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Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Mall of America: That's entertainment!
By Henrylito D. Tacio
(First of two parts)
FOUR out of every 10 people who come to the Mall of America are visitors. Now, count me as one of those who returned to visit the Mall of America.
My first time was in 2000 yet and that was when my sister Elena and her husband, Engr. Daniel Chase, along with their two sons (Erik and Phillip) picked me at the Lindbergh International Airport in Minneapolis. After getting all of my luggage, we directly went to the Mall (my sister had been sending me pictures when I was still in the Philippines so I was curious to see it!).
At that time, the Chase family lived in Hibbing. Last October, they moved back to Minnesota, after living in Montana for almost four years. After my stint in Montreal, Canada (where I attended the 4th World Conference of Science Journalists) and a month-stay in Columbus, Ohio (living in my aunt's house), I decided to pay a visit to my sister, who now lives in Grand Rapids.
Two days after Christmas, we drove all the way from Grand Rapids to the Mall of America for four hours. The Mall of America is located just a mile or two outside the Minnesota capital, Saint Paul, along the suburban Bloomington Strip. It is very close to Saint Paul/Minneapolis International Airport and minutes from both downtowns.
The Mall of America is globally recognized as the largest entertainment and retail complex in the United States. Welcoming over 42 million guests each year, it is the country's No. 1 visited attraction.
A startling fact: if you spend only 10 minutes in every store inside the mall, it would take you more than 86 hours to complete your visit.
Here are more facts and figures: gross building area, 4.2 million square feet (big enough to hold 32 Boeing 747 aircraft); number of stores, more than 520; sit-down restaurants, 20; fast food restaurants, 30; specialty food stores, 36; nightclubs, 8; movie screens, 14; and parking spaces, 12,550 on-site.
It employs 11,000 year-round and 13,000 during summers and holidays. By the way, its 13,300 short tons of steel is nearly twice the amount in the Eiffel Tower.
Mind-boggling, isn't it?
The catchy line, "Shop till you drop," is fitting here.
What is even more interesting about the mall is that four of America's nationally recognized department stores are together under one roof: Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Nordstrom and Sears.
After Wal-Mart and Target, the Mall of America is considered as the third most favorable shopping destination in the United States. But hey, there are Wal-Mart's and Target stores across the country, but only one Mall of America.
(To be continued)
(January 12, 2005 issue)
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