DEAD MALL - ASHTABULA TOWNE SQUARE MALL - SUFFOCATING SILENCE 

You are so right... People don't connect socially like what we used to. Seeing that arcade, made me think of my childhood/teen years. Now in my late 30' s. It is sad to see ppl not enjoying these games like we used to. And another mall ruined by Wal-Mart😠

I recognized the arcade colors as soon as you turned the corner. I used to be an Aladdin's Castle store manager back in the 90's. This brings back many memories.

Like the late 80’s aesthetics! Especially the Food Court and mall tile

I grew up in Ashtabula. Had some good birthday parties at that Aladdin’s Castle. Thank you for the good memories!

This was one of your best updates!!! ♥️Your commentary and game room footage so well done and brought back memories from Ohio♥️ Thanks for the quarantine uplift!!

I grew up going to this mall and remember just how lively and fun it used to be. So sad to see the state it's in now. Truly unrecognizable.

Ace....Forgot to tell you....I know we grew up in the same decades....One of the lead dancers from Club MTV is now the Mayor of Newburgh, NY....Him and his twin brother used to practice at my neighbors house before every taping....Downtown Julie brown used to dance with them all the time....

Ace's well done for a min I thought I was watching a dan bell video much respect to your channel keep up the good work....

Building a huge mall in a fairly depressed country town was their first mistake. A strip mall would struggle to survive, nevermind this.

A functioning Radio Shack in 2020? I had no idea they were still around.

Great video Anthony. 👍💙

Your message at the end of the video says it all.

That former Alladin's Castle is rad. I saw some real classic in there.

ALL malls are dead right now with the Coronavirus going around. Stay safe out there!

This mall was awesome when I was a teenager in the 90s. There was 3 record stores,Spencer's and plenty of clothes stores. Aladdin's Castle was fun. We had Mortal Kombat tournaments. Good times. Walmart sucked this town dry

This video was VERY well presented!! Thank You for filming this and putting this together.

Wouldn’t it be nice if after this pandemic has ended people learn to appreciate actually going out shopping again rather then buying everything online

Great video and thank you for uploading it. Great message by the way about showing others you care for love since tomorrow is not guaranteed. Ever since the Coronavirus pandemic began, we started to lose social connection to ourselves by being quarantined to our homes and we cannot go out to our favorite public places to socialize and have fun anymore due to the virus. I miss those happy days and I want them back! I really hope this pandemic ends so this world would be back to normal!

I basically lived there after school. Its a real shame, soo many good memories. Thanks for the video, very well done! Great research and care. Thanks again. - Nathan from Ashtabula

I remember the grand opening of this mall. One of the celebrity guests was Big John Studd. Every kid on my street was pumped to go see him. We lived about halfway between this mall and mentor but always seemed to go to mentor. There was a mr hero in the food court in Ashtabula though which I really liked.

It's so surreal watching one of these on a mall you've been to before.

I remember the movie theater was among the first things to open before the rest of the mall. One of my earliest memories was us seeing the construction inside when going to a movie there. Fun place in the 90s. I spent a lot of time at Babbages, Aladdin's Castle, Family Toy Warehouse, and Sears. Lots of nostalgia that makes it painful to see it so dead now. When I visited in 2009 and I saw how dead the mall was at that point. My Dad bought me my first computer from Dillards there when they still sold electronics. GameStop (formally Babbages) was among the last original stores to go in the past couple of years to my understanding. Oddly, we still have a RadioShack there and JoAnn Fabrics was also an original store.

Hey Anthony, would you consider doing a history of some of the extinct retail stores during the CoVID downtime? Like Montgomery Ward? You do excellent narrative histories with excellent detail, quality scripting, and amazing footage.

Stay safe in all you do. We have a very healthy mall in Corpus Christi, Texas, I hope this pandemic we are all suffering through doesn’t end up hurting it. It has a Dillard’s, Macy’s, and JC Penney’s, and is about 90% occupied. There are shopping centers on every side of the mall, but because they keep good main line stores in the mall and are constantly doing maintenance and updating, it stays full of customers. Our NBC affiliate even has a satellite studio at the food court. The mall has been closed for a week now, and there was hopes of reopening in 14 days, but I think the city is looking at another 3 weeks. I pray the businesses can hold on. That goes for everywhere. 🙏🙏🙏

I just wanted to say I'm a big fan of your work and love what you do. I've always wanted to personally make video documentation of my local mall but I'm socially awkward and worry about what people think of the guy walking around with his phone up recording. Anyways, I think it's really cool you dig into the history of the mall and its past. You've really taken the #1 spot for me over Dan Bell (who I still love). I'm sorry about you losing work during the virus outbreak and hope everything good goes your way. Stay safe and be well.

I love these types of videos

I guess the robot wasn't the only thing that was FUBAR in that place.

Ah yes, Aladdin’s Castle had an arcade at Arden Fair in Sacramento after the renovation in ‘89-‘90 and had to beg my mom to stop in and play a few games when I was 10-12-ish. If I can remember, it closed before the mid-90’s. When I visited Arden Fair this last Fall, the site is now a jewelry store.

The pinball machines in the front of the arcade (stranger things and star wars comic book edition) at least are both 2019 machines, so they are at least adding new stuff.

One thing I can tell about this mall is that it's clean and all the lights are working.

Ace you always do such a great job at narrating and videoing these malls. I enjoy all the information you gather and the history on them. Thank you for all your hard work! My heart breaks when I see another mall die, in the age of electronics it saddens me even more. Yes, I'm from an older generation. Thank you!

another great dead mall video thank you

What a very bad time and to all who read this have good luck be well

Thanks for the words of encouragement! Definitely brought a smile to my face. I can't hug a lot of folks right now, but at least I can send them one in a text or a message. Here's some for you all.🌈💖

Oh how I miss the arcade at New Towne Mall in New Philadelphia circa 1992. And all of that neon...it was so colorful in the food court. Those were the days!

Once malls are gone this country will be a different place. 😪

HUG!!! I love watching your content

Take care Ace and everyone!

Thanks for the video! Stay safe!

Dial up and ICQ, yes! I also had MSN messenger. Was not much on AOL. I thought I was the Sh** when I got the call converter box, could get online anytime and if a call came the phone connected to the box would ring and if I answered it then my dialup would go offline. I remember loading like 10 songs to download overnight, woke up next morning to find only 3 or 4 downloaded lol. I got in trouble ALLOT for being online before got that box! Great video, history, personal connections, memories, dead mall, this one has everything great job on this! Can tell you have come a long way since 2016

Thanks for the video I always enjoy looking at these places, but knowing it's sad how they're forgotten or are run down that people destroy. But it's still a piece of History.

Astabula Square Mall was dead back in 2011 My friend longtime friend David is from that area . we would go visit his dad and ride to the mall. The only store worth it was Super K Mart. I was dead back then. Fast forward to 2012 in the spring mall was down to 35 percent occupancy Super Kmart was the only store that was busy. Im surprised this mall hasn't filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy yet.

3:50 - There was also a Phar-Mor in PA's Fairgrounds Square Mall. After its bankruptcy, the enormous space was divided between Planet Fitness and Super Shoes.

Our mall is closed now until 2 weeks. 😕

I always liked the mall when I lived in Ashtabula, because I didn't have a car, and that was the easiest place for me to shop. I rarely went to Walmart, because I had to go past the mall to get there.

Tbh Walmart could re air that retro commercial as is and it would be a real hit

Also, the mall didn’t have access to Walmart at first. I remember my Dad being mad because he had to go around to get to Walmart. Enough people complained and access was made between the two.

I am sure most of these struggling malls won't make it through everything happening now. Hang in there buddy. Tough times never last but tough people do

I live 15 minutes from this mall... it's been like "that" for 15 years

It's lovely how clean and well-taken care for this place still appears. Even those old arcade machines still seem to be in good condition

Camped out a couple nights at that mall waiting for concert tickets to go on sale.

Cool design of the mall, it is so different from the other malls.

Sorry to hear about your job but Hang in there man! It's going to get better! Great video!

It's sad I'm 36 and I remember those days. It seems like technology has made people less social. I too wish we could go back to those times. I hope when this covid-19 is over the malls will survive. I hope that covid-19 isn't the final nail in the coffin for the malls.

For anyone wondering, the song is 'Physical' from Duett's 'Cycles' album (it's nothing but fantastic songs!)..

My friends and I used to camp out in the parking lot the night before concert tickets went on sale o we could be first in line. Back when ticket master was selling all tickets.

Also loved seeing the former Aladdin's Castle with all the vintage games. Also pretty cool to see a Radio Shack that's actually still open, and a Bath and Body Works with the old school store front, both in 2020! You're also dead on with your comments about how we don't connect socially and enjoy things together like we used to. I really do miss how life was when I was growing up in the 90's. Those were much more fun and exciting times compared to today, that's for sure!

nice video love seeing videos like this

I LOVE the retro into! Very nice!

I loved this mall as a kid I live in Ashtabula now but I lived in Jefferson as a kid and it was a huge deal to go here! It’s so sad I wish they would do something with it :(

Mill Creek Mall is the only one close enough to me that's still doing pretty well! This mall is very nice too, I wish it was doing well! 😔

You should check out The Lima Mall in Lima,Ohio I'm from Lima but moved away 20 years ago. I'm told this Mall is a dead mall. It doesn't have many stores left. It's owned by Simon

As of right now, only 32 K-Mart stores remain open in the U.S.

Last week has been really rough for me so this video is more than a welcome distraction... Thanks Ace! Also, what??? Radio Shack still exists?! Thought they were all gone!

The road connecting Walmart in the mall wasn't added until a little over 20 years after Walmart opened

stay safe all my prayers to you

That Aladdin's Castle was amazeballs! Spent so much time in my local AC as a kid.

went to astabula county once, i loved it

What a nice and well kept mall

I grew up going to this mall. Probably worked at 5 different places there, lol. I love vaporwave & your editing style - this is tight! Thanks for shining a light on the good old Ashtabula Mall. I also followed Duett because this music was gooood 😎 p.s. I also remember the contest they ran for the mall's sign & logo, that super minimalist early 90s seagull design - people were salty that it won & said it was too simple, but it was iconic!

great video, sorry i missed the premier

12:24 man, I'd love to have that Crazy Taxi machine. Shame it's off

Hope you and family plus friends are ok

Love that the paper named foobie the robot at FUBAR D robot.

I think this corona virus shut down is the final nail in the coffin for indoor shopping malls. The stores will close and most never reopen. Most purchases will be done online, in strip malls, or "village" centers. I also predict Main street will make a comeback with small family owned speciality businesses.

Never said it before but, I LOVE that into

There was an Aladdin's Castle at the Summit Place Mall in Pontiac, where I grew up. It was a cool place; one of my favorites. It died long before the mall did, unfortunately. I really hope your (and the overall) situation improves soon. Stay safe, healthy and strong. Thanks for the great content.

i hear on tv news today presdent trump he sing a bill for help people's who got lay off also i saw they still got Radio shack there ty for showing this be praying :(

I am mighty glad to have seen the food court and confirmed my Google Maps suspicion that two counters and a sit-down are still hanging on tightly. I long to try the BBQ, sporting goods store, arcade, and a few other places next time I see Ashtabula, which will be soon. Since 2016 (never stepped into the small shop hall of any mall from 2008 to then), I have been seriously determined to increase my interest in and patronage of numerous malls. Indeed, they are much better than online shopping for reasons of getting social even with distancing, walking for mild exercise, and examining items for yourself. (I go online for hard finds only.) I think a lot about sparking a Save the Malls movement, in graphic sticker form and beyond.

Should do one on the mall in Macon, GA. Dead with a few stores still open....it’s very strange.

Dang, pretty big step up over Dan lately. Nice work

I grew up in Ashtabula, my grandfather was part of this you even showed him

Oh my God! All of those comic short boxes in the thrift store!!!!

Great video well done definitely deserve more likes :)

I've been to this mall several times when I served my mission for the LDS church in Ohio. It's really sad to see it like this.

It looks like a combination of modern and vintage aesthetics. Just how the tiles and ceilings look. Like the looks of the property inside.

Malls were trending down in the 90s after about 20 years of good times. many malls were feeling the strain by 1996, so building a new mall in '92 was looking for trouble. they found it

It's funny to me that you lament about how disconnected we are from each other nowadays and then talk about the good ole days of talking to your GF on the phone, then dialing in to chat via AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, and playing SIMS and Roller Coaster Tycoon all night.

They really don’t have very long life spans for these malls do they. That’s crazy

Good music by D U E T T ...awesome "new retro" style

It looks like the owner of the arcade recently invested in some new pinball machines. Stranger Things and Star Wars (comic art) both started shipping in late 2019. Many unattended arcades tend to be saturated with claw games and instant prize games, this one is no exception.

Stay healthy and safe 🖖🏽✌🏽

And Dorset! You missed us! Between Jefferson and Andover.

Was there a hot topic here around 2002? I think I went there then...

If you drop the rent down low enough the stores will come

have you ever gone to the st. lawrence center mall in Massena,NY? still a lot of the 90's esthetics left and definetly a dead mall. i used to go to the Alladin's Castle there when i was much younger! hopefully when life resumes some normalcy you can visit, if you havent already

Anthony, I'm wondering if the Sandusky Mall is even still alive. I spent 12 summers at Cedar Point (working), between 1992 and 2006. If Cedar Point ever opens back up, I hope you do a "dead park" thing with that.

i would love to see a long video of all your intros, i could watch them all day

Hey Anthony, sorry to hear about the loss of your jobs. My ex sold cars for 3 years at a major dealership in Tampa FL. He said it was the worst job he ever had. Believe me, he had some really crap jobs so that says a lot. I hope things get better for you and for all of us. Stay safe and stay healthy!

In my day we had a party line. Our house was three short rings. Any other belonged to another home. A soda came in a glass bottle and cost 10 cents. Was it better? No, just different. Your kids children will have a totally different life experience. Stay safe my man.