Memories

Submitted by T. Pattison via email
I have a story. I can remember heading to the mall on Friday and Saturday nights to “Cruise” . We would do lap after lap around the mall trying to meet as many girls as possible. Occasionally we would get “scooted” by the mall cops and head on down the hill to Burger King to hide for a while. Then when we thought it was safe we’d head back up the hill to continue on our quest of meeting girls. They tried to deter this by putting up stop signs everywhere, but that only helped us in our goal.

Submitted by B. Livingston via email
I was a security guard at the mall for about 2 years. I remember my first job well. I also met my first husband at work when he too was working as a store security guard. We married and had 3 children. He passed away over 6 years ago. I remarried to a man who helped transport materials in to build the mall. I too have fond memories of the richland mall both as an employee and as a teenager “hanging out” there.

Submitted by F. Wertz via email
First of all let me congratulate you on the willingness to take on such a project.  Personal webmaster experience tells me that it is no simple task.
I am a long time member (since 1974) of the Flood City Corvette Club of Johnstown where I served as an officer through much of that time.
As a club, we sponsored, set up, and conducted week long displays of locally owned Corvettes inside the Richland Mall every June for something like 6 or 7 years.  Being that I was a semi professional photographer over the same time period, I have dozens and dozens of photos of our cars inside and outside of the mall.  It would take some digging through some old photo albums and a lot of scanning to digitize, but if you are interested, I am willing to take on the project.  I can create a file and then put all of the photos into it as JPEG format, then burn them onto a CD and send it to you. 
In addition, an old friend, and fellow club member and officer, had a small restaurant in the mall during those years. He and his wife operated a Superchick chicken sandwich franchise.  It was located on the corner just to the left as you were exiting the Kmart into the mall.  If memory serves his location became a National Record Mart when he got out of it.
On a personal note, I did miss the fountain/waterfalls at center court.  I grew up with a creek literally outside my bedroom window and found the sounds of the water very relaxing.  It was a major disappointment when it was taken out and replaced by carousal.  It was very nice but just not the same.

Submitted by D. Hull at www.deadmalls.com
In the heart of Crown American's territory, Richland Mall opened in 1974 with 3 anchors: Sears on one end, Hess's in the middle, and Penn Traffic Department Store on the other end. Johnstown was a major city at the time in Western Pennsylvania, and was the only shopping destination between Altoona and Pittsburgh for many years. 
Penn Traffic Department Store was closed (This was owned by the same Penn Traffic that owns BiLo Foods still in Johnstown and other areas in Western Pennsylvania, as well as P&C Foods in New York). The space was soon filled by Kmart. 
The mall thrived for years, even with its gaudy circle accents adorning the ceiling of the mall. In the 1990's, Crown American would find a major problem, and what would kill this mall. 
In 1992, the Zamias Development Company, also based in Johnstown, built the Johnstown Galleria, located off US 219 about a mile and a half north. The new mall would be a 2-level mall featuring 4 anchors, luring Sears to the new mall, bringing The Bon-Ton and Boscov's in, as well as luring JCPenney from University Park Shopping Center. The new Galleria had a lot of outer retail development, as Wal-Mart, County Market (later Giant Eagle), Toys "R" Us, Circuit City, Dunham's Sports (formerly Sun TV), Staples (formerly Family Toy Warehouse), as well as restaurants like Applebee's, Ponderosa and Red Lobster. 
Richland rushed to renovate losing Sears already, and updated the mall's coloring brightening the color scheme. However, the circle lighting on the ceiling would remain. Hess's store at the mall (one of the last to close in the chain) was sold to The Bon-Ton who would shortly operate a store at the mall, in addition to the Galleria. 
Hills Dept. Stores would move from down on Rt. 56 and their very old store to the former Sears. The former freestanding Auto Center became a Michaels Crafts, and Hills prospered here. However, the mall was sagging at that point. The national chains that called Richland home were leaving for the Galleria, and mainly niche stores, local stores, and discount stores were filling the mall. It was hard to sell anything in the mall when Kmart was on end, and Hills was on the other. In 1998, the mall was closed off. When the Hills was converted into Ames, Ames plastered over the former mall entrance. Kmart had an interesting situation as the only access they had was from the mall, so the mall entrances next to Kmart remained open, and drywall was placed slightly above Kmart, allowing them some space for seasonal merchandise. 
When Ames filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, this store would hit the line of closings, leaving the 4-screen Cinema attached to the mall, Michaels and Kmart as the only remaining stores on the site. In 2002, demolition began on the mall. A plan was unveiled to build Richland Towne Centre, which was originally going to be the Kmart, Cinema and Michaels remaining, but the closed mall to be bulldozed for a Wal-Mart Supercenter. The new owners of the site decided they didn't want Kmart and Wal-Mart on the same site, forcing the Kmart to close in 2003. Everything on site was demolished. 
Richland Towne Centre opened in October 2004. It has Wal-Mart Supercenter, a new theater (odd in that it's the first theater I've seen built in a decade that's not a massive multiplex). Where Kmart was is now a new Circuit City moving down from Galleria Hill, a Bed Bath & Beyond, Petco, a new Michaels, Ross, and TJ Maxx & More. 
Johnstown has lost over half its population in the past 30 years, and the economic base there has eroded. Jobs are nonexistent. The city could no longer support 2 malls with renovations to Crown American's Logan Valley Mall in nearby Altoona, as well as expansion to Greensburg's Westmoreland Mall, the closest competition to Johnstown from the Pittsburgh area. Crown American could not keep their crown jewel open. Richland Mall was a very expansive 1-level mall for its time (the largest 1-level mall Crown American ever built), but the Galleria provided the nail to its coffin. 

Submitted by J. Durst at www.deadmalls.com
Before I begin my commentary about the Richland Mall, I want to correct some facts in the previous commentary. First, Crown American didn't build the mall; it was built by a Michigan company called Richland Mall Associates. Also, Hess's was not one of the original anchors. 
My first memories of the Richland Mall were going there with my grandmother. The mall seemed enormous to me when I was little. I still can remember always getting a soft pretzel at the Hot Sam and having a milkshake at the Sweet William restaurant. Unfortunately, 30 years later, the mall is just a memory. It was torn down in 2003. 
The Richland Mall opened in 1974. The mall was not your typical 70’s era mall. Yes, there were splashes of orange and yellow on the ceiling, and red, blue, and yellow brick on the entrance/center court pillars, but there wasn’t any wood anywhere. The mall’s design was very unusual. The ceiling was plaster that mimicked the serpentine, brown/white flooring. There were five foliage areas in the mall. These areas also had a serpentine design. The center court was spectacular. It was at least ten feet below the level of the mall. You could either go down steps or a ramp to get there. The fountain area, down in the court, was unlike anything I have ever seen. It was not a regular fountain, but various waterfalls made out of real boulders. I would stand there for hours just watching the different falls and tossing my pennies in. When you were down there, you felt like you were in another world. When you looked up, you could see yourself in the glass-tiled ceiling. The outside of the mall was all beige brick, except for the Sears store, which was a darker kind of brick. 
When the mall opened, there were three anchors: Sears, Kmart, and PennTraffic (a local store). Sears Automotive was in an outparcel near the Sears store. There was also a Shop n’ Save supermarket attached to the mall near the Kmart side. There was a two-screen theater inside the mall. The only restaurant outside was Patriot Steakhouse, which later became Ponderosa. The mall’s original tenants were very diverse. They included National Record Mart, Ormond, Gordon’s Jewelry, Stanyan Street, KarmelKorn, Spencer Gifts, Motherhood Maternity, Brooks, Sweet William, Time Out (arcade), Orange Julius, McDonald’s, Hanover Shoes, Kinney Shoes, GNC, Richman Brothers, JoAnn Fabrics, Thom McAn, Hickory Farms, Waldenbooks/WaldenCards, Teek’s Shoes, Thrift Drug, Harts Home Store, Bon Ton (not the dept. store), Arthur Treacher’s, and many others. Throughout the 70’s and early 80’s the mall flourished. Stores came and went as usual. In the early 80’s the mall was full capacity with stores like Shoe World, The Bottom Half, monarch’s, Lane Bryant, Naturalizer, Bermans, Foxmoor, Fine’s, reunion (kind of like The Gap), Hot Sam, Chess King, noname, Susie’s Casuals, Tobacco Village, Pross, Foot Locker, and The Athlete’s Foot. In 1984, Hess’s bought PennTraffic and the store was renamed and totally remodeled. Shop n’ Save closed in the mid 80’s. It was a Riverside supermarket for awhile and a Penn Furniture. A few years later it was converted into an eight screen theater which killed the two screen theater at the other end of the mall. They remained vacant for good. Things were still going good at the mall until 1992. 
In 1992, The Johnstown Galleria was opened a few miles away. It was a two-level, glass-gabled mall. It had four anchors: Boscov’s, JCPenney, Sears, and The Bon-Ton. Hill’s quickly replaced the Sears store. Michael’s Arts & Crafts occupied the Sears Automotive building. Many stores left the aging mall for the newer and brighter Galleria. The management of the mall finally decided to remodel after 15 years. They covered the beige/white floor with pastel tile; they filled in the center court and put in a carousel; the outside brick was covered with stucco. It looked great, but it was a little too late. Stores continued to move or close only to be replaced by service-oriented stores or mom and pop stores. In the mid 90’s, Hess’s was bought by The Bon-Ton and the Richland Mall store was converted to The Bon-Ton. Now there were two Bon-Ton’s within 5 miles of each other; that couldn’t work in this area. In 1998, The Bon-Ton closed the Richland Mall store because it truly was a dump. It was later that year that the rest of the stores left the mall. The corridor outside of Kmart was boarded-up so that you could only get to Kmart. Hill’s, in the meantime, became Ames. Now you had two anchors on each end of the mall, but you couldn’t get to them from inside the mall. Ames eventually closed and all that was left was Kmart, which still actually did a good business, the movie theaters, and Michael’s. Ponderosa had since moved to a new building near the Galleria. The mall was truly dead! The old PennTraffic/Hess’s/The Bon-Ton was vandalized and all the doors were boarded-up. The Ponderosa building had all the windows smashed out. Also, an odor of stagnant water, mold, and mildew could be smelled near Kmart coming from the boarded up section leading to the mall. It was sad to see the mall just falling apart. 
In 2000, it was announced that the mall had been sold and would be razed. Wal-Mart had bought the entire mall property. Of course, they kicked Kmart out because of obvious reasons. The theaters were to get a new building in the plaza that Wal-Mart was proposing. The mall was torn down in 2003. The theaters remained until their new building was constructed and then were torn down. The new Richland Towne Center opened in October 2004. It had a Wal-Mart Supercenter, Petco, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Ross, TJMaxx, Circuit City, and many others. The only remnants of the old mall that can be seen today is the Michael’s store, but that will be torn down once Michael’s moves into there new store in the plaza. One funny thing is that Fashion Bug and a Christian bookstore are in the new plaza. They were tenants in the old mall and moved back from the Galleria. Now the Galleria is feeling what the Richland Mall felt years ago. Wal-Mart and Circuit City left empty stores around the Galleria, but Gander Mountain and Best Buy are reported to be taking those buildings over. 
When I go to the new plaza, it is hard to believe that a mall once stood here. Sometimes I just sit in my car and remember the numerous shopping adventures at the Richland Mall and what I wouldn’t give for a Hot Sam pretzel and a box of KarmelKorn.
 

Submitted by B. Gustkey Jr at Facebook
I admit that I was a mall dweller. The Richland Mall was my home away from home.

Submitted by J. Collins at Facebook
Im a dweller loved the cruises around the mall and down to scalp on fridays.

Submitted by E. Stiffler at Facebook
I miss Hot Sam pretzles :(

Submitted by J. McKool at Facebook
What about Time-Out. Thats was where all the fun was. I would have to say, class of 88-89 started the cruising around the mall started. Hot Sam pizza pretzles are the best!!

Submitted by M. Nemeth at Facebook
I remember walking the lap from time out making the corner at sweet williams to hess's then to kmart then comming back down the other side.

Submitted by L. Davis at Facebook
I loved Richie the Pook, french fries and gravy at Sweet Williams, Karmel Korn and K-Mart. Always got my colored Nikes at American Outfitters and went to Rite Aid to get candy before going to the Duke and Duchess. Frogger and Ms. Pac Man at Time Out was always the way to end the evening before the mall closed and the cruising started.

Submitted by L. Stenger at Facebook
loved cinnabon sitting on a stool at the counter...k mart where i got all my baby-sitters club books...the little dip in the middle where santa sat...and mcdonalds...my parents would buy us new shoes when we went to the mall for our dentist visits... gosh i miss that mall...

Submitted by K. Fisher at Facebook
I don't think there was a day that went by that I didn't spend some time at the mall throughout my teenage years. I can still remember the whole layout of the place, so sad that it is gone now. I took a brick from the construction site when they demolished it and keep it on my mantel. I have so many memories from there. I must agree, no one can beat a Hot Sam's pretzel.

Submitted by S. Devlin at Facebook
I loved the Richland Mall!! One of my best friends at the time worked at Kmart and she took me to the mall Christmas parties at the Encore! They were awesome. How about Reunion and Suzi's Casuals??? My first born had his very first pictures taken at the photo place near Kmart (can't remember the name though). I miss the Richland Mall!!!

Submitted by L. Fetsko at Facebook
I saw my first R-rated movie there -- All the Right Moves -- at either the Duke or Duchess. I was in eighth or ninth grade, and my Dad had to take me, LOL! Capri pizza was the best, and I loved the center court. Didn't they have a waterfall or at least running water down there?
One of my art projects from 2nd grade was chosen to be hung up in the mall -- it was a big, posterboard Easter egg, come to think of it, and since I was TERRIBLE at art I had some girl who sat beside me at school "help" me with my project. She drew my idea, and all I did was color it, LMAO! And there it was, hanging from the ceiling in the mall, with my name on it!

Submitted by G. Mace at Facebook
I went to Richland Mall the night it opened....not sure who with. I still have a Richie the Pook ornament tucked away in my Christmas decorations.

Submitted by M. Yannutz at Facebook
KMart was the superstore! Mmmm... I-CEE's.... and remember that big talking giant toy-maker robot thing at XMas???? He used to scare the crap out of my sister.

Submitted by C. DelliCarpini at Facebook
loved working at burton's men's store...hot sam's pretzels couldn't be beat...eating at sweet williams and stopping at the frozen yogurt shop on the corner by kmart with my grandpa when i was REALLY little...it was so sad as businesses left and the stores just stayed empty...still a shock to see wal-mart there.