Southdale Center

Southdale Center is an enclosed regional shopping mall in Edina, a suburb of Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota. Opened in 1956, it is generally credited as the first fully enclosed and climate-controlled shopping mall in the United States. The project was developed around the idea that suburban retail could be more than a collection of stores and parking lots: architect Victor Gruen envisioned a year-round civic gathering place where shopping, dining, art, entertainment, and social interaction could take place under one roof. The center grew out of postwar efforts to design a new kind of suburban commercial environment. Gruen and architect Elsie Krummeck had previously explored communal shopping-center concepts that integrated retail with public services and attractive interior spaces. Through Hudson’s executive Oscar Webber, Gruen was introduced to the Dayton family, whose department-store business was expanding in Minnesota. Dayton’s became a principal participant in the Edina development, and plans for Southdale were publicly unveiled in 1952. Construction began in October 1954 after local zoning changes enabled the project. Southdale opened on October 8, 1956, with Dayton’s, Donaldson’s, Walgreens, and Woolworth among its initial anchors. Its enclosed design, extensive air-conditioning system, interior garden court, display windows, restaurants, and large parking field were intended to make the mall comfortable in Minnesota’s severe winters while encouraging visitors to linger. More than 40,000 people attended the opening ceremony, followed by a much larger wave of visitors during the first week. The center’s design became influential internationally and helped establish the enclosed suburban mall as a dominant retail format in North America. Over subsequent decades, Southdale expanded and adapted to changes in department-store retail and local competition. A major addition opened in connection with JCPenney’s arrival in 1972. The mall also faced competition from nearby Galleria Edina, Eden Prairie Center, and Mall of America. Department-store changes affected several anchors: Donaldson’s was absorbed into Carson Pirie Scott, Dayton’s ultimately became Marshall Field’s and then Macy’s, JCPenney closed in 2017, and Herberger’s closed in 2018 during the liquidation of its parent company, The Bon-Ton Stores. Southdale underwent substantial remodeling in the early 2000s, including the creation of a movie theater and a restaurant-and-entertainment area known as The District on France. A new food court and additional interior improvements were completed around 2011–2012. The property later became part of a broader mixed-use redevelopment program involving apartments, a hotel, restaurants, fitness, entertainment, and luxury retail. Life Time opened a fitness complex on the former JCPenney site, while surrounding development included One Southdale Place, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Shake Shack, and an RH gallery. Simon Property Group owns the center and has continued repositioning it as a mixed-use destination rather than relying only on traditional department-store anchors. Redevelopment announced in the 2020s included a Kowalski’s supermarket and Puttshack entertainment venue in the former Herberger’s space. A major interior renovation beginning in 2023 was designed to add and reorganize dozens of stores. The resulting luxury wing included Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., and David Yurman, with the first phase reported as opening in 2025 and additional tenant changes planned thereafter. Southdale remains significant both as an operating shopping center and as a landmark in the history of American retail architecture.

Southdale Center emerged from postwar architectural thinking about how suburban communities might replace some of the social and commercial functions traditionally associated with downtown districts. In 1943, Victor Gruen and Elsie Krummeck proposed a prototype shopping center for an Architecture 194X competition. Their concept combined stores with civic and communal amenities and emphasized pleasant, visually engaging interiors that would encourage people to stay rather than simply complete a transaction. Gruen later sought department-store backing for a suburban shopping-center project. Through Oscar Webber of Hudson’s, he was connected with the Dayton family, owners of the Minnesota-based Dayton’s department-store chain. Gruen and Dayton’s president Donald Dayton announced plans for an Edina center in June 1952. The proposal received strong local support, and Edina changed its zoning rules to permit the development. Groundbreaking took place on October 29, 1954. The project required a large construction workforce and was designed around Minnesota’s demanding climate. Instead of an open-air arrangement, Gruen created a three-story enclosed center with a roof and mechanical systems capable of maintaining a comfortable interior temperature throughout the year. The original development included extensive parking, department-store anchors, and space for dozens of other tenants. Southdale opened on October 8, 1956, drawing tens of thousands of visitors on opening day and many more during its first week. Its central garden court and interior streets transformed the shopping center into a controlled public environment, though architect Frank Lloyd Wright criticized the design during a 1956 visit. The mall’s early years brought new restaurants and specialty retailers. One notable concept was Sidewalk Cafe, an indoor restaurant designed to evoke an outdoor setting. In 1972, an expansion allowed JCPenney to open a large anchor store and created a new corridor tied to the original mall. Competition increased in 1976 when the upscale Galleria Edina opened across the street. Department-store consolidation also altered the tenant mix. Donaldson’s discontinued its chain and became associated with Carson Pirie Scott, while Dayton’s later adopted the Marshall Field’s nameplate after acquiring that business. Southdale’s physical plant and tenant strategy changed repeatedly in the 1990s and 2000s. The center was sold to the O’Connor Group in 1997. Most of the basement was reorganized around a Marshalls store and adjacent specialty shops. A major early-2000s remodeling program responded to competition from other Twin Cities shopping destinations, including Eden Prairie Center and Mall of America. The renovation added a sixteen-screen movie theater, restaurants, and an entertainment-oriented zone called The District on France. The former Dayton’s store became Marshall Field’s and was rebranded Macy’s in 2006. The middle of the 2000s was difficult for the property. Retail bankruptcies, department-store closures, and the departure of several specialty chains contributed to higher vacancy. Plans to replace the former Mervyn’s space with Dick’s Sporting Goods did not materialize. Simon Property Group subsequently pursued additional repositioning. In 2011, plans were announced for a new food court and further retail and residential development. The food court opened in 2012, while Marshalls eventually moved to another location and Gordmans occupied its former space in 2015. Gordmans itself closed after its parent company entered bankruptcy. The late 2010s marked a stronger move toward mixed-use development. JCPenney closed in 2017, and Herberger’s closed in 2018 during The Bon-Ton’s bankruptcy liquidation. The JCPenney building was later replaced by a Life Time fitness complex, which opened in 2019. Residential projects, a hotel, restaurants, and design-oriented retail expanded the property beyond the conventional enclosed-mall model. One Southdale Place opened in phases beginning in 2014; Homewood Suites, Shake Shack, and an RH gallery followed in the late 2010s. A proposed Hennepin County Library branch in the former Herberger’s space was announced in 2019 but did not proceed after plans were halted in 2020. Later redevelopment plans substituted a Kowalski’s supermarket and Puttshack indoor entertainment venue, reported as opening in late 2024. In 2023, Simon began another major interior renovation intended to create space for roughly 50 new stores. The project reconfigured the increasingly vacant District on France into a luxury-oriented area and attracted Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., and David Yurman from nearby Galleria Edina. The luxury wing was reported to open in 2025, with further tenant openings and relocations planned for 2026. Southdale therefore continues to function both as a shopping center and as an important case study in the evolution of American suburban retail architecture.

• 2025

  Luxury wing opens

  [1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The reconfigured luxury area opened with Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., and David Yurman among the reported tenants.

• 2023

  Interior redevelopment begins

  [1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Simon Property Group began a major reconfiguration aimed at adding stores and introducing a luxury wing.

• 2019

  Life Time complex opens

  [1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A fitness and wellness complex replaced the former JCPenney building.

• 2012

  New food court opens

  [1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A redesigned food court opened near JCPenney as part of a broader renovation.

• 2006

  Marshall Field’s becomes Macy’s

  [1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The department-store anchor adopted the Macy’s nameplate.

• 2001

  Entertainment-oriented renovation

  [1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A major remodeling added a cinema and The District on France restaurant and entertainment area.

• 1997

  Ownership changes

  [1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The center was sold to the O’Connor Group for a reported $125 million.

• 1972

  JCPenney expansion opens

  [1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A new wing and large JCPenney department store expanded Southdale’s anchor lineup.

• 1956

  Southdale Center opens

  [1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The center opened on October 8 as the first fully enclosed, climate-controlled shopping mall in the United States.

• 1954

  Construction begins

  [1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Groundbreaking took place on October 29 for the climate-controlled suburban shopping-center project.

• 1952

  Southdale plans are publicly announced

  [1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Victor Gruen and Donald Dayton unveiled plans for a major enclosed shopping center in Edina, Minnesota.

A landmark enclosed regional mall repositioned as a mixed-use retail, dining, entertainment, luxury, fitness, and community destination.

• Shopping center · 1956

  Enclosed regional shopping center

  Southdale’s core offering is an enclosed, climate-controlled retail environment combining department stores, specialty shops, restaurants, services, and entertainment. Its design was intended to provide a comfortable year-round alternative to open-air suburban retail and to function as a social and civic gathering place as well as a commercial property.

• Luxury retail · 2025

  Luxury retail wing

  The luxury wing is a later repositioning of Southdale’s interior retail environment. It reuses space associated with the former District on France and brings together high-end fashion, jewelry, and accessories brands, including Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., and David Yurman.

• Dining and entertainment · 2001

  The District on France

  Created during the early-2000s renovation, The District on France combined restaurants, entertainment, and specialty retail in the southern portion of the center. Its tenant mix included national dining concepts and helped Southdale respond to competition from newer lifestyle and regional shopping destinations.

• Food service · 2012

  Food court

  A new food court opened near the JCPenney wing around 2012. The project was designed to improve circulation and activate a less-trafficked part of the mall, with tenants including Qdoba Mexican Grill and Smashburger.

• Mixed-use development · 2014

  Mixed-use amenities

  Southdale’s current format incorporates uses beyond conventional retail, including apartments, hotel accommodation, fitness, restaurants, grocery, indoor entertainment, and design-oriented home furnishings. These additions are intended to create activity throughout the day and reduce dependence on department-store traffic.

• 2023

  Luxury-oriented interior transformationStrategy

  Background

  Simon Property Group sought to address changing mall economics and the underperformance of portions of the existing interior.

  Action taken

  A major renovation was launched to reorganize the interior, add approximately 50 stores, and create a luxury retail wing.

  Aftermath

  The luxury wing opened in 2025 with several major luxury brands, while further tenant openings and relocations were planned for 2026.

  Source

• 2011

  Food-court and mixed-use redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The property sought to improve underused areas and attract new forms of activity after tenant departures and anchor-store changes.

  Action taken

  Plans were announced for a new food court, expanded retail, and residential development around the center.

  Aftermath

  The food court opened in 2012, while surrounding residential and hotel projects helped broaden the property’s use mix.

  Source

• 2001

  Repositioning through entertainment and diningStrategy

  Background

  Southdale faced growing competition from other Twin Cities shopping destinations and undertook a broad modernization program.

  Action taken

  The center added a cinema, restaurants, specialty retail, and The District on France entertainment area.

  Aftermath

  The mall expanded its role beyond department-store shopping, although vacancy pressures continued in later years.

  Source

• 2023

  Redevelopment plans introduce Kowalski’s and Puttshack[1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Plans for the former Herberger’s space called for a Kowalski’s supermarket and a Puttshack indoor mini-golf venue, both reported as opening in late 2024.

• 2023

  Southdale begins a major interior repositioning and luxury expansion[1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Simon Property Group began a large interior renovation intended to accommodate approximately 50 new stores and create a luxury retail wing.

• 2019

  Life Time opens on the former JCPenney site[1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The former JCPenney building was demolished and replaced by a Life Time fitness complex, supporting Southdale’s shift toward mixed-use services and wellness.

• 2012

  New food court and interior improvements are completed[1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Southdale introduced a new food court near JCPenney and undertook cosmetic and circulation improvements intended to strengthen less-trafficked areas.

• 2001

  Major renovation creates The District on France[1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  A broad remodeling program added a multi-screen cinema, restaurants, specialty shops, and a more entertainment-oriented southern section.

• 1997

  Southdale Center is sold to the O’Connor Group[1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The property changed ownership in a reported transaction valued at $125 million.

• 1972

  JCPenney becomes a Southdale anchor[1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A major mall addition enabled JCPenney to open a large store and created a new corridor connecting the department store to the original center.

• 1956

  Southdale Center opens as the first fully enclosed, climate-controlled U.S. shopping mall[1]Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Edina shopping center opened with major department-store and general-retail anchors, introducing Victor Gruen’s enclosed suburban mall concept to the United States.

1. 1Southdale Centeren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Simon Property Group: Southdale Centersimon.com