It's not on the watch list. That's busy, especially for peak covid last summer. The d--d mall crew just pick and bet when they run out of locations. This mall is busier under covid than it was two years ago when the last d--d mall guy targeted the place.
I actually consider this mall to "belong" to Rio Rancho...the fast growing city on the west side of Albuquerque. True, this mall is still on Albuquerque soil, but there is the Coronado Mall and ABQ "Q" uptown mall that better serve the middle of Albuquerque. The Cottonwood is still doing OK, but sure looks to be just barely hanging on. Retail models of the future don't bode well for brick and mortar shops in any configuration. Without a thriving food court and movie theater, you're losing significant foot traffic for people who are there just for those uses alone. Tough times all around for sure. Thanks for visiting Abq!
I was there when this mall first opened its doors. My grandparents took me to the grand opening, I remember the red ribbon being cut. Over the years its been a place where as teens we would hang out, that food court art is spectacular, its an upside world. It's makes me so nostalgic.
Doesnt look like a pending dead mall to me but the dated 90s decor makes it look like one. I prefer the early 2000s Mills aesthetic versus the white/teal/pastel look though so im biased lol
You’re not seeing Cottonwood at its best due to the pandemic. All the tables and chairs in the food court have been taken away. A lot of the stores are closed down or limited hours. Sadly the Cinnabon seen in Better Call Saul has closed down. (I live down the street and it’s a great mall) May 2021 be a better year for all. Great job on the video.
I thought Cottonwood was just as busy as Coronado. Cottonwood used to be much much busier especially in the late 90’s. I think because of Covid things have slowed down and many people do shop online too. The furniture store you showed was in an area that has always been changing. It was a Macey and another large store which I forgot. The mall that you should have gone to visit is Winrock mall, there is not much left there but Dillards. There is nothing much there. Coronado has always been the popular mall and been around for many many years.
It’s looked like this pre pandemic too lol I also live down the street. The annexes see absolutely zero traffic, and the only place that has any sort of large presence of good stores is in the middle of the building Like, it’s April 2021 and the Halloween Maze is still there lol. Closed, but the facade is still there, it’s a mess
Lmao this is my favorite mall, I’ve only ever gone to this mall I never went to Coronado (too many people) I’ve always liked the decor and it’ll always be my favorite 505 gang 🔥
I like the song at the beginning of this video. And the late 80's-90's mall aesthetics is my favourite! It is so much more inviting. Not too many malls have this aesthetic these days.
Pretty cool history that the mall’s land has. You’re right, you can start to see the dying spots in the mall. Even though they still have a lot of “anchors” left.
I like your voice. Also, this happening all over the country, it's depressing...it means there is no longer a middle class. It also says that these places will not exit much longer...very sad.
You seem so serious in your videos, so I never expect things like the cartoon train (or the moonwalking Michael Jackson in a previous video). It cracks me up! I love it!
I’d say it was closer to being a dead mall a couple years ago compared to how it looks in this video. When the Macy’s first closed in 2017 (where the Mor furniture is now) the mall probably had 30 vacant storefronts and maybe 4-5 of the food court spots vacant and very few kiosks. And a lot of the remaining stores went from nationally recognized brands to more local businesses. But I’m glad it’s still alive. I was there the first day it opened in 1996 as a little kid. The upside down diorama of the city in the food court was so cool to see and there was briefly a SEGA City arcade and laser tag in what is now the second floor of the movie theater that was so much fun. Tons of memories at this mall, thanks for capturing it 😊
This was basically every single teenager living in Rio Rancho/West side of Albuquerque’s first place of employment (other than in other fast food places). I moved to New Mexico about two years after it opened, about 10-15 mins from the mall. I spent many, many days of my life working there at a now closed Bubble Tea spot, & I actually met my husband there, as he worked upstairs at the now closed Chikadees in the food court. It’s ridiculous the amount of memories this place holds for me and the countless other kids & teens who were “mall rats” here. Coronado was the mall of choice for the East side kids, & I spent time there as well with my friends from that part of town, but nothing will ever be the same as the Cottonwood memories.
All you say about the malls & their future is true. Yet until a year ago I lived on a hilltop (incredible valley view) within 7 blocks of this mall. It remains very well supported. You filmed this during a state-wide mandatory lockdown during a global pandemic- yet there are people shopping there! That's what I find amazing!
Thank you for this video! Since 2017, I've been in Albuquerque and have yet to visit the mall. I have Lupus (and some other nuisances)...I'm easily fatigued. I no longer have the stamina necessary for proper malling...which is a shame because this is an awesome mall. In my younger and healthier days, I could mall for hours...HOURS! Is "malling" a verb? I'm making it a verb...lol. Anywho, thanks for this lovely video...this is probably the closest I'll get to this fabulous place.
I think it opened fall of 97 if I recall. I went to Cibola High right across the way. Worked at Burger King and the Movie Theatre....had a legendary "arcade" for the time called a Starcade I think. Interesting history you may be unaware of: Two scenes (at least) from the show "Better Call Saul" were filmed here. One on the top floor where the security guys catch the shoplifter hiding in the photo booth. The other scene was in the old Cinnabon. Yeah it's totally dying. Sucks because despite the dated 90's look, it does some cool stuff with our local hot air ballooning culture.
My nearest mall is the Bridgewater Commons in NJ. It's fairly thriving but I think it may end up going downhill. Lord and Taylor went out of business and we have Macy's and Bloomingdales. A TX company acquired the lease and want to revamp it. It's been in business since 1988. And congrats on the 40k!
Hi Anthony thank you very much for coming to the Cottonwood mall I have been going to this since I was in high school and still going there because I live in Rio Rancho and not far from me and thank you very much for sharing and sharing the history as well I am gonna share this video on Facebook and friends if that’s cool but thank you very much and keep the videos coming and I also enjoy narrative history that you on the malls which helps understand
Man if you wanted to see a dead mall, you should have taken the 4 hour drive down to Alamogordo to see the White Sands Mall. Our mall is as dead as it gets, and has been for as long as I can remember.
Honestly, I find that mall to be very depressing for the most part (even before COVID). There are a couple of stores that have cool designs, like their Boba tea place and their candy store. However, it always felt a bit run down. Then again, I especially feel this way since I first went there right after my uncle died.
I have been living by this mall for 20 plus years, it kinda looks like its on the ropes but it's the only mall on the 'West Side'. So until Rio Rancho, a couple miles up 528, gets their Mall this will be Open. Rio is the 2nd or 3rd largest city in NM. No Plans in the mix for a Mall in Rio yet.
Nice video. Looks like a nice mall. Albuquerque is a fantastic southwestern city! BTW, never really noticed a lisp. I always assumed that it was just a western New York area accent. Seriously. 🙏👍💪
It looks like there are some empty spaces but it is hard to find a mall that is 100% occupancy these days. Food Courts seem to be the first things to die in these places
Before the pandemic this place was always a MAD house, like so ridiculously busy but we have 2 malls in Albuquerque and both are always busy now in 2022
If you didn't know that a movie called Sicario: Day of the Soldado with Josh Brolin was filmed in the food court and also filmed outside in the parking lot back in 2018
I spent a lot of my time here as a child. I’ve since moved away from ABQ, but this mall will always be one of my favorite places to be ever. Would love to visit again one day
I've always loved this song! Pretty woman soundtrack, yes? Very fitting for the 90s style of this mall. You're right, it does have elements that remind me of the Walden Galleria mall, too. I think at this point, it's unavoidable for any mall to have stores that close up shop, while unknown stores try their hand at filling a spot. It is disheartening to witness this slow death of a place we once considered the pulse of our youth.
This reminds me a lot of the Seminole Town Center Mall in Sanford, Florida, that was A Washington Prime property. It was sold to Kohan in 2020, the Macy's closed that year as well and Sears two years earlier.
I live in Debary FL, and yes, the Seminole Towne Center has been going downhill for years. The newest owner is looking to re-develop it, similar to the Oviedo Mall (which was dead on the day it opened).
The song featured in the video is If I Turn You Away by Vicki Moss,which is on the St. Elmo's Fire soundtrack.....just found it after inquiring about it 😎
Loved the train; it gave the video a nice smooth vibe. One of our malls has a train also but I never thought to film from it! A very clean and well-kept mall, but the dead mall symptoms are creeping in. No-name stores, closed off sections, "anchors" etc etc.
Thank you for showing me this mall, it was very interesting learning how big it was what was on the site before this mall, it's very nice looking, hugs
You should do Farmington NM Animas Mall our mall is getting slowly empty, no more sears of course and jcpenny here is about to close soon. Even our Kmart is closed some Uhaul is taking over right now.
The aesthetic of the place reminds me a lot of the Galleria Mall in Middletown, NY. Had some of my first dates with my (now) husband ^__^ havent been out that way in years now tho.
I live about 10 miles from Cottonwood Mall, it's the only mall on the northwest side of Albuquerque. I'll tell you why this mall will NOT become a dead zone. The primary reason is demographics and the growth pattern of Albuquerque and the suburb to the northwest, Rio Rancho. Albuquerque is hemmed in to the east by the Sandia Mountains, to the north by Indian pueblo lands, and to the mid-west by a national monument. This leaves only two directions for the city and suburbs to grow: to the south and to the northwest. Cottonwood Mall is well-placed to serve the northwest, where growth is happening and that growth is in middle to upper income housing and shopping. Even though I've shopped at this mall for years I've never been in some of the areas your video covers, so thank you. I don't foresee more retail malls being built in Albuquerque/Rio Rancho for the next 20 years. Indeed, retail may look entirely different in the near future.
Right now they’re redoing/building Winrock, not sure if that counts as “more retail malls being built” since it’s replacing an older mall, but still nice to see growth and development in some way!
No way!!!!! I grew up in NM and saw it when it was new and I even worked there. I still visit home but haven’t made a trip to that mall in years. I always stick to Coronado Mall. Dang sure looks dead!!! Thanks for this video! I’d better get in there if it does go under
The dinning area is the north valley with the Rio Grande river. . Cottonwood was the 3rd mall in Abq when it opened. Winrock wich is now a dead mall , and Coronado and of course Cottonwood.
I worked in this mall for many years. At its onset, it had a bit of a "higher end" flare to it. There used to be a huge Abercrombie & Fitch, a Laura Ashley, an Edunation Toy Store (educational toys), Gap, Gap Kids, Aldo, Macys, etc. etc.....prior to Covid, all the aforementioned stores have pulled out. So, while there is still a lot of foot traffic, I don't think this mall can generate enough profit to keep it alive for very long. Albuquerque is a hard state to have nice stores. People want high end but are not willing to pay for it. Across town is a higher end outdoor mall that is more in line with this outdoor concept popularized in other cities around the country with stores such as Anthropologie, J.Crew, Apple, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma etc..., but even there, stores are pulling out. In Cottonwood you see a lot of these novelty stores that sell Reggae stuff and incense (nothing wrong with that but I just don't think they generate enough revenue) that have replaced the original tenets which may appeal to the low-budget shopper, but I just don't know for how long these tenets can keep a mall like this from meeting its ultimate demise. BTW, I loved, loved, loved this mall. Now, I get a lump in my throat for how sad it has become.....especially during the pandemic. Best wishes. #505
I believe that the actual stores in the mall is what will make this property decline, not necessarily the physical structure itself. Not a whole lot of good shopping options nor food options
No,I go there all the time there are many places in the mall that are veryyy popular places and it does have great options for shopping and many new stores have opened after 202, I believe it is closing bc the new owner died and no one wanted to take over
Hello. This is Matthew. I really like watching your videos on the dead mall series of your adventures, Anthony from Aces Adventures. I hopefully that you’ll work for your future videos as well. Why are malls are so sad to us. The malls were most popular during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. But, during the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s are like doing is going downhill. As you know, I wasn’t born during these times when malls were open. I was born on February 7th, 1997 and I was born in Elyria Ohio. I also enjoy your videos, Anthony from Aces Adventures.
So I am from Rio rancho and I love this mall and it is closing this year and it honestly a very sad event for abq and rio rancho,some people are trying to save the mall and it would be really cool if you could go back for one last visit before it closes,100s of people are losing their Jobs.
You want to see a dead mall? Come to Durango Colorado. The mall is probably as big as Rio West Mall and most of the store's closed except Bed&Bath, TJ Maxx, Ross, Sears and Shoe Dept.
One of the reasons not just the pandemic but before is they charge a high, high rental fees. Especially for little traffic. If someone was to update this place (just like they did Coronado) it would thrive again!
Just visited this mall on 7/13/2022 and I can still it’s still alive and well with unusual anchors…Hobby Lobby for one lol but it’s still vibrant. Not like it was when I was kid (I lived in Santa Fe 1997-05 and went to UNN 2005-09) but it’s definitely the same interior on the inside. BTW the X-Men arcade game is still there!!!😁😎
Has it gotten bad? I seem to remember about 20 years ago it seemed to be trending downhill, but seemed to rebound in the past decade. It's been a couple years since I have gotten over there though. Mesilla Valley Mall.
Cottonwood has slowed down substantially since the start of the pandemic. I believe two key changes would make all the difference in survival and ultimately a thriving place to shop. First, updating the architecture and bringing it up to date would be a huge leap in the right direction. A good example to follow is Coronado mall located in the North East heights of Albuquerque. Second is to introduce - and hold - retailers offering products similar in price and scope to what is available on-line. These days everybody has resorted to on-line shopping for the prices, minus the convenience of immediate gratification. The Achilles heel of on-line shopping is the delay in getting the items you want or need. Just price match, including shipping costs with perhaps a 10% discount. I think if these two concepts were brought to life, this mall would be off the watch list for the next sad dead-mall saga.
Pre Pandemic, this mall was always packed. It may not have the highest quality tenant mix but it still does well. I imagine with vaccines, this mall will pick back up soon.
You should do wind rock it’s here in Albuquerque NM idk if it’s fully demolished but some parts have been demolished it used to be a popular mall back in the 90’s early 2000’s
The restaurants you mentioned aren’t technically in the mall. The BJs was added in the excess space of the Dillard’s parking lot maybe 4-5 years ago. The other restaurants are along the road that loops around the mall but I don’t think anyone considers them a part of the mall, even if the land is owned by the same company.
Man seeing that carousel in front the JC Penny reminds me of the South Park Mall in Shreveport, La which it also had a carousel in front of a JC Penny, also is now called Summer Grove baptist church it was bought out by a pastor of the local area, the mall was already dying before it got purchased and if I recall the only remaining store that is still open is a Burlington coat factory
I’ve never noticed a lisp when you’re speaking. You sound good to me!!! This is certainly a beautiful mall. Though I’m glad that it’s still open, there isn’t a mall that isn’t going to be on the dying mall list, and this is one of them. It’s just indicative of the time we’re living in, and all COVID has done is speed up the death of these malls. Though there are still malls out there that are currently thriving, I hate to say it, but their time is coming too. The way things are going, movies like Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure are becoming more and more a historical document (if they aren’t already).
Winrock Mall (next to Coronado Mall) in Albuquerque was as good as dead about 15-20 years ago (with only a Dillard's anchoring and a few indoor shops) and bringing that entire Uptown area along with it. And then the outdoor mall Q opened up next door and many thought there was no saving that area even with a gimmicky outdoor mall (who are we, California 😂 it gets cold here!) I'll be damned. That whole area has and continues to be revitalized majorly and Winrock rose from the ashes and is continuing to rise. Never count the almost dead malls out just yet 😉
You need to do the Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Sears is gone, and several stores have closed, or are closing. I hope you can record some history of that mall while you can, before it ends up as an Amazon distribution center.
