Thursday, September 20, 2018

Throwback Thursday: Going to the Metro

The Dead Mall folks visited Metrocenter a few months ago and produced one of their Youtube videos.  Check out the old Metrocenter commercial at the beginning of the video.


25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice. More of this please!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this. Really sad. But the part at 1:50 is classic, I laughed out loud.

Anonymous said...

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. As a kid growing up in south Jackson during the 70's and 80's, I spent a many an hour and dollar at the Metrocenter.

Anonymous said...

Sad..
Sad for the city too.
Big tax loss for the city.

I remember a movie theater behind MMettrroocceennter..

Anonymous said...

So many memories. (Sad face emoji)

Anonymous said...

That was pretty cool. Facility is in surprisingly good shape for being built in 1978. Wonder if they tear it down?

Wonderful Memories said...

Many of us who lived in the Delta viewed this place as a destination trip. We loaded up the kids and headed to this venue to shop for everything we thought we needed. At least a quarterly adventure.

And if our kids sports teams required a trip to the Metro to play, we couldn't wait for a few hours 'time off' to head to this mall to shop and just look around.

I guess it's at this point where the faithful will say, "Shit Happens"....

Anonymous said...

I remember a movie theater behind MMettrroocceennter..

I took my kids in there when it was well into decline and I didn't know how bad it had gotten. Patrons had taken to urinating on the carpet inside the theater and the odor was awful. Told mine we wouldn't ever go back.

Anonymous said...

Grew up in North Mississippi in the 70s and early 80s. Apart from the fun in driving into Jackson on I-55 on the "bouncy roads", the best part of coming to Jackson was going to MetroCenter and going to the Arcade, Spencers, etc. while finally getting away from the parents for a few hours (and being safe). Lots of fun. Sad that my child doesn't get to have that same experience.

Anonymous said...

Breaks my heart...suppose I’m part of the problem though according to the Jackson crowd. I left Clinton for Madison 17 years ago.

Anonymous said...

The good old days. I remember riding my bike to Toys R Us and K-Mart to purchase TMNT action figure with my allowance. I saw the Lion King at the theater that closed long ago. I remembered that my dad would drop us off with $20 each while he went to work overtime (bad parenting), and that was enough to get something to eat then spend the rest at Diamond Jim’s. Even though I didn’t have the funds to make purchases from department stores, I did not cause trouble like the youth that loiter at North Park nowadays.

My last trip to the Metro Center was a negative experience, and it involved an aspiring parking lot salesman trying to pass off knock off iPads. At the time I told him that I don’t carry cash on person, and he proceeded to display a manual credit card imprinted and carbon paper. Unbelievable.

Anonymous said...

I thought Metrocenter was the best thing ever back in the 80’s. I went all the time if nothing else just to walk around and feel the energy and excitement. It had to be one America’s great malls. Hard to believe how time has passed.

Anonymous said...

All is not lost. The Metro Center building will soon be repurposed as the Kush Nation’s government headquarters. News will be announced next week for this radical idea in the City with Soul.

Anonymous said...

@5:41,
I also left Clinton last year. My son was in 98th grade. The school has really changed alot. Fights breaking out left and right at Clinton schools. It's much like Forest hill in its decline. It happened swiftly. In Madison now. Sad to say Clinton public schools are in major decline and I hated leaving. I just couldn't afford a private school so I had to move.

Anonymous said...

8:34. My kids are in Clinton schools. The only part of your post that’s true is 98th grade.

If you couldn’t afford a private school, no way you could afford a house in Madison.

Anonymous said...

I wish Clinton and Jackson would do better with their schools. Everyone moving to Madison is ruining it. It sure isn’t the nice place it was in the 80’s. Too much trash has moved in.

Anonymous said...

I remember talking my grandparents in to buying me a pair of parachute pants at the Merry Go Round in Metrocenter.

How is that for a throwback?

Anonymous said...

"Patrons had taken to urinating on the carpet inside the theater.... "

In Jackson?!? I am shocked, shocked, shocked.......
=====================================================

"If you couldn’t afford a private school, no way you could afford a house in Madison."

BS. Houses are more expensive in Madison that some towns but graduates of Madison Central have gone on to first rate colleges (i.e., outside Mississippi).

Anonymous said...

Speaking of the old movie theater at the Metro, I went to see Return of the Jedi there on the day that it opened in theaters back in 1983.

Anonymous said...

Saw Rocky Horror there... As I remember the theater drapes were set on fire and somebody put a chair thru the glass in the lobby.... ♬ Memories... ♬

Anonymous said...

This video could've been done in 3 minutes.
Here's the synopsis: It was nice. It failed. It's vacant. Carry on.

It Ain't Rocket Surgery.. said...

12:57...Actually, 'it' did not fail. It succeeded for decades and was a profit maker for at least a hundred businesses. The place eventually fell fallow and dropped into the ditch of whatever always claims businesses where the surrounding population doesn't work.

I suppose Sears was destined to eventually go belly-up on a national basis (since they DID), so we can't blame that on Jackson. But the hundred other stores inside that mall and on its perimeter had no reason to fail other than the dregs of society that surround the place.

Again....consider common denominators.

Anonymous said...

What's the deal with that one men's clothing store remaining open? How weird is that??

Louis LeFleur said...

Ah, fond memories of the "good ol' days". Despite what some here obviously think about this happening solely because it is in Jackson and associated demographics, this is a nation wide trend. Time magazine had a good article about it a little over a year ago.



Anonymous said...

Just lucky they didnt get robbed by the security guard...times are tough...just goes to show that palm trees can still live innthe desert.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.