Biggest city for holiday shopping in every state
Biggest city for holiday shopping in every state
Ah, the holidays. A time when the scent of pumpkin spice wafts from every Starbucks coast to coast, family and friends gather together to break bread, and millions of Americans flock to their local malls to stock up on gifts.
In 2016 alone, more than 154 million people went shopping over Black Friday weekend, which was roughly 3 million more than the year before, according to the National Retail Federation. While those numbers should be encouraging to anyone fearing a retail slump, they might also feel overwhelming for those of us preparing to brave the mall crowds over the next few weeks.
To help crack the code on holiday shopping and inspire some serious confidence in us all, we took a look at the best city for holiday shopping in every state. We used 2017 data from geographic data and analytics company Esri to identify the city with the largest amount of gross leasable area populated by shopping malls and centers in every state. Esri's data on major shopping centers contains statistics for over 8,000 shopping centers with 225,000 or more square feet of gross leasable area.
#50: Wyoming - Casper
Gross leasable area: 1,077,636 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 2
Total stores: 85
Biggest shopping center: Eastridge Mall, opened in 1982
Gross leasable area: 569,936 square feet
Total stores: 64
#49: Vermont - South Burlington
Gross leasable area: 1,094,040 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 2
Total stores: 137
Biggest shopping center: University Mall, opened in 1979
Gross leasable area: 609,000 square feet
Total stores: 76
#48: Montana - Kalispell
Gross leasable area: 1,628,828 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 4
Total stores: 91
Biggest shopping center: Spring Prairie Center, opened in 2006
Gross leasable area: 600,000 square feet
Total stores: 30
#47: Rhode Island - Warwick
Gross leasable area: 2,033,427 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 4
Total stores: 166
Biggest shopping center: Warwick Mall, opened in 1970
Gross leasable area: 1,000,000 square feet
Total stores: 90
#46: North Dakota - Bismarck
Gross leasable area: 2,136,897 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 5
Total stores: 204
Biggest shopping center: Kirkwood Mall, opened in 1970
Gross leasable area: 849,808 square feet
Total stores: 80
#45: Maine - Augusta
Gross leasable area: 2,172,882 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 4
Total stores: 103
Biggest shopping center: The Marketplace at Augusta, opened in 1995
Gross leasable area: 1,300,000 square feet
Total stores: 57
#44: Massachusetts - Boston
Gross leasable area: 2,380,663 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 8
Total stores: 345
Biggest shopping center: The Shops at Prudential Center, opened in 1993
Gross leasable area: 620,000 square feet
Total stores: 62
#43: West Virginia - Charleston
Gross leasable area: 2,510,694 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 4
Total stores: 229
Biggest shopping center: Southridge Center, opened in 1993
Gross leasable area: 990,946 square feet
Total stores: 20
#42: Utah - Sandy
Gross leasable area: 2,591,132 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 6
Total stores: 300
Biggest shopping center: The Shops at South Town, opened in 1986
Gross leasable area: 1,279,485 square feet
Total stores: 150
#41: New Hampshire - Nashua
Gross leasable area: 2,617,878 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 7
Total stores: 259
Biggest shopping center: Pheasant Lane Mall, opened in 1986
Gross leasable area: 980,000 square feet
Total stores: 147
#40: South Dakota - Sioux Falls
Gross leasable area: 2,652,199 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 4
Total stores: 227
Biggest shopping center: The Empire Mall, opened in 1975
Gross leasable area: 1,364,921 square feet
Total stores: 157
#39: Idaho - Boise
Gross leasable area: 3,113,156 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 6
Total stores: 342
Biggest shopping center: Boise Towne Square, opened in 1998
Gross leasable area: 1,213,000 square feet
Total stores: 179
#38: Connecticut - Manchester
Gross leasable area: 3,219,429 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 7
Total stores: 415
Biggest shopping center: The Shoppes at Buckland Hills, opened in 1990
Gross leasable area: 1,072,784 square feet
Total stores: 149
#37: Alaska - Anchorage
Gross leasable area: 3,264,502 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 1
Total stores: 451
Biggest shopping center: Tikahtnu Commons, opened in 2008
Gross leasable area: 842,000 square feet
Total stores: 53
#36: Mississippi - Jackson
Gross leasable area: 3,268,138 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 9
Total stores: 339
Biggest shopping center: Metrocenter Mall, opened in 1978
Gross leasable area: 1,153,723 square feet
Total stores: 65
#35: Arkansas - Little Rock
Gross leasable area: 3,333,207 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 10
Total stores: 493
Biggest shopping center: Shackleford Crossings, opened in 2007
Gross leasable area: 572,973 square feet
Total stores: 41
#34: Louisiana - Lafayette
Gross leasable area: 3,603,369 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 9
Total stores: 372
Biggest shopping center: Acadiana Mall, opened in 1979
Gross leasable area: 1,000,648 square feet
Total stores: 120
#33: Wisconsin - Madison
Gross leasable area: 3,681,752 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 7
Total stores: 410
Biggest shopping center: West Towne Mall, opened in 1970
Gross leasable area: 1,158,620 square feet
Total stores: 115
#32: Iowa - West Des Moines
Gross leasable area: 3,835,995 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 5
Total stores: 414
Biggest shopping center: Jordan Creek Town Center, opened in 2004
Gross leasable area: 1,354,785 square feet
Total stores: 152
#31: Delaware - Wilmington
Gross leasable area: 4,017,949 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 9
Total stores: 306
Biggest shopping center: Concord Mall, opened in 1968
Gross leasable area: 960,000 square feet
Total stores: 75
#30: Hawaii - Urban Honolulu
Gross leasable area: 4,296,683 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 7
Total stores: 931
Biggest shopping center: Ala Moana Center, opened in 1959
Gross leasable area: 2,100,000 square feet
Total stores: 336
#29: Washington - Seattle
Gross leasable area: 4,339,832 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 9
Total stores: 1,001
Biggest shopping center: Northgate Mall, opened in 1950
Gross leasable area: 1,054,000 square feet
Total stores: 127
#28: Michigan - Sterling Heights
Gross leasable area: 4,439,261 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 10
Total stores: 380
Biggest shopping center: Lakeside Mall, opened in 1976
Gross leasable area: 1,550,450 square feet
Total stores: 121
#27: Oregon - Portland
Gross leasable area: 4,597,465 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 8
Total stores: 455
Biggest shopping center: Lloyd Center, opened in 1960
Gross leasable area: 1,271,821 square feet
Total stores: 155
#26: Maryland - Baltimore
Gross leasable area: 5,042,855 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 16
Total stores: 610
Biggest shopping center: Harbor East, opened in 2005
Gross leasable area: 1,000,000 square feet
Total stores: 47
#25: Minnesota - Bloomington
Gross leasable area: 5,135,348 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 2
Total stores: 560
Biggest shopping center: Mall of America, opened in 1992
Gross leasable area: 4,600,000 square feet
Total stores: 520
#24: Kansas - Wichita
Gross leasable area: 5,198,736 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 9
Total stores: 476
Biggest shopping center: Towne East Square, opened in 1975
Gross leasable area: 1,134,000 square feet
Total stores: 102
#23: Alabama - Birmingham
Gross leasable area: 5,748,056 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 14
Total stores: 609
Biggest shopping center: The Summit, opened in 1997
Gross leasable area: 960,000 square feet
Total stores: 75
#22: Kentucky - Lexington-Fayette
Gross leasable area: 5,845,143 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 14
Total stores: 626
Biggest shopping center: Fayette Mall, opened in 1971
Gross leasable area: 1,190,905 square feet
Total stores: 185
#21: South Carolina - Columbia
Gross leasable area: 6,143,484 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 13
Total stores: 562
Biggest shopping center: Village at Sandhill, opened in 2005
Gross leasable area: 1,500,000 square feet
Total stores: 129
#20: New Jersey - Paramus
Gross leasable area: 6,262,398 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 8
Total stores: 565
Biggest shopping center: Westfield Garden State Plaza, opened in 1957
Gross leasable area: 2,180,702 square feet
Total stores: 326
#19: Virginia - Virginia Beach
Gross leasable area: 6,854,646 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 14
Total stores: 840
Biggest shopping center: Lynnhaven Mall, opened in 1981
Gross leasable area: 1,167,192 square feet
Total stores: 133
#18: New Mexico - Albuquerque
Gross leasable area: 6,898,042 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 15
Total stores: 656
Biggest shopping center: Winrock Town Ctr & The Corner at Winrock, opened in 1961
Gross leasable area: 1,125,000 square feet
Total stores: 60
#17: Nebraska - Omaha
Gross leasable area: 6,917,780 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 17
Total stores: 772
Biggest shopping center: Westroads Mall, opened in 1968
Gross leasable area: 1,200,000 square feet
Total stores: 122
#16: Missouri - Kansas City
Gross leasable area: 8,004,477 square feet
Malls and shopping centers:16
Total stores: 759
Biggest shopping center: Zona Rosa, opened in 2004
Gross leasable area: 980,500 square feet
Total stores: 135
#15: Oklahoma - Oklahoma City
Gross leasable area: 8,381,471 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 17
Total stores: 914
Biggest shopping center: Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads, opened in 1974
Gross leasable area: 1,268,116 square feet
Total stores: 65
#14: Georgia - Atlanta
Gross leasable area: 8,854,294 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 26
Total stores: 1,207
Biggest shopping center: Lenox Square, opened in 1959
Gross leasable area: 1,559,000 square feet
Total stores: 191
#13: Colorado - Colorado Springs
Gross leasable area: 9,569,798 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 21
Total stores: 956
Biggest shopping center: Chapel Hills Mall, opened in 1982
Gross leasable area: 1,200,000 square feet
Total stores: 154
#12: Nevada - Las Vegas
Gross leasable area: 9,969,021 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 25
Total stores: 1,274
Biggest shopping center: Meadows Mall, opened in 1978
Gross leasable area: 945,000 square feet
Total stores: 116
#11: Tennessee - Memphis
Gross leasable area: 10,711,363 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 25
Total stores: 966
Biggest shopping center: Wolfchase Galleria, opened in 1997
Gross leasable area: 1,152,196 square feet
Total stores: 132
#10: Indiana - Indianapolis
Gross leasable area: 10,852,095 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 23
Total stores: 1,102
Biggest shopping center: Castleton Square Mall, opened in 1972
Gross leasable area: 1,383,000 square feet
Total stores: 140
#9: Illinois - Chicago
Gross leasable area: 10,912,574 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 30
Total stores: 916
Biggest shopping center: Ford City Mall, opened in 1965
Gross leasable area: 1,193,300 square feet
Total stores: 125
#8: Florida - Jacksonville
Gross leasable area: 13,076,102 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 32
Total stores: 1,520
Biggest shopping center: Regency Square Mall, opened in 1967
Gross leasable area: 1,400,000 square feet
Total stores: 130
#7: Pennsylvania - Philadelphia
Gross leasable area: 14,130,222 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 33
Total stores: 1,350
Biggest shopping center: Philadelphia Mills, opened in 1989
Gross leasable area: 1,603,000 square feet
Total stores: 185
#6: North Carolina - Charlotte
Gross leasable area: 14,876,356 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 37
Total stores: 1,643
Biggest shopping center: SouthPark Mall, opened in 1970
Gross leasable area: 1,538,231 square feet
Total stores: 151
#5: Ohio - Columbus
Gross leasable area: 16,208,055 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 36
Total stores: 1,538
Biggest shopping center: Polaris Fashion Place, opened in 2001
Gross leasable area: 1,571,400 square feet
Total stores: 172
#4: California - Los Angeles
Gross leasable area: 19,721,005 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 43
Total stores: 2,382
Biggest shopping center: Westfield Topanga, opened in 1964
Gross leasable area: 1,564,133 square feet
Total stores: 263
#3: Arizona - Phoenix
Gross leasable area: 21,240,685 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 46
Total stores: 2,210
Biggest shopping center: Metrocenter Mall, opened in 1973
Gross leasable area: 1,364,900 square feet
Total stores: 130
#2: New York - New York
Gross leasable area: 23,728,346 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 56
Total stores: 2,343
Biggest shopping center: Bay Plaza Shopping Center, opened in 1988
Gross leasable area: 1,300,000 square feet
Total stores: 75
#1: Texas - Houston
Gross leasable area: 43,348,155 square feet
Malls and shopping centers: 104
Total stores: 4,858
Biggest shopping center: The Galleria (Houston), opened in 1970
Gross leasable area: 2,237,000 square feet
Total stores: 345
