Despite being in declining retail districts, these malls are defying the odds

Inland Center Mall in San Bernardino, CA

Here's a list I created of malls that are still thriving or at least hanging on in areas that have been declining and falling apart as a whole. I created this list after researching and visiting the Inland Center Mall in San Bernardino, which is in a rough area, but the mall is still surprisingly popular. I thought it would be good to create a list of where all these malls are at. 

These are the malls that are more than 85% full and are filled with name brand chain stores and are usually busy. They are usually larger malls with more than 70 stores. But they are in an area that the surrounding retail plazas are either in decline (many of the stores have moved out and been replaced by either discount bazaars, thrift stores, or unusual uses that don't really complement a retail center) , or there are not many retail plazas surrounding the mall to begin with. Or it is in an area with more industrial parks than retailers.

California:

Valley Plaza, Bakersfield, California (not much retail around it to begin with. But it is a mixed bag between name brand chain stores and restaurants versus buildings filled with low-end discount stores. Its district is more removed from the beaten path of retail more than it is declining)

Eastridge Mall, San Jose, California (not much retail around it to begin with)

Fashion Fair, Fresno, California (not much retail around it to begin with. But it is a mixed bag between name brand chain stores and restaurants versus buildings filled with low-end discount stores. Its district is more removed from the beaten path of retail more than it is declining)

Inland Center, San Bernardino, California

Colorado:

FlatIron Crossing, Broomfield, Colorado (not much retail around it to begin with. But what complexes there are comprise a mixed bag, with completely empty buildings comprising some of them while there are upscale hotels and restaurants surrounding the property.)

Florida:

The Florida Mall, Orlando, Florida

Georgia:

Mall at Stonecrest, Lithonia, Georgia

Southlake Mall, Morrow, Georgia

Indiana:

Castleton Square, Indianapolis, Indiana (mixed bag. There is a mix between thriving retail complexes with name brand stores and campuses that have been filled by self-storage places and international markets. May be overbuilt, but in general, the area seems to be thriving.)

Nevada:

Meadows Mall, Las Vegas, Nevada

New York:

Destiny USA, Syracuse, New York (no retail around the mall. It is part of a redevelopment of a blighted area of Downtown Syracuse)

Walden Galleria, Buffalo, New York (the buildings around the area are filled with name brand stores, but there aren't nearly the amount of retail establishments around the mall as Boulevard Mall and Eastern Hills Mall have)

Utah:

Valley Fair Mall, West Valley City, Utah (not much retail around it to begin with, but the retail and restaurants scene around it seems to be healthy, with quality options around the property).

There are probably some more, but here is what I could come up with.