Mall of America Sign from WikiCommons
The work of Joe Chill 2

August 11th, 1992, the Mall of America (MOA) opens in Bloomington, MN.

At the time of its opening, MOA was the largest shopping mall in the United States with over 2.5 million square feet of leasable retail space inside a building of 5.4 million square feet.  Over 520 stores operate in the mall and there is space for over 12,000 cars in the parking structures.  11,000 year round employees work in the mall with another 2000 during the Holidays.  MOA generates about $2 billion dollars in economic activity.

Along with the stores, there is the Nickelodeon Universe indoor theme park, the SeaLife Minnesota Aquarium, 24 restaurants, a Mirror Maze, a wedding chapel (that has performed over 7500 weddings), 342 room Marriott Hotel, 500 room Radisson Hotel, a comedy club, Minnesota Children’s Museum and a 14 theater multiplex.