Guide Note

The Mall of America located in Bloomington, Minnesota is the largest mall in the United States. The mall that features over 520 stores is four stories high and is approximately 4.2 million square feet big, of which 2.5 million square feet is dedicated to retail space. Officially opened in 1992, the Mall of America cost an estimated $650 million dollars to build. The mall is currently managed and owned by the Ghermezians brothers through their company Triple Five Group, and in 2006 received 40 million visitors.

Fast Facts

1. Almost a symmetrical building
2. There are 11,000 year round employees
3. Over 20,000 parking spaces available
4. Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing
5. Nickelodeon Universe is an indoor theme park inside of the mall
6. There is a wedding chapel on the third floor

In 2004 a $1.9 billion dollar plan called Phase II was created to expand the mall by more than double with an ice rink, dinner theater, water park, multiple hotels, and more. However Phase II has become stalled due to disagreements over funding. Mall developers are currently asking for $234 million dollars to help subsidize the project, but state and local officials have refused to comply.

1. Bloomingdales
2. Macys
3. Nordstrom
4. Sears
5. Barnes & Noble (Junior Anchor)
6. DSW Shoe Warehouse (Junior Anchor)
7. Marshalls (Junior Anchor)
8. Best Buy (Junior Anchor)