Once in a lifetime a lakeforest mall the best mall thris in my memory I miss this mall it's sad to see it go and depressing ? ? once a upon a time in 1974 a plan was made for gaithersburg they said in 1978 to build this lovely mall ONCE a upon a time thre was me mark me what loved mallas l went with my mom 1978 when i was 3 and on my last day l was sad i worked here full time because this mall is in my heart i worked for this mall for 34 years to come even making that much money this mall is in my heart for ever just shopping sitting by the coutain riding the escalators the lce sapkateing rink thsi in my heart forever ❤️ ❤️ heart-Mark Hess 2023
petra hunt
A shame what has been happening here...no variety of stores at all. Most places are closed down. The mall looks deserted. Not worth going except for Macy's, and even Macy's looks like they are ready to close this location down.The Mall has been closed.
Alan Canas The Saddle Tank Engine
Great mall, nowadays though, it has a limited selection. But still 9.9/ 10
Bill Johnson
Finally, a shopping center with plenty of parking spots open! I stopped by late last night but they must have been closed already but definitely look forward to my next visit!
Anonthony Mous
Lots of nostalgia. I’ll miss this place. I remember when it was busy! Now It’s a shell of what it used to be. Sad to see it go. I’m grateful I got to take one last look inside before it was torn down. RIP!
Michael Echeverria-Galindo
Well, today's Friday, March 31, 2023, the last day our local city mall will ever be open to the general public and it closed in near darkness by 7:00 PM. And I hate it how the security guard keeps telling people to stop taking pictures and recording around the mall, I don't think you were telling that to the parents when they were getting their kid's photo with Santa Claus, now were you?! Let people enjoy the nostalgia we have for our local childhood mall in peace, is that too hard to ask for? Get a life.I remember going to this mall more than 50 times growing up since around 2004/2005-ish all the way to its closing date in 2023.Forgive me for the run on sentence. I remember that weird and strong sanitation smell upon entering the food court, I remember a projector motion detecting game from the ceiling near the food court, the display car nearby, going to the food court to eat Pollo Campero, Nori Japan, Sbarro, Kelly's Cajun Grill, McDonald's, Panda Express, playing the impossible to win vending machine game housing a brand new Game Boy Advance SP near the then Dippin' Dots - Ice Cream from the Future, and checking out Central Newsstand too, the strong sweet pretzel smell from the said stand outside of the lower left of Sears, the expensive ice cream to the lower left of Sears, getting a haircut as a little child at the two stores to the lower left of Sears, getting lots of video games and some toys from Sears and being dragged there with my mother when she spent hours window shopping for clothes only to buy nothing, going to Spencer's for the trends, visiting FYE and seeing their gigantic CD/DVD collection, going to 777 Tao Spa for my first ever massage, going to EB Games and checking out their large amount of video games and playing Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U for the first time, seeing the female conductor driving the kid's train travel across the mall, playing in the playground at the center court and tossing coins into the water fountain, playing in the arcade-like machines infront of Macy's, going to Hakky Shoe Repair multiple times to get key copies, going to a dollar store near the lower right of Macy's, going to the like three T-Mobile locations scattered across the mall, seeing the kid's Time Out arcade near JCPenney, going to the dollar store to the lower right of JCPenney, going to the Boost Mobile to the upper right of JCPenney, going to the GNC to the upper right of JCPenney, going to this soccer shirt store to the upper left to JCPenney, going to Best Buy Mobile near the center, seeing the Starbucks at the center, going to Zumiez and being bought a digital Casio/G-Shock wristwatch that I still use to this day, and I remember being helped by a security guard when I got lost as a little kid trying to find my mother in Sears and I ended up walking up to the front near Zumiez and sitting on a bench and to have him escort me back to Sears to be reunited with my mother worried sick, and much more.Honestly, the only way I could possibly see this mall doing any better or even have it repurposed, would be to have had it constructed closer to the I-270 freeway and MD 355 back in the 1970s, much like most traditional indoor shopping malls and outlets are built near, so that people from neighboring cities could see it on the side of the freeway going to and from work and be tempted to go to say, kill traffic waiting time and also do holiday shopping. Just look at what happened to White Flint mall, horrible location, while Lakeforest Mall has the advantage of a slightly better location. Though there are exceptions, of course. And perhaps if the food court was closer to the center of the mall and still keeping the old movie theater in it's original spot that I never got to know, mentally forcing people to migrate through stores to reach eateries and/or exits/entrances. But anchor stores are what really keep a mall alive at the same time, though. But there's always the what could've happened if...knowing it's too late to undue what's been done
Krishna
Sad to see the store closing in 5 days.The entire mall and especially Macy's is almost 90% empty. They do still have cute rugs and few basic clothes.
Kenn
Sad to see the store closing in 5 days.The entire mall and especially Macy's is almost 90% empty. They do still have cute rugs and few basic clothes.
Greg “G” Gold
They are demolishing a once-great shopping mall, to be replaced by a smaller Retail/Residential "Town Center" concept along with designated common areas. The Mall will close to the Public in March. The demolition is scheduled for 2024.
Amy L
Someone needs to tell the Paul Blart Mall Cops to get a grip. They have a lot of audacity getting on the intercom and confronting people about not being "allowed" to take photos of the mall. Do they see how many photos/videos of the mall are uploaded all over social media? It's ridiculous. One of the guards came up and confronted my Husband today about how he isn't allowed to take photos of the mall because the people who own the mall said so. What are they gonna do, buddy? Ban us from the mall? You're going to lose your job in like two weeks, get a life and leave people alone to enjoy their nostalgia and capture memories while the building is still standing.
They are demolishing a once-great shopping mall, to be replaced by a smaller Retail/Residential "Town Center" concept along with designated common areas. The Mall will close to the Public in March. The demolition is scheduled for 2024.
Marques Buford
Security Office wasn’t interested in a program for kids allowing them to play games there and on the LCD tvs because I’m his words they’re closing soon anyway. I’m just sad to see the disinterest in our youth. BibleTalk leader
John L.
Pro: big parking lot. Con: most stores are closed, mall will permanently closed at end of March 2023. Every beginning has an end and every end has a new beginning. It look like Lake forest Mall ending is soon approaching since the mall will closed down at the end of March 2023. Been going here intermittently throughout the years and it has had it high points and it low points. With the closing date soon approaching most of the stores have shutter with a few left that are having their closing sale still ongoing like Macy. Food court is nonexistent. So many memories here and I will shed a tear once the demolished the mall. All in all, thanks for the memory and I salute you Lake Forest Mall.
Kim B.
This was my childhood mall growing up. I watched "Follow that Bird" (Sesame Street) here with my Grammy, took pics with Santa (while throwing change in the water area) and worked at Sears when I grew up. JCPenney and Sam Goody/FYE were my favs in Middle School. Then it turned so bad towards the end. I haven't been there in almost 10 years- but it was mostly elderly ppl walking around there (for exercising) and then ghetto trash at night. I'm so sad to see what it became. They're going to bulldoze it down soon but I don't think there's any hope for that area. I will miss what you were in the 80's-90's. Many of us will NEVER forget how great you once were.
Lanuiiohu Sukikiya
Mall need to be torn down & build a new mall after Covid ends. New mall should have restaurants, shops & hair salons. Anchored by Macy & Target. Love to have Costco too. Let's bring back happy shopping !
Once in a lifetime a lakeforest mall the best mall thris in my memory I miss this mall it's sad to see it go and depressing ? ? once a upon a time in 1974 a plan was made for gaithersburg they said in 1978 to build this lovely mall ONCE a upon a time thre was me mark me what loved mallas l went with my mom 1978 when i was 3 and on my last day l was sad i worked here full time because this mall is in my heart i worked for this mall for 34 years to come even making that much money this mall is in my heart for ever just shopping sitting by the coutain riding the escalators the lce sapkateing rink thsi in my heart forever ❤️ ❤️ heart-Mark Hess 2023
A shame what has been happening here...no variety of stores at all. Most places are closed down. The mall looks deserted. Not worth going except for Macy's, and even Macy's looks like they are ready to close this location down.The Mall has been closed.
Great mall, nowadays though, it has a limited selection. But still 9.9/ 10
Finally, a shopping center with plenty of parking spots open! I stopped by late last night but they must have been closed already but definitely look forward to my next visit!
Lots of nostalgia. I’ll miss this place. I remember when it was busy! Now It’s a shell of what it used to be. Sad to see it go. I’m grateful I got to take one last look inside before it was torn down. RIP!
Well, today's Friday, March 31, 2023, the last day our local city mall will ever be open to the general public and it closed in near darkness by 7:00 PM. And I hate it how the security guard keeps telling people to stop taking pictures and recording around the mall, I don't think you were telling that to the parents when they were getting their kid's photo with Santa Claus, now were you?! Let people enjoy the nostalgia we have for our local childhood mall in peace, is that too hard to ask for? Get a life.I remember going to this mall more than 50 times growing up since around 2004/2005-ish all the way to its closing date in 2023.Forgive me for the run on sentence. I remember that weird and strong sanitation smell upon entering the food court, I remember a projector motion detecting game from the ceiling near the food court, the display car nearby, going to the food court to eat Pollo Campero, Nori Japan, Sbarro, Kelly's Cajun Grill, McDonald's, Panda Express, playing the impossible to win vending machine game housing a brand new Game Boy Advance SP near the then Dippin' Dots - Ice Cream from the Future, and checking out Central Newsstand too, the strong sweet pretzel smell from the said stand outside of the lower left of Sears, the expensive ice cream to the lower left of Sears, getting a haircut as a little child at the two stores to the lower left of Sears, getting lots of video games and some toys from Sears and being dragged there with my mother when she spent hours window shopping for clothes only to buy nothing, going to Spencer's for the trends, visiting FYE and seeing their gigantic CD/DVD collection, going to 777 Tao Spa for my first ever massage, going to EB Games and checking out their large amount of video games and playing Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U for the first time, seeing the female conductor driving the kid's train travel across the mall, playing in the playground at the center court and tossing coins into the water fountain, playing in the arcade-like machines infront of Macy's, going to Hakky Shoe Repair multiple times to get key copies, going to a dollar store near the lower right of Macy's, going to the like three T-Mobile locations scattered across the mall, seeing the kid's Time Out arcade near JCPenney, going to the dollar store to the lower right of JCPenney, going to the Boost Mobile to the upper right of JCPenney, going to the GNC to the upper right of JCPenney, going to this soccer shirt store to the upper left to JCPenney, going to Best Buy Mobile near the center, seeing the Starbucks at the center, going to Zumiez and being bought a digital Casio/G-Shock wristwatch that I still use to this day, and I remember being helped by a security guard when I got lost as a little kid trying to find my mother in Sears and I ended up walking up to the front near Zumiez and sitting on a bench and to have him escort me back to Sears to be reunited with my mother worried sick, and much more.Honestly, the only way I could possibly see this mall doing any better or even have it repurposed, would be to have had it constructed closer to the I-270 freeway and MD 355 back in the 1970s, much like most traditional indoor shopping malls and outlets are built near, so that people from neighboring cities could see it on the side of the freeway going to and from work and be tempted to go to say, kill traffic waiting time and also do holiday shopping. Just look at what happened to White Flint mall, horrible location, while Lakeforest Mall has the advantage of a slightly better location. Though there are exceptions, of course. And perhaps if the food court was closer to the center of the mall and still keeping the old movie theater in it's original spot that I never got to know, mentally forcing people to migrate through stores to reach eateries and/or exits/entrances. But anchor stores are what really keep a mall alive at the same time, though. But there's always the what could've happened if...knowing it's too late to undue what's been done
Sad to see the store closing in 5 days.The entire mall and especially Macy's is almost 90% empty. They do still have cute rugs and few basic clothes.
Sad to see the store closing in 5 days.The entire mall and especially Macy's is almost 90% empty. They do still have cute rugs and few basic clothes.
They are demolishing a once-great shopping mall, to be replaced by a smaller Retail/Residential "Town Center" concept along with designated common areas. The Mall will close to the Public in March. The demolition is scheduled for 2024.
Someone needs to tell the Paul Blart Mall Cops to get a grip. They have a lot of audacity getting on the intercom and confronting people about not being "allowed" to take photos of the mall. Do they see how many photos/videos of the mall are uploaded all over social media? It's ridiculous. One of the guards came up and confronted my Husband today about how he isn't allowed to take photos of the mall because the people who own the mall said so. What are they gonna do, buddy? Ban us from the mall? You're going to lose your job in like two weeks, get a life and leave people alone to enjoy their nostalgia and capture memories while the building is still standing.
Restaurantji Recommends
They are demolishing a once-great shopping mall, to be replaced by a smaller Retail/Residential "Town Center" concept along with designated common areas. The Mall will close to the Public in March. The demolition is scheduled for 2024.
Security Office wasn’t interested in a program for kids allowing them to play games there and on the LCD tvs because I’m his words they’re closing soon anyway. I’m just sad to see the disinterest in our youth. BibleTalk leader
Pro: big parking lot. Con: most stores are closed, mall will permanently closed at end of March 2023. Every beginning has an end and every end has a new beginning. It look like Lake forest Mall ending is soon approaching since the mall will closed down at the end of March 2023. Been going here intermittently throughout the years and it has had it high points and it low points. With the closing date soon approaching most of the stores have shutter with a few left that are having their closing sale still ongoing like Macy. Food court is nonexistent. So many memories here and I will shed a tear once the demolished the mall. All in all, thanks for the memory and I salute you Lake Forest Mall.
This was my childhood mall growing up. I watched "Follow that Bird" (Sesame Street) here with my Grammy, took pics with Santa (while throwing change in the water area) and worked at Sears when I grew up. JCPenney and Sam Goody/FYE were my favs in Middle School. Then it turned so bad towards the end. I haven't been there in almost 10 years- but it was mostly elderly ppl walking around there (for exercising) and then ghetto trash at night. I'm so sad to see what it became. They're going to bulldoze it down soon but I don't think there's any hope for that area. I will miss what you were in the 80's-90's. Many of us will NEVER forget how great you once were.
Mall need to be torn down & build a new mall after Covid ends. New mall should have restaurants, shops & hair salons. Anchored by Macy & Target. Love to have Costco too. Let's bring back happy shopping !