Sure, it's convenient when the weather is bad. That still doesn't make malls a staple of social activity, which was the point I was arguing against.

In some parts of the US, the weather is bad for half of the year. In those places, malls are bustling with activity every weekend.

I think this is a regional thing; in warmer climates, outdoor shopping centers with community-centric areas have been all the rage for years.

In those places some malls are bustling with activity every weekend, others are shuttering. One of the most popular malls in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is in fact an outdoor "town center," a nomenclature I take issue with. https://www.bayshoretowncenter.com/