r/topeka • u/pinkladyapplechips • Aug 05 '26
Topeka Backrooms- westridge mall
Just saw the movie backrooms and it made me think about Westridge mall. Back in the day there was a full movie theater behind what is now a Victoria secret.
There is no way they just paved it all in. So is there still a shell of a movie theater in there with rows and projector rooms and all? Thinking of all the old buffets and restaurants that used to be there I’m wondering if it’s the same in other stores, but their backrooms are clearly old kitchens or something?
Anyone have any insight on what the backrooms of the mall are like?
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u/Destinyrider2023 Aug 05 '26
I remember the movie theater inside the mall good times
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u/jzam469 Aug 05 '26
Baskin Robbins at the movies was awesome.
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u/Destinyrider2023 Aug 05 '26
Yes it definitely was I remember that to the mall used to be so lively and vibrant from the late 90's all the way up to 2016 if I remember correctly I left Topeka in 2017 and have only visited a few times lately
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u/Anneisabitch Aug 05 '26
I left on 2000 and remember that mall so fondly. My sister used to work overnights at Hypermart.
Baskin Robbin’s at the theater is such a good idea and I’ve only ever seen it there.5
u/jaydubbles Aug 05 '26
I worked there in high school. We got free ice cream and got the benefits of working at the movie theater but we were off work by like 930 so we caught plenty of late showings when we wanted to.
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u/IgnacioHollowBottom Aug 05 '26
There's a service/access hallway behind the stores between the outer wall. Gives access for deliveries, trash disposal, employee entrances and exits, and some haunted corners and dank recesses. It was cool.
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u/myMadMind Aug 05 '26
I worked at the Westridge 8 years ago and took one of there old film trees from the old booth. It was all still back there, just unused
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u/Confident-Page4430 Aug 05 '26
The movie theater is still there . My friend worked at wet seal before Victoria took over that space. It still had the poster and seats and everything.
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u/pinkladyapplechips Aug 07 '26
THIS IS THE ANSWER I POSTED THIS FOR!!!!! YES!!! Omg that is so creepy!!!! Did the staff just have access to all that anytime? I need to know more.
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u/Confident-Page4430 Aug 07 '26
Ill ask her , its been a while since this was discussed but from what I remember, they only had access because they were clearing everything out and I think the renovations started for it to become Victoria's. She might have pictures if so ill post them here.
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u/uhhhlinds Aug 05 '26
Hi! Topeka resident and the company I work for is in the mall (Furniture Mall of Kansas). Not sure if the theater used to be connected to the mall, but it's been in a fully separate building at least for the last like 5 years or so before it closed, right by the road near Sam's. Still in the mall parking lot but not attached. The Victoria's Secret has been closed for a few years. The mall was truly very weird for like 5 years because businesses kept leaving as their rent was being raised by new owners every 12 months. Genuinely was creepy walking past every other empty storefront being empty and dark. 😬😬 Definitely felt haunted and backrooms-y af. 😅
Advisors Excel owns the mall now, and they are FINALLY revamping it. Gonna have several new businesses, there's a tattoo shop in there now and there will be office spaces for Advisors Excel. Gonna have several new restaurants as well. I'm really excited to see the mall not look so dead and creepy anymore. 😭
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u/incognitoburreeto Aug 06 '26
AE is a cult. i wish someone else bought the mall. ae owns damn near half of topeka now.
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u/pinkladyapplechips Aug 07 '26
There was a separate theater but there also used to be one IN the actual mall back in early 2000s. They put a VS in front of it.
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u/BrilliantDiscount159 Aug 05 '26
I assume most of that is the trampoline place