This mall was hopping up until the early 2000's. When Destin Commons opened around that time is when this mall started loosing its customer base and declining. I have great memories here as a child in the 90's and early 2000's. Loved going on the carousel as a kid. Got our family pictures at the Sears up until the late 2000's. I remember my Mom taking us kids to meet our Dad for his lunch break from work at the food court. Had some of my earliest memories of eating at Chick Fil A (which is no longer there) here. Part of me doesn't understand why these indoors malls die- one of the reasons is that I've always loved how you don't have to worry about oppressive heat or cold, or rain or thunderstorms as you would in an outdoor mall.
Destin Commons opened in Destin in that timeframe, i do not believe its the reason why Santa Rosa Mall started to go in this direction other than the facts that all of these malls were all being eaten up by online progress
Thank you for making. This mall was my childhood in the early 2000s. I have so many memories coming here, it was my favorite thing to do. My brothers always worked at different kiosks or shops here. So sad it’s going :( I imagine if they go through with the apartment plans it’ll be like university mall in Pensacola
I'm glad to see they finally got rid of the awful carpet! When I was a kid I would skip school and hang out here all day. There were always gangs of elderly people walking the mall, armed with stick and batons. The floor and much of the paint are new to me (I moved away for college in 92). Then it was mostly brown brick walls. The nautical decorations weren't there at all. I have a lot of fond memories of the place, but I'm surprised it's still around. It was looking worn down in the early 90s.
I can't believe part of the mall is going to be torn down. I hope they reconsider saving it and not build another apartment there! Please contact that Mall and demand they save it now! I have been there two days ago and it seems to pick up more people than before. Not alot, but it seems to thrive.
I think I went to this mall as a kid in the mid to late 80's. I used to tell my parents I wanted to go to the mall with the "purple lights" . We lived in Ft Walton beach so I am assuming this is the mall we used to go to. I remember there were purple neon lights at the top of the columns that formed a ring, I think in the food court. I saw one sign with a purple / pink light at the food court I wonder if purple has been the theme here for a while. I didn't see any neon lights on the columns in the video but that was over 30 + years ago.
I used to manage the Dairy Queen in this mall. I'm still a GM for Dairy Queen, but this was my first store. I wasn't running it when it closed. Sad to see it gone but boy the memories. Maybe one day it'll reopen.
Do you recall there being a SEGA Flight Simulator arcade game in the old space where Game Time is now? I went there as a kid a few times, and then one day we couldn’t because the manager had quit according to one employee. I came back the next time I could, and the flight sim game wasn’t there. It was an airline simulator, surrounded by some fighter jet ones.
@@pldurden ah yes. I spent many quarters in diamond Jim's and actually won the altered beast arcade machine in a raffle. I was never a fan of aladins castle, either location. The Hunnicut's owned corndog 7, then they owned the dairy queen that was located where the chic fil a customer dining area was.
Current local here: Crackers is still going strong! Dillards is still the best place in town to buy some fancy clothes. The rumor is the mall at some point will host some restaurants and a brewery. We'll see.
I used to go here as a kid in 2002 and would go to crackers, aladdins arcade, would get my haircut here and go to gamestop. Crazy how much its gone downhill.
Wow, I’m from Florida and I thought that the only things between Panama City and Pensacola were moccasins, rattlesnakes, and a few people who might fit right into the movie “Deliverance”. The last place I’d expect to find a mall.
I worked four different jobs in this mall in the 2000’s. La Bonboniere, Limited Too, FYE, and the Art Gallery. I miss those days so much. What’s the name of the first song you used in this video? I love synthwave.
i remember going here when i was younger(yes im still young.pls dont be weird to me) and i forgot about that playground and arcade, it used to appear so big to me so seeing the playground and arcade was amazing. i still go here and i like going to the fyes and hot topic(noticing how it isnt there even though i recognize that its across from spencers), which probably recently opened after this vid. i also used to always go to the trampoline houses infront of the merry go round. rlly nice seeing this vid
This mall was hopping up until the early 2000's. When Destin Commons opened around that time is when this mall started loosing its customer base and declining. I have great memories here as a child in the 90's and early 2000's. Loved going on the carousel as a kid. Got our family pictures at the Sears up until the late 2000's. I remember my Mom taking us kids to meet our Dad for his lunch break from work at the food court. Had some of my earliest memories of eating at Chick Fil A (which is no longer there) here. Part of me doesn't understand why these indoors malls die- one of the reasons is that I've always loved how you don't have to worry about oppressive heat or cold, or rain or thunderstorms as you would in an outdoor mall.
Destin Commons opened in Destin in that timeframe, i do not believe its the reason why Santa Rosa Mall started to go in this direction other than the facts that all of these malls were all being eaten up by online progress
as someone who went here last night, it’s so creepy inside, its crazy how dead it’s become
This is so sad .... I remember going to this mall all the time from 79 - 83 when I left for the military... it breaks my heart to see it so 💔 empty 😞
Thank you for making. This mall was my childhood in the early 2000s. I have so many memories coming here, it was my favorite thing to do. My brothers always worked at different kiosks or shops here. So sad it’s going :( I imagine if they go through with the apartment plans it’ll be like university mall in Pensacola
I'm glad to see they finally got rid of the awful carpet! When I was a kid I would skip school and hang out here all day. There were always gangs of elderly people walking the mall, armed with stick and batons.
The floor and much of the paint are new to me (I moved away for college in 92). Then it was mostly brown brick walls. The nautical decorations weren't there at all.
I have a lot of fond memories of the place, but I'm surprised it's still around. It was looking worn down in the early 90s.
They remodeled and got rid of the extra stores by the food court to open that space in the mid 90s. I miss the fountain and the old center court!
So sad. I grew up going to that mall all the time. Use to have a movie theater and arcades inside 😥
I miss Diamond Jim's Arcade that used to be in the center section, near the food court.
Was mall security from 97-00 those were the best years. The mall has changed so much since then.
RIP Wayne you were a great friend.
I remember Wayne. Gosh he was a big guy…I worked at Spencer Gift’s off and on between 1997 and 2001.
I can't believe part of the mall is going to be torn down. I hope they reconsider saving it and not build another apartment there! Please contact that Mall and demand they save it now! I have been there two days ago and it seems to pick up more people than before. Not alot, but it seems to thrive.
I think I went to this mall as a kid in the mid to late 80's. I used to tell my parents I wanted to go to the mall with the "purple lights" . We lived in Ft Walton beach so I am assuming this is the mall we used to go to. I remember there were purple neon lights at the top of the columns that formed a ring, I think in the food court. I saw one sign with a purple / pink light at the food court I wonder if purple has been the theme here for a while. I didn't see any neon lights on the columns in the video but that was over 30 + years ago.
I used to manage the Dairy Queen in this mall. I'm still a GM for Dairy Queen, but this was my first store. I wasn't running it when it closed. Sad to see it gone but boy the memories. Maybe one day it'll reopen.
My dad worked at the RadioShack in this mall. I used to go to the arcade all the time, but it was called Aladdin’s Castle originally.
I remember that
I went here in the mid 90s as a teen, Aladdins castle, k b toys, Sammy's music are a few I remember
Great video, but kinda sad to see the place so empty. To think it was once full of people going about their lives.
Game time was originally an arcade called Aladdin's Castle.
Do you recall there being a SEGA Flight Simulator arcade game in the old space where Game Time is now? I went there as a kid a few times, and then one day we couldn’t because the manager had quit according to one employee. I came back the next time I could, and the flight sim game wasn’t there. It was an airline simulator, surrounded by some fighter jet ones.
But the Gametime location that was indeed an Aladins castle is not the original location of Aladins castle.
@@Jimmy_Boy_Kalahati the mall was so much better when the diamond Jim's and Aladdin's castle were competing and the corn dog 7 was in the food court.
@@pldurden ah yes. I spent many quarters in diamond Jim's and actually won the altered beast arcade machine in a raffle. I was never a fan of aladins castle, either location. The Hunnicut's owned corndog 7, then they owned the dairy queen that was located where the chic fil a customer dining area was.
Used to be one of my homes away from home when I was a kid.
My grandparents lived in FWB and I spent a lot of time in Diamond Jim's and Aladdin's Castle in this mall in the 80-90s.
Current local here: Crackers is still going strong! Dillards is still the best place in town to buy some fancy clothes. The rumor is the mall at some point will host some restaurants and a brewery. We'll see.
I used to go here as a kid in 2002 and would go to crackers, aladdins arcade, would get my haircut here and go to gamestop. Crazy how much its gone downhill.
Wow, I’m from Florida and I thought that the only things between Panama City and Pensacola were moccasins, rattlesnakes, and a few people who might fit right into the movie “Deliverance”. The last place I’d expect to find a mall.
I miss the old Tommy Bahama store that was once in our mall!
I worked four different jobs in this mall in the 2000’s. La Bonboniere, Limited Too, FYE, and the Art Gallery. I miss those days so much. What’s the name of the first song you used in this video? I love synthwave.
the first song is Cruise by Timecop1983
amazing! sweet😘 thanks for sharing keep safe 👌🏼
And props for using vaporwave/mallsoft music
The arcade moved to that location after the 90s remodel and was called Aladdin's Castle. We used to play DDR there in the late 90s early 2000s
My Aunt worked at that JCPenney until it closed, for over 25 years..
Hey, this is my hometown mall 😂😮
Nice work
Thank you! I appreciate it especially from another dead mall CZcamsr.
i remember going here when i was younger(yes im still young.pls dont be weird to me) and i forgot about that playground and arcade, it used to appear so big to me so seeing the playground and arcade was amazing.
i still go here and i like going to the fyes and hot topic(noticing how it isnt there even though i recognize that its across from spencers), which probably recently opened after this vid. i also used to always go to the trampoline houses infront of the merry go round.
rlly nice seeing this vid
This mall will never be busy again.
You should cover Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales, FL. I also recommend North Pointe Mall in Alpharetta, Georgia because it's getting de-malled.
ooh yeah I have been to Eagle Ridge mall quite a few times and it's looking super depressing these days.
@@renatetaylor2945 They can't even hold on to a VFW post which is insane to me.
Love the video! What was your camera setup for this? Great quality.
I just used my Iphone 11
Welcome to Santa Rosa Mall.
The Mall.... Rules ✊
Hello @Mall Walking Will You Do More Videos on Your CZcams Channel @Mall Walking
Yes! my next video will be on the liquidation of Family Video.
Who is The performer of that nice uplifting music that starts at 8.58 min?
The song is called Midnight 夢 by Dan Mason
hello can you do a video on the Statesboro Mall a very dead mall
Fye is probably 10% media and the rest pop culture merch.
I just miss ming tree
Is this in California
No, it’s in Florida
Was originally going to be in Santa Rosa county hence the name, Crap fell through so moved to Mary Esther. And already had the name,
lets hope that this mall will stay alive longer
Department stores are becoming a thing of a the past. Walmart is putting them out of business.
amazonntoo