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?
13. Debenhams
Jayne Carr, personal shopper consultant at Debenhams, Meadowhall, advising client Hazel Fradgley from Doncaster in 1999 | Sheffield Newspapers Photo: Steve Ellis
14. Cute critters
The Pets at Home store, in Rotherham's Parkgate shopping centre, where the Pastures Hedgehog Centre had a stall set up for Easter in 1998. Seen with two six-month-old rescued hegehogs are Jean Sullivan, Laura Fraser, Natasha Hamer, Belinda Jay and Sheelagh Higgins. | Sheffield Newspapers Photo: Mike Waistell
15. Tandy
The Tandy store at Doncaster's Frenchgate Centre in 1998 | Sheffield Newspapers Photo: Dennis Lound
16. Baked beans bath
Student Michelle Keane, 18, has baked beans poured over her by Craig Raschi, 14, as she sits in a bath of baked beans at the Alhambra shopping centre, Barnsley, in 1999 | Sheffield Newspapers Ltd Photo: Roger Nadal