Malls See a Resurgence

Malls experienced a surprising increase in foot traffic during the recent Black Friday weekend, with a notable 7.1% rise reported by Simon Properties, a leading mall operator. This rebound challenges the narrative that in-store shopping is declining, as specific malls effectively promoted sales and attracted shoppers back to their physical locations. Simon’s CEO highlighted the strong turnout, citing lines forming before mall openings and significant sales growth across popular stores. The data suggests that high-end malls can thrive by leveraging targeted marketing strategies to appeal to younger demographics, particularly Gen Z, who are increasingly returning to traditional retail experiences.