The mall rat revival is real, and it’s being powered by teens trading TikTok for Auntie Anne’s.
The Mall Resurgence, Powered by the Young and Restless
Gen Z and Gen Alpha are driving a full-blown mall comeback in 2025, craving screen-free hangouts, pretzel-fueled shopping trips, and some analog social vibes, per the Los Angeles Times. These digital natives are heading back to physical retail not just to shop, but to be—to hang out, try on clothes IRL, and post from retro-chic food courts.
According to the International Council of Shopping Centers, 60% of Gen Z prioritize experiences over stuff, and 70% think malls are fun social spaces. For them, malls are less about consumerism and more about connection.
Nicole Tan, 23, sums it up: “I like to try things on… I do more leisure non-shopping things at the mall.” Meanwhile, Gen Alpha kids—born post-2013—are joining in. Viral X posts suggest they’re ditching their Chromebooks and asking for car rides to the nearest mall. Real-life interactions? They’re back in fashion.
Why the Mall is Cool Again
What’s bringing malls back from the dead? First, instant gratification. Gen Z has grown up getting everything now—streaming, delivery, dopamine hits. Waiting two days for a package? Hard pass. Second, the loneliness epidemic: post-COVID mental health struggles have Gen Z craving real-life hangouts. 91% say spending time with friends is a key source of happiness.
Third, the malls themselves have changed. Take Westfield Century City—it now features a gym, high-end dining, escape rooms, and Instagrammable architecture. As Louis Schillace told LA Times, “It’s a destination, not just a shopping center.” And lastly, the e-commerce boom has plateaued post-pandemic. Physical retail is finding its groove again, per Camoin Associates.
The Retail Apocalypse Recap
Let’s not forget: malls were on life support. The so-called “retail apocalypse” hit hard starting in the 2010s, fueled by the rise of Amazon and a 50% drop in mall visits from 2010 to 2013, per Wikipedia, “Retail apocalypse,” May 1, 2025. Anchor stores like Sears and Macy’s collapsed, COVID-19 closures sped up the carnage, and overbuilt malls—constructed at double the rate of population growth between 1970 and 2015—were left hollowed out. By 2017, Credit Suisse predicted a quarter of U.S. malls would close by 2022. Spoiler alert: many did.
From Peak to Pivot: Mall Stats Over Time
In the 1980s and 1990s, the U.S. had about 2,500 malls. By 2023? Just over 1,000. That’s a 60% drop, per StreetLight Data, “Traffic Data Shows How the American Mall Is Being Reborn,” November 20, 2023. Some still thrive—like Westfield—but others, like the Puente Hills Mall (of Back to the Future fame), are dead zones. A 2020 Financial Times chart showed U.S. mall vacancies at a 20-year high pre-COVID. Malls that have survived are pivoting hard: adding coworking spaces, apartment units, and immersive experiences.
What’s Next: Neon Nostalgia Meets New Money
StreetLight Data reports that 70% of mall trips now happen on weekdays, up from 60% in 2019, thanks to hybrid work and flexible school schedules. Gen Z, with their $360 billion in spending power, now represents 40% of global consumers, per LA Times. Their habits are shaping retail’s future—and malls are responding by evolving into hybrid hangout hubs.
Still, the risks aren’t gone. E-commerce remains dominant, and many malls are still bleeding tenants. But the nostalgia-fueled comeback—driven by teens who were born after malls peaked—is breathing life into once-doomed spaces. If nothing else, it’s proof that even in a digital world, the food court will never die.
News compiled and edited by Steven Bubbles and Edgar B.
Sources:
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Los Angeles Times, “Malls have rebounded thanks to an unlikely source: Gen Z,” January 19, 2024
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StreetLight Data, “Traffic Data Shows How the American Mall Is Being Reborn,” November 20, 2023
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Wikipedia, “Retail apocalypse,” May 1, 2025
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Camoin Associates, “The Death and Rebirth of the American Shopping Mall: Part 1,” October 10, 2023
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Telegraph, “Gen-Z’s Christian revival is an act of rebellion against nihilism,” May 5, 2025
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Wikipedia, “Generation Z,” April 30, 2025
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@mamahailz, Post ID: 1920911777816019041, May 9, 2025
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@SomeBitchIIKnow, Post ID: 1920911777816019041, May 9, 2025
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