Today, the term mall is commonly used to describe large buildings housing various stores, but enclosed shopping malls have only been in existence since the 1950s. Originally, the word referred to a “shaded promenade” (similar to the National Mall in Washington). The definition evolved in the 1960s to reflect the idea that these promenades often featured stores along them, and indoor malls were essentially an indoor version of this concept. The term mall originates from a tree-lined street in London called Pall Mall (which also happens to be the namesake of a brand of cigarettes). Interestingly, this street was named after a croquet-like lawn game played there, and ultimately comes from the Italian words for “ball” (palla) and “mallet” (maglio). It’s fascinating how such a seemingly ordinary word has such a unique and complex history.
