History of Mall of America in Timeline

The Mall of America (MoA), established in 1992, holds the title of the largest shopping mall in the United States and the Western Hemisphere. Situated in Bloomington, Minnesota, within the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, it ranks as the twelfth largest mall globally. The mall's strategic location places it southeast of the Interstate 494 and Minnesota State Highway 77 junction, north of the Minnesota River, and directly across from the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport.

June 3, 1967: Harmon Killebrew's Home Run

On June 3, 1967, Harmon Killebrew hit a 520-foot home run at Metropolitan Stadium, the former site of the Mall of America.

1982: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Opens

The Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins, which used to play at Metropolitan Stadium, moved to the newly opened Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in 1982.

1986: Bloomington Port Authority Agreement

The Bloomington Port Authority signed an agreement with the Ghermezian organization in 1986, paving the way for the mall's development.

June 14, 1989: Mall of America Groundbreaking

The official groundbreaking ceremony for the Mall of America took place on June 14, 1989.

August 11, 1992: Mall of America Opens to the Public

On August 11, 1992, the Mall of America officially opened its doors to the public with anchor stores Nordstrom, Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Sears.

1992: Sears Opens at Mall of America

Sears was one of the original anchor stores when the Mall of America opened in 1992.

1992: Mall of America Opens

The Mall of America, located in Bloomington, Minnesota, first opened its doors to the public in 1992.

1999: Simon Property Group Acquires Teacher's Insurance Stake

In 1999, Simon Property Group purchased Teacher's Insurance's 27.5% equity stake in the Mall of America, leading to a legal dispute with the Ghermezian brothers.

2000: Fat Tuesday Bar Closes

In early 2000, the Mardi Gras-themed bar, Fat Tuesday, located in the Mall of America, closed due to issues related to indecent exposure and alcohol-related offenses.

2000: Premiere of Digimon: The Movie

The Mall of America hosted the premiere of "Digimon: The Movie" in 2000.

2003: Court Rules in Favor of Ghermezians

A federal appeals court ruled in favor of the Ghermezian brothers in 2003 after a six-year legal battle over the majority ownership of the Mall of America.

July 2004: IKEA Opens at Mall of America

IKEA opened a store at the Mall of America in July 2004, providing additional parking spaces for shoppers.

November 3, 2006: Ghermezians Gain Full Control of Mall of America

The Ghermezian brothers, creators of the mall concept, gained full control of the Mall of America on November 3, 2006, after a legal battle with Simon Property Group.

May 18, 2008: Mall of America Receives Tax Break for Expansion

The Mall of America received a tax break on May 18, 2008, for a proposed $2 billion expansion project.

2008: Congressional Testimony on Mall Security

In 2008, former Security Director Doug Reynolds testified before Congress about the Mall of America's security measures, highlighting the extensive training of Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) in Israel, focusing on identifying suspicious indicators in individuals, vehicles, and unattended items.

2010: Mall of America Renovations Begin

A series of renovations commenced at the Mall of America in 2010, aiming to create a unified and more luxurious style.

2010: Mall Security Practices Scrutinized

In 2010, mall security officials faced scrutiny for their practice of questioning or detaining individuals based on "suspicious behavior," such as photographing air-conditioning ducts or appearing to hide something, raising concerns about potential infringement on citizens' rights.

November 29, 2011: Google Indoor Maps for Mall of America

On November 29, 2011, Google launched indoor maps for the Mall of America, providing detailed navigation within the mall's complex layout.

2011: Media Exposes Security Abuses

In 2011, NPR and PBS aired programs that brought to light alleged security abuses by personnel at the Mall of America.

January 3, 2012: Bloomingdale's Location to Close

Macy's Inc. announced on January 3, 2012, that it would be closing its Bloomingdale's store at the Mall of America after almost two decades of operation.

March 24, 2012: $200 Million Expansion Announced

On March 24, 2012, a $200 million expansion plan was announced for the Mall of America, including a new hotel and additional retail space.

2012: Successful Native-American Round Dance

In 2012, a Native-American round dance was successfully held at the Mall of America.

2013: Expansion Project Begins

Construction on the Mall of America's expansion project began in the fall of 2013.

December 31, 2013: Idle No More Protest Thwarted

On December 31, 2013, mall security prevented members of the Idle No More movement from holding a Native-American round dance, leading to the arrest of organizers Patricia Shepard and Reyna Crow for trespassing.

March 2014: Groundbreaking for JW Marriott Hotel

Ground was broken in March 2014 for the construction of a 14-story JW Marriott hotel at the Mall of America.

December 21, 2014: Black Lives Matter Protest Leads to Arrests and Lawsuit

On December 21, 2014, thousands participated in an unauthorized Black Lives Matter demonstration at the mall, resulting in the closure of areas around the rotunda, 25 arrests, and a lawsuit filed by the city seeking damages from organizers.

February 2015: Al-Shabaab Threat Prompts Heightened Security

In February 2015, following a propaganda video released by the al-Shabaab militant group calling for attacks on the Mall of America, security was increased and the Department of Homeland Security issued a one-day alert urging shoppers to be vigilant.

December 23, 2015: Mall Seeks Restraining Order Against Black Lives Matter

In response to a planned Black Lives Matter demonstration on December 23, 2015, mall officials filed a restraining order against activists, aiming to prohibit the event and seeking the removal of social media posts related to it. The ACLU of Minnesota criticized the lawsuit as an attempt to suppress free speech.

2015: Mall of America Employment Statistics

By 2015, the Mall of America employed over 11,000 workers year-round and approximately 13,000 during peak seasons.

2015: Expansion Opens in Stages

The expansion of the Mall of America began opening in stages during the summer of 2015.

2015: Renovations Completed

The renovations at the Mall of America, which included a more unified design and coincided with the mall's expansion, were completed in 2015.

December 2016: Theatres at Mall of America Close

The Theatres at Mall of America, which had been in operation since 1992, closed permanently in December 2016.

2017: CMX Cinemas Replaces Theatres

CMX Cinemas, a subsidiary of Cinemex, took over the space previously occupied by the Theatres at Mall of America in late 2017.

December 28, 2018: Sears to Close at Mall of America

On December 28, 2018, it was announced that the Sears store at the Mall of America, open since the mall's inception in 1992, would be closing down.

2018: Indoor Water Park Proposal

In 2018, a proposal for an indoor water park at the Mall of America was announced, with an estimated cost of $150 to $200 million.

April 12, 2019: Child Thrown from Balcony

On April 12, 2019, a five-year-old boy was thrown from a third-story balcony by Emmanuel Deshawn Aranda. The child was hospitalized for an extended period but recovered. Aranda received a 19-year prison sentence.

October 2019: 30th Avenue Station Upgrade Completed

A $25 million upgrade to the 30th Avenue station, located near the Mall of America, was completed in October 2019.

2020: Mall of America Closure and Reopening During COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, the Mall of America closed for twelve weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It closed on March 17 and reopened on June 10 with a limited number of tenants.

2020: M&M's Store Opens

In late 2020, a 24,000-square-foot M&M's retail store opened at the Mall of America, replacing the former American Girl store.

2021: B&B Theatres Replaces CMX Cinemas

Following CMX Cinema's bankruptcy, B&B Theatres replaced CMX Cinemas at the Mall of America in 2021.

December 31, 2021: Shooting Incident and Lockdown

On December 31, 2021, a shooting incident on the third floor led to a mall lockdown. One man was shot in the leg, and another person suffered a graze wound. Police determined the shooting resulted from an altercation between two men.

January 3, 2022: Arrest Made in Connection to December 2021 Shooting

On January 3, 2022, an 18-year-old man was arrested for aiding and abetting first-degree assault in connection to the December 31, 2021, shooting incident at the mall.

March 2022: Indoor Water Park Plan Approved

The Bloomington City Council approved a plan for an indoor water park at the Mall of America in March 2022.

August 4, 2022: Shooting at Nike Store Leads to Lockdown

On August 4, 2022, an altercation at the Nike store resulted in gunfire and a mall lockdown. Two suspects were later apprehended in Chicago, and three others were arrested for aiding their escape.

December 23, 2022: Fatal Shooting in Nordstrom

On December 23, 2022, a 19-year-old male was fatally shot inside the Nordstrom store during a dispute, leading to a mall lockdown. A bystander sustained minor injuries from a bullet grazing their clothing.

January 2023: Man Asked to Remove "Jesus Saves" Shirt

In January 2023, a man wearing a shirt with the slogan "Jesus saves" was told by security to remove it or leave the mall, citing that it was associated with religion and offensive to others.