A shopping mall, also known as a shopping centre or retail complex, is a large, usually enclosed, facility for the sale of goods. It is usually anchored by department stores and can include shops for other types of goods as well. A mall may have a large number of retailers, or a smaller selection of retailers, and can also contain a variety of entertainment facilities.
The word “mall” is a shortened version of the word “centre.” In English, it can be used informally as a general term for any kind of large building that is used primarily for the sale of goods. However, the term “mall” is most often used as a part of the name of a shopping center or complex (such as Toronto Eaton Centre).
Traditionally, the definition of a mall was an open-air shopping center containing stores that were accessible by foot. In the mid-1950s, malls began to be enclosed and became more common in the United States.
One of the first such buildings to be promoted as a shopping mall was Paramus, New Jersey’s Bergen Mall, which opened in 1957 and was enclosed in 1973. Other significant early enclosed malls included Harundale Mall in Glen Burnie, Maryland, Big Town Mall in Mesquite, Texas, Chris-Town Mall in Phoenix, Arizona, and Randhurst Center in Mount Prospect, Illinois.
A modern mall is a complex of stores that are designed to appeal to a wide range of customers and shoppers of all ages. They often have a food court where a number of restaurants offer food and drink, and other amenities such as parking and public transportation.
Many people view visiting a mall as a form of entertainment, while others use it to socialize and meet friends. The number of people who visit shopping malls in the United States has grown significantly over the years.
There are now 115,049 shopping malls in the United States. This represents 27 percent of all shopping centers in the country, according to ICSC data.
Most malls are located in California, Texas, and Florida.
These are the three largest states in terms of numbers of shopping malls. The ICSC estimates that there were 15,285 malls in California, 12,834 in Texas, and 10,844 in Florida at the end of 2020.
The average mall is about 230,000 square feet in size and contains between 125 and 400 stores. Some have multiple floors, while others are a single floor with shops arranged around a central core.
A shopping mall is the place where people shop for clothing, jewelry, electronics and other items to improve their lifestyles. It also includes other kinds of stores, such as grocery stores and restaurants.
Increasingly, malls have become places where consumers can hang out after work and during office hours. This trend is driven by millennials who see visiting malls as a status symbol and college-going teens who prefer to shop in their free time.
Keeping up with the trends of consumers, retail companies and mall developers are constantly bringing in tenants who can adapt to the changing trends in the market. These brands have to be innovative in their offerings and provide the customer with a unique experience.