Central Mall

Night City's premier shopping and retail establishment, Central Mall was built in 2025 to commemorate the visit of the then President of the ISA. It is among the largest malls in Western America, with a capacity of 1,600 stores and a floor space of... too large to count. Stores with a presence in such a prestigious site as this include MilSpec Arms, TechShak and Corporate UTC. Circular in design, it has 6 levels with around 250 to 300 stores per level. A large underground car park with space for 3,000 vehicles at any one time sits underneath. Parking is automated once the vehicle enters the building, to find the closest available spot in the shortest possible time.

Construction of the Mall began in 2022 in cooperation with the city Council, and was completed by the 23rd of June, 2025. It's main contractors, J&D Construction Ltd. of Seattle, were docked a record $23m. fine for over-running their schedule by 34 days. This forced completion of the project to be hurried and an embarassing faux pas, where the President "opened" a building site, was only narrowly avoided thanks to the efforts of local citizens who assisted in the completion of the site under a massive employment scheme in association with local government. The Mall is owned by Turam Holdings & Insurance, originally registered in France but since their buyout in 2024, an American corporation and subsidiary of Arasaka. No figures are known but analysts place the value of the site at a minimum of $12b. and it's worth to the local economy at $1.3b. per annum. These figures do not take into account the impact of the Mall on previous retailers, who have seen their trade decimated by the new über-mall.

The Mall is serviced by its own detachment of security officers, who in effect have total jurisdiction. Security cameras cover all areas, including toilets, changing rooms and other "private" areas. Any crime is stamped out ruthlessly, and quickly. Whereas in other malls MallBrats are common, here there are few, and their presence is far less imposing. The pleasure of the customer is paramount here, and anyone who gets in the way of this is likely to suffer. A typical offender, found loitering beside the fountain, can expect a night in the Mall's detention centre and a stiff fine in their parent's mailbox next morning.

Marble (fake, though unknown to most admirers) lines most walls, except for the staff areas. On the ground floor, a hugely spectacular fountain is the dominant feature, and attracts many visitors by itself (who naturally visit the adjacent souvenir shops). Escalators spider between every floor, up to and including the sixth, top-floor restaurant, with its panoramic view of the CorpZone. It rotates in most directions - but never towards the slums. Three high-speed lifts, located equidistant along the circumference of the building's inner rim, service all floors. Each can carry 40 individuals and takes an average of 6 seconds to travel between each floor.

Central Mall is the centrepiece of the Corp control of Night City. Any competition has either disappeared, or taken lease of a unit here. Those who resist are the subject of nasty rumours, usually regarding hygiene, religious beliefs and the like. Most crumble under the pressure, either directly or as a result of the 24-hour advertising employed by the management. Where once local businesses thrived, there are now derelict shells awaiting eventual re-occupation. By comparison, Central Mall sits encompassed by genuine forestry, planted deliberately, surroundings the rest of the city cannot hope to match.

The Mall, and it's occupants, offer many services. Via the Mall's central computing facility located at the core of the building, underground, all goods can be ordered via the Net and delivered to your door, although a 5% surcharge is added to compensate for what you don't spend in the souvenir shops. Baby-sitting facilities are provided, where your children can sit happily watching Corporate promo vids while you spend your creds. You can even spend a while in Virtuality while you're there - for a price. The premium of renting space in such an establishment means most store-owners are forced to hike their prices up, although most customers accept this as part of the "service". In a choice between the muggings and loitering punks of the old, downtown malls, and the high service and safety of Central Mall, most are willing to pay the price any day.

YoGanger activity in the Mall is limited. Tight security, as mentioned, stamps out most attempts to gain a foothold even in the first floor. It is perhaps one of the only places in town not to be considered any particular Gang's territory; presuming you are indeed there to spend creds, it's open ground. The Corps like it that way, and most Gangers have to stick it. Besides, most of those who enjoy lurking in such places - the MallBrats, Lookers and GlitterKids, in particular - prefer the more comfortable atmosphere of the downtown malls. The security either doesn't exist or is on a shift with another mall nearby, and the shop-keepers virtually beg you to enter their stores. It sure as hell ain't as glamorous, but you feel safer there, away from the prying eyes of security cameras.

Central Mall has enjoyed a successful start in life. Since it's opening in 2025, it has gone from strength to strength. Average vacancies are as low as 2%, and for a mall of 1,600 stores, this is no mean achievement. In just two short years, the Mall has become the de facto shopping centre for most, if not all, of the CorpZoners. Don't mention that might be because it's just about the only shopping centre left, after their aggressive advertising campaigns and purchasing of pretty much all the competition. When people in Night City think of shopping, they think of Central Mall. The Revolution seems to have missed a little spot on the map.