Thanks for sharing. I spent so much of my youth in the 80s hanging out in that mall when it was bustling. I still have weird dreams walking around that place, especially the eatery. It’s really eerie and surreal, seeing it so empty, just like in my dreams.
I miss eating at Roy Rogers in the mall, playing video games in the arcade, and looking at records in the record store. I was there when they had the grand opening. TONS of people there.
I remember one of the former Capwell's department stores had a huge freight elevator in their "freight lobby" Pretty much the same design. The passenger elevator was located at one end on the main sales floor thus the back of the passenger and side of fright were back to back. Three levels, I know the passenger elevator was traction given the size of the machine room top of the building good bet the freight was too. Likely 2:1 roping.
I know I'm late to the comments party, but.... I moved to Bowie, MD in 1980 and then moved to Georgia in 2001. I remember going to this mall for pretty much my entire young life. The Games Workshop, the food court. I could not have been more than 5 years old going up those stairs to the food court with my mom and how much of an impression they made on me. That Payless was where I bought my first pair of shoes on my own. Between Laurel and Landover Mall (I went to both Kenmore Elementary and Middle Schools.) that was my childhood right there.
I was just thinking about this mall because I used to go there in the 90's when I was a kid and was kinda shocked to just find out that it was closed for good. Had to see what it looked like again to remember it.
Last time I was there was the summer of 1990 when my family moved to North Carolina, I believe the mall is gone now. I have so many great memories of the mall, and Laurel in general from the 1980's. My grandparents live behind the mall on fourth street (The Dona Apartments)
That's so crazy! Thank you for sharing this video. I keep seeing signs for the Laurel Mall because it's on the bus route and parents talked about it, but it's nowhere to be found.. this really pieces everything together.
Wow, I remember going to this mall when I was a kid. I definitely remember the eatery there; Orange Julius, Boardwalk Fries, Kabobs, etc. Great video. Brings back some memories.
I use to work for Montgomery Wards Dept. Store in Laurel, MD. on Baltimore Ave. (Loss Prevention Dept 1998-2001) Great Times and Great Friends, but I couldn't stand the crackhead/meth addict shoplifters.
Thank you for uploading this. I know I'm a random person nobody in the comments has ever met, but it heals me to be able to see this mall again. I used to go here alot with my grandmother as a kid, she passed away earlier this year. We didn't have a good relationship most of my adult/teen years, but my fondest memories with her were at this mall when I was little. Used to go here with my mom and grandmother every year for Santa pictures, and it made me cry to see the food court because I remember so vividly sitting in front of the plants having pizza with my family. I guess in a way this video has served as a reminder that my happy memories weren't a dream. I appreciate the experience.
Absolutely my daughter is 21 ( when she was a baby) she got her ears pierced there in the jewelry store, the lady who used to work there works in Walmart now
