Shopping malls have long been a favorite weekend destination for American families, offering everything from clothing stores to movie theaters and amusement rides all under one roof. A handful of massive malls stand out as the true giants of American retail.

Some of these malls opened decades ago as simple department store centers. Others were built much more recently as full entertainment complexes with theme parks and water rides built right in.

In this article, we’ll discuss the top 10 largest and most well-known shopping malls in the United States, based on their history, ownership, and what makes each one stand out.

Quick Comparison

Rank	Mall	Opened	Owner / Developer	Location	Core Focus
1	Mall of America	1992	Developed by Triple Five Group (Ghermezian family); owned by Triple Five Group	Bloomington, Minnesota	Retail, Theme Park & Aquarium
2	American Dream	2019	Developed under several companies; owned by Triple Five Group	East Rutherford, New Jersey	Retail, Ski Slope & Water Park
3	King of Prussia Mall	1963	Developed by The Kravco Company; owned by Simon Property Group	King of Prussia, Pennsylvania	Full-Service Retail & Dining
4	South Coast Plaza	1967	Founded by C. J. Segerstrom & Sons; privately owned by the Segerstrom family	Costa Mesa, California	Luxury Retail
5	The Galleria (Houston)	1970	Developed by Gerald D. Hines; owned by Simon Property Group	Houston, Texas	Luxury Retail & Ice Rink
6	Del Amo Fashion Center	1961	Developed by Guilford Glazer; owned by Simon Property Group & partners	Torrance, California	Retail & Dining
7	Sawgrass Mills	1990	Developed by The Mills Corporation; owned by Simon Property Group	Sunrise, Florida	Outlet & Discount Retail
8	Aventura Mall	1983	Developed by Oxford Development Co.; owned by Turnberry Associates & Simon Property Group	Aventura, Florida	Retail & Art Installations
9	Woodfield Mall	1971	Developed by Taubman Company; owned by Simon Property Group & partners	Schaumburg, Illinois	Regional Retail
10	Roosevelt Field	1956	Developed by William Zeckendorf; owned by Simon Property Group	Garden City, New York	Regional Retail

1. Mall of America – The Largest Shopping Mall in the USA

• Founded: 1992 
• Owner: Developed by Triple Five Group (Ghermezian family); owned by Triple Five Group 
• Location: Bloomington, Minnesota

Mall of America opened in 1992 on the former site of Metropolitan Stadium, once home to the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. The Ghermezian family, through their company Triple Five Group, built the massive complex alongside partners including Simon Property Group. A long legal battle over ownership eventually ended in 2006, when Triple Five gained full control of the property.

The mall spans nearly 5.7 million square feet and holds more than 500 stores, plus an indoor amusement park called Nickelodeon Universe. Mall of America draws millions of visitors every year, many of them tourists rather than local shoppers. The Ghermezian family also owns the similarly massive West Edmonton Mall in Canada.

What Mall of America does: Operates the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the United States.

Services: Retail stores, an indoor theme park, an aquarium, restaurants, and hotel accommodations.

2. American Dream – A Mall Built for Entertainment as Much as Shopping

• Founded: 2019 
• Owner: Developed under several companies over the years; owned by Triple Five Group 
• Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey

American Dream had one of the longest and most difficult paths to opening of any mall on this list, first proposed all the way back in 2003. The project passed through several different developers and names, including Meadowlands Xanadu, before Triple Five Group took over construction in 2011. The mall finally opened in stages between 2019 and 2021, delayed further by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The completed complex became the second-largest mall in the country, built with a heavy focus on entertainment attractions. American Dream includes an indoor ski slope, a water park, and an ice rink alongside its regular retail stores. The mall is owned by the same Ghermezian family behind Mall of America.

What American Dream does: Combines retail shopping with major indoor entertainment attractions.

Services: Retail stores, an indoor ski slope, a water park, an ice rink, and an amusement park.

3. King of Prussia Mall – One of America’s Oldest Major Malls

• Founded: 1963 
• Owner: Developed by The Kravco Company; owned by Simon Property Group 
• Location: King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

King of Prussia Mall first opened in 1963 as a smaller, open-air shopping center outside Philadelphia. The mall grew significantly over the following decades, adding a second enclosed section called The Court in 1981. A major 2016 renovation combined and expanded both sections, boosting the mall into one of the largest in the entire country.

The mall is now fully owned and managed by Simon Property Group, a large real estate company that owns malls across the country. King of Prussia attracts a large share of tourists visiting the greater Philadelphia area. The mall features more than 450 stores, including an indoor skydiving center.

What King of Prussia Mall does: Operates one of the largest full-service shopping malls in the country.

Services: Retail stores, restaurants, an indoor skydiving attraction, and luxury shopping options.

4. South Coast Plaza – California’s Largest Mall, Still Family-Owned

Founded: 1967 

Owner: Founded by C. J. Segerstrom & Sons; privately owned by the Segerstrom family 

Location: Costa Mesa, California

South Coast Plaza opened in 1967, built on what had previously been lima bean farmland owned by the Segerstrom family. The family had farmed the Orange County land for generations before deciding to develop it into a shopping center instead. Unlike most large malls, South Coast Plaza has remained privately owned by the same family since it was built.

The mall grew into the largest shopping center in California and one of the highest-grossing malls in the entire country. South Coast Plaza is especially known for its large concentration of luxury brand stores, including Louis Vuitton and Hermès. The Segerstrom family has also used mall profits to fund a nearby performing arts center.

What South Coast Plaza does: Operates a luxury-focused shopping mall in Orange County, California.

Services: Luxury retail stores, fine dining restaurants, and access to a nearby performing arts center.

5. The Galleria (Houston) – A Mall Inspired by Milan’s Famous Arcade

• Founded: 1970 
• Owner: Developed by Gerald D. Hines; owned by Simon Property Group 
• Location: Houston, Texas

The Galleria opened in Houston in 1970, developed by real estate businessman Gerald D. Hines. Its design was directly inspired by the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade in Milan, Italy, complete with a glass-covered central hall. The mall’s indoor ice rink, unusual for a shopping center, became one of its most distinctive features from the very beginning.

Ownership of the mall changed hands several times over the decades before Simon Property Group took full control in 2002. The Galleria has since grown into the largest shopping mall in the state of Texas. The mall attracts around 30 million visitors a year and remains a major draw for luxury shoppers.

What The Galleria does: Operates an upscale shopping mall combined with an indoor ice rink and hotels.

Services: Luxury retail stores, fine dining, an indoor ice rink, and connected hotel accommodations.

6. Del Amo Fashion Center – Once the Largest Mall in America

• Founded: 1961 
• Owner: Developed by Guilford Glazer; owned by Simon Property Group & partners 
• Location: Torrance, California

Del Amo Fashion Center began in 1961 as an open-air shopping center built by developer Guilford Glazer in Torrance, California. A separate nearby mall, Fashion Square, opened in 1971 before the two properties were combined into one larger complex in 1981. That merger helped Del Amo become the largest shopping mall in the entire United States for over a decade.

Mall of America eventually took over that title when it opened in 1992. Del Amo has since undergone major renovations, including a $200 million upgrade completed in 2015. The mall is now co-owned by Simon Property Group along with financial partners JPMorgan Chase and Farallon Capital Management.

What Del Amo Fashion Center does: Operates a large regional shopping mall in the Los Angeles area.

Services: Retail stores, restaurants, a movie theater, and family entertainment options.

7. Sawgrass Mills – America’s Largest Outlet Shopping Destination

• Founded: 1990 
• Owner: Developed by The Mills Corporation; owned by Simon Property Group 
• Location: Sunrise, Florida

Sawgrass Mills opened in 1990 near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, built by The Mills Corporation, a company known for developing large outlet-style shopping centers. Unlike traditional malls filled with full-price retailers, Sawgrass Mills focused heavily on discount and outlet stores from the very beginning. This approach made it especially popular with bargain-hunting tourists visiting South Florida.

The mall grew to include more than 400 stores across a horseshoe-shaped layout at its peak. Simon Property Group eventually took over management and ownership of the property. Sawgrass Mills remains one of Florida’s most visited shopping and tourist destinations today.

What Sawgrass Mills does: Operates one of the largest outlet and discount shopping malls in the country.

Services: Outlet retail stores, discount shopping, restaurants, and tourist-focused attractions.

8. Aventura Mall – A South Florida Mall Known for Its Art Collection

• Founded: 1983 
• Owner: Developed by Oxford Development Co.; owned by Turnberry Associates & Simon Property Group 
• Location: Aventura, Florida

Aventura Mall opened in 1983, developed by Oxford Development Company under the leadership of businessman Donald Soffer. Soffer’s company, later renamed Turnberry Associates, had earlier developed much of the surrounding city of Aventura itself. The mall grew steadily over the following decades, adding a major luxury wing expansion in more recent years.

Turnberry Associates remains the lead owner of the mall today, alongside a minority stake held by Simon Property Group. Aventura Mall has become known for hosting more than two dozen museum-quality art installations throughout the property. Jackie Soffer, Donald’s daughter, now leads Turnberry Associates as chairman and CEO.

What Aventura Mall does: Operates a large South Florida shopping mall known for its public art collection.

Services: Retail stores, luxury shopping, dining options, and public art exhibits.

9. Woodfield Mall – Once the Largest Mall in the World

• Founded: 1971 
• Owner: Developed by Taubman Company; owned by Simon Property Group & partners 
• Location: Schaumburg, Illinois

Woodfield Mall opened in 1971 outside Chicago, developed by the Taubman Company and named after a former Sears board chairman. When it first opened, Woodfield was actually the largest shopping mall in the entire United States, a title it held for several years. The mall’s opening even included a large water tower built to supply the surrounding area.

Ownership of the mall changed hands over the decades, with Simon Property Group eventually taking over management in 2013. Simon now owns 50 percent of the property alongside other investment partners. Woodfield remains one of the largest and most visited malls in the Chicago area today.

What Woodfield Mall does: Operates a large regional shopping mall in suburban Chicago.

Services: Retail stores, dining options, and family entertainment attractions.

10. Roosevelt Field – A Historic Mall Built on a Famous Airfield

• Founded: 1956 
• Owner: Developed by William Zeckendorf; owned by Simon Property Group 
• Location: Garden City, New York

Roosevelt Field opened in 1956 on Long Island, built on the site of a historic airfield where aviator Charles Lindbergh once began his famous transatlantic flight. Real estate developer William Zeckendorf led the mall’s original development during a major post-war boom in suburban shopping centers. The mall’s aviation history is still honored through nearby monuments and plaques.

Roosevelt Field grew steadily over the decades into one of the largest and busiest malls in the New York metropolitan area. Simon Property Group eventually took over ownership and management of the property. The mall remains an important shopping destination for Long Island residents and visiting tourists alike.

What Roosevelt Field does: Operates a large regional shopping mall on Long Island, New York.

Services: Retail stores, dining options, and entertainment venues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which is the largest shopping mall in the USA?

Mall of America is the largest shopping mall in the United States, spanning nearly 5.7 million square feet in Bloomington, Minnesota.

2. Which malls are owned by the same family?

Mall of America and American Dream are both owned by Triple Five Group, controlled by the Ghermezian family.

3. Which mall remains owned by the same family that built it?

South Coast Plaza remains privately owned by the Segerstrom family, who built the mall on their own former farmland.

4. Which company owns the most malls on this list?

Simon Property Group owns or co-owns the majority of malls on this list, making it one of the largest mall operators in the country.

5. Which mall was once the largest in the entire world?

Woodfield Mall was the largest shopping mall in the United States when it first opened in 1971.

6. Which mall focuses mainly on outlet and discount stores?

Sawgrass Mills focuses heavily on outlet and discount shopping, rather than full-price retail stores.

7. Are shopping malls in the USA regulated?

Yes, malls must follow local building codes, fire safety rules, and accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

8. Which mall includes an indoor ski slope and water park?

American Dream includes both an indoor ski slope and a water park alongside its regular shopping and dining areas.

9. Which mall was built on a historic airfield?

Roosevelt Field was built on the site of a historic Long Island airfield, where Charles Lindbergh began his famous transatlantic flight.

10. Why do these ten malls matter to everyday people?

These malls represent some of the biggest shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations that Americans visit throughout the year.

Conclusion

America’s largest malls bring together family-owned businesses and huge real estate companies competing to provide the best shopping experience. South Coast Plaza is an exception in the region as a family-owned business, while Simon Property Group and Triple Five Group own most of the other big malls across the country.

The ten largest malls form a list of the most popular entertainment and retail centers in the United States. While traditional shopping is gradually being replaced by online shopping, these malls provide diverse entertainment and recreation opportunities, attracting customers back.