A power center is an unenclosed shopping center with 250,000 to 600,000 square feet of leasable area with at least three anchors or “big box” retailers.

Power centers usually have more features and amenities than traditional strip centers. Power centers are often built to recreate the experience of a main street or town center. The open air provides a fresh new change from shopping malls but can often discourage shopping during inclement weather conditions. These centers are often only found in suburban areas because a large area of undeveloped land is necessary for a power center to be designed and implemented. Nevertheless, some power centers have been created in urban areas by redeveloping an area of retailers.

Power centers are also created when a mall decides to expand without expanding its original building. Open air shopping is then added in the parking lot of nearby land.