Are malls returning in fashion?

After being considered a wasted option, the tried and tested format of a mall, might be coming back in with consumers. The Star Tribune of Minneapolis and St. Paul reports that developers in Minneapolis are considering building regional malls in the metro area suburbs such as Rogers, Maple Grove and Chanhassen. Could this be the comeback of the traditional mall? Although nothing is officially decided as yet, developers and city officials are upbeat on new malls coming up in the next five years. If approved, this would be the first new mall to come up in three decades in the area.

Over time, mall developers would want to build projects in the same fast-growing suburbs that have attracted strip centers with big-box chains like Target, Wal-Mart and Best Buy. Another critical factor was the resurgence of department stores, which opened up the possibility that -- once again -- mall developers could find anchor tenants to make their projects feasible.

Even so, some retail experts questioned whether the Twin Cities can support more malls, especially with the Mall of America preparing to double its size. New malls would simply draw business from regional and downtown centers that are struggling to retain tenants, retail consultants said.