Macdade Mall [Abandoned Mall] - Holmes, PA

The Macdade Mall, incl. the tracks behind the mall where it was a rite of passage to hang out and have "youthful" adventures, lets say. ;)
Also the movie marquee, which has been a huge empty canvas for about 15 years now.
The Macdade Mall, closed and sitting like an eye sore in the middle of the town where I grew up. They filmed the movie "The Lovely Bones" in the mall, re-modeling the mall to make it look like the '70's, hence the hideous orange paint. The mall wasn't much when it was open, but at least it gave the kids in the neighborhood something to do, somewhere to go. We spent coutless hours and money in the arcade as kids. Now, there is pretty much nothing to do in the town. And a rising drug and suicide problem is hurting the town. A lot of people have been taking their life via the trains in the area [the high speed line], and police now have to monitor the tracks. In no way do I mean to foul their memory, while reminiscing about "youthful adventures".
My hope is that something constructive is done with the space, like in Long Beach, where they turned an old Boeing Hanagr into a movie/tv production facility. I hope the space does not turn into yet another strip mall.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Macdade Mall
• Holmes PA
• Holmes
• Glenolden PA
• Glenolden
• Delco
• Delaware County PA
• Abandoned Building
• Abandoned Mall
• Pennsylvania
• PA
• Philadelphia
• Philly
• History
• Macdade Blvd
• Ridley
• Interboro
• Mall

[Andrew19036]

Management raised rent too high, would not allow stores to re up their lease. Not enough parking, They want the big name stores, they cant attract them. The dozen or so mom and pop type stores that were making a living are now gone (like the rest of the stores that used to be in DelCo) Not much left worth seeing. Bazaar, gone, Mac Dade, gone. Now Sunoco Gone. delco sucks Mc Clure Country club still here (Know what I mean?)

[HISTORYBUFFPA]

@Andrew19036 It's a shame because Delco has so much potential. We're surrounded by history. I grew up around a lot of angry white trash in Delco, and I couldn't wait to get out. And it is a bit depressing when I come back to visit. But I do miss it because it's where I grew up and I have tons of awesome memories from when I was a kid hanging out with my friends. I just wish the town would progress a bit.

[Zugvogel1]

I wonder why there are still light on ...for Who ?

[HISTORYBUFFPA]

@Zugvogel1 There is vids on youtube of Disneyworld attractions that have been closed for years, yet still play music throughout the park. Kinda creepy.

[Synsofgawd]

This mall was cool when i was a kid. But once the movies shut down, the rest followed. The granite run and springfield malls offer better, more upscale items and this MacDade mall had no chance early. I wish this mall could be revitalized b/c of its location. Now, everybody has to travel further. Lately, the area has become full of traffic and it makes traveling a short distance a hassle.

[HISTORYBUFFPA]

@Synsofgawd I agree. When we went there as kids, we always said it would be great if the Macdade Mall had a 2nd floor. I don't know why it felt it couldn't compete and stay current, and had to keep its old mall vibe. It's a prime location, right in the middle of town, for a well run mall, or some sort of establishment. The jobs it would give the people in the area, the shopping convenience, etc. We were lucky to have it regardless of how small it was, in retrospect.

[jhoney6754]

@HISTORYBUFFPA what the name of that video

[jaymorpheus11]

Wish the city could make a mall that'd never get torn down figuring the community put so dang much in keeping it running.

[ImHomerJay]

@HISTORYBUFFPA I think they were hemmed in too much to build more. A second floor, perhaps, but at most, they could have had the two anchor slots, while the trend for malls is three, minimally (and that ignores parking issues). They seemed to do what they could with the land they had, but nothing would have helped, I think, when you look at all of the circumstances at work (competition, demographics, costs, etc.). I heard the bank is gone now, too. Don't know if that's true.

[pr9nkaholic]

Pride of the 70's. I'm sure it was full of people in Bell-bottoms.

[Andrew19036]

If you want to see the inside of Macdade Watch The Lovely Bones. It was filmed there. They turned it back into a 70s mall for the shoot.

[trikerbabe196]

I go by when i make my return trips to Folsom and Ridley Park. i made one of my first solo shopping trips to this mall. Borrowed the family car, bought my sister a graduation present; went back to the parking lot and found that the car had been stolen! what a day that was