Stacy Conradt
The Quick 10: 10 Facts about the Mall of America
by Stacy Conradt - November 30, 2009 - 4:37 PM

q10

Thanksgiving is over, and the other holidays aren’t quite here yet, so that can only mean one thing: it’s shopping season. At least, it is for me. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and all of the sales and “deals” that will take us through December 26th or so – it’s awfully tempting for someone who likes to shop a little too much.
A couple of my friends and I are kicking off our holiday shopping with a trip to Minneapolis next week – which will, of course, include a stop at the Mall of America. In preparation for the trip, here are a few facts about the biggest mall in the United States.

mall1. First, a clarification. Whether it’s the biggest mall in the U.S. or not depends on what you’re measuring. If you’re measuring by the sheer amount of retail sales, MOA comes in second to the King of Prussia mall in Pennsylvania (where I used to work!). If you’re going by the size, MOA definitely wins with its 4.2 million square feet. Only 2.77 million of that is reserved for retail, though, whereas King of Prussia has 2.793 million square feet for retail.

2. The mall has its own zip code (55425, in case you’re dying to know).

3. With 4.2 million square feet to cover, more than 500 stores, a theme park, an aquarium, a movie theater, a wedding chapel and lots more, how many parking spaces do you think would be adequate? Well, the Mall has 20,000. But there are plenty of options if you find yourself at the mall with 20,000 other people and can’t seem to find a spot, including hotel shuttles, parking at IKEA (which will soon connect to the mall), plus bus and rail service that will both take you directly to the mall.

4. Before it was the Mall of America, it was the Metropolitan Stadium, where you’d likely find Vikings and Twins before you’d find bargain hunters. The Beatles also played there in 1965.

chair5. There are a couple of passing references to the old stadium, if you’ve got eagle eyes. Both are found in the Nickelodeon theme park area of the mall if you’re willing to brave throngs of kids to play I Spy. But if you aren’t willing (I probably won’t be), here they are. The first is a bronze plaque that marks where home plate once stood – it’s embedded in the floor in the northwest corner of Nickelodeon Universe. The second is probably quite perplexing if you’ve ever been on the Log Chute and noticed what appears to be a random chair affixed to the wall that has nothing to do with the ride. It shows the spot where the longest home run at the Old Met was hit by Minnesota Twin Harmon Killebrew, who blasted the ball 520 feet from home plate.

6. On any given day, the number of people who visit the mall would make the Mall of America Minnesota’s third-largest city (if that were possible).

7. The only common areas (the areas that aren’t actually inside of stores) that are heated at the Mall are the entryways. The rest of the mall uses skylights, lighting fixtures and just good old body heat from all of the employees and the customers. In fact, even in Minnesota’s sub-zero temps in the winter, an air conditioning system has to be used to keep the mall at a comfy shopping temperature.

8. If you want to get married at the Chapel of Love at the mall, you’re not alone: since they opened 15 years ago, the Chapel has wedded more than 5,500 couples. Services start at $249 for the couple and up to 12 guests and go to at least $4,300 for a catered affair (that’s $1800 for the wedding and a minimum of $2,500 in catering). That doesn’t include flowers or photography, by the way.

9. On average, each tourist spends about $162 during one trip to the mall. I intend to increase that average this weekend.

10. Although the Megamall might be the largest mall in the U.S., it’s not the largest mall in North America. That distinction belongs to West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada. The largest mall in the world is New South China Mall in Dongguan, China (nearly 6.5 million square feet). MOA doesn’t even make the top ten list when it comes to the biggest malls in the world. Oh, and just as a “by the way,” the same company owns the Mall of America and the West Ed Mall: Triple Five Group Ltd, a Canadian company.

Who has been to the Mall of America? Impressed? Unimpressed? Wouldn’t go there if your life depended on it? Share in the comments.

« Previous Post   -   Next Post »
Click here to get a Risk-Free issue of mental_floss magazine
Comments (52)

  1. KOP? Really? Wow.

    posted by EMStoveken on 11-30-2009 at 4:42 pm

  2. I haven’t been and I’m not really a shopper but I would like to go some day just to say I’ve been.

    posted by Sarah in CA on 11-30-2009 at 4:58 pm

  3. I live there, and I try to avoid it because basically I despise malls in general. Good meatballs at IKEA, though.

    posted by Christopher on 11-30-2009 at 4:59 pm

  4. As a Minnesotan, I am not so partial to the MOA. However, it is a nice place to get a lot of shopping done in one trip. A tip: get there when it opens to get a decent parking space (it’s too cold to walk from IKEA!) Also, try the Nicolet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. And welcome to Minnesota!!

    posted by Erin on 11-30-2009 at 5:01 pm

  5. I live in Minnesota so I am a little biased; I love MOA! It is the closest mall to where I live, so I go there all the time; although I avoid it like the plague between thanksgiving and Christmas (way too many people!). I agree with Erin- get there right when they open and a parking spot is no problem, you can even go before the shops open, the mall opens early for people to walk around and excercise.

    One question though- is home plate still in Nickelodeon universe? I know it was there when the theme park was Camp Snoopy- but they may have painted over it when Nickelodeon moved in. Also, I have never noticed the chair before- I will have to look for it next time I’m there!

    posted by Suz on 11-30-2009 at 5:16 pm

  6. I don’t think MOA has it’s own zip code as that zip code is also used for residential Bloomington near the mall.

    posted by Name on 11-30-2009 at 5:30 pm

  7. I used to live in an apartment complex that was just across the street (and behind some hotels) from the MOA. I never had to worry about parking at Christmastime; I could just walk over. Same thing for when I was flying somewhere – walk over to the mall, hop the light rail, and take it to the airport.

    I love the mall, and now that I’ve moved out of state, I always try and go back whenever we’re visiting family. It’s basically visiting my old neighborhood.

    posted by Chia on 11-30-2009 at 5:33 pm

  8. I live on the other side of the state from MOA, so I don’t get there very often. I quite like their Barnes & Noble, but other than that, I don’t think MOA’s such a big deal.

    I went to Philadelphia last summer with some friends and we went to the King of Prussia mall. One of my friends spent most of the time yelling, “Oh my GOD, this mall is so TINY. I can barely MOVE!” whenever we passed a security guard.

    posted by Colleen on 11-30-2009 at 5:48 pm

  9. I used to work for an airline and could fly standby. Once, for my sister’s birthday, I flew her and my niece (who had never been out of Texas) from D/FW to MSP, where we hopped a shuttle to the MOA. We shopped for the day, then flew back that night. Afterwards, my niece would proudly say she’d been to Ft. Worth, Dallas, Waco, and Minnesota! (reCAPTCHA: farms great. Wonder how many farms were lost for building the MOA…)

    posted by Karl on 11-30-2009 at 5:53 pm

  10. I went there once. I was checking out Carleton College. I realized that I certainly didn’t want to spend my college years there when I came to the realization that the trip out to the mall was the highlight of my visit. I do remember seeing a kid on the third floor spitting over the railing and hitting a bald man on the first floor. That’s my memory of the mall…boo.

    I ended up going to a university near the beach southern California.

    posted by Tomas on 11-30-2009 at 5:59 pm

  11. Home plate is still there, even after changing over to Nickelodeon.

    posted by K on 11-30-2009 at 6:02 pm

  12. i would double check the King Of Prussia reference since “technically” it is 2 seperate malls – THE COURT & THE PLAZA

    i assume MOA is all under 1 roof ?

    posted by Scott T. on 11-30-2009 at 6:04 pm

  13. I’ve only been once, during a five-hour layover in Minneapolis, but was impressed – if that’s the right word – to find multiples of the same store inside the mall! There were at least two Old Navys that I can recall.

    posted by Susan on 11-30-2009 at 6:20 pm

  14. I used to watch the Twins and Vikings at the Met, and was happy to see some references to the old stadium when I went back to visit the MOA. What I wasn’t happy about was the hyperventilation I experienced at being around so very, very many people…a feeling I’ve never experienced before, even in the largest crowds! My sister loves it, my daughter loved it, but I wouldn’t go back for all the money in the mall!

    posted by Dixon on 11-30-2009 at 6:46 pm

  15. Suz-

    Yep, home plate is still there. I looked for it the last time we visited.

    Every time I went there with my parents, we would go looking for home plate. I loved it, but no one around us ever seemed to notice it was even there!

    posted by Ruth on 11-30-2009 at 6:58 pm

  16. I live within a five minute drive of the sucker, and although I adore all the space to get my walking done indoors on those few frigid winter days, I avoid it for all of November, December and the first week of January. Then that baby is all mine!

    posted by MindaS on 11-30-2009 at 7:03 pm

  17. I was Minneapolis for work in September and was very unimpressed. The stores were all fairly run of the mill and there were a ton of repeats. If I wasn’t there looking for specific items I probably wouldn’t have spent any money at all.
    I was impressed by the Target in Minneapolis (they are headquartered there). The selection there was awesome and with no taxes on clothing items I was pumped.

    posted by Brit on 11-30-2009 at 7:08 pm

  18. I live in wisconsin and love visting the MOA. It is a great road trip, and the amount of stores, and other things to do there is just amazing. I want to go back again.

    posted by John on 11-30-2009 at 7:58 pm

  19. I live in the northern Twin Cities (about 40 min away from the mall) and I can tell you that almost everybody I know hate going there. The taxes are insane and it’s always full of tourists who tend to be rude (no offense- not all tourists are rude but the ones at the mall tend to be). My family from CA makes me take them there at least once a year and that’s the only time I ever go there.

    posted by Andrea on 11-30-2009 at 8:05 pm

  20. I was in St. Paul for a conference a couple of years back and I turned down the chance to go to the MOA for a walking tour of downtown Saint Paul,,,I enjoyed the walking tour,,,but now I wish I went to the mall as well,,,

    posted by Joe on 11-30-2009 at 8:18 pm

  21. Susan –
    There is only one Old Navy at the MOA. It’s two floors tall, so perhaps thats why you thought there were two. As for duplicates, all I can think of is that there are two Victoria Secrets, two Caribou Coffees and two Starbucks.

    posted by Liz on 11-30-2009 at 8:37 pm

  22. I worked at a store at MOA (mall of America) for 5 years and let me tell you they need better AC. I also now aviod the place because I spent so much time there. What you don’t see is the understory of the mall where all the real action is that is the best part. If you do go get the free coupon book at guest services and the nicest bathrooms are in Nordstroms. Happy shopping.

    posted by brit on 11-30-2009 at 9:19 pm

  23. Just dropped some money at L’Occitane this past weekend.

    posted by TJohn on 11-30-2009 at 9:31 pm

  24. I am from Edmonton. West Edmonton Mall is huge, but overpriced. Generally you can purchase the same goods for 5%+ less outside of the mall. It’s cool when you are a kid having a theme park and a water park to go to, but as you age the “thrill” of 30,000 people and a half mile hike between stores (price shop? hell no, Ill spend my $5 extra and save a mile) wears off.

    Good nightclubs and bars though.

    posted by Derek on 11-30-2009 at 9:57 pm

  25. My family and I took a trip to MOA when I was in 5th grade. 1993ish. I remember having fun riding the rides. Though, I got on the rollercoadster that goes around part of the mall and I pushed down on the lap bar on the opposite side of the car I was in by myself and it went down. Needless to say that was a scary ride. The mall part was cool from what I remember.

    posted by Nihil on 11-30-2009 at 10:20 pm

  26. I live in Minnesota and have been going to MOA forever. I’ve totally noticed that chair and wondered about it! Nice to finally get that cleared up…

    posted by Glenn on 11-30-2009 at 11:08 pm

  27. What?? I’ve been to both the King Prussia Mall and the MOA and the MOA is MANY times bigger! KPM can be walked from end to end in less than 10 minutes where MOA takes at least 30 minutes. Am I misreading something?

    posted by Whatthe on 11-30-2009 at 11:51 pm

  28. My friends went on their first date in Camp Snoopy (they were in high school at the time). Ten years later he proposed to her there even though it’s got a different name now. Pretty cute.

    I pretty much hate going there to shop though they’ve got a good DSW and a Lush store. It is close to my house though, and on the light rail line.

    posted by Julia on 11-30-2009 at 11:52 pm

  29. Used to go there a lot as a kid, as I’ve got a lot of family in the area, but now the thought of having to go there makes me hyperventilate.

    posted by Melanie on 12-1-2009 at 1:09 am

  30. I’m sure I wouldn’t go there all the tiem if I still lived in Minnesota, but as I’m now in the UK, it’s a treat for my boyfriend and I to go there and spend a day shopping, playing and eating. I’ll be there in two weeks!

    posted by Katie on 12-1-2009 at 7:55 am

  31. King of Prussia FTW

    posted by Mitch on 12-1-2009 at 8:16 am

  32. I worked at a company who had a store in the MOA. Also, the company, was headquartered in Minneapolis. I visited the HQ in 1994 and made the trek to the mall during my visit. I almost got kicked out of the mall because I (along with a co-worker) flipped the bird to the photo camera while riding the roller coaster. The place was amazing.

    posted by Ian from Baltimore on 12-1-2009 at 9:10 am

  33. Malls. *shudder*

    But…recaptcha getting wordy?

    es/Tom Buckley Banks and wieners

    Exactly.

    posted by Jen on 12-1-2009 at 9:45 am

  34. Lived in the Cities when I went to college (Macalester) and now live in Mankato, about an hour away. I’d much rather go to Ikea than the mall… I like the suggestion of Nicollet Mall, if you’re looking to do shopping. Plus Holidazzle’s starting!

    Josh

    posted by Josh on 12-1-2009 at 10:03 am

  35. HAHAHAH!!! We OWN your mall! BAM, baby.

    And ours is bigger.

    posted by Nicole on 12-1-2009 at 10:53 am

  36. @Liz: *Only* 2 Starbucks? That shocks me more than any other tidbit on this list…

    posted by ab on 12-1-2009 at 11:28 am

  37. Derek:

    I’m from Edmonton too! Don’t get me wrong – I love West Edmonton Mall! My first 3 jobs were at the mall and I love that you could find literally everything you needed there in one stop, plus see a movie, ride the rollercoaster, and play in the wavepool.

    I do think it’s sad that we get so many tourists from around the world visit Edmonton for the sole purpose of going shopping. No one cares to visit our river valley?! Edmonton has so, so much more to offer than just a mall. If anyone is planning a visit up north, definitely visit the mall but make sure to enjoy all the other sites and sounds of Edmonton too!! :)

    posted by LB on 12-1-2009 at 11:28 am

  38. I went to the mall one evening while in Minneapolis for a conference in September. Took the light rail in, which I think is the best choice.

    Loved the mall. Spent most of my time at the LEGO store and just walked around for the rest of it.

    I would like to go back again, but maybe AFTER the holidays.

    posted by Tracie on 12-1-2009 at 11:55 am

  39. I’ve been to the MOA and I’m said FAO Schwartz is gone. They used to have the cutest Barbie fountain with Barbie shoes floating in it.

    posted by Patty on 12-1-2009 at 12:13 pm

  40. By far it is the best smelling mall. Somehow it still has a new carpet smell in places.

    posted by Bo on 12-1-2009 at 12:28 pm

  41. For the none of you that were curious, a fairly conservative estimate of the earnings of the little wedding chapel would be around $500,000 per year. I think I’m in the wrong business….

    posted by Dan on 12-1-2009 at 12:58 pm

  42. I’m from the Philly area and have been to King of Prussia Mall. And I am surprised to read that they have more retail space then MOA. I have never been to MOA but imagine it to be this huge place!

    posted by Mavis on 12-1-2009 at 1:45 pm

  43. @ LB.
    Edmonton is lucky to have the mall. There is nothing else to do there! Ive been to the mall a few times and I’ve worked in Edmonton on projects for my company. Edmonton is not a fun place…and is super lame.

    I’m from Calgary. Haha

    posted by Ryan on 12-1-2009 at 2:59 pm

  44. I lived in Minnesota for two years and I loved the MOA. I had a year long pass for Camp Snoopy. I would go there all the time just to ride the rides! I have lived in Maryland for 4 years now and I still miss the Mall of America.

    posted by Carmen on 12-1-2009 at 4:13 pm

  45. lol Ryan,

    I was totally offended by your hatred of Edmonton! Then I saw you were from Calgary, and thus understood perfectly. Don’t even get me started on your craptacular city ;)

    The rivalry continues…

    posted by LB on 12-2-2009 at 1:34 pm

  46. LB
    The rivalry will never end! It is totally the best part about living in Alberta. You always have somewhere to extremely dislike!
    It works out great!

    posted by Ryan on 12-2-2009 at 2:36 pm

  47. “Wonder how many farms were lost for building the MOA…”

    I don’t think any farms were lost due to the Mall’s construction, because they’d already been torn down in the late 50′s/early 60′s to put up the Metropolitan stadium. But, the stadium for years was derided in the national press for having corn fields almost abutting it (at least in the 60s or thereabout), so there were farms close by. I think that by the time the Mall was put up the farms were all long gone though.

    posted by Michael on 12-4-2009 at 1:27 pm

  48. I used to live in Minnesota (went to Carleton College and stayed in the area for a few years after graduation). I lived there when MOA opened. One of the staples of any visit was the sight of an exhausted family collapsed on the floor in some lesser traveled corner of hallway. I don’t know what the total mileage walked is if you walk the entire retail loops on all the floors, but it surpasses the endurance of many a shopper.

    posted by Tom on 12-6-2009 at 4:42 pm

  49. Oh dear, the Edmonton/Calgary rivalry has made its way onto a MOA article eh? Jeez louise ;)

    I’m from Edmonton so go Oilers, Flames suck, blah blah blah..
    but Ryan is right- there isn’t much to do here other than the mall. (Not that Calgary is any better! haha)

    posted by Emily on 12-7-2009 at 12:46 am

  50. I live down the freeway from the MOA. We visit regularly to go to the aquarium (we have a membership) and to take my daughters to the American Girl store but you won’t catch me any closer than the freeway that passes it until after Christmas. I worked there one Christmas years ago. It was hell.

    posted by eric! on 12-8-2009 at 6:05 pm

  51. This mall rocks! At any given day you see license plates from all around the country in the parking ramps. Tour groups come from 32 countries just to shop there on weekends. Best of all . . .no tax on clothing! This is the ultimate one stop shopping. It is, by far, the best mall in America!

    posted by traveler on 2-13-2010 at 9:26 am

  52. To answer the question from someone above about “losing farms to put this mall up”—the Met Stadium was there. There weren’t farms there since the early 50′s. This is in the third largest city in the state–it isn’t in a rural area.

    posted by traveler on 2-13-2010 at 9:28 am

Comment

commenting policy