There’s a lot to do in the Twin Cities. Minneapolis and St. Paul are cultural touchstones in the Midwest: thriving metropolises that have something to offer everyone. A comprehensive museum scene covers everything from modern art to the rise of the local flour industry. A litany of lakes, parks, and trails appeal to the outdoorsy among us. Breweries ranging from old standby Grain Belt to rising star Fulton and emerging giant Surly offer an array of tastes for the discerning hop head.
What is the Mall of America?
More importantly, how many Cinnabons does it have?
Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
There’s also a very large mall.
If you have been to a mall before, you’ve seen 70 percent of the Mall of America. If you’ve also been to an amusement park, then Bloomington’s shopping monolith will hold no surprises for you. America’s largest mall — it’s the 12th-largest in the world, because President Trump has yet to fulfill his promise of making this country truly great again — covers nearly 8 million square feet and holds parking for more than 12,000 cars.
And somehow, despite hosting an estimated 40 million visitors each year, it has but a single Cinnabon.
The Mall of America opened its doors in 1992 to a clamoring crowd of Americans who needed Crystal Pepsi, Jon Secada CDs, and slap bracelets, but weren’t willing to make three trips to get them. It occupies the former site of Metropolitan Stadium, which had played host to both the Vikings and Twins and was also home to the first episode of WCW’s Monday Nitro, which gives the building just enough historical sporting cache for us to care.
The MOA is host to more than 500 shops, but it’s more than just a mall. The Nickelodeon Universe in the center of the building features a full indoor amusement park with 28 rides. The Chapel of Love, located on the third floor, offers the opportunity to get married before or after trips to Hot Topic. It’s so American, it’s even got its own dedicated counterterrorism unit.
The building would typically face some post-Christmas doldrums in February, but 2018 will provide a boost. Super Bowl 52 is in Minneapolis, and MOA will even host media availability for Patriots and Eagles players and coaches throughout the week. (Steer clear of Berry Blendz, Tom Brady.)
The mall is only a 15-minute drive from the city center to the Midwest’s monument to shopping convenience. More importantly, it’s an indoor location that can handle large crowds, which will make it a key location for visitors trying to escape February weather in Minnesota.
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