Dead Malls Season 5 Episode 6 - Lakeside Mall

Nestled neatly into a bustling retail corridor of the northern Detroit metro, lies Lakeside Mall. A Taubman classic. Constructed and opened in 1976 it was a staple, an anchor, and an example for how to do retail at the time. Betwixt multiple massive big box anchor stores lie over 1.5 million square feet of mall between 2 levels. Over 200 stores would be the place to be for years and residents would often find the mall to be the destination for any and all activities for years. However, as the years went on and things changed, so did Lakeside. The overly excessive mall was found hard to fill, and often would be left empty. Especially after online shopping, newer and better malls, and a changing retail climate struck. Anchors and tenants alike would leave and in 2022 plans were finalized to demolish the old mall. So join em today, as we step into another world, a world where the deals never end, the future seemed bright, and the futuristic possibilities of retail seemed endless. Join me today as we take a tour and tell the story of Lakeside Mall, in Sterling Heights, MI.

Music used

Music by Stevia Sphere
Tuesday Television
And ALITA CITY

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Links

#northcdogg22 #deadmall #deadmalls #northernfilms

[mikerocks]

I was 19 when Lakeside opened in 1976. Those seating areas were always full of older retired men sitting around shooting the breeze. In your video, I saw, guess what, an older man sitting in the seating area. All alone though. Have his buddies moved or passed away. Now. I am a senior myself. I live just a minute away from the mall. Maybe I’ll grab a cup of coffee and go to the seating area and sit with the lonely old guy there.

[oliverdouglas]

I remember Christmas shopping at Lakeside back in its early years. Those parking lots you see at the beginning of the video, which completely ring the mall, were completely full. Often we had to park with countless others on the grass berms which sat on the very outer edges of the property, beyond the end of the asphalt lots.

[JoJo-iesl]

I always try to find a positive in these places for every vid. It looks desolate but someone is clearly doing a good job keeping it clean. Place looks immaculate.

[rejectedmomma]

Breaks my heart. A big part of my life was spent at this mall.

[stephanie]

this was my childhood mall and the memories I have just riding the glass lighted elevator and waterfall fountains as a kid are core memories. lakeside still looks good for an old girl! Teen years at Tilt arcade and stories of the slide. this mall was so phenomenal in its day

[AngryReviewer]

Its sad watching your video. Its hard watching it. I want Sears back. I want the Mall back the way it was back in the early 2000's. I have gone there so many times. Riding the elevator was always so cool. 😭 It was a mall my mom went to growing up. It was a mall I went to growing up and still go to time to time. I have fond memories at lakeside. The entrance you came in the red walled place with the blue shutters was a Ruby Tuesday. The purple place in the food Court was a Taco Bell. There was also an A&W. I remember when Sears was open still. I have fond memories of Sears. 😭 Its hard to see it become so dead. I am almost 31 and its been a great place. Thanks for the Video

[bernadettecaullay]

I remember when Lakeside opened...went there all the time, it was THE place to hang out. Eventually took my daughters there quite frequently. There was an awesome play area for the kids and they loved going there. It was a beautiful place with many shopping and dining options. It was always decorated so beautifully for Christmas, and Santa would have a grand arrival every year...you could barely move there were so many people. He would make his way to the North Pole display right by the elevator in the middle. I worked at the Disney Store which opened in '93. So much fun, and extremely busy all the time! Depressing and sad to see it has become a ghost town.

[Tomotasauce]

I hate just how empty this mall has become, when I go I barely see anyone there but when I was a kid it felt like a them park😂

[fernandoscorsin]

The sequence between 10:18 - 10:48 with the crescendo part of the song in the background and the haunting words "you've made it, but your destination is no longer here", really got me... 😰

[debbiehamilton]

I will always remember my dad waiting for my mom in the pit outside JCPenny. It was the best at Christmas time too. So sad to see the emptiness of that great mall.

[ooGargsoo]

Moved to the area in 1987 when I was 11. The area was cornfields and farmland with a 3-lane road passing Lakeside, not the 8-lane expressway that's there now. This was my hangout from 1989-94. It was THE place to be on Friday and Saturday nights- totally packed! I worked at the "trendy" clothing stores for 2 years ('91-'93). My at the time girlfriend and her mother worked at Marshall Fields/Macy's until 2011.

That girlfriend and I married in 2012, and I took our 6yo son there last year to show him a "mall", while I reminisced. Lakeside is a shell of what it was, but such good memories; thanks for dredging them up!

[QuintusAntonious]

Honestly, this mall still looks modern, even in the older photos!

[houseofgcld]

this mall used to be so much more. pretty much all the stores are gone. food court is empty. it's so heartbreaking 💔

[scottDchicago]

Your work is absolutely outstanding! This 1.5 million sq ft mall is still an architectural wonder. It demonstrates just how much retail, amongst many other things, have changed in the past fifty years. Standing ovation for this episode!

[jordankoehn]

It's so great to see you covering a mall that I grew up going to. So many memories. Great video!

[sensibleamericans]

Just moved back to MI. 3 months ago from 25 years in FL. I stopped by Lakeside Mall yesterday (05-13-23) with my childhood (and current) best friend (we were looking for Mothers day gifts for our wives). He and I had been in and out of Lakeside many times growing up. WOW is all we could say as we walked the dead halls and closed stores. I felt a certain depression while inside the building. It was like I was looking at the depth of my age. Good video!

[SlobberKnockerr]

Getting home from work and watching one of your videos on a Sunday afternoon is a blessing.

[TaraSuchitra]

I miss my childhood so much when I see this :(

[aarontimberlake]

That was my mall growing up, it used to be packed, full of life, and the place to be. Hard to believe that there are any tenants left.

[mortb]

This hurts my soul. I grew up in this mall. Loved your vid. I'm at the 14 minute mark. I'll need to watch the rest later. Can't take anymore tonight,