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Mall of America

Mall logo at entrance
Location	Bloomington, Minnesota, United States
Coordinates	44°51′15″N 93°14′32″W / 44.85417°N 93.24222°W / 44.85417; -93.24222Coordinates: 44°51′15″N 93°14′32″W / 44.85417°N 93.24222°W / 44.85417; -93.24222
Opening date	August 11, 1992
Developer	Melvin Simon & Associates & Triple Five Group
Management	Triple Five Group
Architect	HGA, KKE Architects, Inc., Jerde Partnership[1]
No. of stores and services	520+
No. of anchor tenants	4
Total retail floor area	2.5 million sq ft + 5.4 mn expansion (8 mn sq.ft). (230,000 m²)
Parking	20,000 spaces, including two 7-story ramps and overflow surface lots.
No. of floors	4
Website	http://www.mallofamerica.com

Mall of America (also MOA, MoA or the Megamall) is a super-regional shopping mall located in the Twin Cities suburb of Bloomington, Minnesota, USA. The mall is located southeast of the junction of Interstate 494 and Minnesota State Highway 77, north of the Minnesota River and is across the interstate from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. In the United States, it is the second largest enclosed mall in terms of retail space but is largest in terms of total enclosed floor area.^[2][3] Opened in 1992, the mall received 40 million visitors in 2006.^[4] Triple Five Group, owned by Iranian Ghermezian family, fully owns and manages the property.

Design

Mall of America (founded by John Scott & Wesley Webb) has a gross area of 4.2 million sq ft(390,000 m²), with 2.5 million sq ft. (230,000 m²) available as retail space.^[5] The mall is a nearly symmetrical building, with a roughly rectangular floor plan. Over 520 stores are arranged along three levels of pedestrian walkways on the sides of the rectangle, with a fourth level on the East side. Also on the East side there is an 'S' level, which is the service level, which is the basement. You can access it in the East parking garage elevator and the big elevator right next to the entrance. Down there is a freight elevator. An addition planned north of the mall will allow for up to 900 stores. Four "anchor" department stores are located at the corners. The Mall is organized into four different zones, each with its own decorative style.

Despite Minnesota's frequent sub-zero temperatures in the winter, only the mall's entrances are heated. Heat is allowed in through skylights above Nickelodeon Universe. Heat is produced by lighting fixtures, other electric devices and also by employees and guests of the mall in sufficient amounts to keep it comfortable.^[6] In fact, even during the winter, air conditioning systems need to be run nonstop during peak hours to ensure a comfortable shopping environment.^{[citation needed]}

Although the common areas are unheated, the individual stores do have heating systems. [2]

Two nearly identical seven story parking ramps on east and west sides provide 12,550 parking spaces. Parking lots on the north and south of the building, along with nearby overflow parking, bring the total number of spaces up to approximately 20,000.

History

One escalator well

The concept was designed and built by Triple Five Group, owned by the Ghermezian brothers of Canada, who also own the second biggest shopping mall in North America, the West Edmonton Mall. Mall of America is located on the former site of Metropolitan Stadium, where the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins played until the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome opened. The teams left Met Stadium in 1982. A plaque in the amusement park commemorates the former location of home plate. One seat from Met Stadium was placed in Mall of America at the exact location (including elevation) it occupied in the stadium, to commemorate a 520 foot home run hit by hall-of-famer Harmon Killebrew on June 3, 1967.

In 1986, The Bloomington Port Authority signed an agreement with the Ghermezian Organization. Groundbreaking for the mall took place on June 14, 1989. Organizations involved include Melvin Simon and Associates, Teachers Insurance and Annuity (a.k.a. TIAA), the Triple Five Group, and the office of architect Jon Jerde.

The mall opened its doors to the public August 11, 1992. Even before opening, Mall of America had earned several nicknames, including "The Megamall" (or "The Megamess" during construction), "Sprawl of America", "Hugedale" (in reference to the four major "Dale" shopping malls within the Twin Cities, Rosedale, Southdale, Ridgedale and Brookdale) and, simply, "The Mall".

It became the second largest shopping mall in total area and largest in total store vendors in the United States when it opened, however, the mall has never been the largest in the world (at the time it opened, it was #2 globally to the West Edmonton Mall).^{[citation needed]} Mall of America is the most visited shopping mall in the world with more than 40 million visitors annually (or roughly eight times the population of the state of Minnesota). The mall employs over 12,000 workers.

From September 4, 1995, The Mall became a venue for live television for the first time. Time-Warner owned professional wrestling company World Championship Wrestling set up in the building for the Inaugural edition of WCW Monday Nitro. This debut broadcast on Turner Network Television, along with later editions broadcast from the Mall, would go on to compete with The World Wrestling Federation.

During its run as an all encompassing entertainment and retail venue, certain aspects-most notably bars-have come under scrutiny. A Mardi Gras themed bar, Fat Tuesdays, shut its doors in early 2000 due to indecent exposure and alcohol related offenses, for ignoring warnings from the mall and Bloomington police to not repeat incidents caught on tape the year before^[7]. Following that verdict were other problems, such as foot traffic within the Mall after the bars (all located on the fourth floor) had closed for the evening. The Mall storefronts were closed, however. The Hooters restaurant, the Cantina #1 restaurant and the Theatres at Mall of America movie theater are the only establishments remaining on the fourth floor.

In 2003, after a protracted six year legal battle between Simon Property Group, the managing general partner of the property, and the Ghermezian brothers/Triple Five Group, over majority ownership of the site, a federal appeals judge ruled in favor of the Ghermezians, effectively transferring control and planning authority of the mall back to its original conceptualizer.^[8] The dispute stemmed from a 1999 purchase of Teacher's Insurance's 27.5% equity stake by Simon Properties, giving them majority ownership. The Ghermezians claimed they were never told of the deal and sued Simon, citing fiduciary responsibility.

On November 3, 2006, the Ghermezians gained full control of Mall of America, spending US$1 billion to do so.^[9] The ruling cleared the way for Triple Five to begin work on what is being called "Phase II".

There have been occasional suicides at the Mall. One occurred on January 6, 2008 when a man jumped to his death off of the east side parking ramp on the 6th floor.^[10] There were also two suicides in a week, one on the East parking ramp on March 2nd, 2010, and then one on the West parking ramp on March 8th, 2010. ^{[11] [12]}

Phase II expansion

Mall of America Phase II concept

Phase II is the planned expansion for MOA, developing a large, empty parcel of land north of the mall which was the former home of the Met Center indoor arena and integrating an IKEA store built on a portion of the property in 2004. Phase II, in current form, includes a dinner theatre, ice rink, three hotels, and a waterpark; similar in design to the West Edmonton Mall. The expansion will not make MOA exceed the size of the WEM (itself going under expansion).

MOA currently estimates costs of $1.9 billion for the expansion, doubling the mall's size with a 5.2 million-square-foot extension.^[13] The mall's developers have asked for $234 million in state and local subsidies, but the request was vetoed as part of a larger bill by Gov. Tim Pawlenty on its first appearance in the 2006-07 session.^[13] Questions have arisen among Bloomington city officials as to the fiscal ability of the Ghermezians to finish Phase II. [3]

In the meantime, MOA has signed contracts to bring in Great Wolf Resorts as the waterpark operator, as well as Bass Pro Shops and a Kimpton Hotel.^[13] The expansion section will connect to the mall on all four levels, and an adjacent IKEA store via a second level bridge. There will be an NHL-sized ice rink for public & private skating. There will also be an additional parking ramp, adding 8,000 parking spaces.

There will also be fine art exhibits planned in the expansion^[14], and two upscale department stores.^[15] Another plan that was in the works would have been fashions, architecture, and restaurants based after Europe.^[16]

On May 18, 2008, the Minnesota State Legislature passed a bill granting the city of Bloomington the right to raise property and sales taxes to pay for the MOA expansion.

Nickelodeon Universe

Nickelodeon Universe indoor theme park

Nickelodeon Universe is an indoor theme park in the center of the mall, formerly known as Knott's Camp Snoopy, Camp Snoopy, and The Park at MOA. The park features roller coasters, among numerous other rides and attractions, and is the largest indoor theme park in the United States. Unlike many indoor amusement parks, Nickelodeon Universe has a great deal of natural foliage in and about the park, and its floor has a wide variance in height - the highest ground level in the park is 15 feet above the lowest. This allows for a far more naturalistic experience than would normally occur in an indoor amusement park.

The park features two new roller coasters; SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge and Avatar Airbender. It also has a golfing section called Moose Mountain. With 18 holes, designed to create a challenge for players hoping to seek a hole in one.

Underwater Adventures Aquarium

Guests travel through a 300 foot long curved tunnel through 14 feet of water to view over 4,500 sea creatures including sharks, turtles, stingrays, and many more.^[17] Underwater Adventures offers special events such as sleepovers, scuba diving, snorkeling, and birthday parties.^{[18][19][20][21]} Children ages 2 and younger receive free admission, while admission for ages 3–12 is $12.49, and Adult admission for ages 13 & older is $18.99.^[22]

Other notable attractions

• A.C.E.S. flight simulations
• 14-screen movie theater (formerly operated by General Cinema and AMC Theaters, now operated by MOA itself as the "Theatres at Mall of America"^[23])
• Lego Imagination Center
• Bodies... The Exhibition

Nostalgic artifacts or memorials

• The exact seat to which Harmon Killebrew hit his longest home run at Metropolitan Stadium^[24]
• The home plate plaque in Nickelodeon Universe denoting the exact spot of home plate at Metropolitan Stadium
  

  

  The home plate plaque in Nickelodeon Universe
  ^[24]
• United Airlines Flight 93 memorial, for those who died aboard during the September 11, 2001 attacks -- the bust of Tom Burnett is on the west side of the first floor, next to the fountain in front of Nordstrom.^[25]

Twin Cities public events:

• Race for the Cure, held at Mall of America on Mother's Day.

Anchors

• Bloomingdale's
• Macy's
• Nordstrom
• Sears

Junior anchors

• Barnes & Noble
• Best Buy
• DSW Shoe Warehouse
• Marshall's
• Old Navy

Measurements

• Bloomingdale's (210,000 sq. ft. / 19,506.6 m²)
• Nickelodeon Universe (292,000 sq. ft. / 27,127.7 m²)
• Macy's (280,000 sq. ft. / 26,012.9 m²)
• Nordstrom (220,000 sq. ft. / 20,438.7 m²)
• Sears (177,904 sq. ft. / 16,527.8 m²)
• Underwater Adventures Aquarium (43,886 sq. ft. / 4,077.1 m²)
• Abercrombie & Fitch Flagship (25,908.7m)

Transit

Mall of America
Satellite view
Station statistics
Lines	Hiawatha Line (55)      Cedar Avenue Bus Rapid Transitway
Connections	Metro Transit routes 5, 54, 415, 515, 540, and 542 MVTA routes 440, 441, 442, 444, 445, and 477
Platforms	Island platform
Other information
Opened	December 4, 2004 (Light-Rail) September 2010 (Bus Rapid Transit)
Accessible
Owned by	Metro Transit
Services
Preceding station   Metro Transit   Following station 28th Avenue toward Target Field Hiawatha Line Route 55 Terminus Preceding station   Minnesota Valley Transit Authority   Following station Terminus Cedar Avenue Bus Rapid Transitway Cedar Grove toward 181st Street

The mall is used as a major transportation hub in the region, with bus and light rail service linking the mall to other destinations. Regular public transit service is provided by Metro Transit and other area bus lines, and nearby Mystic Lake Casino offers free shuttles to their establishment. The primary bus/rail station for scheduled local service is in the lower level of the eastern parking ramp. There, the Hiawatha Line light rail line connects the mall to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and from there to downtown Minneapolis (another major shopping destination in the region, particularly during weekdays). The mall is being discouraged as a park and ride facility, and overnight parking is banned to prevent passengers taking the train to the airport. Commuters are encouraged to use the nearby 28th Avenue Station's parking lot. The mall is the first stop on the Cedar Avenue Bus Rapid Transitway and the nineteenth, final stop on the Hiawatha Line.

Amusement park and other Mall features

Amusement park when it was "Camp Snoopy"	Met Stadium home plate marker	The Harmon Killebrew chair	A closer look at the Harmon Killebrew chair
Amusement park when it was "Camp Snoopy"	Carousel	Band organ formerly at carousel entrance	Bubba Gump restaurant
Amusement park when it was "Camp Snoopy" - note "Kite-Eating Tree" ride	Three-story flag on July 4th, 2008	Lego "Imagination Center", long-standing Mall feature	Mural imitating Seurat formerly near food court
"Kite-Eating Tree" restyled as "Swing-Along"	Some unique sports-themed stores	MPR store emphasizing A Prairie Home Companion	Farm toy store

See also

• List of the world's largest shopping malls
• List of largest shopping malls in the United States

References

External links

• Mall of America
• Underwater Adventures Aquarium
• Labelscar summary
• Metro Transit: Mall of America Station
• City Pages staff writer Matt Snyders spends one week in the Mall of America

From Wikitravel

Bloomington, Minnesota is a suburb of Minneapolis. It is home to both the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (code: MSP) and to the Mall of America, the United States' largest shopping mall.

Bloomington skyline

Get in

From MSP, simply take the Hiawatha Light Rail Line to the Mall of America.

• Hyland Ski & Snowboard Area, 8800 Chalet Road, ☎ +1 763 694-7800 (hylandski@threeriversparkdistrict.org, fax: +1 952 835-1180), [1]. With 175 feet of vertical, it may be the shortest ski resort you ever experience.  edit
• Water Park of America, 1700 E American Blvd., ☎ +1 877 75-SLIDE, [2]. "America's biggest indoor water park"  edit

Food court? Check. Legos? Check. Gap? Check. Roller Coaster? Check.

• Mall of America, at the junction of Interstate 494 and Minnesota State Highway 77 (Cedar Avenue), ☎ +1 952 883-8800, [3]. Largest indoor shopping complex in the United States. A dizzying shopping experience. It has hundreds of stores, a LEGO play area, an indoor theme park, and a large aquarium. There is an IKEA next door. You can get there by Light Rail or bus.  edit
• Underwater Adventures Aquarium, 120 East Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425 (At Mall of America), ☎ 952-883-0202, [4]. Visit the world's Largest Underground Aquarium and see over 5,000 marine creatures! From 360 pound sea turtles to young sea horses, you will find everything you were hoping to see in the underwater adventure. Scuba Certified, try scuba diving with 9 foot sharks! Looking to under the sea, try our overnight program. There is something for all ages at Underwater Adventures Aquarium!  edit

• Chez Daniel, 2800 American Blvd W (inside the Embassy Suites), ☎ +1 952 888-4447. Pricey but authentic French cuisine. Better than you'd expect from a hotel restaurant. $20-$30.  edit
• Gyropolis, 90th & Penn, ☎ +1 952 646-2091 (fax: +1 952 646-2092), [5]. M-F 11AM-8PM, Sa 11AM-3PM.  edit
• Joe Senser's, 4217 W. 80th St., ☎ +1 952 835-1191, [6]. M-Sa 11AM-1AM, Su 10AM-12AM. A bunch of big screen TVs makes this a good place for visiting sports fans to catch their hometown team's game or "the big game". Decent "bar food," trivia and video games round out the experience. $7-$15.  edit

• Try the new Water Park of America looked adjacent to the Mall of America. Hotel features indoor water slides soaring 90 feet above the Twin Cities' skyline.

• Cambria Suites Hotel Bloomington, 2870 Metro Drive, ☎ +1 952 854-0300 (fax: +1 952 854-0306), [7]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: noon.  edit

• Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Bloomington West, 5120 American Boulevard West, ☎ +1 952 831-9595 (fax: +1 952 835-5909), [8]. Charming country style décor.   edit

• Crowne Plaza Minneapolis Bloomington, 5401 Green Valley Dr., ☎ +1 952 831-8000 (sales@cpmsp.com, fax: +1 952 831-8426), [9]. Hotel near the Twin Cities.  edit

• Embassy Suites Hotel Bloomington, 2800 American Boulevard West, ☎ +1 952 884-4811 (fax: +1 952-884-8137), [10]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: noon.  edit

• Embassy Suites Hotel Minneapolis-Airport, 7901 34th Avenue South, ☎ +1 952 854-1000 (fax: +1 952 854-6557), [11]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: noon.  edit

• Hampton Inn Airport, 4201 American Blvd. W., ☎ +1 952 835-6643 (mspba_hampton@hilton.com), [12]. checkin: 3pm; checkout: Noon. $79 - $129.  edit

• Hilton Garden Inn Bloomington, 5140 American Blvd. West, ☎ +1 952 831-1012 (fax: +1 952 831 0738), [13]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 11AM.  edit

• Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington, 3900 American Blvd West, ☎ +1 952 893-9500 (fax: +1 952 854-0306), [14]. Extensive nearby shopping and dining at the Mall of America or Southdale Center as well as quick, convenient access to the Twin Cities business community. Bloomington ChopHouse Restaurant and the Olive Lounge on premises.  edit

• Homewood Suites by Hilton® Minneapolis-Mall Of America, 2261 Killebrew Drive, ☎ +1 952 854-0900 (fax: +1 952 854-9571), [15]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: noon. Across the street from the Mall of America.   edit

• Le Bourget Aero Suites, 7770 Johnson Avenue South, ☎ +1 952 893-9999 (fax: +1 952 893-1316), [16]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: noon. $79 to $109.  edit

Minneapolis ← Richfield ←

N  S

→ Burnsville → merges onto → Des Moines