Traditional indoor malls have taken a dip in relevance and use since 2010. Developers are no longer building large mall spaces and taking millions of square feet to build a retail empire. Now, they are redefining what the world mall actually means and how retail spaces can better serve shoppers.
EK Bailey wants to help clients and consumers know more about the future of mall construction and the shift to outdoor shopping centers or outlets. The days of fully indoor malls with food courts and large parking lots are over, but retail shopping is something consumers still continue to look for.
1- Outdoor Shopping Centers
Instead of traditional malls, outdoor areas with mixed retail spaces are becoming the norm. Spaces in Utah like The Gateway, City Creek, and Farmington Station Park are some major examples that will become more of a common practice when it comes to the definition of a mall.
EK Bailey has helped to build retail spaces of different scales and demographics. Some builds are classified as shopping centers, individual retail spaces, or business communities. Bigger box businesses and restaurants fill all the space with their own building instead of a traditional food court and store cutouts.
2- A Mix Of Tenants Inside Existing Malls
Large malls that are losing business or see open spaces of previously popular businesses, need to fill this space to meet their lease agreements. With large department stores closing, the mall will need to fill it in order to meet the occupancy clause of their lease. This means that large pet stores, health clinics, gyms, restaurants, and office spaces are starting to dot malls. Going to a traditional mall now has a different feel with a mix of business types rather than stores you would originally think would be in a mall.
3- Mall Construction Should Evolve To Serve Shoppers
As shoppers and consumers continue to change, construction companies and landlords of shopping centers need to adapt. Mall construction has changed drastically since the 1990s and will continue to change as the world and younger generations look to shop.
EK Bailey does its best to learn new building techniques and evolve our practices to fit the needs of consumers. Consumers are still showing that they will shop at malls or shopping centers in the next few years, so evolving the way we construct retail spaces is the best way to keep business booming.
4- Different Types Of Emerging Shopping Centers
With the changes around traditional malls, there are different builds that have come to be more common for retail shopping and dining. Below are some of the common centers that are becoming popular around the world.
Destination Centers: These centers have an anchor of a shared social experience such as a museum, concert space, roller coaster, or indoor ski or surf area. Discovery, education, and experience are the key components to make the brand and surrounding shops work together.
Innovation Centers: Innovation centers help to track the shopping habits and paths of shoppers. Some of the space may be used for test stores that gather data on new concepts and consumers can test out new technology, access experts, and trade personal shopping for data and earn discounts on new products. This helps to improve the future builds of non-traditional malls.
Value Centers: These centers are anchored by an idea. Some of them can be political or ethnic and the tenants of the area all have ties to this common goal. One option might be to show off and bring awareness to a local craftsman (the shops may include craft brewers, local artists, and designers). This allows groups to support a cause they care about while giving back to others they connect with. Value centers can also help merchants get real-time feedback and make products that will entice repeat customers.
Retaildential Space: These are built around living spaces and cater to a specific demographic (i.e. young singles, college students, retirees, or young families). These are curated around the life stage of the target group and include age-appropriate shopping, grocery, dining, and exercise options. This may also include medical centers, pharmacies, community spaces, or banks.
Mall Construction From EK Bailey
Retail spaces require a lot of detailed and specific work, which makes EK Bailey the right construction team for the job. We help to keep consistent branding, simplify your process, and help to make your retail space valuable.
Our services help to provide the appropriate atmosphere needed for retail space. No matter the size and scope of your project, our team is here to help! Contact us to get started or get a quote today.