This brought back so many memories from when I use to shop in this mall back just a few years ago. I took my granddaughter shopping, went to the movies there at the AMC, so sad to see this huge mall empty. Good job husband🥰🥰

Wow. It's really jarring to see how abandoned this mall is. Growing up in Sarasota this was always a beautiful mall. I've spent a lot of time there, including my teenage years shopping, going to the movies with friends, etc. I will say this: though there are several reasons for the decline of this mall, some of which include the same reasons malls are declining across the country, the REAL nail in this mall's coffin was the opening of a much larger, more upscale mall on the opposite end of town in 2014. Once that mall opened, along with a zillion other shops and restaurants around it, this mall (which used to be our main mall) could no longer compete. We had 3 major malls here in Sarasota, and the big mall (University Town Center) basically killed the other two, including this one and Westfield Southgate, which is also basically abandoned. COVID basically helped hasten the decline. So sad.

@Xozona

3 жыл бұрын

I remember going to the Westfield Southgate mall 15 years ago and it would be so alive. I loved Dillards, Burdine's , and the little Saks there. Then I went back 1 year ago, and it was 85 % empty but weirdly very well-kept , with the store windows used as art displays. I wonder how ay years it wll be until they turn off the music, shut off the power, and it is truly abandoned T_T

I spent more time here, than in school.

I worked here in the 90’s near Sears and I remember it taking 15 minutes to get to the food court around Christmas. The big open space in the middle use to be a huge fountain that they could put a stage over for events. The store at the end of the hall with the red front left of Sears was the original theater before they moved. The store on the corner of the big area when heading toward the food court was the cookie company and the Disney store. The one you thought was the old theater was actually The Limited, The Gap and Victoria’s Secret. It is so sad the see it in this shape. The other anchor was Burdines.

@ThatNateGuyOnYouTube

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you :)

@Lightworksdigitalimaging

Жыл бұрын

No. There was one outside and one inside at the same time.

@kelcd8982

Жыл бұрын

The Chinese restaurant was Abercrombie

@Kayla7795

Жыл бұрын

​@@kelcd8982 Hollister

So crazy and sad to see! 10-15 years ago this was THE mall to go to in Sarasota.

@dominiquebright4790

3 жыл бұрын

Yes I was there and ur right

@joeernst8750

3 жыл бұрын

Was the ONLY real Mall

@AFoxGuy

2 жыл бұрын

Heck! It WAS the place to go until 2017 when it all began dying.

The entrance on the right at 12:24 used to be a Starbucks back in the early-mid 2000s. I always remember my first Frappuccino because I accidentally took someone else's and ran out the door with my school friends. The "Lids Locker" used to be a different Sports memorabilia store. It was there for ages. 5:40 was a Pacsun Also, that Hot-topic might be the longest lasting store in there funnily enough. I remember getting my first band t-shirt there in early 2007. As far as those pillars, the last thing I remember seeing in them was one of those bouncing trampoline things with the two bars that stick out which let people do flips.

@AFoxGuy

2 жыл бұрын

It was a Starbucks until 2015-16 I believe.

When University Town Center opened it basically put every other mall in the area out of businesses.

Years ago the " giant corridor " used to be the food court. I would always go to Barnies coffee.

@briot1455

3 жыл бұрын

boardwalk fries and A&W were my gotos!

That blue/gray sign you said was cool was for the old navy that took a huge corner right by it. Down the hall where you said the bank was there used to be a ruby Tuesday, and the corners there were jewelry shops. That food court, even 3-4 years ago had Chick-fil-A next to that ice cream shop, subway, burger King, a Chinese joint, Perry's, Charlie's, and the 2 by the theater was Sbarro's and and a Japanese one. We loved going there as a family just for the food court because we could all get what we wanted.

I was born and raised in Venice. In the 80-90's Under that huge sky light and those pilers used to be a huge wishing well and fountains. You used to be able to sit around it. During Christmas that's were they would have Santa. That thing used to be lined up with mother's and kids to see Santa. Across that corner you asked about used to be a cigar and snuff store with a cookie spot across the hallway, I can still smell both stores...and next to a toy store in the food court where there was a smoking section.

@Lesspaw41

9 ай бұрын

I literally could smell the chlorinated water of the fountain when explained it. A lot of my pre and teen years spent here in the 80s. Watching this literally brings a tear to my eye. I can even smell Wunderbar in my mind😔

This just makes me want to cry. This was the mall I grew up in. This is where our Christmas shopping would happen. Our (rather large) family has so many wonderful memories in this mall. There were so many staples. And it seems like the entire thing just collapsed in a matter of 5 years. The opening of UTC mall was the start and covid was last punch in the gut. We still go there regularly; our 2 main theaters are AMC 12 and Regal Hollywood 20. The latter half of 2022 and 2023 has seen quite boost in movie goers…it was almost always dead in 2020 and 2021, but theaters have come back a bit and there almost always several dozen people in the main theater area. They seem to have patched up a bit of the ceiling from water damage and 2 newer restaurants have opened (a German and Mexican I believe). Otherwise it’s dead, and I haven’t been able to bring myself to walk through the rest of the mall in quite a while. There used to be super and luxury cars under the skylight with the pillars. The closing of Perry’s BBQ is just devastating. Best Chinese ever.

I used to work here in 2019-2020, but I’ve been coming to this mall since I was young. That center corridor in between the original 3 anchors (JCPenny, Macy’s, and Sears) had many different small businesses and displays. Most notably, I remember when they had those tension-band trampolines and I would do backflips for hours while staring out that skylight ❤️❤️❤️

The anchor store that you said was Sears at first was actually a Macy's. The anchor near the kid's play area was where the Sears was at. The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy location was at one time a Dream Machine arcade and right across from it was the original AMC movie theater inside the mall. This mall used to have 2 movie theaters, the old one inside the mall and the abandoned one sitting just outside of it. There is so much history inside this mall and it is just so sad to see it dying like this.

@loopyman76

3 жыл бұрын

I was just about to comment the same exact thing. I would regularly buy shoes from the Rack Room Shoes which was right by the entrance to Macy's, and then go to Macy's and shop[ some more. Many, many memories I have of that mall growing up in Sarasota.

@briot1455

3 жыл бұрын

I remember when Mortal Kombat first showed up at that dream machine (also met my 7th grade summer girlfriend there too). Before Dream Machine it was Aladdins arcade.

@Zero8880

3 жыл бұрын

@@loopyman76 I remember when that RackRoom Shoes was a Waldenbooks store. I used to buy comicbooks in there back in the 90's and then walk over to the Babbage's video game store and just stare in awe at all the video games for hours.

@Zero8880

3 жыл бұрын

@@briot1455 Ahh simpler times. Before we were all in a rush and impatient. I guess living in the "on demand" era makes us that way. Remember when we would sit all day in front of tv just so we could see our favorite music video? Now we get annoyed by a 5 sec ad lol.

@loopyman76

3 жыл бұрын

@@Zero8880 Wow I forgot all about Waldenbooks and Babbages! So many years. I also remember going with my family to Morrison's cafeteria on Sundays after church, or hitting up Camelot music to buy the latest hits, or catching a movie with friends at the AMC theaters. So many memories...

I grew up in Sarasota - it was a treat and treasure to shop and hang out at Sarasota Square Mall. I used to take my daughter there to also play around in their play area. So many memories. So sad.

5:12 oh yeah man. Bungee trampoline jumping, Random setups for promoting colognes? I don't remember. This feels surreal. The mall used to be popping

I want to say the open area with the pillars was the area with fountains, and benches used for dog shows. Can't be sure because the last time I was there was '94 or '95 and I was 8 or 9. I remember seeing the animated Mulan movie in that theater, and eating at Sbarro's in the food court.

This was a Westfield mall before. This is dead because of the new university mall that opened in Sarasota! I

@joeernst8750

3 жыл бұрын

The was the old Sarasota Square Mall - it was dead before UTC opened.

@zacharyv1756

3 жыл бұрын

@@joeernst8750 what? Did you only go on the weekdays right before closing it was literally the only and at the time best mall to go to in Sarasota

my 3 year old found you on youtube and absolutely loves you! were watching your videos right now and i just had to say thank you for bringing us so much joy! i wish you could hear him giggle every time you laugh lol

@ThatNateGuyOnYouTube

3 жыл бұрын

Lol! Awe thank you 🥰🥰🥰

The sad thing is this mall was my whole childhood.. it’s really sad their gonna tear it down :(

Glad to see another deadmall tour from you. Please continue doing these, this one was especially awesome. It is so strange to see a Costco mall entrance. Most Costco stores only have exterior entrances even at malls.

I spent so much time in here with friends in middle school a lot of the storefronts have been through a lot of different places, on one of the ends near Sears there was a black light mini golf course

@katlynkaminskie5289

3 жыл бұрын

Also beside bath and body works was a buckle and to the other side was the H&M and before that build a bear and the store front you thought was a Chinese place was a hollister lol

@katlynkaminskie5289

3 жыл бұрын

Before the one place was laser tag it was forever 21

@katlynkaminskie5289

3 жыл бұрын

And the black closed store front was Victoria secret

@katlynkaminskie5289

3 жыл бұрын

And the store front to the right of Spencer’s was a jewelry store and to the left of the arcade was a lids. The food court used to have a fast hibachi, pizza place, chik fil a, subway, Burger King. Before the remodeled the mall a long long time ago the food court was in the middle of the mall but after the remodel it was a fountain

@katlynkaminskie5289

3 жыл бұрын

And lastly the other anchor store was a Macy’s

By the kids area was Sears and Old Navy. Old Navy had the cool sign. Across from Old Navy was a game and movie shop. The area with the movie seats was a giant Forever 21. Next to Old Navy was Rue 21 I think. H & M, Old Navy and Rue 21 all signed leases at the same time, only lasted about three years. The other big store closed you thought was sears, was Macy's. That mall was a really good mall at one time. Such a shame.

Another Great video that Nate guy.

The store area that you mention is now an auction house (near the children's play area) was last an fye store. Previous to that part of it was a Camelot music and then was expanded into multiple units when it became fye. The location that you thought was the Sears was Macy's, Burdines (prior to that) and Maas Brothers before Burdines.

my family and i would go to this mall all the time when i was a child and it brings back so many memories from when we were all happy and seeing the mall so empty brings me so much pain because it’s actually a part of my childhood, I would say what the name of the stores where but I know so many that it would me too many to list. Seeing the play area honestly made me cry because that’s where i spent so much time and it really pains me to see it empty

Nate, totally awesome and cool dead mall! Really enjoyed your video.

it’s sad how this mall is now than how it used to be. I haven’t been to the westfield mall in years since I’ve moved to orlando, but I remember spending my adolescence here. I still remember spending time at the locations for the long gone disney store, the cookie store, all the restaurants from the food court like burger king and panda express, the auction place which used to be FYE, auntie anne’s, starbucks, hot topic, etc. it’s crazy how there was so many people walking around here just to have it be deserted :(

BTW, just FYI the spot where Costco is used to be Dillard's.

Great video Nate!! Also it makes me feel sad whenever a well known area gets abandoned but it happens lol

It looked like a beautiful mall at one time, those halls were so wide open and so many empty stores wow. Could have been a carousel there at one time in that one part. Thank you for sharing.

@awiebub4314

3 жыл бұрын

the carousel was in the food court :)

The abandoned store near the play place is sears

I used to go here all the time as a kid it’s so sad that it might get taken out permanently😭💔💯

The “Chinese restaurant” 11:18 was a Holister

This is making me sad because I went on a date to the ninja place in 2018 with my best friend who recently passed so this is definitely bringing back memories

@shermy0628

10 ай бұрын

❤️

the theater seats likely came from the antique/auctionhouse that occupied the old Macy’s at DeSoto Square Mall about 30 miles north in Bradenton. they closed about 2 years ago & probably moved everything down there.

I just saw your video about the Bradenton Mall, now this one, I worked at this mall too and my dad worked at JCPenney in the display dept. Again so sad these stores closing.

That brings me back to my child hood where I use to go on Friday’s after school and chill with friends it’s so sad to see everything closed

The Chinese store that you said was Hollister! And there was only one amc theater and that was in the food court. So sad to see this mall go dead! I remember everything it was so lively like 10 years ago when I was in high school!

@briot1455

3 жыл бұрын

The movie theatre had 6 screens originally down by sears, and the other 6 screens were outside in its own building.

that archor looked like a macys

There goes a lot of teenager's memories!

Blue one u passing on 5:47 was champs I used go to that so many times

hi I've never been to that mall before but I think the thing you were looking at next to journeys was hollister. That's how Hollister looked before they renovated they don't look like that anymore if you see the newly renovated hollisters. I have that here in Syracuse New York over in clay at the great northern Mall although it doesn't look like the former Hollister as it was turned into a dress shop after Hollister shutdown and then closed because nobody needs dresses anymore because of the pandemic.

Back in the 90’s it was the mall to go to!

@AFoxGuy

2 жыл бұрын

Yep, until 2017 when everybody left :(

Damm, I been here before back in the day when it was full! They just open a new mall next to the 75 freeway and University in Sarasota Fl.

when i was 7, me, my friends and family would always come here to have a great time. now look where my childhood is now :(

Beside the journeys was a Hollister

15 years ago there used to be a record store close to Sears. A Footlocker on the other side. Further down where H&M was there was a Radio Shack.

@briot1455

3 жыл бұрын

My friends all worked at that record store and told me how to steal cds (they were just sitting in drawers beneath the cd display racks).

@jimmez

3 жыл бұрын

@@briot1455 So that's why they had to close down. ; )

At 8:02 is coin and treasures trade shop and next door was Srq pet shop.

I remember I used to go there almost every weekend with my friends, it’s sad seeing it dead now :(

@10:34 the huge corridor was the Food court years ago before the remodel when they added the movie theatre where it is today

That use to be my spot there use to be a hot topic a Hollister omg and the food court use to be full as can be omg I loved it there this breaks my heart

I wonder how it did BEFORE COVID-19! It is I believe the Sarasota Square Mall. Where Costco is was a Parisian, Sears closed in 2017. It might be a semi dead mall, but don't have a funeral for it yet...

These poor malls. I believe that we're at the end of the mall era as we know it. Too many shopping online. I wish we could change all of that.

cool vidéo 🎥 ✅

This is just like new towne mall Herat video nate

Man 10 years ago I was like 8 I remember it being busy and full of life now the only people you see there are either the elderly or the workers I will miss this mall once it closes for good but at least utc is well and alive

13:00 this is the remodeled and added on part of the mall - newer food court when they added the indoor movie theatre

That looks like the mall where Iive all we have is a couple of stores and the food court

Surprising. I haven't been able to go in a few months. I live 20 min away -- Actually I'm not surprised the party thing closed. Mostly due to covid. Also that theater is an Imax.

@7:15 that is the old SEARS location by the playground

13:42 From Dec 2018 to March 2020 I worked there at Saturn 5 (the proper name of the arcade).

Spent many weekends there as a teen..

The Grove City (PA) Premium Outlets is still going pretty strong!

The York Treasure house was Forever 21 Red, I was there before it closed.

You should of look where you film the spirit Halloween so maybe we can see are their done

I remember years ago there was a build a bear somewhere in there

Make a dollywood tour

"Chinese Restaurant" = Hollister. lol

Love your videos been whaching for a month now

Your videos are just the best 🙂

This is my mall ❤️ well was.. so sad to see it like this

I don’t think the seats came from the theater if I remember I think they were Red in color but I’m not sure. Still very sad to see what happened to that mall.

Pretty sure below the Sears scar it said Macys

@CR7659

3 жыл бұрын

Jiu-Jitsu place looks like it could have been a Deb Consignment place maybe was H&M Torrid does that 50% off thing all the time "Chinese restaurant" was an Ambercombie & Fitch I think. Clothes store anyways Justice the whole chain just folded

“Last I heard they were closing all the AMC’s”-laughs in Reddit

Online shopping especially Amazon and Walmart have changed the way people shop even before covid

I like when you do videos exploring old malls

The “Chinese restaurant “ was actually HNM

5 to 688 yes Mama is re-closed

Great video!!! Wow how sad that it's a dead mall. Years ago we would go shopping to that mall when we were in Longboat Key.

That mall use to have the best Hibachi in the food court.

The 4 horsemen that corned this mall. Also AMC. SEARS, MACYS, JCPENNY and Dillard's(where cosco is now)

That's a beautiful mall, so sad that it's mostly closed.

Free pizza from sbaros at closing, smoking indoors, getting strangers to buy me clove cigs from the smokeshop, aladdins arcade/dream machine, stealing cds from the music store by sears/theaters, countless friday/sat evenings being a mallrat 94-97.

17:05 It was Macys

This whole mall would be a great place for a giant Spirit Halloween ;)

@noobnoob5972

3 жыл бұрын

Ahhhyyyyyyyy

Took a walk through this mall a few days ago. Pretty much completely empty except Costco, Penny's and AMC. Had a strange smell and felt like the AC was set to about 85 so not even mall walkers to speak of. I am getting to be mall walker age myself I guess I will have to find a better spot than this.

just tear it down and build luxury housing. it is a prime location.

Macy and sears was connected I think

Blue on Left was Champs

I love your video 😊and my brother he watch your videos all the time

What did they do

Nice's

Nate i love your red shirt. We seam to wear the same colors. When you were still at the rv park, we had the same colored shirts in every video you made. Like your blue shirt , i had the same one on then. Thanks Nate for sharing that dead mall. Even though there is still stores open. I miss the Florence mall here in Florence Kentucky. I haven't been there about 10 years. Thats to long for me not to be in my favorite stores. Thanks Nate.

Ya sarasota square has been basically dead since the mall went bankrupt around 2017 or 2018

At 11:24 u said that is a Chinese restaurant that is not correct it is a clothing store for like teens I cant think of the name. I think its American Eagle

@ThatNateGuyOnYouTube

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah someone else said Hollister as well 🙂🙃 Oops lol

@Zero8880

3 жыл бұрын

It was a Hollister

From all the signs this is a Westfield mall how do I know it’s a Westfield cut of the design of all of the signs

11:47 wasnt the movie theatre - was just another store front - almost where Victoria's secret used to be

@Raja221

3 жыл бұрын

If you voted democrap .. you deserve this..

Happy Thanksgiving

Hi Nate I hope you and your wife are doing well just wanted to say I think it's sad that malls are Slowly going away because I really like shopping at malls I think they're fun to shop at and we don't have stuff like what's going on going on stay healthy and well I watched your KZread channel all the time

happy Thanksgiving I hope you have a good day