Kids and teens of the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s remember the excitement of going to the mall. It was packed with people, and you’d spend an entire day full of shopping, hanging out at the food court, and hitting up the arcade. The mall in its own was an adventure. Unfortunately, malls have seen a decline over the years thanks to online shopping and retailers like Amazon.
Going to the mall nowadays feels lifeless. And the next time you’re at the mall, there’s a good chance the majority of people there aren’t there to shop.
A new survey by Yelp found that there are two reasons why people go to the mall, and neither is to shop.
Over the last five years, people’s main reason for visiting the mall is to eat and for entertainment purposes.
The survey found that while stores are declining in malls, dining options have been on the rise. From 2019 to 2024, there has been a 7% increase of restaurants.
Among top mall brands by consumer interest, The Cheesecake Factory leads the list.
In the entertainment aspect; going to the movies, Dave & Busters, or the VR machines are the other reason people are frequenting the mall.
Experiences, technology, and value retailers are driving growth among non-food categories in malls. VR centers are the second-fastest growing category since 2019, up by 79%.
The chart below shows the top 25 brands that are driving consumer interests to the mall.
