Few People Know Minnesota Was Home To The First Indoor Mall In America
Trent Jonas
Author
Sure, plenty of folks have heard of the Mall of America, but fewer people know that one Minnesota shopping mall was the first – and is the oldest – indoor mall in America. At the time it opened, Southdale Center, in Edina, was the first fully-enclosed, climate-controlled shopping center in the United States – i.e., the first indoor mall in America.
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Of Minnesota’s many firsts, the first indoor mall has had one of the greatest impacts on American society, especially during the late 20th century. And ever since, Minnesota, for better or worse, has been at the forefront of “mall culture,” as it were. In the early 1990s, Mall of America, once the largest in North America, opened to much fanfare in the Twin Cities suburb of Bloomington, only a few miles from Southdale. Mall of America is still the largest mall in the United States. Further, Kevin Smith’s cult classic film Mallrats, was filmed at Eden Prairie Center, another mall in the Twin Cities’ southern suburbs that’s not far from Southdale. Eden Prairie Center recently went viral as the home of “Mount Eden Prairie,” a massive snow pile in its parking lot after the record-setting winter of 2022-23. So, there you have it from the first indoor mall in the United States to Mall of America to Mount Eden Prairie, recent history and culture in the Land of 10,000 Lakes (at least the Twin Cities metro) has been inextricably intertwined with that of the shopping mall.
Did you know about Southdale Center’s groundbreaking history? Are there other Minnesota firsts that may have had a bigger impact outside the state? Scotch tape? Post-It Notes? Let us know in the comments.
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More About Southdale Center, The First Indoor Mall In America
When Southdale Center opened in 1956, it was the first indoor mall in America. It was fully-enclosed an climate controlled. It's ground-breaking history not only led to other similar malls in the region and around the world, but it created a bustling community in this particular area of Minnesota. For example, just blocks from Southdale, in Edina, you'll find:
- The Galleria, an upscale mall in Edina
- Edinborough Park, a massive indoor playground in Edina
- Q. Cumbers, a popular and venerable buffet restaurant
- Pinstripes, a popular bowling alley, restaurant, and bar
Not to mention, the development of Southdale had a direct impact on the birth of Target stores in Minnesota.