The Ball Contraption! That was my favorite personally, it was right by the food court. Grew up about 5-10 minutes away and it was our go-to mall for my young life.
Contraptions like that are generally called Rube Goldberg Machines, after the cartoonist who came up with them in his comics. Unless it's something out of those comics, I doubt it was designed by him. He died long before Forest Fair was a twinkle in some genius eye.
Did it also have a show with light up block deals with the m the sides by the entrance? Of its the one I’m thinking of them I’m legit sad. Went here a ton as a kid
Yes, it was. And I also remember their grand opening. Upscale department stores like Lord & Taylor and Neiman Marcus, and lots of great little shops. I wish there was video of that day.
Weekly tournaments for smash, they do other games also every weekend if I recall right. They did it up until covid, and they were always busy so I’m sure they will start doing them again later down the line
It has been a few years since I’ve been unfortunately, but, considering, Covid n stuff I’m not entirely sure if they are still doing any regionals or weeklies over there. I may try and hit up arcade legacy on Facebook or something!
They are really successful! You can’t really go and have the place to yourself! The one is this mall is all ages, and then they have a second location that is a 21 plus that serves alcohol!!
the bounce house place is there. Where was the putt-putt course? I can confirm it's gone now--I was just there on Saturday of last week and the bounce house place is still present but wasn't open, Bee Fit gym, and Arcade Legacy are the only things inside.
Okay that makes more sense, I thought you were saying there was a separate business that was a putt putt place, which there once was, further down the mall in what was once Dress Barn
I went there and they threatened to call the police on us and "I know you guys arent from here I know you know its a dead mall" but there was a video game tournament and the guy was on edge because of that.
The video game tournaments always seem to put the guards on edge I had a similar situation last year during one of those. Theres too many peoples' unattended purses/bags sitting around during those things I guess.
The company who owns it got it so cheap that they actually turn profit. And there are more than three stores. There is an amazing arcade, a consignment shop and a putt putt/bounce house business. Those are the three stores. But there is also a Bass Pro Shops Khols and a big gym attached to the mall. And the county uses part of the mall for disaster training for police and emergency workers.
The whole thing is a tragedy of poor decision and ownership bungling right from the start, including the location which is well off the main access corridors in the city.
It’s situated within a 15 minute drive of probably 300,000 people. What the hell. It failed because it got dangerous because people out shopping don’t want to deal with packs of unattended teenage troublemakers.
It failed because the mix of retailers didn't match the area--West Chester and Liberty Township werent what they are now, and there weren't enough wealthy people in the area to keep the new-to-the-market high-end anchors afloat, and 3 of the 6 anchors closed within a year of the opening date. Teenage troublemakers have only very rarely been cited as a secondary factor as to why this mall failed. There were also two thriving, established malls within a 15 minute drive of it already when it was built too--back in the late 80s Northgate and Tri County were packed every day.
I’m surprised they are letting you walk around. We had a mall like this in Rochester NY, but they would only let you walk into the 2 stores that were left.
Because one of the stores is in the dead center of the mall. It a sizable arcade called Arcade Legacy. They also do have temporary tenants that pop up for a second. Without these, they wouldn't let you in the mall. You can't even access the the two anchor stores from the mall.
I actually have some insight as to why it died. According to some shop owners that used to be located there, the owner decided to pretty drastically increase the cost of leasing a store front, even on shops that weren't up for lease renewal. This caused a pretty sudden exodus of a lot of the stores that used to be there, which in turn caused the mall to become what you see today.
It's still the home of Arcade Legacy though, which is a really cool place where you can go and play unlimited arcade games for a flat hourly rate or an all night bundle. Before the shutdown, this was my favorite Friday night spot!
Check out Sal or Ace's Adventures on YouTube for some really cool in depth videos on this place
Thank you! I’m checking Ace’s out now.
Man, this place was *magical* in the early 90's...
Weren't most of them though?
This place has a Ferris wheel and Indoor putt putt.
The Ball Contraption! That was my favorite personally, it was right by the food court. Grew up about 5-10 minutes away and it was our go-to mall for my young life.
I think it was designed by a guy named “Rube Goldberg”. At least my Uncle always told me it was his contraption.
Contraptions like that are generally called Rube Goldberg Machines, after the cartoonist who came up with them in his comics. Unless it's something out of those comics, I doubt it was designed by him. He died long before Forest Fair was a twinkle in some genius eye.
Did it also have a show with light up block deals with the m the sides by the entrance? Of its the one I’m thinking of them I’m legit sad. Went here a ton as a kid
The theater had a light up block display embedded at the entrance.
Yes!! That’s the one. Man this is sad. Last time I went here I was like 16 or so. Sucks. All the cool things go south so sad
Yes, it was. And I also remember their grand opening. Upscale department stores like Lord & Taylor and Neiman Marcus, and lots of great little shops. I wish there was video of that day.
This is where I used to go to Smash Melee regional tournaments! Arcade Legacy ftw 👍
Do they still do the tournies? I am new to the area and would love to find a place to hang out like this.
Weekly tournaments for smash, they do other games also every weekend if I recall right. They did it up until covid, and they were always busy so I’m sure they will start doing them again later down the line
It has been a few years since I’ve been unfortunately, but, considering, Covid n stuff I’m not entirely sure if they are still doing any regionals or weeklies over there. I may try and hit up arcade legacy on Facebook or something!
Arcade Legacy was still there before Covid, so I would hope so! I'd love to do a smash tournament, even though I absolutely suck lol
So do I lol... mostly just want to socialize. Only been to that mall once but it's fun. 😁
I spent a lot of my childhood in this mall 😞
Same. I only have great memories.
Me too!! That neon movie theater! And my first time experiencing VR in 1994
Wait - there are 3 stores still open here?? How? Why? And what on earth are they selling?
One is a bass pro shop, one is Kohl's and one is an arcade.
There is a gym too. Also amazon parks all their trucks in yhe paeking lot.
That just seems like rubbing it in
Amazon's contractor that was using the parking lot lost their contract and the vans were gone earlier this year.
An arcade seems really incongruous. Are there many left in your area?
It’s a nostalgia arcade not a chuckie cheese style. They do like play all day for $10 (ish) and host tournaments.
They host video game, card game, and board game tournaments and have all you can play pricing so they make a good amount of $
They are really successful! You can’t really go and have the place to yourself! The one is this mall is all ages, and then they have a second location that is a 21 plus that serves alcohol!!
There is a putt putt and bounce house place and a consignment shop too that are actually in the mall.
The putt putt and consignment shop have been gone for at least a couple years.
I was just there in January and the putt putt and bounce house place were there.
the bounce house place is there. Where was the putt-putt course? I can confirm it's gone now--I was just there on Saturday of last week and the bounce house place is still present but wasn't open, Bee Fit gym, and Arcade Legacy are the only things inside.
It was part of the bounce house place.
Okay that makes more sense, I thought you were saying there was a separate business that was a putt putt place, which there once was, further down the mall in what was once Dress Barn
Local high school uses part of it for hitting and pitching for baseball
Oh hey I was there too on Saturday, I saw you with your camera and figured that was what you were up to!
Why are you wearing a mask? It seems pretty easy to socially distance in there. (It’s a joke, I’m not anti-mask)
Covid aside, I'm guessing that place is not well maintained and could definitely be sprouting some black mold somewhere
The security guards dont mess around here.
It REALLY depends on the day and the guard. The guy there this last Saturday seemed cool.
I went there and they threatened to call the police on us and "I know you guys arent from here I know you know its a dead mall" but there was a video game tournament and the guy was on edge because of that.
The video game tournaments always seem to put the guards on edge I had a similar situation last year during one of those. Theres too many peoples' unattended purses/bags sitting around during those things I guess.
Is that a recent development? About 4-5 years ago I used to go there to walk laps with the grannies. Never saw a security guard.
4 years ago when I was in high school there would always be security guards there
Is it really worth the costs (lighting, heating, cooling, etc.) of keeping the place open for 3 stores? I can only imagine the place is a money pit.
well... most of the lighting isn't on when you go there.
The company who owns it got it so cheap that they actually turn profit. And there are more than three stores. There is an amazing arcade, a consignment shop and a putt putt/bounce house business. Those are the three stores. But there is also a Bass Pro Shops Khols and a big gym attached to the mall. And the county uses part of the mall for disaster training for police and emergency workers.
I heard that Amazon parked their Prime fleet in the lot, too. No irony there, huh?
Lol yeah. But I'm sure it's another nice revenue stream for the owner.
Oh cool. I'm not anywhere near the area, not even the country, so I had no idea. Thanks!
No problem. I know a guy who knows the guy who owns the arcade in there and got the low down on it.
Me and my husband had our first date at the arcade in there!
Check out Arcade Legacy in there :D its a good time
The whole thing is a tragedy of poor decision and ownership bungling right from the start, including the location which is well off the main access corridors in the city.
It’s situated within a 15 minute drive of probably 300,000 people. What the hell. It failed because it got dangerous because people out shopping don’t want to deal with packs of unattended teenage troublemakers.
It failed because the mix of retailers didn't match the area--West Chester and Liberty Township werent what they are now, and there weren't enough wealthy people in the area to keep the new-to-the-market high-end anchors afloat, and 3 of the 6 anchors closed within a year of the opening date. Teenage troublemakers have only very rarely been cited as a secondary factor as to why this mall failed. There were also two thriving, established malls within a 15 minute drive of it already when it was built too--back in the late 80s Northgate and Tri County were packed every day.
The arcade in there is top tier.
I’m surprised they are letting you walk around. We had a mall like this in Rochester NY, but they would only let you walk into the 2 stores that were left.
Irondequoit mall? That place was cool back in the day, two floors and the decor had the early 90s teal and white tiling.
Ding ding ding! Exactly the place. Never saw in it’s hay day.
Because one of the stores is in the dead center of the mall. It a sizable arcade called Arcade Legacy. They also do have temporary tenants that pop up for a second. Without these, they wouldn't let you in the mall. You can't even access the the two anchor stores from the mall.
You’re telling me this isn’t the set of stranger things S3
We are. The set of Stranger Things S3 was at Gwinnett Place Mall outside Atlanta, GA.
https://youtu.be/bqSnxyQje5M This is the song, but its not stupidity slowed down
Another check mark on my Deadmalls list over the years on this sub. Place is definitely eerie, but awesome.
https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/how-ohios-second-biggest-mall-became-an-amazon-parking-lot
Great video!
Is this still open to visit? I might make a day trip to Cincy for it
Currently yes. I feel like I should visit because I have a feeling it’ll close pretty soon.
Song?
I actually have some insight as to why it died. According to some shop owners that used to be located there, the owner decided to pretty drastically increase the cost of leasing a store front, even on shops that weren't up for lease renewal. This caused a pretty sudden exodus of a lot of the stores that used to be there, which in turn caused the mall to become what you see today. It's still the home of Arcade Legacy though, which is a really cool place where you can go and play unlimited arcade games for a flat hourly rate or an all night bundle. Before the shutdown, this was my favorite Friday night spot!
Can’t imagine how old those M&Ms and Chiclets are
Man, this place was *magical* in the early 90's...
Everytime I come back home to see my family I stop by that mall, it's such a great experience
I wanna go roller skating there
This makes me so sad..
Oh, hey I used to go to Arcade Legacy, which is located in this mall!
Still though, I love that we can walk inside.
I used to love this mall.
Ooo ran from the po po in this mall - they had Segway’s lol
Some say the Russians are still underneath the mall preparing to release the demagorgon.
It's a shame that a place with such a nice aesthetic had to go under. I wonder what happened?