Malls have been around since the mid 1950's, with the first mall, the Southdale Center, opening in 1956 in Minnesota. The original idea was to have a community center that has shops, gyms, arcades, and food in all one area. The idea was well conceived for a time when people used to walk home from school and ride their bikes to the mall where any teenager could buy the latest cassette tape, or outfit that they saved up all their money for. However times have changed. No one buys cassette tapes anymore nor does anyone see that one outfit in a department store they want to buy.