The Laurel Mall (2020 Update!)(Hazleton, PA) - Raw & Real Retail

This is our walkthrough of The Laurel Mall in Hazleton, PA from July 7, 2020. This is a mall we have covered previously, during a time of recovery and prosperity for the mall. The mall has received a bit of bad press due to its declining state a few years ago, when the management decided to do a major overhaul of the maintenance on the property. Afterwards, when all was completed, we filmed our first tour, and it seemed quite optimistic, with very nearly 100% occupancy and lots of foot traffic. Needless to say, the past year has not been kind to this mall, and it shows with the vacancies scattered throughout the mall bringing it back down to the public perception before renovations. With the way retail seems to be heading into the future, we're not sure what to think of a property like The Laurel Mall.

Songs used in this video (in order):

Mladen Franko - Midnight Party
Roger Webb - Flying Objects
Mladen Franko - Long, Long Straight On
David Marriott, Jr. - On the Seventh Day
Steve Gray - Wonder Groove
Steve Gray - Reach Out

Here is a link to the article from Wikipedia:

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I'd like to say a few words about being an ambassador to your local malls. We have been taking the time to visit all the malls within a reasonable driving distance to check up on them and see how they are doing. Also filming an updated video every year or so, regardless of the lack of many changes, just so there is a video record of the health over time. We think this is an important thing to keep tabs on, especially in these wildly turbulent times. The current health emergency has accelerated the impending Retail Apocalypse we've all been talking about these last several years. This was already a big problem, but the shutdowns and restrictions have made the issue 5x worse and likely hastened the death of the enclosed shopping mall.

I know we've all been on pins and needles wondering how bad the fallout is going to be from all of this.

There really is no way to know exactly unless we ALL go and do our small part to make it known how it turns out. I implore you, if you have the means to pick an area you would like to be an ambassador for, and go document your local malls. Whatever your medium, it doesn't matter, any and all documentation is necessary and vital in this day and age. Whether it be on Social Media, Flickr, Youtube, any platform gets it out there and preserves it for posterity. We can't paint this picture unless we all grab a brush...

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We utilize the value-for-value model here at RRR. Our product is free, and we're not asking you to pay for it. If you received value in any way from watching RRR, you can help us by donating, if you feel like it. Any little bit helps us to keep corporations and advertisers out of the decision making process. Your donation will keep us ad-free, and in turn, it will give us the opportunity to get to more far-flung locations to help tell this tale of retail instability.

This is a non-profit project and every penny will go back into the gas tank for future trips!

ITM

[williammcfadden]

The Laurel Mall is located along PA 93 approximately 5 miles from the center of Downtown Hazleton to the northwest. The mall is near the interchange of PA 93 and Interstate 81 and approximately 7 miles from the interchange of north-south Interstate 81 and east-west Interstate 80. So the mall is reachable from interstate highways going in each of the four cardinal directions. The revival of Laurel Mall was considered to be a business success story in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Most of the stores were occupied in this video and hopefully the mall will be able to survive the health emergency and continue to be successful as people return to their normal routines. The mall can be easily reached by customers from the Coal Region as well as the Western Poconos to the east and the Susquehanna Valley to the west.

[esw]

The local mall that probably shouldn't have survived (quote from a friend of mine) but continues to survive and thrive.

[nathanhenderson]

Still seems overall healthy to me. Even your successful 'A' mall have vacancies nowadays.

I do find it interesting to see that new neon sign for the 'family fun center' at the former Kmart entrance.

[hodxody]

The trend here is decline. But for the locals this property would sliding even further. I’m confused regarding the remodel. Where is it. I fear how bad it was before the changes. On a more positive note there are a number of national stores even if they are bottom tier retailers. Boscov’s is a welcome retailers. They do take up lots of space which is a good thing. So I’m sounding the warning alarm for this mall. Let’s hope it will resurge.

[taylor]

An okay mall...but a dying one vacancies here and there. I think the mall needs some updating to be honest...

[taylor]

Also can you do an update on rotterdam square mall in newyork when you are in the area? I know I already said this just wondering..

[z]

This is Shimmer and Shine in Scranton, PA from July 7, 2011.

[DonWalley]

For context i wish you would day of week and time of day of your visits.