Malls were designed to be an answer to capitalistic American sprawl by a socialist architect, Victor Gruen, (he hated outward facing storefronts destroying the beauty of America and) who had hoped to put a "center city" or "square" (the mall) surrounded by homes to create communities similar to the European style in cities rather than the isolated islands of capitalism that they became.
While the idea of the mall took off, surrounding neighborhoods within walking distance gave way to parking-lots.
In a sense, America corrupted a socialist's idea of modern capitalism, and distorted it into what it is today. Instead of being a social gathering point for American's living in their own little boxes, it became completely the opposite of what it was meant to be.
Another interesting fact? The Mall of America is owned by Canadians.
