Dead Malls Season 5 Episode 8 - Dort Mall

As a much as auto correct wants to tell me this is Fort Mall, or Sort Mall, no, this is Dort Mall. Or Small Mall, or Mid America Plaza. Just about one of the oldest malls which has never been renovated I have ever seen. Dort Mall was built by a local developer in Flint in 1964. Originally the mall was just a small community place for the people, meant to house a variety of local businesses. It opened in 1965 as a community shopping destination. However years later when Eastland, and Genesee Valley Center opened, it was doomed. 3 malls scattered across the dying Flint, MI was a melting pot of trouble. Coupled with the fact that Dort Mall was just in a bad spot, in a lower income neighborhood, while the others sat proudly away from the crime on interstate 69. Dort Mall would see a plethora of strange tenants over the years as itself was a strange mall. Sears Hardware, Yankee Stadium, A&P, Peranis Hockey World, a theater, and even a basement nightclub which closed in the early 80s. By the 2000s while the others struggled through closure, Dort Mall didn’t have to worry about much of that. The mall was locally owned by Bob Perani, and was so small and had such a good cycle of small discount business that it never feared closure. The mid 2010s would even see Bob hang up and strew about the halls his DOZENS of antiques and collectibles. So it was always to the locals and traveling tourists such as myself, more of a museum. As of my July 2022 visit, most of the antiques have been sold at auction and the mall sits very quiet most days. Sure Dort Mall never reached the success it was supposed to have, but with the competition and it’s size, maybe it was always meant to be just a community space. So what’s it like in Dort Mall as of July 2022? Well, let’s head in, tell the short story, and find out for ourselves. And let’s also take a quick peek at a long abandoned Kmart way up north at the end..

Music used

Mall Muzak of 1959

1970s Kmart Jingle

Kmart 1983 MUZAK

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Links

#northcdogg22 #deadmall #deadmalls #northernfilms

[charlestonpinballarcade]

Wow! The Circle grocery store sign is amazing!!! Would love to have those letter boxes

[JoshYT]

Now that I think about it, yes the mall really could be a school! That would be such a cool idea and imagine them opening up the old 70s dance floors for students to go and hangout in! Great daily video as always.

[scottDchicago]

“And today, it just sits abandoned, long forgotten, as nature takes it back!” @ 12:42. Eerily poetic and so accurate! The background track music perfectly matches the scenery with vibes of mystery, sadness, and a tad bit of creepiness!

[violetw]

A place like this mall would be so cool to rent out as artist studio space. I'd love to have an art/work space inside this mall! Very cool vintage vibes. And those skylights! ❤😶‍🌫️

[charlestonpinballarcade]

It looks like most of the vintage items have been sold off or removed since Dan was here years ago. Very surprised it’s still open.

[ERA_Productions]

Awesome video! Such a unique little gem!

[alliemarie]

Wow this is really interesting! I feel like Dort is a terrible name for a mall lol

[RollerskateKyle]

The Kmart opened October 16th 1965 and closed in 1999 not 1997. It’s store number was #4099

[anfieldlegend]

hello from brisbane. I really like watching your content and sadly, seeing how shopping centres are dying in america.

hopefully Australia doesn't end up the same way as i do like an occasional trip to the shops.

[seabee]

That was an interesting mall. I can't believe that Kmart building has been vacant since 97. Keep up the great videos.

[AbcDef-iqno]

One summer when I was a kid growing up in the midwest, my best friend and I rode our bikes three miles to our local Kmart and bought our first tennis racquets. We were both 10 years old, the year was 1970 and the tennis racquets were $1.49 each which we earned by cutting grass for a neighbor. We couln't afford tennis balls so we would scrounge the bushes which were on the perimeter of the courts till we found a couple which still bounced. Ah, those were simpler times.

[DigitaIJustice]

This is down the street from where a grew up. Cool to finally see the inside

[shadyhooker]

MY MAN! Love getting that little notification and seeing the one and only! keep it up.

[Wesley_C]

This mall is a gem, very great video, keep up a good work.

[CoolCatProductions-]

Great video North! Loved the Kmart exploration and can’t wait to see Fashion Square Mall in Saginaw!

[dilliotk]

Chilling, thank you for filming this. THis my home town where I grew up.

[brentburgess]

I've gone to the flea market you mentioned several times and had no idea the mall next door was actually open. I would of guessed it was closed for 20+ years.

[JoJo-iesl]

Very sad about the state of Kmart. When I lived and worked in Michiana, they had an outreach program with a few of the counties special ed schools. Every year some of the stores employed about >20 of the seniors, kids with things like Down's who could work just couldnt get a foot in the door elsewhere. Sad.

[patrickdmcnulty]

It is kind of sad when you think of it: Malls like Dort Mall, Burnsville Center, Har Mar Mall, Southdale Center, and all of the other malls that have seen better days have now gone completely to 💩.

[chrissasandlin]

This felt like a small community museum with its once upon a time decor.