I used to go to this mall all the time when I was in college! The Target used to be a K-Mart.

Nice to see that your mom comes with you a lot.

So crazy to see this mall so different , used to be a gamestop and a mom and pop tabletop gaming store in the middle

@sloppyy

8 күн бұрын

tried going to that gamestop last month only to find it didn't exist lmao idk what i expected

If this mall dates to 1978, a roller rink makes sense. Roller skating was white hot in the late 70s in the Disco era. What's wild is that it's still there! (the shoes are squeaking loud and clear while in the quieter parts of the store, but hey... confusing the algorhythm is a good thing. )

@alherch

9 күн бұрын

Went roller skating on the second floor as a kid. Interskate 91

You can definitely hear your shoes squeaking around the 10:05 mark 🤣. Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where George's suit was making the swoosh noise. 🤣 I think we have all had a pair of those shoes at some point.

I used to bring my kids to this mall all the time. I still live in the area but have not been in that mall for years. I remember Friendly's, CVS, Chess King, Thom McAn, Anderson Little, Media Play. I think the Media Play was in that large arcade.

@alherch

9 күн бұрын

I miss Media Play!

Lived 10 minutes from there and havent been there in years! I figured the Umass community was keeping it going!! Usedto go there in the eighties and nineties alot!! They have a walmart right next door and that probably hurt their revenue! Havent been to a movie there in a long time! Nice video, thanks for the memories!

The Cinemas in the Hampshire Mall were originally an AMC 6 theatres. They, along with the 4 cinemas in the former Moutian Farms mall were the only theatres AMC had in all of New England. Then, in 1999, the Showcase Theatres chain went bankrupt, and AMC acquired most of their theaters in the Boston area. As such, they sold the Hampshire Mall theatres to Cinemark and sold the Mountain Farms Mall cinemas to a developer who then tore them down to build a Whole Foods Market.

@LeviRamsey

7 күн бұрын

Showcase (aka National Amusements, controlling shareholder of CBS and Paramount) didn't go bankrupt... The Redstones sold a number of locations around that time to AMC.

@Foxonian

Күн бұрын

@@LeviRamsey I stand corrected.

Lots of memories at this mall. It was the closest mall to where I lived as a child. Regularly went there well into my 20s. Saw countless movies at the theater. It's amazing how one building can have so much impact on your life.

My wife and I had been very confused about JC Penney stilling be around. I learned last year though that they had been bought by Simon and Brookfield; mall companies. I believe the understanding was that if they were to lose another anchor store like JC Penney in their locations it could cause a cascading effect with rents and more stores leaving. So at the moment they are being artificially kept alive by an infusion of cash. Also I was very surprised to learn there are still over 600 stores! My wife and I have been in various JC Penney's over the years and just before Covid they had really hit bottom. The past year seems to have it on the rebound (though probably never back to it's heyday) but will it be around for as long as the Mall owners think it helps their business.

Laser Tag! I remember that from 80s (the cartoons, as well).

TOM! Could you kindly please turn down the volume on your squeaky shoes? People are trying to shop and you’re ruining their desire to spend money. If you can’t control your shoes, I will be calling security! 🚨🚔🤣👟

memories dump since they keep coming out of me as i watch this: me and the homies used to take the b43 here every weekend circa 2010-12. i still think about fuji chen. we would get snacks at the dollar store next to jc penney and sneak them into the movies. at the end of the evening, we would run across the parking lots to burger king and hang out there until the bus came to take us back to northampton

Where the Planet Fitness resides was where thing like a Hallmark Store, a Cards and Collectors Store, a Champs Sports and even a couple of Dollar stores. There was more I'm sure but that's what I remember off hand. Best thing in the mall when I went there on a frequent basis was the Dream Machine. It was a bit smaller than the Eastfield Mall one but still just as good! I also won't forget the Gamestop, the Laser Tag on the upper level next to the roller skating rink, the mysterious old car that was high up next to the cinema back in the 90s and 00s and even the Little Caesar's pizza in the K Mart for a time. The mall will either cease to be or become an entertainment center. Either one wouldn't surprise me at this point.

@xargos

8 күн бұрын

The Dream Machine at this mall once had a temporary VR setup with a Forte VFX1 headset. I remember playing Duke Nukem 3D with it. I don’t think they ever set that up at Eastfield.

My neck of the woods, love this mall

I’m old enough to remember when this mall was built. It’s hard to believe how busy it was back then vs how quiet it is now. It is well maintained, although I agree that the JC Penney exterior is in dire need of repair. Jo Ann’s always puts up their seasonal stuff really early, that’s normal for them. And it’s just about always “on sale”, that’s how they’ve always been. Also, those shiny marble floors make everyone’s shoes squeak I bet. 😂

I use to skate at that rink back in the 80's. Loved that place. I'm actually shocked that it was still there these days. If I remember correctly it was called "Interskate 91" but I'm not 100% sure.

@Ccostly

9 күн бұрын

Yup sure was

@sloppyy

8 күн бұрын

still is, at least as of a year or two ago. the sign is visible in this video at 19:50

Really like the mall, but the lighting seemed dim, which made it look dark in most spots! I like that they added a lot of entertainment places! Another great video; keep em coming!

I visited this mall a LOT back in the 80's. I remember a few places from the past. Where PINS took over used to be a Dream Machine arcade. Just above that, before it became Lazer Tag, was a place called The Pewter Pot, a little coffee shop where you could have a snack and watch shoppers go by. The food court was beautiful then, it had a huge statue/fountain with some greenery and a nice seating area. Across from the Ground Round, where the exit is, there used to be a hairdresser and a furniture shop called The Pine Factory. My mom bought a couch and chair set there. There was a Taco Bell, Subway, and a pizza place in the food court. I could go on, there was lots of changes over the years. Sad to see how far it's fallen, looks like it's the next one to go now that the Eastfield Mall is gone.

Pryimad also owns Holyoke mall as well JC Penney also has a store in holyoke

The mall sure has changed since I last visited! The entrance to the JC Penney takes me back, though.

So cool you got breakfast with Mom! Tell her the Hyundai Kona has the best blind spot sensors. A Fort Washington Way must have if you ask me.

Nice video 😊

The Ground Round without any warning just shut the whole thing down (or so it was said, but independently owned ones still lived on) , forgot the date in 2004. At 6pm on whatever day, the wait staff took everyone's meals away from them, and asked everyone to leave. What they ate before the sudden closures was on the house. The one here must've been an independent one. I literally just looked this stuff up, didn't realize any were still around after the sudden mass closures in 2004.

@tanikokishimoto1604

10 күн бұрын

You take my meal from me, I'll bite.

@Chef_Alpo

10 күн бұрын

Haven't heard that name in a long time. If I remember family history correctly, my sister had her 7th or 8th birthday party there back in 1990 or '91. She ordered plate after plate of scallops of all things (hated the things, the mere scent in the grocery store would cause me to gag) she ate so many that she puked at the restaurant. ...Since we're here... years later the story would get retold with me confused as the one who gorged and purged on the nasty things, but that's absolutely impossible as I would have vomited by the time the second forkful entered my mouth.

Phew. This was my mall for the longest time. It looks so odd now. Pins took up a whole bunch of smaller shop space. I'm glad the theaters are still there. The candy shop thing across from the theaters used to be a comic shop (Bob's Comics, maybe? I'm not sure). It's so weird that Interskate seems to be fine! There were several different comic stores in this mall in the past, I miss Waldenbooks that was there, the Ground Round (so odd seeing them using the bathrooms for the restaurant as mall bathrooms... At least if they're not "closed until further notice"). I don't recall what was there before the Planet Fitness but I think that was another spot that was a bunch of smaller stores. Aceoss the street used to be the Mountain Farms Mall, that also had theaters, which was like a tiny version of the Hampshire Mall, but that got all partially knocked down (or fully, I can't remember exactly) and remade into the large format strip mall for Walmart, etc. It's so odd seeing all the closed up shops too. This used to be THE hub. Apart from the Holyoke Mall.

I believe Dick's used to be an EMS back in the early 2000's

As always great video 👍

I wanted you to go up those stairs to the roller rink! 😊

Despite living in the area, I've only been into the mall a handful of times compared to like Target and the other strip mall stores. I've been to Inerskate 91 most of those times, the other times were for the movie theater and going there for a friends birthday. It wasn't the best mall when just a little bit longer drive could go down to the Holyoke mall. The pizza place is pretty good tho, but besides that my only memories was either eating at the Subway or going roller skating.

@sloppyy

8 күн бұрын

rip sbarro

I believe thats JC Penny's origìnal facade from 1978. I like the retro look.

Tom, your shoes are loud. 😂😂😂 Nice Video.

Media play was the store the mall used to have it was amazing

The store front that is now Planet Fitness was originally a large Hallmark store and then a dollar type store. That entire mall has churned its store fronts numerous times over the years. Perhaps not unlike many other malls. There was a one time another mall next door where Walmart is. The Hampshire Mall did it in.

@definitedoll

8 күн бұрын

That was Mountain Farms Mall, which got done in by Hampshire Mall.

That large arcade was a Media Play for a while - in the 90's. Moondance Comics was located near that Valley Artisans store. That comic store closed early 90's maybe and another comic store opened near the cinemas. The Hampshire cinemas had midnight movies on the weekends including Rocky Horror Picture Show and so many horrible and excellent sci fi and horror movies. I think the Ground Round became another restaurant for a while because I remember going there around 2012 or so. There was a restaurant up stairs where that Skate Shop is now.

I have to say it's a nice looking mall

Bruh, you were spongebob walking around this mall that day lol

I first went into that mall about 25 years ago. It wasn't fully occupied even then. Seems to have always struggled. Like so many malls lately, it looks like they are banking on kids keeping it alive with the types of stores that are leasing. Almost every mall seems to be doing that.

The name of the roller rink is/was Interskate 91.

Thanks!

@fleabittenadventures

10 күн бұрын

Thanks again! I really appreciate it!

I hated JCP (and Old Navy) growing up lol it was always where my mom took us to get clothes. And then she would get herself some clothes. Felt like I would be trapped in there forever.

Total nostalgia here! A lot has changed but the Joann fabrics has remained a steadfast fixture for sure! I used to go in there a long with JCPenney and steigers as a child all the time. Interskate 91 closed for a while but I'm glad to see it's back! There used to be movie theaters under the rink and a food court where I would get orange Julius! And yup that was a ground round for a while! Thanks for the memory jog! Hope you and Mom had fun!

@Ccostly

9 күн бұрын

Also planet fitness was a variety of stores, once Hallmark and a dollar tree, etc.

Our texas mall is the last anchor store is closing our jcpenny i could not believe it i am not sure if our headquarters are in Irving tx but i hope others do not suffer the same fate.Your shoes were so squishy.

I don't believe I've ever seen a bowling alley in a mall before. I like the way it looks with the dark glass. Was hoping you would take a look inside. Over 18k Tom, we're gonna get that collection video yet! 😁

I haven't skated in 30 years or more, so it would be fun to watch me fall on my butt trying.

hi flea bitten adventures the hampshire is a nice small mall & I know you mentioned Buffalo wild wings there is one in chicopee on memorial drive & there used to be a ground round inside the hampshire at the main entrance in the front of the mall but sadly hampshire mall doesn't have much of a food court anymore

JC Penny...and my wife is a distro manager there.. isn't going out of business.. in fact they have reinvested a lot of money back into the store.... JC Penny was Bought out by guess who..>SIMON Malls...so that they could retain them as an anchor store. Don't bet on them going out business for a long time.

@BreakTime10101

9 күн бұрын

What’s it like working there? I’m curious to know what the atmosphere is like.

@definitedoll

8 күн бұрын

Thank you for clarifying this. I was just there last week. My friend and I both purchased some clothes. This JC Penney is a nice store.

This looks very similar to the fate of Kyova Mall in Ashland, Kentucky. It's been repurposed into an entertainment center but you can still see a lot of the old mall guts. It's now called Camp Landing. The old food court was reclaimed as a food court for Malibu Jacks.

Tom, do you venture out to central/western NY? There's a mall I recently went to in Rochester that was interesting - The Mall at Greece Ridge. It was a one story mall, and in the food court is a two story (!!!) carousel. Great vid as usual.

JC Penny has been holding on by a thread from going out of business for years. They could go belly up at anytime.

there's also a empty store front in the back of hampshire mall next to Joanne's fabric but not sure what it used to be

This actually is a pretty cool mall, but it’s sad to see how “empty” it almost feels.

The Cinemark used to be an AMC theater. The Pinz space used to be a Just Fun arcade. The Exotic Smokes used to be a Same Bat Channel comic book store. The Joann used to be a Railroad Salvage store IIRC and across the hall was a Sam Goody record store.

@Luigitime2015

10 күн бұрын

Oh wow that's just fun yes it is the same one I have in 90s early 2000 before it closes in Swansea mall in Massachusetts

@Luigitime2015

10 күн бұрын

Also close 😢 three years ago

@therichard27

10 күн бұрын

No, the AMC theater was actually at Mountain Farms Mall.

@FishDS9

10 күн бұрын

@@therichard27 perhaps but it was definitely at Hampshire Mall before Cinemark went in.

@Foxonian

10 күн бұрын

Railroad Salvage was actually next to Jo An Fabrics in the space where the All In Adventure place is now. Fun Fact. That space was originally going to be the location of the mall's 4th anchor store, Sears. But Sears backed out of the lease less than a few months before the mall opened, so Pyramid had to get a tenant fast and Railroad Salvage went in there. Oh, the arcade that was where Pinz is was called Dream Machine. Just Fun was at the former Mountain Farms Mall.

The new ‘owners’ are the commercial mortgage holder. Most foreclosures go to the bank with the lien. They will seek to sell this property to someone who will help them get some of their investment back. The price will depend upon how much was defaulted and what the local commercial real estate market looks like.

Most craft stores are pretty early on holiday decor. Also 40% off is normal on seasonal items.

@milfordcivic6755

8 күн бұрын

Christmas in July garbage that doesn't end till January.

Planet fitness inside hampshire mall used to be a hole bunch of stores & a dollar store next to jcpenny

Hampshire Mall has been dead since like 2004 other than the gym and movie theater. Not a surprise at all.

ALOT of stores are starting to put out their Halloween stuff NOW! You'd know that if you worked in retail.

Wow! If I had known it sold for only 7 million I'd have bid on it!! 🤣 Oh well, maybe not! lol

@definitedoll

8 күн бұрын

The people who own the mortgage bought it on or about June 21st

Plenty of warehouse space for unsold new autos, travel campers, electric tractor tailors, electric aircraft, and electric locomotives, especially since steam is staging a comeback.

I never knew there was a mall there.. I stop in the area on way to Vermont because it’s the closest Trader Joe’s ..

We forgive you for the squeaking shoes! Many of the stores you show are familiar to me as they are also in Australia but the J.C. Penny stores are not and I like seeing them as all my life they seem to have featured in movies, books etc.

I hope you bought those shoes, thank you.

Joann has always put high prices on things and then put them on sale. Everyone always waited for things to go on sale and buy at the real price. The Halloween stuff ought to be 90% off if it's still there, which it shouldn't be. The stores used to be hopping too when I used to go in. Now it looks like they didn't even have an employee in the fabric department. WEIRD.

@definitedoll

8 күн бұрын

I was just at this mall last week, there was an employee in the fabric section, some folks were buying material. My friend and I each purchased something up front. It was a weekday, but people were there.

Pyramid management group in financial trouble.

Whoops - should read J.C. Penney

7mil the houses where I live West of Boston are 3 or 4 million

Does JC Penney's salon service actually do well enough to justify keeping it in operation? I would've thought shutting it down would be a decent way to cut costs.

@BeanieG82

9 күн бұрын

I believe they only have a couple of stylists working there now. A lot of the time it’s not even open, but they do take appointments.

Once JC Penney goes out of business, there will be nowhere left to buy clothes except Macy's if you're big and tall.

Pennys looks like Kohls

Odd little mall. I guess most of the indoor malls in existence will become entertainment complexes with retail some stores assuming the mall don't get demolished. The lease per square foot must be very low if non-store can remain open for long. JCPenney now being the weakest sister of nation retail chains doesn't bode well. Good thing they didn't have a Bob's Store. Are you going to walkthrough a Bob's Store?

@therichard27

10 күн бұрын

FYI, Bob's Stores is closing for good (all locations, including Holyoke Mall) on July 14, 2024. They only lasted a year in Holyoke, similar to that of CTS (Christmas Tree Shops) in Holyoke, which left the mall in 2022, relocated to the nearby strip mall (where Barnes & Noble/Red Robin are) and only had about a year there, starting in 2022 with a renovation and then closed when the entire chain went kaput on August 12, 2023. RIP. If this creator wants one last visit to a Bob's Store (he might), he should make up his mind soon! After today, it's only 10 days left for the brand!

States should buy out malls and turn them into schools

Why would you want to see this torn down?

Is that your shoes making that annoying sound.

@inconnu4961

7 күн бұрын

Those are his chaps! He wore chaps to the mall! You can small the cow manure outside, so he came prepared! LOL

$7 million? Too much by half. JC Penny - dead, just not pronounced. Yes, we hear the squeaky shoes😊.

It’s really hard to tell where stores used to be, the Dicks, Target, movie theatre addition ( it used to be fewer screens) and pet smart have all been added on, and break up the flow of the original mall. You can’t even get into the pet smart from the mall! That exterior entrance you see driving by is the only way to get in.