Inside the Megamall
Mall of America offers groups space
to meet, shop, dine and play in one
giant location.
BY ELLIE M. BAYRD
IT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE that within the 4. 2
million square feet of Mall of America, there’s plenty of
room for meetings and events of any size. Built in 1992,
the mall offers 2. 5 million square feet of retail space
(with more than 500 stores), 7,550 square feet of strictly
event space, numerous entertainment options and about
50 restaurants. All this is found within Bloomington, a
city with an abundance of hotels and a direct light rail
connection to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International
Airport and downtown Minneapolis.
Considered the state’s largest tourist attraction and
known worldwide, Mall of America is a draw for 40 million visitors annually. And that’s why many choose the
four-story Bloomington mall as a destination for meetings and events. Whether it’s small corporate events,
large weddings or holiday parties, the mall has spaces to
fit a range of needs. However, there are still those who
find the mall to be intimidating. That’s where Jennifer
Lauerman, marketing manager, comes in. Though
Lauerman no longer finds the spacious mall daunting,
she’s prepared to help those who do. Her first step is
explaining the options available to planners. “We’ll talk
them through from beginning to end,” she says.
On a tour of Mall of America as a meeting and event
space, Lauerman begins at the fourth floor Executive
Center. The 2,834-square-foot space in the northeast
corner features three main rooms. The central Boundary
Waters Suite, a 1,850-square-foot gathering area, overlooks Nickelodeon Universe and features a fireplace. “It’s
a lovely space for meetings,” says Lauerman. The intimate
space feels more like a living room than a cookie-cutter
meeting room and seats up to 180 for a reception, 120
in theater or 60 in classroom (though it features several
pillars that block some views).
