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What is the Mall of America?
The Mall of America, often abbreviated MOA, is the world’s most popular shopping mall. Every year, approximately 40 million people visit this megamall located in Bloomington, Minnesota. It is North America’s largest existing mall in terms of enclosed floor area, and is second only to the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada, in terms of total retail space. In addition to the stores and dining areas usually found in a typical American mall, the MOA features numerous additional attractions, ranging from an aquarium to a miniature golf course. A plan to nearly double its total size was unveiled in 2005.
The Triple Five Group, owned by the Ghermezian family, developed the Mall of America. In fact, they were the same developers who created the West Edmonton Mall in Canada. In 1986, the Ghermezian brothers and the Bloomington Port Authority agreed to develop a 78-acre (315,654.8 m2) parcel of land that had been vacated by Met Stadium back in 1982, when the state’s professional baseball and football teams relocated to the Metrodome in Minneapolis.
The Mall of America officially opened 11 August 1992. Its four levels cover 4.2 million sq ft (390,192.8 m2), and are home to more than 520 stores and services. The mall’s four anchors stores include Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Sears. For visitors interested in more than just shopping and dining, there are several other family-friendly attractions. The mall houses the Nickelodeon Universe indoor theme park, the Underwater Adventures Aquarium, and the LEGO® Imagination Center. Additional entertainment options include a movie theater complex, a comedy club, and live music venues.
In addition to offering world-class shopping and entertainment, the mall has been the site of various other types of events. For example, several documentaries and television shows have been filmed there. Also, numerous charity fundraisers take place in and around the mall each year. The Mall of America is even a popular wedding destination. Wedding vows have been exchanged thousands of times in the mall’s Chapel of Love, and many couples have traveled to the mall for their honeymoons.
In 2004, an IKEA store opened across from the Mall of America. This was the first step in what has been called the Phase II expansion of the mall. The new facilities are to be located on adjacent property, and are likely to include hotels and a business complex, among many other attractions. Developers estimate the cost of the expansion to be around $2.1 billion US dollars (USD). It appears that there has been mostly positive public support for the project.
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![The Mall of America offers many clothing stores.]()
By: adisaThe Mall of America offers many clothing stores. -
![The Mall of America opened in 1992 and offers more than 500 stores and services.]()
By: Monkey BusinessThe Mall of America opened in 1992 and offers more than 500 stores and services. -
![Some couples choose to go to the Mall of America on their honeymoon or for a special trip.]()
By: .shockSome couples choose to go to the Mall of America on their honeymoon or for a special trip. -
![Approximately 40 million people visit the Mall of America every year.]()
By: Photocreo BednarekApproximately 40 million people visit the Mall of America every year. -
![The Mall of America has played host to many weddings over the years.]()
By: tomas del amoThe Mall of America has played host to many weddings over the years.
Discussion Comments
I am thinking about taking a vacation to Minnesota and I am wondering how long I should spend browsing through the Mall of America?
To me it seems like it would not be a normal afternoon in a mall and would probably turn into a weekend visit at the mall. With this in mind I am wondering exactly what the rates are for the hotel that is available in the mall and what kind of rating as far as hotels go it has?
I feel like this would give me the best option in visiting the hotel as all I have to do is exit the lobby and walk into the mall and simply decide what fun there is to be had.
@matthewc23 - Well even before the Mall of America was built there was a bit of history to the site. The Minnesota Twins played their games in the stadium that was located on the present site and there is even a red chair elevated twenty feet on the wall to show where a very long home run was hit by a famous player. This is located near the roller coaster.
I remember going to Twins games at this location as a kid and miss the old outdoor stadium, but I am glad to see that something productive replaced it on the site as it is a venue that not only provides one dimensional entertainment, but provides a lot of different types of entertainment that can appeal to a wide variety of people.
@cardsfan27 - Right you are. When I visited I could not believe that they not only had shopping to offer, but also had attractions such as roller coasters, a water park and even a hotel.
I was also surprised at all the entertainment that was available at the mall as the mall is known to put on concerts as well as comedy acts.
When I went it was to a wrestling event, which was the first wrestling show for WCW, which for a time was the main wrestling promotion in the country. I found it to be interesting that the first time they ever aired during prime time they decided to use the Mall of America as its location.
I will say though, from a fans perspective it was great, because one could watch wrestling as well as shop or eat in between the matches and it was quite an incredible atmosphere.
The Mall of America to me seems like a place that can house a lot of attractions and be its own whatever it wants to be in order to show people a good time.
I have been to the Mall of America and I have to say that it is as big as people describe and its size cannot be over emphasized.
When I went there I was amazed to see all that was to be done there besides shop. The selection of food that was available was amazing and there were plenty of attractions inside the mall, which could distract someone for hours.
I feel like this is more of an attraction than a mall and I am betting that there are a lot of people that take vacations just to visit this mall and to see what all it has to offer.
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