Top 5: Best Malls in the United States

Shopping malls across the United States are often tourist destinations in their own rights. From bargain-brand stores to luxury boutiques, we’ve selected the top places to shop in North America. Just remember to bring your wallet, wear comfortable shoes and don’t buy more than you can carry — your arms will thank you if you bring your bags to the car in between stores.

The Mall of America

The options are endless at the Mall of America — hence its name. Open since 1992, the mall has 520 stores, 50 restaurants and extreme entertainment options like the world’s largest indoor amusement park, Nickelodeon Universe, and an aquarium. There’s high-end shopping like Burberry and Nordstrom’s Chanel Boutique, and endless chain and mega-stores like American Girl. The mall, the largest in the United States, is located in Bloomington, Minn. It’s visited by more than 42 million people annually, about eight times the population of Minnesota and generates more than $2 billion.

King of Prussia

Opened in 1963, Pennsylvania’s King of Prussia Mall contains more dedicated retail space than any other mall in the United States, making it the largest store in terms of leasable square feet. The mall was designed with two separate buildings, the Plaza and the Court, targeting different market segments. In 2016, the buildings were connected to create one large mall. The mall houses 400 stores, including luxury retailers like David Yurman and Henri Bendel and more than 40 restaurants. Tourists make up 20 percent of the mall’s visitors.

Aventura Mall

Florida’s Aventura Mall, opened in 1983, has around 300 shops and six departments stores. Around 28 million shoppers visit the Miami-Dade County mall each year, making it the fifth-highest grossing mall in the United States when measured by sales per square foot. The super-posh coastal enclave surrounds the Turnberry Isle resort and championship golf course, Gulfstream Park thoroughbred horse track and the upscale Golden Isles residential area. The mall organizes shopping experiences for visiting conventions and hosts events like the Chocolate Festival, Great American Bake Sale and more.

South Coast Plaza

Located in Orange County, Calif., South Coast Plaza is the state’s largest and most luxurious shopping center. The 250 boutiques housed in the chic mall include some of the world’s most luxurious brand names in fashion, jewelry and home décor. The sense of luxury is found throughout the entire plaza, from personal shoppers to award-winning restaurants. South Coast Plaza also houses four performing arts venues and a sculpture garden. South Coast cash registers ring up $1.5 billion in sales annually.

Del Amo Fashion Center

The prototypical LA mall that appeared in Bad Santa, Beverly Hills, 90210 and Valley Girl attracts a mixed bag of Palos Verdes residents, surfers from Redondo Beach and inner-city patrons from Compton and Long Beach. Opening in 1975, Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, Calif., receives around 27.6 million visitors annually and houses 200 stores. The most popular entertainment attractions include an 18-theater Cineplex and a Lucky Strike Lanes bowling alley.