By Kyle Backer | AZ Big Media
For many, Phoenix malls conjure up memories of summer breaks as a youth with nowhere else better to be, convenient one-stop shopping trips for the whole family and the somewhat bewildering mix of smells radiating from the food court. Despite the warm feelings some associate with these locations, the omnipresence and convenience of ecommerce options has relegated many of these shopping centers to objects of nostalgia fondly remembered and reflected upon through rose-tinted glasses.
As a result of shifting consumer demand, the Valley has recently witnessed the shuttering of two iconic malls: Metrocenter Mall and Paradise Valley Mall. These sites are being reimagined as mixed-use developments focused on walkability and an urban village aesthetic.
