High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The history of shopping malls in Michigan began in 1954. That year, the Hudson`s department store chain and architect Victor Gruen developed Northland Center in the Detroit suburb of Southfield. It was followed by three other directional malls in Detroit suburbs, also developed by Hudson`s and Gruen: Eastland Center in Harper Woods, Westland Center in Westland and Southland Center in Taylor. Beyond these, Michigan includes more than 50 other malls.