Dead Malls Season 5 Episode 25 - Westland Mall (OH)

Once upon a time, malls like this were fabled as the future of shopping, the future of commerce, and the future of community. A place were any and all could be brought together under one roof to do any and all they wanted. In Columbus, Ohio this was one of those malls… Westland Mall was one of the first in the city and enjoyed decades of success and popularity. But as the times changed, and newer malls opened. It was put out of favor, and if you utter the name around town nowadays, you might get a different outtake on it.. Despite being a small mall it’s still one of the most fascinating I’ve ever been to. So join me today, as we dive in, take a look at, and tell the story of one of the most bizarre abandoned malls I have ever been to…

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[NorthCdogg]

For everyone who keeps asking, the reason I got so scared at 15:30 was because my irrational fear of man made objects submerged in water (submechanophobia) and my fear of deep water (thalassophobia)

[ScooterEver]

This was my mall growing up. Even when it was "thriving", Westland was viewed as not being as good as Northland and Eastland (Southland had no connection to the other malls). Westland didn't have Gap, American Eagle, Disney or a food court like Northland and Eastland did. Some other fun facts:
1. After the Chi-Chis closed, it became another Mexican restaurant but it was actually a drug front; owner was distributing brown heroin out of the restaurant
2. Next to Chi-Chi's was Wendy's Hamburgers. Next to Wendy's Hamburgers was Wendy's Bridal. No connection but it was odd
3. The JCPenny constantly had roof leaking issues. The store would have tarps filled with water strapped to the ceiling when it was open
4. The Limited (which you show in the video) had two entrances at an angle so shoplifters would just run straight through and grab stuff. Later they would keep the gate down on one of the entrances
5. Lazarus had an entrance right across from Waldenbooks. This entrance lead to their "Fast Lane" zone which was their "young, hip" department that competed with Chess King

[charlestonpinballarcade]

The water up that high on the stairwell is seriously a movie scene. You should have yelled “Rose, stay on the upper deck of the ship!!!”😂

[ruthsells]

As a high school student 1977-79…..Franklin Heights High….we ran to Westland being maybe 2 miles from my house every weekend and some weeknights just to hang out. Sears had free pac man and other video games to play and Orange Julius was favorite new drink of the times. Now 46 yrs later i drive by weekly and see an empty space that once thrived as did the GM plant in which now houses Hollywood Casino! Breaks my heart…the West side/Hilltop of Columbus was the place to be now gone forever💔

[cgimovieman]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I feel sorry for people younger than about 37 who probably never had a change to experience malls in their heyday, and now only wander around in the “ruin porn” of their state today. Or then again, maybe I envy those people, because you don’t feel the heartbreak of someone like me, who is 44, and grew up in those golden mall years. But for someone like me who truly loved malls, it’s very emotionally scarring to see what the majority of them are today. I feel like I’ve lost my third place to go. Seeing malls like this feels like seeing a dying relative who you loved, in bed and unable to move, and a shell of their former self. It was surreal seeing the storefront for The Finish Line in this video. That logo is exactly the way the storefront logo in my local mall was when it opened in 1991. Even if my mall’s store was smaller. I have images from that time 32 years ago burned into my memory from how cool it all was.

[robomatt]

This was an amazing episode! Exciting, eerie and sad all at the same time. I was thinking something was gonna pop out of one of those back rooms at any moment. This was one of the best episodes so far and a definite worthy finale! Thanks for risking your lives to get such good footage.

[NorthCdogg]

Guys I didn’t even catch the clip of me swearing at 6:30, so sorry about that one, although I will admit me asking “what’s in there? Cocaine bricks?” Is pretty funny

[ehfrw]

Genuinely amazed at the amount of unbroken glass in this abandoned mall. There’s certainly a lot of broken glass, but I’m used to seeing every last inch of glass smashed.

[crazycalvinwilliams]

I'm 21, so by the time I had the ability to form memories, the mall was already mostly gone, but one of my first memories that I can still recall to this day originates at Westland. I was probably 2 or 3 years old, my mom was pushing me through the mall in a stroller, and over the intercom speakers I heard "lifes been good" by Joe Walsh for the first time. Not sure how, or why, that stuck with me, but it did.

[hoffcast]

I live less than a mile from there, it's all gone now. So glad you got this footage while it existed

[juliaroberts]

The timing of this post is interesting. The mall just started being demolished right around when you posted. Thanks for sharing as a Columbus local I have been fascinated with this mall we call it wasteland

[bonkgoose]

Cool video! I drive past this mall weekly. It’s since been torn down as of April 2024.

[colinray]

Hi from the UK, loving the vibe and story telling you give to these interesting structures.

[thedeathwatchcouncil]

Fun local fact! As of May 2024 The Westland Mall is currently under demo and once it's finished they're going to build more apartment housing

[alliemarie]

I would’ve sworn this place was abandoned long before it was. That’s shocking how quickly it turned into that. I also can’t believe it wouldn’t be more of a priority for them to get rid of such a hazard! I don’t think I would’ve gone in if I were you, but glad you did to capture this footage.

[chrissasandlin]

The contrast of that terrifying water and the lingering brick & woodwork...it gave the impression of something lurking just out of sight. And that one image of someone walking just far enough ahead to seem like a lost mall walker added to the unsettling impression.

[sunsetrecords]

Once a glorious mall filled with life has now been abandoned and left to rot. A mall that I am sure was once beautiful. Good Video!

[cynthiarose]

This was an amazing video. So scary and creepy, yet fascinating to watch. Reminds me of Rolling Acres. Ohio seems to have many dead and abandoned malls. You deserve more subscribers cause your videos are all awesome. Thanks for all the work you do to film the malls. I really appreciate it.

[ghostylovesu]

Hey i live by this! It was actually just torn down, good timing getting this out!

[shesmagic_]

Excellent video! I really loved seeing shots of the mall when it was open for shopping then abandoned!