Ranked: Sunshine State Mall Is America's Favorite As Top 10 Revealed
Part of American pop culture, synonymous with the age of the automobile, the rise of consumerism and the death of small town Main Street, America's malls have had a rough ride in the 21st century.
While there are around 1,200 malls in the U.S., according to Capital One, it estimates that as few as 900 may still be in operation within the next three years as closures continue.
The number of malls declined 16.7% per year from 2017 to 2022 and Hudson Yards in New York and American Dream in New Jersey are the only (relatively) recently completed centers in a ranking by USA Today of the top 10 malls in the country.
While the demise of the department store anchors that used to define the malls as much as the movie theaters hastened so many of the well discussed troubles, along with the rise of ecommerce, physical retail – stores, malls and main streets – have revived in recent years, especially post-pandemic as people rediscovered their love for connecting in real life.
Despite the losses there are plenty of successful malls and many shopping centers bear little resemblance to their former selves, with hotels, offices, residential and leisure as likely ot feature as retail.
With more than 300 tenants and the largest mall in the state of Florida, Aventura Mall, located midway between the cities of Miami and Fort Lauderdale, was awarded the top spot of USA Today's 10 Best Malls list. The national newspaper lauded Aventura for its museum-worthy art collections, its chrome slide tower created by artist Carsten Holler and its claim to being the first site in Florida to host Italian dining and retail extravaganza Eataly.
Time for a countdown then, the full top 10 went as follows:
10. Brookfield Place What was previously the World Financial Center in downtown Manhattan was transformed into Brookfield Place in a unique redevelopment for a mall that spans 14 acres and includes a marina, a sailing school, a culinary institute, and a glass-domed, plant-filled pavilion called The Winter Garden Atrium. With chef-driven eateries and cultural programming, Brookfield Place blends retail, lifestyle, and leisure with the Hudson River
9. Tysons Corner Center Metro D.C.'s famous mall, home to the original Apple store way back when, had a redevelopment which began 10 years ago and has turned Tysons Corner into a 24/7 urban hub that includes an 18-story Hyatt Regency hotel and a 429-unit luxury apartment tower. It has around 300 stores, 40 restaurants, a movie theater, and is anchored by department stores Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Nordstrom, plus specialty shops like Warby Parker and Dyson.
8. Grapevine Mills This 1.8 million-sq.-ft. mall just outside the exit of DFW Airport was built for whole mix of entertainment. With over 200 shops, including outlets like Saks Off 5th and Coach, it offers a mix of value retail and entertainment such as Sea Life Aquarium, Legoland Discovery Center, Peppa Pig's Land of Play, Rainforest Café, plus activities such as an escape room, gaming bistro, bowling alley, and a 24‑screen AMC dine‑in theater. A single‑level, racetrack‑designed mall, Grapevine Mills caters to families seeking shopping, dining, and play.
7. American Dream Mall of America's Triple Five partner (see #2) ranks seventh as an indoor entertainment-meets-shopping megacomplex. Spanning 3-million-square-feet, it's the nation's second‑largest mall, with over 400 stores and 100 dining options, 20 of which are full-service restaurants. The owner had a torrid time delivering a mall that had gone through multiple blueprints and ownerships, but the scheme now includes unique attractions such as a water park, indoor snowpark, and Nickelodeon theme park.
6. Scottsdale Fashion Square Arizona's largest mall, with over 240 stores across three levels and anchors including department stores Macy's, Nordstrom, Dillard's, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Neiman Marcus, Scottsdale Fashion Square is adjacent to the Caesars Republic Hotel and holds frequent cultural events. With designer boutiques, a 14‑screen movie theater, and upscale dining, it offers a polished, luxury shopping experience for customers.
5. King of Prussia Mall The largest under‑one‑roof mall in the U.S., spanning approx. 2.8-million-square-feet and featuring 450 stores, King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania is anchored by Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Macy's, and an upscale dining pavilion. A multi-year expansion project has added over 50 restaurants and amenities to better serve an affluent shopper base and to maintain its position as a high‑end shopping destination.
The sun sets behind the Vessel at Hudson Yards in New York City. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) ... More (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
4. The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards Opened in 2019, the most recent entry on the list is Hudson Yards, a million-square-foot urban center integrating indoor and outdoor spaces with views of the Hudson River in a city that doesn't really do malls. Anchored by luxury brands and trendy eateries, The Vessel and public art add cultural flair to the scheme. It's taken a while for Hudson Yards to become part of the New York furniture in a previously ignored corner of Manhattan but the huge mixed-use complex has found its feet.
3. Galleria Dallas Ranked third, Galleria Dallas combines traditional retail with a year-round indoor ice rink, over 30 dining venues, and a broad mix of stores including children's fashion, jewelry, tech, and specialty souvenirs like Texas Treasures and the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop. This three-story, climate‑controlled mall offers holiday-themed events and a festive atmosphere geared to families and locals.
2. Mall of America Once the home to Camp Snoopy in an age where attractions rarely featured in malls, the nation's largest shopping destination draws about 32 million annual visitors across over 500 stores and dozens of restaurants. Beyond shopping, it's a major entertainment complex — home to Nickelodeon Universe (the country's largest indoor theme park), Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium, Crayola Experience, Moose Mountain Adventure Golf, and hotels.
1. Aventura Mall Topping the USA Today list for its blend of luxury retail, dining, art, and accessibility is Aventura Mall. Boasting over 300 shops — including Hermès, Gucci, and first-in-state Eataly — it features more than 50 eateries, a 24-screen AMC movie theater, community events, and museum-quality art installations like Carsten Höller's chrome slide tower and Gorillas in the Mist. A Brightline train stop provides mall access from Orlando and Miami.
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