Mall
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| Mall | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Mall |
| Settlement type | Commercial complex |
| Country | Various |
Mall A mall is a large enclosed or open-air complex that houses multiple retail stores, restaurants, entertainment venues and service providers, often anchored by major department stores or supermarkets. Malls emerged as a response to urban shopping district congestion and suburbanization trends, integrating retail with leisure and transit access in planned developments. They intersect with transportation projects, real estate investment trusts like Simon Property Group and Westfield Group, and urban redevelopment initiatives associated with entities such as Redevelopment Agency and municipal planning bodies.
History
The concept evolved from 19th-century covered arcades such as the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and 20th-century department stores including Marshall Field's and Harrods, through to postwar suburban malls like Southdale Center developed by Victor Gruen, influenced by Levittown suburban growth and Interstate Highway System expansions. The rise of regional shopping centres involved financing models tied to entities like J.C. Penney, Sears, Roebuck and Company and later Nordstrom, while planning theories referenced by developers intersected with zoning laws, tax increment financing from municipal agencies and retail aggregation strategies promoted by firms such as Taubman Centers. Malls adapted during periods marked by the oil crises, shifts in consumer behavior traced to publications like The New York Times business pages, and competitive pressures from catalog retailers including Sears Roebuck catalog and later e-commerce pioneers such as Amazon (company). International diffusion occurred with projects in Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore, and postwar reconstruction efforts in cities like Berlin and Tokyo.
Architecture and Design
Mall design draws on precedents from the Galleria tradition and incorporates elements seen in projects by architects influenced by Victor Gruen and firms that later executed large-scale retail complexes for clients such as Simon Property Group and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. Key features include anchor placement strategies used by Macy's, circulation patterns like radial plans similar to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, climate control systems paralleling those in Rockefeller Center, atria and skylights reminiscent of West Edmonton Mall and mixed-use integrations modeled on projects in Canary Wharf and Hudson Yards (New York City). Landscape architects reference precedents from Central Park for public realm design, while signage and tenant mix planning draw from merchandising standards established by IKEA and Walmart for spatial branding. Structural engineers coordinate with firms experienced on projects such as Petronas Towers for long-span roofing and developers consult firms like Skidmore, Owings & Merrill for high-profile complexes.
Types of Malls
Varieties include enclosed regional malls exemplified by Mall of America, super-regional complexes such as West Edmonton Mall, outlet centers like Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, lifestyle centers modeled after developments in Palm Beach and urban mixed-use malls integrated into projects like Hudson Yards (New York City). Specialty formats include festival marketplaces such as Faneuil Hall Marketplace, power centers anchored by big-box retailers like Costco and Target, and community centers anchored by grocery chains including Publix and Kroger. International formats include mega-malls in Dubai Mall and integrated resort-mall hybrids associated with operators like MGM Resorts International and Las Vegas Sands.
Economic and Social Impact
Malls influence retail employment patterns affecting companies such as Gap Inc., H&M, Zara, Foot Locker and service contractors including CBRE Group and Jones Lang LaSalle. They affect regional consumer flows connected to transportation hubs like Grand Central Terminal and airports such as Los Angeles International Airport, and interact with tourism promoted by agencies like VisitBritain and Tourism Australia. Real estate valuation trends for properties owned by Brookfield Asset Management and returns for investors in Real Estate Investment Trusts are shaped by mall performance, while labor relations and wage debates involve organizations like Service Employees International Union and legislative frameworks influenced by state labor departments. Malls also serve as venues for cultural events similar to those hosted at Times Square and public programming in partnership with arts institutions such as Lincoln Center.
Management and Operations
Operational models are executed by management firms like Simon Property Group, Westfield Group and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, using tenant mix strategies informed by retail analysts at Nielsen and Euromonitor International. Lease structures include percentage rent and fixed-term leases negotiated with brands like Apple Inc., H&M, Sephora and restaurant chains including Starbucks and McDonald's. Security and asset protection protocols reference standards used by public safety agencies like NYPD and Metropolitan Police Service, while maintenance contracts are often held by facilities firms such as Sodexo and ISS A/S. Marketing and events coordination leverage partnerships with media outlets like MTV and cross-promotions with entertainment companies such as Disney.
Criticisms and Challenges
Critiques reference urban theorists and cases discussed in literature alongside debates involving figures like Jane Jacobs and planners counterposed to Victor Gruen. Concerns include the impact on downtown retail corridors documented in reports by organizations like Urban Land Institute and retail decline analyses featured in The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times. Challenges include competition from e-commerce platforms such as Amazon (company) and logistics networks run by FedEx and UPS, changing consumer preferences highlighted in studies by McKinsey & Company, and regulatory disputes that have involved municipal councils and agencies like Department for Communities and Local Government.
Notable Examples and Regional Variations
Prominent examples include Mall of America in the United States, West Edmonton Mall in Canada, Dubai Mall in the United Arab Emirates, Grand Plaza-type centres in Tokyo, and mixed-use projects such as Hudson Yards (New York City). Regional variations reflect differences between North American super-regional models developed by companies like Taubman Centers and European urban-retail configurations seen in projects by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, as well as Asian mega-malls in markets like Singapore and Hong Kong anchored by conglomerates such as CapitaLand and Sun Hung Kai Properties. Renovation and adaptive reuse projects have converted obsolete malls into campuses, residential complexes and civic facilities similar to initiatives in cities like Detroit, Cleveland and Chicago.
Category:Retail buildings and structures