The Pier Dead Mall and its Exiguous Boardwalk Empire | Atlantic City, NJ | ExLog 46
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
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Hey guys! The Atlantic City episode is finally here! On this expedition, we take a walk around the city that beat prohibition, through a couple casinos, around some abandoned buildings, and inside one of the most infamous sea faring dead malls in the country: the Playground Pier.
#exlog #deadmall #dmodfam
Hey guys! I've wanted to make this episode for such a long time, and so many people have asked for this...and here you go! Come take a walk with me through Atlantic City, while discussing it's past, along with the dead mall that graces One Atlantic Ocean. Thanks so much for your support, and while you're here, please be sure to subscribe and support my trusty sidekick, Faded Commerce!
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I asked you a year ago to do this. Ty bro. I asked during the echelon mall one you did. Ty, ty, ty!
@@richardnunez3474 I asked him, too, and he delivered! 😊
Wow it’s really sad to see that mall so empty. I remember when I was younger when it first opened my wife and I would enjoy the water show. Are are one of the restaurants up stairs which I saw from ur video it isn’t there. Just wow!
Good recap of the history! ✌🏻
@@gj4093 Lol.....A/C is about Trump...
I stayed in Trump Plaza in 2013, about 7 months before it closed. It was rough. Definitely past it’s hay day. I moved to Atlantic City in 2016, and I work at Boardwalk Hall, which Trump Plaza is attached to. I’ve been in it multiple times since its closure, including this year, initially starting out of pure curiosity, and becoming friendly with the security. Tons of beds, lamps, nightstands, copy machines, tables, and other furniture filled up the marble, brass, and mirror lobby. Wallpaper was falling off the walls. We eventually were let to wander on our own and we went to the top floor suites. They would have been incredible in their day, but are now extremely dated. The Golden Girls could have shot an episode here, with all the floral prints. The presidential suite is two floors, 5 or 6 bedrooms, each with a hot tub, bathrooms with bidets, a cage elevator, sauna, full bar, mirrored-ceiling beds, it was incredible, for its day. Something that was quite telling, however, was that there were still projection TVs, VCRs, and TAPE DECKS in the suites. And as you mentioned, this place closed in 2014, a time where we were way past such technology. No wonder it closed. Still, an incredible, odd experience it was to wander through the deteriorating rooms, restaurants, performing venues, and casino floor after five years of no upkeep.
Such incredible insight!! Thanks for your comment!!
@@sal the restaurant in the third floor is closed
The area is dying because the middle class is dying. How can you expect to attract patrons to your hotels and casinos when they have almost no disposable income to get there, stay there and spend there? Yet the potential patrons, on their jobs, are working harder than ever with longer hours. Low pay, lack of promotional opportunities, not to mention scandalous escalating housing costs, education costs and health insurance costs have been like taking a demolition ball to the middle class the way they did with the old Traymore Hotel at Illinois Avenue and the boardwalk.
I recall the old Atlantic City, pre-gambling. It was a rundown place but it had those fabulous old hotels, built and owned by Quakers, plus good restaurants with a huge variety of the freshest seafood. It had movie theaters and a few ok clothing stores. And the beach and ocean.
Rich developers, builders and investors had big plans for AC in the early ‘70s. Achieved partly in the early ‘80s. Then what happened? The incomes of the middle class that was supposed to support the big ideas steadily declined. The casinos and luxury restaurants and stores shut down because nobody could afford them. Nobody has any money anymore. They’ve taken all of it now.
You should drive down to Margate, Longport, Ocean City and Stone Harbor and make that claim. Atlantic City was dying in the 60’s because people vacationed in Florida and other locations. Has nothing to do with the dying middle class. If it did, then why have other vacation areas thrived for these years?
The building of casinos in PA didn’t help either...
@@thehammer4625 I agree with your reply to this comment about the decline of AC. A realtor once told me that " property values increase the further away from AC they are". I`ve been a visitor to AC since the 1960`s and now live in Ventnor for many years. I saw what the city was a bit before gambling. Yes, in the pre casino era, even Ventnor was run down. But over the years there has been quite a lot of new homes being built and the town is thriving. One thought though.... In my view, a vice industry such as what casino gambling is, is in NO way a responsible way to revitalize a once thriving ocean side resort. Just drive down some side streets and see how run down it is. Trash in the streets, people J walking in traffic, run down homes, failure of city government to maintain streets (pot holes), to me, it looks overall like a third world city. To me, the fish stinks from the head down so to speak, which means, just look at the condition of the state and their fiscal condition. Government stinks at the top and it trickles down to AC. The federal government is to blame as well for allowing and supporting such an excess of subsidized low income housing. Case closed.
I built that Mall both times when I was in the carpenters Union in A.C.
I was on the second as an insulator out of Local 89
Hey SS, I think I might know you. You were that guy from Margate? LOL
Little Nicky Scarfo ??
@@idonotanswerquestions5110 Scarf Inc Concrete. lol. good one 👍
I will say this. Atlantic City will always hold a special place in my heart no matter how it is.💜
millions of people feel this
Me too I think it's coming back k around people are seeing these other casino can't compare
I will always be proud of where I came from no matter what anyone says
Not me, it’s a dump and has been….
@@bobsmith8329 won’t ever come back…. It’s lost….
Holy crap! This place had an Apple store, Louis vuitton,chanel, Armani exchange, Crocs,Starbucks, a Gordon Ramsey restaurant and a really fancy candy store and I believe a gamestop
Yup. It was ultra high end for a short period. Now...it’s barely standing.
The real question is: Was the food court any good?
DynVec It was hit or miss.
pika23 Yup and not many in the area could afford to shop at those stores. They thought that people from North Jersey & NY would come to the Pier but that never happened
@@mckaylaperry5759 Failed planning on their part, that is sad...if the pier / AC was located within an hr of NYC not 3 they would probably do a ton better. I live in Norwalk CT where they just opened a 70-store luxury mall like that with Nordstrom, Bloomindales, Amazon Store, Apple Store, WHBM, and dozens of other luxury clothes brands adn fine dining etc...but the clientelle live within a 20mile radius so it is expected to do fairly well....I really hope for the best with AC....I wish I got to see the fountain show there :'(
Remember in the 90's , when Pier was " Ocean One ", and had a ship-deck theme.
Man I would’ve absolutely loved to see that...
@@sal Hey, Sal. The outside looked like " The Love Boat." Inside had 4 " deck "levels. 1 and 2 were stores, and a full game arcade at the back. 3 was a food court, 4 was full sit- down restaurants. Were many stores, McDonald's, Sam Goody, Radio Shack, gambling and souvenir shops, fresh made candy, a listening booth for the Boardwalk Hall Organ, and a lot more. 3 and 4 decks also had outside ocean observation platforms. In the 90' s, the Donald wanted to use one platform as a helipad, to fly in big casino players on his helicopter. Didn't happen. Spent a lot of time there in the 90's. By 2000, it went way downhill. Lot of closed stores. Then they shut it down, and developed The Pier, about 2002-03.
Ocean one was the spot.
That’s what it was called! I couldn’t remember. That was long before “The Walk” (or whatever that outlet strip mall by the convention center was called).
@@carouselofLaura Yes. Ocean One was on Caesar's pier from the 80's. New Convention Hall on Michigan Ave. opened in ' 97. The Walk stores were built around the Expressway, and opened after that. I was working at Caesars then.
I’m literally laying in a room at Caesar’s watching this right now.
that is too funny! i'm sitting at home reading this 2 days after visiting there on a tues afternoon! i hope that place turns around again, I'd like to see in bustling like it once was
Go to the buffet! It's the best.
Born and raised in Atlantic City and a Bally’s employee for 32 years. I’ve thrived in the best of times and survived through the worst of times. All though AC is easy to pick on, the employees have always been true and loyal to these money making machines, with little or no credit at all. All focus always falls onto the crooks and thieves who made off with all the dough. All most ever see is the homeless that are put on buses with one way tickets from the bigger surrounding cities that know they’ll never make it back. You should do a documentary on that well known fact.
And lastly, I must say this was an amazing video that taught me more about the city I love than I’ve learned in all my years. And your narration was excellent.
Can’t wait to watch more!! Thank you for all helping us remember “The Ocean One Mall”!!
Mike The Bellhop what’s up Mike. I love watching videos like this. Usually watch videos with abandoned places with the history. This is a good video. Lol. Combing through the comment section to see if I knew anyone. Great video.
This mall used to be called Ocean One mall. I've been on the 4th deck screwing around with friends it used to have miniature golf course and or shuffle board. The front upstairs of mall where you walked in used to be a McDonald's there.
Absolutely right! Grew up here..
COSIMOS!!
When you're walking out of the pier, the guy walking in with the mad hatter type hat is the guy who does the comedy show at Tropicana.
> 33:00
Oh my god it is i can't believe he is able to just go out in public like that wow.
That whole mall used to be bustling in the early 90’s. So many stores, something for everyone! Nail salons, dress shops, novelties and souveniers, high-end stores, you name it.
Regarding the food court that is now closed, I used to get great breakfasts up there! (Eggs, bacon, coffee…) I really enjoyed it. Sad to see it empty now. For me, I can almost hear the echos of the past.
This video is so informative! Thank you!!!
[Edited to add: I don’t know the name of the food stand I referenced.]
I am originally from Cape May County NJ, so I am more familiar with the Wildwoods and Cape May. I have lived in east central Florida for the past 31 years. About 6 weeks ago I stayed at the Ocean Resort which I am told by my friend had only just reopened after the original owners went belly up. The wall of our room facing east toward the ocean and The Playground Pier was completely glass! The view was spectacular! Our room and the hotel was very modern and top notch. My friend and I had a blast and did some debauchering ourselves. Lol.
You can take the girl out of Jersey, but can't take the Jersey out of the girl. I so enjoyed the historical content and your narrative style. Ever since I was a little girl, Ive been fascinated with Atlantic City. I am proud to say I even got to see the diving horse at the old Stiel Pier! I was legally able to gamble in 1983. The first casino I ever gambled at was Resorts International. I remember walking through their double glass doors and thinking, "Whoa, this is it!" 😁 New subscriber here! 🙋🏼
Yes Ocean Resort was the Revel casino
My family was stationed in Cape May when I was a kid and I later came back to complete boot camp there. I remember an amusement park called Wildwood, that place was so fun when I was a tyke.
@@duragronkhaj4678 My father was a Coast Guard and my first boyfriend, both from Cape May. Thank you for your service. 🇺🇸
What time period did you spend time in Cape May? Just curious.
Hi Sal, another excellent program. Wow, I remember Atlantic City in its heyday. Now, a shocking deteriorating cityscape. You do marvelous job with a unique serious - interesting - sobering - intriguing -- truth-telling at it's best. I hope you continue this special, and one of a kind, channel. Thanks!!! - Dean from Minnesota
Dean, thank you for the kind words! I have an incredible amount of footage to show you, so please stay tuned!
Except for the property near the beach is as low as 100k to even 75k. You can't beat those prices for coastal property. I just hope the city gets out of its rut and becomes something marvelous in the near future.
Well done, Sal! 👏 I loved hearing all about the history of my nearest large city.
However, you forgot to mention that the former Taj Mahal is now the Hard Rock Casino and is doing quite well.
But, yes, The Playground is quite pitiful now. It's a shame; it used to be such a nice mall.
18:16 I love how you walk right by security and don’t even flinch while recording in the casino.
It’s how I roll
I'm actually saddened, I went to this mall roughly 9 years ago, and the fountain was such a spectacul and I had hoped to one day revisit it with my daughter, it's sad to hear that it's gone
Born And Raised In A.C. I Now Live In Las Vegas And I Must Say This Was A Great Presentation Of My Hometown. What I Would Now Suggest Is To Do An Episode Of Pleasantville, NJ. You Rock. Keep Up The Great Work.
DTV NJ what’s he gonna show in the ville tho
@@mintross2540 The Old Pleasantville Speedway, Rialto's Bar And Grill, The Train That Goes To Peter Lumber, And The Antique Store Off The B.H.P.
I remember decades ago when that mall was booming. We always walked there to play the arcade games and have funnel cake at the food courts. The first time I had gone back after the last renovation, I was destroyed. Seeing that massive boat-shaped building was part of my childhood and I still miss it.
It was the ocean 1 mall back then. Good times!!
I miss it too 😢
"Professional hired love accompanists" .... you're killing me dude.... lol
When I saw the elephant statue at the beginning, I was literally screaming at my TV 🤣. Then I had to explain to my older son my excitement . . . but what a great episode, thanks for all that you do!
Where was that elephant before it was moved? I would appreciate it if you let me know.
Used to gamble frequently during those years. When the Indian casinos rose to prominence in nearby CT, comps in AC were incredible. We mostly stayed at Borgata, but also the Trump properties as well. Even 25 years ago, the Plaza was known as "Trump's Dump". This was too the substandard facility, and the sketchy crowd that you'd see hanging out there. Wild to see Tourneau still around. I almost bought a Rolex there on one trip. There was a Feragamo store, and an awesome Asian restaurant with communal seating. AC's downfall was that casinos aside, it was a depressing and scarey place, even in it's good years. Still, lots of happy memories. AC was a working man's Las Vegas, where a person of modest means could get a taste of the high roller life. Thanks for the neat video. I enjoyed it.
So weird seeing shots of downtown Burlington and the Bristol Bridge. I went to the school next to that bridge and rode (and later drove) that route down High St. for years.
Atlantic City will be back some day, they just need to make it more family friendly like Las Vegas did
I’ve lived here almost my whole life. I’m now 21 and I remember everything always being so packed and lively up until 2013/2014 and that’s when everything started dying down.
Yes me too before casinos during the boom days and the bad days ready to retire now I will miss A.C.
Lmfao what's up Elsaliz? I'm glad to see someone I know here.
The poker craze was what spurred AC through the 2000’s.
The playground looks beautiful and the inside looks like it opened yesterday. All the shops are very modern... it looks like all the tenants just packed up and left last night. I love the architecture of the property. Hopefully it has a future, maybe as a large scale event venue. I think that retail is over for this property, that is, unless they are able to perform a miracle. Another great video!
I use to live in Atlantic City when I lived in NJ. It's small island but the whole county is so diverse with different languages and cultures you'd think it's a major city, especially during the summer. When I left there, I kept seeing the master plans to rebuild the city and was hopeful that the county would be far better when I'd come back for a visit, but sadly the progress has been slow. Still, Atlantic County has plenty of personality, the best pizza I have had in the US along with NY's, good enough nightlife (you're better off going to Philadelphia just an hour away) and the natural wetland landscape outside of Atlantic City is just gorgeous. Right now the city is trying to diversify their industries and invest more in education, which is why Stockton University has property on the Boardwalk, which is a smart move for the city. I hope to see the city succeed in the future.
Growing up my grandmother had one of the highest membership cards to Trump Plaza and a few other hotels. We would go to Atlantic City every few weekends, one night here, two nights there on comps from her slot playing. It sounds like she had a problem but, she literally just had been a member so long she could play for a few hours here and there and just earn these comps for rooms and even buffets sometimes. Part of my childhood “died” when Trump Plaza closed. I remember the Pier Mall before it was really “fancy” and there was a McDonald’s and KB Toys in the lower level. I still love Atlantic City for its history in general no matter how dead it gets. It just holds a special place in my heart. Great video!
Great history lesson! Been going to AC for almost 40 years. My parents first started taking me down when I was about 8 or 9 in the early 80s, so I've seen AC change quite a bit. As a young adult, my hubby & I used to take late night trips (in addition to day trips) several times a year to walk on the boards... not just gamble. This was in the late 90s when AC was the place to be. I even introduced him to the Irish Pub...where you can still get a decent meal at a reasonable price! Yes, we travel to AC to this day, but we usually stay down by Hard Rock & Ocean Casinos where all the action is!
I remember watching an air show there as a kid great times place was truly a spectacle back in the late 2000s also interesting fact about the Leeds Family there is a legend that Mrs. Leeds 13th child was the Jersey Devil (urban legend in NJ) you can still see the birthplace at nearby Leeds point
Man that mall was PACKED back in the day. So many people gathered to watch the fountain show I can't believe its closed off. I haven't checked out the mall the last few times I've been there based on watching decline in the years prior. I have eaten at that buffet aswell, the food was good, it was like most other buffets.
I used to work for Trump Plaza that place was jumping in the late 80s early 90s
I remember the Warner Brother's shop in the casino as well as all the Warner cartoons in a ferris wheel in the window.
My grandfather lived in Ventnor, we would always go to Atlantic City in the 80 and 90s. Great memories!
Yes it was 🤸🤸🍒🍒
For several years, Trump Plaza was the top casino in AC in terms of gross revenue.
@@thehammer4625 first Casino to make 300 million in one year
I used to be a bar porter they're in the summer of 2010 to 2012 wonderful time and they told me it used to even be better I heard Trump didn't even own the casino while I was working there he just allowed the bank to use his name or something around that sort... It's a shame it went downhill like that I'm not going to lie Trump had some of the best casinos in town...if I can recall... My mother used to work at Tropicana as well we lived up the highway winslow towship nice 30 to 40 minutes trip to work I enjoyed working in this city I used to get tipped out everyday I went to work I met a nice amount of celebrities including Trump and Pamela Anderson on his birthday one year...that was at the trump Taj Mahal...🥺 I miss those days I wouldn't trade them for the world... So when he became president and a certain amount of the country had this dislike friend I looked at him and a different light....local 54 wasn't the best Union but it worked and helped me grow up and be well-rounded I like the fact that it had a diverse ethnic scenery from the Italians who were a lot of my bartenders to the Haitians and Africans that worked the arena set up I learned to treat people how they treat you but I would always show respect....God bless yall during these times
My first visit was in 1964 as a child. I remember needing to dress in jacket and tie for dinner, and remember the table setting. I had never seen so many forks, spoons and knives. I returned in the mid-'80's driving a bus for day trips to AC from north Jersey. My last trip was 2004 when I started my own business. I will be attending a trade show in early December and am looking forward to seeing it again after 15 years.
What a pleasant surprise. If there would be a youtube hall of fame I would nominate this video in. Definitely worth a second shot with perhaps some short clips of all the historic events you mentioned. thank you so much for a hint of the history of our beloved Atlantic city.
Great job! I saw your livestream when you were filming and have been waiting for this log. It lived up to my expectations and I thank you for documenting this historical area.
I loved that mall. We would go every summer to AC as kids (with our parents). I went this past summer and it was so quiet and empty in the mall. It's such a beautiful space. I really hope they can revive it.
Its always SO awesome when documentarians add personal inflections to the subjects of the film....
Awesome video Sal! Thank you. I liked the mix of dead mall and the city history info as well. Keep up the great work!
This was fabulous and fascinating! I love the historical background. Thank you so much for this format!
What a bummer .... I absolutely Loved this mall, it was gorgeous with the best stores. Sitting in the Adirondack chairs by the windows was like sitting in a tree house over the ocean, such a beautiful view. Living only two hours away, on the other side of Philly, we often went to A.C. and still do. This past Summer it was packed ..... the boardwalk, the restaurants and the casinos'. The Hard Rock took over the Taj Mahal and it is awesome ! I've been to Vegas, loved it there but A.C. will always be special to me.
I used to walk this mall all the time in AC, before it was a regular pier mall called "Ocean One" and then it got renovation from Ballys and Caesars to become "The Pier" had the apple store, so much luxury stores, and 3rd floor full of restaurants and little areas where you can sit and look at the atlantic ocean in the sand on the floor sitting in a beach chair.
Then right across if you walk outside or through the caesars, you have the outlets!
next time i visit, i wanna see it again. SoOoooo much memories here
Absolutely amazing. When I was a kid we used to vacation to sea isle city (about 20 minutes from AC) and would always take a day trip to the Trump Taj Mahal. As a kid, it was the most beautiful building I’ve ever been in with mesmerizing purple and red carpets. My uncle always brought my brother and I to the Hard Rock Cafe inside the Taj Mahal to buy us gift shop t-shirts and lunch while admiring the signed guitars and posters on the walls. My parents would usually gamble while my grandma would take us to the amusement park that was just outside the casino. My favorite ride was the crazy mouse which is still there! Atlantic City holds a special place in my heart despite the bad reputation it gets. Now as a 23 year old I find myself going back for summer break to show my boyfriend this place I had great memories in. Thanks for the awesome and nostalgic video!
I was at the Pier Mall a few months ago during my most recent trip to Bally's and recall the only reason going into the Pier Mall was for that food court. I think I had a brick oven pizza from there years ago and it wasn't bad. That said, it was just that one time since the Pier Mall never impressed me and was a poor replacement for Ocean One mall that preceded it. The Ocean One mall had this amazing arcade in the back where the now-gone fountains were and--from my personal memory--the only place I was able to find a Virtual On: Cyber Troopers arcade machine in the Tri-State Area.
As for Bally's, it's the one place in Atlantic City I'm most fond of--enough such that I know the entire property like the back of my hand. Compared to Caesars', the Trop, and especially the Borgata in the Marina District, Bally's is quite small. It was the hotel and casino I remember the most whenever my family did family vacations there due to its proximity to Ocean One mall where I spent most of my Atlantic City vacation time until it closed. Bally's was also the first place I gambled when I turned 21 and I've had nothing but good gaming experiences there. During off-hours, you won't have any trouble finding $5 3:2 Blackjack there and the Wild West has $5 pit games even on the weekends (and yes, their Blackjack pays 3:2 on a natural too).
That said, I miss how the Wild West used to be when it was full-blown Western-themed. Back then, the empty space from the escalators back to where the long-gone Virginia City Buffet used to be was packed to the brim with pit games, slots, and video poker (Bally's poker room used to be on the 6th Floor in their main casino). There was also an animatronic miner thing inside the Boardwalk entrance to the Wild West where currently sits the free music area and the only pit games in the Wild West. It was such a lively scene back then and what I'd give to have the old Bally's Wild West back (although I will concede they've done very good with the $5 pit games there along with the Sportsbook for those that do sports betting. Wish they'd re-open the Virginia City Buffet but at this point, Bally's and Caesars' are effectively a singular property so I don't see that happening anytime soon).
Sal, thanks for putting this ExLog together. Atlantic City remains a thing for me despite its quirks. OuO
Fun Fact: The Dennis Tower used to sorta be part of the Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel which preceded Bally's. As such, its narrow hallways and small room size can be attributed to it being a very old building and in any case, it's a bit of still-standing AC history to this day.
I also miss the wild west in its heyday. Was my favorite place to play blackjack. And yes whoever wasnt around to experience it would be amazed how packed it would be. Also before it was a buffet it was a really good restaurant . Excellent food and drinks.
@@BassPlayerKenNYC I wonder what was the restaurant before it became the Virginia City Buffet since that may have been before the time I was able to gamble legally. Quite curious considering anything Bally's-related tends to pique my interest.
I do remember this neat little restaurant where Buca di Beppo is today (I can't help but note both Bally's Park Place and Bally's Las Vegas both have a Buca. Wonder if it's more than a coincidence.) that had as its special a Steak and Eggs breakfast thing for $7.77 but the exact name of the place escapes me other than it had 'Six' in its name. Wonderful Bally's Park Place memories indeed.
@@KarlShota been forever but i recall it being called gold rush. Would go there in late 90's to early 2000's. I could be wrong is if it was in the actual spot of buffet. It might have been right next to it or near it but I thought it was in the exact spot just not positive.
@@BassPlayerKenNYC I get the impression that I likely would've missed it since my first trip to Bally's when I was first able to legally gamble was in '08, so by then it was likely gone. It's got me curious as to what menus and advertising from the Gold Rush still exists--either somewhere on the internet or as archived material elsewhere as I've seen some photos of menus and advertising for the 6ix Bistro on Bally's sixth floor where Buca di Beppo sits today (I think).
@@KarlShota If this helps paint a bigger picture you would walk in and there would be an area with a bar where you could wait until a table was ready. They would serve delicious mixed drinks in these big wide glasses. There was usually a bit of a wait to get in. Was very popular and I would think well liked by most who went. Hopefully you can find pics and menu. To give you more info - I discovered the full name Gold Rush Grill & Saloon. Someone wrote on old Trip Advisor post that it closed in 2006 and added "The area is now used as the check in and cashier for the upstairs Viginia City Buffet". I like you like to talk/learn about history of AC. I started going in early/mid 90's and have stayed at Ballys and Caesars the most although in recent years I pretty much just go to Revel/Ocean now.
this is the best thing that you've ever done in my opinion. fascinating
Thanks Sean!!
You should've walked to end of boardwalk and showed the shuttered Hilton casino
A lot has actually ben going on at the old Hilton ,Netflix just filmed a movie there and now they are starting to fix it up hopefully it will come back it used to be a great place.
@@pcoburn88 That's good to hear. Last July I was there slamming waves and picnicking at the beach in front of the old Hilton. It looked so pitiful in the condition it is in now considering when I lived in NJ it was a popular place to go to. I did see them doing some work to it, but idk if they were excavating it or fixing it, because I know there were some bids on the place a few years ago that never went through.
My mom was a worker there she was there for over 20 years I miss that place
@@bbwgoddess6608 love a bbw goddess
Great job, Sal! I really appreciate the research you do for each episode. I think its important to know that dead malls and business failures like the ones you examine aren't usually something that happens overnight -- it's a series of bad decisions and a resistance to adapting to change. That, and greed in trying to wring every dollar out of a dead property through declared losses and accounting shell games. FWIW, you do show up in my notifications regularly and I add you to my watch list.
Keep up the good work, son.
Hey thanks a ton for your comment!
@@sal You're welcome, sir. I really admire your research abilities. You're very thorough and you do a great job at explaining detailed, complex timelines. You've got a real gift at storytelling and I appreciate you sharing it here.
The Apple store was actually located on the first level near the boardwalk entrance I remember buying my Apple TV 4th gen their and the second floor was actually full of luxury retailers like Gucci and Louis Vuitton
Wait the Luis Vuitton store isn’t there anymore??
@@iristyndall7522 yes as you can see in the video the mall is completely dead now and only has about 4 or 5 stores open
macwin that’s crazy
Oh shit....last time I was there I bought a wallet from the Louis Vuitton store
@@mrchow489 yes this is officially a dead mall now
EXCELLENT video Sal! Love all the history as well as your great filming. 👍
I most definitely liked this style of video with all the history surround the place! Would love to see more videos with similar historical content if you ever want to make more :D
Thank you! Would you mind sharing the video out on your social media? I would appreciate it, and definitely give you a re-share!
I've been in this mall twice, once in 2014 and again last year, and it was like night and day and not in a good way
I love this kind of stuff! So I just happened to stumble into AC randomly after visiting Cape May for the first time on my 6 yr wedding anniversary a few days ago. My husband had to exit our vacay early due to work and so I stayed an extra night and drove back up to CT following day. On my way home I chose to stop in AC Caesars as I had only been once b4 in 2010 with him and it was a nostalgic thing. So I drove into AC not really knowing what to expect. I'm not much of a gambler but i love casinos and I like to feel the life and energy they bring. I also like to peruse shopping malls - dead and not dead. Ironically in the age of dying mall culture my town Norwalk CT just completed and opened a 70-store luxury mall to cater to the yuppies in the wealthy towns surrounding us. I was skeptical of it but seems to be doing good since it opened in Oct...I guess time will tell (Sono Collection is the name if you want to google it)...Anyway, I know I was in Caesars on a Tues afternoon right following thanksgiving weekend on Cyber week and I thought of that as I was checking out the shopping section...but something gave me this eerie sense being in that part of the casino...it just felt completely deserted and areas looked as though they haven't had shops in business in a very long time. I came upon a couple restaurants, a few restaurants that were closed for good as it appeared, and others with just a handful of people in them...again, this is 4pm on the midweek day... I just wondered how well the place does in the summer, the active months. I was impressed with the view of the ocean but disappointed when I couldn't stand outside on the back of the pier... I found a sign with the mall shops finally and crazy to see just how few things were open. And I was not surprised, I walked by some that were apparently open and i did not even see staff inside these stores!! I wish I had seen the pier in its heyday....or, at least I wish I could've remembered how it was back in summer of 2010 but my memory is not very good sometimes and I can barely remember how it was then...Anyway, this makes me want to return to AC to give them support and business and turn the town back around again. We have Mohegan and Foxwoods in CT which I have been to, but AC is so much more diverse and a mini Vegas. I want to go again!
I meant to add that I was there in the deserted feeling place with no friend, spouse, family etc...I was completely alone and this was so freaky to me. Another thing to note is that I was at the sushi restaurant sitting at a window table and at one point was in the cross-range of 3 different songs playing....As if they are trying to make up for lack of people in the mall by filling the atomsphere up with music from all angles....I thought that was an odd moment, I have never experienced anything like that before
I haven’t been to ac in maybe 5 years or so. I didn’t realize this mall had died like this. That’s a shame... It was a cool mall.
Hi… It’s been 2 years since I’ve been there and I’m shocked at how much more empty it is. It’s really so sad! Back in the 90’s it was crazy-busy and busling.
The last time I was in Atlantic City I was probably 9 or 10 yrs old maybe a lil older..anyhow my parents use to drop us off at daycare within the casino where my brother n I use to play pac man n what while my parents went off to play adult games..we use to stay in one of the hotels n would get up in the morning n enjoy breakfast on the boardwalk while watching the waves n rest of the boardwalk stores getting ready to open for the day..the smell of fresh salt water taffy being made and cotton still stays in my mind..awe the memories..Thank You Sal for another great episode!
That wasn't daycare, it was a homeless guy that got a 20 from your parents and stuck around for another 20 when they were done gambling lol
Ryan things were way different over 30 yrs ago n I highly doubt my parents would leave my brother n I with a homeless person..n I do beleive it was Harrahs b4 it turned into Trump Plaza..smh..
@@juliebove6237 Just a joke
Freaks.. Been years since I seen that movie. The guy with no arms and legs rolls his own cigarette!
You make a good video, very entertaining.
Freaks really was a film way ahead of its time.
Tou
Hey Sal have you ever thought about going up to Detroit and due a series on all the beautiful things that this city once was and had. The factories, train station, theatres and other things?
heraldo2881 he’d be the perfect one to do it, too
I've seen things about Detroit they have beautiful Victorian neighborhoods that are just all empty and got it beyond the point where they can be brought back it really is sad
He should visit Eastland Center
Detroit is not anything close to what it was when I was exploring it....I have a very odd nostalgia about seeing the streetwalkers walk along 8 Mile & on Woodward....This is waaay before Backpage. Detroit was much, much worse back in the day. Anyone who tries to tell you different doesn't know where the city of Detroit has climbed back from.
Absolutely!!!! It's on my list....stay tuned...
.....haven't been to Atlanta City since the 80's.
So sad that the mall didn't survive. It had so much to offer not least the magnificent ocean views.
Your research, narration and footage are phenomenal. 👍
I subscribed ☺
I just randomly came across this video, and it's crazy cause I grew up in Atlantic city and still live in Atlantic city. I used to enjoy going to the boardwalk as a kid then hitting up the ocean one mall (the pier mall) because it had amazing stores and a massive arcade in the back. It was the place to be. It's so sad to see what it has become now. I miss the old AC.
Outrageous room rates on the weekends, indoor smoking bans, and better options closer to people's homes destroyed Atlantic City.
Nobody goes on weekends, it’s too crowded.
Aimee Webber, haha, just a play on the Yogi Bera quote “nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded.”
I’m a big fan of AC and I disagree with much of this video. First off, the narrator and producer of the video starts out by saying he doesn’t like casinos. So every comment he makes regarding casinos after that is taken with a grain of salt. Maybe he should have just stayed with the Playground Pier.
People always complain that room rates are so expensive on Saturday Nights. Instead, they should remark how cheap rooms are during the week. If you have a players card and give them a little play, you can stay in an oceanfront hotel for peanuts.
For what it’s worth, Ocean is one of the only casinos that has increased business post Covid. It’s a gorgeous property and once you get familiar with the layout, it’s very simple to navigate.
This is a wonderful exlog. I love knowing the history behind the areas, their rise and their falls. This stuff isn't documented accessibly and your style works so well for it. And the music, just wonderful!
This segment reminded me of a Peter Straub novel, the best psychological horror is the simple stark reality that is. Outstanding
Stayed at a bunch of the Hotel/Casinos back in the day. Caesar's has a real nice spa. Tropicana was probably my favorite due to all the shopping. I really miss the Caesar's mall back in its hayday. That fountain show was really something. I liked the glitz and glamor of the Taj Mahal. Hopefully the boardwalk is able to bounce back from the pandemic.
A very edgy portrayal of a very edgy town. Loved the trailers. Philly is less than an hour away so I remember all this pretty well. Also the opening of the Taj Mahal.....remembering how obscenely crass it was. Thanks for a great show.
Thanks Ed!!!
Another amazing video Sal!
Wow, I remember this mall when it was thriving. Amazing. They used to have a water show that was phenomenal!! You do an awesome job bro, and you have the voice for this type of content. Subbed!
when I was younger, I used to visit Ocean One every time my family went to Atlantic City. There used to be a fudge shop by the entrance where fresh fudge was made and it smelled wonderful. They gave out free samples too. There was an arcade in the back before the fountain was build. There was a food court above the arcade. I remember buying a double hamburger with each patty almost 3/4 inch thick. Brings back memories.
I used to sell watches in the Pier about 10 years ago. And even then though packed selling high end watches was a task to say the least. The food court was actually really good at the time. They had sanwitches, paninis, salads, chinese food, and some other things but I cant really remember. The teriyaki was my favorite. Still live in the area and it's just been getting worse worse with no signs of improvement. Recently Stockton University opened up which was a ray of hope however the addition didnt benefit anything. Conventions are the only thing keeping this place above water.
Sal: Yet ANOTHER amazing and very entertaining piece of video history, my friend! I am so proud to be Patreon Patron of your superb work, and I've enjoyed each and every new Log number as it's been released. (Now, if I could just talk you into coming out west to Cali for a visit!) Finally, thanks for the latest footage of Petal's journey to her permanent home; what an awesome saga she's had! Rock on, bro!
I like your style and voice. So relaxing and informative ))
Thanks so much, Vladis :)
Excellent job! Wonderful video shots, interesting history, wry side remarks . . . this effort is highly appreciated. Thank you.
I’ve been going to AC since I was a kid (40 plus years). I’ve also worked in AC and still visit, stay a few times a year. I love AC, it’s a great town with great restaurants, bars, casinos, lounges, strip clubs, beach, boardwalk, convention centers, airport, rich history and live venues. The town is broken into two sections, the boardwalk (Bally’s, Wild Wild West, Resorts, Tropicana, Hard Rock, Cesar’s, Ocean Casino) and the marina (Borgata, Harrahs and Golden Nugget). The marina is the nicer side of town. AC also has a poor, indigent, crime ridden population (closer the the boardwalk). Many of the casinos closings (Atlantic Club, Trump Plaza, Showboat, Revel) were calculated closings to devalue properties/write offs, eliminate cross competition, minimize union contracts, receive state and federal rebuilding incentives. Also newly opened casinos in the area NYC, Philly, Poconos have caused a slight loss in revenue. However, if you’re looking for a casino/resort/getaway experience AC has a very strong edge over the competition. The Play Ground Pier “failed” due to trying to emulate the High End Cesar’s mall in Vegas. The AC patrons were not looking for a high end shopping (Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tourneau, Tiffany’s, etc) so the stores have closed. The current pier owner purchased the pier/previous mall in bankruptcy for a very low price so it will not be sold anytime soon. Their are a few great restaurants, bars on the top floor of the pier Philips, Continental, Buddakan and Souzai. Also peppered throughout the mall are a few useful stores. The view from the top floor is phenomenal, the mall is modern, clean, well kept and the venue space is elegant. I have seen the “water show” and it was fun but small and didn’t compare to Bellagio’s show. I experienced AC during its best, worst, Sandy Hurricane and it’s still standing. AC is a tough, great city that will always survive. The past, current and future Nucky’s will ensure of it.
The only thing keeping the pier alive was the former Apple store and the third floor restaurants. When Apple closed, the place really died. The guy from Philadelphia who owns the showboat up the boardwalk, tried turning the back first floor into a bunch of clubs and a rock and roll venue but that fell flat on its face. The floors are made to resemble a boardwalk. I live down the street and I didn’t know the food court was closed. It’s a pretty place but a shame nothing can be done to save it.
My grandfather come through Ellis Island from Poland and settled in Atlantic City and bought the store front that became Green's Army & Navy somewhere around 1920. In 1927 my father was born in Atlantic City and later became president of the store and ran it along with his brother. Pep Boys was next door. Now both Pep Boys and my father's store were turned into a big bus terminal.
Id love to see an Atlantic City update. I’ve worked within a casino for going on 12 years now and always find it fascinating seeing abandoned casinos.
This is a fantastic idea. Putting it on my list.
The fountain show was great. I saw it when it first opened. This is a sad state for this mall. It had so many high ends ships too. Had a Tiffany's, Tommy Bahamas, etc....
I was in Atlantic City last year with my wife at Caesar’s/Bally’s. I got really drunk and relapsed on crack. Lol. Been clean ever since.😁
The doors you walked into Bally’s by the poker room is where I scored the stuff. Hahaha
That's great
Lmao
Hey Sal-
I’m speechless. This Log is nothing short of outstanding and I will have to watch this a few more times in order to take in the visuals and the information that you filled this 46 minute Chronicle of Atlantic City. You’re so talented and a real pleasure to listen to, as you take an extensive listing of its history.
To see the decline brought by a Hurricane and very poor management by the current Manager of your Country left me worried about the future of America, but like Atlantic City the Country should see better days.
As you suggested I did search for the Playground Piers Fountain Show, and it was impressive! I’m disappointed that the Mall is dead, and the loss of the fountain angers me to know that a treasure like it was akin to tearing the heart of the current shopping centre, but I hope that they can reinvigorate what was ruined by shrewd business practices.
Thank you so much for a wonderful Log!
my mother immigrated to atlantic city in the early 2000s and she always talks about how beautiful and thriving the city was, when the casinos were doing well and tourism was high year round. We live in the suburbs of atlantic county now and to see how it is now is jsut crazy the casinos we have today are still up and running but it's not the same anymore
Just discovered you today. Sal, I don't know what the hell you're doing, but I like it!
Keep up the good work!
Thanks Fast Eddie!!
What really boggles my mind is how fast the pier lost occupancy. It was only 2-3 years when it went from being full to empty. And unlike other dead shopping places, this place had high-end shops so it seemed the future was bright but I believe the seasonal fluctuations in crowds were too extreme for many of the shops to handle.
The Doc is epic!!! How you managed to research and explain #45’s funky financial dealings is a wonder. Spent time in AC when the casinos first opened. Cannot believe what it has become. The Steel Pier was marvelous entertainment back in the day. Empty shops, no buffet and folks throwing their retirement into a $ machine. What a mess. Absolutely loved the research and presentation, stellar as usual. Oh, I also loved the pseudo beach setup. Great, great job🌊🎥
Discovered your channel yesterday. Love it! Thank you for the work you do!
Thank you so much for the kind words, Shari!
This place is incredible! Very beautiful and huge! Great job on this Sal😊
I grew up 5 minutes from Atlantic City in Linwood. What a horrible story of political corruption and mismanagement of taxation. My mom just passed a title on a house worth 10k that has 11k a year in taxes.
Awful!
Hey Sal! Great video. I worked at that Apple Store for five years. This mall used to booming, even more so in the 90's when it was the Ocean One Mall. Great video! Thanks for the memories!
Worked at Trump Plaza 13 years. Until it closed in '14. Obviously, the local zombies are living in the parking garage.
Hey look, another thing touched by Donnie that died.
I’m trying to put my distaste for traitors and grifters aside to say love the video, Atlantic City is a sad story. Always happy to see when you post new work!
Thanks so much Marissa! I agree 100%
Seeing the indoor fountain show on the pier is one of my fondest memories of being a kid. It was truly amazing. The whole pier when it was filled had such energy I just cannot put into words. The decline of it has been painful to see over the years, especially with such a luxurious inside and unmatched location. The developers seemed to have no intention of refilling the stores which is upsetting.
Atlantic City has such amazing architecture. Always stirs the desire within me to recreate those buildings in Minecraft.
Great storytelling. Caesar's "sold" the pier to a Philadelphia developer back about 2015. He intended for the vacant space on the ocean side to be an indoor "street" of small bars with live music of various genres. Jose Garces was to be in charge of food. The fountain was decked over for a concert space. The concept faded after a few months. Note: The "Bally's" that opened originally is the square tower further north on Park Place. The ornate Marlborough-Blenheim was demolished for that. (It was the 70s. New and sleek ruled.) The Wild West opened in the 90s.I recall my late mother-in-law urging us to go see the animatronic prospector and the overhead mining train. Wrapped between the original Bally's and the Wild West is the ornate and historic Hotel Dennis, which can be seen from the boardwalk. I never stayed at the Trump Plaza, but spent time in its public spaces. I recall them as pleasant, if unremarkable. It opened before the hotels started doing themes, like the Wild West, Ceasar's Roman-Tuscan mashup, Taj's Indian-Arab mix, Showboat's cruise ship-riverboat blend. Have you considered submitting to the Garden State Film Festival (which was in AC, but is now in Asbury?) Or to AC's local Cinefest? I used to volunteer for the GSFF, which used the Claridge and Resorts (formerly the Haddon Hall), so I got to see some amazing historic spaces in both buildings. And an amazing space to tour is the old (Whelan) Convention Hall. It has great rooms, great acoustics and the world's largest pipe organ being rebuilt.
Thanks to you and your team for all the hard work! The info you provide makes the video so enjoyable. Love your voice!😍
Another great video sal. Keep up the good work best wishes from across the pond ( London , UK )
Cheers!!
I like this more in-depth format! I enjoyed learning how this dead mall fits into the overall history of Atlantic City.
This was great. I’m from the area and lived in Atlantic City 2015-2017. I’ll always keep it in my heart! I remember going to high school parties in hotel rooms at trump plaza. Watching you sneak around the pier behind the curtain gave me the creeps because I used to work and hang there when it was at its prime! Back in 2016 there was a nightclub at the back end of the pier where the fountain used to be for about 3 months and that shut down. Great video!
Fantastic video Sal! Thank you. The historical account was wonderful. I knew most of it, but learned much more from you.
Maybe the city can use what cash reserves they have now to set up a community bank which will buy up these derelict properties, then eliminate all property taxes and just charge a gaming sales tax on casinos. Rich people will start to move in and land values will soar, then they can lease out these properties for redevelopment for a future cash flow. Also instead of building the revel hotel , they should have built a hyperloop servicing Atlantic city, Philadelphia, and new york. It would take only 16 minutes to travel from midtown Manhattan to Atlantic city and with zero property taxes , Atlantic city would become a suburb for the rich and elite who work in the city and drop cash in the heavily taxed casinos.
Back in the early 90’s we used to take the 2 1/2 hour day trip to Atlantic City. We would park at the Showboat and go play in there for a while. After we lost enough we would head up the escalator and be greeted by a puppet steamboat captain on our way over to the Taj Mahal. The Taj was really something, so huge. They had a guy on stilts who walked around with his troup, his name was Hearsay and he awarded free meals and gaming vouchers, of which I never won. If we were getting hungry we would go upstairs and down the hall and take the entrance to Resorts. We would often eat at the Beverly Hills Buffet which was a pretty good eatery. At this time Merv Griffin owned Resorts. We’d play there and then backtrack through the casinos to our car. We would leave after the busses left and be home around 8:30. It was a fun day and if you did it during the week it wasn’t overly crowded. I always enjoyed going there and I was sorry to see the Taj close. I was able to go into the Showboat and take pictures of the casino floor. There were broken and working lights which were part of the video games that had been left there, and the whole place had a look of a hurried removal of machines, because things were left broken on the floor that had no value. Down by the Taj you had The Steel Pier which was like a big amusement park, and at tg3 other end was Bally’s, Caesars, and the mall. The mall was nice to walk through but there were never a lot of stores in it. I remember buying an iPhone case in the Apple Store. I have many good memories of the place. A good friend of mine played sax in a band which performed at the Trump Castle. Hilton built that Casino and it was empty for a long time until Trump bought it. I remember when it finally opened the slot machines all said Hilton on them. Imagine having the whole thing ready to go and being denied a gaming license ! The name Hilton was removed from the machines . My favorite places to eat were The Captains Buffet at The Showboat, Th3 Berry Hills Buffet in Resorts, and the Virginia City Buffet in Bally’s. If you were lucky at Resorts you would catch a glimpse of Merv Griffin once in a while. I saw. Trumps helicopter take off from the pad near the Taj. Lots of good memories. Saxman
I enjoyed this, but as much as this video makes it seem like Atlantic City is a desolate wasteland, it is actually on it's way back around. The new Hard Rock and Ocean casinos have helped the city attract tourists again. Regardless the time of year, on any given weekend Atlantic City is booming with 20 and 30 something year olds partying away at state of the art night clubs like HQ and Daer, beach bars like The Chelsea, or live music venues like Wild Wild West. I'm 26 living in northern New Jersey over 2 hours away and just about every one of my friends have been visiting Atlantic City at least a couple times a year since turning 21. It truly is pretty awesome if you know how to do it! Thanks for the vid.
The casino looking like a town under the roof gave me quite a mindfuck. Loved it! You mentioned one can move between the casinos without going outside and I think this was done for the same reasons you typically can't see outside through windows from casinos. This is to fuck with your sense of time as you can't see what time of day or night it is, and will thus be potentially more likely to stay longer, which of course means you'll leave more money there.
My father and his brother owned Green's Army & Navy on Ohio and Atlantic Avenues. My friends and I used to love walking to the Shore movie theater across Ohio Avenue. My father used to take me to lunch on Saturdays and we'd go down Ohio Avenue and under a bridge where the building on the right had sand stone bricks. He would run his finger along the groove in the one brick that he and his brother, as children, etched into that one stone. So many memories, it makes me cry. Now Atlantic City is like Las Vegas, phony and corrupt.
This was amazing and id love to see more like this!