Exploring an Abandoned Mall Frozen in Time

I went to Alabama, and went to this mall back in 2006 with my family. I have vague images of this mall in my head, and I haven’t thought deeply about it since then. It’s so surreal to see it 17 years later, in this video, dead and abandoned.

The guys knowing obscure manufacturers of hospital equipment but not recognizing mosquito larvae is my favorite thing ever on this channel

There’s something extra sad about an abandoned mall. All abandoned buildings are sad, but the mall used to bring a lot of joy/happiness/excitement to a lot of people. As kid/teen/young adult there was always something fun about going to a mall.

I have lived in Montgomery my whole life. I used to go to Montgomery Mall all the time. It's so sad to know that it's being left to rot and decay. I mean, we knew it was being used for the schools, and fire/police station, but didn't know it was like this else where. Thank you for filming this. I'm surprised that the clock is still in there and hasn't been saved. It's a replica of the original clock that still stands in downtown Montgomery near the court square fountain. I remember it was a big deal because they were able to get the original manufactures to make it as they were still in business and had the molds for the castings. Oh, and that booth like structure outside that you show at the beginning of the video was the drive-thru for the bank that was inside. I know because i used it a few times.

The lack of vandalism is amazing. Just makes the place look so much better

Years from now, people will truly appreciate the quality documentary style preservation of all the locations you visited. Kudos to you guys!

Watching something like this, I can't but wonder- what was the final sale at each of these businesses? What was the last meal served at the food court? Which family was the last to share a pleasant memory at a place in which tens of thousands of such memories had been made over the years? Growing up in the 70's and 80's it seemed like these had always been around and always would be- they had, after all, replaced the downtowns our parents had known and loved, and we flocked to them, if for no other reason than that's where everyone else was. So what, apart from the wasteland of social media, has replaced these?

Holy crap! That's my mall! I grew up at this mall. I'm friends with the property manager and go inside frequently. I take it he didn't know you went in. He doesn't take kindly to people trespassing, and ever since the anchor stores have been occupied, they let people slip in all the time. I have tons of video, even from when the anchor stores were still in their anchor form, but I had to sign disclosures that I would never post them online. I guess that ship has sailed now lol. Lots of abandoned buildings around here these days, sadly... on a side note, I was in B'ham over the weekend and checked out the Carraway Hospital (what's still standing) and went by the old Mounds Memorial. As always, love your videos!

Ah yeah, those lil worm things at 14:55 are mosquito larvae. Anyway, this is definitely my favourite abandoned mall that you've been to! Perfect amount of decay and basically no vandalism.

As someone who spent many hours of childhood in the late 90s hanging out in malls, I find these so fascinating but so depressing. It's the emptiness of a place that was once so vibrant & alive. It's almost like attending a wake. How eerie that the clock essentially has the time of death of the mall when the power was finally shut off.

I'm always so amazed by how fast things can just decay and get taken over by nature. 2008 doesn't even feel that long ago and to see plants growing through the food court floor and how everything is just falling apart, it's crazy

Abandoned malls—especially when they have movie theaters—always give me such a creepy vibe. Our local small mall is struggling and has an old movie theater inside that’s been sealed off for at least 20 years. I’ve always wondered what it might be like inside!

Another great video of yet another impressive building, Some interesting facts of things you found, (5:22) Steve & Barry's (Mainly a clothing retailer) went into liquidation in 2009, The mushrooms you found at (6:20) are called Leucocoprinus Ianthinus which can contain dangerous toxins so they are best avoided, The clock at (8:34) is a replica of the historic Klein clock originally built in 1938 in downtown Montgomery, The Tadpoles in the water (14:35) were most likely to be Mosquito and hover fly larvae, The guy on the FBI Wanted poster (26:26) "Adnan Gulshair El Shukri Jumah" Was a member of Al Qaeda and was killed by the Pakistan Army on the 6th December 2014 aged 39, Again a great exploration, It's become a ritual of mine over the last few years to watch your videos on a Sunday, Wishing you guys safe travels from the UK.

There's always something eerie about a place where thousands of people once were.

I was born and raised in the Montgomery area. So many memories of going to this mall on the weekends with my friends as a teenager (especially Steve & Barry’s and American Eagle). They closed it because The Eastdale Mall (which is also closed now) did a LOT better toward the end. I miss it. I’m so glad y’all did this one!

I'm one to never take or mess with any of the property there but man it would be awesome to see what's on those VHS tapes just to see what the mall was like when it was booming

As a child of the mall generation these kind videos really hurt my heart, to see how life has moved on and my childhood has been left to decay. Thank you for once again letting me tag along, love y'alls work.

Grew up in the '80s and '90s and went to this mall more time than I could count. It was awesome back in the day and I wish it was still were. As a matter of fact, that film developing store you guys showed developed a roll of film from my senior year of high school.

Im glad that in Finland malls are thriving!! Malls are doing better than ever and there are lots of events, people and stores

Sad really. I remember going to the mall was a treat, an adventure, a full day. Well, maybe not an entire day, but it felt like it. It was where we, as children, hit our milestones. Back to school shopping, Christmas shopping, birthday parties at the arcade, learning music in the music store, getting clothes for homecoming. It was also where we grew our independence. Mom and Dad would let us run free (mostly) in the mall. They got to go to the stores and shops they needed without us kids, and we went to music, radio shack, arcade, food court, whatever and where ever we wanted. It was a safe and fun area in those early 90s malls. A place to meet up with friends and hang out for hours! I feel sorry for kids today that will not have that experience. It saddens my soul to see such nostalgia slowing dying and decaying like this.