Why exactly was Mall of America built in MN? (Why not elsewhere?) (Houston: sales tax, floor)

[jcx456]

Who is looking out for the young man/woman these days? I remember when i was younger before i could drive and would go to the mall with some friends and get something to eat, do a little shopping with allowance or b-day/christmas money, maybe watch a movie on a friday night. Why be so restrictive to the younger folks? I bet most people would have a problem if the sign said no one over 65 allowed after 4. If the younger people are going to be out on the town i'd rather see them hanging out at the mall than off doing drugs in the park or vandalizing cars or doing something that might land them in the back of a cop car. I remember my youth well and i know what bored kids do on friday and saturday when there is nothing else they can do. They're as free and equal as the rest of us i say, keep their entertainment options open. Just my 2 cents on the issue, no need to argue.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by dadr

I find the MOA quite convenient, in contrast to many of the opinions here. The way the parking structures are set up, you can often park closer than you can at other malls, and it's covered parking to boot. I went on opening day in 1992, and even on that day parking wasn't overly hard to find, and it didn't seem that crowded for the number of people there.

It's beautifully set up, and the ramps are wonderful. It's just big, that's all.

[Radical_Car]

Originally Posted by dadr

I find the MOA quite convenient, in contrast to many of the opinions here. The way the parking structures are set up, you can often park closer than you can at other malls, and it's covered parking to boot. I went on opening day in 1992, and even on that day parking wasn't overly hard to find, and it didn't seem that crowded for the number of people there.

Oh man I bet that it was so awesome in 1992. I was only born in 1992, Lol so even if I did go I wouldn't remember it.

[Radical_Car]

Originally Posted by jcx456

? I bet most people would have a problem if the sign said no one over 65 allowed after 4.

That is very, very true.

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by OmShahi

Phase II expansion of Mall of America when commenced will make it the largest mall in America again, and the largest in the world.

I hope they get public transit in that thing, I would not want to walk that.

I visited that mall last year and spent 3 hours just getting around the first floor,kinda lost interest in going to the 2nd and 3rd floors,i'd imagine if they are expanding the place they will just add more floors as there doesnt seem like there is a lot of room for lateral expansion.

[west336]

Does anybody understand that the "Mall of America" is just a name, and it is not America's mall? It's not like the Federal government decided to build a mall that represented America and chose Minnesota, it's just a name that the developers came up with (a cleaver one at that) to get people to think that this is THE mall of America to visit. This is why it's not located in Omaha, KC, Las Vegas, Dallas, Houston, some other Sunbelt city of the week, or Springfield, MO (near the population epicenter of the U.S.).

[emcee squared]

Originally Posted by jambo101

I visited that mall last year and spent 3 hours just getting around the first floor,kinda lost interest in going to the 2nd and 3rd floors,i'd imagine if they are expanding the place they will just add more floors as there doesnt seem like there is a lot of room for lateral expansion.

There is plenty of room of lateral expansion (that's the plan, eventually). Check Google Earth and you will notice a nice empty parking lot behind the mall.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Radical_Car

Houston has the Galleria, 7th largest mall in the USA. No it isnt quite as big as MOA but its still plenty big. The Galleria also opened in 1970 while MoA opened in 1992, so why would Houston need another giant megamall? Dallas has the Northpark Center opened in 1965, again much smaller but still pretty big, big enough where they don't need another giant megamall.


Oh man, I've always wondered how easy it'd be to enforce that. Unless they have an ID of some sort, how can you prove they're under 16? Also it seems like they never advertise that, it'd be nice if they had signs on entrance doors and such saying people under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult. I only found out about this rule like around 5 years ago when my cousin managed a store there and he told me about it. I also have no idea how many security gaurds they have on duty at a time and I got no clue what the average amount of shoplifting is per day and such, and stuff like preventing shoplifting is better then kicking teenagers under 16 out unless they are causing trouble. I myself wish this was enforced A LOT more so we wouldn't have to deal with annoying teenagers, but what can you do? Like I said if they dont have an ID on them you can't exactly prove they're under 16.

I thought it was under 18 and they DO enforce the rule with mall security standing at every entrance carding people, if you look under 18 and don't have an ID, out you go. I saw a LARGE group of kids dressed for Prom get kicked out a couple years ago. I think it is a GREAT rule (as the parent of 3 teenagers too). Try going to Burnsville center on a Friday or Saturday evening and wade through the thugs there.

I like the MOA because I can get pretty much everything I need there when I go. None of the other malls have the selection in the various stores like they do at the MOA. They do a pretty good job grouping the stores so the kid stores are in one general area, the teen stores are in another, for the most part. Parking is another plus. I have always been able to find a parking spot, usually the 5th floor is empty. Even on weekends if you get there at 10:00 the mall is pretty empty. I can get in and out in a couple hours and still not have any crowds.

[DaPerpKazoo]

^It is 16. They do enforce the rule very well. I was turned away a couple times for being underage a few years ago. They've only stopped carding me in the last six months.

Originally Posted by jcx456

Who is looking out for the young man/woman these days? I remember when i was younger before i could drive and would go to the mall with some friends and get something to eat, do a little shopping with allowance or b-day/christmas money, maybe watch a movie on a friday night. Why be so restrictive to the younger folks? I bet most people would have a problem if the sign said no one over 65 allowed after 4. If the younger people are going to be out on the town i'd rather see them hanging out at the mall than off doing drugs in the park or vandalizing cars or doing something that might land them in the back of a cop car. I remember my youth well and i know what bored kids do on friday and saturday when there is nothing else they can do. They're as free and equal as the rest of us i say, keep their entertainment options open. Just my 2 cents on the issue, no need to argue.

Agreed that the rule is inconvenient, but in the late 90s they had a major shoplifting problem, and there were even a few stabbings. Since they put the age restrictions in place, those problems have largely subsided.

[golfgal]

There are many malls nationwide that have adopted this same type of restriction on teens, it isn't just a MOA policy.