The best mall in America isn’t found in Minnesota, according to USA TODAY’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice 2025. In a surprising upset, Florida’s Aventura Mall managed to take the crown.
Shopping malls certainly don’t have the same allure as they did in the ’80s and ’90s when they were widely considered America’s social hubs, but they are still around, and there are even signs that they’re making a comeback.
While some malls, like Pensacola’s Cordova Mall, have managed to successfully integrate themselves into communities as shopping staples, many more across the country started dying off around the 2008 recession.
Changing consumer preferences, the explosive popularity of online shopping and economic disruptions like the 2008 recession and COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdowns forced surviving malls to find ways to reinvent themselves.
After topping USA TODAY’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice 2025 list of best malls in the United States, Florida’s Aventura Mall has certainly proven that it has done just that.
Florida’s Aventura Mall was voted the No. 1 mall in America
USA TODAY 10BEST published its 2025 Readers’ Choice list of 10 best malls in the U.S. that elevate the shopping experience on June 11, pinning Aventura Mall in the No. 1 spot. The Florida mall beat out Mall of America, Galleria Dallas and The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards.
“As the largest mall in the state of Florida, Aventura Mall has more than 300 retail shops, experiences, and dining options, and boasts a museum-worthy art collection,” wrote the publication.
“Design features include an art installation and fountain titled “Gorillas in the Mist,” a koi pond, and a giant, chrome slide tower created by artist Carsten Höller. The Aventura Mall regularly hosts community events such as story time, weekly yoga, and a farmers market. The Brightline Train, which runs between Orlando and Miami, has added a stop at the Aventura Mall, so getting here is easier than ever.”
The list features 10 diverse malls that have long been favorite destinations for people looking to do more than shop. They represent an ideal place to hang out with friends or family, participate in special events and seasonal activities that bring local communities together and offer a wide option of entertainment options to enjoy.
Where is Aventura Mall located?
Aventura Mall is located at 19501 Biscayne Blvd. in Aventura, which isn’t a city that most people recognize when they think about the Sunshine State.
The city of 40,242 people, according to the 2020 U.S. Census, is part of Miami-Dade County. It’s located about 15 miles north of Miami and nearly as far south of Fort Lauderdale.
Why is Aventura Mall so popular?
With 300 retail shops, experiences and dining options, Aventura Mall is the largest in Florida and the fifth-largest in America.
The mall had relatively modest beginnings, opening in 1983 with a 1.2-million-square-foot footprint that featured a Lord & Taylor, JC Penney, Sears and Macy’s. It’s undergone several major renovations over the years that have added a multiplex cinema, parking garages and a couple of three-story wings. The complex now encompasses a whopping 2.8 million square feet.
It’s known for its wealth of luxury boutiques and luxe name brands – Hermès, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, SKIMS, Cartier, Fendi, Rivian, Givenchy, Tiffany & Co. and more – and its 24-screen AMC theater, more than 50 eateries and world-class restaurants, spacious play areas, and an arts program that adds over 20 art pieces throughout the mall to your shopping experience.
What are the Top 10 malls in the US?
“There are hundreds upon hundreds of indoor shopping malls throughout the U.S., but which among them is the very best?” Here’s what readers picked.
-
Aventura Mall, Aventura, Florida
-
Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota
-
Galleria Dallas, Dallas, Texas
-
The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards, New York City, New York
-
King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
-
Scottsdale Fashion Square, Scottsdale, Arizona
-
American Dream, East Rutherford, New Jersey
-
Grapevine Mills, Grapevine, Texas
-
Tysons Corner, Tysons, Virginia
-
Brookfield Place, New York City, New York
Who picked the winners?
USA TODAY 10BEST editors and a panel of experts nominated their top choices to create a list given to readers who voted to decide the winners. The nominations were chosen based on factors like store variety, the breadth of dining and entertainment options, ease of access, and events that set them apart from the rest.
What is the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers Choice Awards?
The USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards highlight the very best in travel, food + drink, and lifestyle. Every week, USA TODAY 10BEST invites a panel of industry experts to nominate their favorite points of interest and attractions across a wide range of categories. 10BEST editors then vet these nominations and select a final set of nominees to be presented to the voting public for a period of four weeks.
Contributors: C. A. Bridges – USA TODAY NETWORK Florida.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida’s Aventura Mall voted best mall in the US