Retail

America's Largest Mall, With 500 Stores, Turns 25 Years Old

Douglas A. McIntyre

Published: April 21, 2017 6:30 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 12:48 pm

News and forecasts about the death of malls are premature, at least for the largest one in the United States. Mall of America, which houses 520 stores, turns 25 years old this weekend. It continues to flourish in way that has to be the envy of most of the rest of the industry.

The mall was created by accident, in some ways. Downtown Bloomington, Minnesota, lost its two largest corporate residents in 1982, football’s Minnesota Vikings and baseball’s Minnesota Twins. Over 78 acres became available for development. After debates about what should happen to the land, local officials decided to give it to financiers who wanted to build America’s largest home for retailers. It opened in 1992, two years before Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) was founded. Early tenants included Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M), the Sears division of Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD) and Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN). All three have been injured by the current downturn in traditional retail sales.

Mall of America has prepared a spectacular celebration for its 25th birthday. A huge light show will be accompanied by smoke and music. The party is fitting. Mall of America has largely dodged the secular collapse of one of America’s largest industries and employers.

Mall of America released 25 facts about itself as it prepares for the anniversary:

1.15 MILES:
Walking distance around one level of Mall of America

8 ACRES OF SKYLIGHTS:
What allows about 70% of the natural light to enter the Mall

4 OUT OF 10:
Visitors to Mall of America who are tourists

9:
Yankee Stadiums that can fit inside the Mall

27:
Rides and attractions in Nickelodeon Universe

43:
Boeing 747s that could fit inside the Mall

65:
How many semi-trucks were needed to transport trees to the theme park to create the outdoor feel of an indoor park

70 DEGREES:
Temperature inside Mall of America whether its spring, summer, winter or fall

100+ POUNDS:
Amount of food fed daily to animals at SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium — plus 90 extra pounds on the days the sharks are fed

347:
Statues of Liberty that could lie inside the Mall

400+:
Events held at Mall of America each year

520+:
Stores located in Mall of America

8,700+:
Weddings that have been performed at Mall of America

11,000:
Year-round employees at Mall of America (13,000 during peak periods)

12,750:
On-site parking spaces at Mall of America in two ramps

30,000+:
Live plants in Nickelodeon Universe — plus 400 live trees climbing as high as 35 feet tall

32,000+:
Tons of trash recycled each year

170,000+:
Legos that have been lost in the LEGO play area

1.3 MILLION-GALLONS:
Size of the aquarium at SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium

5.6 MILLION:
Square feet of gross building area

40 MILLION:
Visitors annually which is more than the combined populations of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa…and Canada

174+ MILLION:
Number of rides ridden in the park since opening

$650+ MILLION:
Cost to build Mall of America

NEARLY $2 BILLION:
How much Mall of America generates in economic activity annual for the state of Minnesota

0:
Sales tax on clothing in Minnesota

One of the notable things about the mall is the number of troubled retailers it houses. Long term, this may be bad for the mall’s finances. Macy’s, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF), GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME) and Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) have locations. However, Mall of America has buttressed its tenant list with scores of restaurants and with retailers like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) and T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS), which have very well-financed parents.

If the American mall is dying, the plague has not spread to Bloomington, Minnesota.