The Food Court Is Back
Attention, mall shoppers: Restaurants are taking up more retail space. It’s good news for fixtures like Cinnabon and bubble tea shops.
After a long day at the mall, the aroma of a buttery pretzel has always been hard to resist. Now it’s getting harder. Across the US, restaurants are taking over more floor space in malls as in-store shopping declines and consumers seek experiences rather than goods, says Emily Arft, an analyst at Green Street, a real estate research firm. Formats are changing: “A lot of landlords are thinking about making a more cohesive retail experience where you have dining throughout, not just in one dedicated center,” Arft says. Still, that’s been good for food court newcomers and stalwarts, including everyone’s favorite auntie.
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