All those retail "centres" need a re-think.
The experience alone is awful, to me anyway. To just visit one store can be frustrating, mostly the driving and parking and general chaos of wayfinding amidst other would-be shoppers, but also the complete banality (Ancaster is among the worst for this locally, IMO... east mountain is newer but will vie for the title within 10 years). Try to visit more than one outlet, and the frustration seems to increase exponentially.
A mall isn't much better, but it's still better than these, and I'd argue enclosed malls have more redevelopment potential as central "spines" connecting other residential, commercial and even institutional/cultural new builds on the surrounding seas of parking.
These places could all make much better use of the land, as mixed-use 'neighbourhoods' that still provide the retail offerings but also other amenities and places to live and work. I guess one saving grace is that the individual store buildings are cheap and easy to knock down.
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