As if it wasn't already big enough, the Mall of America — the county's biggest shopping center — is getting even bigger. Over the next decade, Minnesota's pride and joy will almost double in size. Although many brick-and-mortar retailers are dropping like flies, the executive vice president of business development for Mall of America is confident about the future of the mall. "[It's] about experience, creating a destination. It's about giving the customer an experience they'll leave their laptop for," said Maureen Bausch.
We have to agree with Bausch. While we are obsessive online shoppers, there's nothing quite like going into your favorite shop or department store and picking something out... in person. And while you may have a favorite mall in mind that has never let you down, may we suggest planning a trip to one of these seven instead — they are the most enormous malls in the country. Consider this a challenge.
7. SAWGRASS MILLS
Location: Sunrise, Florida
Size: 2,383,906 square feet
Number of Stores: 350
Number of Subways, Taco Bells, and Tony Romas: 2 each (Total of 6)
Number of Movie Theaters: 23
Stores You'd Travel Here For: Saks Off 5th Outlet, Neiman Marcus Last Call Clearance Center
Random Notable Attraction: Rock climbing wall
6. DESTINY USA
Location: Syracuse, New York
Size: 2,450,000 square feet
Number of Stores: 230
Number of Floors: 4
Number of Dedicated Ice cream and/or Yogurt Shops: 5
Available Parking Spaces: 9,500
Stores You'd Travel Here For: L'Occitane Outlet Store, Michael Kors Outlet
Random Notable Attraction: Indoor Go Kart Racetrack (Pole Position Raceway)
5. DEL AMO FASHION CENTER
Location: Torrance, California
Size: 2,500,000 square feet
Number of Stores: 314
Places You Can Get BBQ and/or Buffalo Wings: At least 6
Stores You'd Travel Here For: Free People, Urban Outfitters, Aveda
Random Notable Attraction: LA Fitness (In case you feel like squeezing in a work out... )
4. SOUTH COAST PLAZA
Location: Costa Mesa, California
Size: 2,800,000 square feet
Number of Stores: 250
Sales Per Square Foot: $800 (the national average is $411 per square foot)
Yearly Revenue: $1.5 billion dollars per year (the highest in the country)
Stores You'd Travel Here For: Chloe, Intermix, Louis Vuitton, Roger Vivier (and pretty much any other high-end designer you desire)
Random Notable Attraction: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, if you can afford to watch the ballet after you spend your life savings. If not, there's also a carousel.
3. AVENTURA MALL
Location: Aventura, Florida
Size: 2,700,000 square feet
Number of Stores: 300
Number of Eateries: 18+
Number of Macy's Locations: 2
Stores You'd Travel Here For: Dior, Stuart Weitzman, Macy's, Bloomingdales
Random Notable Attraction: Coco's Day Spa and Salon (who are you kidding — you'll need a massage after half a day of shopping here)
2. KING OF PRUSSIA MALL
Location: King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
Size: 2,793,200 square feet currently, but will be 2,900,000 after its upcoming expansion
Number of Stores: 400
Number of Eateries: 40+
Number of Auntie Anne's Pretzels: 5
Number of Parking Spaces: 13,376
Stores You'd Travel Here For: Neiman Marcus, Hermes, Tory Burch
Random Notable Attraction: Valley Forge National Historic Park (it's a mile away, but you might need some greenery to remind you that there is life outside the mall)
1. MALL OF AMERICA
Location: Bloomington, Minnesota
Size: 4,200,000 square feet
Size in Yankee Stadiums: 7+
Number of Stores: 500
How Long It Would Take For You To Visit Each Store for 10 Minutes: 86 hours
Visitors Per Year: 40 million
Stores You'd Travel Here For: QVC (a brick-and-mortar, y'all!), Club Monaco, Nordstrom Rack
Random Notable Attraction: Chapel of Love (because yes, some people want to get married at the mall)
Image: Sawgrass Mills/Facebook, DestinyUSA/Facebook, Del Amo/Facebook, South Coast Plaza/Facebook, Aventura Mall/Google Plus, Simon Mall, Mall of America/Facebook
