Is the Arnot Mall….Dead? 1 Million Square Feet of Retail History

Come inside the Arnot Mall in big flats, New York, as we explore another potentially dying retail facility.

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0:00 INTRO
0:38 Outside the Mall
1:35 Walking inside
2:28 JC Penny Wing
4:12 Former Original Bon-ton Wing
6:03 Walking to Center Court
8:00 Center Court
8:29 Elevator to Food Court
9:25 2nd Floor Food Court and Regal
10:54 Escalator Down to Main Floor
11:14 Really Small Fountain
11:34 Sears and Macys Wing
12:41 Former Macys then Bon-Ton second location
13:22 Burlington and former Bradley‘s building
15:35 Sears Building
16:51 East End South Exit
18:25 Goodbye

[brendacaro]

I was there a year ago and so depressing. So empty and they stores that looked to be there were closed in the afternoon on a weekday.

[qbemuxp]

Thanks for doing this. I was wondering about this mall. I haven't been there in years but it always reminded me of our mall in Johnson City.

[funone]

It's actually pronounced R-nut not Are-not. Pickle ball was McCrory's "5 & dime" type store. "Dead end" by Penny's was a bank, forgot the name. Spencer gifts was there (in that same location) when the mall opened in 1967.

[christinerichards]

The Burlington did not go out of business they just moved it from the Oakdale Commons to on the vestal mall center

[MallMemories]

I wouldn't say Arnot is dead, but it's definitely struggling. The wing down near the old Sears location is barren, but the middle of the mall looks good. This was always one of my favorite food court locations - great views. Plus the food court now has two or three local options, including a farm-to-table restaurant. I hope they can keep Arnot going.

[christinerichards]

I live in Johnson City and you are right about FYE that is going out of business but the Burlington did not close down they just move it from the mall to vestal

[DaveSchmrdr]

That children's cloths store early in your video was a Joanne's Fabrics store for a long time. I first went there in the late sixties when it first opened.
The last thing that was in that big open space was a furniture store. Then there was the Radio Shack not too far from Sears. I remember many of the stores there, but my memory fogs because there were several stores in the same spot over time.
The Pickleball court was a store that sold sneakers, jerseys and other clothing for big kids, young adults.
The Penney's store was there as it first opened.
Near the Penneys was a record store, but not in the spot you were asking about but directly across.
There were two other record stores in that newer part of the store. One was where FYE store is.
The Arnot Mall (you can pronounce it any way you want.) killed off downtown Elmira. Izards, and Sears were in the downtown. The 72 flood finished the downtown off.
The next time you go there, pick me up and I'll do the walk with you and I can then see if my memory shakes loose.. :)

[AustinWalpole-tv]

This mall declined fast which is sad because I'm too young to remember it's peak but old enough to remember it being better than it is now.

[cjgreenmun]

I like the "route map" at the beginning of the video.

[kevineddy]

Used to be a military recruiting enter down there by jc penny

[C.M.]

Thanks Frank, keep up the great work.

[stevedrake]

The only thing that I didn't like about the Arnot Mall is how dark it is. It gives the appearance that the mall is "shutting down". Being in a place like that is depressing, and who wants to feel depressed when they're shopping? Just improving the lighting would make it more attractive to shop in.

[christinacascadilla]

Struggling? That mall looks like what the entire country will be like after the next pandemic. There is no way most of those places are making a profit. Which means some corporation is taking them for a tax loss until they decided to close it.

[patriotdrone]

This may be the first dying mall video that doesn't still have a Bath & Body Works operating.

[C.M.]

Those chairs are from the 80s. Aqua and peach was popular then.

[jerryforeman]

Preit use to own the Arnot mall until they sold it.

[C.M.]

Morey's was a bar in the Binghamton Plaza -funny.

[underconstruction]

Update: the bucket is still on the floor I’m front of Jc penny I know everyone was dying to know.

[AnimatingStudios]

You might want to do a video on Walgreens (Owego), Party City, and Big Lots. They're all.... opposite of opening forever.

[mandobrownie]

I love dead and dying malls so thanks for documenting this! I go there every once and a while and listen to some vaporwave for the full experience.