# What Is A Strip Mall? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2011, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560 "2011-08-13T09:31:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/21 "2011-08-13T15:38:13Z")
Huge disadvantage of being in a strip mall: A store in our local five store strip mall caught fire from the A/C on July 12th. Since it is one building, all the stores are now closed, including the 7-eleven (which had been handing out free slurpees the day before). They only had smoke damage, but they rae not sure if the City will allow them to open before all the damage to the entire building is repaired. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/22 "2011-08-13T15:41:23Z")
> [@Sandra\_Battye](#): > > Recognizing that common usage doesn’t have any bearing on esoteric terms used by any industry… > > The term “strip mall” is not used in the property management field. The term used is “strip center”: > > Note the term doesn’t include the size of the center, but it is usually less than 20,000 sf of retail space. Other terms used to indicate size of the center and variety of tenants are: neighborhood center (25,000 - 125,000 sf, usually anchored by one supermarket/discount store), community center (125,000 - 300,000 sf, 2 or more anchors), regional center (up to 1,000,000 sf, 1 or 2 department stores, often an enclosed mall [enclosed walkways]), super regional center (over 1,000,000 sf, at least 3 department stores, enclosed mall) and power center (several large freestanding “big box” stores, few in-line small tenants). [ICSC.org](http://icsc.org) (International Council of Shopping Centers) has more information. Strip center is the technical term, although you’ll see strip mall used a lot just because it has become so ubiquitous. See the [ngrams chart](http://ngrams.googlelabs.com/graph?content=strip+mall%2C+strip+center&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=0&smoothing=3) for strip mall and strip center. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/23 "2011-08-13T16:05:35Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > So at what point does a “strip mall” become a “shopping plaza”? Or maybe it doesn’t. I really don’t hear “plaza” much anymore. But it’s stretching it to call something with a supermarket, a drug store, a couple of “satellite” fast food joints and a couple aggregations of smaller stores in it a “strip mall”. And in modern usage, we seem to reserve the unmodified word “mall” for a gigantic building with the stores inside. At least when talking about shopping, as opposed to something like the mall in Washington, DC. > > ETA: > > Yes, I suppose it’s a “shopping center”, but that’s a REALLY loose term. My take on it is that if it has a big-box retail store or two (or more, as my local shopping center does), or a supermarket, it’s a shopping center. If it doesn’t, it’s a strip mall. ISTM, though, that it’s like porn. We can’t define it easily, but we know it when we see it. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/24 "2011-08-13T16:07:04Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > Thinking about it, it occurs to me that in America, strips of shops away from downtown are not common. At least not when I lived in Denver briefly. In my experience, strips of shops are _extremely_ common in America, though that may depend on what kind of area you’re in. Some strip malls are by themselves, but some strips of shops are part of a larger shopping area, perhaps across the street from a mall (the enclosed kind) or supermarket. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/25 "2011-08-13T16:18:49Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > My take on it is that if it has a big-box retail store or two (or more, as my local shopping center does), or a supermarket, it’s a shopping center. If it doesn’t, it’s a strip mall. > > ISTM, though, that it’s like porn. We can’t define it easily, but we know it when we see it. Yes. At least IMO it’s the presence of [anchor stores](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchor_store) which distinguishes a “plaza” or a shopping mall proper, as opposed to “strips” where you only have a series of unremarkable little clothing shops, storefront churches, gun shops, hobby stores, karate dojos, liquor stores and so on set off the highway and surrounding a smallish parking lot. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/26 "2011-08-13T16:40:44Z")
A strip mall is becoming a derogatory term. I think of old, run down, dirty places. The landlords rent cheap and do little to maintain the property. These places serve a useful purpose if you want a tattoo, a gun, a haircut, liquor, or get your laundry washed. You aren’t going to find trendy stores like The Gap in strip malls. like this. I have at least a dozen strip malls like this within ten miles of my house. They all look pretty much the same. [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/2370/2272313457_a92c459821_b.jpg "Strip mall") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/chikawatanabe/2272313457/) ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/27 "2011-08-13T17:27:41Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > Starting point … [Strip mall - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strip_mall) It amazes me how threads can run on and on in GQ after a good cite. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/28 "2011-08-13T17:47:27Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > Thinking about it, it occurs to me that in America, strips of shops away from downtown are not common. At least not when I lived in Denver briefly. I strongly disagree with this statement. To use your example, I’ve been through Denver several times, and it’s no different than any other American city. Let’s do a quick sample. Looking at a Google Map of Denver, I’ll zoom in on 4 areas north, south, east and west of downtown, but within the rough “loop” of I-76 (it doesn’t loop all the way around on the west, since there are those pesky mountains in the way). North (Thornton): [I-25 & CO 44](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Denver&ll=39.888171,-104.990416&spn=0.008907,0.021136&gl=us&t=h&z=16). Heh - looks like there’s a mall at that intersection. But nope - there’s a strip mall right there, a block west of Melody Dr. And on the southeast corner of the intersection is a strip mall containing Home Depot, Big City Burrito, Bally’s, Starbucks, WalMart and Gander Mountain. East (Aurora): [I-225 & I-70](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Denver&ll=39.742768,-104.826093&spn=0.017852,0.042272&gl=us&t=h&z=15). Looks like a hospital complex, and not much else. But [a few blocks to the east](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Denver&ll=39.740953,-104.81162&spn=0.004504,0.010568&gl=us&t=h&z=17), and there’s a strip mall. South (Englewood): [US 85 & US 285](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Denver&ll=39.653268,-104.999063&spn=0.00902,0.021136&gl=us&t=h&z=16). Quite a bit of mixed-use zoning, which is good. But [over here](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Denver&ll=39.654881,-104.99242&spn=0.00451,0.010568&gl=us&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=39.654881,-104.99242&panoid=H3B078U4flAvqraApAZf6w&cbp=12,7.76,,0,-0.09) is a strip mall. West (Applewood): [I-70 & 391](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Denver&ll=39.739749,-105.10781&spn=0.009009,0.021136&gl=us&t=h&z=16). Westland Town Center just a few blocks west of here is a textbook strip mall. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/29 "2011-08-13T18:41:42Z")
When Ken001 talked about strips of shops, it’s clear (to me, at least) he was talking about old-fashioned retail blocks and explicitly not strip malls. And I’d say that there are far more strip malls today than retail blocks, since there is far more suburbia today than cities. True in sprawling Denver as well, even though there are streets with retail outside of downtown. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/30 "2011-08-13T18:42:04Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I strongly disagree with this statement. I think you are in agreement. He’s saying that there are strip malls, but not many blocks of shops right up against the street without dedicated parking except in downtowns. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/31 "2011-08-13T18:58:26Z")
“High street” areas where individually owned shops front directly on the footpath are rare in the US, almost unknown outside Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and San Francisco. Other US cities may have a single small “uptown” area with a block or two of such shops–many of them taverns. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/32 "2011-08-13T19:04:06Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I think you are in agreement. He’s saying that there are strip malls, but not many blocks of shops right up against the street without dedicated parking except in downtowns. Ah - gotcha. Yeah, “ZPL” (zero plot line) zoning is making a comeback, though - there’s an example of it very near my south link above ([here](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Denver&ll=39.659413,-104.996595&spn=0,0.021136&gl=us&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=39.654896,-104.996601&panoid=g-jw2krANLC5DIo4-vpWWw&cbp=12,182.77,,0,8.31), specifically). I’d love to see more of it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/33 "2011-08-13T19:05:57Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > “High street” areas where individually owned shops front directly on the footpath are rare in the US, almost unknown outside Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and San Francisco. Other US cities may have a single small “uptown” area with a block or two of such shops–many of them taverns. I suspect college towns are more likely to have something like this. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/34 "2011-08-13T19:34:46Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > “High street” areas where individually owned shops front directly on the footpath are rare in the US, almost unknown outside Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and San Francisco. Other US cities may have a single small “uptown” area with a block or two of such shops–many of them taverns. That’s just silly: Portland, Seattle, Denver, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, just off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/35 "2011-08-13T20:25:18Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > That’s just silly: Portland, Seattle, Denver, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, just off the top of my head. You can add Kansas City (I can think of at least 3 off the top of my head) and Indianapolis (6, at the very least - not to mention various ones in surrounding suburbs) to the list. In fact, I’d like to see a list of cities that Mr. Downtown is specifically thinking of that do NOT have a pedestrian-friendly, non-shopping mall/strip mall commercial district. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/36 "2011-08-13T20:33:02Z")
Heck, downtown Bozeman is composed almost entirely of separately-owned separate buildings right up against the sidewalk. And I’d agree that it’s the presence of an anchor store (usually a grocery store) which distinguishes a shopping center or plaza from a strip mall. If a business is located in a strip mall, it’ll usually list its location as a street address, but if it’s in a shopping plaza, it’ll be listed in terms of the anchor store (“Come visit our new location in the Albertson’s plaza”). ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/37 "2011-08-13T20:37:54Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > I think in the UK we’d call that a retail park. That’s not at all what I understand by the term “retail park”. A retail park consists of very large non-grocery warehouse stores, usually including a hardware store (B&Q or similar), a computer store (PC World), an electric goods shop (Currys), a furniture store, maybe a pet supermarket, and similar businesses all arranged around a huge car park. It would not include small businesses like hairdressers, liquor stores, lawyers’ offices, etc., such as you would find in an American strip mall. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/38 "2011-08-13T20:41:17Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > In New Zealand, Australia, and England it is still possible to find a line of shops bracketed by houses along a main street in the suburbs. However I must say they are disappearing. In most cities in America, they are also disappearing, or more often, were never there in the first place. Because of zoning restrictions. Most urban property is zoned as either residential or commercial, usually by whole blocks or sections. So a shop next to houses is unusual. Except for corners, which are mostly grandfathered in for commercial use. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/39 "2011-08-13T20:51:12Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > A strip mall is becoming a derogatory term. I can’t remember a time when it wasn’t derogatory. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560/40 "2011-08-13T21:08:57Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > In most cities in America, they are also disappearing, or more often, were never there in the first place. Because of zoning restrictions. Most urban property is zoned as either residential or commercial, usually by whole blocks or sections. So a shop next to houses is unusual. Except for corners, which are mostly grandfathered in for commercial use. You also see this in some old neighborhoods and towns, where old houses are converted into retail space. Where I live, it’s not uncommon to have mixed usage, with houses and businesses sharing the same block. You’ve also got storefronts on the street level, and one or two floors of walkup apartments above them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-strip-mall/592560.md?page=3)