A Visit to Northland Mall AND Fox River Mall (WI) 

I moved to Appleton in 1985 from Illinois. I was part of the sales team that worked on setting up the fine jewelry department of JC Penney when they relocated to the Fox River Mall. Anyone familiar with the Chicago area from the 60's and 70's would be familiar with Golf Mill Shopping Center and Woodfield Mall. So this type of mall was familiar to me but a relatively new concept in Appleton. Unfortunately, the result of these large malls became the end of the Valley Fair Mall (credited as the first enclosed mall in the U.S. built in 1955) as well as the downtown City Center Plaza. While Northland Mall still hangs on primarily because of Kohl's I would also consider it to be a failure as malls go. Around the same time period many cities lost their vibrant downtown shopping areas to these "mega malls." Thankfully, Appleton's economy was strong and business leaders recognized the importance of a vibrant downtown. While there is still some shopping available downtown (small boutique shops) the area now is dedicated to nightlife (restaurants, bars and music venues), businesses (government, banks, offices, etc.) and more recently repurposed commercial buildings for use as residential rental apartments. That being said Appleton is a great place to live and raise a family. Not sure where your education statistics came from but our public education system is top notch. We also have some of the best medical facilities that draw physicians from around the globe and despite some losses over the years a pretty strong manufacturing presence. Diversity still has some way to go but it is better than when I moved here on 1985. Affordable housing could also stand improvement.

I've lived in Appleton most of my life and I grew up frequenting these malls. I was about 10 when the Fox River Mall opened. The Fox River Mall is a madhouse between Thanksgiving and Christmas--I avoid it if I can. It was sad to see the Shopko at the Northland mall and Sears at the FRM close. I haven't really been to either one at all since the pandemic but I love that China Buffet at Northland Mall!

I had lots of good times shopping at Fox River Mall back in the late 80s/early 90s. Where Macy's is now used to be a Dayton's... one of the first store credit cards I owned - it was all black with white lettering - very sleek! The whole store was art-deco revival with faceless, black mannequins everywhere - an experience! Used to go up to the second floor of Dayton's where there was a chocolate shop with Godiva and my favorite Frango mints! Blissful days... then weekends out at The Pivot Club. What you see now is NOTHING like it was back in the day - FR Mall was bustling!

Fox River Mall came into being after Oshkosh turned it down, as Oshkosh had Park Plaza, a now defunct mall. Oshkosh does have the outlet mall now. There was another mall in Appleton. It was called Valley Fair Mall, it started out as an outdoor mall in 1955 and then became one of the first , if not the first ever indoor malls. It would grow to have movie theaters and was a relatively nice size. Kohl's was an anchor as well as a grocery store. The mall was finally torn down and not much is left from any of it. It was a really nice mall at one time.

And we can't forget about valley fair mall, the first enclosed mall.

Wisconsin's violent crime rate is low but not that low, ranking around 30th of the 50 states, though outside of Milwaukee the state is quite safe.

You should see what it looked like before they renovated and added to the old Cafe Court, now Northwoods Cafe. Huge change!

Thanks for the videos Doomie, they are a treat every Friday!

I should put up a video of my nighttime work at fox river and BayPark. Completely empty driving around a scissor lift. It’s a bit spooky.

The Northland Micro Mall is really cool. Love almost everything about it.🙂💙💜

Before I watched and clicked this video I realized how long the video was so I grabbed a water and lemon drink along with some honey dijon chips to watch this. Good upload.😊

Nailed the Scheels pronunciation! For those who have never gone, to call it as a sporting goods store is an understatement depending on which location you go to.

Northland mall is a really cool mall. Liked the fox River mall also. Thanks for filming.

I really miss Shopko! Great place for "stuff" Anything from make up to bedding to small appliances. More chill than a Target or Walmart. I was surprised to see the remaining stores still at Northland. From the road it's obvious China Buffet and Kohl's are there but the rest? Would have guessed all were long gone. Even the photography banner/advertisement is still there! Wow! As for "The Mall" (Fox River) In the JCPenney wing there use to be a florist (Memorial Florist anyone?) even before JCPenney opened. I worked there for a few years and the cookie company was in that hallway also. I would often sneak out of work and grab a cookie or two. When my kid was little it was a big deal to "go to the mall" and then we would "lunch" there. Sad to say I have been to neither of these malls in probably 5 years? Northland since Shopko closed and Fox River even pre-covid. No real reason to anymore. As for living in Appleton. Is it my first choice? No. But if you are moving to Wisconsin it is a good choice compared to some of the surrounding towns like Green Bay or Oshkosh. Since I'm older now most likely will stay around here. And yes. What was once considered a totally safe and family friendly community has gone down hill a bit. Not horrible or even bad, but it is more noticeable.

I miss shopko so much. the mall traffic at FRM in this video is about 10% of the normal amount of traffic in the 80s and 90s .

I went to college in Wisconsin (UW-Stout) and Wisconsin is a good state for education, laws, taxes etc. The winters are brutal but they maintain the streets/interstates better than Minnesota.

I was going to take a job there in the mid 90s at the Miller electric comp . Out there I met some of the nicest folks I ever met but unfortunately I stayed at the job I was At until 2020 then I retired.

Great Video!!!! Thanks for visiting My home state of Wisconsin. F+L, Corey

Couldn't move to WI due to the winters. No way!

Fox River Mall isn't horrible but it's also far from my favourite. I love the outside of this mall and I think that the food court is really cool. I also wouldn't mind shopping here or grabbing a bite to eat.

the fox river mall is nice and big

That little mall has a Kohls. What else do you want?

Fox River Mall has an Orange Julius and American Cookie Company. I haven’t seen them in years! Fox River looks nice but it’s bland to me. It has some good stores in there despite its history and 2 empty anchors. Northland has more character. It’s a shame it’s so dead.

I dig this Northland for being something really old school, but the picture frame moulding on the walls look like a HGTV episode of “DIY overdone”…😂

It’s so awesome to see such good content on places that I visit regularly! Great video and I’m glad it was recommended. Keep up the good work :)

Our only good mall within a 100 miles. I live in central WI

I remember port plaza mall well in 80s spent alot if time there as kid. Facebook has a port plaza remember page

If you tried to walk the floors of West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Doomie, you'd need to compile at least a week's footage into a video here. It's a big boy. XD

ive only been to fox river once in recent memory (i think 2019?), but its fun to see it again tbh. bay park square is the mall closest to me so thats the one im at most often, and its still doing good. the dave n busters that opened in it probably helped a ton but thats my uneducated guess lol.

That is nice in fox River mall, they put some tubs/showers in a storefront like a plumbing store without all the boring parts

One of my favorite childhood memories is going to China buffet with my grandma and then sitting on the quarter cars outside for 5 minutes. Pretty sure it was broken cause it was rocking like mechanical Bull😂

The reason it is quite successful (and planned that way) is that it lies exactly at the intersection of US-10 (E-W)and what is now I-41(N-S). Because of that location it can "hoover" up shoppers from that 100 mile radius that one of your commenters talks about below.

Don’t forget a nice glass of milk with that cheese and pizza meal deal! Go Wisconsin!

Any more footage of the Fox River Mall food court?? (Thats usually my fave part of mall videos 😊) I DID appreciate the quick peek , towards the end

We have a micro mall here in Sumter SC. Lots of history.

I would always go with my mom to the nail place in then northland mall. She would get her nails done as I roamed around in shopko and played those games in the hallway

I wish Von Maur would take the fmr Younkers just like they did to the frm Boston Store at West Towne Mall in Madison.

The Shopko label scar is a warm yellow… ew, dat nasty…😂

My first job back in 2013, at shopko. It’s a shame what happened to the company

Pretty different set of malls here. I wonder if the first mall was any larger in the past. It just seems way too small inside. Fox River has a great food court but is very bland otherwise. Scheel's is a great addition and I really need to go and visit the one in Dallas one day. It is nearly 4 hours away from where I live in Houston.

Great video

I didn’t know the fox river mall had a movie theater at one point. I thought that was just the Vally fair mall that was demoed in 2007

I miss the Deb store and Shopko.

Close on the furniture store name.😊 it's pronounced lay-thrup.😊

Fox River Mall:)

I bought my first pair of heelys from Yonkers there and ran those bad boys all over that mall

Ruined his own life took another now she's probably with a new guy lol

Cute