Funny story...when I worked at the Kmart headquarters back in 1995-97, I worked with a lady who was from Chicago and she had issues with Metro Detroit. She told me the only thing you can do here is "go shopping." I laughed at her about that statement but if you think about it she had a point. Going back to the 1990's here are the malls that were within the vicinity of Detroit.

Northland
Eastland
Westland
Southland
Fairlane
Wonderland
Livonia Mall
Tel-Twelve Mall
Oakland Mall
Twelve Oaks Mall
Macomb Mall
Universal Mall
Somerset Mall and Somerset North
Great Lakes Crossing

Oh, can't forget the vast number of strip malls through the region.

And now, malls are dropping like files. I hated saying good-bye to Tel-12, Wonderland and Livonia Mall but these malls were dated and they couldn't compete. Malls like Northland, Eastland and Oakland Mall are holding on to dear life because they too are dated and on the cusp of extinction. The only kind of mall that can survive is a mega-mall or outlet mall. The Fairlanes and Twelve Oaks have a short life-span because shoppers like me will go to Target or Meijer or China-Mart to buy cheap Chinese-made goods at a cheap price or go online.