More Than Just a Mall: How Shopping Centres Became the Heartbeat of Modern Life

In 1956, Southdale Center in Minnesota introduced a ground breaking concept that would redefine retail forever. As the first fully enclosed shopping mall in the United States, it marked a major shift from traditional high street shopping to a centralized, climate-controlled retail destination. At the time, Southdale was a modest 800,000 square feet, featuring two department store anchors and 72 smaller shops. One of its original anchors, Dayton’s, would later evolve into Target. Today, Southdale has expanded to nearly 1.3 million square feet, now anchored by Macy’s and Life Time, and is undergoing a $400 million redevelopment set to open in 2025.

 

Royalmount Interior

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Shopping Centres are Alive & Well

Shopping centers are no longer just places to shop—they’ve evolved into vibrant social and lifestyle destinations. Gone are the days when a strong department store anchor, a predictable mix of fashion retailers, and a modest food court were enough to drive traffic. Consumer expectations have risen, and malls that once relied on a fashion-driven tenant mix in the 1990s are now embracing a more diversified approach.

So, what’s driving this transformation? Experiences.

Today’s most successful malls are curating a mix of retail, entertainment, wellness, and culture to keep visitors engaged and coming back. Think food halls designed by celebrity chefs, immersive art installations, pop-up stores with ever-changing concepts, and rooftop fitness classes. It’s not just about making a one-time purchase; it’s about discovering something new every time you visit. This might help explain why the average dwell time in Yorkdale, Canada’s top centre has increased to 90 minutes in 2025.

 

Photo of an art installation by MASSIVart_ at Scarborough Town Centre (Source:https://massivart.com/fr/)

Malls are increasingly catering to health-conscious and experience-driven consumers. Alo Yoga, for instance, now hosts in-mall fitness classes, while Padel Up has turned unused rooftop spaces into buzzing sports hubs. Spas, juice bars, medical clinics, and cosmetic treatment centres are also on the rise, transforming malls into wellness destinations.

 

Photo of Padel Up, Westfield Century City Mall (Source:https://thepadelstate.com/the-surprising-new-epicenter-of-padel-in-the-u-s-malls/)

 

Food is also a major draw, and today’s culinary experiences go well beyond traditional food courts. Concepts like Eataly, and their latest concept, Eataly Caffes, bring interactive dining to life, offering hands-on cooking classes that turn shopping into an educational (and delicious) experience. Chef-driven food halls—such as Treats Food Hall at Aventura Mall—are catering to a new generation of foodies looking for high-quality, Instagram-worthy dining. Newly opened Wellington market food hall at The Well in Downtown Toronto showcases a well curated mix of local, one (or two) off restaurant concepts, with a bar and entertainment elements to create a place for the community to gather.

Photo of Wellington Market Food Hall at the Well (Source:https://thewelltoronto.com/eat/wellington-market/)

 

Pop-ups, once temporary placeholders, have become a strategic tool for brands to test concepts and connect with consumers in a fresh and unique way. A notable example is The Glass Box at The Grove in Los Angeles, a 300-square-foot space that serves as a blank canvas for brands to design, build, and occupy for one month at a time. Since its inception in 2016, it has hosted brands like Skims and Too Faced, creating a sense of discovery and ensuring that no two visits to the centre feel the same.

Photo of a Too-Faced Pop-Up in The Glass Box at The Grove (Source:https://www.glossy.co/beauty/caruso-the-grove-glass-box-pop-up-expansion-details/)

 

Few places capture this evolution better than West Edmonton Mall. With over 30 million visitors annually, the mall proves that blending retail with entertainment creates a self-sustaining ecosystem where people come for one reason and stay for many more.

Photo of the Water Park at West Edmonton Mall. (left; source:https://www.wem.ca/directory/stores/world-waterpark) Photo of the Ice Palace at West Edmonton Mall( right; https://flh.ca/experience/attractions/ice-palace/)

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Placemaking: How Malls Are Becoming Social Hub

Miami Design District – Museum Garage (left; source:https://www.royalbyckovas.com/work/museum-garage), Buckminster Fuller’s Fly’s Eye Dome (right;https://hellolaroux.com/que-faire-a-miami-5-jours-blog/fly-s-eye-dome-design-district/ )

 

Other shopping centres across Canada and the U.S. have embraced similar community-driven experiences. Westfield Century City in Los Angeles hosted a “We Love LA” event following the devastating wildfires, bringing in an artist to hand-draw the homes that were lost—a powerful tribute to resilience and community support.

Nonetheless, some people are still quick to declare the shopping mall dead. But when you look at the numbers… the investment in mall expansions, the occupancy levels, and the growing productivity – a different story unfolds. Through the art of placemaking and curating a well-tailored merchandising mix, the shopping centres have maintained their relevance and built a compelling reason for consumers to visit, linger, and return. And while the blueprints of the centres continue to change… the actual fabric of the mall (The Retailers) also continues to raise the bar, providing a unique and exciting in-store experience that cannot be replicated from behind a screen. In an increasingly digital world, the mall’s new role as a social and experiential hub may actually be its most enduring legacy yet.