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July 29, 2025

The Rise and Fall of the Shopping Mall

A large half timbered building with store fronts on the street and an elevated walkway with steps.

There’s a prediction that most malls will close in the near future due to online shopping. I’m personally not convinced, but certainly the shopping mall has passed its prime…at least for now.

When did we come up with the idea of the mall? Why? Does it have a future?

We know when and where the first indoor mall was built, but does it have antecedents? As a concept, it’s probably older than you think.

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