Malls have a defined set of rules to attract customers.
Twists and turns create a deflected view, which always focuses shoppers' attention on storefronts. Security and bright lighting create a safe atmosphere. Location in heavy traffic zones, tightly trimmed shrubs in the parking lot, benches that face storefronts, and well-thought out color schemes add to a mall's effectiveness. Most downtown areas lack these features. Recently urban planners have tried to revive nineteenth-century town planning principles, including denser developements and gridded street systems.