Shopping malls are woven into the fabric of almost every kid’s childhood. From being dragged to the mall on a rainy Sunday to help your mom get some shopping done to hanging out there with friends after school when you don’t have any homework, shopping malls have always been part of people’s lives.
America is home to some of the world’s largest shopping malls and some of the world’s oldest. In this interesting guide, we’re going to look more closely at some of America’s oldest shopping malls, where they’re located, and how long they’ve been around.
Let’s get right into it.
5. NorthPark Center
Year established: 1965
Location: Dallas, Texas, United States
Address: 8687 North Central Expressway
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons
NorthPark Center is, in addition to being one of the oldest malls in America, is also one of the biggest malls! This shopping mall is widely known for its wide variety of both high and low-end stores.
This mall took around 5 years to build after a developer named Raymond Nasher leased a cotton field. When NorthPark was opened, Neiman Marcus was one of the first stores to be opened at this place.
Did you know?
The NorthPark Center mall currently has more than 220 stores.
4. Westfield Old Orchard
Year established: 1956
Location: Skokie, Illinois, United States
Address: 4905 Old Orchard Center, Skokie, IL 60077
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons
The Westfield Old Orchard shopping mall is one of the oldest malls in the entire United States! Located in Skokie, the metropolitan area of Chicago, this mall is home to many of the biggest brands in the states, including Warby Parker, Kendra Scott, Fabletics, and so much more.
This mall was first opened with stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Marshall Field and Company. As the years went by, more and more brands began to open stores at this mall, and it eventually underwent a huge renovation and redesign in the 1990s. More department stores like Nordstrom, FAO Schwartz, and Bloomingdale’s began to open up as well.
Did you know?
Westfield Old Orchard Mall is referenced in the film Mean Girls.
3. Southdale Center
Year established: 1956
Location: Edina, Minnesota, U.S.
Address: 6901 France Avenue South
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons
The Southdale Center is widely considered to be among the top 3 oldest shopping malls in the entire US. This mall has over 1 million square feet of retail space and is anchored by stores like Dave & Buster’s, Macy’s, and Life Time Athletic.
The mall was first conceptualized in 1943 when two architects named Elsie Krummeck and Victor Gruen were approached and asked to design a shopping center that resembled a new world after the end of World War Two. As time went by, the mall was constructed and was eventually launched in 1956.
Did you know?
The Southdale Center Mall was designed to challenge the idea of America as a car-centric nation.
2. Lakewood Center
Year established: 1952
Location: Lakewood, California, U.S.
Address: 500 Lakewood Center Mall, Lakewood, CA 90712, United States
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons
The Lakewood Center Mall is another one of the oldest and largest shopping centers in the entire US! It was first opened in 1952 and was specifically designed to serve the Lakewood community that was dealing with the after effects of the war. It originally had two department stores, namely a Butler Brothers and a May Company, though more and more stores were added to the mall over the following years.
Two years after the mall was opened, it was expanded and more stores and levels were added. A cinema was also added, as well as a new wing.
Did you know?
The Lakewood Center Mall is currently anchored by stores like Mervyn’s, Target, and Macy’s.
1 Country Club Plaza
Year established: 1922
Location: Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Address: 4706 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64112, United States
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons
Now that we’ve reached the end of our list, we’ve come to the oldest shopping mall in the United States of America! The oldest shopping mall that currently exists in the US is the Country Club Plaza, which is a privately-own shopping mall in Kansas City.
This mall was first founded in 1922 by J. C. Nichols. It consists of several high-end stores, restaurants, offices, and even entertainment venues.
Aside from being the oldest shopping mall in America, the Country Club Plaza is known for various other historical firsts! It was the first suburban center to have unified architecture, and was also the first shopping center in the entire world to have a parking space for people that traveled in automobiles.
Did you know?
The Project for Public Spaces named the Country Club Plaza one of the world’s great places.
Conclusion
In this article, we walked you through a list of 5 of the world’s oldest shopping malls in the US. Shopping malls are woven into the fabric of America, and are arguably one of the most fun places to learn more about American history and culture. Each of the shopping malls on this list is known for something special, so if you’re making a trip to various parts of the US, we encourage you to visit some of these malls!
