Over the years, malls have drastically changed from their original intention of offering modest shopping and a place to get a quick bite to eat. While they still have scores of shops to peruse and many restaurants that range from fast-food to sit-down, shopping malls have also become a destination for entertainment.
When determining the biggest and best shopping malls, we cover many things. Some malls have theme parks, aquariums, fashion shows, concerts and ice skating rinks. Some malls have hotels in the mall or in close proximity to it. One mall has car dealerships, and another has an adjacent apartment complex for those wanting their next-door neighbor to be a mall.
Indeed, the pandemic did a number on retail shopping, but things are coming back to normal, and patrons are coming back as well. But, which shopping destinations attract the most crowds? Here are the 30 biggest malls in America.
Bottom Line: Tysons Corner Center
The biggest mall in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore region has some interesting qualities. For one, the mall houses the Hyatt Regency, AMC Theaters and VITA luxury apartments. Yes, you read that right, hotels, movies and apartments. In particular, the apartments are luxurious with a huge mall sitting next door, and their price starts at $2,049 per month.
Inside the mall, there are 286 shops and 40 places to eat. And you can even get your car detailed while you shop. Now, that’s hard to beat.
Bottom Line: Green Acres Mall
Green Acres Mall (2034 Green Acres Mall, Sunrise Highway, Valley Stream, NY) / Facebook
Don’t let the age fool you; this mall has a modern look with some of the top retailers sprinkled throughout the huge facility, which features two Macy’s locations. Green Acres Mall is a popular shopping mecca for Nassau County patrons and those coming from Queens.
The biggest recent news is the opening of Primark, the popular low-priced clothing store chain from Dublin, Ireland, that will occupy two floors and 35,100 square feet. Also, Walmart and Home Depot have huge locations in the mall, and there are two car dealerships in the exterior locations.
Bottom Line: Mall of America
Welcome to the mecca of retail shopping and entertainment under one roof. The Mall of America is the largest mall in the western hemisphere and the ninth-largest in the world. There are an impressive 555 outlets with 12,300 parking spaces. In addition, the Nickelodeon Universe theme park, Sea Life aquarium and FlyOver America (a flight simulator) are adjacent to the mall. The mall hosts more than 400 events a year, including concerts and fashion shows.
Meanwhile, Park Plaza Minneapolis is just across the street along with other hotels nearby. Indeed, you can plan a trip to the Mall of America without leaving the mall, and you’re not the only one who will do it. An estimated 40 million people visit the mall each year, generating nearly $2 billion in annual revenue.
