Editing Mall of America (section)

==History==
The mall's concept was designed by the [[Triple Five Group]] in conjunction with global design firm DLR Group, owned by the [[Ghermezian family|Ghermezian]] brothers, who also own the second-largest shopping mall in North America, the [[West Edmonton Mall]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/08/15/labor-union-launches-ads-targeting-gwen-graham-over-the-american-dream-mega-mall/|title=Labor union launches ads targeting Gwen Graham over the American Dream mega-mall|last=Mower|first=Lawrence|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-american-dream-mall/|title=How Not to Build a Supermall: $5 Billion, 5 Governors, 3 Developers, and 15 Years|last=Berfield|first=Susan|website=[[Bloomberg News]]|date=December 15, 2016}}</ref> The Mall of America is located on the site of the former [[Metropolitan Stadium]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://lacrossetribune.com/news/archives/photos-some-images-of-the-mall-of-america-since-its/collection_9da91084-e18d-5d3c-993a-dce96a78a43c.html|title=Photos: Some images of the Mall of America since its opening in 1992|work=La Crosse Tribune|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en}}</ref> where the [[Minnesota Vikings]] and [[Minnesota Twins]] played<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/sid-hartman-supporter-of-stadiums-sees-super-bowl-dream/472496563/|title=Sid Hartman, supporter of stadium building through the decades, seeing a Super Bowl dream fulfilled|work=Star Tribune|access-date=2018-08-17}}</ref> until the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]] opened in 1982.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2018/02/02/u-s-bank-stadium-ready-super-bowl-closeup/300621002/|title=U.S. Bank Stadium ready for Super Bowl closeup|work=USA Today|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en}}</ref> A plaque in the mall's amusement park commemorates the former location of home plate<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/top-lists/unique-things-at-mall-of-america/|title=Best Unique Things At Mall Of America|date=November 6, 2010|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en}}</ref> and one seat from [[Metropolitan Stadium|Met Stadium]] was placed in Mall of America at the exact location it occupied in the stadium, commemorating a {{convert|520|ft|m|adj=on}} home run hit by [[Baseball Hall of Fame|hall-of-famer]] [[Harmon Killebrew]] on June 3, 1967.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.twincities.com/2011/05/16/eyewitness-to-history-this-harmon-killebrew-home-run-made-a-sound-like-no-other/|title=50 years ago today, Harmon Killebrew hit his longest home run|date=May 16, 2011|work=Twin Cities|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1986, the Bloomington Port Authority signed an agreement with the Ghermezian organization.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Alleen |date=2008-11-24 |title=Mall of America timeline |url=https://www.minnpost.com/infodoc/2008/11/mall-america-timeline/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref> Groundbreaking for the mall took place on June 14, 1989.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://kstp.com/news/flashback-friday-mall-of-america-opened-25-years-ago/4563064/|title=Flashback Friday: Mall of America Opened its Doors 25 Years Ago|publisher=KSTP|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en|archive-date=2018-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817193345/https://kstp.com/news/flashback-friday-mall-of-america-opened-25-years-ago/4563064/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Organizations involved include [[Melvin Simon and Associates]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/19/AR2009091902713.html|title=Melvin Simon, 82, Dies; Commercial Real Estate Magnate Co-Owned Indiana Pacers|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=September 20, 2009|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> [[TIAA-CREF|Teachers Insurance and Annuity]],<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/2003/09/12/cx_da_0912topnews.html|title=Mall Of America Goes To Canadians|last=Ackman|first=Dan|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en}}</ref> and the office of architect [[Jon Jerde]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/01/jon_jerde_oliver_tulane_univer.html|title=Uptown home invasion suspect son of prominent architect Jon Jerde|work=NOLA.com|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en-US}}</ref>

Mall of America opened its doors to the public on August 11, 1992.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/30/style/the-mall-that-ate-minnesota.html|title=The Mall That Ate Minnesota|last=Karlen|first=Neal|work=The New York Times |date=August 30, 1992 |access-date=2018-08-17|language=en}}</ref> Its anchors were [[Nordstrom]], [[Macy's]], [[Bloomingdale's]] and [[Sears]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.minnpost.com/infodoc/2008/11/mall-america-timeline/|title=Mall of America timeline|date=November 24, 2008|website=MinnPost}}</ref> Even before opening, the mall had earned several nicknames, including "The Megamall", "Sprawl of America", "Hugedale" in reference to the four major "dale" shopping malls within the Twin Cities: [[Rosedale Center|Rosedale]], [[Southdale Center|Southdale]], [[Ridgedale Center|Ridgedale]] and the now-defunct [[Brookdale Center|Brookdale]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}}

Mall of America became the largest shopping mall in total area and largest in total store vendors in the United States when it opened. The Mall of America's 42 million annual visitors equal roughly eight times the population of the state of Minnesota. {{As of|2015}}, the mall employed over 11,000 workers year-round and 13,000 during peak seasons.<ref name="facts">{{cite web|title=Facts|url=http://www.mallofamerica.com/about/moa/facts|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204084805/http://www.mallofamerica.com/about/moa/facts|archive-date=February 4, 2016|publisher=Mall of America}}</ref>

In early 2020, Mall of America closed for a period of twelve weeks in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], closing on March 17,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2020/03/17/mall-of-america-closing-through-end-of-month.html|date=2020-03-17|website=www.bizjournals.com|title=Register|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and reopening on June 10 with only 150 tenants open for business.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mall of America reopens, with only 150 of 500 stores open Wednesday|url=https://www.startribune.com/mall-of-america-reopens-with-only-150-of-500-stores-open-wednesday/571161912/|access-date=2020-06-13|website=Star Tribune|date=June 11, 2020 }}</ref> The mall was originally scheduled to reopen on June 1, but [[George Floyd protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul|civil unrest]] in the Twin Cities around this time caused the mall to postpone the reopening.<ref>{{Cite tweet|title=Register|url-access=limited|user=mallofamerica|number=1266446939626897409|url=https://twitter.com/mallofamerica/status/1266446939626897409|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-10 |title=Mall of America reopens with limited number of shoppers |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/06/10/mall-of-america-reopens-with-limits-on-how-many-shoppers-can-be-inside |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref>

=== Legal battle ===
In 2003, after a protracted six-year legal battle between [[Simon Property Group]], the managing general partner of the property, and the Ghermezian brothers/Triple Five Group, over majority ownership of the site, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of the Ghermezians, effectively transferring control and planning authority of the mall back to the creator of the concept.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Star Tribune|title=Brothers win back control of megamall; Simon Property will contest a ruling that transfers majority ownership|date=September 12, 2003}}</ref> The dispute stemmed from a 1999 purchase of Teacher's Insurance's 27.5% equity stake by Simon Properties, giving them majority ownership. The Ghermezians claimed they were never told of the deal and sued Simon, citing fiduciary responsibility.<ref name="auto"/> On November 3, 2006, the Ghermezians gained full control of Mall of America by spending US$1&nbsp;billion.<ref name="TCBJ110307">{{cite news |url=http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2006/10/30/daily39.html|title=Ghermezians take sole control of Mall of America in $1B deal|first=Sam|last=Black|newspaper=Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal|date=November 3, 2006}}</ref>

=== Expansions ===
[[File:Mall of America Floors & Escalators.jpg|thumb|Mall of America spans four floors in the Huntington Bank Rotunda.]]
On May 18, 2008, the Mall of America received a tax break for a proposed $2&nbsp;billion expansion. The bill gave the city of Bloomington the ability to increase taxes on sales, lodging and food and beverages to finance a parking ramp at the mall.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.twincities.com/2008/05/18/capitol-budget-deal-beats-the-clock/|title=Capitol budget deal beats the clock|date=May 18, 2008|work=Twin Cities|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en-US}}</ref> On March 24, 2012, the Triple Five Group, partnered with architectural firm [[DLR Group]], announced the start of a $200&nbsp;million expansion that would build into the north parking lot of the mall.<ref name="Mall of America">{{Cite web |title=Mall of America |url=https://www.dlrgroup.com/work/mall-of-america/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=DLR Group |language=en-US}}</ref> The plans called for an additional hotel and an additional {{convert|200000|sqft|m2}} of retail space.<ref>{{cite web|last=Webbtwebb |first=Tom |url=http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_20242313/mall-america-plans-200-million-expansion |title=Mall of America plans $200 million expansion |date=March 22, 2012 |publisher=TwinCities.com |access-date=July 24, 2012}}</ref> The project broke ground in the fall of 2013 and began opening in stages in the summer of 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/mall-of-america-s-325-million-addition-will-open-in-stages/317431411/|title=Mall of America's $325 million addition will open in stages|work=Star Tribune|access-date=2018-08-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2013/04/18/mall-of-america-expansion.html|title=Mall of America moves ahead with $225M expansion (Updated rendering)|last=Vomhof|first=John|newspaper=Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal |date=April 18, 2013}}</ref> In March 2014, ground was broken on the mall's north side for the $104&nbsp;million, 14-story [[JW Marriott]] hotel, owned and financed by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.<ref>[http://www.startribune.com/business/250815941.html 'Ground' broken on $325 million Mall of America expansion.] Retrieved March 21, 2014.</ref> In 2018, it was announced that MOA had proposed to build an indoor water park, with a cost between $150 and $200&nbsp;million for the project.<ref name="Mall of America"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2018/03/08/mall-of-america-indoor-water-park/|title=Mall Of America Proposes Huge Indoor Water Park|date=March 8, 2018|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en}}</ref> In March 2022, the plan was approved by the Bloomington City Council.<ref>{{Cite web |last=KSTP |first=Josh Skluzacek |date=March 11, 2022 |title=Bloomington approves financing plan to move MOA water park forward |url=https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/bloomington-approves-financing-plan-to-move-moa-water-park-forward/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=KSTP.com Eyewitness News |language=en-US}}</ref>