Food halls continue to grow in U.S. malls

There will be about 450 food halls open in malls across the country by the end of 2020, an increase from 120 in 2016, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

As more food halls proliferate, it will become even more critical that developers and venue operators continue to ratchet up the consumer experience. Food concepts dominate consumers’ interests. Approximately 61 percent of respondents who were part of the younger generation said food halls influence decision making to visiting a mall.

And JLL reported malls with food venues increases spending. Transactions increase up to 25 percent at centers with good food and beverage offerings, and shoppers who eat at the mall will spend up to 15 percent more on each trip.