CONCORD -- Concord Mills is working to reinvent itself while malls everywhere struggle in the face of rising online competition.

The mall, which opened in 1999, is going through a "face lift".

The exterior of the mall is getting new signs, LED lights, and refreshed landscaping.

This comes shortly after the inside of the mall was renovated.

The changes are part of a bigger plan at Concord Mills as shopping malls across the country face an uncertain future.

A recent report predicts 25 percent of malls in the U.S. will close in just the next five years.

Cindy Fox, a lecturer at the Belk College of Business at UNC Charlotte, says as more people shop online and go to discount stores, malls must rethink how they draw in shoppers.

"They spend a lot of time on their phone, but when they're not on their phone they want an experience. They don't want to just pick up something and have it take time. It needs to be something that engages their senses," says Fox.

Concord Mills General Manager Ray Soporowski says this is why the mall has a movie theater and places like Dave and Buster's. The mall also has an aquarium and recently added valet parking.

The exterior renovations at Concord Mills are expected to be done this August.