Malls

Placer.ai’s August 2025 Mall Index reveals a summer slowdown in mall traffic, with indoor malls showing modest gains and outlet malls closing visit gaps. Shorter visit durations and softer Labor Day results signal rising consumer caution. The holiday season presents a pivotal chance to recapture momentum.

Placer.ai's July 2025 Mall Index shows indoor malls grew 1.3% YoY. Promotional events drove mid-month spikes, but not sustained growth. A spotlight on Boise Towne Square reveals how anchor tenants like In-N-Out can create a powerful halo effect. This report offers key insights for retail and real estate executives.

The first half of 2025 shows a bifurcated retail market. While foot traffic is up for experiences and value brands, it lags for discretionary items. This is driving leasing momentum in prime locations, even as overall retail sales are propped up by high-income households.

Din Tai Fung achieves an incredible $27.4 million average unit volume, nearly double its next competitor. This success is a boon for malls, boosting foot traffic, increasing dwell time, and extending evening visits, proving a powerful destination brand can uplift an entire retail ecosystem.

Mall traffic dipped in June but overall H1 2025 performance remains largely positive. Indoor malls lead in growth and dwell time. Open-air malls surpassed pre-pandemic visits. Indoor malls significantly narrowed their pre-COVID visit gap in Q2, signaling an accelerating recovery.

Providence's historic Arcade, built in 1828, transformed into a mixed-use micro-loft and retail space. This led to a dramatic shift in its audience. Visitor demographics moved from young urbanites to more affluent, suburban families. The Arcade's trade area significantly expanded, drawing customers from farther away, proving adaptive strategies can revitalize historic retail.

April 2025 data showed a resurgence in mall activity, with YoY visits up across all formats. Diving deeper into the data uncovers the why behind these visitation patterns.

Class B malls offer significant potential for investors and retailers to unlock value while meeting the needs of local communities. We took a look at how some of these malls - typically located in suburban or secondary markets - are being redeveloped to better serve today's consumer.