Strip malls, characterized as businesses consolidating various convenience services and operations in one location, are a new retail trend. At least that is what the census of Strip Malls, carried out by ABMalls (Brazilian Association of Strip Malls), indicates.
According to the survey, there are more than 1,505 identified strip malls, present in 14 states and 89 Brazilian municipalities. This data not only reflects the growth of local commerce, but also indicates that the movement is taking place in various locations across the country.
“When we started in the world of strip malls, more than 20 years ago, this business model was almost non-existent in Brazil, because it came from the United States,” explains Marcos Saad, founding partner of MEC Malls, which designs, manages and plans strip malls.
However, according to a study by the General Register of Employees and the Unemployed (Caged), between December 2020 and April 2024, national retail trade increased by 43.7%.
“With a mix of services from pharmacies to restaurants, salons to pet stores, shopping malls provide consumers with a one-stop-shop experience, allowing them to solve everything in one place. With busy lives and less and less time, this format becomes very attractive,” adds Mário Thurler, partner at MEC Malls.
In addition to recording the growing number of strip malls in Brazil, the census of strip malls also indicates that they are characterized by their small and large size (39% for each), of which 22% are medium-sized. The average surface area is more than 4,000 m².
“Combined with a greater diversity of services and greater digital integration, the convenience store format offers great opportunities for growth, beyond the 14 Brazilian states where it is currently present. This is what we observed in conversations with local businessmen and investors,” adds Marcos Saad, who also chairs the board of directors of ABMalls.
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