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?

25. Woolworths
On the lookout for sale bargains in the Frenchgate Centre Woolworths store in December 1998 are the Boulby and Ward families from Kirk Sandall. They are, back row, from left, Trevor Boulby, Craig Boulby, Carol Boulby, Yvonne Ward and Michael Ward; front row, and already looking a little shop-weary, Adam and Luke Boulby, aged seven and three. | Sheffield Newspapers Photo: Steve Taylor

26. Custard!
Charlotte Aust and Lynn Blore get covered in custard at Meadowhall as part of the Comic Relief fundraising in 1999 | Sheffield Newspapers Photo: Dean Atkins

27. Story time
Sheffield Wednesday star Andy Hinchcliffe reading to the Ferguson family, mum Frances, Thomas, 6, and Emily, 2, as part of the reading roadshow at Sheffield's Meadowhall shopping centre in 1999 | Sheffield Newspapers Photo: Andrew Partridge

28. Nice N Spicy
Spice Girls tribute band 'Nice N Spicy' performing at Crystal Peaks shopping centre in 1998 | Sheffield Newspapers Photo: Steve Ellis

