Shopping malls have had a challenging few years, which some have dubbed a "retail apocalypse."
But it wasn't always this way. The '90s were a great time for malls and mall-goers alike.
These vintage photos show how much malls have changed since their '90s glory days.
Ah, the '90s. Everything seemed much simpler then, including shopping. Now that we have the entire internet at our disposal, it can be overwhelming to find exactly what we're looking for — we have too many choices. And without smartphones and streaming, hanging out at the mall was also the best way to kill time with friends.
Brick-and-mortar stores are also feeling the effects of online shopping. More than 2,000 stores closed down across the US in 2024, including mall staples such as Foot Locker, Express, Macy's, and Buybuy Baby. Business Insider dubbed December alone a "mini-retail apocalypse."
But maybe Gen Z — who are "big-time mallrats" — will lead the resurgence of the mall, especially luxurious ones. For now, take a stroll down memory lane to see how fun malls used to be in the '90s.
Malls started opening in the 1950s, and by the time the '90s rolled around, they were a full-blown phenomenon.
Shoppers browsed the many stores available to them in St. Louis.
David Butow/Corbis via Getty Images
The US' first full enclosed indoor mall opened in Minnesota in 1956. By the mid-'80s there were 25,000 shopping malls across the country.
Before the internet, malls were the only place where you could get gadgets from Sharper Image, clothing from Limited Too, accessories from Claire's, and a sticky, delicious Cinnabon all in one place.
People would go to malls and spend their entire day there.
'90s fashion.
Don Smetzer/Getty Images
The hottest spot in middle school and high school was the mall.
Food courts became local hotspots.
Southgate Shopping Mall in Sarasota, Florida.
Independent Picture Service/UIG via Getty Images
The first mall food court opened at the Paramus Park Mall in New Jersey in 1974, and the concept soon spread. Food-court staples like Sbarro, Auntie Anne's, and Panda Express never tasted better than under the glow of fluorescent lights.
Teens around the country became "mallrats."
The Mall of America in Minnesota on August 12, 1992.
Bill Pugliano/Liaison/Getty Images
Walkway T-shirt stalls were a mall staple.
Walking the aisles of a video store and browsing a seemingly endless selection of VHS tapes was the perfect way to spend an hour or two.
A video store.
Teesside Archive/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
Video stores are now all but extinct due to the rise of streaming. FYE, one of the most famous video stores, has been steadily closing locations across the country — CT Insider reported in December that FYE is closing three more of its stores in Connecticut, for example — and Blockbuster only has one location left in Oregon.
Malls were a great spot to keep up-to-date on the latest in tech.
Even '90s icons would stop by the local mall to do signings and meet fans.
The cast of "Saved by the Bell" at a mall signing.
Joseph Del Valle/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
This remained the case for decades, with teen sensations like Justin Bieber and One Direction holding fan events throughout the 2000s.
Throughout the decade, malls became more over-the-top.
A replica of Columbus' ship, the Santa Maria, in the West Edmonton Mall.
Galen Rowell/Getty Images
Today, malls are trying to stand out with creative dining experiences, live events, and a mix of accessible and luxury brands.
Squiggly patterns and primary colors? It doesn't get much more '90s than that.
A mall in the '90s.
Paul Popper/Popperfoto/Getty Images
Primary colors were a popular color scheme in the '80s and '90s, per Better Homes & Gardens.
Themed restaurants like Planet Hollywood were all the rage.
Tourists lined up and waited outside of Planet Hollywood in the Mall of America to make reservations.
Carolyn Schaefer/Liaison/Getty Images
There are now only four classic Planet Hollywood locations, four resorts, and a store-only location in Orlando that are open to visit.
The company has filed for bankruptcy multiple times and has been forced to close dozens of stores.
Sears was popular — you could find anything there.
Shoppers walking into Sears store in a mall.
Lee Balterman/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Sears has seen better days. The former retail giant has been inching closer to total liquidation since 2018 and has just 15 stores left across the country.
JCPenney was also huge, but now the department store is struggling.
A JCPenney in 1997.
Glen Martin/The Denver Post via Getty Images
JCPenney sales have dropped, reflecting a broader trend of declines for mall-based department stores.
In January 2025, JCPenney merged with Sparc Group, which owns other former mall favorites like Forever 21, Aéropostale, and Brooks Brothers, CNN reported.
One mall that survived the "retail apocalypse" of the last decade has been the Mall of America.
The Mall of America in 1992.
Antonio RIBEIRO/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
According to the Mall of America, it has around 32 million visitors every year.
It's tough to say what the fate of malls will be, but it's safe to say it was never better to visit a mall than in the 1990s.
