A shopping center houses shops and stores of different areas.
A shopping center is a construction that houses shops and commercial premises . Its objective is to bring together, in the same space, various proposals so that potential customers can make their purchases with greater comfort.
Center , from the Latin centrum , is a term that can refer, among other things, to the space where people gather for some purpose. Commercial , for its part, is an adjective that names what belongs to or relates to commerce or merchants.
Regarding etymology, we would have to highlight that commercial is a word that has its etymological origin in Latin. And we discover this when we see that it is composed of the following parts: the prefix con- , which can be translated as "completely" ; the noun merx , which is equivalent to "merchandise" ; and the suffix -al , which is synonymous with «relating to « .
The buyer, when visiting a shopping center, already knows that he will find various offers in the same building and that he has the possibility of satisfying his consumption needs without going elsewhere. That is why this type of center, which is also known as shopping center , shopping or mall , includes commercial premises, restaurants, movie theaters and other services .
Types of shopping centers
It is important to establish that there are different types of shopping centers. Specifically, among the most significant are the following:
- Community Center . The main feature of this modality is the fact that it is intended for daily use by clients. Hence, it is equipped with a supermarket so that they can find the essential products they require. As a general rule, they have a single floor and it is common for them to also incorporate cinemas.
- LifeStyle Center . Within the group of shopping centers currently existing around the world, this type has managed to become one of the largest and most spectacular. And it is that there are a multitude of services of all kinds. Thus, in addition to shops , they are made up of hotels and even large spaces to hold business meetings or events of a certain magnitude.
- Fashion Mall . As its name indicates, this type revolves around what would be the world of fashion. Hence, it is made up of a minimum of one hundred stores dedicated exclusively to clothing. It is also identified because it does not include a supermarket.
It is common for a shopping center to have restaurants and bars.
Comparison with a market
The concept of shopping center has similarities with the meaning of market . Shopping centers are usually larger and have one or two anchor stores (an establishment capable of attracting shoppers on its own), while markets can be located in open spaces (without a roof).
Beyond the commercial offer, shopping centers stand out for being a place of leisure and entertainment. It is common for people to take a visit to the shopping center as an outing or a walk , taking the opportunity to shop, have lunch or dinner, go to the movies, etc. Many shopping centers even have large play spaces for the whole family.