KEY POINTS
  • The biggest mall owner in the U.S., Simon Property Group, hints at opening more grocery stores in its malls. 
  • CEO David Simon said about working with more grocers: "Yes, I am hopeful that we can certainly do more business with that category." 
  • He also noted that retailers are recognizing the benefit of using their stores to help fulfill online orders. 
Shoppers walk through the King of Prussia mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

As consumer shopping habits change, America's shopping malls have anointed many saviors: food halls, movie theaters, gyms. Grocery stores could be next on the list. 

Simon Property Group, the largest mall owner in the U.S., hinted at the idea on an earnings call Monday evening. The comments came on the heels of a report that said Amazon was in talks with Simon to open warehouses at some of its shuttered Sears and J.C. Penney locations. CEO David Simon did not comment on the report Monday. Amazon also previously declined to comment.