Jasper Mall originally opened in 1981, but recently lost two of it's popular stores, K-Mart and JCPenney. The bill introduced by Republican Sen. Andrew Jones of Centre would gradually reduce the sales tax on food from 4% to 2% taking off .5% each year provided there is more than enough state revenue to offset the loss to the education budget, which relies on sales and income taxes. Make friends with people on the coasts. A few key retail places moved so the whole mall is dying. Jasper is really a unique town, and I hope this film brings people together to make a difference, and try to get Jasper Mall back to its former glory. JASPER, Ala. David Gifford, a preacher from Hamilton, Alabama (population: 6,800), drives nearly an hour to Jasper (population: 14,000) to shop at the JCPenney at the mall here in the northern . I worked at a mall similar to the Jasper Mall that opened in 1985 in NH and like the JM was busy always and forget the weekends (read mall rats). Some believe that there is still life left in these malls, and they can be saved with innovative ideas such as turning them into residential and office spaces, in line with Victor Gruens original vision. This school might get you a house, Alabama senators back bill to cut state sales tax on food, Alabama governor defends dismissal of education leader, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Report, CorporationFor Public Broadcasting (CPB). Thomason and Whitcomb would often sit in the food court and wait for a scene to develop. For one year it follows the local mall in Jasper, Alabama and how it declines and grows less and less with stores closing and chains going out of business. Since the. Although the filmmakers can't say for sure how many patrons visited Jasper Mall. A documentary playing at the Sidewalk Film Festival later this month looks at one dying mall here in Alabama. You have been working in the Birmingham area for a while now. Consider These Factors, Bayside Mall: A Popular Shopping Destination In Toronto, The Pros And Cons Of Teen Curfews In Shopping Malls, The Americana At Brand A Luxury Shopping Mall In Los Angeles To Close Its Doors, The Importance Of The Quinceanera Dress And Mass, As Electric Cars Become More Popular Free Charging Stations Are Popping Up Across The Country, The Fashion District: A New Shopping Mall In Philadelphia. The mall does love to host Jungle Safaris events even after they been cited numerous times by the USDA. WBHMs Andrew Yeager spoke with Thomason. The store closed in March 2017. We didnt go to film school or anything, we just rented lots of DVDs from Netflix and watched obsessively. But what I love about this film is how it captures the human aspect of the mall and how it's future will affect its occupants. Recommended Reviews Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here. In addition to its beauty, the mall is a symbol of the American dream, but it eventually succumbs to the ebbs and flows of time. [3][5], Jasper Mall premiered at January 27, 2020, at the Slamdance Film Festival and to the general public on June 23, 2020.[6]. Material on this site is provided for education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis. Co-directors Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb spent a year shooting the film. View all photos (30) Traveler (7) Room & Suite (9) Dining (5) . It is free on Amazon. We never did find out if she left her job and travel the world. Were just not sure when thatll happen again. Grim and true look at a dying business of the American mall. These 48 vintage indoor malls were so dazzling, youll want to hop in a time machine and shop til you drop, Vintage shoe stores: See what shoe shopping really used to be like, Vintage Wal-Mart history: What the first stores looked like, and how they changed over the years, Vintage Target stores: See 40 pictures from the 60s to the 90s & the original logo. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. I think it's a documentary but it looks like a movie. Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb are the films co-directors. So when I began watching this documentary, it brought me back to a time and place in my youth who's memory put a big smile on my face. The traditional mall is a dying world and this documentary captures one example of this. Jasper Mall offers such straightforward Middle America vibes that anyone who's never left the big city they grew up in might find this pretty alien. But in the 1970s, it was the premiere mall in the area. There are similar hotels available. A good example of this was their appearance in the food court toward the end of the film. The stores home will be at the Jasper Mall where the Kmart used to be. Wed get there. Jasper Mall hours of operations Store hours may vary. Anyone wanting a stirring and nostalgic trip down memory lane that becomes a real slightly sad real world story, this is a perfect doc. So interesting! Outside at daybreak, a post-apocalyptic barren parking lot. Post author: Post published: March 15, 2023; Post category: christina cassini images; Post comments: . It was truly sad! According to Jasper Mall's website, the facility still houses around 20 business ranging from chains like Belk department stores to local ventures such as Robin's Next florist. Stay up to date on new open call deadlines, film releases, filmmaker interviews,career and film fundingopportunities, and thoughtful words on the South. [7], Ethan Brehm of Spoiler Magazine named it the best film of the year. Jasper Mall is an enclosed shopping mall located in Jasper, Alabama, United States, approximately 30 miles (48 km) west of Birmingham. A sad state from its peak. Where are they now?Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deadmallwalking YouTube Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC22f9KNvgclGRtUKx9pAGIg/joinKo-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/deadmallwalkingI visited the mall to see how things had changed in the years between the documentary's release and now, including the pandemic. Lost Weekend, a documentary short about two Pennsylvania teens who won an MTV contest and got to party with Van Halen for 48 hours, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. There is no security guy at the Jasper Mall. in Jasper, Alabama, but it feels like a signature southern small town.Regulars frequent the largely empty space like they're attending church. Whether youre looking for a new outfit, a new book, or just a place to walk around, the Jasper Mall is a great option. Lin Garden II. "Alabama shopping mall subject of new documentary film", "A Year In The Life Of A Dying Alabama Mall", "Documentary on Jasper Mall to be released Tuesday", "Spoiler Magazine's Top 10 Movies of 2020", "Announcing Our 2020 Sidewalk Film Festival at the Drive-In Award Winners! It's easier than ever to make those connections and collaborate. It looks like the malls of our childhood - like a time capsule. MORE: In the 90s Toys R Us was a retail powerhouse then the internet happened. This documentary directed by Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb didn't really give much of any educational, scientific or historical value for the audience to look over. As the mall deteriorates, the film follows its inhabitants, as well as the characters who live there. Posted 6/17/20. Some people even chose to move their business to another location by the end of the film. Jasper, AL 35501 205-221-2840 Follow us. Open now. By | March 10, 2023 | 0 . Thomason: We're both Houston natives and I moved to Birmingham when I met my wife at (Birmingham's) Sidewalk Film Festival. However, without more information it is difficult to provide a definitive answer. The Jasper Mall could soon be home to Rural King, a farm and home brand. I can't say the same for places like the Towne Mall - yes, I realize there are a few shops still there - or Century 3. 50 old mall stores you probably havent seen for years (at least not looking like this), 1980s sleeping bags featured superheroes, cartoon characters & more, Raspberry-cream cheese coffee cake recipe (1970), A 1970s designer dream house: The American Home of 1974, Dr Pepper history: How the famous soft drink made a big name for itself, Check out 100 vintage 1970s supermarkets & retro grocery stores, 70 popular vintage 1970s cereals we loved & we miss, New York in 1911: Watch Edwardian New Yorkers come to life in this amazing rediscovered film footage, Lip Smackers from Bonne Bell: The super trendy vintage lip gloss from the 70s, 80s & 90s, 12 totally trendy 80s Trapper Keeper notebooks & binders, How do you use a rotary phone? Seniors get their morning walks in. Jasper, Alabama's mall is not too far off from this unfortunate fate and is struggling to keep its doors open for the dwindling populace who still walk its hallowed halls, despite the problematic convenience of online . How did you purchase your ticket? One charter school in Birmingham is giving some young people skills needed to address that problem. I didnt know how there were regulars. And nothing much has changed except we dont get DVDs in the mail anymore. Is that why you decided to make this film? [4], Towards the end of the film, more shops including Subway, Grady's Sandwich Shop, Robin's Nest Flowers & Gifts and Jewelry Doctor all close or move. Scroll on for a peek inside some abandoned malls and the sad histories of their demise. What will ever become of it? It's only good for a quick browse. It was respectful and in good taste. Plus as people get older they shop less and young kids use the mall as a dating and gathering hangout. . I certainly didnt know there were men who played dominos in the mall. . It certainly made me wistful for the shopping malls of my youth. HBCUs are riding a wave of popularity not seen in decades. [2] The mall, which opened in 1981, has recently lost two of its anchors, Kmart and JCPenney. The 350,000-square foot mall was designed to hold about 35 or so stores. Jasper, Alabama, near Birmingham 20 xaervagon 6 mo. The movie was so unexpected to me. Belk in Jasper Mall shopping details. Maybe the movie should have focus on that, rather than wasting film footage on the manager/security guard's Mike McClelland romanticizing his past job as a Tiger King type zookeeper. Where are. After all the mall was alright with having children of minorities sit on Santa Claus' lap. Theres a lot of elderly people there. regressive theory of viruses. Jasper Mall peels back the curtain on this nostalgic reflection to show the reality of the American mall, complete with shuttering stores, elderly mall-walkers, an optimistic mall manager, a series of community events designed to increase foot traffic, muzak echoing through empty corridors, and the constant threat of impending closure that hovers over so many malls in the 21st century. Leaves you thinking about your mall days! ago I think it'll make a comeback, eventually. To his disappointment, the allure to developers of cheap farmland in city outskirts overcame Gruens conception of intentional city planning and downtown revitalization. Gov. This page is not available in other languages. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the prices are reasonable. Its hard to quantify the value of that draw, said OMary. For someone who grew up with their local mall being their "go to place" as a youth, this brought back both memories and sad realizations. Also, I remember being at Brookdale Center in Brooklyn Center, MN before it closed. I knew that there were mall walkers, but I didnt know just how many. You can let us know if your review was properly reviewed. JASPER, Ala. (WBRC) - On Tuesday, Jan. 17, the Jasper City Council voted unanimously to an agreement between the city and Rural King, a retail chain specializing in farm and home. Later we opened a store in the Jasper Mall in 1982. Regions Jasper Mall branch offers a wide range of personal and business banking services including checking and savings accounts, . The movie took a sharp right turn into focusing on nearly unrelated issues. The store closed its doors permanently on July 31. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. But LA and NY do still have a lot of resources in production and post production. I surmise the internet killed the mall experience, but the kids and adults are missing the human contact in the end that we had. The film would have been a much more rewarding experience for me if such contextual interludes had been provided. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). The tile is just like the tile work from the malls of our childhood. The answer is yes! Or is Jasper overall an economically depressed area that has gone severely down hill since the hey day of Jasper Mall in the 80s and 90s? Currently there is one anchor store, Belk, and about ten smaller stores. It's called "Jasper Mall" and is named for the shopping center in Walker County, northwest of Birmingham. It's surprising more riveting than watching highly staged moments where people ruin shots by staring straight at the camera as they talk to other people. You are invited to shop, dine, and enjoy a wide variety of name-brand stores, specialty boutiques, r While this was never uttered in the film. The mall was built in 1977 and underwent a $8 million renovation in 2014. is jasper mall in alabama still open. The documentary covers the mall itself, and interviews various individuals that work in all different types of positions within the mall, those who regularly visit the mall for different reasons, and business owners within the mall. Thomason: Of course. eastfield mall covid testing registration. Thomason: Some of the same ones Brett listed, plus "Marjoe," "American Movie," "F for Fake," "Crumb" and "Hands on a Hardbody.". The mall is viewed as being notorious passe than modern. [2] The mall's frequent visitors including groups of mall walkers and domino players are also frequently shown. Whitcomb: Films can change your life and we wanted to be a part of that. There is something simple and poetic about the plight of middle class America, and this puts it into portrait form. You can rate this movie to give feedback. [11], On March 17, 2017, it was announced that the JCPenney store would also be closing as part of a plan to close 138 locations. I cannot find any information about movies jasper mall directed. Robin's Nest. Great film, it's a must watch. You've got the daily walkers, the domino players, and the hardworking employeessome of whom have been there since it opened in '81; the lady in the flower shop (mostly funerals, fewer weddings now), the jeweler (who also . There is held out hope that somehow with the right store, department, or entertainment, the glory days will come back. This documentary is not quite good enough to be putting on your shopping list. Gruen imagined a mall residing in the heart of a communitys downtown business center, not exclusive to retailers, but also integrating residential housing, schools, museums and parks. As the cost of utilities rose throughout the 70s and beyond, retailers had higher overhead to pass on in their pricing, combined with the fact that Americans discretionary income was also on the decline, especially compared to the rollicking consumerism of the 50s and 60s. DEAD MALL - JASPER MALL - NOT EVEN NETFLIX CAN SAVE IT - JASPER AL - YouTube 0:00 / 10:10 DEAD MALL - JASPER MALL - NOT EVEN NETFLIX CAN SAVE IT - JASPER AL Ace's Adventures 53.7K. To add onto the mess, the shopping center itself sits in a predominately rural mountainous forest area with barely any locals due to the location's violent tornado patterns and borderline economic poverty problems. This was thoughtful and kind to us all. Its called Jasper Mall and is named for the shopping center in Walker County, northwest of Birmingham. "Mike is probably the most compelling character," Thomason says, "because he's what holds the mall together. Jasper Mall takes you inside the titular mall in Alabama to witness the slow, monotonous process of its closing down. Jasper Mall was co-directed and co-produced by Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb. Our business was started in 1973 in our family's hometown, Fayette, AL. Many of us see it in our own towns and cities it's clear our local malls are becoming less and less, and this doc "Jasper Mall" hits on those things. A documentary film about the malls history premiered at Slamdance Film Festival. What followed was three tumultuous decades of financial problems, several changes in ownership, branding, even the entire concept (at one point, it even housed a nightclub). Its a community on the brink of disappearance, and yet around every corner, there exists a strange beauty and a new kind of Americana that reflects the unique, touching, and frequently hilarious realities of the shopping mall in the internet age. document.write ("'> A very sad but poignant documentary about a dying mall in Alabama. And of course, the food courts. Jasper Mall was an entertaining look into the life of a mall. Because of that and other controversial events like selling hand held weapons in order to increase foot traffic. The PRICE Act would give families $6,900 in taxpayer money which could be used for private school tuition or homeschooling. Now when I visit with my wife as an older adult it's eerily quiet but still mostly open. Jasper Mall. 90 were here. By the late 80s, malls were actually dying, and that was a trend that only accelerated through the 90s up until this very day leaving behind a landscape of abandoned malls and sprawling parking lots reminiscent of post-apocalyptic ghost towns. You can find a story anywhere in the world, travel to shoot it, and edit it fromyour car if you want. The movie theater in particular was where all the major first-run movies played; I saw all the big blockbusters of the era there, like the original Star Wars movies, Superman (the Christopher Reeves version) Raiders of the Lost Ark and E.T. But even by the mid-80s, the mall was getting long in the tooth. The roles had changed here and it's somewhat surreal. A lot of the YouTube videos that Becca and I watch are either trips to dead malls or videos of the past glories of malls.

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