Courtesy of Southdale Center
A few years ago, if you asked the average Minnesotan to describe Southdale Center, it’s likely a few nonretail experiences would spring to top of their mind—Apple Store appointments, AMC movie premieres, or quick meals at the fast-casual food court. But this year, the list looks different. Brief errand runs have given way to strolls through the shiny-tiled luxury shopping wing, styling appointments at the newly opened Max Mara, and tech-infused mini-golf rounds at the 25,000-square-foot Puttshack. To put it simply, America’s oldest mall is officially cool again.
Spearheaded by owner Simon Property Group, Southdale is at the tail end of a 10-plus-year, $400 million renovation, with plans to open over 50 new stores before the end of the year—including high-end luxury brands like Gucci, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co., and more. To accommodate these luxury upgrades, Simon has invested in significant architectural and entertainment improvements, including the installation of skylights in the center court to enhance natural light, the continued construction of nearby luxury apartments, and the addition of Kowalski’s Markets, Puttshack, six indoor and outdoor pickleballs courts, and a yet-to-be-opened upscale steak and seafood restaurant by the owners of 6Smith and Baldamar (coming next year).
Acclaimed by Wall Street Journal as “the mall of the future,” innovation is nothing new for the nearly 70-year-old complex, which revolutionized the American shopping experience when it became the nation’s first fully enclosed, climate-controlled mall in 1956. While the amount of time Americans spend in indoor shopping malls continues to decline (a downward trend of 46% from 2003-2023, according to the American Time Use Survey), it’s also clear that Americans (millennials and Generation Z in particular) are hungering for a multifaceted, experiential mode of shopping—something Simon and Southdale Center are committed to igniting in the community.
“While so much has changed… one thing remains the same: our commitment to delivering memorable experiences for our shoppers and our community,” said Judy Tullius, general manager of Southdale Center, in a statement. “Southdale is an exciting, dynamic destination that is designed to meet the shopping and lifestyle needs of today’s customer.”
