Where I live it rains for 9 months out of the year (and is very hot 2 of the other months - we maybe get 1 month of nice outdoor weather a year). I'd much prefer an enclosed space. Though, let's be honest, I'd really prefer someone to just drop my purchases off at my doorstep so I don't have to deal with the weather at all.

We are only thinking of malls in the classic context.

For the last 10+ years many "malls" have been outdoor "areas" with shops, beautified walking paths, communal spaces, grocery stores, movie theaters, etc. Essentially miniature downtowns.

We have both these and the classic style mall here. Only 2 or 3 classic malls any more. However, they are all VERY successful. There were 7-8 and I've watched many die, or be taken over by distribution hubs, data centers (think big non-customer facing building)

We've had about 3-4 outdoor malls developed in the last 10 years. All are going strong, albeit they are new.

Never? I certainly prefer a mall over a nice outdoor space (which I have available to me) when it’s freezing outside with a sheen of ice covering everything.

Sure, it's convenient when the weather is bad. That still doesn't make malls a staple of social activity, which was the point I was arguing against.

In some parts of the US, the weather is bad for half of the year. In those places, malls are bustling with activity every weekend.

I think this is a regional thing; in warmer climates, outdoor shopping centers with community-centric areas have been all the rage for years.

In those places some malls are bustling with activity every weekend, others are shuttering. One of the most popular malls in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is in fact an outdoor "town center," a nomenclature I take issue with. https://www.bayshoretowncenter.com/

> A mall would never be preferable to what was mentioned above, a downtown with brick paths and quality scenery/stores, etc.

Sounds great, until it snows.

Well nobody said the alternative has to be outdoors, that's just the OP. It could be a community center with arcades and playgrounds and what not.

A mall would be 10x preferable to that stuff when it's -10 degrees out.