- The regional mall vacancy rate is hovering around 9%, according to a January report from CNBC .
- But, despite the gloom around malls, some shopping centers have managed to stand the test of time.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
These 7 malls are some of the oldest in America, surviving the retail apocalypse and decades of change
Many malls have closed for good as the retail apocalypse has continued and shopper traffic has declined.
cleveland arcade
It's no secret that malls around the US have been struggling.
Between the rise of e-commerce, changing consumer preferences, and the 2008 financial crisis, it's been a tricky few decades in the retail space. The resulting retail apocalypse has left plenty of once-thriving shopping centers desolate , with CNBC reporting a regional mall vacancy rate of 9% in January.
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But that isn't to say that all malls are doomed. Plenty of shopping centers have pivoted to renting out space to coworking startups . And there are still plenty of malls that have continued to dodge extinction despite recent challenges.
Here are a few of the oldest malls that continue to survive as shopping centers:
Since its 1890 construction, the Cleveland Arcade has remained a striking Victorian landmark. Today, the arcade is owned by the Hyatt Regency and is home to plenty of boutique shops and restaurants.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Erik Drost/Flickr
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Source: MNN.com , The Arcade
The Market Square in Lake Forest, Illinois, claims to be the "first planned shopping center" in the United States, having opened up in 1916. Over one century later, this mall now features national retailers like J.Crew, Talbots, and Lululemon.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Slo-mo/Wikimedia Commons
Source: Market Square , MNN.com
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The Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, dates back to 1922. The mall has survived the ravages of the retail apocalypse and continues to host retailers like West Elm, Kate Spade, and Tiffany & Co.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Design for Health/Flickr
Source: MNN.com , Country Club Plaza
Bellevue Square was one of many malls to open in the years following WWII. In 1946, the shopping center launched in Bellevue, Washington, featuring early tenants like Marshall Field, JCPenney, and Nordstrom. Today, the mall still features department stores like Macys and Nordstrom.
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BusinessInsider USA Images
chispita_666/Flickr
Source: MNN.com , The Bellevue Collection
The Ridgeway Center in Stamford, Connecticut, was yet another mall to spring up in the wake of WWII, opening in 1947. Today, the space houses a Marshalls, an Old Navy, and a Bed Bath & Beyond.
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JJBers/Flickr
Source: New England Historical Society
The Southdale Center in Edina, Minnesota, first opened its doors in 1956. According to the Guardian, the location became the first "fully enclosed, climate-controlled" mall in the United States. Today, the shopping center features a Macys, an AMC theater, a Buffalo Wild Wings, and an Apple store.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Bobak Ha'Eri/Wikimedia Commons
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Source: MNN.com , The Guardian
According to the New England Historical Society, the Pine Tree Shopping Center opened up in 1959, becoming the first modern mall in Portland, Maine. Today, the shopping center is anchored by Lowes and also features an Applebees and a Big Lots.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Paul VanDerWerf/Flickr
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SEE ALSO: 11 once-popular grocery stores that disappeared forever
READ MORE: Gloomy labor statistics show that the retail apocalypse was worse than we thought
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SEE ALSO: 6 companies that have filed for bankruptcy but you can still shop or eat at
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