ABSTRACT
This chapter overviews the evolution of the shopping arcade, centre and mall – retail formats that consist of planned and regulated space designed to shape consumer behaviour. Shopping centres, malls and to some degree even earlier organised covered markets, such as galleries and arcades, have been key instruments of modern consumer society. As they spread across the globe, they adapted and evolved within varying political, social and geographic contexts. Their increased importance in economic and cultural life brought the attention of a wide range of scholars from diverse fields. While historical and contemporary interpretations have varied widely, all agree that market places have always been about more than economic transactions. Despite national or geographic differences, their shared form and function provide a starting point for discussions about the changing relationship between commercial enterprise and social practice over time.
