We live in a small rural town. The closest mall is 3.5 hours away, near where we go to the doctors. I avoided malls for years but now that I have a 15 month old, who has no children anywhere near her age in our town (her ‘best friend’ is the neighbor’s 8 year old who helps babysit), we go to the mall when we are in Sioux Falls just so she can play and have some interaction with other kids. My Father in law is elderly and recently had heart surgery so he is fine sitting there and watching her for a few hours while we did some Christmas shopping - but I probably did about 70% of mine online as well.
That is a good point about socialization for your little one. Also the exposure to (if they still do it) the decorations at Christmas time. I have fond memories of the malls back in the 70s and 80s all done up for the season. I was a kid then, and the mall was useful in learning independence as a young shopper. But my mom would probably be arrested for letting a twelve-year old wander the mall as I did back then!