Parkway Plaza: A Friday Afternoon At The Mall | Retail Archaeology 

Woo! Fun times. Next time we should do Mission Valley. I'm a sucker for stairways leading to unknown places!

I could almost hear my grandparents calling my name across the food court. They've been gone for years, thank you for this.

This was one of my go to hangout spots when I was a teenager in the 2000s and I'd been coming here with my mom since I was a baby. Saw a ton of movies in that awesome theatre with my best friend in high school and I'm so glad you appreciate it as much as I do! I'm not sure if it's still there, but I remember walking down that Sears stairway to the Olan Mills for family portraits back in the '90s. A note on the renovations: there used to be a big, classic fountain in front of the food court that looked straight out of a vaporwave aesthetic pic. I don't remember when exactly it was taken out, but I remember it was some time before I started really haunting the place in high school.

I live in Monterrey México, which is not near San Diego, but I will fly every vacation to spend time with my family that lives in San Diego, we use to go to that mall all the time, I have a lot of memories and I have seen how the playground areas has changed, amazing memories that I won't forget.

This was my childhood mall in the eighties and early nineties. I can't believe you filmed those stairs at the Sears. I have vivid memories running down those stairs to get to the arcade in the basement. I just read an article yesterday about another round of Sears closures and the El Cajon store is on the list. I am so glad you got that footage before it will close forever. Thank you so much for what you do!!

I felt an odd mixture of excitement and sadness to see my local mall on your channel. Great video buddy, as always.

Omg, I LOVED Parkway Plaza, I was devastated when they took out the carousel! If you ever come back to San Diego, you should check out the very thriving Westfield UTC, as well as Mission Valley and Fashion Valley!

That Cinema! Way cool with the interior design. Almost like it's own "mini mall" from the 80's!

Awesome video. My mall was once owned by Westfield just like this one. It also had the “shoppingtown” part of the name dropped in 2005. Both malls have the same signage, directory’s, and branding. It’s interesting how they both have retained these features after they were sold from Westfield.

This mall probably isn’t too busy on weekdays but looks like it probably does decent on weekends. My local mall is like that. These types will likely survive for a good while yet

It was a pretty stylish mall in the 80's. It was originally just the one corridor that went from Sears to May Co. The floors were all terrazzo with these huge planters with lots of tropical foliage underneath the skylights. Lots of seating areas for smokers. They doubled the size of that mall in the late 80's early 90's. It was where we hung out before we could drive. There were alot of long time tenants at Parkway Plaza but then in came Westfield and of course screwed it up. Seems to be doing just fine these days.

I remember going here vaguely when I was around 7. The Walmart was freshly new. I also remember that there was a puppy mill at this mall. This was one of the malls I rarely went to around the San Diego area. I passed by it on the freeway more than I went to it.

I was having a bad day till now, these videos always cheer me up.

I am so glad our Mall is doing well. We still have a Sears, JCPenny, Dillards, Dick's, and Macy's. It's been like that for a long time. Although, Dick's came in when I was much older. We also got a Regal theater a few years ago, which was really need and asked by people for many years. They must have finally listened. lol

It was Parkway Plaza before Westfield bought it, and gave it the Horrendous name of Westfield ShoppingTown: Parkway. Even after the name change, locals still called it Parkway Plaza. And the new owners just returned it to the known name.

You do love your skylights, tile work and neon. For the record, so do I.

The mall is actually doing reasonably well, considering it was pretty much sold for scrap by Westfield several years ago...it took the new owners a year or two to get their acts together, but it’s a decent place to shop, and is Really busy on weekend afternoons...I’m guessing it’s about 75% occupied, maybe...Trust me, as a local, there are a few other malls in MUCH worse shape...Horton Plaza, Grossmont Center, and especially the circling-the-drain Shops at Carlsbad (another former Westfield mall that used to be Plaza Camino Real) which is, maybe 10% occupied, at best

That's a slogan: The doors open... Let's do it! I can't believe Sears never remodeled that store..like the 70's or 80's--never got rid of the drop ceiling and fluorescent lights. Looks like ceiling in an old K Mart but that's just ironic now. Inside retail humor=very niche audience

That's my hometown, but I haven't been back since 1996. Thanks for having a channel like this for old malls. I used to go to the movie theater/arcade up the street on Fletcher Parkway too, but it got turned into a Hooters.

The Regal Cinema movie theater is so awesome and beautiful it definitely feels like a time capsule from the 80's early 90's

This reminds me a lot of the mall I have near me. We have just about that kind of crowd most days - not nearly as busy as it used to be. It's a real shame too, because I saw it throughout its lifetime, and it is a shadow of what it used to be. Little kid or no, you don't forget what a busy and thriving mall looks like on a Saturday Afternoon.

They used to have the coolest 2-level carousel in the center of the mall . . .

The Walmart at Christown mall in Phoenix is attached to the mall, along with the Costco (which is also very unusual) before the Pennys came back, the PetSmart was attached too, but now it's the JC Penny attached.

I remember going to this mall all the time when I was younger... also there used to be a carousel in the middle of the mall, but they got rid of it a while back. And the dicks/crunch fitness used to be Mervyns

Love that opening bit with Luigi and Picard standing in front of the miniature arcade games.....very nice!

Accidentally ran into your channel and now I’m hooked. Thank you for making these videos. As a kid in the 80s and 90s, the mall was a treat for us to go to. Parkway Plaza gets busy towards the afternoon when everyone gets off of work. And the weekends get busy too. The Sears is now gone.

I always see something new and cool in your videos!

I love the early access to these awesome videos. Keep up the good work brother

I could seriously smell the popcorn when you were walking into the movie theater entrance from the arcade!!! We always used to stop at the Sweet Factory before going to movie! Omg there are ssssoooo many memories!!!!

I remember this mall when it first opened up in 1972. On one end, there was Sears which was actually built in 1969 before the mall and which is now closed, and the other end of the mall was May Company which is now Macy’s. Woolworth was on the south side of the mall. Later on they converted the Woolworth to the movie theater and they added a northern extension which became Mervyns and now is Dick’s Sporting Goods. The Broadway was also going to go in on the south side of the mall but declared bankruptcy and was never built. This was the place to hang out when you were in high school in the 70s.

Actually, the mall’s arcade, Tilt, closed in 2015...it was across from McDonalds...also, it was Parkway Plaza from the mid-2000s, long before Westfield left

I shoulda known Ian would make an appearance here. I didn't recognize him until the Walmart escalator shot.

Yup, pretty much 90s aesthetic. Lol. Especially that floor! And I found those puppets quite creepy.

Aw, I have so many memories of this mall growing up! Used to come here when I'd stay with my grandparents who lived in the area.

Takeaways: people don't need pants in California, "door's open, let's do it" should be everyone's motto, and all malls need neon that serious (but no one needs that blue carpet!). It looks like a well cared for place, all things considered.

Excellent work as always! I get very happy whenever I get to sit down and watch your videos. Keep up the great work!

"you know i love my skylights" - greatest quote from this video

I think I visited this mall years ago while on vacation. I remember that movie theater!

Thanks for the nostalgia hit. Worked at that Sears for a couple years back in '90-'91. Of course it's closed now, and I moved away from the area ten years ago, but it's nice to see my teenage hangout again.

There is another Two story Walmart In Grossmont Center in La Mesa.

This mall is busy on weekends and holidays. Theres lots of teens and families on the weekends, and they do pictures with Santa and the Easter Bunny every year in front of the Sears. I'm a local and I've been going to this mall since I was a kid. I have a lot of fond memories of this mall, and especially the movie theater.

That Vaporwave soundtrack is godlike! I'd love to know the songs please!

these videos are always fun to watch!

A very clean mall... I hope this mall stays successful in the coming years.

This mall was definitely my childhood. I grew up in El Cajon btw. I came here all time and remember a lot of the stores that aren’t there anymore. I remember Sears, Mervyn’s, Robinson May, Gap, KB Toys, Disney Store, RadioShack, Foot Locker, Dairy Queen, Orange Julius, Roccos hair design, Anchor Blue, PacSun, Puppy Mill, Pat & Oscars, McDonald’s, Tilt Arcade, Sam Goody, Waldenbooks, Coldstone, Mrs Fields, Arby’s, Great Steak and Fry Co, Hot Dog On A Stick, Etc. I also remember when the Walmart was added.

MUSTY SMELL! THAT'S WHAT THAT SMELL COMING FROM THE SEARS NEAR ME IS! It's fucking musty as hell, and kinda moldy. It's also kinda funny that the wing of the mall it's in is pretty much a dead section; the only stores in that wing are the Sears, a Gold's Gym, a bridal gown place, and a suit store. Even the GNC in that wing closed down!

This place was hopping in the 70’s. Smaller but full of friends. 😄

Is the mall sucking the life out of walmart? Good.

I’m living in Japan right now for 3 years and was missing home. Thank you for the vids of my malls ♥️ subscribed

i hate seeing an empty arcade area

A Wal-Mart with an entrance to it from the mall you don't see that to often and it being a 2 story store as well pretty cool and that Regal cinema with all that neon was pretty sweet reminds me of the old Regal theater at the Bell is Fair mall in Bellinham washington before they built a new one and closed the one at the mall now its just part of the gigantic food court there.

My hometown has a Parkway Plaza mall here in Madisonville Kentucky. Our little mall is thriving in spite of others in other towns within 50 miles.

Grew up shopping at Parkway Plaza! My Grandparents loved that Sears! I still shop there from time to time. Lots of great memories at that mall

I live in the next city over and am in this mall a few times a month. Some weekends are dead, and some are packed. The slow demise of Sears, and its final death, have taken some of the life out of this mall. It's pretty well maintained and they do a lot of seasonal events which bring a lot of people into the mall. Not as nice as Fashion Valley, but not horrible.

This mall screams 90s

I live in Phoenix and you should check out Arrowhead mall! I grew up with my grandmother taking me out shopping to that mall but as I get older I feel like it isnt doing that well. Its still pretty busy but seems to be showing its age. Would really love if you did a video on it!

An update on Sears Holdings: They've released their annual report for 2017. They have been insolvent for 4 years in a row now (not enough assets to pay off debts) and have a 7-year net loss streak. Needless to say, they're not doing good. I'm predicting a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, if not this year, then next year. If you ever want to see a Sears or K-Mart in person, you better do it now before they're gone. That said, malls certainly won't be the same without them.

hah when you said ain i immediately thought of the completly uneccesary podcast and holy shit that was actually him??? wow! Small world

Walmart is rare, to ever see anchor ANY shopping malls anywhere! I recall reading they used to anchor a mall in Beaver Dam, WI. Also, they eventually expanded a mall anchoring store to a bigger one, when a mall demalled in Springfield, MO. Plus I think they anchor a mall somewhere east of San Francisco somewhere(Richmond, CA?). For whatever reason, they seem to rarely ever anchor any shopping malls anywhere. Great vid, loved it!

Yes, a new Retail Archaeology yes

I remember requesting this mall awhile back! The directory sign was commonly used in Westfield malls from the 90s I believe. (When they acquired a bunch of malls) I’m assuming since you’re in El Cajon your going to visit La Mesa’s mall Grossmont Centre!

Watching some older R.A. vids tonight. Love the neon!

I used to shop here as I lived in the San Carlos area at the Summit Park Village apt. Good memories as a 33 year old living away from NAS North Island.

Used to hangout with my friends at that mall during high school back in 2010-2011. Actually would hang out in that arcade room a lot. Good times

That cinema was so aesthetic like wow So nice to find places that still use so much neon.

Retail Archaeology+ I liked that this Mall has a Top 10 Toys and Gifts within it:). It reminded me of the old Kay Bee Toy and Hobby Shop back in the 70s and 80s when I was a Child. It would be AWESOME if you could do a video on Toy Stores within Malls throughout the U.S. With the depressing news of the closing of Toys R Us, it would be refreshing to find out about other existing Toy Stores. As for the Mall itself, It looks a lot like the Malls where I live on the East Coast with large Movie Theaters. I too really like those Skylights, especially the one with all those Umbrellas hanging down under it. The Aeroponic Garden is a wonderful way to bring nature aesthetics and ecology to our Malls:)

I met my husband here is 1993. It was called Parkway Plaza back then too before Westfield. It is terrible now. Sears is now a furniture store, Macys gone, Regal shutting down, and a lot of strange stores and characters at this mall. It is going downhill fast which is sad.

Dude you been to my old Red Mountain K Mart in Mesa & this is the old Mall I would hang out at in high school! It’s hella different. That JC Penney was my 1st job. My aunt was a manager there & got me a job. My wife worked at the footlocker next door but we were just friends then. My ex gf worked at a picture place next to Penney’s. My cousin worked at the movies. Got us into Revenge of the Sith for free. Thank you for the nostalgia trip.

awesome vibe to that mall, nice!

That was the place to be back in junior high on Friday and Saturdays. (early 80's) Well, Aquarius Roller Rink too. Favorite stores were May Company, Crazy Shirts, Greek Gyros, and the Sausage store that handed out samples. Mom dropped you off for dates at the movie theater. Miss those simple times when your phone hung from a cord on the wall.

Was the old smell in Sears like the Fiesta store? Don't you remember the the Fiesta Wards also had an open set of stairs?

Love the vaporwave 👌🏽

My wife grew up going to this mall as a kid. Visited this mall right after watching your video. it was actually pretty busy for a Thu night. Great vid!

4:25 Locals have called it "parkway plaza" since before 2013 btw

I’ve never seen a two story Walmart before either. Kind of neat

I like it. Fun to see the stairway in Sears. Old school downtown department stores always had stairways like that connecting the basement to the main floor.

This is a fascinating look at a mall clearly in the early stages of decay. I'm surprised that this particular Sears was not included in the most recent round of store closures.

This is really cool mall. Want this in Spokane. The valley mall is REALLY busy over the weekends. Heck the Sears parking lot is packed.

I can't believe how densly packed the inventory is at this Sears! The one at Castleton Square mall in Indianapolis was very empty, even before they announced their closing!

The one display rack at Sears that was underutilized for a few pairs of pants was made up for it with the one with too many hats. See 6:32 then 7:50. Huge contrast.

6:39 WOW that Carpet, I never seen such bright carpeting in a Sears store, that blue Carpet is RIDICULOUS, it just screams "This store is old" LOL

You should check out the Manchester Mall here in Fresno CA... Its crazy dead.... It has a police phone center and a cal trans.. it used to be big with a carousel.. now nothing but private owned stores and the second story with food court Is dead... Sears is the only anchor..... The empty gottchalks is earie.... More kiosks than actual stores...

Music on this one was amazing. Excellent channel.

A wild Ian! :D love the CU Podcast :3 I don't really go to movie theaters much anymore because movies don't really interest me anymore but man I would love to go to that theatre. 😍

1- That Sbarros actually just came back this year; was one until it turned into a weird little personal pizza place (I was crushed lol) and made a come back very recently. 2- That Sears must have closed right after you did the video, because that whole entire section, including the car and tire area is abandoned. 3- Grew up in this mall, and it's as dead as dead can be compared to how it used to be. 4- That tattoo shop is a newer addition and waaaaaaay over-priced. It's one of those filler stores that seem to be popping up in malls now. (Like that weird toy store you filmed; quick fill-in China businesses). Idk if it's just me, but when some stores pop up like that in a mall I grew up in, I side-eye them. That's still the mall I go to, still shop at that Wal-Mart when I need to go to Wal-Mart, but a good 75% of Parkway is a chunk of VERY RECENT, low-end and random pop up shops that nobody is ever inside of. They are gasping for air. They just played it off to a newbie pretty well 😂

Woah I love that tile. I gotta get down to San Diego.

5:33 that Dicks sporting goods and crunch fitness both use to be a Mervyns department store. They both opened in 2011 but the crunch fitness is now gone due to leasing issues.

Sears with the blue carpet, LOL

If you're ever in Oklahoma City, let me know. There are some cool malls and even an original stand alone Sears. Unfortunately, you missed the best dead mall. It closed permanently in October.

Those are early _early_ 90s tile laid out in a very late 80s style.

I miss that old Sears smell....a musty, lingering funk.

I like that a double-decker Walmart anchors this mall!

that mall looks really cool i never lived there but i would have loved it thanks as always a great vid

I live in San Diego and have been to that mall a million times. The Theater has an IMAX 3D screen. Why did you skip the record store? One of the few mall record stores left. Also, the Spencer's, and Hot Topic? I think there's even a Disney store still there.

Update: the Sears is now officially going out of business. If you're ever in south San Diego County, check out Chula Vista Center. Its food court has been empty for a few years now. It had a huge remodel in the early 90s, so lots of cool tile and geometric architecture -very hip place at the time with lots of unique amusements that are now gone.

Small world, I've been digging your videos for the last several months and I just so happened to see your comment on the Spoony video. What a shame, man, what a shame.

Great video, Loved the look of this mall too

Visited this mall way back in 1981 (it was called Parkway Plaza then). I wanted to get as far away from the Naval base as I could and hopped on the San Diego Transit express bus and came here numerous times back then. Great mall back then, but I guess that, with College Grove and Grossmont Malls, this mall will go in the near future

Thumbs up for Ian

I used to live nearby & shopped there a lot from the end of the 80's to 2007 when I moved away- was very strong till westfield bought it-then a gradual decline(vacancies increasing & taking longer to fill)--glad to see someone else bought it, it looks almost as good as When I last saw it in 2006. Sears looks sad but that may have as much to do with Sears as anything else...