u/Atlas_Puked

IHOP - Exton, Pennsylvania

I crossed the state border into tax-free Delaware last Monday and visited the Concord Mall for the first time. This was my first mall excursion as a mall nomad, as my home base of Exton Square Mall closed at the end of June.

Much like Exton Square, this mall very much has its own theme and identity. It's a beautiful little mall, but it seems that only the most bland malls can survive in the modern age. There's an awful lot of vacancies here, and the Macy's Home Store anchor closed earlier this year. This was a separate store from Macy's that sold primarily/only furniture, and it sounded like an alarm was going off in there when I went.

The Macy's itself smelled like cleaning supplies, and the Boscov's was under heavy construction for whatever reason. There were white tarps up and lots of drilling, and the elevator and escalator in Boscov's were both out of service. I'm used to the green Boscov's signage of Exton, so seeing blue ones was kinda neat.

I rode the Macy's passenger elevator. I'm no elevator expert or hardcore enthusiast, but this was a terrible ride. Apparently, it's from United, and was installed in 1983.

Behind the green wall that says "fun lives here", there's apparently a perfectly preserved Burger King with 90's style decor that closed in 2009. This went viral back in 2022, and you can find pictures of it with a quick Google search.

In front of the Macy's is a gigantic Strawbridge & Clothier "Seal of Confidence". I was disappointed to discover that this is in fact not stone, but rather, hard plastic. It was still cool to finally see this in-person though.

From my understanding, any time you see a Sears with the signage still up, it's still owned by Transformco or whatever else from Eddie Lampert. If you want this spot, make them an offer. Because Exton Square's Sears signs were removed years ago, this was actually really cool for me to see. This location closed in April of 2020, and was the last Sears in the state of Delaware.

Clearly, the directory has not been updated in a really long time.

Enjoy!

Mission 3 Random Tree Prisoner Luck (final 153 attempts)

0 Tree Prisoners: 120 (78.4%)

1 Tree Prisoner: 17 (11.1%)

2 Tree Prisoners: 13 (8.5%)

3 Tree Prisoners: 1 (0.65%)

4 Tree Prisoners: 2 (1.3%)

I had a run back on July 9th where I was gifted every single random prisoner in the game, but screwed up the boss fight in Mission 4, and lost 2 prisoners as a result. That was yet another 102. I promised myself the next time that the game gives me all of the tree prisoners (and all of the random ones in general), there will be no errors. It only took 8 more days to get another shot at it.

I lost my slug right before finishing off Morden. Just a bit of a tense finish there.

This will eventually be on the Youtubez.

Thank you.

This beauty sits in the dying Concord Mall in Wilmington, Delaware.

I have $27 in my wallet, and I'm willing to make Transformco an offer. The ball is in your court now, Lampert.

Insert your own punchline.

We are so back, bby.

Exton Square Mall, 2025 Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1q03yjm/exton_square_mall_exton_pennsylvania_2025_edition/

The Remains of Sears in Exton, Pennsylvania: https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1rr4tsl/the_remains_of_sears_in_exton_pennsylvania/

Pennsylvania's 1st Chick-fil-A is Closing: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1tmzxsy/pennsylvanias_1st_chickfila_is_closing_exton/

Exton Square Mall Expected to Close its Doors on June 30th: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1tqlkam/exton_square_mall_expected_to_close_its_doors_on/

Exton Square Mall, 2026 Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1u0q381/exton_square_mall_exton_pennsylvania_2026/

Exton Square Mall Collapsed Staircase: https://www.reddit.com/r/DeathStairs/comments/1u1q520/exton_square_mall_collapsed_staircase/

Exton Square Mall - Macy's Then and Now Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1udyyq5/exton_square_mall_macys_then_and_now_edition/

Sears - Exton, PA:

https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1ug3548/sears_exton_pa/

Sears Auto Center - Exton, PA:

https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1uh2i6y/sears_auto_center_exton_pa/

Macy's - Exton, PA:

https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1ui2lev/macys_exton_pa/

Exton Square Mall - From Perilous Heights Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1uixk9w/exton_square_mall_from_perilous_heights_edition/

1-2: Roof

3-6: Sears/Boscov's Garage (Horse Garage?). 3rd Floor is the top and has been roped off for a long time.

7-19: JCPenney Garage (Carriage Garage). 3rd and 4th Floor have been roped off for a long time.

20: Perfection. The Four Corners of Exton Square:

-Round 1 (JCPenney)

-Boscov's

-Sears

-Food Court.

Tomorrow is the apocalypse.

Exton Square Mall, 2025 Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1q03yjm/exton_square_mall_exton_pennsylvania_2025_edition/

The Remains of Sears in Exton, Pennsylvania: https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1rr4tsl/the_remains_of_sears_in_exton_pennsylvania/

Pennsylvania's 1st Chick-fil-A is Closing: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1tmzxsy/pennsylvanias_1st_chickfila_is_closing_exton/

Exton Square Mall Expected to Close its Doors on June 30th: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1tqlkam/exton_square_mall_expected_to_close_its_doors_on/

Exton Square Mall, 2026 Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1u0q381/exton_square_mall_exton_pennsylvania_2026/

Exton Square Mall Collapsed Staircase: https://www.reddit.com/r/DeathStairs/comments/1u1q520/exton_square_mall_collapsed_staircase/

Exton Square Mall - Macy's Then and Now Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1udyyq5/exton_square_mall_macys_then_and_now_edition/

Sears - Exton, PA:

https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1ug3548/sears_exton_pa/

Sears Auto Center - Exton, PA:

https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1uh2i6y/sears_auto_center_exton_pa/

Macy's - Exton, PA:

https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1ui2lev/macys_exton_pa/

This is the one Exton Mall adventure that I had to cut short before getting all of the pics I would have liked. If you're not familiar with this mall's layout, the Strawbridge & Clothier (and then Macy's from 2006 and on) was the original anchor store. But it's not a typical anchor store. There's no access from outside the mall. Instead, it's the heart of the Exton Mall itself, and is directly in the center.

This means that if you're in this dead Macy's, you're a hamster in a see-through, glass box on all sides. What I captured will have to suffice.

Some of this is from the quite large loading-dock area, some of it is from the massive Freight Elevator (one of two elevators in this building that are pre-renovation in the late 90s and were part of the mall at the grand opening in 1973), and one is from the Strawbridge's dungeon route. If you know, you know.

I didn't get back to the passenger elevator that was near the public bathrooms in Macy's, unfortunately. That's the other "OG" elevator in the Exton Mall out of the 12. As I said, this is the one area of the mall that I feel my collection is incomplete, but given the out-in-the-open design of this anchor, this will have to suffice.

Exton Square Mall, 2025 Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1q03yjm/exton_square_mall_exton_pennsylvania_2025_edition/

The Remains of Sears in Exton, Pennsylvania: https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1rr4tsl/the_remains_of_sears_in_exton_pennsylvania/

Pennsylvania's 1st Chick-fil-A is Closing: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1tmzxsy/pennsylvanias_1st_chickfila_is_closing_exton/

Exton Square Mall Expected to Close its Doors on June 30th: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1tqlkam/exton_square_mall_expected_to_close_its_doors_on/

Exton Square Mall, 2026 Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1u0q381/exton_square_mall_exton_pennsylvania_2026/

Exton Square Mall Collapsed Staircase: https://www.reddit.com/r/DeathStairs/comments/1u1q520/exton_square_mall_collapsed_staircase/

Exton Square Mall - Macy's Then and Now Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1udyyq5/exton_square_mall_macys_then_and_now_edition/

Sears - Exton, PA:

https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1ug3548/sears_exton_pa/

Sears Auto Center - Exton, PA:

https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1uh2i6y/sears_auto_center_exton_pa/

There's an alarm going off in here 24/7. I'll spare you a glimpse of the toilets. The last two pics are bonus content of the main Sears building from June 15th. I don't know the specifics of what they were doing, but it did not appear urgent.

Disclaimer: If you're visiting the Exton Square Mall in these final few days, please do so peacefully and with respect. Some of us carry a lifetime of memories in this mall. Best wishes.

Exton Square Mall, 2025 Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1q03yjm/exton_square_mall_exton_pennsylvania_2025_edition/

The Remains of Sears in Exton, Pennsylvania: https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1rr4tsl/the_remains_of_sears_in_exton_pennsylvania/

Pennsylvania's 1st Chick-fil-A is Closing: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1tmzxsy/pennsylvanias_1st_chickfila_is_closing_exton/

Exton Square Mall Expected to Close its Doors on June 30th: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1tqlkam/exton_square_mall_expected_to_close_its_doors_on/

Exton Square Mall, 2026 Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1u0q381/exton_square_mall_exton_pennsylvania_2026/

Exton Square Mall Collapsed Staircase: https://www.reddit.com/r/DeathStairs/comments/1u1q520/exton_square_mall_collapsed_staircase/

Exton Square Mall - Macy's Then and Now Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1udyyq5/exton_square_mall_macys_then_and_now_edition/

Sears - Exton, PA:

https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1ug3548/sears_exton_pa/

Disclaimer: Yes, you missed your chance to get in here. No, I can't help you get in here.

If you're visiting the Exton Square Mall in these final few days, please do so peacefully and with respect. Some of us carry a lifetime of memories in this mall. Best wishes.

Exton Square Mall, 2025 Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1q03yjm/exton_square_mall_exton_pennsylvania_2025_edition/

The Remains of Sears in Exton, Pennsylvania: https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1rr4tsl/the_remains_of_sears_in_exton_pennsylvania/

Pennsylvania's 1st Chick-fil-A is Closing: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1tmzxsy/pennsylvanias_1st_chickfila_is_closing_exton/

Exton Square Mall Expected to Close its Doors on June 30th: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1tqlkam/exton_square_mall_expected_to_close_its_doors_on/

Exton Square Mall, 2026 Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1u0q381/exton_square_mall_exton_pennsylvania_2026/

Exton Square Mall Collapsed Staircase: https://www.reddit.com/r/DeathStairs/comments/1u1q520/exton_square_mall_collapsed_staircase/

Exton Square Mall - Macy's Then and Now Edition: https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1udyyq5/exton_square_mall_macys_then_and_now_edition/

Pics 1 through 14 should all be from 2023.

Pics 15-20 are from 2025 and 2026.

For anyone not familiar, Strawbridge & Clothier was the only "anchor" in this mall from 1973 until the completion of the big renovation (1999 or 2000). The entire mall is built around the Strawbridge's, as it is an actual square with no outside-the-mall entrances. It's directly in the center of the mall on both floors.

Anyway, it became a Macy's in I believe 2006, and closed in 2025. The closure of this Macy's, in my opinion, was when the mall went from "probably not going to survive" to "officially dead".

Gotta grow up sometime, I suppose.

I've been told that you folks like this kind of thing. This mall is in Pennsylvania, and is closing for good on June 30th. It opened in March of 1973.

I'm sitting on well over a thousand pictures and videos of this place just since last year. I figured I'd dump some of the recent ones.

I have a series of posts I'll be doing on this mall next month. Some of the pictures/videos I have, I feel like it would be in my best interest to wait until the mall has closed to share. Make of that what you will...

Just a couple quick notes on this random collection:

Picture 4: The collapsed staircase on the 2nd floor of the Boscov's parking garage.

Picture 18: Pennsylvania's 1st Chick-fil-A on May 30th, just 20 minutes before closing for good.

Picture 19: The Chick-fil-A on June 1st. Some employees were still there to remove stuff.

Picture 20: The Chick-fil-A's corpse on June 2nd.

The end is near, folks.

Earlier this week, I posted here about how Pennsylvania's very first Chick-fil-A, located in the Exton Square Mall, is closing at the end of the month. While I cannot find the official news about the mall's overall closure, word has begun to leak over the last two days that the mall itself will finally be closing its doors on Tuesday, June 30th, 2026 after 53 years.

I was just there, and even talked with an employee who confirmed the date of the mall's closure with me (I won't say which store. Sorry). I would expect the official news to be out very soon. You have every right to remain skeptical until the news is official. I'm sure there will be much more to come about this in the very near future.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYzuROImbqm/

https://vista.today/2026/05/exton-square-mall-chester-county-nostalgia/

https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1q03yjm/exton_square_mall_exton_pennsylvania_2025_edition/

https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1rr4tsl/the_remains_of_sears_in_exton_pennsylvania/

https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmalls/comments/1tmzxsy/pennsylvanias_1st_chickfila_is_closing_exton/

Pennsylvania's 1st Chick-fil-A, as well as the last original tenant from the Exton Mall's 1973 opening, is closing on Saturday, May 30th. That will leave just India Corner as the only remaining restaurant in the food court (for now).

While there's other Chick-fil-A restaurants in the area, this is just yet another nail in Exton Mall's coffin.

This is the Downingtown location. There's another one just a few miles away, so I'll likely have another one to post here in the near future as well.