Curious Minnesota
Curious Minnesota
Minnesota Star Tribune
How did Minnesota become home to the world's first shopping mall?
15 minutes Posted Dec 23, 2025 at 8:00 am.
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Southdale in Edina became the first fully enclosed shopping mall in the world when it opened in 1956.  Its architect had a vision to thwart the cold and create an indoor town square where it was always 75 degrees. Southdale spawned thousands of suburban shopping malls across the country, shaping an era of American life. Host Erica Pearson makes a visit.