I grew up going to this mall in the 70s 80s&90s. My favorite store was kresge's and Hudson's basement. It was always packed with people and such a great mall. So sad it's gone now!!! Thanks Anthony for the video
Same here late 60’s 70’s,80’s & 90’s. Use to skip high school and hangout in the old Pontiac Mall. That’s what it was called before it was renamed Summit Place mall. Corners of Telegraph rd and Elizabeth lk rd. I even remember some of the old old stores that used to be in that place. Van Heusen men’s store. Father and son shoes. Fingers office supply. And the anchor of the mall in the middle was SS Kresge. Every year at Christmas they covered the fountain in the middle of the mall with a huge igloo and every child from Clarkston Michigan to Pontiac Michigan would go and have the picture taken with Santa Claus inside that igloo. another store I remember Cuttingham drugs it was down near Montgomery wards. At one end of the mall there was a JL Hudson’s at the other end was Montgomery wards and some years later they added a Sears store. Who remembers the big brass son that used to hang over the fountain in the middle of the mall right in front of SS Kresge‘s? I remember it being in this mall on the weekend with my family and it’s a day when it was so packed that you could hardly move walking from store to store.
I grew up going to this mall in the late 90’s-2000’s. This video brings back tons of nostalgia. I kept looking for the dinosaur wallpaper that would was at one end of the store walls. Haha. Awesome video.
This was my mall! I worked in Sears Hardware and Paint in the late '80's and was a security officer for a couple of summers. That giant gumball machine has been down on that end of the old mall since as long as I can remember. By the way, that wasn't a Casual Corner down by where Hudson's used to be. It was an American Eagle. So strange to see a place that used to have so much life be so completely dead. Thank you for this.
I grew up at this mall. My mom worked there as a teenager. A turf war broke out at the food court doors theres big hole in the pillars there. The arcade was just to the right of the door. As you left the food court on the left hand side is where that gum ball machine sat. As you continue going down I fell in the fountain and had to buy all new clothes and shoes. Parents not happy. Thanks for the video brought back A lot of memories.
I see why you really liked this mall, Anthony. The original 80's aesthetics was so cool. The Causal Corner storefront being my fav in this fallen malls. Thx for the director's cut. I really enjoy this series. Be well and have a great weekend.
The malls original aesthetic was purely and completely Mid-Century Modern. It was remodeled partially, one more time, before what Ace shot here. This was the last of three different aesthetics it had. The best was the original Mid-Century era. 😉
My mom and dad used to go to the circus as children in the 50's when it was in town, on the site "The Mall" (later known as Summit Place) would then be built. Little Jennie the circus elephant is buried on the site still. I went to that mall almost the entire time it existed. I had my first Frozen Coke, and my first hot pretzel in the Kresge, (which went on to become K-Mart) and my very first Burger King, just a door or two down from there. I had, but gifted my niece Erika the last "E" from the old Kresge sign, from Summit Place Mall, one year for her birthday. It's a big red E. It looks great on her wall, but looks don't tell it's actual story. Thanks for making these videos about Summit Place, but they make me a bit sad.
A little info about Little Jennie can be found with a little googling, really. She was buried there in 1972 during the circus season. I was born later that year up the street at Pontiac General Hospital, in December of 72.
My dad and I displayed our homebuilt airplane in front of Kresge during one of the model airplane shows. This mall (when it was called "The Mall") used to have some of the greatest public interest displays. Antique auto shows, model airplane shows, boat shows...you name it. Used to love to go there and just "hang out." The layout here is quite different from what I remember.
I remember when I was a little girl in the 2000s (I was born in 2006), I remember walking through JC Penney and Good Riddance by Green Day was playing and that was the first time I've heard a Green Day song. I also remember going to Macy's and playing in their display bathtubs. I also remember going to Sears, before they closed with my mom and bought a swimsuit and some other things. The entire mall was blocked off in 2014. I also remember going to the little pet store in there when I was really little. It was sad to see it demolished and how the news was like: "oh let's demolish it this year!!" They never did... Until April of 2019. The only thing that reminds people about the mall are the signs near the red lobster saying Summit North and Summit South. And the Summit Place Kia in Auburn Hills, MI. My mom always went to this mall, it's really hard to see it go... I haven't seen all of it, but I've heard lots of stories about it.
I grew up going to summit place in the 90s!! They do not make malls like the used to that’s for sure. Weirdly whenever I watch stranger things I always think of summit place. Thanks for making a video on it! Love your work btw
I remember visiting this mall in 2002. Already back then it was pretty vacant. I thought that its proximity to Great Lakes Crossing made it seem redundant.
I set up the Dapy sore in Great Lakes Crossing a few days before it opened. Huge, sprawling and almost too damn big for itself. But a nice mall, at least back then.
1:58 I used to work at that store on the left with the white boards blocking the entrance. It was called Consumers Pulse. We used to send employees out in the mall to do surveys with mall goers passing by. Crazy, that was 20 years ago.
Thank you for this video, I grew up going to this mall. I even worked there for some years before it closed. I loved being there. Thank you again for this this.
thank you so much for documenting as much of the mall as you did. There was so much here that I wanted to potentially recreate for a horror game idea I had, like some of the seating areas and the info desk.
This mall had some awesome stores in the 90's. Gantos which was a ladies boutique and a kids formal wear store. Loved going to those. My best memory was getting my First Communion dress and accessories here. Dress was from a store by the old Hudson, shoes were from Payless.
This was one of my favorite malls I've seen you do. This place is kind of dear to my heart, I live in Michigan and are super fascinated with Detroit and the surrounded area. There is so much history in that area. Awesome video!
This was my absolute favorite place to hangout as a kid. I saw my first movie there Beauty and the Beast. I spent so much time there! My whole family did. It was bittersweet seeing this video. I am so glad I finally got to see it inside after all of the years it has been closed. I am very sad that it is no longer there anymore. I will always hold this place close to my heart! Thank you so much for filming this!!
Anthony...please, Please, PLEASE keep doing this! I love the director's cut format, and, like our 'friend,' Dan Bell, you do it BEAUTIFULLY! (And I LOVE finding out how you got into/out of this one!) Keep up the awesome work, sir!
Oh, that's too bad that this place was torn down. :( This was such a great looking mall, despite all the mold. I was actually watching your original upload of this place a few weeks ago, and even commented on how I loved the look of the food court. I absolutely love places like this that look like they weren't updated much since the 80's or early 90's. You're so right on with your comments on how most modern stores and buildings are simply boring. Sadly, no one seems to care much anymore about design and detail when it comes to stores and restaurants.
I remember when this mall expanded and had commercials with local actor/comedian Thom Sharp but this mall along with Lakeside, Fairlane, Twelve Oaks, Tel-Twelve and Northland where packed on weekends and holidays. Tel-Twelve is gone, Northland is being torn down, Lakeside and Fairlane are on life support. BTW: one off the reasons tis mall was secure and untouched is, the Oakland County Sheriffs Department and Michigan State Police have headquarters down telegraph road from the mall location.
@@peterjszerszen I went to a party in one of the ballrooms in 1982, seemed like a nice hotel from what I remember.. I saw "Full Metal Jacket" at the Fairlane theater.
Thank you so much for posting this. I worked at the Sears store for many years. I was really sad to see the mall being demolished. Great memories there
This mall definitely reminds me of Northridge. I loved your video of that. I grew up in the area but my family went to Southridge, which was pretty much exactly the same. I love your commentary!
I remember when malls would have local stores in them and then somewhere along the way, chain stores started to dominate the landscape. To me, that's when the Malls started to die
I like the way you gave attention to the importance of leaving these places intact as you explore, not to be destructive, or to break in or leave any kinds of havoc in your wake, always being aware and tespectful of the property and its owner.
Its so sad to see the place I used to hang out as a teen, fall into such disrepair. I started going there right before the mall expansion in the 80s. So many memories were here.
There was a video game store in this mall in the early 2000's called The Toy Box. They're still around with their own standalone store in Waterford that's really great.
@jason little Oh wow, that GameStop location was once a Funcoland?? Thats so crazy for me to try and imagine - I'm 23 so I grew up with only GameStop & Game Crazy. Funcoland looked so cool from what I've seen in photos and videos.
Toy box recently bought a new location in the old Sutton building at Dixie Hwy and Frembes and honestly it reminds me of when he was at summit place on the inside.
I Loved The Marianne Shop I bought so many clothes there when I worked at $300 I love that store I probably went there every day I miss those days I miss those kind of clothes oh well time passes by fast doesn't it? I'll never forget the Marianne store I love the clothes I love this style at the time I worked at the 300 bowl and bought a new outfit every night for work I was a bartender.
Yeah I remember it being muggy in the summers especially. It didn't help that they had such a large fountain (although that was my favorite part of the mall).
First: Ace I really appreciate that you found your way into the Pontiac/Summit Place Mall and did this filming. I would like to think there is a way to download this and save it, beyond it being on RU-vid. In this crazy world of censorship, I would hate to see it disappear from the public domain. But, I never believed I would see our Nation in the utter mess it is in. So maybe post this to MeWe or Parler or one of the other alternative "Free Speech" sites, that may remain free of sonic censorship! My 1st point is to truly Thank You for this gift. You are truly an amazing person with a calling, that many may not appreciate, but in time will grow to cherish what you have done for all of us! Number Two: I was two years old when The Pontiac Mall opened and I was there when the "Great Walenda's" performed their High Wire Stunts in the parking lot. I was there when Bozo the Clown came and performed in about 1964-65. The Original Mall's mid-century decor was so beautiful and rich in color and tapestry. The water fountains and beautiful art that hung from the ceilings should have NEVER been removed, only enhanced. The Mall that you filmed was not the way I remember the Pontiac Mall as a child/teenager growing up in the '60s and '70s. When they remodeled the Mall for the 3rd time, much of the splendor and grandeur were lost forever. Certainly, it has much more character, as you mention, than many later generation Malls, but, nothing compared to it's original Mid-Century Modern with all the color, sparkle, fluidity, and energy that it had in its original iteration. #3: My uncle was Assistant Manager at Montgomery Ward's until 1973 when he was transferred to another new store out of state. I have great memories of being with my Father and Mother shopping at both Wards & Hudson's during those years and walking through the Mall with them. Christmas time brought some outstanding decorating and of course Santa Claus North Pole Village scene was always absolutely spectacular and amazing to me. I got my picture taken with Santa nearly every year at the Pontiac Mall from 1962 until the early '80's. As you child between the ages of 8 and 15 years old, on occasion my Grandfather and I would go to the Pontiac Mall together and we would spend all afternoon window shopping, walking around, and often we would get a Hot Fudge Sundae or Hot Apple Dumpling AlaMode at the S.S. Kresge Snack Bar. From about 1966 until 1971 my aunt worked part-time as a waitress at the "Pontiac Room" restaurant located upstairs in Hudson's. It was a very aesthetically pleasing atmosphere with linens on the tables and had a soft turquoise and white decor. They had a tall statue of "Chief Pontiac" at the entrance to that restaurant. I am blessed to have great memories of eating lunch there with my Mother and/or my Grandfather and my Aunt waiting on us. #4: There was always very nice "elevator" music playing over the sound system throughout most of the stores. The public bathrooms in the original mall had coin machines for each stall and you had to pay .10 cents to use the toilets. I remember, because I was too short to reach that high to put the dime in the slot, and the doors were too low to crawl underneath, though I am sure some people managed to do that. #5: There used to be a "Shoe Cobbler" or repair center that everyone from all around would bring their shoes for repair. People did not throw their shoes away... they would take them to the cobbler and have the shoes resoled, new heals, etc... I recall my Mother having several pairs of High Heels dyed various colors to match her outfits. #6: That "Country Corner" was originally an "Elias Brothers Big Boy Family Restaurant" and that brick & those light fixtures were signatures to their stores. When they closed that Big Boy Restaurant, it eventually was gutted and turned into a retail outlet eventually becoming the Country Corner, which did offer some wonderful items, home decor, and gifts. #7: When they expanded the mall, to connect the original buildings to the new Sears store that had been built on the North end of the Mall property, it was a huge deal for all of the surrounding community when it opened for public use. And the new stores brought shoppers from quite a wide distance from the store itself. And as a teenager and young man, even in the early 80's with my own family, I recall how much we enjoyed going to the Mall shopping, even if just to window shop and look at all the cool stuff the stores offered. #8: As the years passed, society in the area deteriorated, crime increased around and within the Mall, the greater society in the area began to grow cautious of shopping at the Summit Place Mall. And as others have already mentioned, when the Great Lakes Mall opened in the Fall of 1998 it was an exciting event. All new with an ambiance that was pretty spectacular and people felt that it was a "safer" place to shop. It was then that you began to see the Summit Place Mall begin to make its downward spiral to its demise in 2009. #9: Some Personal Trivia: For the Christmas season of 1983 I was hired to perform as "Santa Claus" for the Christmas Season at the Summit Place Mall. It was a very special experience for me. I have always loved children, and I took playing Santa very seriously. I knew that those children were entrusting me with their treasured wishes, hopes, and dreams. But, what I cherish most is the picture I have of myself dressed as "Santa" holding my then 2 1/2-year-old daughter and my 9-month-old son. I recall my daughter sitting on my lap, and as I tried to disguise my voice by adopting a 2 octave deeper tone to my voice, she looked at me quizzically and with questioning in her voice "Daddy is that you?" And then came a series of "Ho! Ho! Ho!'s" and a few quick pictures which I still have in the archives. But, it was memories that I'll cherish for my entire life. The experience eventually lead me to launch my holiday business of playing "Santa Claus" a few years later and I became a Professional "For Private Hire" Santa Clause that I continued for many years until I moved to Florida 7 years ago. But, I am proud to say I was a Summit Place Mall "Santa Claus" and I loved entertaining all the children. #10: I mentioned already the Original Pontiac Mall and its interior decor - I hope that some people who read this and watch your video, will post pictures they may have of the Original Interior of that Mall. It had beautiful Terrazo and Marble Tile Floors, gorgeous "singing" fountains with metal Trees inside these Pools along the center of the aisleway between Hudsons and Wards and the beautiful "Star Burst" that hang from the ceiling in the center of that Mall was spectacular. I recall how people would make a wish and throw pennies into these pools for good luck. #11: Just one last memory: Before Sears and Penney's built their buildings at the Mall, these retailers were mainstay stores in downtown Pontiac. I recall Sears in particular because it was an old building with creaking wooden stairs that you walked up to go to the 2nd story. So when they closed that store in downtown Pontiac, as Kresge eventually did with their main store in Downtown Pontiac (at the corner of Huron St & Saginaw St) it was a sad day and an exciting day for those who lived and worked in Pontiac. Sad to see the last "big retailer" leave downtown Pontiac and yet exciting to see this beautiful new modern store that seemed to be filled with so many more offerings, than downtown had. There are just so many memories that I could write pages and pages of memories of times spent at the Pontiac/Summit Place Mall. But, I will conclude here and simply say "Thank You' again for capturing for posterity the final remnants of an era that is now long gone in the Pontiac/Waterford Michigan area. Young people will never know the excitement of their Mom or Dad saying "Ok kids, were going to the Mall shopping" knowing that meant dinner out, maybe an Ice Cream, and possibly new shoes! If you were lucky a new toy from Kresge's. Oh gosh, I really could go on and on... because of all the memories... The other stores close by that thrived because of the Mall being there. Across the street on Elizabeth Lake Road were "Highland Appliance", Mr. Steak Family Restaurant, and the full-service Car Wash. Then on the opposing corner "The Red Barn" hamburger restaurant and the Country Liquor Store (both owned by members of the Felice family). To the north on Telegraph Road was Clinton Valley Center which was a really spooky medieval-looking building, built in the 1880s that was the hospital for the mentally ill. Across the street and west down Elizabeth Lake Road was the Firebird Bowling Alley and Lounge. Just to the south on Telegraph Road was an original Dawn Donuts Coffee Shop that was there into the early 2,000s. (May still be standing, I have not been there in few years) I am sure natives to the area may appreciate the memories I have shared. Pontiac and the surrounding communities were once some of the most desirable places to live in America. We had the best-paying jobs, the best economy, and some of the highest per capita income in all of the United States. Pontiac, Waterford, and the surrounding area was once an abundant, flourishing, and blessed community. All before NAFTA, the USA PATRIOT ACT, and so many other local, state, and federal decisions took away our prosperity. Younger people have no idea of the prosperity that existed during the 1960s and '70s. Before all the jobs went to other countries and our politicians betrayed our nation and sold us off, piece by piece to foreign nations to line their pocketbooks, while they stole American's of their heritage. But, to document history is a treasure and deeply appreciated! Thank you! Pray for our Nation! God Bless You for your treasured gift of this video!
Love the 80's aesthetic of the mall. Wish I could have been there too as the 80's lover I am. And BTW I love when you talk in the video. It's so informative and your enthusiasm is awesome. And the history you present is so good. Cheers from Sweden.
I did not start shopping there until 2006 since I was far away on the east side of Detroit, but I went after work as my cool down from a very stressful job to the Victoria's Secret, JCPenny store and the GNC. Everything else was pretty much gone and it was eerie then to hear my own heels clicking through the hallway.
I remember this mall very fondly, having spent a significant amount of time there during the 80s, 90s and into the 2000s. I bought my wife's engagement ring at the Kay Jewelers store in 2003. Watching this video, I can almost remember every store that was there. I recall the anchor stores (Hudson's; later becoming Macy's, Montgomery Ward and Sears, which wasn't attached to the mall until its later years) and the various eateries that existed before there was a food court (Burger King, Onassis Coney Island, etc.). The expansion brought about a food court and a hallway that stretched around the defunct Montgomery Ward and added a Kohl's. It was a cool mall that seemed to thrive, until Great Lakes Crossing was built in the late 90s. In my opinion, Great Lakes Crossing is a massive waste. It could hardly keep tenants, due to the excessive rent cost. Thanks, Ace, for sharing this. It means a lot to me and, I'm sure, to others from this area.
I went to this mall when I was a little kid all the time. It's crazy seeing everything again. My best friends grandparents own and electrical company and were put in charge of all of the electrical for the mall once it closed. So they got to explore around a few times before it was demolished. My friend actually ended up getting a firemans axe while they were exploring and still has it today.
I grew up in Pontiac and used to spend a lot of time there. My favorite store was Grinnell's Music and the book store, can't remember the name. The last time I was there was at a dentist's office above the old bank at the far end of the mall. It was actually frightening as no one was around except the dentist and his nurse although I could hear a cat in the security office next to his. He moved his office out of there shortly after and I think he was the last business that had still been there except for Sears at the other end of the mall. The last time I was in Sears I saw no one for 20 minutes, no workers and no customers. Sad to see it had gone so far down and it now gone. It used to be so vibrant and busy.
I remember there was this pet store where you could buy animals. I would go there as a kid with my mom and sister and they would let us play with the puppies and cats. Good times.
I've recently been finding myself really interested in this kind of thing the last couple months and have been watching your videos (though i guess i didn't subscribe til now somehow?? Oops), enough that I've been drawing my group's D&D characters as 80s mallrats haha. I was born in 1995 but still somehow the nostalgia feeling is really strong about this kind of thing and i really wish malls could do as you say and reopen with this kind of aestheic :( some of these places look so cool and fun and it really makes you see why malls were such a prominent and popular thing in their hayday. Thank you for your videos! And don't worry, talk as much or as little as you want! I like hearing about whatever you've got to say, but if talking isn't your jam then that's ok too. Do you!
Anyone remember in 2010 or 2011 when the city announced they were building that baseball stadium in a corner of the parking lot of summit place? I remember the sign that said “Oakland county cruisers coming 2012”...sadly that never came to fruition.
I remember that, I wish they would have went through with it, it would have really helped the area, considering the success of Jimmy John’s field in Utica
Thanks for posting this. I remember those stores from my childhood. It's a shame that it's gone. I hope you are doing well now, and that you have been able to reconnect with your musician friend.
This brings back memories, I grew up going to this mall. My mom would take me to the Electronics Boutique and Babbages (before they were called Ebgames and Gamestop) to buy games. I eventually got a job at the Ebgames across from that Mrs. Fields cookie shop. Good times, thanks for the trip down memory lane!
I like this format because the original dead mall videos are great for history and musical ambiance...but it's also good to hear about personal experiences inside of malls and more in-depth detail of actually being there and what it took to make the video.
my mom used to take me here as a kid (mid 2000s) to go to kohl’s and sears because great lakes crossing didnt have them. we used to just get in and out because it felt sketchy, same for when she’d get coffee at the dunkin donuts building in the parking lot. the last time i ever went was for a play my friend was in at a theatre in the mall when i was 7. i think that experience is what kickstarted my interest in dead malls, it was so dark and empty and i was mesmerized. i had a friend in highschool who liked urbex and occasionally went into the old kmart headquarters and the silverdome but i never thought of asking him to explore this place with me until it was gone.
I spent a lot of time in this mall growing up and as a hang out. That covered up sign on that restaurant used to be a Cinnabon. It was a really cool place in its hayday
I have a few parking lot signs from there if anybody is interested and willing to travel to the Detroit area. Always wanted one last walk in there. I pretty much saw the demolition every day in 2019.
Oh… the memories here. This was the place I had my first encounter with “Indian Joe” (local legend). I got lost here as a small child. Went here often with my boyfriend (now husband). Took my babies trick-or-treating in this mall. Funny, I don’t remember doing much shopping, but when the Sticker Club store was open, I always begged my mom to take me in there.
I remember stumbling upon this mall in 2006 and being really sad that it see that it was on its way out. It makes sense ever since Great Lakes crossing was built (much nicer and bigger mall a few miles away)
Born in the 60s and spent countless hours there. Even did security there for a few months in 80s. Then married and then had many more good times there with my wife and kids.
No, that wasn’t Casual Corner. That was located right next to Petite Sophisticate, same entrance. I used to shop those stores for work clothes. I still have a shirt I bought from there that still looks fresh. I recognize so my store fronts and have had a flood of memories watching this vid. I have a video somewhere I shot with my friend in 2012 during a visit (I moved in 2009), of the exterior of the mall and surrounding empty stores (Target…). We reminisced then too.
KB kids stores, EB games, fashion cents are the stores that I remember and Toy Box that’s located on Dixie was located there before they closed. Toy Box might be the last remaining store that the was in summit place mall.
I think the internet killed the mall. I also think people feel it's more practical to go into say a strip mall type of store where each store entrance leads directly outside, easy in and out. Strip malls should be pretty safe from closings because of this. I also enjoy watching your videos as well, very relaxing.
We shopped there when i was a kid. I walked through there a week before it closed. There was an arcade in the corner of the food court had family photos taken there to.
Man, I miss this place... seemed like I was there almost every week, growing up, and I definitely was once I was old enough to drive. It was a shock when I went back after a few years away, and only Sears was the only part still open. Seeing this video, "walking" though the mall again... it means a lot. I am curious if you happen to still have any cut footage, though. I've been thinking about building a VR map, but there are some areas where there isn't much or any clear reference...
At 6:46, on the right, my store comes into view. So many great memories.... Hey R, J, R, K, T, Z, S, and so many others, especially district managers (DMs) G.K., P.L., G.M..
I worked here at the Suncoast Motion Picture Company for a time back in the mid 90s. I wish I could remember exactly where the store was but - and this is hard for me to swallow - it was a quarter century ago. I remember playing The Goofy Movie a lot because I legit liked that movie best out of all our new releases at the time. Also, the only car accident I've ever gotten into was on Telegraph going to work one morning. I hate driving on the west side to this day, I'm 100% eastsider through and through, haha.
Kind of a shame they demolished the mall so fast. Used to drive near a lot as a kid. And honestly it wouldve been cook to see something in my hometown be frozen in time
