Mall of America, Minneapolis

3 more images

Yes, it's here.
Yes, it's the biggest in the U.S.
Yes, we get a little sick of being famous for a big giant mall.
Yes, there are WAY better things to do.

Best reason to go here? To stretch your legs when it's too cold to be outside. And watch the people. Or take the kiddies to ride the rides. By all means, give the mall a look-see but please give our museums, theaters, zoos, parks and other great activities a go as well?

With the high rate of attacks on women in secluded parking lots, especially during evening hours, the Minneapolis City Council has established a 'Women Only' parking lot at the Mall of America. Even the parking lot attendants are exclusively female so that a comfortable and safe environment is created for patrons.

The accompanying picture is the first one available of this world's first women only parking lot.

You can find just about any store in this place.

What to buy: Everything and I mean everything. But they have a few stores that are have merchandise from Minneaplis that you can't find any where else, I really like that.

What to pay: I say the average person will spend about $300.00 including dinner bring extra if you plan going on the rides.

I am not a shopper. When I travel, I do not even shop for souvenirs for my family and friends. I usually end up buying some but I rarely go anywhere for the primary purpose of shopping. This was probably true when I visited the Mall of America but I did go there deliberately. We spent an entire day there and this non-shopper felt like a kid who only got to see half of the circus. I am told that people literally come to Minneapolis from all over the world merely to shop here and I can see why. It is the largest mall in the USA and I think that when it first opened, it was the largest one in the world. Someday, I will find my little booklet on the Mall of America and add how many stores, restaurants, and entertainment outlets it has but if you are anywhere near Minneapolis, do not miss the Mall of America.

What to buy: You can buy just about anything in the Mall of America. They have stores from outdoors outfitters to Victoria's Secret (whose products you definitely will not want to wear outdoors in Minneapolis in January, unless under a fur coat) and from shaved ice to gourmet restaurants.

What to pay: I spent several hundred dollars and did "not really buy anything."

What makes the Mall of America special...boy, where do I start.

Bloomington's Mall of America is the largest entertainment and retail complex in the USA.
It boasts over 42 million visitors per year. Under one huge roof, you will find over 500 specialty shops, 4 national department stores, over 50 restaurants, 7 nightclubs, 14 movie theatres, and so much more.

It is unlike any mall you have previously encountered in your shopping career. Everything, and anything may be found here. What I especially like is the way it is policed.

Nothing against teenagers, other than they should be seen and not heard, but no one under the age of 18 is allowed without adult supervision. This has effectively removed all groups of loud, obnoxious kids from roaming the corridors. No pushing, shoving, posturing, or obcentities to assult your tender ears while spending your hard earned dollar.

So parents, be aware of this tip before you encourage your teenager to accompany you. You will be forced to spend the entire time with a brooding, sulking kid whom you both expected would wander off on their own upon arrival at the mall. I've been there, done that. It ain't pretty.

Some people don't like this policy, but I think it is great.

What to buy: I always go in search of the free samples of cheese curds, and an earlier dinner at Tucci Benucch.

A visit to The Walking Store is a must, and our first trips always included a stop at Gatlin Brothers, a BBQ rib joint, but, sadly, they didn't survive, as the trend towards country and western music and line dancing gradually diminished.

What to pay: I find everything to be more expensive than usual. This is due to the high cost of store rents. I understand Mall of America charges the highest cost per square foot of rental space than any other management company in the USA. I wonder how the shopping complex in Ceasars Palace in Las Vegas would compare?

The mall includes a large amusement centre, with numerous rides for all age groups. Check it out.

Rybicki Cheese sells cheese of course, by offering tiny chunks of samples to shoppers by some guy wearing a wedge of cheese on his head. There is always a little crowd around his table, with shoppers eager to sample the various flavours the store has to offer. All cheese is manufactured by their own plant in Wisconsin.

I always stock up on three or four varieties of cheese prior to departing home to Canada, plus, included with my contraband, are baggies full of my favourite, cheese curds. These chewy, rubbery morsels are my down fall.

What to buy: Besides cheese, Rybicki's sells sports items and replica farm machinery (green/yellow), can you guess??

What to pay: various prices, depending. Competitive.

Rybicki Cheese has just signed a second ten year lease at Mall of America. This little shop was deemed by management of Mall of America to be the 'first to fail' when the mall originally opened. How wrong they were.

When shopping at the Mall of America keep in mind that there is no sales tax on any clothes in the mall!!!

What to buy: No tax items on any clothes: men's, women's, kid's, and any other clothing.

What to pay: Depends how much you want to spend.

I had a great time looking through the specialty shops that aren't in most malls.

What to buy: You can find specialty auto decals, like the Dodge Ram. You could buy enough magnets to cover your fridge. You could even buy a no parking sign to keep away those pesky neighbors who aren't Norwegian. (I went to Minnesota to visit descendants of my Norwegian great, great grandparents who arrived in the United States over 125 years ago.)

What to pay: Unless the item is on sale, you'll pay more than the item would cost elsewhere. But if you are in the Mall of America and looking around and have some extra cash, you'll find stuff that you probably can't find at your hometown mall. The key to happy shopping is don't HAVE to buy anything and you'll have a great time.

You've probable heard of the Mall of America, known as the biggest mall in the U.S., or maybe the world. I've heard there are bigger, but does it really matter? It opened in 1992 and has had more than 350 million visitors so far. It has 4 levels, 520 stores, 49 restaurants, 8 night clubs, a movie theatre, an amusement park, and much more. It's a pretty fun place to visit if you're in the Twin Cities.

The Mall of America is the largest mall in the United States. I've been to the larger mall in Edmonton, Canada, but this one 'feels' bigger.
This place is actually the third most popular destination in the US, after the Disney resorts. (can this really be true?) People come from all over the country to shop here. Most local residents don't like it here, and try to go to other places to shop.