A Visit to Fair Oaks Mall 

I’m bitter about the renovations. I loved the fountain when I was growing up. It was so cool to take the glass elevator down into the fountain. It’s so sterile without the planters and seating areas. 😢

Attended Chantilly High School from 1982-1986 and the Fair Oaks Mall was a place my friends and I frequented on a regular basis. From 1985-86 I worked at a restaurant in this mall called Tanglewoods. Fun times!🍻

I grew up in the Fairfax area and this was my favorite mall as a kid in the 80's and early 90's. It was always packed. Going there was such a treat and there was a Sam Goody, Chi-Chi's, Spencer, a dice game store, TGI Fridays and the Kaybee toy store. Loved the glass elevators. too. Geez all the memories. I miss home. Tysons was originally a small mall you could walk in an hour or so and there were no parking garages. Sadly growth and commerce took all the history out of the Vienna/Fairfax area. But will always have fond memories of Fair Oaks Mall.

The upper level of Sears is scheduled to be converted to a Dave & Busters.

Telling my age here but this mall opened while I was in high school and I was there for the grand opening. I went to a store there called 'Video Concepts' a few times. They sold high end home electronics for the time. Classics like VHS recorders, laser disc players, big screen TVs, etc. It was on the upper level near the center court. Thanks for the flashback Doomie! Keep up the great work!

Love this mall! I have many fond memories of coming here a lot with my parents during the late 90's, and before these crazy times, we still went there from time to time. I miss this place so much and can't wait to visit again! I love how a lot of the architecture hasn't changed much since it first opened in the early 80's. It still looks great today and more original than many of today's modern malls.

I use to work at Fair Oaks Mall back in 1994..how sad it looks now. It was always PACKED! A lot more stores were there and now it looks empty in every aspect. Real sad! How i miss my childhood in that mall as well

Another good video! Thanks for filming.

It’s easy to tell a Taubman center, from the terrazzo flooring, geometric ceiling, typically wood trimmed railings, and sculptures hanging near the department stores.

I'm born and raised in Fairfax County, 46 years. I don't think I've ever been inside Fair Oaks Mall.

I remember Fair Oaks!!!! Thanks for the vid❤❤❤

Besides Tysons Corner this is my go to mall of choice. It has all the stores I shop and decent food choices. The loss of Lord & Taylor is a black eye, but I am hopeful this mall can hold on for many years to come. Several of many things going for this mall unlike many rural malls is the high income and population to support a mall this size.

Ah...2019....the good ole days.

The twin of Fair Oaks Mall is Lakefront Mall in Gaithersburg Maryland which is closing end of March 2023. Great video 👍😎👍

Ahhhhh, Fair oaks Mall. I remember this place so well. I remember walking around this place in the 90s. Back when you could still smoke in there! I still remember the standing ash trays. A time long gone. Haha

The fair oaks mall is a beautiful place especially with the elevators. I really love love there elevators there even though not from Virginia and never have been to that area before

This mall looks cool 😎

Nice recap mall history. Thank you. Enjoy shopping there, Oddly its one of only full size malls that does not have food court, only a few fast food restaurants scattered here and there. Also bizzare tis the only mall i have been that has two Macy's?? Perhaps mall will benefit from the upcoming expansion of I-66.

Belk or Dillards would have been nice

I wonder what would happen if they tried to turn the abandoned Sears into a concert venue.

I remember cruising Fair Oaks mall in the early 80s though 90 or so and to a lesser extent Tysons Corner. Fond memories of the record stores, toy stores and some of the restaurants (A&W if I recall) among others, not to mention Alexander De Paris! Wonder what that guy is doing now lol. And of course waiting outside Lord and Taylor for concert tickets! Good times back then, seems like the attraction of the "mall concept" was dying even before online retail crushed brick and mortar, who knows, just glad for the memories.

Jc penny’s should be doing goodSince it’s the only anchor in a lot of these malls

Lord and tailor are having a store closing sale

What are “conservation pits”?

Compared to other malls in the area this one kind of paled in comparison (Aesthetics, Stores), I used to love seeing the water fountains back in the day and the center Starbucks for meeting family for coffee, both gone now unfortunately. Went out to Dulles Town Center and its like night and day between the two malls

Other than Sears it looks pretty well occupied?

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I think some kind of experience because since retail stores like Sears and JCPenny aren't doing good at all and they're struggling it would be hard to find other retail stores to replace Sears.

Has anyone tried to stop you from filming at these malls?

The thing is you can’t get into Dave and busters from the mall so it’s still dead over on the Sears end they also need like a box lunch or move the Barnes and noble to the mall

Quite similar to Southridge Mall in Milwaukee Wisconsin where I am from.

I am from Cincinnati, I remember getting stranded in FF and being forced to be homeless and not be able to leave by the local government for something I didn't do. And eventually was acquitted for. Anyhow...met some good people there at the time and we used to get crunked on hard liquor at this mall all the time..

I think a boscovs or a belk would be a good choice

Looks like Lakeforest.

Why don't they build a Costco or a Whole Foods and Apple Store?

They need a Boscovs or Burlington in the Sears space

Great video! I used to work in that many years ago. I want to film a shop with me video but I only used my phone and it didn’t come out as nice. What do you use to film? It looks so clear and it didn’t look like anyone noticed you filming!

Are malls are all the pass but fun shopping in thenwas fun

Hola #OaksMall soy de Perú, tengo una hermana que vive en Bell, es casada con un Americano. Necesito saber si existe alguna tienda de PELUCHES GIGANTES es para regalo de mi sobrinita de 10 años.. necesito de su ayuda. Gracias. Saludos para todo Florida. Bendiciones.