Community shopping centers are defined by the ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) as shopping centers with a gross leasable area of 125,000 to 400,000 square feet (11,600 to 37,200 m 2) (U.S.) 100,000 to 400,000 square feet (9,300 to 37,200 m 2) (Canada) with general merchandise or convenience- oriented offerings.

Community Shopping Center means a shopping center which typically ranges from approximately 100,000 to 300,000 square feet of gross leasable area and is generally built around a junior department store or variety store and supermarket as the major tenants.

A community shopping center is typically an intermediate group or cluster of stores (also called a plaza). It is generally a much larger and better-designed project than a neighborhood center. It usually supports at least one major anchor.

Community centers: Slightly larger centers 125,000 to 400,000 square feet (11,600 to 37,200 m 2) with general merchandise or convenience- oriented offerings are termed as community centers or large neighborhood centers by the ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers), who state that they typically have a "wider range of apparel and other soft goods offerings than neighborhood centers.