The largest mall in America is the Mall of America, located in Bloomington, Minnesota. Covering 5.6 million square feet, this retail and entertainment titan dwarfs conventional shopping centers. It houses over 520 stores, dozens of restaurants, and a seven-acre indoor amusement park, pulling in roughly 40 million visitors every year.
Opened in August 1992, the complex transformed modern retail by proving that a shopping center could survive—and thrive—by shifting its focus from pure commerce to immersive entertainment. Built on the former site of the Minnesota Twins' Metropolitan Stadium, the megamall redefined how cities approach large-scale commercial real estate.
Origins and Construction
The story of the Mall of America began long before its doors opened. The land was previously home to Metropolitan Stadium, where the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins played until the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome opened in downtown Minneapolis. Once the stadium was demolished, the massive plot sat primed for redevelopment.
The Triple Five Group, owned by the Ghermezian family, spearheaded the massive project. Construction required staggering amounts of materials and labor. When it opened, the footprint covered roughly 78 acres. Developers designed the layout with four distinct retail and entertainment levels, anchoring the corners with major department stores like Macy's and Nordstrom.
One quirky historical footnote: a home plate marker sits embedded in the floor of Nickelodeon Universe. It marks the exact spot where Harmon Killebrew hit a legendary home run during the stadium's baseball era.
Layout and Scale
Understanding the sheer size of the Mall of America requires looking at scale comparisons. You could fit seven Yankee Stadiums inside the complex, and roughly 32 Boeing 747 airplanes could park on its roof.
The building doesn't use a traditional heating system. Despite Minnesota's freezing winter temperatures, the mall stays warm year-round thanks to a combination of passive solar energy from thousands of square feet of skylights and body heat generated by tens of thousands of daily visitors. Over 400 live trees grow inside the structure, acting as natural air filters alongside the skylight ventilation systems.
Walking all the storefronts in a single day is a genuine physical challenge. If you spent just ten minutes inside each store, it would take more than 80 hours of continuous walking to see everything.
Major Attractions Beyond Retail
While retail forms the backbone of the property, non-retail attractions drive a massive percentage of its foot traffic.
- Nickelodeon Universe: This massive indoor theme park sits right in the center of the mall. It features roller coasters like the SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge and the Pepsi Orange Streak, weaving directly through the park's support beams.
- SEA LIFE Aquarium: Located on the lower level, this underground aquarium features a 300-foot transparent glass tunnel where sharks, sea turtles, and stingrays swim overhead.
- Theatres and Entertainment: The complex includes a 14-screen movie theater, multiple mini-golf courses, flight simulators, escape rooms, and comedy clubs.
According to data from Explore Minnesota, tourism generated by the mall contributes billions of dollars to the state's economy, employing thousands of local workers and serving as the state's most popular tourist magnet.
Economic Impact and Evolution
The retail landscape has shifted dramatically since 1992. Many traditional enclosed malls across the United States have struggled with vacancy or faced demolition due to the rise of e-commerce. Yet, the Mall of America has adapted by leaning heavily into experiential retail.
Instead of relying solely on clothing retailers and department stores, management allocates significant square footage to interactive brand showrooms, experiential dining, and family entertainment venues. This pivot keeps foot traffic high while other regional malls struggle to stay afloat. Major updates over the years—including a massive north-side expansion completed in 2015—added hotel spaces, office towers, and expanded parking facilities to accommodate international travelers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many stores are in the Mall of America?
The mall features over 520 retail stores, ranging from high-end fashion boutiques to specialty gift shops, electronics stores, and souvenir stands.
Is the Mall of America the largest mall in the world?
No. While it is the largest mall in the United States by total area, several malls in Asia and the Middle East—such as the Iran Mall and various mega-complexes in China and Dubai—surpass it in total square footage and retail capacity.
How cold does it get inside during winter?
It doesn't get cold at all. The interior is climate-controlled to maintain a comfortable temperature year-round, utilizing passive solar heating through massive glass skylights and body heat from millions of annual visitors.
Do you need to pay to enter the mall?
Admission to enter the building is completely free. You only pay if you purchase merchandise, dine at restaurants, buy tickets for Nickelodeon Universe rides, or visit attractions like the aquarium and movie theater.
