They attract millions of visitors each year, lured by the convenience of doing all their shopping under one roof, with restaurants, cinemas and more to boot.
This retro photo gallery shows South Yorkshire’s malls as they looked during the 90s.
Meadowhall and Crystal Peaks, in Sheffield, Doncaster’s Frenchgate Centre, Parkgate, in Rotherham, and Barnsley’s Alhambra feature in this trip down memory lane.
The nostalgic photos show lost shops, including C&A, BHS, Woolworths, Tandy and Debenhams.
They capture big events over the years, from Christmas lights switch-ons to concerts and filming for a major TV show.
Famous visitors are pictured, including Coronation Street legend Liz Dawn, Star Wars actor Kenny Baker and two of the original Gladiators, Cobra and Lightning.
And ordinary shoppers are seen too, browsing for bargains in the sale, taking part in competitions and raising money for charity by bathing in baked beans and custard.
These photos show how much has changed in the course of more than a quarter of a century at these familiar landmarks.
How many of you remember the big screen at Meadowhall’s Oasis dining quarter, for example, or the old UCI cinema at Crystal Peaks, which in 1997 hosted the premiere of The Full Monty?
Do these photos bring back any memories for you, and where is your favourite place to shop?

5. Corrie stars
Coronation Street stars Liz Dawn, who played Vera Duckworth, and Martin Hancock, who played Spider Nugent, meet fans at Crystal Peaks shopping centre in 1998 | Sheffield Newspapers Photo: Paul Chappells

6. Oasis
The Oasis dining area at Meadowhall in 1999, showing the Rock Island Diner (right) and Spiros(left) | Sheffield Newspapers Ltd Photo: Steve Ellis

7. BHS
Joanne Lumley, aged 13, her grandma Jessie Gardner, and friend Carol Lloyd, all of Skellow, shopping in BHS at Doncaster's Frenchgate shopping centre in the 1998 Christmas sales | Sheffield Newspapers Photo: Steve Taylor

8. Star Wars legend
David Teskowski from Lundwood meets his hero, R2-D2 actor Kenny Baker, at Barnsley's Alhambra shopping centre, in 1999 | Sheffield Newspapers Photo: Steve Ellis

