I think the second song reminded me of something I'd hear while the Titanic sank, which truly captures the sadness of these malls, which are historical monuments of another era, and are just as important as the old colonial houses people are still trying to preserve.

I had my first job at the original Richland Mall at Winn Dixie. Years later I worked as a security guard at the new mall. I do miss the Original Richland Mall.

@sureokk

2 жыл бұрын

If you worked as security in the early 2000s you probably kicked me out for skating on the roof at some point lol

My husband and I lived in Columbia for a few years, from 2015 to 2018. I went to the Barnes and Noble a good bit, but that was it until we wanted to see a movie and the theater at Richland Mall had a showing time that worked best for us that day. We parked on ground level outside the Barnes and Noble because that was what I was used to, not knowing that the entrance to the movie theater was at the top of the parking deck. 😂 We got lost on our way to the top floor and ended up wandering in the dark, just super intrigued by the hella dead mall vibes.

Had many great memories here. Was always my favorite mall in Columbia. Even tho I mainly went to Columbiana mall. This one always had a special place in my heart. The sound of the huge fountain when you entered. The beautiful gold accents. In the early 2000’s there was a toy store on the second floor. It was a local store. And the owners had many of the toys out on the floor. And would let kids come in a play with them. The toys were all unique. Stuff you wouldn’t find at Walmart or toys r us. The owner and his wife made pottery in the back room. They were super cool, artistic people. I wonder what ever happened to them. I’ll never forget this place. During my early childhood this was the mall of choice for my mom and I.

@JohnErskine

2 жыл бұрын

I remember that toy store. It had an entirely unique selection.

@TheRealDill93

2 жыл бұрын

@Tyler Braden i remember that places as well. I think I got some cards there when I was a kid

I just linked to this from Facebook, from a link posted by a fellow native Columbian and son of a longtime manager of JB White. I was seven years old when the original Richland Mall was built. I did not know previously about the connection to Liberty Life, which was a very well known company in SC at that time. What a shame that the excessively high end stores killed that neighborhood mall which had stores perfectly matched to it at first. I moved from Columbia to Raleigh in 2000.

Wow this was one of the best narrated series I’ve watched in a while I’ve watched the decline of Richland fashion mall And everything you say is spot on thank you for making this video

With Belk's having closed all their stores, B&N and the theater are the only two occupants. Sad, I can remember when "Richland Mall" opened in 1961. It was a bustling and busy place for the Forest Acres community.

@snowmansc

3 жыл бұрын

Belk has not closed there. Their stores are still open. They did close Dutch Square a few years ago.

It is so so sad to see some of the nicest malls just left to rot away until their final demise this mall looked really classy. I am so thankful for people like you that are documenting these places before they are erased from existence forever

A native of Columbia here: I remember when Richland Mall was an outdoor mall. Going there with Mom on Saturdays after our chores was a ritual. We always had caramel popcorn from Cromers. I luv'd window shopping at Baubles and Things. Special to me was my Aunt Martha Dreher, who was the first African American to be hired as a clerk at J. B. Whites. Her hire was written up in The State. I knew when developers enclosed the structure that it was the Mall's death knell. The city should have left it outdoor; given it a facelift and made it an historical marker. My only observation for this video is that there hardly are any pictures of the original mall. It is a !@#$ shame Richland Mall is now a ghost town w/o so much as a tumbleweed.

Very well done. Loved the narration and the music. I’ve lived in Columbia since 1988. I never knew the old mall, but Richland Fashion Mall had some great stores in it. So sad to see that and Columbia Mall become ghost towns.

I remember the old mall very well. It was gorgeous and perfect and I'm not sure why they did what they did to it. This was a beautiful mall as well and I remember it in its hayday! The food court was amazing.

Nice history of mall and great video

Great job. Sad decline. 80s brass everywhere. I worked at Eckerd Drugs (old & current mall) while in high school and college.

Nice building, shame it's going to waste.

Great video! Thanks.

great video(as always) loved the music. made it very atmospheric. really emphasised the near death of the place well done

This is one of my favorite deadmalls that has been left to rot. The roof leaks are getting really bad in there. I really like the design of the interior, they sure don't make them like this anymore.

@cubesurfer4141

2 жыл бұрын

It floods inside. -_-

SOLD!!! The mall was SOLD today!!! Huge multi use complex coming!!! I will have a video up soon.🎉🎉🎉

Great video!

@Retailpocalypse

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Well done!! Put together very thoughtfully.

Really good video. Great choice of music.

Very well done thank you for your hard work documenting this space.

@Retailpocalypse

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Scheduled to be completely demolished this year

This place I grew up in now cements the horrifying Bioshockesque reality in which we live.

I worked at Verizon Wireless when they were in the old food court space. It certainly wasn’t full capacity, but it had a decent amount of stores. It’s sad to see the whole place isn’t much anymore, but I guess this was inevitable 😕

What happened to the idea of converting some of the space to living space like condos or apartments?

@cameronm896

3 жыл бұрын

I have no idea! At least some temporary shelter for those left houseless during these trying times.

@JohnErskine

2 жыл бұрын

Nobody bought the spaces. If I remember that was in the early 2000s they wanted to have 1/3 to 1/2 residential condominiums and rest retail/dining. I doubt they sold a single unit.

@sureokk

2 жыл бұрын

No one in their right mind wants to live In a condo at the mall. Would have been better to leave it as retail space

No mention of the S&S Cafeteria?! That was amazing. Cannot understand how that went away when it was so popular for so many years and decades. I don't understand how you have and know so much information about this place but not about the S&S. It was such an integral part of the mall and experience. We would go there every Sunday lunch after church and Sunday school. People quit going to church in the late 1980's so the crowd dwindled and went away at all of these places. Now, I'm no religious person any more...but this time period I believe was the start of the collapse of our society and civilization. Especially when Viacom bought MTV in 1991 and rap, bad country music, and explicit music became common place...and for youth. You all think nothing was to come of that? I've got news for you. This was and is never more clear and exemplary than when you look at the other malls in town. All of them. And what happened to them with the culture changes to urban life. Yes, Amazon, and buying on the internet played a major part in the demise of these places but it was also what happened to the hearts, minds, and souls of humanity the last few decades. That's before you bring in the issues of the break up families, smoking, drinking, and drugs. So sad. I'm 46 and don't believe we will ever have such a renewal of life again. I hope and pray that I am wrong. That's how serious this all is.

I think the information is correct but how do you and whomever get all of this information?! This is insane and crazy how you know it.

It's even more abandoned today lol

I worked at Berry's On Main in 1971. We were always busy. The mall was a wonderful gathering place for family oriented shopping. I am disgusted that they tore this charming and wonderful place down to build the ridiculous behemoth that replaced it. Glad they lost their shirts. Greed never pays, especially when you destroy something that folks loved, for gain. Let that be a lesson to all. God, I miss Woolworth's, Mr. Popper, Winn Dixie, J B White, Sylvan's, Eckerd's, my Berry's, and the old theater. Bulldoze it and recreate the original mall, and you'll make money. My humble opinion.

Instead now the place is going to be replace with apartments and two new grocery stores. Whoopty doo. I wish traffic and the roads could be fixed in our lives.

19:03 do you know what that said?

@Retailpocalypse

4 жыл бұрын

Parisian.

It’s very dated it needs a facelift