Mall of America
A large super-regional shopping and entertainment complex in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Last updated August 21, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Mall of America is a super-regional shopping mall and entertainment complex in Bloomington, Minnesota, within the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. It occupies the former site of Metropolitan Stadium, which was home to the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings before the teams moved to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The location is strategically close to Interstate 494, Minnesota State Highway 77, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, and the Minnesota River. The mall was developed by Canada's Triple Five Group, led by the Ghermezian family, in partnership with Melvin Simon & Associates and Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association. It opened to the public on August 11, 1992, with approximately 330 stores and about 10,000 employees. Its original anchor tenants were Nordstrom, Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Sears. The project combined conventional retail with a major indoor amusement park, restaurants, cinemas, attractions, and event spaces, creating a destination intended to draw both local shoppers and visitors from outside Minnesota. The complex has approximately 5.6 million square feet of gross leasable area, including roughly 2.869 million square feet of retail space, and has more than 520 stores arranged across three principal levels, with additional space on parts of a fourth level. Its central amusement area was initially known as Knott's Camp Snoopy and later became Nickelodeon Universe. Other major attractions have included an aquarium, an indoor miniature-golf experience, a large cinema operation, restaurants, and family-oriented entertainment. The property is organized into four broad interior zones, although renovations between 2010 and 2015 moved the design toward a more unified and upscale appearance. A distinctive engineering feature is the limited use of conventional heating in common areas. Skylights, lighting, electrical equipment, and visitor body heat contribute to indoor temperatures, while individual stores and selected below-ground or entrance areas use heating and ventilation systems as needed. The design was part of the original concept of an enclosed, climate-controlled destination suited to Minnesota's severe winters. Ownership became the subject of a major dispute in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Simon Property Group, the successor to Melvin Simon & Associates, acquired Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association's stake in January 1999 without the Ghermezian family's prior agreement. Triple Five sued, alleging that Simon had improperly taken advantage of a partnership opportunity. In 2003, a federal court ordered Simon to sell the disputed interest to Triple Five and removed Simon from its management role. Triple Five ultimately obtained full control in 2006. Mall of America has remained a major tourism and retail destination, although its tenant mix and entertainment offer have changed over time. Several early attractions and restaurants closed, while the property pursued renovations, new experiential uses, and an expansion program. The mall's economic and cultural role extends beyond retail: it is a venue for public events, seasonal programming, media appearances, tourism, and regional entertainment. Reference material reports annual visitation of approximately 32 million people as of September 2025, with most visitors originating from Minnesota and nearby Midwestern states.
History
The Mall of America project emerged from the redevelopment of the Metropolitan Stadium site in Bloomington. Metropolitan Stadium was demolished in January 1985 after the Twins and Vikings moved to the Metrodome. The Bloomington Port Authority then sought proposals for a large-scale redevelopment of the strategically located property. Triple Five Group, the Canadian real-estate company associated with the Ghermezian family, initially proposed an unusually ambitious mixed-use concept involving water attractions, a convention center, offices, a hotel, and a golf course. That concept was abandoned, but its central idea of combining retail and entertainment survived. In 1986, Triple Five was selected to develop a revised enclosed complex with more than 400 stores, restaurants, and an indoor amusement park. The Bloomington City Council approved the updated proposal in 1987. Triple Five then partnered with Melvin Simon & Associates and Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association. The Jerde Partnership, KKE Architects, and Hammel, Green and Abrahamson participated in the design. Groundbreaking took place on June 14, 1989, after substantial public infrastructure spending by the City of Bloomington. The completed property opened on August 11, 1992. Its initial program combined department stores and specialty retail with an indoor amusement park, dining, cinemas, and themed attractions. The amusement park, originally developed under the Camp Snoopy identity, became one of the property's defining features. The opening attracted a large crowd and challenged predictions that a huge enclosed retail complex would not succeed in Minnesota. The mall also incorporated reminders of the stadium that had occupied the site, including a marker associated with Metropolitan Stadium and a baseball-related historical commemoration. During the 1990s, Mall of America expanded its attraction mix. The cinema opened shortly after the mall itself. Planet Hollywood opened in 1993, and the first Rainforest Cafe location opened at the property in 1994. Underwater World opened in 1996, but financial difficulties led to bankruptcy proceedings in 1998 and a subsequent ownership change and rebranding. In 2001, the cinema operation changed from General Cinema to AMC after General Cinema was acquired. The property also hosted large entertainment venues and specialty concepts, some of which later closed as the fourth floor experienced declining occupancy. Ownership was contested after Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association sought a sale of part of its interest. Simon acquired TIAA's 27.5 percent stake in January 1999 without Triple Five's prior agreement. Triple Five filed suit in October of that year, alleging breach of fiduciary duty and improper concealment of a partnership opportunity. Following a lengthy legal proceeding, a federal judge ruled in 2003 that Simon had engaged in impermissible self-dealing. Simon was required to sell the disputed stake to Triple Five at a court-directed price and lost its management role. Triple Five later acquired Simon's remaining interest, achieving full control in November 2006. The property celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2002 and continued to attract tens of millions of visitors. At the same time, some nightlife and restaurant tenants generated regulatory and reputational difficulties. Fat Tuesday closed after a controversial Mardi Gras event in 2000 that prompted police and municipal concerns about alcohol-related disorder and indecent conduct. Gators Bar and Grill subsequently closed after additional safety concerns and litigation involving the venue. These episodes reflected the challenges of operating a large, mixed-use destination with nightlife, family entertainment, and high visitor volumes under one roof. From 2010 through 2015, Mall of America underwent significant renovations intended to modernize the property, make its previously differentiated zones feel more cohesive, and improve its premium retail and visitor environment. The mall continued to emphasize experiential uses rather than relying solely on conventional shopping. It remains controlled by Triple Five Group and functions as both a regional shopping center and a national tourism attraction. Reference material identifies it as the largest mall in the United States and the Western Hemisphere by commonly cited measures, with reported annual visitation of approximately 32 million as of September 2025.
- 2015
Renovation program reaches its later phase
[1]Renovations helped create a more unified and updated interior environment across the mall's zones.
- 2010
Major renovation period begins
[1]The mall began a multi-year modernization and expansion program.
- 2006
Triple Five gains full ownership
[1]Triple Five acquired Simon's remaining shares and assumed complete control of the property.
- 2003
Court orders transfer of disputed stake
[1]A federal ruling required Simon to sell its disputed interest to Triple Five and removed Simon from management.
- 1999
Simon acquires TIAA's interest
[1]Simon Property Group acquired TIAA's 27.5 percent stake, triggering litigation by Triple Five.
- 1996
Underwater World opens
[1]The mall added an aquarium attraction, later renamed Underwater Adventures Aquarium.
- 1993
Planet Hollywood opens
[1]The celebrity-themed restaurant launched at the mall and attracted a large opening crowd.
- 1992
Mall of America opens
[1]The mall opened on August 11 with about 330 stores, four department-store anchors, and an indoor amusement park.
- 1989
Construction begins
[1]Groundbreaking took place on June 14 for the approximately $650 million project.
- 1987
Updated project receives city approval
[1]The Bloomington City Council approved the revised mall and entertainment-complex plan.
Products and positioning
A destination-scale retail and entertainment complex that combines regional shopping, indoor attractions, dining, tourism, and family experiences.
Shopping mall retail · 1992
Retail stores
Mall of America provides a broad tenant mix covering fashion, footwear, accessories, beauty, electronics, home goods, specialty merchandise, and services. More than 520 stores are distributed across a large enclosed floor plan, supported historically by department-store anchors including Nordstrom, Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Sears. The mall's scale and tenant diversity make it a regional shopping destination as well as a tourist attraction.
Indoor theme park · 1992
Nickelodeon Universe
The central indoor amusement park is one of Mall of America's signature attractions. It originated under the Camp Snoopy identity and was later rebranded as Nickelodeon Universe. The attraction occupies a large skylit central area and provides rides, family entertainment, and themed experiences within the enclosed mall, helping distinguish the property from a conventional shopping center.
Aquarium attraction · 1996
SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium
The mall's aquarium attraction began as Underwater World in 1996. After financial problems and a change of ownership, it was rebranded as Underwater Adventures Aquarium in 2000. It is now associated with the SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium identity and forms part of the property's paid visitor-attraction portfolio.
Food and beverage · 1992
Dining and food experiences
Dining is integrated into the mall's destination strategy, ranging from a large food court to themed restaurants, casual dining, and specialty food operators. The property hosted early locations of concepts such as Rainforest Cafe and Planet Hollywood, while its food offer has evolved as individual tenants opened and closed.
Entertainment · 1992
Cinema and entertainment venues
A 14-screen cinema opened shortly after the mall's launch and later became an AMC operation. The fourth floor has also hosted large-format entertainment and nightlife venues. These uses have complemented the retail program and helped position the property as an all-weather leisure destination.
Controversies
2002
Gators safety incidents and employment litigation
Gators Bar and Grill closed after an incident in which patrons were hospitalized following voluntary consumption of GHB at the venue. The business was also associated with litigation involving alleged sexual harassment of a server and hostess by a coworker.
2000
Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras controversy
A Mardi Gras event at the Fat Tuesday venue generated reports of indecent conduct, excessive drinking, and disorder. Mall security and Bloomington authorities regarded the event as incompatible with the property’s environment, and the venue subsequently lost its liquor license and closed.
Brand decisions
2010
Modernize and expand the complexStrategyBackground
Parts of the property, particularly the fourth floor, had experienced tenant turnover, while the mall sought to maintain its appeal as retail competition changed.
Action taken
Mall of America began a multi-year renovation and expansion program focused on updated design, a more unified interior, and additional experiential capacity.
Aftermath
The work improved the property's contemporary positioning and reinforced its emphasis on entertainment, tourism, and premium visitor experiences.
2006
Consolidate full ownership under Triple FiveM&ABackground
After the ownership litigation and the 2003 transfer of Simon's disputed interest, Simon still held a remaining stake.
Action taken
Triple Five acquired Simon Property Group's remaining shares and took full control of Mall of America.
Aftermath
Triple Five became the sole controlling owner and continued to operate the mall as part of its portfolio of very large destination malls.
2003
Transfer disputed ownership interest to Triple FiveM&ABackground
Triple Five challenged Simon Property Group's acquisition of TIAA's stake, alleging that Simon concealed negotiations and usurped a partnership opportunity.
Action taken
A federal court ordered Simon to sell the disputed interest to Triple Five and removed Simon as property manager.
Aftermath
The decision paved the way for Triple Five to consolidate control and later acquire Simon's remaining interest.
Court-directed purchase price for disputed stake. $81.4 million (2003)
2000
Rebrand the aquarium attractionStrategyBackground
Underwater World experienced financial difficulties and entered bankruptcy proceedings in 1998.
Action taken
A new investor group acquired the attraction and relaunched it as Underwater Adventures Aquarium.
Aftermath
The aquarium continued as part of the mall's paid entertainment offering under a new operating identity.
1992
Open with a major indoor amusement parkOtherBackground
The developers sought to differentiate the project from traditional enclosed malls and overcome doubts about a very large complex in Minnesota.
Action taken
The mall opened with an indoor amusement park at its center alongside retail, dining, cinemas, and department-store anchors.
Aftermath
The opening drew a very large audience and established the attraction-led destination model that remains central to the property.
1986
Adopt an enclosed retail-and-entertainment formatStrategyBackground
Triple Five's initial mixed-use proposal was considered too expansive, but the developer retained the idea that retail should be combined with major attractions.
Action taken
The project was redesigned as a large enclosed complex with hundreds of stores, restaurants, and an indoor amusement park.
Aftermath
The format became the defining model of Mall of America and supported its role as both a shopping center and tourism destination.
Recent events
Boy’s family sued Mall of America over 2019 balcony incident[3]
Reported:
The family of a boy who was seriously injured after being thrown from the third floor at Mall of America filed a personal injury suit against the mall, seeking monetary damages.
Mall of America offers curbside pickup[4]
Reported:
Mall of America began offering curbside pickup, with ten stores participating at the time of the report.
Lululemon opens experiential store at Mall of America[5]
Reported:
Lululemon opened a 19,700-square-foot experiential store at the Mall of America, with shopping, workout classes and a fuel bar.
Sources5 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/mall-of-america · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled