Are Open-Air Malls The Future Of Physical Retail?

Consumers have been experimenting with ways to safely return to some semblance of normalcy. This is set to expedite the transition from indoor malls to outdoor shopping centers, a shift that was in the works even before COVID-19 began. “Open-air malls provide a safe space for people to congregate,” said Stenn Parton, chief retail officer at developer DJM, which manages open-air malls in Southern California and Texas. “The future of outdoor malls is very bright.” According to research from the data firm Placer.ai, outdoor shopping centers, during the week of June 8, visits to outdoor centers were down 34% year-over-year, while visits to indoor centers were down 42%. Read more at Glossy.