Apache Plaza
Apache Plaza was an early enclosed shopping mall in St. Anthony, Minnesota, remembered for its distinctive concrete-shell roof and its role in the local retail community.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Apache Plaza was an enclosed shopping mall in St. Anthony, Minnesota, United States. It opened in 1961 and became one of the earliest enclosed malls in the country, following Southdale, the pioneering Minnesota shopping center in Edina. Designed by architect Willard Thorsen, Apache Plaza was conceived as a modern retail environment organized around a large central court. Its most distinctive architectural feature was a roof formed from ten hyperbolic-paraboloid concrete shells, shaped like inverted umbrellas. Mondrian-inspired clerestory windows around the court added color and natural light, giving the mall a visual identity that distinguished it from more conventional shopping centers. At its height, Apache Plaza contained more than 60 stores and functioned as a community destination rather than simply a collection of shops. Its facilities included a basement bowling alley and a recurring indoor antiques and collectibles show. During the early 1970s, the center remained commercially active even after the opening of Rosedale, a larger regional mall nearby. Over time, however, the movement of Apache's anchor stores to Rosedale weakened its competitive position. The mall later received a substantial renovation in the early 1980s, but its recovery was interrupted by a tornado on April 26, 1984. The storm damaged the south end of the complex, and a major snowfall three days later contributed to flooding when the snow rapidly melted. Apache was repaired and reopened on November 15, 1984. Some of its original architectural character was lost during the repairs, including the replacement of the colored clerestory glazing with colorless glass. Herberger's opened at Apache Plaza in 1987 and helped keep the property operating for many years. By the 1990s, tenants were leaving in increasing numbers as retail patterns changed and competition from larger shopping centers intensified. By 2000, the mall was nearly empty, although it remained open to mall-walkers. Its decline became part of local popular culture, including an alternative-weekly ranking that humorously identified the mostly vacant mall as a notably poor but memorable meeting place. Apache Plaza was scheduled for demolition in April 2004. Its final period included a public event known as the Bulldozer Bash, which was intended to mark both the mall's closing and the beginning of redevelopment plans. Many attendees used the event to recall the center's history and mourn the loss of a familiar community institution. The site was subsequently redeveloped as Silver Lake Village, a mixed-use development combining housing, shopping, dining, services, public space, and pedestrian-oriented features. Apache Plaza therefore survives primarily as an architectural and social memory, as well as an important example of the first generation of enclosed American malls.
History
Apache Plaza opened in 1961 in St. Anthony, Minnesota, as the second enclosed shopping center in the state after Southdale. Its arrival reflected the postwar transformation of American retail, in which climate-controlled indoor malls became important destinations for suburban shopping and community life. Architect Willard Thorsen gave the project an unusually expressive form. The central court was covered by ten hyperbolic-paraboloid concrete roof shells, while clerestory windows arranged around the court brought daylight into the interior. The design was considered technologically and architecturally advanced for its time. The mall's business model combined anchor stores, smaller specialty tenants, food services, and entertainment. At its peak, it had more than 60 stores. A basement bowling alley and a regular indoor antiques and collectibles show broadened its appeal beyond ordinary shopping. Apache remained successful into the early 1970s, even as the nearby Rosedale shopping center opened. Rosedale's larger scale ultimately affected Apache's long-term position, particularly as important anchor stores relocated there. Apache underwent a major renovation in the early 1980s. On April 26, 1984, a tornado struck the property and damaged its southern section. Three days later, heavy snowfall followed the storm. Because the snow occurred in spring, rapid melting caused flooding in portions of the already damaged mall. Repairs were completed and the center reopened on November 15, 1984. The work restored the property but diminished some of its original visual character: the multicolored clerestory windows around the central court were replaced with clear or colorless glass. Herberger's joined the mall in 1987 and became an important anchor during the later part of Apache's life. Nevertheless, the center entered a prolonged decline during the 1990s. Tenants departed as shoppers increasingly favored newer and larger regional centers, and the mall struggled to maintain a full retail mix. By 2000 it was nearly empty, though it continued to admit mall-walkers. Its deteriorating condition made it a subject of local nostalgia and humor, while former customers remembered it as a significant social and commercial gathering place. Demolition was planned for April 2004. The closing period included the Bulldozer Bash, an event intended to celebrate the transition to a new development. The gathering also served as an informal memorial, with many former patrons attending to share memories of Apache Plaza rather than simply welcome its replacement. The property was redeveloped as Silver Lake Village, a mixed-use project begun in 2004 with housing, stores, restaurants, services, and public amenities. The replacement development was designed around a more walkable community model, reflecting a later phase of suburban planning. Apache Plaza is consequently defunct as a shopping center, but it remains notable in Minnesota retail history and in discussions of early enclosed-mall architecture.
- 2004
Demolition and replacement redevelopment begin
[1]Apache Plaza is demolished and replaced by the Silver Lake Village mixed-use development.
- 2000
Apache Plaza is nearly vacant
[1]By 2000, most tenants have departed, although the property remains open for mall-walking.
- 1987
Herberger's becomes an anchor tenant
[1]Herberger's opens at Apache and helps keep the center operating during its later years.
- 1984
Tornado and flooding damage the mall
[1]A tornado strikes Apache Plaza on April 26, followed by snowfall and meltwater flooding that complicate repairs.
- 1984
Mall reopens after restoration
[1]Apache Plaza reopens on November 15 after storm-related repairs, with some changes to its original clerestory-window design.
- 1970
Competition from Rosedale increases
[1]Apache remains active in the early 1970s, but the larger nearby Rosedale center later draws anchor stores away and contributes to Apache's decline.
- 1961
Apache Plaza opens
[1]Apache Plaza opens in St. Anthony as Minnesota's second enclosed shopping mall after Southdale and becomes an early example of large-scale indoor retail architecture.
Products and positioning
A community-oriented enclosed shopping mall and early example of modern indoor retail architecture, positioned as a convenient local destination for shopping, dining, recreation, and social activity.
Shopping center · 1961
Enclosed retail mall
Apache Plaza's principal offering was an enclosed, climate-controlled shopping environment containing department stores, specialty retailers, food services, and community-oriented amenities. At its peak, the mall had more than 60 stores and was designed around a large central court with a distinctive concrete-shell roof.
Retail event
Indoor antiques and collectibles show
The mall hosted a recurring indoor show for antiques and collectibles. This event added a periodic destination function to Apache Plaza and helped connect the center with collectors and local community activities beyond everyday retail shopping.
Entertainment
Basement bowling alley
A bowling alley in the basement expanded Apache Plaza's role as an entertainment venue. Its presence illustrates the mall's broader mix of retail, recreation, and social uses during the era when enclosed shopping centers were developing as community destinations.
Brand decisions
2004
Replace the enclosed mall with a mixed-use developmentStrategyBackground
Apache Plaza had become largely vacant after years of tenant departures and competition from larger shopping centers.
Action taken
The mall was demolished and the site was redeveloped as Silver Lake Village, combining housing, retail, restaurants, services, and public amenities.
Aftermath
Apache Plaza ceased to exist as an operating mall, while the site continued as a mixed-use community under a new identity.
1984
Restore and reopen after tornado damageOtherBackground
A tornado and subsequent flooding damaged part of the mall during a period when the property was also undergoing or had recently undergone modernization.
Action taken
The damaged areas were repaired and Apache Plaza reopened on November 15, 1984.
Aftermath
The mall resumed operations, but restoration removed some of the original colored clerestory glazing and changed the appearance of the central court.
Recent events
- 2004
Apache Plaza closes and is demolished for redevelopment[1]
Other
The aging mall was scheduled for demolition in April 2004. A closing event called the Bulldozer Bash introduced plans for Silver Lake Village, the mixed-use project that replaced the mall.
- 1987
Herberger's opens at Apache Plaza[1]
Other
Herberger's became an anchor tenant at Apache Plaza and helped preserve the mall's operation during a period of increasing competition and tenant departures.
- 1984
Apache Plaza is damaged by a tornado[1]
Other
A tornado damaged the south end of Apache Plaza on April 26. A subsequent spring snowfall melted rapidly and caused flooding in areas already affected by the storm.
- 1984
Apache Plaza reopens after storm repairs[1]
Other
Following repairs to the tornado and flood damage, Apache Plaza reopened on November 15. The restoration altered part of the mall's original appearance by replacing colored clerestory glass with colorless glazing.
Sources2 sources
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