The Five Best Retro Malls of Route 1
TL;DR: These retro malls along Route 1 are fading fast, but they still offer a nostalgic blast from the past—plan a visit before they disappear.
Indoor shopping malls have been having a tough decade. The first modern enclosed shopping mall in America was Southdale Shopping Center in Edina, Minnesota, built in 1956, and the concept was wildly successful. Hundreds of malls were built across the U.S., peaking at roughly 2,500 malls in the 1980s. With big box retailers like Walmart and Target drawing customers away from mall anchor stores like Sears and JCPenney, and the rise of online retail decimating brick and mortar retail, many beloved shopping destinations have either closed and been demolished, or have been renovated into strip malls.
For those of us who had our first job or our first date at the mall, it’s getting harder and harder to find places that offer us a chance to reconnect with our fond memories. Many stores from decades ago are gone, and the remaining malls have often been redesigned. Gone are the bench/planter combos, the 70s oranges and browns, and the earnest, kitschy decor.
If you look hard enough, though, you can still catch a glimpse of it here and there along Route 1, and that’s what this list is all about. This isn’t a list of the most crowded or successful malls – it’s a list of the ones that still have that peak mall vibe of the 70s through the 90s. If that’s something you enjoy too, make sure to visit these spots (and buy something from the shops or the food court!) before the opportunity has passed you by!
The Stamford Center
The Stamford Center is, simply put, an architectural marvel, and I can’t imagine seeing the central atrium without gasping at how unique and ambitious it is. Six floors are accessible via crisscrossing mirrored escalators and elevators with a vertigo-inducing view between them.
I have visited many, many indoor malls, and this is easily one of the most spectacular. Their Christmas displays are wild – huge red Christmas ornaments, large light displays, and a nearly two-story house for Santa show how seriously Stamford Center takes the holiday season. This place is a must-see. I know that sounds like hyperbole but if you have any appreciation whatsoever for retro malls, you’ll thank me after you go.
The Woodbridge Center
One of my absolute favorite retro malls, the Woodbridge Center is stunningly beautiful. With large, well-maintained planters everywhere you look, breathtaking skylights, and stairways and columns that harken back to the glory days of indoor shopping malls, this is a place no retro mall enthusiast should miss.
Every period of new architecture and design goes through a period where they are considered cliche and dated, and often people only recognize what made them special after they are mostly gone.
Woodbridge Center is a treasure, and visiting feels like stepping back 30+ years in the best possible way.
The Neshaminy Mall (Bensalem, PA)
Once one of the most popular malls in the region, Neshaminy Mall has fallen on tough times. Many of the stores are vacant and it doesn’t look like it will be open for much longer. Why would we recommend a visit, then? Because this little mall still has a ton of retro charm.
The central court, which once featured the entrance to a two-story Strawbridge and Clothier, has small cubbies in the wall with scenes from American history and a fountain (now filled with blue sponges) beneath a lifesize statue of a Native American. It’s not a large mall, but it still has tons of character – the mall entrance to Boscov’s another highlight!
Concord Mall (Wilmington, DE)
The Concord Mall is one of my favorite retro malls! It has absolutely beautiful planters, fountains, and even the ubiquitous fancy clock to meet friends at. As of this writing, the Macy’s is still open, and has a beautiful design that will remind you of why department stores were so popular, in addition to a huge medallion outside its mall entrance from the former tenant, Strawbridge and Clothier.
Macy’s Home Store is also really worth exploring, whether you’re into the home goods or not. From the beautiful floor designs to the statues tucked away in the planters, the Concord Mall is truly an overlooked gem.
Southpark Mall (Colonial Heights, VA)
The Southpark Mall isn’t as architecturally extravagant as some of the other spots on this list, but it still has a lot to love. The neon lights and mirrored panels along the ceiling are super cool, the anchor store entrances (both interior and exterior) are suitable impressive, and there are a lot of fun little details in the design to appreciate.
Here’s another reason to love the Southpark Mall: of all of the malls I’ve visited, Southpark was the friendliest! I had great conversations with Lindsey at Reeds Jewelers and Curlee at Curlee’s Clothing Store, and it just felt like a welcoming environment – something that, I’d argue, is just as important to the retro feel of a mall as any decor is!
Plan Your Trip
Travel Tips
- Best Time to Visit: Weekday afternoons often provide the quietest, most immersive retro mall experience
- Photography: Don’t forget your camera—many of these malls feature original architecture, vintage signage, and quirky design details perfect for photos
- Shopping Etiquette: Support surviving stores or food court vendors—your purchases help keep these places alive
- Exploration: Look up! Skylights, signage, and ceiling details are some of the most unique design elements in these malls
- Seasonal Visits: Around the holidays, many of these malls still go all-out with vintage-inspired decorations and Santa setups—plan a December trip if you love that vibe
Historical Note
Indoor shopping malls were once the beating heart of American suburban life—places to gather, shop, work, and socialize. Peaking in the late 20th century, malls served as both community centers and cultural landmarks. As consumer habits have shifted, many of these spaces have vanished or changed beyond recognition.
However, the Route 1 corridor still shelters a few gems that preserve the look and feel of malls from the 1970s through the 1990s. Exploring them today is like flipping through a living photo album of America’s retail golden age.
That’s it for now. Did we miss a spot? Let us know, or better yet, create your own entry! We’re always adding more locations to the Route 1 Views database, and we love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!