Shopping malls, also known as shopping complexes or centers, are large buildings or sets of buildings that contain a variety of stores. These stores are typically organized into sections, with each section specializing in a particular type of product. Regional malls are designed to serve a larger area than conventional malls and are often located at the intersection of major roads. The International Council on Shopping Centers defines a regional mall as one that is designed to serve a larger area than a conventional mall.
Planners must take into account the possible location of malls before they are proposed for an area. Historically, crowded road intersections have been popular shopping locations, but modern shopping centers take into account access to the complex when they are planned. The Dayton Company's Southdale mall in Edina, Minnesota was one of the first regional malls in the United States. Since the 1990s, malls have been in decline due to competition from discount stores, e-commerce, and more recently, closures and economic effects from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite this, shoppers may still find difficulty finding parking spaces. This article examines how gross floor space, parking, and site design requirements relate to the analysis of shopping malls. The Cleveland, Ohio Zoning Ordinance (195) also contains a comprehensive provision on shopping malls. Once the center's gross annual turnover has been estimated, it is possible to estimate the average number of cars that use the center on a daily basis.
The number of parking spaces and rental sales area were verified for some centers in two sources. If the center is very large, stores may have an underground tunnel with loading docks for all stores. A shopping park is a type of shopping mall located on the outskirts of most large towns and cities in the United Kingdom and some other European countries.
