Even that is a perversion- Victor Gruen is largely cited as one of the pioneers of the shopping mall. He was an Austrian immigrant to the US. He wanted to create a modern, climate-controlled version of the public spaces Europe had for centuries. They were designed to be public parks, housing, schools, etc, with shopping being just a portion of the space.
He famously denounced what the shopping mall became.
Hell, at least shopping malls were up-front about their literal storefronts.
Even that is a perversion- Victor Gruen is largely cited as one of the pioneers of the shopping mall. He was an Austrian immigrant to the US. He wanted to create a modern, climate-controlled version of the public spaces Europe had for centuries. They were designed to be public parks, housing, schools, etc, with shopping being just a portion of the space.
He famously denounced what the shopping mall became.