London had so many malls in the 1980s & 90s it was truly ridiculous. Most have now closed, repurposed, or been renovated more into big box shopping areas. Westmount, once London's biggest mall is mere shadow of it's former self. The downtown Galleria which had become nearly vacant after Eaton's closed has been totally repurposed having movie theatres, Fanshawe and Western campus, the London Health Unit, smaller offices, foot court for the nearby office workers, and especially the Central Library.
Due to COVID, downtown parking is free in London but when COVID is gone, parking will again be paid and London's downtown can't compete with that. The City knows this which is why it has NOT been courting large retailers in to the city centre. It has purposed itself into a place where you can get what you can't get in the suburbs............great restaurants, unique shopping, entertainment, and a unique urban experience. By doing so, it has resulted in the malls and big box stores NOT being competition no matter how many are built. The mantra has not been "if you can't beat them, join them" but rather "if you can't beat them, don't bother trying".