Malls have long been a beloved American leisure activity, and with their typical combination of retail stores and numerous dining options, there is no doubt why that is the case!
Malls are becoming increasingly popular as entertainment venues and have much to offer visitors! These malls are also constantly expanding, particularly in today’s world, where they have become much more than just shopping centers!
Several shopping malls in the United States have gained extreme significance over the decades, be it the Mall of America or King of Prussia Mall!
So, without any further ado, let us provide you with the information you need, which is the answer to the following question!
A. Which is the Largest Mall In the US?
Is it the King of Prussia Mall? Or the South Coast Plaza? Or maybe it is the brand-new American Dream?
Well, it is the Mall of America in Bloomington!
Mall of America, often abbreviated as MOA, located in Bloomington, Minnesota, is the largest mall in the US! It is a retail mall located conveniently from St. Paul and Downtown Minneapolis, with a travel time of about 15 minutes, making the mall easily accessible to visitors!
This mall is not only the largest in the US but also the largest one in the Western Hemisphere, along with being the 9th largest retail mall in the world!
Here is some more information about the famous Mall of America!
A.1 Management and History
The plan for the mall was by the Triple Five Group, owned by the Ghermezian brothers.
They manage the Mall of America along with operating and managing the West Edmonton Mall in Canada, North America’s second-largest mall, and the American Dream in New Jersey, which shall appear in this article again.
It is also interesting to note that the Mall of America was built upon the former site of the Metropolitan Stadium.
The amusement park, located inside the mall, even houses a plaque in the dedication to the original location of the home plate.
A.2 Size and Design
Talking about the size and design of the Mall of America covers a total space of 96.4 acres or 4.87 million square feet. The layout of the mall is somewhat symmetric, with the floor being shaped in a rectangular manner.
The entire mall is divided into four distinct zones, and earlier on, every single one of them had its unique appearance and distinctive style.
However, from 2010 to 2015, when the mall underwent its first-ever expansion, several renovations were made, and some major redesigning was done. These renovations and redesigns resulted in a much more uniform and elegant design across all four zones, which can be seen today.
A.3 Retail Stores and Other Attractions
The Mall of America is home to over 52o retail shops, with Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, and Sears being its anchors at its opening. These four stores are located at the four corners of the rectangular floor mentioned above.
All the other stores are situated on three different levels of walking paths on the rectangle’s four sides, along with a fourth level positioned towards its east.
The mall also houses over 50 restaurants and a food court on the third floor.
Furthermore, plenty of other attractions exist in and around the Mall of America. These include USA’s biggest indoor theme park known as the Nickelodeon Universe.
This park, located in the mall’s heart, was earlier known as Camp Snoopy and has roller coasters and a variety of other rides, many of which are not affiliated with Nickelodeon. Moose Mountain, a miniature golf course, is also located there.
In addition to the amusement park, there is also the Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium, which is a 300-foot-long tunnel-shaped aquarium with over 4,500 sea species, such as sharks, stingrays, turtles, and more!
There are also more restaurants, hotels, and retailers located just outside the mall, creating great attractions beyond the mall’s premises.
Well, that was all about the Mall of America, but do not leave just yet, as there are some amazing successors to the largest mall in the US!
Successors to the Largest Mall in the US!
In this list, we have included 9 of the many successors to the largest mall in the US. So, here we go!
1- American Dream Mall in East Rutherford
The second-largest shopping mall in the US, which also happened to be the latest one, is the American Dream, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. It opened in four stages in 2019 and 2020 and immediately became the first successor to the largest mall in the US!
The American Dream is a phenomenal mall with retail space and an entertainment complex! 70% of the area comprises entertainment venues, while the remaining 30% are retail outlets. The mall has 450 retail shops, including some major department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and over 100 eateries!
Other attractions at the mall include the Nickelodeon Universe, similar to the one in the Mall of America, the DreamWorks Water Park, open all year round, an indoor ski slope known as the Big Snow American Dream, and a huge indoor ice rink!
2- King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia
Next on the list is the King of Prussia Mall, which, before the coming of the American Dream, was next in line to the largest mall in the US, with 3 million square feet of shopping area!
Owned by Simon Property Group, it is Pennsylvania’s biggest shopping mall and now the third-largest in the whole US, based on its gross leasable area!
It is also the largest one on the East Coast, right outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the borough of King of Prussia in Upper Merion Township.
The King of Prussia Mall is a high-end shopping center with over 450 stores. Numerous luxury boutiques such as Neiman Marcus, department stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods, and several eateries are on hand to keep visitors fueled for a busy shopping day!
3- South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa
South Coast Plaza is a shopping mall located in Costa Mesa, California. It is the biggest mall on the US West Coast and was the most successful shopping mall in the country before the pandemic hit, with yearly sales of more than $1.5 billion!
This place is a shopper’s dream, with many high-end establishments ideal for retail therapy! The South Coast Plaza has more than 280 boutique shops and 30 eateries! Three Macy’s stores and Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue are located in the mall!
Personal shoppers are also available at the South Coast Plaza to make your shopping experience easier!
4- Aventura Mall in Aventura
Another one of the largest shopping malls owned by Simon Property Group is the Aventura Mall, based in Miami’s stylish, premium district. It is a high-end shopping center in Aventura and the largest mall in Florida!
Aventura Mall opened in 1983, and this three-story building is like heaven for fashion enthusiasts! The mall has 300 retail shops and renowned brands, including Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Cartier, and many more! The mall hosts around 28 million customers every year!
Aventura Mall has over 50 restaurants and cafes, including the Treats Food Hall!
5- Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance
Del Amo Fashion Center, located in Torrance, California, is another retail property co-owned by the Simon Property Group. It is a three-story and the sixth-largest mall in the US, with a gross leasable area of 2.6 million square feet!
Dick’s Sporting Goods, JCPenney, Nordstrom, and two Macy’s stores are the mall’s anchors. Shopping enthusiasts with a lot of time can explore the three stories of luxurious retail space, which includes over 200 boutiques, a multiplex cinema, a fitness facility, and various international dining options!
The Del Amo Fashion Center also has an Outdoor Village surrounded by palm trees. It is the ideal place to enjoy the sun while shopping in contemporary stores!
6- Houston Galleria in Houston
The Galleria, also called the Houston Galleria, is an upmarket multi-use shopping mall and urban development in Houston’s Uptown District. A retail space, two Westin Hotels, and the Galleria Office Towers form the above development.
The shopping mall is owned and maintained separately from the hotels and the office buildings.
With 3 million square feet of gross leasable area, The Galleria is Texas’ largest mall with over 400 retail stores. Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Macy’s are the anchor retailers.
The Galleria also has premier eateries and a plethora of entertainment options! Attractions at the mall include swimming pools, a full-sized ice rink, beauty salons, valet services, and even a post office!
7- Destiny USA in Syracuse
Destiny USA, originally known as The Carousel Center Mall, is a six-floor retail and entertainment complex located on the shores of Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York. It is New York’s largest mall!
The interesting thing about Destiny Mall is that it has six levels above ground and one underground floor! Retail stores occupy the bottom three floors and the underground level.
In contrast, restaurants, entertainment venues, and food courts occupy the first and second floors, with the Regal Cinema occupying the third.
Furthermore, it is home to the world’s first mall featuring a go-kart track!
8- Roosevelt Field in Garden City
Roosevelt Field is a retail complex in Uniondale and Garden City, New York. It is the largest mall in the borough of Long Island and the ninth-largest mall in the US! It is also New York’s second most successful mall, after Destiny USA. Simon Property Group is in charge of its management as well.
This mall was built on the exact spot where Roosevelt Fields, a historic airport and military base, was once located, hence its name. It was eventually relocated beside the Disney Store before being demolished during the mall’s most recent refurbishment.
Charles Lindbergh commenced his famous trans-Atlantic trip from here as well. A plaque once commemorated the site where Lindbergh set off from what is now the mall’s north end.
Macy’s, JCPenney, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus are the mall’s 243 stores.
9- Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise
Simon Property Group owns Sawgrass Mills, an outlet shopping mall located in Sunrise, Florida, and the tenth-largest mall in the US! Sawgrass Mills is also the second-largest shopping mall in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida, ranking after the Aventura Mall.
Caladium Mariscus Subsp, a popular plant in the Everglades region, inspired the mall’s name.
Sawgrass Mills, which opened in 1990, is shaped like an alligator, with over 329 retail shops inside! The shopping space is divided into three parts due to its enormous size!
These parts include “The Oasis at Sawgrass Mills,” which is the main shopping area, along with “The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills,” and several “out parcel” establishments. Primark, Neiman Marcus, Super Target, Marshalls, and TJ Maxx are the anchor retailers.
In addition to the ten shopping mentioned above malls, the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Palisades Center in West Nyack, Millcreek Mall in Downtown Erie, Woodfield Mall located in Chicago, and Tysons Corner Center in Virginia are a few more of the largest shopping malls in the United States that are huge not just in size, but in popularity as well!
Each one of these shopping malls in the US has its achievements and attractions, making them all worth a visit!
Bottom Line
With this, we come to the end of this article. We hope you not only enjoyed reading it but also found it useful! Check out our site for more such articles! Have a happy shopping experience!
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
