{"id":9766,"date":"2025-11-17T12:29:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T17:29:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/2025\/11\/17\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T12:54:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T17:54:44","slug":"gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/","title":{"rendered":"Gen Z\u2019s Surprising Love Affair with the Mall"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>By Kristen Jackman, SVP, Westfield Rise US<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For years, the narrative has been that malls are relics of the past, casualties of e-commerce and shifting consumer habits. But Gen Z is rewriting that story. Far from abandoning the mall, this generation is embracing it and in doing so, reshaping what the modern mall looks and feels like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recent data shows that nearly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.empower.com\/the-currency\/long-live-mall-thanks-gen-z-shoppers-news\">2 in 3 shoppers aged 18-34 now frequent malls regularly<\/a>, more than any other generation, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sociummedia.com\/blog\/gen-z-shopping-behavior\/?\">64%<\/a> of Gen Z preferring to shop in-store when discovering new products. These findings underline the importance of physical spaces as essential for exploration and brand engagement. While digital convenience still appeals, an impressive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.empower.com\/the-currency\/long-live-mall-thanks-gen-z-shoppers-news\">69% of Gen Z reports making weekly purchases in-store<\/a>, seeking what online shopping cannot deliver: instant gratification, social connection, and experiences worth sharing. This is reflected in the finding that more than half treat shopping as a form of entertainment, with <a href=\"https:\/\/retailtechinnovationhub.com\/home\/2025\/6\/14\/snapchat-uk-research-contradicts-view-that-gen-z-are-shoppers-driving-fast-fashion-and-frictionless-consumption?\">52%<\/a> likely to share something they like online through photos or messages, with <a href=\"https:\/\/products.seeker.io\/blog\/18-stats-about-experiential-marketing-in-2024\/\">98%<\/a> of consumers creating social or digital content at an event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/network.advertisingweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/taylor-swift.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/taylor-swift.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/taylor-swift-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/taylor-swift-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/taylor-swift-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Need for Instant Gratification<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a generation that grew up with same-day shipping and on-demand everything, waiting has little appeal. About <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2024\/12\/12\/gen-z-shopping-at-malls-rather-than-online.html\">30% of Gen Z says<\/a> the ability to get items immediately is a top reason they shop in person and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2024\/12\/12\/gen-z-shopping-at-malls-rather-than-online.html\">another 28%<\/a> cite the value experiencing products IRL before buying. Malls answer this call by putting products directly into their hands without shipping delays or return hassles. The tactile, in-the-moment experience matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/network.advertisingweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/ramen.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9769\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/ramen.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/ramen-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/ramen-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/ramen-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A Hub for Social Connection<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shopping, for Gen Z, isn\u2019t just about acquisition; it\u2019s about interaction. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.modernretail.co\/marketing\/how-major-malls-are-catering-to-gen-z-shoppers\/\">More than <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.modernretail.co\/marketing\/how-major-malls-are-catering-to-gen-z-shoppers\/\">60% of Gen Z visits malls to socialize <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/retailtechinnovationhub.com\/home\/2025\/6\/14\/snapchat-uk-research-contradicts-view-that-gen-z-are-shoppers-driving-fast-fashion-and-frictionless-consumption?\">42% see it as a social activity.<\/a> The mall is where they meet friends, discover new brands, and linger over meals. It\u2019s a space that allows them to mix commerce with connection, reinforcing its role as a modern-day town square.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/network.advertisingweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/elf-beauty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/elf-beauty.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/elf-beauty-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/elf-beauty-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/elf-beauty-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Experiences as Currency<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps most tellingly, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.modernretail.co\/marketing\/how-major-malls-are-catering-to-gen-z-shoppers\/\">60% of Gen Z says<\/a> they would rather spend money on experiences than physical items. That doesn\u2019t mean they aren\u2019t shopping; it means the act of shopping must be elevated into an experience itself. They are drawn to immersive pop-ups, live performances, AR and VR experiences, and culinary concepts that are as Instagrammable as they are delicious. The mall has evolved into a canvas for memory-making, not just a marketplace. This is where Westfield shines, leaning into Gen Z\u2019s desire for experiences and self-expression. From hosting pop-up brand experiences to curating buzzy concepts designed for discovery and social sharing, Westfield has transformed its spaces into cultural town squares that extend far beyond shopping, offering moments that don\u2019t just meet Gen Z\u2019s expectations, but exceed them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s what makes Westfield such a powerful space for brands. According to industry research, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/councils\/forbescommunicationscouncil\/2024\/12\/17\/beyond-the-digital-noise-rethinking-engagement-in-a-saturated-landscape-with-experiential-marketing\/?\">87% of consumers say brand experiences are more memorable than TV, and 75% say they share them afterward<\/a>, turning physical activations into shareable moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/network.advertisingweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/owala.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9771\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/owala.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/owala-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/owala-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/owala-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Bigger Picture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gen Z\u2019s affinity for malls underscores a broader truth: physical retail is far from dead, it\u2019s just evolving. The mall\u2019s revival is rooted in its ability to deliver what digital platforms can\u2019t: speed, touch, connection, and community. Westfield\u2019s success points to the future of the industry, creating multi-sensory, social, and shareable environments that resonate with how young consumers want to live and spend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to how they discover and connect with brands, social media now dominates. There has been a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stmagency.co.uk\/thought-leadership\/how-each-generation-shops-insights-for-retailers-consumer-brands?\">25%<\/a> drop in the use of Google for searches, with this generation turning to platforms like TikTok to find information and inspiration<em>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/network.advertisingweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/levis.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9772\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/levis.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/levis-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/levis-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/levis-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking ahead, there are two prominent trends that will likely define the next era of malls for<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gen Z:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Rise of Hybrid Spaces<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Expect malls to evolve further into lifestyle ecosystems, where wellness, co-working, and entertainment converge with retail. Gen Z isn\u2019t compartmentalizing their lives, and they\u2019ll expect malls to reflect that fluidity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/network.advertisingweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/beauty-ny.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/beauty-ny.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/beauty-ny-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/beauty-ny-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/beauty-ny-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Digital Integration IRL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As AR try-ons, app-based loyalty, and social-first brand activations grow, malls will increasingly serve as physical extensions of Gen Z\u2019s digital world\u2014blurring the line between shopping center and content studio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2191\" src=\"https:\/\/network.advertisingweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/snap-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9774\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/snap-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/snap-scaled-300x257.jpg 300w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/snap-scaled-1024x876.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/snap-scaled-768x657.jpg 768w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/snap-scaled-1536x1315.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/snap-scaled-2048x1753.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gen Z is proving that the mall is more than a place to shop. It\u2019s a space to connect, create, and belong. As this generation continues to shape the future of retail, malls that deliver immediacy, experiences, and community will thrive. The message is clear: evolve into cultural destinations, and Gen Z will show up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For years, the narrative has been that malls are relics of the past, casualties of e-commerce and shifting consumer habits. But Gen Z is rewriting that story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":9767,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3,32],"topics":[2],"class_list":["post-9766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-brands-marketers","tag-experiential","topics-editorial"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Gen Z\u2019s Surprising Love Affair with the Mall | AW360<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Gen Z\u2019s Surprising Love Affair with the Mall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For years, the narrative has been that malls are relics of the past, casualties of e-commerce and shifting consumer habits. But Gen Z is rewriting that story.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"AW360\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-17T17:29:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-17T17:54:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/169taylorswift.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Advertising Week\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Advertising Week\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/news\\\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\\\/9766\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/news\\\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\\\/9766\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Advertising Week\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ae698b8b96e141836006836db70d9e69\"},\"headline\":\"Gen Z\u2019s Surprising Love Affair with the Mall\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-17T17:29:43+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-17T17:54:44+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/news\\\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\\\/9766\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":750,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/news\\\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\\\/9766\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/169taylorswift.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Brands + Marketers\",\"Experiential\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/news\\\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\\\/9766\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/news\\\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\\\/9766\\\/\",\"name\":\"Gen Z\u2019s Surprising Love Affair with the Mall | AW360\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/news\\\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\\\/9766\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/news\\\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\\\/9766\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/169taylorswift.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-17T17:29:43+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-17T17:54:44+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/news\\\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\\\/9766\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/news\\\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\\\/9766\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/news\\\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\\\/9766\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/169taylorswift.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/169taylorswift.jpg\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":900},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/news\\\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\\\/9766\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Gen Z\u2019s Surprising Love Affair with the Mall\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/\",\"name\":\"AW360\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"AW360\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/AW360_Logo_2023_FullColor.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/AW360_Logo_2023_FullColor.png\",\"width\":1906,\"height\":849,\"caption\":\"AW360\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\\\/aw360\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ae698b8b96e141836006836db70d9e69\",\"name\":\"Advertising Week\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3136b4a05c15e5dac7e877b1998ec3e252a59b6da6e4b471522d944c91b71940?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3136b4a05c15e5dac7e877b1998ec3e252a59b6da6e4b471522d944c91b71940?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3136b4a05c15e5dac7e877b1998ec3e252a59b6da6e4b471522d944c91b71940?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Advertising Week\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/advertisingweek.com\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Gen Z\u2019s Surprising Love Affair with the Mall | AW360","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Gen Z\u2019s Surprising Love Affair with the Mall","og_description":"For years, the narrative has been that malls are relics of the past, casualties of e-commerce and shifting consumer habits. But Gen Z is rewriting that story.","og_url":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/","og_site_name":"AW360","article_published_time":"2025-11-17T17:29:43+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-11-17T17:54:44+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1600,"height":900,"url":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/169taylorswift.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Advertising Week","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Advertising Week","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/"},"author":{"name":"Advertising Week","@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/#\/schema\/person\/ae698b8b96e141836006836db70d9e69"},"headline":"Gen Z\u2019s Surprising Love Affair with the Mall","datePublished":"2025-11-17T17:29:43+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-17T17:54:44+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/"},"wordCount":750,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/169taylorswift.jpg","keywords":["Brands + Marketers","Experiential"],"articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/","url":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/","name":"Gen Z\u2019s Surprising Love Affair with the Mall | AW360","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/169taylorswift.jpg","datePublished":"2025-11-17T17:29:43+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-17T17:54:44+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/169taylorswift.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/11\/169taylorswift.jpg","width":1600,"height":900},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/gen-zs-surprising-love-affair-with-the-mall\/9766\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Gen Z\u2019s Surprising Love Affair with the Mall"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/#website","url":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/","name":"AW360","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/#organization","name":"AW360","url":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/AW360_Logo_2023_FullColor.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/07\/AW360_Logo_2023_FullColor.png","width":1906,"height":849,"caption":"AW360"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/#\/schema\/person\/ae698b8b96e141836006836db70d9e69","name":"Advertising Week","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3136b4a05c15e5dac7e877b1998ec3e252a59b6da6e4b471522d944c91b71940?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3136b4a05c15e5dac7e877b1998ec3e252a59b6da6e4b471522d944c91b71940?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3136b4a05c15e5dac7e877b1998ec3e252a59b6da6e4b471522d944c91b71940?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Advertising Week"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/advertisingweek.com"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9766"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9766\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17045,"href":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9766\/revisions\/17045"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9766"},{"taxonomy":"topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topics?post=9766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}