julius

[@reneemerkel7158]

Mattress Warehouse on the corner, that used to be a steak house buffet restaurant, back in the 80s. Across the street from the mall entrance is a McDs, which used to be a Big Boy ( brown haired boy wearing red/white check overalls holding a plate with a burger) A sit down restaurant and the McDs was next to it up the hill (where AutoZone is now located), and continuing up the road, was a Pizza Hut, and a Friendly's restaurant.

[@explore.evermore]

😮😭💕. Love this. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@tomlasusa]

I remember all that from my visits during the summer. There also used to be an arcade just down the road from the Mall called Top Dog I believe. First time I ever saw a video game "table."

[@lulz4lulz]

Didn't someone steal Big Boy?

[@reneemerkel7158]

@@lulz4lulz Yes, the Big Boy was stolen. Back in the late 80s, the old McD had a playground in front of the store. The Ronald McDonald statue was stolen from the playground.

[@SusanChristmas]

I miss long John silvers it used to be so good back in the day

[@reneemerkel7158]

The Orange Julius, notice the red, blue, and yellow tile on the back wall, that used to be Hot Dog on a Stick; they had fresh lemonade. There used to be a record store and Mc Cory's outside of Sears. Looks like the Buffet House is were the movie theater was located.

[@explore.evermore]

Wow!! That’s wild. Thanks for pointing that out😁😎

[@explore.evermore]

Actually found photos of the old cinema that you mentioned! They’re on my Instagram if your curious 😍

[@reneemerkel7158]

@@explore.evermore When you are facing the buffet/cinemas, behind and at the other end of the parking lot is a strip mall. That was the location of Kids R US. Toys R US was on Kidder Street, now Ocean State Job Lot.

[@69carma69]

As a somewhat local (yes from NEPA) this is by far my favorite mall!! I cried when Arby's left the food court. I have so many memories from here over the years. The Chinese buffet is typically my favorite! I am so glad you shared this. It really is so sad to see it so empty. I can remember way back when the bookstores were in the malls.

[@explore.evermore]

The Chinese buffet is a gem. Going shopping and being able to eat a buffet for lunch in a mall? Nostalgia 💕😁

[@msj2]

I came back to this mall recently. I live 2 hours away. Yes, it's a far cry from where it used to be but there is a silver lining. Local shops are more abundant and overall, this mall seems to be in much better shape than my mall, The Exton Mall. I was surprised at all the workers actively keeping this mall clean too. Nostalgia is abound here.

[@blakkat4126]

I shopped that mall countless times when I was a kid and into high school, before I moved from W-B. Joe Nardone's Gallery of Sound was a guaranteed visit every time I went to the Mall. I also learned how to play their brand new video game at the time - Pong.

[@theladycrisis]

this mall may be dying, but it still gets a lot of customers on the weekends! it's super cool you toured this place🖤

[@explore.evermore]

I absolutely loved it! My childhood mall was similar to this in NJ! Thanks so much for watching !💕

[@jesusislord553]

I was w/ the agency that helped refit the Sears around 2003. I almost went to work at the Waldenbooks on the opposite end from the Sears...the Main manager was going to give a good wage, but the Assistant manager said, "NO, you can't do that!" Quite upsetting since id always wanted a job at a bookstore. The last time i was there about 2008, i had just drove up in the parking lot and there was this guy with an old army helmet and big green bag runningup and down between the cars and jets into the main mall entrance. I thought, "Oh Lord, theres about to be a mass shooting!!" So, i scooted right behind him following and trying to get people's attention to watch him. Turns out...he had a bag full of phones and equipment to trade at a store. Everybody was standing there looking at ME. I stopped going after that.

[@explore.evermore]

Thanks for sharing. Actually I do believe this mall did have a shooting recently involving a jewelry store theft……. so that’s a bit ironic!

[@TroutBum303]

Hey I’m going to tour Wilkes barre university for football! Do you have any recommendations of what I should do or what I should stay away from? I go on the 25th I’d love for some advice!

[@explore.evermore]

Hey ! We were actually visiting there as well so we don’t know much about it! 💕

[@TroutBum303]

@@explore.evermore same here as well lol

[@TroutBum303]

@Eric Laino well my mother already paid for flights and hotel smh. Might as well look on the bright side, just touring the University for football

[@TroutBum303]

@Eric Laino good thing I’m not moving there lol we got invited and the tour is free so we are going for experience I guess and for football. Any food recommendations or anything ?

[@lamper2]

@@TroutBum303 When I went here-the team won every game the year before I started and didn't lose until I was a Senior 1971.Legendary coach Rollie Scmidt!

[@lulz4lulz]

Wow, definitely not the same from the days I use to hang out here. Kinda sad, use to be the place to hang out, all the stores were full, and the food court had so many choices.

[@explore.evermore]

yes it's very sad what's happening to these classic vintage malls!

[@Christmaslightsalesman]

I grew up in this mall. I haven’t been back to PA in about 9-10 years and this is far from the bustling mall I loved in the 90s and even 2007-2010s. Bummer. So many stories I could tell, some more incriminating than others.

[@tomlasusa]

During the late 70's to mid 80's I spent MANY summers (and a few holiday seasons) visiting my Great aunt who lived in Wilkes-Barre. And I spent a good amount of that time in the Wyoming Valley Mall. I saw my very first viewing of Star Wars in the the theater there. Over where the food court is now, there used to be huge arcade. Early on it was filled with pinball machines, then it got an 80s upgrade and I spent way too much money playing Dragon's Lair. During the holidays, after visiting Santa, you could head over past the Hickory Farms to find a "reindeer stable" where I suspect they had someone sitting inside to operate the two reindeer heads sticking out, allowing them to interact with people passing by. I remember being very confused by the back area of Spencers (LOL), but would love when my Aunt would take us to get lunch at the luncheonette next to McCrory's. Sometimes my parents would drag me into Pomeroy's to pick up some clothes. But I do remember fondly one year when they had "Darth Vader" and "Chewbacca" make an appearance. It was the following summer after Star Wars was released and the costumes were clearly homemade, but I didn't care (and neither did my Dad, an equally huge Star Wars fan then). When our visit came to an end and we were getting ready to head back home, we'd stop really quick at the bakery (the name eludes me) for a couple of packages of their cinnamon raisin rolls. Oh and special mention goes to the summer that the mall had a real true tent and all circus and sideshow in the parking lot. I got to go up on stage to see the sword swallower up close. Amazing times. Amazing memories.

[@explore.evermore]

Wow 🤩 I can’t tell you how much I love hearing these stories. It definitely solidifies why I do what I do and record and film as much as possible to preserve memories and more! Thank you SO much for engaging with the video. 💕💗👍

[@explore.evermore]

This mall has really brought out alot of memories from viewers and that just makes me so happy. 😁😁

[@pittstonjoma]

Wow, this mall really went downhill. It used to have the best food court and was always packed.

[@explore.evermore]

Yes! I have a video on Wyoming Valley Mall. I also loved that mall! ❤️Here is the link if you want to check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2XSpHWig7ufotk

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

JCP Beauty coming soon? Wow, can’t believe they’re putting any money into any of their stores at this point.

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

The vending machine is the best. I watch videos of all the vending machine options in Japan and China. It’s crazy!

[@foxxyloxx]

Oh man, they remodeled it in the mid ‘00s to be all bright and airy (basically a clone of the Viewmont Mall and Steamtown Mall, the two other local malls). I remember helping my cousin do inventory at Macy’s jewelry section and mourning the old mall while watching the renovation. 💔 In the ‘80s it was dark brown EVERYTHING, wood paneled walls, iirc. The floors were black with gold glitter. The lighting was super dim, which accentuated the neon lights. It was such a magical place to go as a kid.

[@explore.evermore]

Wow! I also explored the Lebanon Valley mall and I found some old wood paneling on the upstairs level of the Boscov’s!! Check out that video ! I could literally smell the wood 😆

[@BlueDahlia006]

So so sad.

[@explore.evermore]

Such a relic of a mall😢

[@josephpolaski5835]

Its too easy to tap on your phone and get anything, even products that you could not get locally. Thats why these malls are dying. 😢

[@explore.evermore]

I know🥲. It’s super frustrating that we all fell into online ordering. Sure it’s convenient but we’ll all be complaining when there are no actual stores left and our only option is online!!

[@Bane_of_the_Moonsea]

Yeah, that’s not why this mall has died. The demographics of wilkes barre have changed drastically. Poverty is rampant in the area now. You can’t sell to people who can’t buy. Go north only a few miles to the Viewmont mall in Dickson city. The demographics there are quite different. The mall is nice and every location is filled.

[@NDTRH]

i dont like that ive been here

[@paddy9449]

I dig that Grooooooovy beat man'

[@explore.evermore]

Sweet. It just felt right for this amazing mall.